BIODIVERSITY

AND
ITS CONSERVATION
 BIODIVERSITY
• It deals with the degree of nature’s variety in
the biosphere.

• Variety and variability of life on Earth in terms

of the variability within species (genetic),
between species and between ecosystems.
 LEVELS OF BIODIVERSITY
3 Levels of Biodiversity:
Genetic Diversity Species Diversity Ecosystem Diversity
 BIOGEOGRAPHIC ZONES
• Trans-Himalaya
• Himalaya
• Gangetic Plain
• North-Eastern Zone
• Desert
• Semi-Arid
• Deccan Peninsula
• Western Ghats
• Coasts
• Islands
 BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS
• Significant level of species diversity.
• 34 Hotspots Globally
• Criteria for a Biodiversity Hotspot:
a) 0.5% of the world or 1500 species of vascular
plant species must be endemic
b) Have lost at least 70% of its primary
vegetation.
 Mega-Diversity Nation
• Majority of the Earth's species and high numbers of
endemic species.
• Just seventeen nations collectively claim with their borders
more than two-thirds of the earths biological resources.
• These countries are also home to a major portion of the
planets cultural diversity. In terms of plant and animal
species at risk, as much as 80% of the world most
endangered biodiversity is found within the megadiverse
nations .
• Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Unites States, Mexico, Peru,
Venezuela, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, China,
Madagascar, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of
South Africa, Australia, Papua New Guinea.
 HABITAT LOSS

• More than 20 percent of the world oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.
• The U.S. National Cancer Institute has identified 3000 plants that are active against cancer
cells. 70% of these plants are found in the rainforest. Twenty-five percent of the active
ingredients in today's cancer-fighting drugs come from organisms found only in the
rainforest.
Indonesia
• According to the World Wildlife Fund, an area the equivalent size
of 300 football fields of rainforest is cleared each hour for palm
oil production.
• Many species to extinction, species like the orangutan could
become extinct in the wild within the next 5-10 years, and
Sumatran tigers in less than 3 years.
• Currently, a third of all mammal species in Indonesia are
considered critically endangered because of this unsustainable
development rapidly encroaching on their habitat.
• More than 300,000 different animal species live in the forests of
Borneo and Sumatra, and many of them are injured, killed, or
displaced during deforestation.
• Increase in accessibility of animals to poachers and wildlife
smugglers.
• Over 90% of orangutan habitat destroyed in last 20 years, “a
conservation emergency” by the UN.
• An estimated 1000-5000 orangutans are killed each year for
palm oil development.
• According to WWF, the orangutan is a “keystone species” that
plays a vital role in maintaining the health of the ecosystem.
• Government data has shown that more than 50,000
orangutans have already died as a result of deforestation due
to palm oil in the last two decades, which represents a period
of rapid growth in the U.S. consumption of palm oil.
• Orangutan is not the only species affected by palm oil
development, other species facing the same fate in Southeast
Asia.
Poaching and Hunting
• At the global scale, illegal wildlife trade ranks as the fourth largest illegal
industry after narcotics, human trafficking and counterfeit products and
is valued at approximately US $19-26 billion per year.
• According to a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drug and
Crime, at least 132,144 seizures of illegal transnational wildlife trade,
involving thousands of species, were made across 120 countries in the
past decade.
• 20 per cent of all wildlife seizures recorded during 1996-2008 took place
in India.
• Over 1 million Pangolins have been traded in the past decade.
• Between 35,000 – 50,000 African Elephants are poached every year. The
African elephant population has been cut in half since the 1970s due to
ivory poaching.
• It is estimated that the African elephant will be extinct in the next 10
years if this does not stop.
• Around 30 percent of the Asian Elephant Population is in Captivity.
• Like the African elephant, the Asian elephant is at dire risk of extinction.
There are an estimated 32,000 Asian elephants left in the wild. One-third
of the remaining population are being held in zoos, circuses, or used in
tourist attractions.
 Human-Wildlife Conflicts
Human-wildlife conflict is defined by the WWF for
nature as “any interaction between humans and
wildlife that results in negative impact on human
social, economic or cultural life, on the conservation of
wildlife populations, or on the environment.”
 Reasons Outcomes

