Memorandum of Understanding between Zoological Survey of India and International Barcode of Life

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was apprised of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in June, 2020 between Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and International Barcode of Life (iBOL), a Canadian not-for-profit corporation.

ZSI and iBOL have come together for further efforts in DNA barcoding, a methodology for rapidly and accurately identifying species by sequencing a short segment of standardized gene regions and comparing individual sequences to a reference database. iBOL is a research alliance involving nations that have committed both human and financial resources to enable expansion of the global reference database, the development of informatics platforms, and/or the analytical protocols needed to use the reference library to inventory, assess, and describe biodiversity. The MoU will enable ZSI to participate at the Global level programmes like Bioscan and Planetary Biodiversity Mission.

About ZSI

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1st July, 1916 to promote survey, exploration and research leading to the advancement in our knowledge of various aspects of exceptionally rich life of the erstwhile ´British Indian Empire´. The survey has its genesis in the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875. By gradually strengthening its staff and expanding its research programme, the Survey has met the challenge of the past and is on its way to meet the demands of the future. It has maintained its primary objectives unchanged from its inception.

India is recognized as one of the seventeen mega diversity countries of the world with four biodiversity hot spots -Western Ghats / Sri Lanka, Indo Burma, Himalayas and Sundaland (Includes Nicobar group of Islands). There are about 1.7 million living species described from all over the world and another 15 million species are waiting to be discovered. In India till date, 1,00,693 species of animals have been described, but a large number of species are expected to be discovered especially from the lower invertebrate groups occurring in various ecosystems. Also the status of the higher group of animals especially those in the Schedules need to be studied before their habitats get disappeared.

Objective

• 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.

About iBOL

Established in 2008, iBOL is a research alliance involving nations with the desire to transform biodiversity science by building the DNA barcode reference libraries, the sequencing facilities, the informatics platforms, the analytical protocols, and the international collaboration required to inventory and assess biodiversity.

Major Programs

1. BARCODE 500K: iBOL has barcoded 500,000 species reflecting the investment of $150 million by research organizations in 25 nations.

2. BIOSCAN: This program will extend barcode coverage to 2.5 million species by 2026.

3. Planetary Biodiversity Mission (PBM): It is a research initiative that will deliver a comprehensive understanding of multicellular life by 2045 and is the final project of iBOL.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)