Zoological Survey of India launches bumblebee conservation roadmap in Arunachal Pradesh

The Desert Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Jodhpur, under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), has drawn up a detailed field‑survey roadmap for the ‘Assessing ecosystems for the conservation and management of Himalayan wild pollinators’ project. During a week‑long expedition in August, the team mapped more than ten survey locations across six districts of Arunachal Pradesh and organised capacity‑building workshops for forest officials and school students to promote pollinator‑friendly practices.

In July, the same ZSI team conducted an awareness programme at Sohra Government College in Meghalaya. Researchers briefed students and faculty on the ecological and agricultural importance of bumblebees, the threats from climate change, and the creation of DNA reference libraries to support long‑term monitoring in the Eastern Himalayas. The event highlighted the NMHS‑funded mission’s goal of establishing permanent monitoring networks for Himalayan bumblebees by 2029.