To Promote excellence in environmental research, Ministry of Environment & Forests has instituted National Fellowship Awards namely, Pitambar Pant National Environment Fellowship Award and B.P. Pal National Environment Fellowship Award for Bio-Diversity. These fellowships are awarded every year on the World Environment Day i.e. June 5.
The Pitambar Pant Fellowship Award for this year (1999) has been conferred on Dr. R. Raghavendra Rao of National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow. Dr. Rao will work on bio-prospecting for endangered medicinal and aromatic plant species in the Himalayas,
The B.P. Pal National Environment Fellowship Award for Bio-diversity for 1999 was awarded to Dr. K.P.S. Chandel, Ex-Director, National Bureau of plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi. Dr.Chandel will study the genetic diversity in the naturally occurring intra-specific populations of Genus Vigna in Shivalik Hills and Mount Abu with special attention to the role of Tribal and Rural Families in the conservation and enhancement of plant diversity.