Geum macrosepalum has been rediscovered in Arunachal Pradesh nearly 120 years after it was last officially recorded in India. The species was last reliably recorded in India in 1905 from Sikkim.

The plant was found at around 4,200 metres altitude near Sela Pass, reinforcing Arunachal’s status as part of the globally significant Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot. Classified as ‘vulnerable’ under the IUCN assessment parameters, the rediscovery has been documented in the international journal Phytotaxa.

The rediscovery demonstrates how much of the region’s biodiversity still remains scientifically undocumented.

However, major threats include developmental activities, ecological disturbances, habitat degradation, and climate change impacts on alpine ecosystems. High-altitude ecosystems are particularly sensitive to temperature rise and shifting precipitation patterns. Expanding infrastructure, tourism, and strategic projects in ecologically fragile areas are increasing pressure on sensitive habitats, while Sela Pass itself is being systematically degraded through infrastructure expansion.

The rediscovery is a reminder that the mountains still hold many secrets, and that it is not too late to explore ways to intervene against habitat degradation.