Introduction

The word biodiversity is derived from- Bio meaning “life” and diversity means “variety”. Hence,
biodiversity refers to wide variety of life on the earth: to all plants, animals and microorganisms
which exist on this beautiful planet, to the various species and the ecosystems they live in. It is
sum total of genes, species and ecosystems.
The Global convention on biological diversity (1992) defined it as “the variability among living
organisms from all sources including, inter alia (among other things), terrestrial, marine and other
aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes biological
diversity within species and ecosystems”.
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.
‘Biological diversity’ or biodiversity is that part of nature which includes the differences in genes
among the individuals of a species, the variety and richness of all the plant and animal species at
different scales in space, locally, in a region, in the country and the world, and various types of
ecosystems, both terrestrial and aquatic, within a defined area.

History of Biodiversity
The term ‘diversity’ is not new, rather has a long history, but ‘biological diversity’ came into use
in scientific literature only in the 1980s.
Robert E. Jenkins and Thomas Lovejoy in 1980 first used the term biological diversity.
Biological diversity is considered to exist at three different levels –
a. Genetic diversity (Diversity of genes within a species). Genetic diversity refers to the variation
of genes among the population and the individuals of the same species.
b. Species diversity (Diversity among species). It refers to the variety of species within a region,
i.e. the number of species per unit area at the site (species richness).
c. Ecosystem diversity or community diversity (Diversity at the level of community/ecosystem).
The diversity at the ecological (or) habitual level is known as “eco-system diversity”.

Measurement of biodiversity
Ecological use three different terms for various practical measures of biodiversity:
Species number: It is also referred as Species richness which measures the number of species
found in per unit area of a region or community. It has three components as
• Alpha diversity. It refers to diversity within a particular area, community or ecosystem, and is
measured by counting the number of species within the ecosystem.
• Beta diversity. It refers to species diversity between ecosystems and is measured by comparing
the number of species that are unique to each of the ecosystems.
• Gamma diversity. It is a measure of overall diversity for different ecosystems within a region.
Species evenness: It is the measure of relative abundance of individuals of different species in a
given region. Low evenness in general, means that a few species dominate the region or ecosystem.

Biodiversity Hotspots
Biodiversity hotspots are areas with high levels of species diversity, a large number of endemic
species (species that are unique to a particular region), and a sizable number of threatened or
endangered species.
The term Biological Hotspots has been coined by Norman Myers.
According to Conservation International, a region must fulfill the following two criteria for
qualifying to be considered as Biological hotspot:
✓ The region should have at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should have a high
degree of endemism.
✓ It must contain 30% (or less) of its original habitat, i.e. it must be threatened.

Biodiversity Hotspots in India

India is particularly known for its richness in biodiversity and it has around 24.46% of the
geographical area covered by forests and trees. Four of the world’s 36 biological hotspot are being
found in India that fulfills the criteria for qualifying to be considered as Biological hotspot:
✓ The Himalayas
✓ Indo-Burma Region
✓ The Western Ghats
✓ Sundaland
Two of these, the Indo-Burma area and Sundaland, are distributed throughout South Asia and are
not precisely contained within India’s formal borders.
Biogeographic classification of India
India’s biogeographic classification is a division of the country based on biogeographic
characteristics. India has a rich heritage of natural diversity. Among the top 17 megadiverse
countries in the world, India ranks fourth in Asia and tenth globally. The study of the distribution
of species, organisms, and ecosystems in geographical space and over geological time is known as
biogeography. India has ten biogeographical zones.
India is a megadiverse country. With only 2.4 per cent of the total land area of the world, the
known biological diversity of India contributes 8 per cent to the known global biological diversity.
In terms of Biogeography, India has been divided into 10 biogeographic zones.
1. The cold mountainous snow covered Trans Himalayan (Tibetan Himalayas, North of the Great
Himalayas) region of Ladakh.
2. The Himalayan ranges and valleys of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam and
other North Eastern States.
3. The Terai, the lowland where the Himalayan rivers flow into the plains.
4. The Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains.
5. The Thar Desert of Rajasthan.
6. The semi arid grassland region of the Deccan plateau Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
7. The Northeast States of India,
8. The Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala.
9. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
10. The long western and eastern coastal belt with sandy beaches, forests and mangroves.

