Move over green thumb. Jharkhand Biodiversity Board is looking for 'green fingers' for designing its first-of-its-kind logo. And the best creative brain/s will be awarded.

On Sunday, the board, which functions under the state forest department, published advertisements on its website http://jbbjharkhand.org/ and some local dailies, seeking designs on the state's biodiversity from individuals or groups latest by July 20.

Chief conservator of forests, wildlife, Rajiv Ranjan, also member secretary of Jharkhand Biodiversity Board, said that the individual or group coming up with the best design would get Rs 10,000 plus a certificate while certificates of appreciation would be awarded to the first and second runners-up.

Ranjan added that he was soon going to write to all schools to urge the students to take part in the logo design contest. "Schools are powerhouses of creativity and fresh ideas. Hence, I have planned to write to all principals of city schools to encourage their students to take part in the competition. The contest is open to general public," said the official, adding that people could either send their designs via mail or personally drop in at the forest department office in Doranda.

India instituted the National Biodiversity Authority in 2004 at the central level under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

The act also mandates every state to set up its own biodiversity board. The basic work of the board is to advise the state on matters related to conservation of biodiversity, regulate grant of approvals, perform studies on aspects of conservation of wildlife and flora and fauna et al.

Jharkhand though acted late, starting a biodiversity board only in 2007 and that too remained largely defunct due to various reasons like lack of permanent members or inability to hold timely meetings among other issues.

According to Ranjan, the board began functioning around a year ago and they had forwarded a proposal to the forest department for further strengthening it. The wildlife warden happens to be the chairman of the board, which has five ex-officio and non-officio members each besides a member secretary.

"A proposal has been sent to add teeth to the board by appointing data tech support team, which can perform scientific studies and investigations. It is because of the many roles and responsibilities under the biodiversity act that we have to prepare biodiversity registers at the block and panchayat levels. Unfortunately, it couldn't be done all this while because any register has to be vetted by the technical committee, which we lack at the moment. The biodiversity registers are detailed accounts of all kinds of species in a particular area that will serve as a reference in future conservation activities," he said.