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BIODIVERSITY AND BIORESOURCES CONSERVATION**

Prof.S.Kannaiyan FNAAS

Email:skannaiyan@hotmail.com Introduction: Living things are interdependent, intricately linked in birth, death and renewal. Human beings are just one small part of the vibrant component of the biological systems on the earth but human beings are the vital and key biological system and put tremendous amount of pressure on species and the environment and ecosystem. As a result, many plants and animals are at risks as well as natural processes such as pollination by insects and the regeneration of soils by microorganisms and also the survival of microorganisms. The population dynamics of such soil microflora and of the biological equilibrium is altered significantly by various pollutants including the application of fertilizers and pesticides which are widely used in the modern agricultural operations and also Industrial toxic effluents discharged into the river and natural water bodies and land. These kind of pollutants create havoc not only to the human population by creating health hazards but also destroy the very survival of many plants, animals, beneficial insects including the beneficial microorganisms which occur in soil to enrich the soil fertility on a continuous basis and also damage the sustainability of soil which gradually become unfit for crop cultivation. Biodiversity: All life on earth is part of one great, interdependent system. It interacts with and depends on the non-living components of the planet such as atmosphere, oceans, freshwaters, rocks and soils. Humanity depends totally on this community of life, the biosphere of which human populations are integral part. Biological diversity is the variety of the worlds organisms, including their genetic diversity. It is the scientific terminology for the natural biological wealth that influences human life and well-being. The breadth of the concept of Biodiversity reflects on the interrelationship of genes, species and ecosystems (Singh, 2004). The variation of the living nature on the planet earth the Biodiversity or diversity of life is still overwhelming. Our planet supports between 3 and 30 million species of plant systems, animals, fungi, single celled prokaryotes such as bacteria and single celled eukaryotes such as protozoans. Of this total biological systems, only about 1.4 million species have been identified and named so far. It has been shown that fewer than 1% have been studied for their ecological relationships and their role in the ecosystems. A

Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority, 475, 9th South Cross Street, Kapaleeswarar Nagar, Neelankarai, Chennai 600 041, Tamilnadu. ** Presidential Address delivered in the National symposium on Biodiversity Conservation held at the Centre for Development and communication from 29th August to 31st August, 2005 in Theni, Tamilnadu.

little more than half the named species are insects which normally dominate terrestrial and fresh water communities world wide. The natural world among us is extremely rich biosystems and variable in forms, colours, odours, behaviours, movements etc. To understand the richness and variability, it is necessary to collect these organisms and classifying them into classes, types and categories. Biodiversity deals with biological and geographical units such as genes, chromosomes, species, families and biogeographic regions. Therefore understanding natures richness requires both distinction and description of these biological and biogeographical units together with relationships of organisms to their environments and the roles, these species play in the biosphere. Biodiversity has many facets and in most of the definitions biodiversity is an addition sum of genetic, taxonomic and ecosystem diversity. Genetic diversity embraces the variation in genetic material, such as genes and chromosomes. Taxonomic diversity mostly interpreted as the variation among and within species which includes the variation of taxonomic unities such as Phyla, Orders, Families, Genera and Species etc. Ecosystem diversity or even better biogeographic diversity concerns with the variation in biogeographic regions, landscapes and habitats (Singh, 2004). Biological Resources: Bioresources are important components for progress and economic activities of a nation. But bioresources management and utilization for human welfare is very important for the optimum utilization of the bioresources. Awareness of the importance and implications of bioresources among common people as well as elite educated citizens for safeguarding and protecting the optimum and balance way of using the bioresources needs critical studies to focus the natural bioresources wealth for the benefit of not only the present generation of our people but also to our future generations for their better, healthy and peaceful living on the earth. The problems facing at present is the over exploitation of bioresources/natural resources which would not only have negative impact on the environment but also sometimes totally destroy and erode the important bioresources which are available at local level, regional level and national levels. Therefore, handling Bioresources in a proper manner in an appropriate way is important for the optimum use without over exploitation of our bioresources wealth.(Kannaiyan, 1999) Biological resources includes genetic resources, organisms or parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity. Ecosystem management in a particular location is important and integral part for the conservation and protection of biological diversity of India. Ecosystem is a dynamic complex of plant, animal and microorganism

communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit and habitat is the place or type of site where an organism or population naturally occurs. Sustainable Ecosystems As species adapt to one another and to their communities, they form niches and the development of more complex structure allows a greater number of species to co-exist with one another. The increase in species richness and complexity acts to buffer the community from environmental stresses and disasters, rendering it more stable. In some environments succession reaches a so-called climax, producing a stable community dominated by a small number of prominent species. This state of equilibrium called the climax community is thought to result when the web of biotic interactions becomes so intricate that no other species can be admitted. In other environments, continuous small scale disturbances produce communities that are a diverse mix of species and any species may become dominant. The non-equilibrium dynamic highlights the effects that unpredictable disturbances can have in the development of community structure and composition. Some species, rich tropical forests contain hundreds of tree species within a square kilometer. When a tree dies and falls to the ground, the resultant space is up for grabs. Similarly some coral reefs harbour hundreds of fish species and whichever species colonises a new disturbances patch will be the victor. With each small disturbance the bid for supremacy begins now. Diverse communities usually are healthy communities. Long-term ecological studies have shown that species-rich communities are able to recover faster from disturbances than species-poor communities. The relationship between species diversity and community stability highlights the need to maintain the greatest richness possible within biological communities. A forest containing species only recently introduced to the community is quite different from a rich interactive web of indigenous species that had the time to adapt to one another. Undisturbed species-rich communities have the resilence to sustain a functioning ecosystem upon which life depends. These communities also are better able to absorb the effects of foreign species which may be innocently introduced but which can threat much ecological and economic havoc in less stable communities the tight web of interactions that make up natural biological communities sustain both biodiversity and community stability (Singh, 2004). Organisation of Living Organisms: There are four broadly recognizable levels of organization of living organisms are

Regional geographical Community ecosystem Population species Genetic

The richness in variety and variability at each of these four levels contributes to biological diversity. As the loss of diversity at any of the four levels is detrimental to the life supporting environment of the earth and disruptive of the natural processes that are vital for biological evolution, an integrated global approach is required for the conservation and utilization of biological diversity in a sustainable manner. Genetic Diversity In the past little attention was paid to genetic variety among wild species, although it is in fact crucial to the continued abundance of biological forms, the development of species diversity and the functioning of biosphere, the ecosystems and the biological communities. The extent of diversity within a species depends upon the number of individuals, its geographical range, the degree of isolation of individual populations and its particular genetic system. An important role is also played by natural and anthropogenic processes of selection as well as factors influencing spatial and temporal changes in the genetic stock of the species or population. Genetic variety is essential to the ability of species and populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions and is therefore a pre-requisite for their survival. In sexually reproducing species, each local population contains a distinct combination of genes. As a result a species is a collection of populations that differ genetically from one another to a greater or lesser degree. The genetic differences manifest themselves as differences among populations in morphology, physiology, behavior and life histories. In other words genetic characteristics of genotypes affect expressed characteristics of phenotypes. Natural selection initially operates on a phenotype level, favoring or discriminating against expressed characteristics. The gene pool is affected as organisms with phenotypes that are compatible with the environment are likely to survive for longer periods during which time they can reproduce more often and pass on more of their genes. The amount of genetic diversity within local populations varies tremendously and the much of the modern conservation biology is concerned with the maintenance of genetic diversity within the populations of plants and animals. Some small, isolated populations of asexual species often have little genetic diversity among individuals whereas large sexual populations often have great variation. Two major factors are responsible for the variety and the mode of reproduction like sexual and asexual and population size.

