VALUE OF BIODIVERITY ‘The value of biodiversity is difficult to define and is often impossible to estimate. However, biodiversity provides a variety of environmental services from its species ‘and ecosystems that are essential atthe global, regional and local levels. ‘Some important services are production of oxygen, reduction of carbon dioxide, fixing and recycling of nutrients, protection of soil and so on. The loss of biodiversity ‘contributes to global climatic changes, which we experience today. The loss of forest cover along with the ineease in global carbon dioxide has contributed to the ‘greenhouse effect’ Food, clothing, housing, energy, medicines are the various resources that are directly or indirectly linked tothe biological variety present inthe biosphere. Thus itis ‘obvious that the preservation of biological resources is essential for the well-being. land the long-term survival of mankind. ese values of biodiversity ai i. Consumptive Values: These include utilisation of timber, food, fuel wood and fodder by local communities. For example, isher-folks are completely dependent on fishes and know where and hhow to catch them and other edible aquatic animals and plants ii, Productive Value: ‘The genetic properties of microbes, pants and animals are used biotechnologicaly to develop better varieties of crops for use in farming and plantation programs orto develop better livestock. “The social values are linked to consumptive and productive value of biodiversity. “Beosystem people’ or traditional societies value biodiversity as a part of their livelihood, as well as trough cultural and religious sentiments, Cultivation of ice and ‘many other cereals ae linked to certain soa culture and customs,A reat numberof erops have been cultivated in traditional agricultural systems and this permitted a wide range of produce o be grown and marketed throughout the year, ‘Which helps to overcome the filure of one crop. ‘Recent practices have resulted in giving economic incentives to farmers to grow cash ‘reps for national and intemational markets, ignoring local needs. Ths resulted in 'ocal food shortage-amemployment and vulnerability to drought and flood, _ iv. Ethical and Moral Values: ‘There are several cultural, moral and ethical values which are associated with the sanctity ofall forms of lf. Nature in Indian civilisation has been preserved for hundreds of generations through local traditions and customs, Tribal people in several States of our counry have a numberof sacred groves or ‘deoras” around ancient saored sites and temples. Ths acts as gene banks for several wild plants, What isthe value of Dioatversity? ‘TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity is generally analysed at tree different levels, each of which has its own significance. These are: i. Genetic Diversit Within each member of any animal or plan species there are aten found a number of varieties or race or sain which slighly fer from each othe in one, two ora“The introduction of non-indigenous medicinal plant species into cultivation may have gical balance of the region. The ‘a detrimental impact on te biological end eco where ‘ecological impact of cultivation activities should be monitored overtime, practical The socal impact of cultivation on lel communities shouldbe examined to ensure that negative impacts on local livelihood are avoided. In terms of local income ‘eaming opporturities, small- sale cultivation is often preferable to large-scale production, in particular if small-scale farmers are organized to market their products jointly. large scale medicinal plant cultivation is or has been established, care should be taken that local communities benefit directly from, for example, fair wages, equal ‘employment opportunities and capital reinvestment. ili, Climate: Climatic conditions, for example, length of day, rainfall (water supply) and field temperature, significantly influence the physical, chemical and biological qualities of medicinal plants, “The duration of sunlight, average rainfall, average temperature, including daytime and. night-time temperature differences, also influence the physiological and biochemical activities of pants, and prior knowledge should be considered, WHO guidelines on ‘good agricultural and colletion practices (GACP) for medicinal plants. iv. Soil: ‘The sol should contain appropriate amounts of nutrients, organic matter and other clement to ensure optimal medicinal plant growth and quality. Optimal soil conditions, including sol type, drainage, moisture retention, fertility and pH, will be dictate by the selected medicinal plant species andor target medicinal plant part “The use of fertilizers is often indispensable in order to obtain large yields of medicinal plans. Itis, however, necessary to ensure that corect types and quantities of featlizers are used through agricultural research, In practice, organie and chemicalHuman exreta must ot be ued as a fertilizer owing tothe poten presence of imal manure should be thoroughly ceptable microbial limits and is. Any applications of animal manure infectious microorganisms or parasite. ‘composted to meet safe sanitary standards ofa destroyed by the germination capacity of weeds should be documented, (Chemical feritizes tat have been approved by the counties of cukvaton and ‘consumption shouldbe usd. All ferilzing agents should be applied sparingly and in ‘accordance with the needs ofthe particular medicinal plant species and supporting capacity ofthe sol. Fertilizers should be applied in such a manner as to minimize leaching. Growers ‘should implement practices that contribute to soil conservation and minimize erosion, for example, through the creation of streamside buffer zones and the planting of cover crops and “green manure” v. Irrigation and Drainage: Irvigation and drainage should be contolled and caried out in accordance with the ‘needs ofthe individual medicinal plant species during its various stages of growth ‘Water used for irrigation purposes should comply with local, regional and/or national ‘quality standards Inthe choice ofirigation, asa general rl, the health impact ofthe different types of ‘nrigaion (various forms of surface, sub-surface or overhead irrigation), particularly ‘nthe risks of increased veetor-bome disease transmission, must