Value of biodiversity
Food, clothes, housing, energy, medicines are all resources that are directly (or) indirectly linked
to the biological variety present in the biosphere. An agricultural community, biodiversity is used
to grow their crops to suit the environment.
1. Consumptive use value
These are directly used values where the biodiversity products are harvested and consumed
directly. The direct utilisation of timber, food, fuelwood, fodder by local communities.
Food:- A large number of wild plants are consumed by human beings as food.
Drugs:-Around 70% of modern medicines are derived for plant and plant extracts.
• The wonderful drug penicillin used as an antibiotic. It is derived from a fungus called
penicillium.
• Lifesaving drugs like ‘quinine’ comes from the cinchona tree (used to treat malaria).
• Morphine (painkiller) is all of plant origin.
• The purple tree leaves, trunk and roots are used as effective medicines for curing diseases like
fever, cough, stomach-ache and skin diseases.
• Caffeine is obtained from fox grove, which is an effective cure for heart stimulation.
Fuel:-our forest has been used since ago for fuel wood. The forest fossil fuel like coal, petroleum
and natural gas are also the products of the fossilized biodiversity.
2. Productive use values
Biodiversity products have obtained a commercial value. These products are marketed and sold.
These products may be derived from the animals and plants.
Many industries are dependent upon the productive use values of biodiversity.
Example:- paper and pulp industry, plywood, silk industry, textile industry, leather industry, pearl
industry.
3. Social values
These are the values associated with the social life customs, religion and spiritual aspects of the
people. The consumptive and productive value of biodiversity is closely linked to social concerns
in traditional communities. ‘Ecosystem people’ value biodiversity as a part of their livelihood as
well as through cultural and religious [Link] of the plants are considered holy and sacred
in our country.
Example:-
Holy plants:- Tulsa, penal, lotus etc.,
The tribal people are very closely linked with the wild life in the forest.
Examples:- cow, snake, bull, peacock, rat etc.,.
4. Ethical and moral value or Existence value
Ethical values related to biodiversity conservation are based on the importance of protecting
all forms of life. All forms of life have the right to exist on earth. Our rich heritage teaches us to
worship plant, animals, river and mountains. The ethical values mean that a speck may or may not
be used, but its existence in nature gives us pleasure.
Example:-
• The river Gangs is considered as Holy River.
• Tulsa, veggie some of the trees worshipped by the people.
Thus there is an ethical value (or) existence value attached to each species.
5. Aesthetic value
Knowledge and an appreciation of the presence of biodiversity for its own sake is another reason
to preserve it. Quite apart from killing wildlife for food, it is important as a tourist attraction.
Biodiversity is a beautiful and wonderful aspect of nature. Sit in a forest and listen to the birds.
Watch a spider weave its complex web. Observe a fish feeding. It is magnificent and fascinating.
Symbols from wild species such as the lion of Hinduism, the elephant of Buddhism and deities
such as Lord Ganesh, and the vehicles of several deities that are animals, have been venerated for
thousands of years.

