Biodiversity Conservation

Introduction
The term biodiversity was coined as a contraction of biological diversity by E.O. Wilson in 1985.
Biodiversity may be defined as the variety and variability of living organisms and the ecological
complexes in which they exist. In other words, biodiversity is the occurrence of different types of
ecosystems, different species of organisms with the whole range of their variants and genes
adapted to different climates, environments along with their interactions and processes.
Biodiversity includes the genetic variability (for which different varieties of spices have appeared
in the course of evolution) and diversity of life forms such as plants, animal microbes, etc. living
in a wide range of ecosystems.
The diversity may be interspecific (within species) and interspecific (in between the species) but
these are well supported by ecosystem. It is seen that the diverse living forms of the ecosystem
are modulated with the global environmental changes.
There are three interrelated hierarchical levels of biodiversity namely, genetic diversity, species
diversity and community or ecosystem diversity.
The discussion on each type of diversity is given below:
1. Genetic diversity:
It describes the variation in the number and types of genes as well as chromosomes present in
different species. The magnitude of variation in genes of a species increases with increase in size
and environmental parameters of the habitat.
The genetic variation arises by gene and chromosome mutation in individuals and in sexually
reproducing organisms and it is spread in the population by recombination of genetic materials
during cell division after sexual reproduction.
Genetic diversity has the following importance:
(i) It helps in speciation or evolution of new species;
(ii) It is useful in adaptation to changes in environmental conditions;
(iii) It is important for agricultural productivity and development.
Biodiversity, a contraction of "biological diversity," generally refers to the variety and
variability of life on Earth. One of the most widely used definitions defines it in terms of the
variability within species, between species and between ecosystems. It is a measure of the variety
of organisms present in different ecosystems. This can refer to genetic variation, ecosystem
variation, or species variation (number of species) within an area, biome, or planet. Terrestrial
biodiversity tends to be greater near the equator, which seems to be the result of the warm
climate and high primary productivity. Biodiversity is not distributed evenly on Earth. It is
richest in the tropics. Marine biodiversity tends to be highest along coasts in the Western Pacific,
where sea surface temperature is highest and in the mid-latitudinal band in all oceans. There are

latitudinal gradients in species diversity.[4] Biodiversity generally tends to cluster in hotspots,

and has been increasing through time, but will be likely to slow in the future.
The number and variety of plants, animals and other organisms that exist is known as
biodiversity. It is an essential component of nature and it ensures the survival of human species
by providing food, fuel, shelter, medicines and other resources to mankind. The richness of
biodiversity depends on the climatic conditions and area of the region. All species of plants taken
together are known as flora and about 70,000 species of plants are known to date. All species of
animals taken together are known as fauna which includes birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, insects,
crustaceans, molluscs, etc.
Rapid environmental changes typically cause mass extinctions. More than 99 percent of all
species, amounting to over five billion species, that ever lived on Earth are estimated to be
extinct. Estimates on the number of Earth's current species range from 10 million to 14 million,
of which about 1.2 million have been documented and over 86 percent have not yet been
described. More recently, in May 2016, scientists reported that 1 trillion species are estimated to
be on Earth currently with only one-thousandth of one percent described. The total amount of
related DNA base pairs on Earth is estimated at 5.0 x 1037 and weighs 50 billion tonnes. In
comparison, the total mass of the biosphere has been estimated to be as much as 4 TtC (trillion
tons of carbon). In July 2016, scientists reported identifying a set of 355 genes from the Last
Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) of all organisms living on Earth.
The age of the Earth is about 4.54 billion years old. The earliest undisputed evidence of life on
Earth dates at least from 3.5 billion years ago, during the Eoarchean Era after a geological crust
started to solidify following the earlier molten Hadean Eon. There are microbial mat fossils
found in 3.48 billion-year-old sandstone discovered in Western Australia. Other early physical
evidence of a biogenic substance is graphite in 3.7 billion-year-old meta-sedimentary rocks
discovered in Western Greenland. More recently, in 2015, "remains of biotic life" were found in
4.1 billion-year-old rocks in Western Australia. According to one of the researchers, "If life arose
relatively quickly on Earth .. then it could be common in the universe."
Since life began on Earth, five major mass extinctions and several minor events have led to large
and sudden drops in biodiversity. The Phanerozoic eon (the last 540 million years) marked a
rapid growth in biodiversity via the Cambrian explosiona period during which the majority of
multicellular phyla first appeared. The next 400 million years included repeated, massive
biodiversity losses classified as mass extinction events. In the Carboniferous, rainforest collapse
led to a great loss of plant and animal life. The PermianTriassic extinction event, 251 million
years ago, was the worst; vertebrate recovery took 30 million years. The most recent, the
CretaceousPaleogene extinction event, occurred 65 million years ago and has often attracted
more attention than others because it resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs.

