VEDANTA COLLEGE KOLKATA

NAME: MOHIT KUMAR PRASAD

SEMESTER: 2ND
REGISTRATION NO.: 316-1111-0074-21
ROLL NO.: 213316-21-0011
SUBJECT: ENVS
PAPER CODE: AECC2
STREAM: B.SC PHYSICS HONOURS
TOPIC: BIODIVERSITY AND IT’S
CONSERVATION
SESSION: 2021-2024
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY

GRATITUDE , MY APPRECIATION TO
ALL THOSE WHO GAVE ME THE
POSSIBILITY TO COMPLETE THIS
REPORT.
I THANK TO MY SUPERVISOR
WHOSE HELP AND SUGGESTION AND
ENCOURAGEMENT THROUGHOUT
THE PROJECT.
THIS PROJECT ALSO HELPED ME IN
DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND I
CAME TO KNOW ABOUT SO MANY
NEW THINGS.
 INDEX
SERIAL
NUMBER
TOPIC PAGE
NUMBER

1. INTODUCTION 1
2. THREATS OF BIODIVERSITY 2
3. TYPES OF BIODIVESITY 3
4. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY 4
5. HOTSPOTS IN INDIA 4-6
6. TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY 6-7
7. GOVERNMENT POLICIES 7
8. CONCLUSION 8
9. REFERENCES 9
 INTRODUCTION

BIODIVERSITY
“Biodiversity means 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.”

In the simplest sense,biodiversity may be defined as the

sum total of species richness, i.e. the number of species of
plants,animals and microorganisms occurring in a given
region, country, continent of the entire globe.

BIODIVESITY CONSERVATION
Biodiversity conservation is the protection and
management of biodiversity to obtain resources for
sustainable development.
Biodiversity conservation has three main objectives:
•To preserve the diversity of species.
•Sustainable utilization of species and ecosystem.
•To maintain life-supporting systems and essential ecological
process
WHY CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT?
Biodiversity conservation protects plant, animal, microbial and
genetic resources for food production, agriculture, and ecosystem
functions such as fertilizing the soil, recycling nutrients,
regulating pests and disease, controlling erosion, and pollinating
crops and trees.
 THREATS OF BIODIVERSITY
The core threat to biodiversity on the planet, and therefore a
threat to human welfare, is the combination of human
population growth and the resources used by that population.
The human population requires resources to survive and grow,
and those resources are being removed unsustainably from the
environment. The three greatest proximate threats to
biodiversity are habitat loss, overharvesting, and introduction of
exotic species. There are two types:-
Natural Threats:- That occurs naturally in nature. There are
four types:- narrow geographical area, low pollution, low
breeding rate,natural disasters.
Anthropogenic Threates:- Thats caused due to human
activity. Like:- exploitation, habitat degradation, habitat loss,
climate changes, invasive species/genes, pollution, disease

1. Hunting:
From time immemorial, man has hunted for food. Commercially,
wild animals are hunted for their products such as hide and skin,
tusk, antlers, fur meat, pharmaceuticals, perfumes, cosmetics and
decoration purposes. For example, in India, rhino is hunted for its
horns, tigers for bones and skin, musk deer for musk (have medicinal
value), elephant for ivory, gharial and crocodile for their skin, and
jackal for thriving fur trade in Kashmir.

2. Over exploitation:
This is one of the main cause of the loss of not only economic species
but also biological ciriosities like the insectivorous and primitive
species and other taxa needed for teaching or laboratory (like
Nepenthes, Gnetum, Psilotum, etc.) commercial exploitation of wild
plants has invariably causes their overuse and eventual destruction.

3. Deforestation:
One of the main causes for the loss of wildlife is population explosion
and the resultant deforestation. Deforestation mainly results from
population settlement, shifting cultivation, development projects,
demand for fuel wood, demand of wood as raw material for many
industries such aspaper and pulp, match, veneer and plywood,
furniture etc.
 TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY

1. GENETIC DIVERSITY:- Genetic diversity refers to the

variation of genes among the population and the individuals of
the same species. There are about 1.7 million known species of
living forms on the earth. Each one stores an immense amount of
genetic information. For example, the number of genes is ~35,000
in Homo sapiens.

2. SPECIES DIVERSITY:- It refers to the variety of species

within a region, i.e. the number of species per unit area at the site
(species richness). An estimated 1.7 million species have been
described to date. Species are the primary focus of evolutionary
mechanisms and therefore the origin and evolution of species are
principle agents in maintenance of global biodiversity.

3. ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY:- The variety of different

habitats, communities and ecological processes. A biological
community is defined by the species that occupy a particular area
and the interactions between those species.Ecosystem diversity in
contrast to genetic and specific diversity is difficult to assess
quantitatively since the boundaries of the communities, which
constitute the various sub-ecosystems are elusive.

4. HABITAT DIVERSITY:- It involves more than just the

kind of communities and species- it depends on the spatial
arrangement of habitats across a large and on the fluxes of
energy, nutrients, disturbances and organisms across the area.
 IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY

1. Ecological Role: All species provide some kind of

function to an ecosystem. They can capture and store energy,
produce organic material, decompose organic material, help to
recycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, control
erosion or pests, fix atmospheric gases, and help regulate climate.
These physiologically processes are important for ecosystem
function and human survival.

2. Economic Role: For all humans, biodiversity is first a

resource for daily life. One important part of biodiversity is crop
diversity, which is also called agrobiodiversity. Most people see
biodiversity as a reservoir of resources to be drawn upon for the
manufacture of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

3. Scientfic Role: It is important because each species

can give scientists some clue as to how the life evolved and will
continue to evolve on Earth. In addition, biodiversity helps
scientists understand how life functions and the role of each
species in sustaining ecosystems.