Conservation of Biodiversity for Sustainable Agriculture: The wide spread loss of the global biological wealth is one of the most serious crises today at International level. As many of the Worlds diverse life forms from microbes to higher animals and plants have a direct or indirect influence on agricultural conservation of these organisms is essential for sustainable agriculture. To feed growing population, agriculture must be intensified to provide more food. It will also be essential to increase the resilence of agriculture by maintaining a wide array of life forms with unique traits, such as trees that survive drought conditions or cattle or goat or pig that reproduce in harsh conditions. Sustainable agricultural practices can both feed people and protect oceans, forests and other ecosystems that harbor biological diversity. Biodiversity for Food Security is the slogan put forth by the Food and Agriculture organization (FAO), Rome, Italy. To pay tribute to the role of Biologicaldiversity in ensuring that people have regular access to enough quality food to lead active and healthy and prosperous life, FAO has chosen and declared Biodiversity for Food Security in world Food day theme during the year 2004. (FAO,2004). Also in 2004, the world celebrate the entry into force of Food and Agriculture organizations International Treaty on PlantGenetic Resources of Food and Agriculture. The Treaty is the landmark for sustainable agriculture and it will play an important and vital role in achieving the Food Security and sustainable agriculture to meet the challenges ahead in modern agriculture for carefully maintaining the rich biological diversity of crop plants and wildspecies and conserve them by giving due recognition of the farmers and local village people with their participation in a participatory mode would be the best way of maintaining and conserving the biological diversity and sustainable utilization which will provide condusive environment for sharing the benefits. It is therefore an agricultural imperative that genetic richness of the worlds flora and fauna that are important in agriculture should be maintained and enhanced. The amount of diversity in these organisms is largely unknown. Unless, the nature and extent of the diversity is properly assessed and determined and its role in sustainable agriculture cannot be assessed and a critical and comprehensive strategy for its conservation cannot be formulated. It is essential to conserve species richness and genetic diversity within the species. Genetic resources means genetic material of actual or potential value and genetic material is any material of plant, animal, microbial or other origin containing functional units of heredity. For this reason, it is critical to monitor quantitative and qualitative changes in the biological diversity both in space and time. Notwithstanding the paucity of information on the nature and extent of diversity in agriculturally important species, it is clear that genetic diversity in them must be preserved for the species to continue and remain useful under changing biotic and abiotic pressures and human demands. Swaminathan and Jana, 1992).

Global Biodiversity Convention: While the past global biodiversity was regarded as the common heritage of humankind since plants and animals have moved from the time immemorial without restriction across the world and across political frontiers, the Global Biodiversity Convention signed by the representatives of over 150 Nations at Rio de Janeiro in June, 1992 recognizes that States have sovereign rights over their biological resources. The Global Biodiversity Convention further places the ways and mode for sharing economic benefits accruing from the use of biodiversity among contracting parties on mutually agreed terms. India is a mega-diversity area by virtue the wide range of agro-climatic and sociocultural conditions prevailing in the country. Increasingly the genetic wealth is getting eroded due to a variety of causes, the most important of which is the diversion of habitats such in biodiversity for other uses like human habitation, hydel and irrigation projects, industry, agriculture and aquaculture. Even National parks and protected areas are now under threat due to human activities. The future of both our National food security system and the livelihood security of millions of women, children and men depends on our ability to conserve our biological wealth and use it intelligently and share the benefits equitably. Primary Objectives of the Global Biodiversity Convention: The Primary Objectives of the Global Biodiversity Convention (GBC) to be pursued in accordance with its relevant provisions are the conservation of Biological Diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies and by appropriate funding. Value of Biodiversity: World charter for Nature was adopted by the General Assembly of United Nations during 1982. It has adopted the policy that every form of life is unique and warrants respect regardless of its worth to human beings. The social, ethical, and economic values of these resources have been recognized in religion, art and literature throughout humankinds history. The general public often recognizes the intangible values that enrich the quality of life but the process of development tends to emphasise the more tangible economic benefits. Humanity derives all of its food and many of its medicines and industrial products from both the wild and domesticate of biodiversity. The components of biodiversity have been demonstrated to be very important to

