Natural History Museum in Aizawl Gains Official Named Reserve Status

The Natural History Museum (NHM) located on the Mizoram University campus in Aizawl has received official recognition as a named reserve under Section 39 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The announcement was made by a ministry official on July 7.

With this status, the museum becomes the country's 21st named reserve, tasked with preserving certified samples of regional biodiversity. Its holdings feature selected plant groups such as terricolous flora and macro‑fungi, along with vertebrates and invertebrates including reptiles, amphibians, fish, molluscs, beetles and butterflies.

The repository will also act as a depository for type specimens of newly identified species from the area, strengthening taxonomic verification and long‑term conservation efforts. These collections are expected to aid ecological restoration in the event of habitat degradation or species decline.

Prior to the designation, the NHM had already collected and secured over 500 specimens, ranging from herbarium sheets to water‑preserved samples. A multidisciplinary team of university scholars oversees the curation process.

The new classification is projected to improve the protection of biological resources, streamline scientific documentation, and deepen collaboration with the Mizoram State Biodiversity Board and regional research bodies.