HOTSPOTS IN INDIA
1. The Trans Himalayan: The regions of the states of Jammu
and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are a moonscape land – an
arid high altitude desert unlike any other part of the Indian
subcontinent. The high dusty valleys strewn with
rock have altitudes ranging from 2,500m to 4,500m.

2. Desert Zone: It includes Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujrat and

Kachha. The climate is dry. The common animals which are
found here are Donkey, Deer, Cheetal. The Indian part of the
Thar Desert occupies 170,000 km2 (66,000 sq mi). The climate is
characterized by very hot and dry summer and cold winter.

3. North-East Zone : It is one of the poorest regions in the

country. It has several species of orchids, bamboos, ferns and
other plants. Here the wild relatives of cultivated plants such as
banana, mango, citrus and pepper can be grown.

4. Islands: The two groups of islands, i.e., the Arabian Sea

islands and Bay Islands differ significantly in origin and
physical characteristics. On the other hand, the Bay Islands lay
only about 220 km. Away from the nearest point on the main land
mass and extend about 590 km.

5. Himalayan Zone: Himalayas was originally part of the Indo-

Burma Biodiversity Hotspot. In 2004, a hotspot reappraisal
classified the region as part of two hotspots: Indo-Burma and the
newly distinguished Himalaya. The Eastern Himalaya includes
Bhutan, southern, central and eastern Nepal, and northeastern
India.

6. Western Ghat Zone: It supports the life of 7,402 species of

flowering plants,1814 species of non-flowering plants, 139
mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6000
insects species and 290 freshwater fish species. Western Ghats is a
mountain range that runs through the states of Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

7. Gangetic Plain Zone: It is extending up to the Himalayan

foothills. This is the largest unit of the Great Plain of India.
Ganga is the main river after whose name this plain is named.
The aggradational Great Plains cover about 72.4mha area with
the Ganga and the Brahmaputra forming the main drainage axes
in the major portion.

8. Deccan Plateau Zone: The highlands of the plateau are

covered with different types of forests, which provide a large
variety of forest products. The Deccan plateau includes the region
lying south of the Satpura range.it extends up to the southern tip
of peninsular India. Anaimudi is the highest peak of this region.
These ghats meet each other at the Nilgiri hills.

9. Semi Aired Zone: Adjoining the desert are the semi-arid

areas, a transitional zone between the desert and the denser
forests of the Western Ghats. This region is characterized by
discontinuous vegetation cover with open areas of bare soil and
soil-water deficit throughout the year.

10. Coastal Zone: It is narrow except around the Gulf of

Cambay and the Gulf of Kutch. In the extreme south, however, it
is somewhat wider along the South Sahyadri.

TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

There are two types:-
1.In-situ: Conservation of habitats, species and ecosystems where they
naturally occur. This is in-situ conservation and the natural processes and
interaction are conserved as well as the elements of biodiversity.
Examples; national parks, sanctuaries, natural reserves, reserves of the
biosphere, sacred grooves, etc.
2.Ex-situ: The conservation of elements of biodiversity out of the context
of their natural habitats is referred to as ex-situ conservation.
Examples: aquariums, botanical gardens, cryopreservation, DNA banks,
zoos, etc.
In-situ conservation is not always possible as habitats may have
been degraded and there may be competition for land which
means species need to be removed from the area to save them.
IN-SITU CONSERVATION
NAME NUMBER AVAILABLE
BIOSPHERE RESERVES 18
NATIONAL PARK 105
WILD-LIFE SANCTURIES 553
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS 04
 EX-SITU CONSERVATION
NAME STATE
AJC BOSE BOSE INDIAN BOTANIC GARDEN WEST BENGL
BOTANIC GARDEN OF INDIAN REPUBLIC UTTAR PRADESH
EXPERIMENTAL BOTANIC GARDEN MAHARASHTRA

GOVERNMENT POLICES

1.NATIONAL BIODIVESITY ACTION PLAN

Its motive is to develop strategies, plan or programmes for
the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity or adapt plans. Integrate conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity.

2.THE INDIAN WILDLIFE PROTECTIO ACT,1972

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 is an Act of the
Parliament of India enacted for protection of plants and
animal species. Before 1972, India only had five
designated national parks. Among other reforms, the Act
established schedules of protected plant and animal
species; hunting or harvesting these species was largely
outlawed.

3.NATIONAL WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN

National Wildlife Action Plan is the framework of strategy
for conservation of wildlife. The first National Wildlife
Action Plan of 1983 has been revised to the new Wildlife
Action Plan (2002-2016).
 CONCLUSION
Biodiversity is our life. If the Biodiversity got
lost at this rate then in near future, the survival
of human being will be threatened. So, it is our
moral duty to conserve Biodiversity as well our
Environment. Long term maintenance of
species and their management requires co-
operative efforts across entire landscapes.
Biodiversity should be dealt with at scale of
habitats or ecosystems rather than at species
level.
It is of utmost importance for us to develop
quick and effective ways to protect species from
extinction. If we fail to conserve the species
facing extinction now, we are paving the way for
easier and faster depletion in the future. We
will live in a domesticated world lacking wild
Biodiversity, and in the words of the poet and
ecologist, we would like to sum up here, "If the
human race ......... Were to survive at the
expense of many plants and animal species, it
would be no victory."
 REFERENCES
1.https://www.google.com//
searchq=ecosystem+diversity&ei=dxGbYqWKMPKNse
MPv_KH

2.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Ecosystem_diversity#:~:text=Ecosystem%20diversity
%20addresses%20the%20combined,ecosystems
%20over%20the%20whole%20planet.