human health in both traditional and modern medical practices. Plant varieties and animal types are crucial to the healing process of traditional medicine, which forms the basis for primary health are for about 80% the people in developing countries. More than 5100 species are used in Chinese traditional medicines alone. It has been reported that more than 16,000 antibiotics have been derived from microorganisms more particularly from streptomycetes, bacteria and fungi. The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming and streptomycin by Waksman from Penicillium chrysogenum and Streptomyces griseus in 1940s respectively revolutionized in medical field and saved several millions of people in the world war. Bioactive compounds extracted from plants, microbes and animals are involved in developing all of the twenty best selling drugs in the USA. Besides economic benefits derived from medicines, there are also economic benefits from the harvesting of wild species. Wild species are also dietary mainstays providing an important source of protein in many parts of the world. Timber, ornamental plants, oils, gums and many fibres are derived from wild species. Variety in life has other benefits particularly in agriculture. Genetic diversity provides an edge in the constant evolutionary battle between crops and livestock and pests and diseases that pray on them. Breeders and farmers also draw upon the genetic diversity of crops to increase yields per unit area and also respond to changing environmental conditions. The possibilities afforded to Biotechnology which really makes it possible to transfer gene(s) between species would further increase the opportunities for enhancing agricultural productivity by taking advantage of the genetic diversity. Overtime the greatest value of the variety of life may be found in the opportunities it provides humanity for adopting local and global climate change. The unknown potential of genes, species and ecosystems represents a never-ending biological frontier of inestimable value. The sheer diversity of life is of inestimable value. It provides a foundation for the continued existence of a healthy planet and our own well being. Many Biologists now believe that ecosystems rich in diversity greater resilience and are therefore able to recover more readily from stresses such as drought or human induced habitat degradation. When ecosystems are diverse, there is a range of pathways for primary production and ecological processes such as nutrient cycling, so that if one is damaged or destroyed, an alternative pathway may be used and ecosystem can continue to function at its normal level. If biological diversity is generally diminished, the functioning of ecosystems is put at risk. Possibly the greater value of the variety of life may be the opportunities it gives for adapting to change. The unknown potential of genes, species and ecosystems is of inestimable but certainly of high value. Genetic diversity will enable breeders to tailor crops to new climatic conditions, while the Earths biota is likely to hold still undiscovered cures for known and emerging diseases. A multiciplicity of Genes, Species and Ecosystems is a resource that can be tapped as human needs change.

There is no single particular argument which on its own, provides sufficient grounds for attempting to maintain all existing biological diversity. A more and pragmatic approach, however recognizes that different but equally valid arguments like resource values, precautionary values, ethics and aesthetics and simple self interest apply in different cases and between them provide an overwhelmingly powerful and convincing case for the conservation of biological diversity. The many values of biological diversity and its importance for development indicate why biological diversity conservation differs from traditional nature conservations. Biological diversity conservation entails a shift from a reaction situation by protecting nature from the impacts of development to a proactive effort seeking to meet peoples needs from biological resources while ensuring the long term ecological sustainability of Earths biotic wealth. On a global level it thus involves not only the protection of wild species and their habitats but also the safe guarding of the genetic biodiversity of cultivated and domesticated species and their wild relatives (Singh, 2004). The conservation of biological diversity seeks to maintain the life support system provided by nature in all its variety and the living resources essential for ecologically sustainable development. Significant losses to Biodiversity: Biodiversity is being lost as on today more rapidly than at any time in the past several million years. Some Biologist believe that bout 60,000 of the worlds 2,40,000 plant species perhaps even higher proportions of vertebrate and insect species could become extinct within the next thirty years if the same trends continue. But even a species at no risk of extinction can lose much of it potential through the loss of genetic material by reduction in range, numbers and varieties. The current losses to biodiversity can be attributed to direct causes including habitat loss and fragmentation, invasion of introduced species, over exploitation of living resources and modern agriculture and forestry practices.(Miller et al; 1992). The basic problems of losses to biodiversity includes: The unsustainably high rate of human population growth and natural resources consumption. The steadily narrowing selection of traded products from agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Economic systems that fail to value economic resources. Inequity in owernership, management and flow of benefits from both the use and conservation of Biodiversity. Deficiencies in knowledge and application Legal and institutional systems that promote unsustainable exploitation.

Loss of species and genetic diversity presents a serious threat to the goal of sustainable agriculture. Species and genetic diversity provide sources of pest resistance and control, new domesticates and the genetic raw material for plant breeding and genetic engineering. However, beginning with the development of modern crop varieties in the later half of this century accelerating with the spread of green revolution varieties in 1960s, genetic diversity in agricultural systems has been eroded rapidly. Typically, a few high yielding varieties of a crop, which require high inputs of water, pesticides and fertilizers have replaced the tremendous diversity of landraces maintained by farmers. Gene banks can slow this loss of genetic diversity but they are not a perfect solution. It has been reported that even in developed countries between one half and two thirds of the seeds collected in the past decade have been lost. Wild relatives of the major and minor crop species are an important source of genetic material that is lost. Wild relatives of grains have the potential to confer important benefits as in the case when Turkish wild wheat bred with American strains conferred resistance to bunts, a serious wheat disease. The centers of greatest diversity for the worlds major crop species are primarily in developing countries in areas where habitat alteration and destruction are at work. Modern intensive agricultural production practices have resulted in unsustainable losses of top soil, soil fertility, genetic resources, natural predators and parasites. Biodiversity is an important resources needed to develop sustainable agriculture. Genetic diversity can be used to increase as well as sustain productivity. Global Biodiversity Strategy: Biodiversity conservation is increasingly being recognized as a fundamental component of sustainable development. The goal of biodiversity conservation is to support sustainable development by protecting and using biological resources in ways that do not diminish the worlds variety of genes and species or destroy important habitats and ecosystems. In recent years major International studies have emphasized the link between development and conservation including world conservation strategy. The world conservation strategy (1980) developed by the world conservation union (IUCN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Widelife Fund (WWF), Our common Future (1987) a report by the world commission on Environment and Development and also caring for Earth a strategy for sustainable living (1991) by IUCN, UNEP and WWF. In addition biennial world resources and environmental data reports have been providing authoritative and disturbing overviews of the State of the planet. The Global Biodiversity Strategy was published in 1992, at a time when it could be used by both governments and NGOs preparing for the UN conference on Environment and Development the Earth Summit as well as the negotiation of a International Biodiversity Convention. Looking beyond the Earth summit and the proposed convention, the strategy was also designed to be on outline

