Conservation of Biodiversity
Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity have been an integral
part of Indian ethos. The varied eco-climatic conditions coupled with unique
geological and cultural features have contributed to an astounding diversity of
habitats, which harbour and sustain immense biological diversity at all levels.
With only 2.4% of world's land area, India accounts for 7-8% of recorded
species of the world. In terms of species richness, India ranks seventh in
mammals, ninth in birds and fifth in reptiles. In terms of endemism of
vertebrate groups, India's position is tenth in birds with 69 species, fifth in
reptiles with 156 species and seventh in amphibians with 110 species. India's
share of crops is 44% as compared to the world average of 11%. India also has
23.39% of its geographical area under forest and tree cover. Of the 34 globally
identified biodiversity hotspots, India harbour 3 hotspots, i.e., Himalaya,
Indo Burma, Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Western Ghats are recently included in
World Heritage list. It is very rich in flora and fauna and serves as cradle of
biodiversity. One of the most pressing
environmental issues today is the conservation of biodiversity. Many factors
threaten the world's biological heritage. The challenge is for nations,
government agencies, organisations and individuals to protect and enhance
biological diversity, while continuing to meet people's needs for natural
resources. Efforts have been initiated to save biodiversity both by ex-situ and
in-situ conservation. International Biodiversity day is celebrated across the
globe on 22nd May every year.
BIODIVERSITY ACT 2002
The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 is a federal legislation enacted by
the Parliament of India for preservation of biological diversity in India, and
provides mechanism for equitable sharing of benefits arising out of use of
traditional biological resources and knowledge. The Act was enacted to meet the
obligations under Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to which India is a
party. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was
established in 2003 to implement India’s Biological Diversity Act (2002). The
NBA is a Statutory, Autonomous Body and it performs facilitative, regulatory
and advisory function for the Government of India on issues of conservation,
sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equitable sharing of
benefits arising out of the use of biological resources.
LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
Marine Biodiversity refers to 'Life in the Seas and
Oceans. The marine environment has a very high biodiversity because 32 out of
the 33 described animal phyla are represented in there. Marine organisms
contribute to many critical processes that have direct and indirect effects on
the health of the oceans and humans. Forest biological diversity is
a broad term that refers to all life forms found within forested areas and the
ecological roles they perform. As such, forest biological diversity encompasses
not just trees, but the multitude of plants, animals and micro-organisms that
inhabit forest areas and their associated genetic diversity. Genetic
diversity, refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the
genetic makeup of a species. Genetic diversity serves as a way for populations
to adapt to changing environments. With more variation, it is more likely that
some individuals in a population will possess variations of alleles that are
suited for the environment. The population will continue for more generations
because of the success of these individuals. Species Diversity is
the effective number of different species that are represented in a collection
of individuals (a dataset). Species diversity consists of two components:
species richness and species evenness. Ecosystem Diversity refers
to the combination of communities of living things with the physical
environment in which they live. There are many different kinds of ecosystems
like deserts, mountain slopes, the ocean floor, Antarctic etc. Each ecosystem provides many different kinds
of habitats or living places. Agriculture Biodiversity includes
all forms of life directly relevant to agriculture: rare seed varieties and
animal breeds (farm biodiversity), but also many other organisms such as soil
fauna, weeds, pests, predators, and all of the native plants and animals (wild
biodiversity) existing on and flowing through the farm.
BIOSPHERES AND BIODIVERSITY RESERVES
The Indian government has established 18 Biosphere Reserves in India,
which protect larger areas of natural habitat and often include one or more
National Parks and Reserves, along buffer zones that are open to some economic
uses. Protection is granted not only to the flora and fauna of the protected
region, but also to the human communities who inhabit these regions, and their
ways of life. Animals are protected and saved here.
HOTSPOTS
A
biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of
biodiversity that is under threat from humans. Around the world, 25 areas
qualify under definition of hotspots. These sites support nearly 60% of the world's
plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, with a very high share of
endemic species. The biodiversity hotspots hold especially high numbers of
endemic species, yet their combined area of remaining habitat covers only 2.3
percent of the Earth's land surface. Each hotspot faces extreme threats and has
already lost at least 70 percent of its original natural vegetation. Over 50
percent of the world’s plant species and 42 percent of all terrestrial
vertebrate species are endemic to the 34 biodiversity hotspots.
UNO EFFORTS FOR CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY
Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES) was signed in Washington, DC, on 3 March 1973. In August 2000,
152 States were parties to this Convention. The aim of CITES is to put a ban on
international trade in wildlife. The World Conservation Union
IUCN brings together States, government agencies and a diverse range
of non-governmental organizations in a unique world partnership. IUCN seeks to
influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the
integrity and diversity of nature and sustainable use of natural resources. International
Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was adopted
in Rome in November 2001 to create a legally binding framework for the
protection and sustainable use of all plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD), 1992 known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a
multilateral treaty. The Convention has three main goals like conservation of
biological diversity (or biodiversity); sustainable use of its components; and
fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. The most
significant feature of 1972 World heritage Convention is that
it links together in a single document the concepts of nature conservation and
preservation of cultural properties. The Convention recognises the way in which
people interact with nature and fundamental need to preserve the balance
between the two. The law of sea 1982, envisaged by UNO aims at protecting
marine biodiversity and to control marine pollution.
