Download biodiversity conservation

Definition
• Totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a
region.
• Genetic diversity- variation of genes within
species.
• Species diversity- the number of different species
that constitute the entire biological spectrum on
earth.
• Ecosystem diversity- diversity of ecological
complexes or biotic communities in a given area.
• Hot Spot concept-British ecologist, Norman
Myers (1988)
Criteria for designating an area as hotspot
• (i) richness in endemic species-1500 endemic
plant species,0.5% of global total
• (ii) impact by human activities- must have lost
more than 70% of its original habitat.
•
25 major hotspots together represent 1.4 % of
the earth's land area, they contain 44% of all
plant species and 35% of all terrestrial
vertebrate species in the world.
1. Indo-Burma ( earlier Eastern Himalayas )
2. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.
3. Himalayas. (Newly added)
• Vegetation types: scrub jungles and
grasslands at low altitudes.
• Dry and moist deciduous forests,S Montane
grasslands and Sholas.
• Tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.
• Complex topography, high rainfall and relative
inaccessibility-reasons to retain rich
biodiversity.
• 4,780 species of flowering plants.(15,000 in
India)
• Diversity of traditional crop plants and animal
life.
• Endemic species-amphibians, freshwater
fishes and invertebrate groups.
• Tropical Asia- East of the Ganges-Brahmaputra
lowlands, excluding Malesian region.
• Covers an area of 2,373,000 sq. km.
• India is the seventh largest country in the
world.
• Second largest nation in Asia.
• land frontier- 15,200 kms
• Coastline of 7,516 km.
• One of the top twelve megadiversity countries
• No of plant species- 49,219
the world)
(12.5% of
• No of animal species- 81,251
world fauna.)
(6.6% of
•
•
Species endemism among plants- 33%.
Endemism among animals
1.
2.
3.
4.
mammals –low, only 44 species.
Birds-low, only 55.
Reptile-high,187.
Amphibia- high,110
•
•
National parks-89 &
Wild life Sancturies-497} 1.56 lkh sq.km-
•
Tiger reserves-27- 37761 sq.km
No.
Category
No of species
%
1
Bacteria
850
0 67
Algae
2500
2
3
Fungi
23000
4
Lichens
1600
5
Bryophytes
2700
6
Pteridophytes
7
Gymnosperms
8
Angiosperms
1022
2. 00
18.23
1.30
2.14
0.80
64
0.05
17000
13.50
2.04
9
Protozoans
2577
10
Molluscans
5042
4.00
11
Crustaceans
2970
2.35
12
Insects
50717
40.00
13
Invertebrates including
hemichordates
11252
9.00
14
Protochordates
116
0.10
15
Pisces
2546
2.02
16
Amphibians
204
0.16
17
Reptiles
428
0.34
18
Aves
1228
1.00
19
Mammals
372
0.30
126288
100.00
Total
Source: Jaivavaividhyam (Malayalam). 1996, TBGRI.
Group
No. of species
No. of species (SW)
in India (SI)
in the World
Mammals
372
4629
7.6
Birds
1228
9702
12.6
Reptiles
428
6550
6.2
Amphibians
204
4522
4.4
Fishes
2546
21730
11.7
Flowering plants
17000
2,50,000
6.0
Source: Jaivavaividhyam (Malayalam), 1996, TBGRI.
SI/SW(%)
• Area- 38,863 sq. km, (1.2 % of the total geographical
area of India.)
• Coast line- 560 km .
• Altitudes up to 2694 m above msl.
• mountainous upland-75-2,694 m above msl- 48%
( Forest biodiversity)
• Midlands-8-75 m above msl- 42%
(Agrobiodiversity)
• Coastal belt-0 to 7 m above msl-10%
(Aquatic biodiversity)
• Among the States located within the
Western Ghats region, Kerala is the richest in
biodiversity.
Sl.No.
Type
Area(sq. km.)
1.
Moist deciduous forests
4100
2.
Evergreen forests
3299
3.
Shola forests
70
4.
Dry deciduous forests
100
5.
Grasslands
130
6.
Teak, eucalyptus plantations
1701
Total
9,400
Sl. No
Plant Group
No. of Species
1
Algae
325
2
Fungi
4,800
3
Lichens
520
4
Bryophytes
350
5
Pteridophytes
236
6
Gymnosperms
4
7
Angiosperms
4,500
Total
10,735
S1. No.
Group
1
Insects
2
Freshwater fishes
3
Amphibians
4
Reptiles
164
5
Birds
486
6
Mammals
No. of Species
4,027
196
85
145
• Apart from fuel, shelter, medicines and other resources for
our survival, vital services like:
• Maintenance of water supply.
• Water regulation.
• Ground water recharge.
• Soil formation.
• Prevention of soil erosion.
• Reduction of soil salinity.
• Nutrient cycling.
• Waste treatment.
• Climate regulation.
• Gas regulation.
• Flood and drought control.