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for the diverse actions that governments and NGOs groups should take in support of and as an adjunct to the convention,

National Biodiversity Authority: The draft on National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was debated and passed in the Lok Sabha in December, 2003. Some of the actions proposed are given below: Building a Biodiversity Atlas. Monitoring the status of ecosystems throughout the country. Declaring and protecting domestigated landscapes and agro biodiversity hotspots Conserving threatened pet breeds

India is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD 1992).According to the CBD ARTICLE-3, States have in accordance with the charter of the United Nations and the principles of International law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. The convention of biological diversity recognizes contributions of local and indigenous communities to the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological resources through traditional knowledge practices and innovations and provides for equitable sharing of benefits with such people arising from the utilization of their knowledge, practices and innovations. Biological Diversity Act, 2002: After an extensive and intensive consultation process involving the stakeholders, Central Government has brought Biological Diversity Act, 2002, with the following features: To regulate access to biological resources of the country with the purpose of securing equitable share in benefits arising out of the use of biological resource associated knowledge relating to biological resources. To conserve and sustainable of Biodiversity. To respect and protect knowledge of local communities relating Biodiversity. To secure sharing of benefits with local people as conservers of bioresources and holder of knowledge and information relating to the use of bioresources.

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Conservation and development of areas of importance from the status of biological diversity by declaring them as biological diversity heritage site protection and rehabilitation of threatened species. Involvement of Institutions and State Governments in the broad scheme of the implementation of the Biological Diversity Act through constitution of committees.

Protection of heritage sites and Endangered species: It is important to save prime habitats and endangered species. The priority should be to save what remains of our prime natural habitats in farms, forests, mountains, wast, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass and other positive ecosystems. More natural heritage sites need to be designated and protected like the cultural site of the country. At present there is no effective mechanism for integrated land and water management of prime habitats either at the Centre or in the States. At present there is no organized or systematic efforts are in progress to save endangered plant and animal species. Conservation of the entire range of Biodiversity: It is vital to conserve and protect the entire range of Biodiversity. The conservation of the entire range of biodiversity from microorganisms and soil flora and fauna to higher plants and animals is important. Genotypes, species and ecosystems which are the basis of our life support systems and of food security need to be conserved. For this an integrated network of informal and formal systems is necessary. Ex-situ measures preserve biodiversity but arrest the process of evolution which can continue on in-situ. Unprecedented crisis of Nature: The international conference on An agenda of science for environment and development into the 21st century (ASCEND-21) which was sponsored by ICSU and held at Vienna during 1991. The conference concluded that unprecedented crises are likely to occur within the lifetime of a half of the worlds population. The changes likely to occur in Nature are: World population is likely to double the 10 billion in about 40 years from now. Migration and urbanization assuming dramatic proportions with notable consequences on coastal zones. Continuing rise of energy consumption exerting increasing pressures on the global ecosystem. Climate change, sea level rise and associated impacts on the biosphere.