The period since the emergence of humans has displayed an ongoing biodiversity reduction and
an accompanying loss of genetic diversity. Named the Holocene extinction, the reduction is
caused primarily by human impacts, particularly habitat destruction. Conversely, biodiversity
impacts human health in a number of ways, both positively and negatively.
The United Nations designated 20112020 as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.

OBJECTIVES
"Biodiversity" is most commonly used to replace the more clearly defined and long established
terms, species diversity and species richness. Biologists most often define biodiversity as the
"totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region". An advantage of this definition is that it
seems to describe most circumstances and presents a unified view of the traditional types of
biological variety previously identified:

taxonomic diversity (usually measured at the species diversity level)

ecological diversity often viewed from the perspective of ecosystem diversity

morphological diversity which stems from genetic diversity

functional diversity which is a measure of the number of functionally

disparate species within a population (e.g. different feeding mechanism,
different motility, predator vs prey, etc.)

In 2003 Professor Anthony Campbell at Cardiff University, UK and the Darwin

Centre, Pembrokeshire, defined a fourth level: Molecular Diversity.

This multilevel construct is consistent with Datman and Lovejoy. An explicit definition
consistent with this interpretation was first given in a paper by Bruce A. Wilcox commissioned
by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) for the
1982 World National Parks Conference. Wilcox's definition was "Biological diversity is the
variety of life forms...at all levels of biological systems (i.e., molecular, organismic, population,
species and ecosystem)...". The 1992 United Nations Earth Summit defined "biological
diversity" as "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including, 'inter alia',
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". This definition
is used in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
One textbook's definition is "variation of life at all levels of biological organization".
Genetically biodiversity can be defined as the diversity of alleles, genes and organisms. They
study processes such as mutation and gene transfer that drive evolution.
Measuring diversity at one level in a group of organisms may not precisely correspond to
diversity at other levels. However, tetrapod (terrestrial vertebrates) taxonomic and ecological
diversity shows a very close correlation.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
2. Species diversity:
It describes the variety in the number and richness of the spices with in a region. The species
richness may be defined as the number of species per unit area. The richness of a species tells
about the extent of biodiversity of a site and provides a means for comparing different sites.
The species richness depends largely on climatic conditions. The number of individuals of
different species with in a region represents species evenness or species equitability. The product
species richness and species evenness give species diversity of a region. When a species is
confined entirely to a particular area, it is termed as endemic species.
Ecosystem diversity:
It describes the assemblage and Interaction of spices living together and the physical
environment a given area. It relates varieties of habitats, biotic communities ecological processes
in biosphere. It also tells about the diversity within the ecosystem. It is referred as Land escape
diversity because it includes placement and size of various ecosystems.
For example, the landscapes like grass lands, deserts, mountains etc. show ecosystem diversity.
The ecosystem diversity is due to diversity of niches, trophic levels and ecological processes like
nutrient cycling, food webs, energy flow, role of dominant species and various related biotic
interactions. Such type of diversity can generate more productive and stable ecosystems or
communities capable of tolerating various types of stresses e.g. drought, flood etc.
According to Whittaker (1965), the community diversities are of three types:
(i) -Diversity:
It tells the species diversity in a given community.
It depends upon species richness and evenness.
(ii) -Diversity:
It describes a range of communities due to replacement of species which arises due to the
presence of different microhabitats, niches and environmental conditions.
(iii) -Diversity:
It describes diversity of habitat over a total land escape or geographical area.
As per available data, the varieties of species living on the earth are 1753739. Out of the above
species, 134781 are residing in India although surface area of India is 2% of the earths surface.
Wild life Institute of India has divided it into ten biogeographical regions and twenty five biotic
provinces.
Biogeographical regions are:
(i) Trans Himalayas,
(ii) Gangetic plain,
(iii) Desert,
(iv) Semiarid zone;

(v) Western Ghats;

