🦋 Biodiversity Conservation
Levels of biodiversity, India's mega-diversity, hotspots, HIPPO threats, in-situ and ex-situ conservation, Protected Area network, and CBD for ELEC 13.
This lesson builds core elective concepts in BSc Agriculture with practical applications and exam-oriented clarity.
Biodiversity Conservation
Definition and Levels of Biodiversity
Biodiversity (biological diversity) was defined by E.O. Wilson (1988) as the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992 defines it as:
"The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems."
Three Levels of Biodiversity
1. Genetic Diversity
- Variation in genetic information (DNA) within and between populations of the same species
- Basis of evolution and adaptation
- Agricultural importance: genetic diversity in crop wild relatives and landraces; enables breeding for yield, disease resistance, climate adaptation
- Example: 100,000+ varieties of rice in India (many landraces); wild wheat relatives in Himalayan foothills
2. Species Diversity
- Variety of different species in a given area
- Measured by species richness (number of species) and species evenness (relative abundance)
- Indices: Shannon-Wiener index (H'), Simpson's index
- India: 47,000 plant species, 91,000 animal species (15,000 flowering plants, 1,200 birds, 440 reptiles, 200+ amphibians)
3. Ecosystem Diversity
- Variety of habitats, biotic communities, and ecological processes on Earth
- Includes deserts, wetlands, grasslands, forests, coral reefs, mangroves, etc.
- India: > 10 major ecosystem types; enormous diversity due to varied topography and climate
India's Biodiversity Status
India is the 12th most mega-diverse country in the world (one of 17 mega-diverse countries identified by Conservation International):
| Parameter | India's Status |
|---|---|
| Geographic area | 2.4% of world |
| Share of world flora | ~11% (47,000 plant species) |
| Share of world fauna | ~8% (91,000 animal species) |
| Flowering plants | ~15,000 species (6% of world) |
| Mammals | 422 species |
| Birds | 1,228 species |
| Reptiles | 521 species |
| Amphibians | 200+ species |
| Fish (freshwater) | 2,546 species |
| Medicinal plants | 7,500+ species |
| Crop species | 167 species; origin/diversity centre for 320 species |
India is one of 8 Vavilov centres of origin of crop plants — a primary centre for rice, pigeon pea, mango, cucumber, jute, and several millets.
Biodiversity Hotspots
Norman Myers (1988, 1990) proposed the concept of biodiversity hotspots — areas with exceptional concentrations of endemic species facing exceptional habitat loss.
Criteria for a hotspot:
- Must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics (> 0.5% of world's total)
- Must have lost at least 70% of its original habitat
There are 36 global biodiversity hotspots (as of 2023). India has portions of 4 hotspots:
| Hotspot | Location in India | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Himalaya | J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, NE states | Snow leopard, red panda, rhododendron diversity; 25,000+ plant species |
| Western Ghats and Sri Lanka | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Goa | Very high endemism; 5,000+ plant species, 139 endemic amphibian species; lion-tailed macaque |
| Indo-Burma | NE India (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal) | High freshwater biodiversity; 13,500+ plant species; Hoolock gibbon |
| Sundaland | Andaman and Nicobar Islands (partial) | Island biodiversity; endemic birds; marine diversity |
Western Ghats is often considered the single most biodiverse area in India — recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Threats to Biodiversity: HIPPO Framework
HIPPO summarises the main drivers of biodiversity loss (E.O. Wilson):
| Letter | Threat | Details |
|---|---|---|
| H | Habitat loss and fragmentation | #1 threat globally; deforestation, wetland drainage, conversion for agriculture/urban use |
| I | Invasive alien species | Non-native species introduced deliberately or accidentally; outcompete natives |
| P | Pollution | Chemical (pesticides, heavy metals), plastic, light, noise pollution |
| P | Population growth (human) | Increasing demand for land, food, water, energy |
| O | Overexploitation | Over-hunting, over-fishing, unsustainable harvesting of plants |
Climate change is increasingly considered a major driver (sometimes added to make it HIPPO+C).
Invasive Alien Species in India
| Species | Origin | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Parthenium hysterophorus (Congress grass) | Mexico | Allelopathic — inhibits native vegetation; causes skin allergies; reduces pasture quality |
| Lantana camara | Central America | Invades forest undergrowth; thorny thickets replace native herbs; affects wildlife habitat |
| Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) | South America | Chokes water bodies; reduces fish/aquatic biodiversity; blocks irrigation channels |
| Prosopis juliflora (vilayati babul) | Mexico | Invades grasslands in Rajasthan, Gujarat; affects pastoralism |
| Mikania micrantha | Central America | NE India; smothers native vegetation in tea gardens |
In-Situ Conservation
In-situ conservation is the conservation of species within their natural habitat. It is the most preferred approach as it conserves entire ecosystems and allows evolution to continue.
