Fundamental Of Physical Geography Chapter 16 Biodiversity And Conservation

1. Genetic diversity, 2. Ecosystem diversity, 3. Species diversity.

The world conservation strategy has suggested the following steps for biodiversity conservation:

(i) Efforts should be made to preserve the species that are endangered.

(ii) Prevention of extinction requires proper planning and management.

(iii) Varieties of food crops, forage plants, timber trees, livestock, animals and their wild relatives should be preserved;

(iv) Each country should identify habitats of wild relatives and ensure their protection.

(v) Habitats where species feed, breed, rest and nurse their young should be safeguarded and protected.

(vi) International trade in wild plants and animals be regulated.

Biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region. It refers to the varieties of plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the ecosystems they form. It relates to the variability among living organisms on the earth, including the variability within and between the species and that within and between the ecosystems.

The importance of animals to humankind are discussed below:

i. They produce and decompose organic materials.

ii. They help to cycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem.

iii. Fix atmospheric gases and help to regulate the climate.

Biodiversity has contributed in many ways to the development of human culture and in turn human communities have played a major role in shaping the diversity of nature at the genetic, species and ecological levels.

i. Ecological Role of Biodiversity

Species of many kinds perform some function or the other in an ecosystem. Nothing in an ecosystem evolves and sustains without any reason. That means, every organism, besides extracting its needs, also contributes something of useful to other organisms. Species capture and store energy, produce and decompose organic materials, help to cycle water and nutrients throughout the ecosystem, fix atmospheric gases and help regulate the climate. These functions are important for ecosystem function and human survival.

ii. Economic Role of Biodiversity

For all humans, biodiversity is an important resource in their day-to-day life. One important part of biodiversity is ‘crop diversity’, which is also called agro-biodiversity. Biodiversity is seen as a reservoir of resources to be drawn upon for the manufacture of food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products.

iii. Scientific Role of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is important because each species can give us some clue as to how life evolved and will continue to evolve. Biodiversity also helps in understanding how life functions and the role of each species in sustaining ecosystems of which we are also a species.

1. Efforts should be made to preserve the endangered species.

2. Prevention of extinction requires sound planning and management.

3. Varieties of food crops, forage plants, timber trees, livestock should be preserved.

4. Each country should identify habitats of wild relatives and ensure their protection.

5. Habitats where species feed, breed, nurse their youngones and rest should be safeguarded and protected.

6. International trade in wild plants and animals should be regulated.

Hotspots are defined according to their vegetation. Plants are important because these determine the primary productivity of an ecosystem. Most, but not all, of the hotspots rely on species rich ecosystems for food, firewood, cropland, and income from timber.
i. In Madagascar, for example, about 85 per cent of the plants and animals are not only found nowhere else in the world, but its people are also among the world’s poorest and rely on slash and burn agriculture for subsistence farming. Other hotspots in wealthy countries are facing different types of pressures.
ii. The islands of Hawaii have many unique plants and animals that are threatened by introduced species and land development.

The following factors are responsible for the loss of biodiversity:

i. Increase in population

ii. Deforestation

iii. Over-exploitation of natural resources

iv. Destruction of natural habitats

v. Natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, etc.

vi. Pollution

vii. Hunting

The following steps are needed to prevent them: 

1. Efforts should be made to preserve the species.

2. Proper planning and management should be undertaken to stop extinction of species.

3. Afforestation.

4. Check on overexploitation.

5. Hunting must be restricted.

6. International trade in wild animals should be regulated.

7. Population should be controlled.

8. Environment should be pollution-free.

Sanctuary : A sanctuary is a reserved area meant for preservation and development of endangered species. At present there are 368 sanctuaries covering 4.5% of total geographical area of the country. Bharatpur is a bird sanctuary.

Conservation of Forests : The concept of biodiversity conservation is not new in India. Several measures are being taken to conserve forests. Afforestation is being done. Trees are being planted, using chemical insecticides to control diseases of trees and safeguarding of forests by fire are other important steps in this direction.

Genetic diversity comprises genetic or other variations within a species whereas Species diversity is reflected by morphological, physiological and genetic features.

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Species Diversity:

i. This refers to the variety of species.

It includes those species which are in danger of extinction. The IUCN publishes information about endangered species world-wide as the Red List of threatened species. 
Examples-- Red Panda is an endangered species, Zenkeria Sebastiani is a critically endangered grass in Agasthiyamalai peak (India).

The broad differences between ecosystem types and the diversity of habitats and ecological processes occurring within each ecosystem type constitute the ecosystem diversity. 

Some of the important economic commodities that biodiversity supplies to humankind are: food crops, livestock, forestry, fish, medicinal resources, etc.

1. Efforts should be made to preserve the endangered species.

2. Prevention of extinction requires sound planning and management.

3. Varieties of food crops, forage plants, timber trees, livestock should be preserved.

4. Each country should identify habitats of wild relatives and ensure their protection.

5. Habitats where species feed, breed, nurse their youngones and rest should be safeguarded and protected.

6. International trade in wild plants and animals should be regulated.