(vi) Deccan peninsula,
(vii) North eastern zone,
(viii) Coastal lands
(ix) Himalayas,
(x) Islands.
India is one of the twelve mega diversity nations of the world due to the following reasons:
(i) It has 7.3% of the global fauna and 10.88% of global flora as per the data collected by
Ministry of Environment and forest.
(ii) It has 350 different mammals, 1200 species of birds- 453 different reptiles, 182 amphibians
and 45,000 plants spices.
(iii) It has 50,000 known species of insects which include 13,000 butterflies and moths.
(iv) It has 10 different biogeographical regions and 25 biotic provinces having varieties of lands
and species.
(v) In addition to geographical distribution, geological events in the land mass provide high level
of biological diversity.
(vi) Several crops arose in the country and spread throughout the world.
(vii) There is wide variety of domestic animals like cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, pigs, horses
etc.
(viii) The marine biota includes sea weeds, fishes, crustaceans, molluses, corals, reptiles etc.
(ix) There are a number of hot spots (namely Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, North Eastern hills
etc.).

RELEVANCE
Importance of Biodiversity:
The living organisms on earth are of great diversity, living in diverse habitats and possessing
diverse qualities and are vital to human existence providing food, shelter, clothings, medicines
etc.
The biodiversity has the following importances:
1. Productive values:
Biodiversity produces a number of products harvested from nature and sold in commercial
markets. Indirectly it provides economic benefits to people which include water quality soil
protection, equalisation of climate, environmental monitoring, scientific research, recreation etc.
2. Consumptive value:
The consumptive value can be assigned to goods such as fuel woods, leaves, forest products etc.
which may be consumed locally and do not figure in national and international market.
3. Social value:
The loss of biodiversity directly influences the social life of the country possibly through
influencing ecosystem functions (energy flow and biogeochemical cycle). This be easily
understood by observing detrimental effects of global warming and acid rain which cause an
unfavorable alteration in logical processes.
4. Aesthetic value:
Aesthetic values such as refreshing fragrance of the flowers, taste of berries, softness of mossed,
melodious songs of birds, etc. compel the human beings to preserve them. The earths natural
beauty with its colour and hues, thick forest, and graceful beasts has inspired the human beings
from their date of birth to take necessary steps for its maintenance. Similarly botanical and
zoological gardens are the means of biodiversity conservation and are of aesthetic values.
5. Legal values:
Since earth is homeland of all living organisms, all have equal right to coexist on the surface of
earth with all benefits. Unless some legal value is attached to biodiversity, it will not be possible
to protect the rapid extinction of species.
6. Ethical value:
Biodiversity must be seen in the light of holding ethical value. Since man is the most intelligent
amongst the living organisms, it should be prime responsibility and moral obligation of man to
preserve and conserve other organisms which will directly or indirectly favour the existence of
the man.
7. Ecological value:
Biodiversity holds great ecological value because it is indispensable to maintain the ecological
balance. Any disturbance in the delicately fabricated ecological balance maintained by different
organisms, will lead to severe problems, which may threaten the survival of human beings.
8. Economic value:
Biodiversity has great economic value because economic development depends upon efficient
and economic management of biotic resources.
In the day to day life, human beings are maintaining their lifestyle at the sacrifice of surrounding
species which come from diversity of plants and animals struggling for their existence.
So, it is highly essential for the human beings to take care of their surrounding species and make
optimum use of their service, for better economic development. Thus, it is rightly told, survival
of the man depends upon the survival of the biosphere.

PROPOSED METHODOLOGY
Uses of Biodiversity:
Biodiversity has the following uses for the development humanity:
(i) It provides food of all types.
(ii) It provides fibers, sources for the preparation of clothes.
(iii) It provides different types of oil seeds for the preparation of oils.
(iv) It provides new varieties of rice, potato etc. through the process of hybridization.
(v) It provides different drugs and medicines which are based on different plant products.
(vi) It is very essential for natural pest control, maintenance of population of various species,
pollination by insects and birds, nutrient cycling, conservation and purification of water,
formation of soil etc. All these services together are valued 16.54 trillion dollars per year.