DESERT NATIONAL PARK
Desert National Park is a unique biosphere reserve for conservation and
development of biodiversity in India. It is situated in the West Indian state
of Rajasthan near the town of Jaisalmer. This is one of the largest national
parks, covering an area of 3162 km². The Desert National Park is an excellent
example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert. Sand dunes form around 20% of the
Park.
ROLE OF WILDLIFE CORRIDORS IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
A
habitat corridor, wildlife corridor or green corridor is an area of habitat
connecting wildlife populations separated by human activities such as roads,
development, or logging. This allows an exchange of individuals between
populations, which may help prevent the negative effects of inbreeding and
reduced genetic diversity that often occur within isolated populations.
WETLANDS REPOSITORIES OF BIODIVERSITY
Wetlands are complex ecosystems and encompass a wide range of inland,
coastal and marine habitats. They include flood plains, swamps, marshes, fish ponds,
tidal marshes natural and man-made wetlands. The Convention on
Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty
which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation
for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
BENEFITS OF BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity provides food from crops, livestock, forestry and fish.
Biodiversity is of use to modern agriculture as a source of new crops, as a
source material for breeding improved varieties and as a source of new
biodegradable pesticides. Biodiversity is a rich source of substances
with therapeutic properties. Several important pharmaceuticals have
originated as plant-based substances, which are of incalculable value to human
health. The industrial products like timber, oils, lubricants,
food flavours, industrial enzymes, cosmetics, perfumes, fragrances, dyes,
paper, waxes, rubber, latexes, resins, poisons and cork can all be derived from
various plant species. Biodiversity is a source of economical wealth for many
areas, such as many parks and forests, where wild nature and animals are a
source of beauty and joy, attract many visitors. Ecotourism in
particular, is a growing outdoor recreational activity. Biodiversity has also
great aesthetic value. Examples of aesthetic rewards include
ecotourism, bird watching, wildlife, pet keeping, gardening, etc. Biodiversity
is also essential for the maintenance and sustainable utilization of
goods and services from ecological systems as well as from the
individual species. These services include maintenance of gaseous composition
of the atmosphere, climate control by forests and oceanic systems, natural pest
control, pollination of plants by insects and birds, formation and protection
of soil.
THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
The destruction of habitats is the primary reason for
the loss of biodiversity in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. Habitat loss
could be attributed to conversion, habitat degradation and fragmentation. When
people cut down trees, fill a wetland, plough grassland or burn a forest, the
natural habitat of a species is changed or destroyed. Introduction of
invasive species may cause disappearance of native species through
biotic interactions. Invasive species are considered second only to habitat
destruction as a major cause of extinction of species. Communities are affected
by natural disturbances, such as fire, tree fall, and defoliation
by insects. Man-made disturbances differ from natural
disturbances in intensity, rate and spatial extent. For example, man by using
fire more frequently may change species richness of a community. Exploitation, including
hunting, collecting, fisheries and fisheries by-catch, and the impacts of trade
in species and species’ parts, constitute a major threat for globally
threatened birds (30% of all), mammals (33% of all), amphibians (6% of those
assessed), reptiles and marine fishes (Baillie et al. 2004). Trade affects 13%
of both threatened birds and mammals. Extinction is a natural
process. Species have disappeared and new ones have evolved to take their place
over the long geological history of the earth. It is useful to distinguish
three types of extinction processes. Over-fishing,
habitat destruction, widespread marine pollution and human induced climate
change threaten the survival of marine biodiversity. Pollution, oil and
gas drilling and oil spills may increase the risks of extinction by increasing
mortality of marine organisms. The Silent Valley Project in Kerala was
abandoned because it was considered as a threat to biodiversity in the region.
BIODIVERSITY AND FOOD SECURITY
In a recent estimate it was speculated that over 25 per cent of the
world’s plant species might be lost by the year 2025 AD, if the current rate of
plant genetic erosion continues. Preserving this germ pool is an integral part
of food security. It is evident that preservation of wide range of germ pool is
an integral part of breeding programme. If we are unable to combat the problems
of genetic erosion, it may lead to losing sources of resistance to pests, diseases
and climatic stress and, finally, leading to crop failure in future. It is
well-known that out of over 20,000 edible species only a few dozen of plants
are domesticated and now feed most of the people. All types of protected area
constitute over 12% of the total forest area of the country. This network of
protected areas covers most of the representative habitat types in the country
and affords protection both to the wild flora and fauna.
International Biodiversity day is celebrated across the globe on 22nd May
every year.
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