The Natural History Museum (NHM) at Mizoram University in Aizawl has been designated as a repository under the Biological Diversity Act, the Union environment ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
The NHM at Mizoram University was designated on June 19 on the recommendation of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA). (MIzoram University)
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Designated repositories constitute an important component of India’s biodiversity governance framework and are mandated to keep in safe custody the biological material including voucher specimens deposited with them. They also serve as a legal registry for biological resources used in scientific research and commercial ventures.
Aizawl’s museum is India’s 21st designated repository.
A ministry statement said the NHM at Mizoram University was designated on June 19 on the recommendation of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
Officials said the NHM will maintain voucher specimens of select flora, including pteridophytes and macrofungi, and fauna such as reptiles, amphibians, fishes, moths, beetles and butterflies.
“It will also serve as the designated depository for type specimens of newly discovered species from the region. These authenticated collections will strengthen species identification, traceability and scientific research while safeguarding India’s biological resources for long-term conservation. They will also support future ecological restoration in the event of habitat loss, natural disasters or species decline,” an official said.
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NHM was established in 2022, under the Mizoram University and is known for its unique location within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
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NHM was established in 2022, under the Mizoram University and is known for its unique location within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
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Mizoram and the wider north-eastern region harbours more than 7,500 species of flowering plants and over 2,000 faunal species, the ministry said, adding the repository will also support the documentation and conservation of endemic species unique to the region.
Even before its designation, more than 500 specimens have already been preserved at the institution, including herbarium sheets, officials added.
Jasjeev Gandhiok is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times, where he covers environment, climate change, the clean energy transition and wildlife at the National Bureau. Gandhiok has over a decade of experience in journalism and is based in Delhi. He has reported extensively on Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). This includes the region's air pollution woes, a polluted Yamuna and on urban wildlife still thriving in the region. He joined HT in October 2021. Prior to that, he had five-year stint at The Times of India in Delhi, where he also covered Delhi, with a focus on environment and wildlife. Gandhiok has covered some recent events around the Capital too, ranging from the farmers' protests, the northeast Delhi riots and the CAA-NRC protests, reporting from the ground on all of these. He also travels across the country to report on how environment and climate change impact everyday life, while also writing on endangered species. His reports in 2019 on toxic leachate from Delhi's landfills led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking suo motu cognisance and ultimately asking the state government to start bio-mining to flatten and remove all three landfills in the capital. He also closely tracks the implementation of government policies on climate, renewable energy and environmental protection. His focus remains on impactful, public-interest journalism which explains how environmental decisions affect people's everyday lives.
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Home/India News/Natural History Museum in Aizawl notified as India’s 21st ‘designated repository’
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