5. Threats to Biodiversity:
Biodiversity is considered as a reservoir of resources to be used for the manufacture of food,
medicine, industrial products, etc. But with an increased demand of rapid population growth,
biodiversity is gradually depleting. A number of plants and animal species have already become
extinct and many are endangered.
The different factors responsible for causing threat to biodiversity are as follows:
1. Habitat destruction:
The primary cause of loss of biodiversity is habitat loss or destruction which is resulted due to
the large industrial and commercial activities associated with agriculture, irrigation, construction
of dams, mining, fishing etc.
2. Habitat fragmentation:
With increased population, the habitats are fragmented into pieces by roads, fields, canals, power
lines, towns etc. The isolated fragment of habitats restricts the potential of species for dispersal
and colonization. In addition, the habitat fragmentation also brings about microclimatic changes
in light, temperature, wind etc.
3. Pollution:
The most dreaded factor inducing loss of biodiversity is environmental pollution which include
air pollution, Water pollution, industrial pollution, pollution due to chemical Pastes, pesticides
radioactive materials etc.
4. Over exploitation:
The natural resources are over exploited to meet growing rural poverty, intensive technological
growth and globalization of economy. All these factors together may be responsible for the
extinction of a number of species.
5. Introduction of exotic species:
The introduction of exotic species are due to:
(i) horticulture
(ii) agriculture;
(iii) European colonisation and
(iv) accidental transport.
It is seen that some exotic species may kill or eat the native species thereby causing its
extinction.
6. Diseases:
Since the animals are more vulnerable to infection, the anthropological activities may increase
the incidence of diseases in wild species, leading to their extinction.
7. Shifting or Jhum cultivation:

The shifting or Jhum cultivation by poor tribal people greatly affects the forest structure which is
a store house of biodiversity.
8. Poaching of wild life:
A number of wildlife species are becoming extinct due to poaching and hunting.
Table 5.1: Endangered and Endemic Species of India
Category Enlisted species Highly endangered Species.
1. Higher plants
15,000
135
2. Mammals
372
69
3. Reptiles and580
22
amphibians
4. Birds
1175
40
5. Fishes
1693

6. Conservation of Biodiversity:
Biodiversity is being depleted by the loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat, over exploitation
of resources, human sponsored ecosystems, climatic changes, pollution invasive exotic spices,
diseases, shifting cultivation, poaching of wild life etc.
Since the human beings are enjoying all the benefits from biodiversity, they should take proper
care for the preservation of biodiversity in all its form and good health for the future generation
i.e., the human being should prevent the degradation and destruction of the habitats thereby
maintaining the biodiversity at its optimum level.
Conservation of biodiversity is protection, upliftment and scientific management of biodiversity
so as to maintain it at its threshold level and derive sustainable benefits for the present and future
generation. In other words, conservation of bio-diversity is the proper management of the
biosphere by human beings in such a way that it gives maximum benefits for the present
generation and also develops its potential so as to meet the needs of the future generations.
Mainly the conservation of biodiversity has three basic objectives:
(a) To maintain essential ecological processes and life supporting systems.
(b) To preserve the diversity of species.
(c) To make sustainable utilisation of species and ecosystems.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 4th Assessment Report (AR4) concluded that
climate change will have significant impacts on many aspects of biological diversity: on
ecosytems, species, genetic diversity within species, and on ecological interactions. The
implications of these impacts are significant for the long-term stability of the natural world and
for the many benefits and services that humans derive from it. This report reviews the literature
since the AR4. It draws on recent research to summarise advances in our understanding of the
impacts of climate change on biodiversity. The evidence for the impacts on biodiversity comes
from three principal sources. First, from direct observation of changes in components of
biodiversity in nature that can be clearly related to changes in climatic variables. Second,
experimental studies using manipulations to eluciadate responses to climate change. Finally, and
most widely, from modelling studies where our current understanding of the requirements and
constraints on the distribution of species and ecosystems are combined with modelled changes in
climatic variables to project the impacts of climate change and predict future distributions and
changes in populations.Biodiversity is the variety of and among the living organisms, biological
system and biological process found on Earth. The term is neolosim obtained by joining words
biology, the study of life and diversity, meaning difference and variety. Biodiversity (or
biological diversity) then is the diversity of and living nature (Wilson, 1988).The presence of
several plant species and genotypes within the same tropical level appear to play a significant
role in the ecosystem services. So scientists usually defined biodiversity in terms of genes,
species and ecosystems and of plant and animal life within species (genetic diversity), among
species (species diversity) and among ecosystems (ecosystem diversity), corresponding to three
fundamental and hierarchically kind of biodiversity i.e.genetic diversity, species diversity or
taxonomic diversity and ecosystem diversity (Heywood and Watson, 1995).When, Harrison
(2004) distinguishes seven levels of biodiversity: genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem
diversity, community diversity, landscape diversity, population diversity and organismal
diversity.Biodiversity has several components, such as the numbers abundance, composition,
spatial distribution and interactions of genotypes, populations, species, functional types and traits
and landscape units in a given ecosystem (Diaz et al.,2005). All these components may play a
role in maintaining life support systems in the long term.