• Deforestation • Crop damage

• Loss of habitat • Human life loss
• Decline in prey/food • Animal deaths
resources • Biodiversity gets affected
• Injured/old animal • Livestock/cattle
• Growing Population population decreases
• One person has been killed every day for the past three years
(2014-2017) by roaming tigers or rampaging elephants.
• According to India's Environment Ministry statistics, a total of
1,144 people killed between April 2014 and May 2017.
• A study, conducted from 2011-14 and published last month,
surveyed over 5,000 households across 11 wildlife reserves in
India. In all, 72% of the 5,196 households reported conflict with
wildlife.
• Seventy-one per cent of households reported crop losses and
17%, livestock losses; 3% reported injury to people and death,
despite the use of at least 12 kinds of mitigation measures, like
fencing, sounds to scare off animals and guarding fields at night.
• The highest reported conflict cases (84%) came from the Kanha
forests in central India.
• Maximum human wildlife conflict situations has been recorded in
Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Uttarakhand.
 Invasive species
• Introduced/non-indigenous species.
• Species are not native to a specific area and has a
tendency to spread or is introduced to some location by
any human activity (deliberately or accidentally), thus
causing damage to the humans, environment and other
living organisms.
• They threaten the existing and indigenous biodiversity.
• Specific traits help them out compete the native species:
 Rapid growth
 Fast Reproduction
 Adaptability to the current physical conditions
 Ability to feed on wide range of food
 Tolerant to extreme weather conditions
 Parthenium

Prosopis juliflora (Vilayati Keekar)

Eucalyptus

About 40% of Indian

flora are alien and out
of which 25% are
Lantana Camara
invasive species
Climate change
• Climate change, and the loss of sea ice
habitat, is the greatest threat to polar
bears.
• Polar bears rely on sea ice to hunt and
store, when food can be scarce. Sea ice
now melts earlier in the spring and forms
later in the winters.
• As the bears spend longer periods
without food, their health declines
• Unhealthy bears can lead to lower
reproduction rates, thus local extinction.
• Coral reefs are home to 25% of marine
biodiversity.
• Corals live in symbiosis with microalgae,
which provide the coral with nutrients.
• During unfavourable conditions they
expel microalgae giving rise to the typical
white colouration observed.
 IUCN Categories
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): World's
most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status
of biological species.

• Data collection, analysis, research, projects, education, advocacy,

etc.
• Red Data Book/ Red List
• Extinct and Extinct (W):
• Critically Endangered: extremely high risk of
extinction.

• Endangered: high risk of extinction in the wild.

• Vulnerable: likely to become endangered unless the
circumstances threatening its survival and
reproduction improve. Habitat loss or destruction of
the species home. Population facing continuous
decline though they are in abundance.
CONSERVATION of BIODIVERSITY
PROJECT ELEPHANT
• Project Elephant (PE) was launched in
1992 by the Govt. of India Ministry of
Environment and Forests as a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme with following
objectives :

1. To protect elephants, their habitat &

corridors
2. To address issues of man-animal conflict
3. Welfare of captive elephants

• Implemented in 16 states/UTs
According to Elephant census 2012, 29,391-30,711 elephants in the wild
covering an area of 61830.80 sq.km.
• The Indian elephant is widely seen in the 16 of the 28 states
in the country, especially in the southern Western Ghats,
North-east India, eastern India, Central India and northern
India.
• It is comprised in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act, 1972 and in the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and
Fauna (CITES).
• According to recent reports, the population of Elephants is
showing an increasing trend across its distributional range.
Its population in 2007 was assessed to be in the range from
27,657 to 27,682, whereas in 2012 the population was
increased up to 31,368.
• Karnataka is the state leading in Elephant population
followed by Assam.
• As per 2017 census of elephants, India is home to 27,312
elephants accounting for 55 per cent of total world
elephants population.
• 28 Elephant Reserves (ERs) in the country,
where as permission for two more Elephant
Reserves such as Lemru in Chattisgarh and Khasi
Elephant Reserve in Meghalaya have been
accorded by the Ministry.
• Earlier identified corridors amounting to 88 in
2005, the number of corridors has now
increased to 101. However, none of these have
any legal protection.
• Garo ER, Anamalai ER, Kaziranga ER, Nilgiri ER,
Periyar ER, Shivalik ER.
• With increasing human-
wildlife conflict, at least
80 elephants are killed
every year in India on an
average, totalling up to
655 deaths in the last
eight years, environment
ministry data showed.
The main reasons were
electrocution, train
accidents, poaching and
poisoning.
• According to estimates, 400 people and 50 elephants are killed in
India every year due to conflict, which is increasing due to the
rapidly shrinking habitat.
• In July 2017, environment ministry data had revealed that in the last
three years, at least one human life was lost every day due to
conflict with elephants and tigers. A total of 1,144 human deaths
were recorded due to conflict with tigers and elephants in 1,143
days.
• A regional plan to curb human-elephant conflict in eastern and
central India was adopted by Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand
and West Bengal. These five states have about 10 per cent of the
country’s elephant population but account for over 50 per cent of
deaths due to human-elephant conflict.
• According to the plan, it divides elephant habitats into three zones:
Areas with forest cover sufficient enough to conserve elephants,
habitats where humans and animals will co-exist, and “elephant
removal zones” in agricultural areas. In the agricultural areas, the
plan envisages capturing the animals and removing them to other
forest areas, and if that fails, keeping some of the animals in
captivity.
Main activities under the Project are as follows:

