India is host to four globally recognized biodiversity hotspots, and it is one of the most biodiverse countries on earth. It also has a long history of natural history, taxonomic research and other scientific growth. Yet, modern knowledge of Indian biodiversity has lagged considerably behind that of many other developing countries in SE Asia and elsewhere. Fortunately, this is changing reasonably rapidly because of the growth in educational and research institutions as well as citizen science in India. We hope to harness and channel this enthusiasm among amateurs and professionals into a structured and powerful platform of Biodiversity Atlas – India. We are gathering a considerable amount of spot records and other kinds of data on especially lesser known taxa such as moths, odonates and cicadas. We are also discovering new species, recording significant range extensions, collecting information about reproductive behaviours and other ecological aspects, and monitoring insect populations through various research projects. This type of biodiversity documentation and monitoring is critical in generating a more complete and useful understanding of the Indian flora and fauna. This effort has already led to several research papers describing new species and ecological dynamics. Also see how these activities complement the research activities facilitated by the NCBS Research Collections.
