DIMAPUR: A research team from the Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Jodhpur, under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), visited the Department of Zoology, Nagaland University, Lumami, on July 21 to explore opportunities for collaborative research.
The team is implementing the project titled “Assessing Ecosystems for the Conservation and Management of Himalayan Wild Pollinators: Action for Long term Monitoring Assessments of Himalayan Bumblebees towards Biodiversity Conservation.”
The programme was chaired by Dr. Lobeno Mozhui, while Prof. Ranjit Kumar, Head of the Department, welcomed the delegation and presented an overview of the department’s research activities in biodiversity, entomology and conservation biology. He expressed optimism for future collaborative initiatives between the two institutions.
Dr. Muzafar Riyaz, Team Lead of the NMHS project, delivered a presentation outlining the objectives, methodology and achievements of the project. He emphasized the ecological significance of Himalayan wild pollinators, particularly bumblebees, and the need for long term monitoring to support biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. An interactive practical session was conducted for M.Sc. third semester students, providing hands on exposure to pollinator research methods, specimen handling and biodiversity assessment techniques. The activity fostered active participation and encouraged interest in pollinator conservation research.
The visit concluded with discussions on potential collaborative research, student training and future academic interactions between ZSI and Nagaland University, strengthening efforts toward biodiversity conservation and scientific research in the Himalayan region.
