New Delhi: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has notified the Natural History Museum (NHM) at Mizoram University, Aizawl, as a Designated Repository under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday.
With the notification, the museum becomes India’s 21st Designated Repository, strengthening the country’s biodiversity conservation network and scientific research infrastructure.
Designated Repositories play a key role in preserving authenticated biological specimens collected under the Biological Diversity Act, ensuring their long-term conservation and scientific use.
The Central Government approved the designation on June 19 following a recommendation from the National Biodiversity Authority and a detailed review of the proposal.
The museum will preserve voucher specimens of a wide range of plant and animal species, including pteridophytes, macrofungi, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, moths, beetles and butterflies. It will also serve as the official repository for type specimens of newly discovered species from the region.
According to the statement, these authenticated collections will improve species identification, ensure traceability and support scientific research while protecting India’s biological resources for future generations. They will also aid ecological restoration efforts in the event of habitat loss, natural disasters or declining species populations.
Even before receiving the designation, the museum had collected and preserved more than 500 biological specimens, including herbarium sheets and wet-preserved samples.
Its multidisciplinary scientific team includes experts from Mizoram University specialising in seven taxonomic groups, covering areas such as macrofungi, pteridophytes, fishes, moths and butterflies.
The recognition is expected to strengthen India’s network of Designated Repositories by enabling biological specimens to be preserved closer to their place of origin. It will also improve scientific documentation, reduce logistical challenges and encourage collaboration with the Mizoram State Biodiversity Board and regional research institutions.
The new repository will complement existing facilities managed by the Botanical Survey of India, the Zoological Survey of India and other notified institutions. It also supports National Biodiversity Target 4 under India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024–2030), aimed at strengthening ex-situ conservation and preserving the country’s genetic diversity in line with the global Kunming–Montreal Biodiversity Framework.
With inputs from IANS