A team from Nagaland University has discovered a new plant species named Hoya nagaensis in the high-altitude forests of Nagaland. This discovery confirms the region’s status as a biodiversity hotspot. The plant was found in the Kavünhou Community Reserved Forest in Phek district, an area protected and managed by local communities rather than the State. The species has unique leaf shapes and flower features that differ from other Hoya plants, which are known for their ornamental value. Researchers led by Gyati Yam from the Department of Forestry conducted fieldwork and studied specimens to confirm it as a new species. The study also involved researchers Vieneite-o Koza and Joynath Pegu and was published in the international journal Kew Bulletin. Due to its limited location and threats like shifting cultivation and forest disturbances, Hoya nagaensis is considered Critically Endangered. Nagaland University’s Vice-Chancellor, Jagadish Kumar Patnaik, said, “It is a powerful reminder of the ecological value of community-managed forests.” The researchers added that this discovery is more than just about a single plant. It shows that the Eastern Himalaya’s temperate forests hold many undiscovered species and that traditional forest management helps protect these fragile ecosystems.