Protected Area (PA) Network in India
India has a comprehensive PA network under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972:
| Category | Numbers (2024) | Total Area |
|---|---|---|
| National Parks | 106 | ~40,501 sq km |
| Wildlife Sanctuaries | 567 | ~1,19,775 sq km |
| Conservation Reserves | 97 | ~4,571 sq km |
| Community Reserves | 220 | ~1,271 sq km |
| Total PAs | ~990 | ~1,65,088 sq km (5.03% of India) |
Biosphere Reserves (BR): UNESCO framework; 18 BRs in India; integrate conservation with sustainable human use. Zonation: core (strict), buffer, transition zones. 12 Indian BRs in UNESCO's World Network.
Project Tiger
- Launched: 1973 by Indira Gandhi government
- Objective: Conservation of Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)
- Tiger Reserves: 55 reserves as of 2024 covering ~78,135 sq km
- Tiger Census 2022: 3,682 tigers in India (75% of world's wild tigers)
- Key reserves: Corbett (Uttarakhand), Bandipur (Karnataka), Ranthambhore (Rajasthan), Sundarbans (WB), Kaziranga (Assam)
Project Elephant
- Launched 1992; covers 33 elephant reserves; ~29,964 elephants (census 2017)
Other conservation mechanisms
- Ramsar Sites: Wetlands of International Importance; India has 82 Ramsar sites (largest in Asia, 2024)
- Important Bird Areas (IBAs): 500+ designated by BirdLife International
- Sacred Groves (Devavans/Deorai): Traditional community-conserved areas; found across India; host rare species not found elsewhere
Ex-Situ Conservation
Ex-situ conservation is conservation of species outside their natural habitat. Complementary to in-situ; used when populations are critically small or habitat irreversibly lost.
| Method | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical Gardens | Living plant collections maintained for research and conservation | Lal Bagh (Bengaluru), Lloyd Botanical Garden (Darjeeling), NBRI (Lucknow) |
| Zoological Parks (Zoos) | Captive breeding of endangered animals; reintroduction programs | Mysore Zoo (Arabian oryx breeding), National Zoological Park Delhi |
| Gene Banks / Seed Banks | Long-term storage of seeds at low temperature and humidity | NBPGR National Gene Bank (New Delhi), ICAR genebanks |
| Cryopreservation | Storage of germplasm (sperm, embryos, seeds) at ultra-low temperatures (-196°C in liquid N₂) | For endangered species, crop wild relatives |
| In vitro culture | Tissue culture; meristem culture for disease-free plants | Orchid conservation, potato, banana |
National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi
- India's premier genebank for crop genetic resources
- Holds ~4.5 lakh accessions (seed samples) — one of world's largest collections
- Includes landraces, wild relatives, obsolete varieties, breeding materials
- Long-term cold storage at -20°C; cryopreservation for ultra-long-term storage
International Frameworks
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992
- Signed at Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro, 1992; entered into force 1993
- India ratified 1994
- Three objectives: Conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of components, fair and equitable sharing of benefits from use of genetic resources
- Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2010–2020): 20 targets under Strategic Plan 2011–2020
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022): "30x30" target — protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030
Nagoya Protocol 2010
- Protocol to CBD on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
- Governs access to genetic resources and sharing of benefits with country of origin and local communities
- India implemented through Biological Diversity Act 2002
Biological Diversity Act 2002
India's national law implementing CBD obligations:
| Body | Level | Functions |
|---|---|---|
| National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) | National (Chennai) | Regulate access to biological resources; approve applications from foreign nationals/companies |
| State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) | State level | Regulate access by Indian citizens/corporates; advise state governments |
| Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) | Gram Panchayat level | Prepare People's Biodiversity Register (PBR); protect local biodiversity; advise on access |
People's Biodiversity Register (PBR): Community-maintained register documenting local biodiversity — plants, animals, microorganisms and their uses. Prepared by BMCs with community participation.
Agro-Biodiversity
Agro-biodiversity encompasses the variety and variability of animals, plants, and microorganisms used directly or indirectly for food and agriculture.
Importance:
- Food security: Diverse crop species buffer against climate shocks; one crop failure doesn't mean total loss
- Nutritional security: Different crops provide different micronutrients
- Adaptation: Landraces carry genes for drought tolerance, pest resistance, local adaptation
- Ecosystem services: Diverse agroecosystems have better nutrient cycling, pest regulation, soil health
Threats: Genetic erosion — replacement of diverse landraces by 2–3 high-yielding varieties; India has lost ~75% of crop varieties in 20th century.
Conservation: NBPGR, on-farm conservation, Geographical Indications (GI) for traditional varieties, promotion of millets and indigenous rice varieties.
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Topic | Key takeaway |
|---|---|
| Main focus | Levels of biodiversity, India's mega-diversity, hotspots, HIPPO threats, in-situ and ex-situ conservation, Protected Area network, and CBD for ELEC 13. |
| Section context | Revise this lesson with the rest of Forest and Biodiversity for stronger conceptual continuity. |
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