• Ecological restoration of existing natural habitats and

migratory routes of elephants
• Development of scientific and planned management for
conservation of elephant habitats and viable population of
Wild Asiatic elephants in India
• Promotion of measures for mitigation of man elephant
conflict in crucial habitats and moderating pressures of
human and domestic stock activities in crucial elephant
habitats
• Strengthening of measures for protection of Wild
elephants form poachers and unnatural causes of death
• Research on Elephant management related issues
• Public education and awareness programmes
• Eco-development and Veterinary care
• Elephant Rehabilitation/Rescue Centres
 PROJECT
TIGER

Project Tiger is a
pioneer • Ensuring a viable population of
conservation Bengal tigers in their natural habitats.
program launched • To protect the tigers from extinction.
in 1973 by the • Preserving areas of biological
Government of importance.
India during Prime • Maintaining tiger's distribution in the
Minister Indira country.
Gandhi's tenure.
• India is home to 70% of tigers in the world.
• In 1973, Project Tiger was launched in the Palamau Tiger
Reserve (Jharkhand), and various tiger reserves were
created in the country based on a ‘core-buffer’ strategy.
• National Board for Wild Life ==> Tiger Task Force ==>
National Tiger Conservation Authority
• It is administered by the National Tiger Conservation
Authority.
• Government has set up a Tiger Protection Force under PT
to combat poachers.
• Project Tiger funds relocation of villagers to minimize
human-tiger conflicts.
• There are 49 tiger reserves in India covering 18 states are
governed by Project Tiger.
• All of these are administered by the National Tiger
Conservation Authority.
• According to World Wildlife Fund and Global Tiger Forum, total
number of wild tigers has risen to 3,890 in 2016.
• Providing assistance to States under the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of “Project Tiger” for protection, infrastructure and
antipoaching operations (including deployment of Tiger Protection
Force and Special Tiger Protection Force) Providing grant through
NTCA for patrolling in tiger rich sensitive forest areas outside tiger
reserves Alerting the States as and when required Disseminating
of real time information of backward / forward linkages relating to
poachers / wildlife criminals. Advising the States for combing
forest floor to check snares / traps Performing supervisory field
visits through the National Tiger Conservation Authority and its
regional offices Using information technology for improved
surveillance (e-Eye system) using thermal cameras Launching tiger
reserve level monitoring using camera trap to keep a photo ID
database of individual tigers Preparing a national database of
individual tiger photo captures to establish linkage with body parts
seized or dead tigers Assisting States to deploy local workforce in
a big way for protection to complement
 National Tiger Conservation
Authority (NTCA)
 The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in December 2005
following a recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.
 The National Tiger Conservation Authority is constituted under the provisions
of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for escalating tiger conservation. It is a
statutory body working under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate
Change.
 National Tiger Conservation Authority administers Project Tiger.
 Administration of the tiger reserves will be in accordance with guidelines of
NTCA.
 Tiger reserves in India are administered by field directors as mandated by
NTCA.
 No alteration in the boundaries of a tiger reserve shall be made except on a
recommendation of the NTCA and the approval of the National Board for Wild
Life.
 No State Government shall de-notify a tiger reserve, except in public interest
with the approval of the NTCA and the approval of the National Board for Wild
Life.
 Functions of NTCA
• The Authority lays down standards, guidelines for tiger conservation in the
Tiger Reserves, National Parks and Sanctuaries.
• Provide information on protection measures including future plan for
conservation.
• The Authority would facilitate and support tiger reserve management in
the States through eco-development and people’s participation.
• The Tiger Conservation Authority would be required to prepare an Annual
Report, which would be laid in the Parliament along with the Audit Report.
• State level Steering Committees will be set up in the Tiger States under
the Chairmanship of respective Chief Ministers. This has been done with a
view for ensuring coordination, monitoring and protection of tigers in the
States.
• A provision has been made for the State Governments to prepare a Tiger
Conservation Plan.
• Provision will be made for the States to establish a Tiger Conservation
Foundation, based on the good practices emanating from some tiger
reserves.
Steps taken by the GOI/NTCA in the last
few years to check tiger population:
• Providing assistance to States under the Centrally Sponsored
Scheme of “Project Tiger” for protection, infrastructure and
antipoaching operations (including deployment of Tiger Protection
Force and Special Tiger Protection Force)
• Providing grant through NTCA for patrolling in tiger rich sensitive
forest areas outside tiger reserves
• Alerting the States as and when required Disseminating of real
time information of backward / forward linkages relating to
poachers / wildlife criminals.
• Advising the States for combing forest floor to check snares /
traps
• Performing supervisory field visits through the National Tiger
Conservation Authority and its regional offices
• Using information technology for improved surveillance (e-Eye system)
using thermal cameras
• Launching tiger reserve level monitoring using camera trap to keep a
photo ID database of individual tigers
• Preparing a national database of individual tiger photo captures to
establish linkage with body parts seized or dead tigers
• Initiative taken for collaboration of National Tiger Conservation Authority
and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau towards an online tiger / wildlife crime
tracking / reporting system in tiger reserves and to coordinate with
INTERPOL for checking trans-border trade of wildlife products.
• Insurance / Corpus Fund for staff of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. Motivating
tiger reserve administration / tiger States to ensure conviction of
criminals through pursuance of cases in different courts.
• Bilateral co-operation with neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh
and Bhutan besides Russia.
• Sharing of information on seizure of body parts including skin of tigers
among tiger range countries to ascertain source area. India has already
made a proposal in this regard in CITES CoP-17 in Johannesburg which
was agreed by member countries.
 WILDLIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972

