The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the Natural History Museum (NHM), Mizoram University, Aizawl, as a Designated Repository under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The notification was issued on 19 June 2026 following the recommendation of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), making NHM India’s 21st Designated Repository.

Designated Repositories are authorized institutions responsible for preserving authenticated biological specimens collected under the Biological Diversity Act. They maintain voucher specimens for species identification and type specimens of newly discovered species, thereby supporting biodiversity conservation, taxonomic research, and scientific documentation.

Established in 2022 under Mizoram University, the museum is strategically located within the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, one of the world’s richest biodiversity regions. The repository will preserve specimens of pteridophytes, macrofungi, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, moths, beetles, and butterflies, filling important gaps in India’s biodiversity documentation, particularly for lesser-studied taxa.

The repository will also contribute to the conservation of endemic species, including the recently discovered amphibian Leptobrachella tamdil, highlighting the Northeast’s significance as a global centre of biodiversity and species discovery.

Prior to its designation, NHM had already preserved over 500 biological specimens, including herbarium sheets and wet-preserved collections, supported by a multidisciplinary team specializing in seven taxonomic groups.

The notification strengthens India’s national network of Designated Repositories by facilitating specimen preservation closer to their source, improving scientific documentation, reducing logistical challenges, and promoting collaboration with the Mizoram State Biodiversity Board and regional research institutions. It also complements existing repositories such as the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).

The designation advances Target 4 of India’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2024–2030) and aligns with Target 4 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which emphasizes ex situ conservation and the conservation of genetic diversity.