ZSI, BSI to map biodiversity in northeast India as ‘priority’

Kolkata, July 22 (IANS) The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and Botanical Survey of India (BSI) will take up northeast India as a "priority" to map the region's biodiversity and address knowledge gaps, an Environment Ministry official said on Friday.

"Certain instructions have been given to ZSI and BSI to take up northeastern region as a priority," Additional Secretary, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Amita Prasad told IANS.

The ZSI and BSI are headquartered in Kolkata.

According to ZSI Director Kailash Chandra, experts from the organisation will launch surveys from September to record faunal diversity.

"We plan to begin with Arunachal Pradesh," he said.

Recently, the ministry had announced a new regional centre of the ZSI in Gangtok.