• The Government of India enacted Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 with
the objective of effectively protecting the wild life of this country and
to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its
derivatives.
• It extends to the whole of India, except for J&K state which ahs its
own Wildlife Act.
• The WL (P) Act regulates sale, barter etc. of notified wild plants and
animal species. It also provides control over keeping of wild animals
in captivity.
Schedule I
Schedule II
Schedule III
Schedule IV Schedule V
Schedule VI
Schedule I:

Schedule II:

Schedule III:
Schedule IV:

Schedule V:

Schedule VI:
• It defines the wildlife related terminology.
• Enactment of an All India Wildlife Protection Act
(1972).
• It provides for the appointment of wildlife advisory
Board, Wildlife warden, their powers, duties etc.
• Becoming a party to the Convention of International
Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES,
1976).
• Launching a “national component of UNESCO’s ‘Man
and Biosphere Programme’ (1971).
• Under the Act, comprehensive listing of endangered
wildlife species was done for the first time and
prohibition of hunting of the endangered species was
mentioned.
• Protection to some endangered plants.
• The Act provides for setting up of National Parks, Wildlife
Sanctuaries etc.
• The Act provides for the constitution of Central Zoo Authority.
• There is provision for trade and commerce in some wildlife species
with license for sale, possession, transfer etc.
• The act imposes a ban on the trade or commerce in scheduled
animals.
• It provides for legal powers to officers and punishment to
offenders.
 Amendments and Penalty
• Amendment 1991: Bird trade was stopped in 1991 following an
amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• In 2002 an amendment in the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 was
made. This amendment came into force in January 2003 and
under it, punishment for defaulters is harsher.
• Under this amendment if one is caught in the process of trade of
animal trophies and other articles derived from wild animals
(Schedule I and II) they will be subject to three years of
imprisonment which can extend up to 7 years and/or a fine of Rs.
10,000. for a subsequent offence of the same nature, the term of
imprisonment will not be less than 3 years which may extend up to
7 years with a minimum fine of Rs. 25,000.
• The 2006 amendment introduced a new chapter for establishment
of the National Tiger Conservation Authority and notification of
Tiger Reserves (before this amendment, Tiger Reserves were not
defined under the law, but were merely administrative
designations to enable funding under Project Tiger).
 Biodiversity Act, 2002
• The Biological Diversity Act 2002 was born out
of India's attempt to realise the objectives
enshrined in the United Nations Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992 which
recognizes the sovereign rights of states to use
their own Biological Resources.
• The Act aims at the conservation of biological
resources and associated knowledge as well as
facilitating access to them in a sustainable
manner and through a just process.
•
 Salient features
• To regulate access to biological resources of the country
with equitable share in benefits arising out of the use of
biological resources.
• To conserve and sustainably use biological diversity.
• Protection and rehabilitation of threatened species.
• To set up National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) , State
Biodiversity Board (SBB) and Biodiversity Management
Committees (BMC’s)
• To create National , State and local biodiversity fund and
its use for conservation of biodiversity.
• To respect and protect knowledge of local communities
and traditional knowledge related to biodiversity.
• To conserve and develop areas of importance from the
stand point of biological diversity by declaring them as
biological diversity heritage sites.
 Penalty
• Offenders who violate the regulatory provisions
will be "punishable with imprisonment for a term
which may extend to five years, or with fine
which may extend to Rs. 10,00,000 and where
the damage caused exceeds ten lakh rupees such
fine may commensurate with the damage caused,
or with both."
• Any offence under this Act is non-bailable and
cognizable.