ITANAGAR, Aug 2: In a vital, long-term effort to safeguard the Northeast’s high-altitude ecosystems through 2029, the Desert Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India (DRC-ZSI, Jodhpur) has mapped out an extensive field action plan across Arunachal Pradesh for the project ‘Assessing ecosystems for the conservation and management of Himalayan wild pollinators - Action for Long-Term Monitoring assessments of Himalayan Bumblebees towards biodiversity conservation’.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS), this multi-year initiative aims to track wild bumblebee populations, evaluate their vital role as natural pollinators, and set up permanent frameworks to secure their survival.
Following a week of intensive consultations with local Divisional Forest Officers, the research team led on the ground by Dr Muzafar Riyaz (Research Associate) alongside Purnima Pathak, Aimen Rafiq, and Habung Elsa, under the leadership of Principal Investigator Dr Rifat H Raina (Scientist-E) successfully earmarked over 20 field survey points spanning six districts.
Recognizing that scientific research works best alongside community support, the ZSI team also conducted targeted grassroots awareness campaigns during their visit to foster local environmental stewardship.
Interactive training sessions were held at the Divisional Forest Office in Ziro to introduce forest staff to pollinator-friendly management techniques, while Dr Riyaz spearheaded an educational workshop for senior Biology students at Danyi Kunya Hr Sec School in Lower Subansiri district to highlight the critical link between wild bumblebees and healthy mountain ecosystems.
The research team expressed sincere thanks to the NMHS for funding this multi-year mission through 2029, as well as ZSI Director Dr Dhriti Banerjee, DRC Officer-in-Charge Dr Indu Sharma, and Dr Rifat for their ongoing guidance.
It also expressed gratitude to State forest leadership, including PCCF & HoFF P Subramanyam and PCCF (Wildlife & Biodiversity) Ngilyang Tam for administrative backing, besides thanking Habung Francis for providing invaluable field coordination throughout Ziro valley.