Biodiversity
• Biodiversity can be defined as a community of all the living organisms on the earth and
the diversity among them from all the ecosystems. Biodiversity is thus the variability
between the species, within the species, and between the ecosystem.
• The term biodiversity was coined by Walter G. Rosen in the year 1986.
• In simple terms, biodiversity is the number and variety of living organisms present in a
specific geographical region. It includes various plants, animals and microorganisms, the
genes they have and the ecosystems formed by them
Importance of Biodiversity
• Each organism contributes something of use to other organisms besides extracting
its needs.
• The major functions done by species which are important for ecosystem function
and human survival are:
• Capture and store energy
• Produce and decompose organic materials
• Help to cycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem
• Fix atmospheric gases and help to regulate the climate
Importance of Biodiversity
• The more diverse an ecosystem, better are the chances for the species to survive
through adversities and attacks, and subsequently, is more productive.
• Hence, the loss of species would decline the ability of the system to maintain itself.
• The more the diversity of species in an ecosystem, the more stable the ecosystem is
likely to be.
• Ecological Role of Biodiversity
Importance of Biodiversity
• Biodiversity is an important resource in their day-to-day life for all humans.
• It is comprehended as a reservoir of resources to be drawn upon for the manufacture of
food, cosmetic products, and pharmaceuticals.
• Some of the significant economic commodities that man derives from biodiversity are:
• Food crops
• Livestock
• Forests
• Fish
• Medicinal resources
Importance of Biodiversity
• The vital part of biodiversity is ‘crop diversity’, which is also known as agrobiodiversity.
• Over half of global GDP is dependent on nature. More than 1 billion people rely on
forests for their livelihoods.
• Economic Role of Biodiversity
Importance of Biodiversity
• All species can contribute some evidence to show how life evolved and will continue to
evolve.
• Biodiversity helps in sensing how life functions and the role of each species in sustaining
ecosystems.
• The level of biodiversity is a good indicator of the state of the relationships of human
beings with other living species.
• Scientific Role of Biodiversity
Importance of Biodiversity
• According to reports, more than 70 % of the anti-cancer drugs are derived from plants in
the tropical rainforests.
• When human activities produce greenhouse gases, around half of the emissions remain
in the atmosphere, while the other half is absorbed by the land and ocean. These
ecosystems – and the biodiversity they contain – are natural carbon sinks, providing so-
called nature-based solutions to climate change.
Importance of Biodiversity
• Wetlands such as marshes and swamps – cover only 3 per cent of the world’s land, but
they store twice as much carbon as all the forests.
• Ocean habitats such as seagrasses and mangroves can also sequester carbon dioxide
from the atmosphere at rates up to four times higher than terrestrial forests can. Their
ability to capture and store carbon make mangroves highly valuable in the fight against
climate change.
Types of Biodiversity
• Biodiversity can be categorized into three main types:
• Genetic Diversity (Diversity within species)
• Species Diversity (Diversity between species)
• Ecosystem Diversity (Diversity between ecosystem)
Genetic Diversity
• Every individual of a particular species differs from each other in its genetic makeup. This
genetic variability among the members of any plant or animal species is known as
genetic diversity.
• When two individuals are closely related, they share more genetic information and
hence, are more similar.
Species Diversity
• Species diversity can be defined as the variety of species within a particular region or
habitat. This type of diversity can be found in both the natural ecosystem and
agricultural ecosystem.
• There are more than 85,000 flowering plant species in tropical North and South
America, tropical and subtropical Asia has more than 50,000 flowering plants
whereas, there are only 35,000 flowering plant species in tropical and subtropical
Africa. But, Europe has around 11,300 vascular plants.
Ecosystem Diversity
• There is a large diversity of different ecosystems that have distinctive species.
• This ecosystem varies with each other as per their habitats and the difference in their
species. This ecosystem diversity can be found within a specific geographical region or a
country or a state.
• This type of diversity also includes forests, grasslands, deserts, and mountains.
Alpha, beta, gamma diversity
• Alpha diversity describes the species diversity within a community at a small scale or
local scale.
• Beta diversity describes the species diversity between two communities or ecosystems.
It is at a larger scale, and looks to compare the species diversity between two separate
entities that are often divided by a clear geographical barrier like a river or a mountain
ridge.
