Biodiversity conservation and rural livelihood

Nishtha Awasthi, Alok Chandrakar*, Reetu Sahu, DeepakPrabhat

Department of Forestry, School of Natural Resource Management, Guru Ghasidas
Vishwavidyalaya , Koni, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
*Corresponding author’s email : alokanand1234@gmail.com
Abstract

Biodiversity refers to the diversity in the biological organisms i.e. at species level, genetic
level and at ecosystem level. Theseare one of the major sources to ours,and especially to rural
population’s demand for food, medicines, fibres, fuels, industrial products, etc. It also acts as
an income generator for the local and remote area population.
There are so many essential components of biodiversity that are linked directly or indirectly
with the rural livelihood. Humankind derives the utmost benefits from the products of
biodiversity as these services are provided freely by natural system. We only become
concerned of the valuesand importance of the biodiversity once they start depleting or gets
vanished. The Biological Diversity Act 2002 was enacted by the Parliament of India for the
preservation of biological diversities in India and for equitable sharing of benefits, arising
from the use of traditional biological resources and knowledge with the local habitants. But
this equitable sharing has now turnedinto overuse of biological resources which is imposing a
number of negative impact on biological diversities. However, there are number of strategies
out there for conservation of biological diversities i.e. In-situ conservation and Ex-situ
conservation techniques,but there is also a need for the improvisation of thesetechniques with
addition of innovative approaches with the passage of time.
The study was conducted in the small village near Amarkantak Biosphere reserve, Madhya
Pradesh.It is home for 1527 plant species dominated by Shorea rubusta. It also has habitat for
335 wild animal species such as leopard, wild pig, wild dog, hyena, fox, etc. The area is
blessed with such a good natural climatic condition and receives high rainfall and hence
supports good vegetation but a population rise in the area has put an alarming threat to the
biodiversity around and requires an immediate attention.

Keywords- Biodiversity, Conservation, Biosphere reserves, Ecosystem, In-situ conservation,

Ex-situ conservation