The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has designated the Natural History Museum (NHM) at Mizoram University, Aizawl, as India's 21st Designated Repository under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This notification was issued on 19 June 2026 following recommendation by the National Biodiversity Authority and proper examination of the proposal.
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. The repository will support future ecological restoration in cases of habitat loss, natural disasters, or species decline.
Established in 2022 under Mizoram University (a Central University established by Act of Parliament), the NHM is strategically located within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. Mizoram and the wider North-eastern Region harbor more than 7,500 species of flowering plants and over 2,000 faunal species. The museum's expertise in pteridophytes, macrofungi, moths, beetles, and other lesser-studied taxa addresses an important gap in India's repository network.
Even before its formal designation, the NHM had demonstrated scientific preparedness by collecting and preserving more than 500 specimens, including herbarium sheets and wet-preserved collections. The institution employs a multidisciplinary scientific team from Mizoram University with expertise across seven specialized taxonomic groups.
This designation strengthens India's national network of Designated Repositories by enabling preservation of biological specimens closer to their source, improving scientific documentation, reducing logistical challenges, and facilitating collaboration with the Mizoram State Biodiversity Board and regional research institutions. The move advances National Biodiversity Target 4 of India's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024-2030) by strengthening ex situ conservation and genetic diversity conservation, aligning with Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.