Biodiversity of India

What is biodiversity
The term biodiversity encompasses the variety of
all life forms on earth. It is identified as the
variability among living organisms and the
ecological complexes of which they are part,
including diversity within and between species and
ecosystem.
In simple words it can be defined as variety,
variability between genes, species and ecosystems
The term biodiversity was first coined by Walter
and Rosen in 1985

Levels Of Biodiversity
There are three levels of Diversity

Species diversity

It defines as variety of different species of living forms in a given area.

India has around 2,00,000 species of the total species described.
The species diversity peaks in the tropical forest and coral reefs.

Genetic diversity

It is defined as The variation at the level of individual genes OR

The heritable variation within and between populations of organisms
The more genetic diversity in a population, the more chances in variations.
These variations help the individuals to have a variant that help it to be suite for the
new environment.

Ecosystem or Habitat diversity

Ecosystem is the structural and functional unit of the biosphere.

Ecosystem diversity is defined as the aggregation of various habitats, community
types and abiotic environment in a given area
India has one of the richest ecosystem diversity, ranging from deserts, plains, hills,

Bio Diversity In India

Out of the 18 hot spots of biodiversity recognized in the world,
India has two of them, viz. Eastern Himalaya and The Western
Ghats.
Eastern Himalayas is recognized as the Cradle of Speciation
due to rich diversity of primitive flowering plants.Ecosystem or
Habitat diversity

Endemic Species
These are the species found only in a particular
geographical region because of its isolation, soil and
climatic conditions.

Biodiversity benefits.
Biodiversity is known for its multiple benefits.
The three main benefits commonly cited for preservation of
biodiversity are:
Economic benefits
Ecological benefits
Ethical benefits

 Economic benefits
Significant economic benefits associated with biodiversity are:
Food: All our food comes from plants and animals. About 80,000
plant species are potential food sources.

Agriculture: The genetic diversity of wild plants are used to produce

better strains of crops with superior yields.

Medicine: Medicinal plants are of great demand in modern

pharmaceutical industry because todays synthetic drugs owe their
origin to plants.

Industry: The wood from plants is being used in industries for

clothing, shelter, as fuel, as raw material for paper, rayon, plastic, for
construction purpose, etc.

The modern green revolution, the farmers began to lose their

traditional systems of sustainable agriculture, However the Beej
Bachao Andolan (BBA) has helped to revive the traditional farming
methods.

 Ecological benefits

Biodiversity is important for maintenance and sustainable utilization

of goods and services from ecological systems.

The services include formation and protection of soil, conservation

and purification of water, maintenance of hydrological cycle etc.

Forest vegetation provides natural protection to soil as soil binders

that prevent soil erosion and also slows down water flow to down
stream areas.

Plants absorb water from soil or water reservoirs and add it to the air
as vapour by transpiration. Animal and plants also lose water in
vapour form by respiration. Water vapour formed by transpiration
and respiration form clouds and enter global water cycle
(hydrological cycle).

Soil microbes (decomposers) and soil animals like earthworms help

in efficient breakdown of organic matter into inorganic nutrients,
thus enriching the soil fertility.

 Ethitical benefits

Throughout human history, people have related the very existence of human race to
biodiversity through cultural, spiritual and religious beliefs. Many plants, animals,
forest, landscapes and rivers are considered as sacred and worshiped by the people.
Today these have become cultural heritage. These beliefs have played an effective
role in conservation of many species of plants and animals especially preservation
of many endemic and rare species.
Sacred species: Traditionally conserved plant and animal species of religious and
cultural importance are called sacred species. Ex: Plants like Tulasi, Neem, Ashoka
tree and Pipal tree. Animals like Cow, Monkey and Cobra etc.
Sacred grooves: It is a small patch of land with natural fauna and flora protected by
the local community in dedication of deities or their ancestral spirits. There are
about17,000 known sacred grooves in India. Sacred grooves are storehouse of many
rare and endemic species.
Sacred Landscapes: It is a large heterogeneous area that contains a variety of natural
and traditionally managed ecosystems. For example the river Ganga is considered as
Holy River. The stretch of Ganga between Haridwar and Rishikesh is conserved as
Machhiyal where fishing is banned.

Sacred species:

Sacred Landscapes

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity inventories
Conserving Biodiversity in protected Habitats-
In situ conservation Ex situ conservation
Seed Bank, Gene Bank, Pollen Bank, DNA Bank Gene Bank

Restoration of Biodiversity
Imparting Environmental Education
Enacting, strengthening &
enforcing Environmental Legislation
Population Control
Reviewing the agriculture practice
Controlling Urbanization
Conservation through Biotechnology

Why Conserve BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity diversities affects us all
It had direct consumptive values in food, agriculture ,medicine
& Industry
It maintains ecological balance and continues to evolutionary
process .
It provides indirect eco systems like ,chemical cycling , soil
management , climate regulations ,water system
management ,waste treatment and pest control .

*THANK-YOU*