Shillong: The Desert Regional Centre of the Zoological Survey of India held conservation workshops in Shillong on July 24. They targeted students at Shillong Jail Road Boys’ Higher Secondary School and Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School. The sessions addressed the role of bumblebees in ecosystems and crop health. These insects face mounting threats from climate change, habitat loss, and land-use shifts.
The project falls under the National Mission on Himalayan Studies. Researchers are tracking bumblebee distribution and mapping their habitat needs. They are also building DNA reference libraries to identify species accurately. This data will guide future conservation plans. Dr. Ishfaq Majeed Shah led the team under the guidance of Scientist-E Dr. RH Raina.
The ZSI acknowledged Director Dr. Dhriti Banerjee for her backing. They also thanked principals Jibananda Pal and Charity Najiar for hosting the outreach. The team pushed the Mission LiFE initiative to encourage green habits. Students and staff discussed the Eastern Himalayas during the event. One participant noted the focus is on "protecting pollinators to sustain the ecological integrity of the Eastern Himalayas."
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