Alpha, beta, gamma diversity
Question
Arrange the following diversities in ascending order of scale
1. Beta Diversity A 123
2. Alpha Diversity
B 312
3. Gamma Diversity
C 213
D 231
Question
Arrange the following diversities in ascending order of scale
1. Beta Diversity A 123
2. Alpha Diversity
B 312
3. Gamma Diversity
C 213
D 231
Indicator Species
• Any biological species that defines a trait or characteristic of the environment is
considered an indicator species.
• A species, for example, may define an ecoregion or indicate an environmental condition
such as a disease outbreak, pollution, species competition, or climate change.
• Indicator species are sometimes referred to as "sentinel species.“
• Crayfish – fresh quality water
• Corals – siltation
• Peregrine falcons – pesticide load
• Lichens – increase of sulphur dioxide in atmosphere
Keytone Species
• A keytone species is an organism that helps to define an entire ecosystem.
• Without the keytone species , the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to
exist.
• If they disappear they cannot be replaced.
Flagship Species
• Act as a symbol for an environmental habitat , movement or campaign.
• Mascots for entire ecosystem . Giant Pandas
Foundation Species
• Major role in creating and maintaining a habitat
• Corals
Loss of Biodiversity
• The main driver of biodiversity loss remains humans’ use of land – primarily for food
production. Human activity has already altered over 70 per cent of all ice-free land.
When land is converted for agriculture, some animal and plant species may lose their
habitat and face extinction.
Loss of Biodiversity
• But climate change is playing an increasingly important role in the decline of
biodiversity. Climate change has altered marine, terrestrial, and freshwater
ecosystems around the world.
• It has caused the loss of local species, increased diseases, and driven mass mortality
of plants and animals, resulting in the first climate-driven extinctions.
• On land, higher temperatures have forced animals and plants to move to higher
elevations or higher latitudes, many moving towards the Earth’s poles, with far-
reaching consequences for ecosystems. The risk of species extinction increases with
every degree of warming.
Loss of Biodiversity
Loss of Biodiversity
Causes for Loss of Biodiversity
There are four major causes
• Habitat loss and fragmentation
• Over-exploitation
• Alien species invasions
• Co-extinctions
Habitat loss and fragmentation
• Habitat loss and fragmentation is the most important cause of driving animals and
plants to extinction.
• The most intense examples of habitat loss come from tropical rainforests.
• The Amazon rain forests protecting probably millions of species are being cut and
cleared for agricultural purposes or for conversion to grasslands for raising beef
cattle.
Habitat loss and fragmentation
• In addition to the total loss, the degradation of several habitats by pollution also
threatens the existence of many species.
• When large habitats are broken up into small fragments due to anthropogenic
activities, mammals and birds necessitating large territories and certain animals with
migratory habits are severely affected, leading to population regressions.
Over-exploitation
• Humans have always depended on nature for food and shelter, etc.
• The population explosion is the major reason for the over-exploitation of available
resources.
• Many species extinctions in the last 500 years such as Steller’s sea cow, passenger
pigeon were due to overexploitation by humans.
• Currently, several marine fish populations around the world are over-harvested,
threatening the sustained existence of certain commercially important species
Alien species invasions
• When alien species are introduced by chance or deliberately, some of them turn
aggressive and cause the extinction of local species.
• African apple snail -The most invasive among all alien fauna in India, this mollusc was
first reported in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It is now found across the country
and is threatening the habitat of several native species.
• Papaya Mealy Bug -Native of Mexico and Central America, it is believed to have
destroyed huge crops of papaya in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
Alien species invasions
• Cotton Mealy Bug -Native to North America, it has severely affected cotton crops in
Deccan
• Amazon sailfin catfish -This species is responsible for destroying the fish population
in the wetlands of Kolkata.
• The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has for the first time compiled a list of 157 alien
invasive animal species.
Co-extinctions
• When a species becomes extinct, the flora and fauna related to it in an essential way
also become extinct.
• When a host fish species becomes extinct, its unique assemblage of parasites also
meets the same destiny.
Question
Alpha , beta and gamma diversity are types of
A Species Diversity
B Ecosystem Diversity
C Genetic Diversity
D Habitat Diversity
Question
Alpha , beta and gamma diversity are types of
A Species Diversity
B Ecosystem Diversity
C Genetic Diversity
D Habitat Diversity
Question
Species which act as a symbol for an environmental habitat , movement
or campaign
A Indicator Species
B Foundation Species
C Keystone Species
D Flagship Species
Question
Species which act as a symbol for an environmental habitat , movement
or campaign
A Indicator Species
B Foundation Species
C Keystone Species
D Flagship Species
Conservation of Biodiversity
UNEP
• The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating
responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system.
