Who will collect and name them?
Extinction of species before they could be named surely continues and in this regards the article by Richling and Bouchet (2013) is noteworthy. While on one hand this highlights the importance of field surveys, on the other, it also points to the plight of the field based studies. Today, unfortunately, we have less students willing to work in the forests (Lindenmayer and Likens 2011). With reports of almost 80–90 % of the species yet to be collected, recorded and named (Mora et al. 2011), the area of bioresource surveys has much to offer, perhaps much more than we can imagine. Top it up with the fact that recent discoveries of new species, in many cases, are specimens that had been collected some 20–30 years back (Bebber et al. 2010). It is just that they have been recently studied and named. Thus, there are opportunities and yet the situation is dismal. A pertinent question, therefore, that pops up is, where are we heading for and what are the reasons for this manpower shortfall in survey based studies. Surely, it seems, we are not on the right path. Our inability to attract students towards survey based studies and adapt to the changing times must be amongst the reasons for this shortfall. But the charm of new subjects, today, appears to be much more (Gupta 2012). Even a stroll down the lane leaves most of us panting for fresh air, what to say of wandering in the forests, crossing peaks and streams. One would therefore ask, has it something to do with our lifestyle and mindset also? Another big question is, are we recognizing people in this field properly? Though, recognition at higher levels is desired, it is at the budding stage where it matters the most. A researcher looks for a niche during this phase and then channelizes his energy and resources. Instant gratification, in relative words, is not something that applies to field sciences. Out there in the forests, many things are dependent on external factors and the students find themselves at a disadvantageous position. The divide seems far more prominent in