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Irreversible loss of substantial part of the total number of living species. Continued reduction and deterioration of quality of the natural resource base including the exhaustion, degradation, salinisation and loss of a major proportion of the worlds soil. Growing and widespread water secarcity. (Swaminathan, 1992). Biotechnology tools available today can be a powerful ally in the development in avoidance and adaptation mechanisms which can prevent or mitigate the adverse impact of such crises in nature. Conclusion: The intrinsic value of Biological diversity and of the ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values and its components are to be taken care properly for the better management of biological resources and biodiversity for the welfare of human beings for better, and healthier as well as peaceful living on earth. The conservation of biological diversity is a serious and common concern of human beings for better living. The general lack of information and knowledge regarding biological diversity and of the urgent need to develop scientific, technical and Institutional capacities to provide the basic understanding upon which to plan and implement appropriate measures. It should be recognized that the women in rural setup play a vital role in the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and affirming the need for the full participation of women at all levels of policy making and implementation for biological diversity conservation. Biodiversity is an important component for economic and social development and poverty eradication and overriding priorities of most of the developing countries in the world. The conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity is critical importance of meeting of food, fodder, fiber, health, water and other needs of growing world population for which purpose, access to and sharing of both genetic resources and technologies are essential. It should be determined to conserve and sustainable use of biological diversity for the benefit of present and future generations. Besides law enforcing forces and regulations of the Governments, it is always better to involve the people in a Participatory Mode including Tribal people, farmers, ecologists, illiterate villagers, for the conservation and protection of Biodiversity wealth of our great Nation. Awareness creation among people, school children, students and teachers in the colleges, Universities is very important to conserve the biodiversity wealth. Participatory mode of involvement of the people at ground level to acquire more knowledge about the biodiversity conservation will help to maintain and sustain the

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bioresources and biodiversity. The involvement of local people and their willing participation alone could save the national wealth of biodiversity. India is basically an agriculture country and more than 65% of the rural population totally dependent on agriculture and also agriculture and agroindustries provides employment for major population around 70%. It is important to reorient Indian agriculture system in both irrigated ecosystem and rainfed as well as dryland ecosystem in a more ecofriendly and environmentally safe by the reduction of pesticides and fertilizers to maintain soil fertility and sustainability. Therefore, to conserve and protect the biodiversity in agro-ecosystem, the management with due care without affecting the environment as well as nature would protect all biological systems including the dynamic soil microflora. As we are so much dependent on agriculture, it is quite important to make Indian agriculture with biodiversification, optimum use of resources, self reliant, Integrated Crop Management (ICM), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Nutrient Management (INM), Integrated Plant Nutrient Supply System (IPNS), Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) and maintaining sustainable agriculture which will provide conducive environment for sustainable and environment friendly farming. So many forces including population explosion, overexploitation, encroachment, climate change, water scarcity, destruction of forests and improper maintenance of wetland ecosystems, industrial effluent discharge in rivers and aquatic environment, improper and unhygienic management of sewage and nitrate content of sewage effluent really threaten all kinds of biological systems on earth. It is difficult to solve and manage and conserve the biological diversity by the State Government or Central Government but the people of our great nation and rather every citizen of the country irrespective of male or female, caste or creed or religion, have to be aware of our natural biodiversity wealth of our country and they should take all measures to conserve and protect our rich biodiversity not only for better living of our present generation but also for our future generations. References:
FAO . 2004. Biological diversity is fundamental to agriculture and food production In: Biodiversity for Food security, World Food Day 2004, Food and Agriculture organization, Rome, Italy. Kannaiyan, S. 1992. Potentiality of Azolla as Biofertilizer in sustainable rice farming. In: Biodiversity and implications for global food security. (ed.) M.S.Swaminathan and S.Jena, Macmillan Publications, Madras, India. P.326. Kannaiyan S. 1999. Bioresources Technology for sustainable Agriculture. Assoe. Publishing company, New Delhi, India P. Miller, K.R, W.V.Raid, and C.V.Barber, 1992. The Global Biodiversity Strategy and its significance for sustainable agriculture. In:Biodiversity-Implications for global food

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security (ed) M.S.Swaminathan and S.Jena, Macmillan Publications, Madras, P.326. Singh, B.K.2004, Biodiversity Conservation and Management. Mangaldeep Publishers, Jaipur p586 Swaminathan, M.S 1992. Biodiversity and Biotechnology. In: Biodiversity implication on global food security (ed.) M.S.Swaminathan and S.Jena Macmillan Publication, Madras.P.326. Swaminathan, M.S and S.Jena 1992. Biodiversity Implications for global food security. Macmillan India Ltd Press, Chennai. P.323.