• It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in June 1972. Its mandate is to
provide leadership, deliver science and develop solutions on a wide range of issues,
including climate change , the management of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and
green economic development.
UNEP
• The organization also develops international environmental agreements; publishes and
promotes environmental science and helps national governments achieve environmental
targets.
• UNEP hosts the secretariats of several multilateral environmental agreements and
research bodies, including The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), The Minamata
Convention on Mercury, The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, The
Convention on Migratory Species and The Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), among others.
UNEP
• In 1988, the World Meteorological Organization and UNEP established the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
• The headquarters of the agency is in Nairobi, Kenya.
Convention on Biological Diversity
• The Convention was opened in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (the Rio "Earth Summit").
• Conservation of biological diversity.
• The sustainable use of its components.
• Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
Convention on Biological Diversity
• COP 1 Convention on Biological Diversity - Nassau, Bahamas, 1994
• COP 10 Convention on Biological Diversity - Nagoya, Japan ,2010
• COP 15 Convention on Biological Diversity – Kunming , China and Montreal, Canada ,2022
Nagoya Protocol
• COP 10 Convention on Biological Diversity - Nagoya, Japan ,2010
• International agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of
genetic resources in a fair and equitable way.
• Helps to ensure benefit-sharing when genetic resources leave the country providing the
genetic resources
Cartagena Protocol
• It is an international agreement which aims to protect biological diversity from the
potential risks imposed by LMOs resulting from modern biotechnology.
• Any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained
through the use of modern biotechnology.
• In general use the term living modified organism (LMO) is considered to be
functionally the same as genetically modified organism (GMO).
• It is part of United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Held in special COP year 2000
Question
Convention on Biodiversity was opened in
A Rio Summit
B Geneva Summit
C Egypt Summit
D Paris Summit
Question
Convention on Biodiversity was opened in
A Rio Summit
B Geneva Summit
C Egypt Summit
D Paris Summit
Question
Nagoya Protocol deals with
A Genetically modified organisms
B Carbon emissions
C Sharing benefits of genetic information
D Pesticides release
Question
Nagoya Protocol deals with
A Genetically modified organisms
B Carbon emissions
C Sharing benefits of genetic information
D Pesticides release
Question
Which of the following is not a principle of Convention of Biological Diversity
A The sustainable use of its components
B Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic
resources
C Conservation of biological diversity
D None of these
Question
Which of the following is not a principle of Convention of Biological Diversity
A The sustainable use of its components
B Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic
resources
C Conservation of biological diversity
D None of these
Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals
• CMS provides a global platform for the conservation and sustainable use of migratory
animals and their habitats. CMS brings together the States through which migratory
animals pass, and lays the legal foundation for internationally coordinated conservation
measures throughout a migratory range.
• Bonn Convention, Germany 1979
• Migratory species threatened with extinction are listed on Appendix I of the convention.
• Migratory species that need or would significantly benefit from international co-operation
are listed in Appendix II of the convention.
Convention on Migratory Species
• COP - 1 1985 Bonn , Germany
• COP - 13 2020 Gandhinagar , India
• COP - 14 2024 Samarkand, Uzbekistan
Convention on Migratory Species
Convention on Migratory Species
Convention on Migratory Species
• Amur Falcons
• Bar-headed Geese
• Black-necked cranes
• Marine turtles
• Dugongs
• Humpback Whales
Convention on Migratory Species
• Asian Elephant
• Jaguar
• Great Indian Bustard
• Bengal Florican
• Little Bustard
• Antipodean Albatross
• Oceanic White-tip Shark
CITES
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora) is an international agreement between governments.
• Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and
plants does not threaten the survival of the species.
• Opened for Signature in 1973.
• COP -1 1976 Bern , Switzerland
• India submitted three proposals to CITES COP19 for stricter protection of its
native species – the Jeypore Indian gecko, the red-crowned roofed turtle and
Leith’s softshell turtle.
CITES
CITES
• Appendix-I
• Species that are in danger of extinction
• Commercial trade is prohibited.
• Permits are required for import and export.
• Trade permitted just for research only if the origin country ensures the trade
won’t harm the species’ chance of survival
• Asiatic lions and tigers (tiger skin trade).
• Sea turtles, gorillas, lady slippers orchids (most species), etc.
CITES
• Appendix-II
• Species that aren’t facing imminent extinction but need monitoring so that any
trade doesn’t become a threat.
• Trade permits obtained legally and only if the origin country ensures that its
harvesting and trade won’t harm the species’ chance of survival.
