ZSI and NHM Join Hands for conservation of faunal diversity

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the Natural History Museum (NHM), UK.
• The MOU will be mutually beneficial for faunal diversity research through scientific exchange between the two.
• The institutions have been working together for many years on mutually beneficial projects focused on the study of Indian fauna and for promoting its continuance for many years into the future.

Objectives of the MOU

• The MoU will enable the implementation of the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna & Flora (CITES) and the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• The MoU will bring together practicing taxonomists, conservation biologists, biodiversity managers & policies of both countries for discussing, networking & identifying gap areas.
• This will help to formulate strategies for long-term scientific documentation & conservation of faunal diversity through international exchange.
• Further, joint research activities will be undertaken by both institutions for their joint passion for natural history collections aims to accelerate towards a better science.

Zoological Survey of India

• ZSI was started in 1916 by Thomas Nelson Annadale with the primary objective of inventorying and documenting faunal diversity
• The survey has its genesis in the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875.
• India possess 1,02,161 species (as per animal discoveries 2019) which is equivalent to 6.52% of all fauna in the world.

Objectives of ZSI

• Exploration, Survey, Inventorying and Monitoring of faunal diversity in various States, Ecosystems and Protected areas of India.
• Taxonomic studies of all faunal components collected.
• Periodic review of the Status of Threatened and Endemic species.
• Preparation of Red Data Book, Fauna of India and Fauna of States.
• Bioecological studies on selected important communities/species.
• Preparation of databases for the recorded species of the country.
• Maintenance & Development of National Zoological Collections.
• Training, Capacity Building and Human Resource Development.
• Faunal Identification, Advisory services and Library Services.
• Publication of results including Fauna of India and Fauna of States.