Shillong, Jul 31: The Desert Regional Centre, Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Jodhpur, organised an awareness and outreach programme on conservation of Himalayan wild pollinators, with special focus on bumblebees, at Sohra Government College on Thursday.
The programme, held under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) project “Assessing Ecosystems for the Conservation and Management of Himalayan Wild Pollinators”, saw participation by students, faculty and staff.
During the awareness sessions, participants were introduced to the ecological and agricultural significance of Himalayan bumblebees, the growing threats posed by climate change, habitat degradation, and biodiversity loss and the objectives of the ongoing research project.
The team highlighted efforts to document bumblebee diversity and distribution, assess habitat characteristics, develop DNA reference libraries for accurate species identification and generate scientific evidence to support effective conservation planning and long-term management of Himalayan pollinators.
Special emphasis was placed on capacity building by encouraging students to develop scientific awareness, ecological understanding, and practical conservation skills.
The sessions also promoted Mission LiFE and urged students to adopt eco-friendly practices.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion on biodiversity and pollinator conservation.