Threats to biodiversity
Important factors leading to extinction (or) eliminations of species and consequent loss of
biodiversity are:
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: The destruction of habitats is the primary reason for the loss of
biodiversity. When people cut down trees, fill a wetland, plough a grassland or burn a forest, the
natural habitat of a species is changed or destroyed. These changes can kill or force out many
plants, animals, and microorganisms, as well as disrupt complex interactions among the species.
Disturbance and Pollution: Communities are affected by natural disturbances, such as fire, tree
fall, and defoliation by insects. Man-made disturbances differ from natural disturbances in
intensity, rate and spatial extent.
Introduction of Exotic Species: New species entering a geographical region are called exotic or
alien species. Introduction of such invasive species may cause disappearance of native species
through changed biotic interactions. Invasive species are considered second only to habitat
destruction as a major cause of extinction of species. Exotic species are having large impact
especially in island ecosystems, which harbour much of the world’s threatened biodiversity. A few
examples are:
(1) Parthenium hysterophorus
(2) Nile perch
(3) Water hyacinth
(4) Lantana camara
Why should you conserve Biodiversity?
It is believed that an area with higher species abundance has a more stable environment
compared to an area with lower species abundance. We can further claim the necessity of
biodiversity by considering our degree of dependency on the environment. We depend directly
on various species of plant for our various needs. Similarly, we depend on various species of
animals and microbes for different reasons.
Biodiversity is being lost due to the loss of habitat, over-exploitation of resources, climatic
changes, pollution, invasive exotic species, diseases, hunting, etc. Since it provides us with
several economic and ethical benefits and adds aesthetic value, it is very important to conserve
biodiversity.
Benefits of Biodiversity conservation
✓ Conservation of biological diversity leads to conservation of essential ecological diversity
to preserve the continuity of food chains.
✓ The genetic diversity of plants and animals is preserved.
✓ It ensures the sustainable utilization of life support systems on earth.
✓ It provides a vast knowledge of potential use to the community.
✓ A reservoir of wild animals and plants is preserved, thus enabling them to be introduced,
if need be, in the surrounding areas.
✓ Biodiversity conservation assures sustainable utilization of potential resources.
Biodiversity Conservation Methods
Two types of methods are employed to conserve biodiversity. They are In-situ conservation and
Ex-situ conservation.
• In Situ Conservation refers to the preservation and protection of the species in their natural
habitat. In situ conservation involves the management of biodiversity in the same area
where it is found.
• It is defined as the conservation of species within their natural habitat, where the natural
ecosystem is protected and maintained.
• When we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem, its biodiversity at all levels is
protected. E.g. we save the entire forest to save the tiger. This approach is called in in-situ
(on site) conservation.
In situ, biodiversity conservation has many advantages
✓ It preserves species as well as their natural habitat.
✓ It ensures protection to a large number of populations.
✓ It is economic and a convenient method of conservation.
✓ It doesn’t require species to adjust to a new habitat.
✓ Various living organisms can be conserved at the same time.
They can evolve better and can easily get adapted to various environmental conditions.
Different methods of In-situ conservation include biosphere reserves, national parks, wildlife
sanctuaries, biodiversity hotspots, gene sanctuary, and sacred groves.
Ex-situ Conservation
• When there are situations where an animal or plant is endangered or threatened and needs
urgent measures to save it from extinction, ex-situ (off-site) conservation is the desirable
approach.
• Ex-Situ conservation means conservation of life outside their natural habitat or place of
occurrence. It is the method in which part of the population or the entire endangered species
is taken from its natural habitat which is threatened and breeding and maintaining of these
species take place in artificial ecosystems.
• These artificial ecosystems could be zoos, nurseries, botanical gardens, etc. The living
environments are altered in these conservation sites, so there are fewer survival struggles
like scarcity of food, water, or space.
• Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity consists of breeding and maintenance of endangered
species using artificial environments like zoos, nurseries, botanical gardens, gene banks,
etc. The competition for food, water, and space among the organisms is low.
Advantages of Ex Situ Conservation Include
✓ Essential life-sustaining conditions like climate, food availability, veterinary care can be
altered and are under human control.
✓ Artificial breeding methods can be introduced leading to successful breeding and creating
many more offspring of the species.
✓ The species can be protected from poaching and population management can be efficiently
done.
✓ Gene techniques can be applied to increase the population of the species and they can again
be reintroduced into the wild.