DESCRIPTION OF METHODOLOGY
If is a cheap and convenient way of conserving biological diversity.
It offers a way to preserve a large number of organisms simultaneously, known or unknown to
us.
(c) The existence in natural ecosystem provides opportunity to the living organisms to adjust to
differed environmental conditions and to evolve in to a better life form.
The only disadvantage of in situ conservation is that it requires large space of earth which is
often difficult because of growing demand for space. The protection and management of
biodiversity through in situ conservation involve certain specific areas known as protected areas
which include national parks, Sanctuaries and Biosphere reserves.
Protected areas:
The protected areas are biogeographical areas where biological diversity along with natural and
cultural resources are protected, maintained and managed through legal and administrative
measures. The demarcation of biodiversity in each area is determined on the basis of climatic and
physiological conditions.
In these areas, hunting, firewood collection, timber harvesting etc. are prohibited so that the wild
plants and animals can grow and multiply freely without any hindrance. Some protected areas
are: Cold desert (Ladakh and Spiti), Hot desert (Thar), Saline Swampy area (Sunderban and
Rann of Kutch), Tropical moist deciduous forest (Western Ghats and north East) etc. Protected
areas include national parks, sanctuaries and biosphere reserves. There are 37,000 protected areas
throughout the world. As per World Conservation Monitoring Centre, India has 581 protected
areas, national parks and sanctuaries.
National parks:
These are the small reserves meant for the protection of wild life and their natural habitats. These
are maintained by government. The area of national parks ranges between 0.04 to 3162 km. The
boundaries are well demarcated and circumscribed. The activities like grazing forestry,
cultivation and habitat manipulation are not permitted in these areas. There are about 89 national
parks in India.
Sanctuaries:
These are the areas where only wild animals (fauna) are present. The activities like harvesting of
timbers, collection of forest products, cultivation of lands etc. are permitted as long as these do
not interfere with the project. That is, controlled biotic interference is permitted in sanctuaries,
which allows visiting of tourists for recreation. The area under a sanctuary remains in between
0.61 to 7818 km.

Biosphere reserves:
Biosphere reserves or natural reserves are multipurpose protected areas with boundaries
circumscribed by legislation. The main aim of biosphere reserve is to preserve genetic diversity
in representative ecosystems by protecting wild animals, traditional life style of inhabitant and
domesticated plant/ animal genetic resources. These are scientifically managed allowing only the
tourists to visit.
(a) These help in the restoration of degraded ecosystem.
(b) The main role of these reserves is to preserve genetic resources, species, ecosystems, and
habitats without disturbing the habitants.
(c) These maintain cultural, social and ecologically sustainable economic developments.
(d) These support education and research in various ecological aspects,
Some important biosphere reserves are:
Simlipal, (Orissa), Sunderban (West Bengal), Kanha (M.P Kaziranga (Assam) etc. The biosphere
reserve net work was introduced by UNESCO 1971.
(b) Ex-situ conservation:
Ex-situ conservation involves maintenance and breeding of endangered plants and animals under
partially or wholly controlled conditions in specific areas like zoo, gardens, nurseries etc. That is,
the conservation of selected plants and animals in selected areas outside their natural habitat is
known as ex-situ conservation.
The stresses on living organisms due to competition for food, water, space etc. can be avoided by
ex-situ conservation there by providing conditions necessary for a secure life and breeding.

Hot Spots:
Hot spots are the areas with high density of biodiversity or mega diversity which are most
threatened at present. There are 16 hot spots in world, out of which two are located in India
namely North-East Himalayas and Western Ghats.
Different mechanisms involved in the conservation of biodiversity is shown in Fig. 5.1.
A community comprises the populations of different species that naturally occur and interact in a
particular environment. Some community are relatively small in scale and may have well-define
d boundaries and other communities are larger, more complex and may be less clearly