be taken into account, vi, Plant Maintenance and Protection: ‘The growih and development characteristics of individual medicinal plants, as well as the plant part destined for medicinal use, should guide field management practices. “The timely application of measures such as topping, bud nipping, pruning and shading _may be used to contro the growh and development of the plant, thereby improving the quality and quantity ofthe medicinal plant material being produced, ‘Good agricultural practices for medicinal plants any agrochemicals used to promote the growth of orto protect medicinal plants should be kept to @ minimum, and appliedonly when no alternative measures are available. Inegrated pest management should bbe followed where appropriate ‘When necessary, only approved pesticides and herbicides shouldbe applied a the ‘minimum effective level, in acordance with the labelling and/or package insert instructions ofthe individual product and the regulatory requirements that aply for the grower andthe end-user countries. Only qualified staf using approved equipment should cary out pesticide and herbicide aplietions eS .. ‘All applications should be documented. The minimum interval between such treatments and harvest should be consistent withthe labelling and/or package insert instructions of the plant protection product, and such treatments should be carried out in consultation and with the by agreement of the buyer of the medicinal plants Or ‘medicinal plant materials. Growers and producers should comply with maximum pesticide’ and herbicide residue limits, as stipulated by local, regional and/or national regulatory authorities of both the growers’ and the end-users’ countries and/or regions. Intemational agreements such asthe Intemational Plant Protection Convention and Codex Alimentarius should ‘also be consulted on pesticide use and residues. POLLUTION HABITAT LOSS HUNTING: INTRODUCTION OF INVASIVE SPECIES ‘OVEREXPLOITATION OF PREFERRED SPECIES CLIMATE CHANGE ‘CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS NATURAL DISASTERS1, California (U.S.A.) In industrialised countries like Australia, New Zealan¢ and others almost 90% of the wetland systems have been lost. Ho world’s entire wetlands, the losses Canada, which possesses one-fourth, of the are relatively low due to thin population density. (©) Mangroves and other coastal wetlands are important buffering zone a rich flora and fauna unique of their own. between land and sea and pos "Almost half of mangrove forests have been cleared in Ecuador, nearly three~ fourth in Thailand and 95% of Indonesia’s mangroves are earmarked for pulpwood production. In addition to reduction in biological diversity, elimination of mangrove line and decrease in fish production. ‘ecosystem also causes erosion o' ( Coral-eef ecosystems are also damaged due to elimination of mangroves. Coral reefs are highly diverse and productive ecosystems and are marine equivalent to tropical forest. Due tothe reduction of mangroves, sfreams and rivers, deposit an increasing amount of silt and sediments, while pollutants (particularly pesticides) harm the underwater biota directly Philippines, which once boasted of its possession of the world’s richest and most fs diverse biota, has lost about 71% of its coral reLandscapes, and Biosphere Reserves et. The objective of these areas is the prese2v=" tion of relatively inact natural ecosystems, where biological diversity from microbes microscopic plans and animals to the giant trees and large mammals are all equally protected However, in these areas particular species cannot be protected individually as in an ecosystem various species are interdependent on each other. The conservationists viewpoint is in dealing with areas that are relatively species-rich, or those that have rare, threatened or endangered species or those wit ‘endemic’ species which are not found anywhere else. Generally, some rare endemie species are found ina small area and such areas must bbe given added importance as ther biodiversity is a special feature of that region. On the other hand, animals such as elephants, which require different types of habitat to feed during different seasons, requie a large enough ares so as to include such iverse habitat types. ii, Ex-Situ Conservation: “Endangered species can be conserved outside its natural habitat through ex-sita conservation by carefully controlled situation such as @ botanical garden for plants ‘and zoological parks for animals, ‘When conservation is done outside the natural habitat of organisms, itis called ex-sita conservation. Here, sample populations are conserved in genetic resource centres, ‘zoological parks, botanieal gardens, culture collections ete. or are conserved inthe form of gene pools and gamete storage fr fishes, germplasm banks for seeds, pollen, semen, ova, cells ete. Pans are readily maintained than animals. These breeding programmes for rare plans and animals are, however, very expensive and requires expertise to make these species multiply under artificially managed conditions. seed banks, botanical gardens, pollen storage, tissue culture, genetic engineering ete. have been playing erucal role, When an animal is on the verge of extnetion i has toInnotech ig chs of ps ye, compe er (treba hs ney tg ie YP OH, “ee mens ft tng oes erie i of et (eo odgad dren. Tisepne cmc of eral nt ng nema ob uke pacing rber mncie ahe tie en rire sonnei raion. “ik Conserving Biaiversisy th ough Feo Development: Ios Feet Rese san nl isin Pos FREEP) ve ad emma soe pssientytg AH kW Galop. redelegate sources sof name fet ffevany tomes eoorperle ote dnd en reo eae bin a he atin Tat ied es fle erp comeinglaunched a long-term initia then India's forestry research system, improve The biodiversity conservat ded experience that has Proved useful for another program Project, financed by International Development Assoc ai Environment Facility Trust Fund, T —_—. es bm ! | Prue AraNe i i en FT Sert Sette Sate ors Binge Nase ps pat Feblpme prem Sandi ones wile eme bate (ae ee ee a ine Sere{TONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK. irl igo pak io Siam celack xe mau ize apr curs lc ss ate onprtunSke amc scavenger They poy onsale fete ho zr [Scinufe name rte ier eens mgr They here an avorage Fa" ff 2bab yen weghng 70.900 cram