By- Shubham RathiClass- IX Moon

Importance Of BiodiversityBiodiversity is immensely rich in wildlife and cultivated species, diverse in form and function but closely integrated in a system through multiple network of interdependencies.

Functions:Entire habitat has immense biodiversity.Humans with other living organisms from a complex web of ecological system.Plants , animals and microorganisms recreate the quality of air we breathe.Forests play a key role in ecological system.

India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its biological diversity. It has nearly 8 percent of the total number of species in the world [estimated to be 1.6 million]. This is possibly twice or thrice this no. Yet to be discovered.Diverse flora and fauna are well integrated in our daily life. Some estimates suggest 10% of India's recorded wild flora and 20% of it’s mammals are on the threatened list. Some animals which are on the verge of extinction are cheetah, pink headed duck, mountain quall, forest spotted owlet and plants like madhuca. Besides, certain smaller animals and insects are also getting extinct.Over 81,000 species of flora and 47,000secies of flora are found in India. Of the estimated 47,000plants species , about 15000 flowering species are endemic to India.

MadhucaMountain quail

Pink headed duck Wild coffee plant

CLASSIFICATION OF SPECIES ON THE BASIS OF ITS CONSERVATION

Normal speciesEndangered speciesVulnerable speciesRare speciesEndemic speciesExtinct species

Species whose population levels are considered to be normal for their survival, such as cattle, Sal, pine, rodents, etc.

Cattle Rodents

These are species which are in danger of extinction. The survival of such is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to operate. The example of such species are black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque, sangai, etc.

Lion tailed macaque Black buck

VULNERABLE SPECIESThese are species whose population has declined to levels from where it is likely to

move into the endangered category in the near future if the negative factors continue to operate . The example of such species are blue sheep, Asiatic elephant, gangetic dolphin.

Species with small population may move into the endangered or vulnerable category if the negative factors affecting them continue to operate. The examples of such species are the Himalayan brown bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox and hornbill, etc.

These are the species which are not

found after searches of known or

likely areas where they may occur. A

species may be extinct from a local

area , region, country, continent or

the entire Earth. Examples of such

species are the Asiatic cheetah, pink

headed duck.

Endemic SpeciesThese are species which are only found in some particular areas usually isolated by natural or geographical barriers. Examples of such species are the Andaman teal, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman wild pig, mithun in Arunachal Pradesh.

Andaman Teal

Nicobar Pigeon

Conservation in the background of rapid decline in wildlife population and forestry has become essential. Conservation preserves the ecological diversity and our life support system – water, air and soil.

In the 1960s – 70s conservationists demanded a national wildlife protection program.

India wildlife act implemented in 1972. Government established national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. To protect the remaining population by banning, hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats.Several projects launched for endangered species. for example : Kashmir Stag, One-horned Rhinoceros, three types of Crocodile etc.

Project Tiger is a conservation programme launched in 1973 by the government of india during Prime minister Indira Gandhi's tenure. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural habitats and also to protect them from extinction, and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage forever represented as close as possible the diversity of animals across the tiger's distribution in the country. The project's task force visualized these tiger reserves as breeding nuclei, from which surplus animals would migrate to adjacent forests.Corbett national park in Uttarakhand, Sunderbans national park In West Bengal, Bandhavgarh national park in Madhya Pradesh, Sariska wildlife sanctuary in Rajasthan, Manas tiger reserve in Assam and Periyar tiger reserve in Kerala are some of the tiger reserve of India.

IN INDIA, MUCH OF IT’S FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES ARE EITHER OWNED OR MANAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE FOREST DEPARTMENT OR OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THESE ARE CLASSIFIED UNDER THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:

RESERVED FORESTPROTECTED FORESTUNCLASSED FOREST

MORE THAN HALF OF THE TOTAL FOREST LAND HAS BEEN DECLARED RESERVED FOREST. ARE REGARDING AS THE MOST VALUEABLE AS FAR AS THE CONSERVATION OF FOREST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCE ARE CONCERNED .JAMMU AND KASHMIR , ANDHRA PRADESH, UTTRAKHAND, KERLA, TAMIL NADU, WEST BENGAL, AND MAHARASTRA HAVE LARGE PERCENTAGE RESERVED FORESTS.

Almost one-third of the total forest area is protected forest, as declared by the forest department. This forest land are protected from any further depletion.Bihar ,Haryana Punjab, Himachal, Odisha and Rajasthan have protected forests.

These other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individual and communities.North eastern states and parts of Gujarat have unclassed forests.

CONSERVATION MOVEMENTS

The famous chipko movement in Himalayas resists deforestations in several areas. Farmers and citizens' groups like Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya have shown that adequate levels of diversified crop production without the use of synthetic chemicals are possible and economically viable.