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INTRODUCTION
Biological diversity, abbreviated as biodiversity, represent the sum total of various life forms such as unicellular fungi, protozoa, bacteria, and multi cellular organisms such as plants, fishes, and mammals at various biological levels including gens, habitats, and ecosystem .
and the essential interdependence of all living things. Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet.
Diversity of Genes
THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
Habitat destruction
Factors contributing to habitat loss are: overpopulation, deforestation, pollution and global warming or climate change
Invasive species
Species occupy new niches, substantially reducing diversity
Genetic pollution
Uncontrolled hybridization, introgression and genetic swamping threatening endemic species Overexploitation Overexploitation occurs when a resource is consumed at an unsustainable rate Hybridization: Hybridization has led to widespread genetic erosion and is a serious threat to food security
Climate change Global warming is also considered to be a major threat to global biodiversity. For example coral reefs which are biodiversity hotspots- will be lost in 20 to 40 years if global warming continues at the current trend.
Human overpopulation It is the biggest threat to biodiversity with world seeing population figures as high as 9 billion by end of 21st century
Ecological services:
Balance of nature Regulation of climate Degradation of waste Cleaning of air and water
Cycling of nutrients
Control of disease causing species Detoxification of soil and sediments
CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
Expansion of the protected area network
Conservation of important ecosystems and habitats for maintaining viable populations of species
Population surveys and assessments and database creation Continuous monitoring to collect adequate data on species diversity, populations, location and extent of habitat, major threats to different species, etc.
Mapping of forest types, protected areas, and natural forests It is important to generate maps of the protected areas of the country showing their contiguity with the existing reserve and protected forests Improved protection efforts and a landscape approach to conservation Integration of protected and non-protected areas through significant protection measures initiated at both the state and local community levels
Legislation Enacting, strengthening and enforcing Environmental Legislation International conservation strategies
The Convention on Biological Diversity The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA
Categories No. of Indian Species 386 % of Indian species Evaluated 59 Species Threatened In India 41% Mammals
Birds
1219
7%
Reptiles
495
73
46%
Amphibians
207
79
57%
Freshwater Fish
700
46
70%
In situ conservation
In-situ conservation is on-site conservation or the conservation of genetic resources in natural populations
Ex situ conservation
It is the process of protecting an endangered species of plant or animal outside of its natural habitat
Biodiversity Conservation
In situ
Ex situ
Biosphere Reserves
Terrestrial
Regular population-habitat viability and risk simulations Generation of computer models for regular population and habitat viability assessments Preservation plots conserving important floral species as well as for assessing ecological changes occurring in such areas over a period of time
CONCLUSION
Biodiversity is our life. If the Biodiversity gets destroyed at this rate, then in near future, the survival of human being will be threatened. So, it is our moral duty to conserve Biodiversity as well our Environment. Longterm maintenance of species and their management requires co-operative efforts across entire landscapes. Biodiversity should be dealt with at scale of habitats or ecosystems rather than at species level.