Biodiversity And Conservation
Biodeversity
Convention of Biodiversity, (CBD, 1992) (Biological diversity' variability among
living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other
aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this
includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.)
Biodiversity encompasses ecosystem or community diversity,species diversity and
genetic diversity.)
Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity refers to the variation of genes that occur within the species. This
comprises discrete populations of the same species.{genetic variation within
populations}
Ecosystem diversity
<habitat, biological communities, ecological process>
Ecosystem diversity embraces the different types of abode occurring within a
given region or the different areas found within a landscape.
[R.H.Whittaker 1972]
✓Alpha (a) diversity: number of species found in a small, homogeneous area. It is
usually expressed by the number of species (i.e. species richness) in that
ecosystem.
✓ Beta (β) diversity: a comparison of diversity between ecosystems, usually
measured as the amount of species change between the ecosystems. The greater the
beta diversity, the greater will be the distinctiveness of the two communities.
{compare between diversity between ecosystem}
✓ Gamma (y) diversity: a measure of the overall diversity within a larger
geographical scale.
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Bio geographical zones of india from page157
Biodiversity hotspots-India
1. Himalaya
2. Western Ghat- Maharashtra Karnataka Tamil Nadu and Kerala declared as
Heritage site in July 2021
3. Indo-Burma- NE States
4. Sundaland including Nicobar Islands
Endemism
The word endemism originates from Greek endemos where EN stands for IN and
demos for people , thus meaning people belonging in a certain area or region .
In biological terms Endemism is the state of being unique to a place or region. The
opposite of Endemism is cosmopolitanism. A specie is generally considered to be
Cosmopolitan if it occurs throughout the globe that is on all countries accept for
Antarctica.
Native or indigenous species belongs to a certain place or region by virtue of birth
of origin. Not all endemic species are native or indigenous; species might at this
moment be endemic to a certain region but may previously have had much wider
distributions.
Exotic species of a referred to as alien, non native , non indigenous or non
introduced species are those that occur in areas outside of their natural Geographic
range.
DO Value FROM PG 162
Mega-diversity Hotspots
The term mega-diversity hotspots are usually applied to the topmost and wealthiest
nations in terms of biodiversity. This is to elevate countrywide awareness to
conserve biological diversity especially, the countries with high variability and
exclusive species) (The concept was put forward in 1988 for the first time.) A
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nation must possess at least 5,000 endemic plants in order to qualify to become a
mega-diverse country.
India as a mega diversity nation
India is one of the 17 mega diversity countries.
India has 47000 plant species, 91000 animal species, 7% of global flora and 6.5%
of global fauna while holding only 2.4% of world’s land area.
India shows high endemism.
Center of origin for 5000 Flowering plants , 166 species of crops.
Marine diversity along 7500 kilometers long coastline biodiversity is rich in
mangroves estuaries, coral reliefs and backwaters.
Indian forest cover 21.71% area.
Threats to biodiversity.
Habitat loss and fragmentation, usually as a direct result of human activity and
population growth, is a major source of loss of species, populations and ecosystem.
Introduction of Exotic or invasive species.
Over exploitation (over hunting , overfishing, over collecting)of species or
population can lead to its demise.
Poaching and hunting.
Human generated pollution of Habitat can affect all levels of biodiversity.
Human wildlife conflicts.
Disease outbreaks.
Global climate change can also environmental conditions. Species and populations
may be lost if they are unable to adapt to new conditions or relocate.
Endangered species in India
Reptiles - Gharial, Green Sea Turtle, Tortoise, Python
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Birds -Great Indian Bustard, Peacock, Pelican Hornbill.
Carnivorous mammals - wolf, red Fox, red Panda, tiger lion, desert cat, Golden Cat
,leopard striped hyena.
Primates - Hoolock gibbon, lion tailed Macague, Nilgeri langur, cat monkey,
golden monkey
Plants - several species of orchids rhododendrons, medicinal plants.
Endemic species in India
Asian lion Gir forest
Lion- tailed Macaque , Western Ghats
Sangini deer exclusively found in Keibul Lamjao National Park of Manipur in
Maharshi wetlands of Loktak lake
Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Hills.
Biodiversity Conservation
In situ Conservation on site preservation in habitats by demarcating Protected
Areas.
Ex situ Conservation - experimental situations in monitored conditions, such as in
Botanical Gardens, Zoological Parks & Gardens, Seed Banks (for cultivated
crops), national Gene Banks etc.
In situ Conservation - involves the demarcation of Protected Areas. India has 106
National Parks, 567 Sanctuaries & 18 Biosphere Reserves.
1. Biosphere Reserves - Biosphere Reserve Network launched by UNESCO in
1971 under MAB (Man & Biosphere Programme). It is an area rich in biodiversity
& encompassing unique & representative ecosystems. Egs. Sundarbans (WB), Gulf
of Mannar, Great Nicobar, Simlipal (Orissa), Manas (Assam), Kanchenjunga
(Sikkim)
2. Wildlife Sanctuaries - Protected areas which are species oriented. Size notified
by Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Interference is limited but tourism permissible.