defined (Stachowicz and Tilman,2005).The factors that determine the diversity of a community
are extremely complex. Environmental factors, such as temperature, precipitation, sun-light and
the availability of inorganic and organic nutrients are very important in shaping communities and
ecosystems (Hunter, 2002).
Throughout the history of angiosperms, diversification has been a complex process, in which the
propensity to diversify was highly labile and dependent upon many different traits at different
times (Davies et al., 2004).
India has a long mainland coastline of about 5700 km and comprises 60 coastal districts. Coastal
zone in India assumes its importance because of the high productivity of its ecosystems,
concentration of population, exploitation of renewable and non-renewable natural resources,
discharge of waste effluent and municipal sewage, development of various industries and spurt in
recreational activities in and around the coastal zones (Nayaket al.,1996)
The following strategies should be undertaken in order to conserve biodiversity:
(1) All the possible varieties (old or new) of food, forage and timber plants, live stock,
agriculture animals and microbes should be conserved.
(2) All the economically important organisms in protected areas should be identified and
conserved.
(3) Critical habitats for each species should be identified and safeguarded.
(4) Priority should be given to preserve unique ecosystems.
(5) There should be sustainable utilisation of resources.
(6) International trade in wild life should be highly regulated.
(7) The poaching and hunting of wildlife should be prevented as far as practicable.
(8) Care should be taken for the development of reserves and protected areas.
(9) Efforts should be made to reduce the level of pollutants in the environment.
(10) Public awareness should be created regarding biodiversity and its importance for the living
organisms.
(11) Priority should be given in wildlife conservation programme to endangered species over
vulnerable species and to vulnerable species over rare species.
(12) The habitats of migratory birds should be protected by bilateral and multilateral agreement.
(13) The over exploitation of useful products of wild life should be prevented.
(14) The useful animals, plants and their wild relatives should be protected both in their natural
habitat (in-situ) and in zoological botanical gardens (ex-situ)
(15) Efforts should be made for setting up of National parks and wild life sanctuaries to
safeguard the genetic diversity and their continuing evolution.
(16) Environmental laws should be strictly followed.

Conservation Methods:
There are two types of conservation methods namely in-situ and ex-situ conservations. Let us
discuss the different conservation methods along with their importance.
(a) In situ conservation:
The conservation of species in their natural habitat or natural ecosystem is known as in situ
conservation. In the process, the natural surrounding or ecosystem is protected and maintained so
that all the constituent species (known or unknown) are conserved and benefited. The factors
which are detrimental to the existence of species concerned are eliminated by suitable
mechanism.
Biodiversity is the biological diversity which includes the variety of the whole species present on
earth. It includes different animals, plants, micro-organisms and their genes, water ecosystems,
terrestrial, and marine ecosystems in which they all are present.
Biodiversity is necessary for our existence as well as valuable in its own right. This is because it
provides the fundamental building blocks for the many goods and services which provides a
healthy environment to lead our life.
Biodiversity include fundamental things to our health like fresh water clean air and food
products, as well as the many other products such as timber and fiber.
Biodiversity also includes various other important things and services such as cultural,
recreational, and spiritual nourishment that play an important role in maintaining our personal
life as well as social life.
So, it is an important task for all of us to take care of our Biodiversity and we should try to
maintain it. Over the last 200 years Australia has suffered the largest ocumented decline in
biodiversity of any continent. Despite efforts to manage threats and pressures to biodiversity in
Australia, it is still in decline.
Main threats to our biodiversity are as given below:
Degradation, fragmentation and loss of habitat
Spreading of invasive species
Unsustainable use of natural resources
Change of Climate
Inappropriate fire regimes
Changes within aquatic environment and water flows

OBSERVATION
Biodiversity is the biological diversity which includes the variety of the whole species present on
earth. It includes different animals, plants, micro-organisms and their genes, water ecosystems,
terrestrial, and marine ecosystems in which they all are present.
Biodiversity is necessary for our existence as well as valuable in its own right. This is because it
provides the fundamental building blocks for the many goods and services which provides a
healthy environment to lead our life.
Biodiversity include fundamental things to our health like fresh water clean air and food
products, as well as the many other products such as timber and fiber.
Biodiversity also includes various other important things and services such as cultural,
recreational, and spiritual nourishment that play an important role in maintaining our personal
life as well as social life.
So, it is an important task for all of us to take care of our Biodiversity and we should try to
maintain it. Over the last 200 years Australia has suffered the largest ocumented decline in
biodiversity of any continent. Despite efforts to manage threats and pressures to biodiversity in
Australia, it is still in decline.
Degradation, fragmentation and loss of habitat
Spreading of invasive species
Unsustainable use of natural resources
Change of Climate
Inappropriate fire regimes
Changes within aquatic environment and water flows
Human should conserve biodiversity because of its benefit for example services and biological
resources which are essential to live our life on earth. However, it also provides spiritual benefits
as well as social benefit.
A biological resource means any product that is harvested from nature is the part of biological
resources. These resources come under several categories such as medicine, food, wood
products, fibers etc. For example under one category i.e., Food more than 7,000 species of plants
are involved, although we dependent mainly on only 12 major crops for food.
For Medicinal field human population is dependent on plants. It is true that in the developed
country, many of our medicines are produced by chemicals in pharmaceutical companies, but the
original formulas come from plants. For example, aspirin is comes from willows, opiate which is
a pain relievers is derived from poppies and quinine which is used for the treatment of malaria
produced by the Cinchona tree.
Fibers which is used for ropes, clothing, webbing, netting, sacking, and other materials are
obtained by plants mainly for example cotton plants, Agave plants (sisal), flax plants (linen),
Corchorus plants (jute), bamboo, palms and Agave plants (sisal)