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•
•
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Enhancement of water and air quality.
Pollination.
Biological control.
Habitat refuge.
Food production.
Raw material.
Genetic resources.
Recreation.
Cultural.
• Forest : Rs. 92,322 per hectare per year
• Wetland : Rs. 6,80,110 per ha per year (seven
times more) .
• Total forest value of Kerala per year:14381
crores.
• Total wetland value of Kerala per year:15797
crores.
• Wetland value of paddy fields: 7318 crores
• Total value : Rs. 37496 crores.(almost one and
a half more than the revenue receipt)
• Values are calculated on the basis of global average
values of ecosystem services.
• Tropical forests and wet lands are more complex
with higher biodiversity values
• Hence the ecosystems services of Kerala would be
at least 5 to 10 times more.
• Aesthetic, spiritual, cultural values – unquantifiable.
• Earth summit in June 1992 at Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
– Conservation of biodiversity- “A common concern of
human kind”
– Every nation has “sovereign rights” over its biodiversity.
– Calls for national strategies
– India became a party to the convention in 1994
• Biological Diversity Act,
2002(Central Act No.
18 of 2003)
• Biological diversity rules, 2004
• Chapter VI section 22 to 25 of the Act calls for
the establishment of state biodiversity boards
by the state governments
• This act and rules provide guidance to union
and state governments for:
– Conservation of biodiversity including the integrity and
diversity of genes, species and ecosystem and their
evolutionary potential.
– Sustainable use of biological resources in such a manner
and at such rates that does not lead to the long term
decline of the diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to
meet the needs and aspirations of present and future
generations.
– Equity in conservation and use, including equitable access
to biological resources and benefits arising out of the use of
biological resources.
• Kerala state biodiversity board constituted in
2005
• Kerala state biodiversity rules have been
finalized by the board.
• Salient features of the rules:
– Conservation of the biodiversity of the state.
– Sustainable utilization of the biodiversity
resources
– Equitable sharing of the benefits derived from
biodiversity.
– Ensuring protection of rights including
intellectual property rights over biological
resources and associated knowledge
– Regulation of the commercial utilization of
biodiversity by any Indian or foreign national /
Institution / Corporate bodies by granting
approval or otherwise and,
– Advice the government on all matters related to
biodiversity conservation and use.
• As per rule Rule 23 subrule (1) of KSBB, all the local
bodies should form biodiversity management
committees (BMCs) within its area.
• It is an arrangement that works in co-ordination with
the three-tier Panachayat Raj System, as per the
existing regulations.
• Preparation of Peoples Biodiversity Register is the
immediate task of BMCs
• An attempt to realise the rich biodiversity in
the Grama/Block/District Panchayats, state
and the whole country.
• A comprehensive database recording people’s
knowledge and insight of the status, uses,
history, ongoing changes and forces driving
these changes in the biological diversity
resources of their own localities.
• It will provide information on current utilization
patterns of biodiversity, its economic benefits to
the local communities and future management
strategies required for the sustainable utilization of
biodiversity in a decentralized manner.
• It helps equitable sharing of benefits arising out of
commercial utilization of biodiversity resources and
knowledge of their uses.
•
Appropriate action plan is also formulated for
each strategy
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Maintain the topographic features of the State to reduce
the loss of Biodiversity.
Documentation of the biodiversity and its traditional use
Conservation of biodiversity rich areas outside the
Protected Areas
Build up a strong database on the forest biodiversity of
the State
Conservation of ecosystem, species and gene pools.
– Prevention of habitat fragmentation and
maintenance of habitat continuity.
– Mitigation of human wildlife conflicts.
– Establish a model for sustainable utilization of
resources for livelihood and the equitable
benefits.
– Prevention of overexploitation and
encroachment
– Ensure sustained availability of raw material for
indigenous food and medicines
– Protect and promote biodiversity in and
around plantations
– Ensure long term conservation of select
wetlands in the State
– Prevent conversion of wetlands into any other
land use and maintain their extent and
ecological status.
– Sustainable utilization of wetland resources for
the benefit of local community.
– Establish environmental flows in each river
basin
– Institute a legal and administrative framework
for conservation and sustainable use of
wetland resources.
– Prepare a database on aquatic biodiversity
– Documentation of coastal and marine
biodiversity of Kerala
– Develop a database of agro-biodiversity and
domesticated biodiversity.
– Promote conservation of indigenous varieties
and their commercial production
– Prevent contamination of natural
biodiversity of the state from genetically
modified organisms.
– Conservation of sacred groves
– Create Biodiversity Technical support group
and a network of taxonomists and
conservationists
– Set up and strengthen institutions and
agencies for economic evaluation of
biodiversity
Contd….
– Implement biodiversity education and
awareness programmes for the target groups.
– Make use of the knowledge on Biodiversity as a
source of income generation.
– Establish Kerala Biodiversity Information System
(KBIS).
– Ensure sustainability of Biodiversity
conservation activities.