BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

 

Biodiversity conservation is about saving life on Earth in  all  its  forms  and  keeping  natural  ecosystems functioning  and  healthy.  This  incorporates  the preservation,  maintenance,  sustainable  use,  recovery and  enhancement  of  the  components  of  biological diversity. Where - Conservation - is the sustainable use of resources and  encompasses  protection as well  as exploitation  and,  Preservation  -  is  an  aspect  of conservation  meaning  to  keep  something  without altering  or  changing  it.  Sustainable  development  is another  intricate  aspect  of  biodiversity conservation.

This refers to development that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It simply refers to  intra  and  intergenerational  equity.  A  balance between  the  environment,  development  and  society results  to  sustainable  development  which  ensures biodiversity conservation. This is only possible in the presence  of  proper  enforcement  and  implementation policies/ conventions and environmental institutions.

 

Why Conserve Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is the life support system of our planet- we depend on it for the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Medicines originating from wild species, including penicillin, aspirin, taxol, and quinine, have saved millions of lives and alleviated tremendous sufferings. Wetlands filter pollutants from water, trees and plants reduce global warming by absorbing carbon.

Bacteria and fungi break down organic material and fertilize the soil.  It has been observed that native

species richness is linked to the health of ecosystems, as is the quality of life for humans. The connections between biodiversity and our sustainable future appear closer and closer the more we look. We literally need to conserve biodiversity as our lives depend on it.

 

Conservation measures of biodiversity

To conserve rare and threatened species it is necessary to protect their natural habitats and specific measures are taken to prevent their unplanned exploitation and illegal trade.

The two known methods of conservation are  - In-situ conservation and ex-situ conservation.

In-situ conservation:

It  refers to conservation  of  ecosystems  and  natural habitats in which they occur. This includes maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural habitats. 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

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Protected Area Network

The areas of land and/or sea especially for protection and maintenance of biodiversity, and of natural and associated resources. These areas are managed through legal and other effective means.

Natural habitats are declared as protected areas. This system of protected areas includes different categories such as Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, World Heritage sites, Sacred grooves.

In-situ conservation of habitats has received high priority in the world conservation strategy programmes launched since 1980

 

Protected areas are the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation; they maintain key habitats, provide refugia, allow for species migration and movement, and ensure the maintenance of natural processes across the landscape. Not only do protected areas secure biodiversity conservation, they also secure the well-being of humanity itself. Protected areas provide livelihoods for nearly 1.1 billion people, are the primary source of drinking water for over a third of the world’s largest cities and are a major factor in ensuring global food security. Better managed, better connected, better governed and better financed protected areas are recognized as the key to both mitigation and adaptation responses to climate change.

 

Approximately, 4.2 % of the total geographical area in India  has  been  earmarked  for  extensive  in-situ conservation of habitats and ecosystems. A protected area  network  of  102  national  parks,  18  biosphere reserves and 448 wildlife sanctuaries has been created. The results of  this network have  been significant in restoring viable population of large mammals such as tiger, lion, rhinoceros, crocodiles and elephants.

 

 

 

National Park

IUCN defined national park as a relatively large area – a) where one or several ecosystem are not materially altered by human occupation and exploitation, where plant and animal species, habitat are of special scientific, educative and recreative interest, b) where the hightest competent authority of the country has taken steps to prevent exploitation or occupation in the  whole area, c) where visitors are allowed to enter, under special conditions, for inspirational, cultural and recreative purposes.

Attention is not given on biotic community as a whole, i.e., conservation of the habitat is done for particular wild animal species like tiger, lion, rhino, etc. No biotic interference except in buffer zone.

No grazing of any livestock shall also be permitted inside a National Park while in a Sanctuary, the Chief Wildlife Warden may regulate, control or prohibit it

 

Wild Life Sanctuary

A wildlife sanctuary, similar to national park, is dedicated to protect the wildlife, but it considers the conversation of species only and also the boundary of it is not limited by state legislation. Killing, hunting or capturing of any species of birds and mammals is prohibited except by or under the control of highest in the department responsible for management of the sanctuary.

Private ownership may be allowed to continue in a sanctuary, and forestry and other usages permitted to extent that they do not adversely affect wildlife.

 

Biosphere Reserve

·       Is undisturbed natural area, is dedicated to conservation of biological diversity and genetic integrity of plants, animals and microorganism in their totality as well as scientific study.

·       Large areas of protected land for conservation of wildlife, plant and animal resources and traditional life of the tribals living in the area.

·       May have one or more national parks or wildlife sanctuaries in it.

Core area

·       Comprises a strictly protected area for conserving ecosystems, species and genetic variation.

·       In core or natural zone human activity is not allowed.

Buffer zone

·       Used for scientific research, monitoring, training and education.

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.

Sacred Groves

·       India and some other countries has a history of religious/cultural traditions that emphasised the protection of nature.

·       In many cultures, tracts of forest were set aside, and all the trees and wildlife within were venerated and given total protection by local people due to their religious sanctity. Generally, they are most undisturbed forests without any human impact.

Such sacred groves are found in Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan, Western Ghat regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra and the Sarguja, Chanda and Bastar areas of Madhya Pradesh

  

Ex-situ conservation:

It refers to conservation of components of biodiversity outside their natural habitats, e.g. zoos, museums, gene banks,  botanical  gardens/arboretums,  used  for threatened  and  endangered  species  to  avoid  their extinction, also known as captive conservation. 

·       Now gametes of threatened species can be preserved in viable and fertile condition for long periods using cryopreservation techniques.

·       Eggs can be fertilized in vitro, and plants can be propagated using tissue culture methods.

·       Seeds of different genetic strains of commercially important plants can be kept for long periods in seed banks.

·       The national gene bank at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Delhi is primarily responsible for conservation of unique accessions on long-term basis, as base collections for posterity, predominantly in the form of seeds.

Botanical garden

·       Botanical garden refers to the scientifically planned collection of living trees, shrubs, herbs, climbers and other plants from various parts of the globe.

Purpose of botanical gardens

·       To study the taxonomy as well as growth of plants.

·       To study the introduction and acclimatization process of exotic plants.

·       It augments conserving rare and threatened species.

Zoo

·       Zoo is an establishment, whether stationary or mobile, where captive animals are kept for exhibition to the public and includes a circus and rescue centres but does not include an establishment of a licensed dealer in captive animals.

·       The initial purpose of zoos was entertainment, over the decades, zoos have got transformed into centres for wildlife conservation and environmental education.

·       Apart from saving individual animals, zoos have a role to play in species conservation too (through captive breeding).

·       Zoos provide an opportunity to open up a whole new world, and this could be used in sensitizing visitors regarding the value and need for conservation of wildlife.