ANALYSIS
Ecosystem services means processes provided by the nature to support human life. For example
Pollination, decomposition of waste, water purification, renewal of soil fertility and moderation
of floods. Ecosystem processes are often overlooked, and are not generally valued as part of the
economy until they cease to function. When economic value is assigned to these services, it
becomes very high. For example, insect pollinators help produce many commercially important
fruits such as almonds, melons, blueberries, and apples. The global economic value of pollination
services performed by insects has been valued at $217 billion per year.
Similarly in other ecosystem service water purification just involves filtering of rain water by
soil and by microbes that can break down nutrients and contaminants, and reduce metal ions,
slowing their spread into the environment. Wetland and riparian plants absorb nitrogen, and trap
sediments that decrease water quality.
But human construction and development will disrupt natural environments as well all activity
and services related to this environment. So finally we have to dependent on artificial man made
services like for filtration we used different different types of water filters and purifiers. For
these artificial services we need to pay more while the natural ecosystem services are at free of
cost.
Social and Spiritual Benefits
Most of the time in human history, conservation means protecting nature for the spiritual gifts it
provides, and protecting sacred places in the local landscape. The biodiversity effects on cultural
development can be shown by heterogeneity of the worlds mythology, folk dances and folk art
which contribute to the richness of literature and global arts. In different landscapes, different
cultures are present which influenced our language, diet, occupation and various types of
activity.
Uniqueness of each habitat is presented by their animals and plants that why each country and
state have their flagship animals as well as plants. Even during traveling, motivation of the
peoples is to see biological diversity, different cultural and landscape. Ecotourism is travel with
the aim to view, support and sustain the local cultures and its natural ecosystem. Support from
ecotourism can be very helpful to reduce habitat destruction as well as to preserve endangered
species.

In-situ biodiversity conservation

In-situ conservation means the conservation of species within their natural habitats, this way of
conserving biodiversity is the most appropriate method for biodiversity conservation. In this
strategy you have to find out the area with high biodiversity means the area in which number of
plants and animals are present. After that this high biodiversity area should be covered in the
form of natural park/ sanctuary/biosphere reserve etc. In this way biodiversity can be conserve in
their natural habitat from human activities .
Ex-Situ conservation methods
Ex-situ conservation involves the conservation of biological diversity outside of their natural
habitats. This involves conservation of genetic resources, as well as wild and cultivated or
species, and draws on a diverse body of techniques and facilities.

By forming Gene banks: In this store seeds, sperm & ova at extremely low temperature and
humidity.
It is very helpful to save large variety of species of plants & animals in a very small space. e.g.
sperm and ova banks, seed banks.
Forming Zoo and botanical garden: for research purpose and to increase public awareness
collecting living organisms for aquaria, zoos and botanic gardens.
Collections of In vitro plant tissue and microbial culture.
Captive breeding of animals and artificial propagation of plants, with possible reintroduction
into the wild.
Ex-situ biodiversity conservation strategy also plays an important role in recovery programmes
for endangered species. The Kew Seed Bank in England has 1.5 per cent of the worlds flora about 4,000 species - on deposit.
In agriculture, ex-situ conservation measures maintain domesticated plants which cannot survive
in nature unaided.
It provides good platform for research opportunities on the components of biological diversity.
Some of the institutions also play a major role in public education and in increasing awareness
among public by bringing members of the public into contact with plants and animals they may
not normally come in contact with. It is estimated over 600 million people visit zoos every year
worldwide.

