New Plant Species Discovered in Nagaland Forests

 



Researchers from Nagaland University have recorded a new plant species in the high-altitude forests of Nagaland, reinforcing the northeastern region’s status as a biodiversity hotspot. The discovery also highlights the critical role played by community-protected forests in conserving rare and undocumented flora.

Discovery in community-managed forests

The newly identified species, named “Hoya nagaensis”, was found during botanical surveys in remote forest areas that have remained largely unexplored by scientists. Nagaland’s forests are distinct because many are owned, protected and managed by local communities rather than the State. While this traditional stewardship has preserved large forest tracts, limited scientific surveys have meant that much of the region’s biodiversity remains undocumented.

Scientific study and identification process

The research was led by Gyati Yam from the Department of Forestry at Nagaland University, along with researchers Vieneite-o Koza and Joynath Pegu. The team conducted extensive fieldwork involving direct observation, specimen collection and detailed comparison with known species. The study was supported by the university’s Start-Up Project for Young Faculty and was later published in “Kew Bulletin”, a reputed international journal on plant taxonomy and biodiversity.

Distinct features and conservation status

According to the researchers, “Hoya nagaensis” stands out due to its unique leaf shapes and floral characteristics, which clearly distinguish it from other members of the “Hoya” genus, known for its ornamental plants. The species has so far been recorded only from the Kavünhou Community Reserved Forest in Phek district. Owing to its extremely limited distribution and threats such as shifting cultivation and forest disturbance, the plant has been provisionally classified as Critically Endangered.

Significance for biodiversity conservation

Nagaland University Vice-Chancellor Jagadish Kumar Patnaik described the discovery as a reminder of the ecological value of community-managed forests. Researchers stressed that the finding goes beyond a single species, drawing attention to the Eastern Himalaya’s temperate forests as reservoirs of undiscovered plant diversity and demonstrating how indigenous forest stewardship can effectively protect fragile ecosystems.

#NewPlantSpecies
#NagalandForests
#BiodiversityHotspot
#FloraDiscovery
#PlantScience
#BotanicalResearch
#NortheastIndia
#ForestConservation
#EcologyAndEnvironment
#NaturalHeritage

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