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3. National Parks - hitched to the habitat for particular wild animals. No activities,
limited tourism. India's first national park was established in 1936 as Hailey
National Park, now known as Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand.
4. Tiger Reserves - as per recommendations of a special task force of the Indian
Board of Wildlife, Project Tiger was launched (1973). 53 Tiger Reserves spread
across states. Egs. Sundarbans & Buxa (WB), Bandhavgarh & Kanha (MP),
Corbett (U'khand), Ranthambore (Rajasthan), Simlipal (Orissa), Periyar (Kerala).
Protected Area Network (India)
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides for the establishment of Protected
Area Network (PAN) They cover slightly less than 5% of geographical area of the
country & include: Marine Protected Areas, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries,
Conservation Reserves & Commanity Reserves.
IUCN Protected Area Categories, or IUCN Protected Area Management
Categories, are categories used to classify protected areas in a system developed by
the IUCN
Category la Strict Nature Reserve
Category Ib Wilderness Area
Category II National Park
Category III Natural Monument or Feature
Category IV-Habitat Species Management Ares
Category V Protected Landscape Seascape
Category VI-Protected Area with sustainable use of natural resources.
ROLE OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN BIODIVERSITY
CONSERVATION
For the Bishnois, a religious sect of Western Thar Desert & northern states of
Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh, environmental conservation is a part of the
religion and culture.
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The Dongria Komdh tribe of the Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha bad successfully
resisted the establishment of bauxita imning project of Vendanta Resources, im.
2013.
In 2006. The POSCO India Pvt Lul's iron ore & steel planit project met with stiff
opposition from the forest-dwelling hetel farmers of Jagatsinghpur District,
Odisha.
Plants are conserved in their natural habitat by tribes because of their medicinal
values.
As global biodiversity is under a massive threat today, it is well preserved in arcan
occupied by indigenous people.
They have developed unique mechanisms to co-exist with nature by mamaging
resourous judiciously.
Many plants are conserved in their natural habitat by tribals due to mapeo-religious
belief that they are the habitat of gods and goddess. This tribal culture sa prevalent
in tribal pockets in Central India & NE Indis
Tribes Bie Mundan, Oraons, Santhals, Khasis, etc in forested districts of MP,
Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, WB, & the NE states, reserve part of or an entire forest
& regard it holy or as a living deity
These are known as sacred groves & usually no human activity or millrace is
allowed
The approx. 370 million indigenous people in the world occuру 22% of the Earth's
land area, which houses 80% of global biodiversity
Areas managed by indigenous peoples are the oldest & most effective form of
biodiversity conservation.
The global coverage of Indigenous Community Conserved Areas has been
estimated at about 13% of the terrestrial surface of the planet, including 400-800
million hectares of forest.
Role of the indigenous communities remain largely unnoticed by Governments,
undocumented, & overlooked.
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PEOPLE'S BIODIVERSITY REGISTER (PBR)
Section 41 of the Biological Diversity Act (2002) mandales development of PBRs
at local level to document & safeguard bioresources & associatod knowledge
PBR serves as a comprehensive record of various aspects of biodiveroty, including
the conservation of habitats, preservation of landraces, folk varieties & cultivars,
domesticated stacka anl breeds of animals, micro-organisms, and the accumulation
of knowledge related to the area's biological diversity
The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) provides guidance & technical support
to the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) for preparing People's
Hiodiversity Register
BIOPROSPECTING
Biodiversity prospecting or bioprospecting is the systematic search for biochemical
and genetic information in nature in order to develop commercially-valuable
products for pharmaceutical, agricultural, cosmetic and other applications.
It is the systematic and organized search for useful products derived from
bioresources including plants, microorganisms, animals, etc., that can be developed
further for commercialization and overall benefits of the society.
Bioprospecting is the exploration of biodiversity for new resources of social and
commercial value. It is carried out by a wide range of established industries such as
pharmaceuticals, manufacturing. agriculture, aquaculture, bioremediation,
biomining, biomimetic engineering and nanotechnology.
BIOPIRACY
Biopiracy is defined as the illegal appropriation of the micro- organisms, plants,
and animals (including burma) and the traditional cultural knowledge that
accompanies it. The term was commend in 1990s.
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Large corporations, with the help of Indigenous Peoples, locate biological material
that has a medicinal purpose, bring it back to the Labs for research and patient it as
their own invention.
This appropriation is illegal as it is done in violation of international conventions &
domestic laws in certain cases
Biopiracy has taken place for more than 2000 years, through unauthorized plant
collections that served to build colonial empires and facilitates the financial
prosperity and scientific advancement of Europe and North America, in part
responsible for today's encore equalities between rations.
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