SUMMARY
Climate change affects biodiversity in many ways. Impacts on species include changes in
distribution and abundance, the timing of seasonal events and habitat use and, as a consequence
there are likely to be changes in the composition of plant and animal communities. Habitats and
ecosystems are also likely to change character by, for example, showing altered water regimes,
increased rates of decomposition in bogs and higher growth rates in forests.
Biodiversity also has an important role in climate change adaptation and mitigation. For
example, soils, forests and oceans hold vast stores of carbon. The way managed habitats are used
will affect how much of that carbon is released in gaseous form into the atmosphere. How we
address climate change and maintain healthy ecosystems so that they provide ecosystem goods
and services essential for human well-being is now a key challenge for society. Understanding
the ongoing impacts of climate change on ecosystems is an essential prerequisite to addressing
this challenge.
This booklet covers impacts in the marine, terrestrial and freshwater environments. It
brings together information from published sources to give an overview of the evidence of
climate change impacts on the natural environment of the UK.

CONCLUSION
Having reached the end of this module, it is time for a small review.
Biodiversity is a concept that has no general definition. Usually it is used in a context that
stresses the need for attention on our living environment and the sustainable use of natural
resources.
Biodiversity can be divided in different types such as habitat, species and genetic diversity.
The integrated approach used in coastal zone management is an adequate method in dealing with
the matter of biodiversity.
The problems and benefits of biodiversity are many. They focus on the need for sustainable
development and adequate use of coastal resources.
Loss of biodiversity and biodiversity conservation are concepts that provide the basis for
biodiversity management.
The management of biodiversity is a complex matter that needs the involvement of many
different partners ranging from governmental organisations to private companies, NGO's and
volunteers. This aside, national and international commitment, legislation and enforcement offer
an essential framework for promoting and maintaining biodiversity.
Global Biodiversity Outlook 2 draws on the Conventions set of global indicators and the
findings of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment to show that biodiversity is continuing to be
lost, and that these losses may undermine achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Global Biodiversity Outlook 2 also reveals that, while much progress has been made developing
policy and tools for implementing the Convention, national-level implementation to date has
been limited. The magnitude of the challenge is confirmed by the Millennium Ecosystem
Assessments finding that unprecedented action will be required to achieve the 2010 Biodiversity
Target at the global, regional and national levels.
With 2010 fast approaching, Parties and all stakeholders need to take urgent action to reduce the
rate of biodiversity loss. What is required is not only a firm commitment by Parties to act
according to the priorities identified by the Convention and its Strategic Plan, but concrete
activities for following through on these commitments. The conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity need to become integral elements of planning, policy and practice for all economic
and social sectors of society. There are many good reasons, as well as multiple opportunities, for
mainstreaming biodiversity more widely.
Primary responsibility for action lies with Parties to the Convention themselves, but the
international community can play an important supporting role, including through the
Conventions Conference of the Parties and its Secretariat. In addition, individuals singly and
collectively can make a difference through their choices and activities as citizens, consumers and
actors in their own right. Box 5.1 provides a checklist of key actions to be undertaken by these
players for achieving the 2010 target, with further discussion provided in this concluding section.

SUGGESTION
On the other hand, changes through the Phanerozoic correlate much better with the hyperbolic
model (widely used in population biology, demography and macrosociology, as well as fossil
biodiversity) than with exponential and logistic models. The latter models imply that changes in
diversity are guided by a first-order positive feedback (more ancestors, more descendants) and/or
a negative feedback arising from resource limitation. Hyperbolic model implies a second-order
positive feedback. The hyperbolic pattern of the world population growth arises from a secondorder positive feedback between the population size and the rate of technological growth.[73] The
hyperbolic character of biodiversity growth can be similarly accounted for by a feedback
between diversity and community structure complexity. The similarity between the curves of
biodiversity and human population probably comes from the fact that both are derived from the
interference of the hyperbolic trend with cyclical and stochastic dynamics.
Most biologists agree however that the period since human emergence is part of a new mass
extinction, named the Holocene extinction event, caused primarily by the impact humans are
having on the environment. It has been argued that the present rate of extinction is sufficient to
eliminate most species on the planet Earth within 100 years.
New species are regularly discovered (on average between 510,000 new species each year, most
of them insects) and many, though discovered, are not yet classified (estimates are that nearly
90% of all arthropods are not yet classified). Most of the terrestrial diversity is found in tropical
forests and in general, land has more species than the ocean; some 8.7 million species may exists
on Earth, of which some 2.1 million live in the ocean.

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