• American Alligators (Alligator skin trade)
• Paddlefish, Mahogany, corals, etc
CITES
• Appendix -III
• Species that are protected in at least one country.
• Honey badger (medicinal or bushmeat purpose)
• Walruses, Map turtles, certain beetles, etc.
Question
CMS stands for
A Convention on Mitigating Species
B Convention on Ministry of Species
C Convention on Migratory Species
D Convention on Manipulating Species
Question
CMS stands for
A Convention on Mitigating Species
B Convention on Ministry of Species
C Convention on Migratory Species
D Convention on Manipulating Species
Question
COP -13 of CMS was held in
A Gandhinagar , India
B Bonn , Germany
C Paris , France
D Nagoya , Japan
Question
COP -13 of CMS was held in
A Gandhinagar , India
B Bonn , Germany
C Paris , France
D Nagoya , Japan
Question
CBD , CMS , CITES are convention governed by
A United Nations Sustainable Growth Programme
B United Nations Wildlife Programme
C United Nations Environment Programme
D United Nations Biodiversity Programme
Question
CBD , CMS , CITES are convention governed by
A United Nations Sustainable Growth Programme
B United Nations Wildlife Programme
C United Nations Environment Programme
D United Nations Biodiversity Programme
IUCN
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international
organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural
resources.
• It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, and
education. IUCN's mission is to "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the
world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable
and ecologically sustainable.
IUCN
• Established in 1948.
• IUCN has a membership of over 1,400 governmental and non-governmental
organizations. Some 16,000 scientists and experts participate in the work of IUCN
commissions on a voluntary basis. It employs over 900 full-time staff in more than 50
countries.
• Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland.
• IUCN is an independent organization with the observer and consultative status at the
United Nations.
IUCN
• The organization is best known to the wider public for compiling and publishing the IUCN
Red List of Threatened Species, which assesses the conservation status of species
worldwide. (1964)
• It uses a set of quantitative criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of species. These
criteria are relevant to most species and all regions of the world.
IUCN
The IUCN classifies species on the basis of their extinction/conservation status as
• Extinct (EX)
• Extinct in the wild (EW)
• Critically endangered (CR)
• Endangered (EN)
• Vulnerable (VU)
• Near threatened (NT)
• Least concern (LC)
• Data deficient (DD)
• Not evaluated (NE)
IUCN
IUCN
IUCN
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Pygmy Hog
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Sumatran Rhino
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Malabar Civet
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Great Indian Bustard
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Siberian Crane
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Red-headed Vulture
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Indian Vulture
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Gharial
IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Animals India
• Kashmiri Stag /Hangul
IUCN Red List –Endangered Animals India
Indian Elephant
IUCN Red List –Endangered Animals India
Red Panda
IUCN Red List –Endangered Animals India
Himalayan Musk Deer
IUCN Red List – Endangered Animals India
• Lion-tailed macaque
IUCN Red List – Endangered Animals India
• Asiatic Lion
IUCN Red List – Endangered Animals India
• Bengal Tiger
IUCN Red List – Endangered Animals India
• Ganga Dolphin
IUCN Red List – Endangered Animals India
• Thamin or brow-antlered deer
• Sangai
IUCN Red List – Vulnerable Animals India
Snow Leopard
IUCN Red List – Vulnerable Animals India
One Horned Rhino
Question
Which of the following is not true about IUCN
A It maintains the red list of endangered species
B It was established in 1948
C It is part of United Nations
D Its headquarters is in Gland, Switzerland
Question
Which of the following is not true about IUCN
A It maintains the red list of endangered species
B It was established in 1948
C It is part of United Nations
D Its headquarters is in Gland, Switzerland
Question
Indian Elephant as per IUCN Red list is
A Critically Endangered
B Endangered
C Vulnerable
D Near Threatened
Question
Indian Elephant as per IUCN Red list is
A Critically Endangered
B Endangered
C Vulnerable
D Near Threatened
Question
Which of the following is not critically endangered as per IUCN Red list is
A Gharial
B Indian Vulture
C Snow Leopard
D Hangul
Question
Which of the following is not critically endangered as per IUCN Red list is
A Gharial
B Indian Vulture
C Snow Leopard
D Hangul
Ex Situ Conservation
• Conserving biodiversity outside the areas where they naturally occur is known as ex situ
conservation. Here, animals and plants are reared or cultivated in areas like zoological or
botanical parks.
