Botany is one of the oldest established sciences and is still at the forefront of modern biology. Plants are vital components of all Earth’s ecosystems, providing food and habitat to all organisms. Moreover, plants control the composition of the earth’s atmosphere, and prevent the spread of deserts and polluted areas. Over 450,000 plant species are known on Earth. In Nepal, where over 6000 higher plants and over 4500 lower plant species are recorded, it is estimated that many more plants await discovery, especially among lower plant species. Nepal is a country rich in plant resources and botanists have an important role to play in the study, management and conservation of these precious natural resources, as well as in contributing to the national development. As the primary institution of higher education in botany, the Central Department of Botany (CDB) has played an important role for over three decades, producing the necessary highly skilled personnel and experts in Botany.

TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
 
Tribhuvan University (TU), established on July 14, 1959, is the oldest and the largest university in Nepal. This University has 61 constituent campuses with about 125,000 students and approximately 6,000 faculty members. It has 158 affiliated campuses throughout the country. The University offers programs from Intermediate to the Ph.D. levels.
 
CENTRAL DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY

Botany as a subject was introduced in Nepal for the first time in 1947 with the introduction of Biology at Intermediate of Science level at Tri-Chandra College in Kathmandu. It was upgraded to Bachelor level in 1950 and to post-graduate level in 1965. The initial post-graduate classes at Tri-Chandra College had eight students. The Department moved to Kirtipur in November 1967 (Mangsir 13, 2024 BS) and was elaborated to the Central Department of Botany in 1987 to teach at both M.Sc. and Ph.D. levels, and to strengthen research on plant science. The Central Department of Botany is responsible for all academic programs of Botany within TU. The Department has trained over 2000 M.Sc. (Botany) students since 1965 and has produced five Ph.D.
 
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of the Central Department of Botany is to produce highly qualified botanists who have a broad knowledge of modern and applied plant science and excellent career prospects. The Department also undertakes fundamental and applied research in plant science and field visits to explore Nepal’s floral wealth and to establish the intricate relations of plant and environment.

UNITS

• Ecology

• Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology

• Plant Pathology

• Plant Systematics, Evolution and Ethnobotany

• Biodiversity and Environment Management

FACULTY MEMBERS

Dr. C.P. Pokharel; Dr. R. Gyawali; Ms. S. Phoboo; Ms. S. Shrestha; Mr. S. Devkota

• Mrs. P. Acharya (Account Officer), Assistant Administrator
• Mr. M.B. KC (Store Keeper), Mr. S.K. Singh (Lab Assistant)
• Mr. B.K. Pradhan (Typist), Mr. G. R. Thapa (Lab Boy)
• Mr .B. Thapa (Lab Boy), Mr. S. Bista (Plant Collector)
• Mr. D.B. Maharjan, Mr. H.K. Thapa, Mrs. S. Maharjan
• Mrs. J. Basnet, Mrs. D.B. Pode, (Peons)