• Reintroduction of an animal or plant into the habitat from where it has become extinct is
another form of ex situ conservation.
• For example, the Gangetic gharial has been reintroduced in the rivers of Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan where it had become extinct.
Ex Situ Conservation
• Seedbanks, botanical, horticultural and recreational gardens are important centers for ex
situ conservation.
• The national gene bank at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Delhi is
primarily responsible for conservation of seeds.
In Situ Conservation
• Conserving the animals and plants in their natural habitats is known as in situ
conservation. This includes the establishment of
• National parks and sanctuaries
• Biosphere reserves
• Reserved and Protected forests
Biosphere Reserve
• Large areas of protected land for conservation of wildlife, plant and animal resources
and traditional life of the tribals(indigenous population ) living in the area.
• May have one or more national parks or wildlife sanctuaries in it.
• There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in the country.
• 12 of the 18 Biosphere reserves in the country have become part of the World Network
of Biosphere Reserves which is based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB)
Programme list.
Biosphere Reserve
Core and Buffer Area
Biosphere Reserve
Transition area
• Ecologically sustainable human settlements and economic activities (tourism) are
permitted.
• With the cooperation of reserve management and local people, several human activities
like settlements, cropping, recreation, and forestry are carried out without disturbing
the environment.
Biosphere Reserve
• The largest Biosphere reserve in India is the Gulf of Kachchh, Gujarat and the smallest
Biosphere Reserve in India is Dibru-Saikhowa in Assam.
• The first Biosphere Reserve in India is the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve that is a part of Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala.
Biodiversity Hotspot
There are major four biodiversity hotspots in India:
• The Eastern Himalayas
• Indo-Burma Region
• The Western Ghats
• Sundaland
National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
• A wildlife sanctuary and national park as both serve the same function – to protect flora
and fauna. This is quite true, but there is one main difference that separates the two –
Human activities are allowed in a wildlife sanctuary – to a limited extent but are illegal in
a national park.
• A national park cannot be downgraded to a sanctuary. A sanctuary can be upgraded to a
national park.
• India’s first national park was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park, now known as
Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand.
Tiger Reserves
• Same as sanctuaries. But they are monitored by NTCA ( National Tiger Conservation
Authority) under Project Tiger.
Bio Diversity Act 2002
• The Act prohibits the following activities without the prior approval from the National
Biodiversity Authority (NBA)
• Any person or organization (either based in India or not) obtaining any biological
resource occurring in India for its research or commercial utilization.
• Any grievances related to the determination of benefit sharing or order of the National
Biodiversity Authority or a State Biodiversity Board under this Act, shall be taken to the
National Green Tribunal (NGT).
• The NBA has its Headquarters in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Wildlife Protection Act 1972
• Species listed in Schedule I and Schedule II get absolute protection —offences under
these are prescribed the highest penalties
• Species listed in Schedule III and Schedule IV are also protected, but thepenalties are
much lower
• Schedule V includes the animals which may be hunted.
• The plants in Schedule VI are prohibited from cultivation and planting
Project Tiger
• Project Tiger was launched on 1973.
• In 2022, we have 52 tiger reserves.
• Manas National Park of Assam has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
• India has nearly 70% of the World’s Tiger Population.
• According to the fourth cycle of All India Tiger Estimation – 2018, the count of tiger has
risen to 2967.
Project Lion
• Its aim was to increase the number of Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s Gir forest from 523 in
2015 to 674 in 2020.
Project Elephant
• Government of India launched “Project Elephant” in 1992.
• Its aim is to assist states having free ranging population of wild elephants.
• An elephant corridor is a stretch / narrow strips of forested land that connects larger
habitats with elephant populations and forms a conduit for animal movement between
the habitats.
• There are 88 identified elephant corridors in India.
• Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme
Project Vulture
• The population of vultures declined drastically due to the drug Diclofenac.
• Initially it was thought that this drastic decline is due to non-availability of food or an
unknown viral epidemic.
• Vultures were unable to breakdown the chemical diclofenac, suffer from kidney failure
when they eat dead remains of animals which have been administered with the drug-
Diclofenac.
• Diclofenac free zones (DFZ) meant the complete removal of diclofenac in the identified
vulture safe zones, i.e, places were vulture colonies have been identified.
Project One Horn Rhino
• The Indian Rhinoceros is known as the Great One-Horned Rhino which is mostly found in
Assam (Kaziranga National Park )
• India-Rhino Vision 2020 was launched in 2005 with the main objective to increase the
population of rhinos to 3000 in 2020 in Assam