Biodiversity conservation

 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION-TIME FOR NATURE

Introduction:

Biodiversity is a term term accustomed refer the various forms

of life on the world . It also includes the variability of

species within the ecosystem. there's an uneven distribution

of the biodiversity on the world because of the acute 

variation of temperatures in several regions. For

instance, it's more in regions near the equator thanks to 

warm climate . However, near the pole, the

extreme cold and unfavourable weather don't 

support a majority of life forms. Additionally, changes in

climatic conditions on the world over a period of your time 

have also led to the extinction of variety of species.

Objectives and advantages of biodiversity conservation

1. Conservation of biological diversity results in 

conservation of essential ecological diversity to

preserve the continuity of food chains.

2. The genetic diversity of plants and animals is

preserved.

3. It ensures the sustainable utilisation of life

support systems on earth.

4. A reservoir of untamed animals and plants is preserved,

thus enabling them to be introduced, if need be, in

the surrounding areas.

5. Biological diversity provides immediate benefits to

the society like recreation and tourism.

Types of conservation

Ex situ conservation

Conserving biodiversity outside the areas where they

naturally occur is understood 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's become extinct is another sort of ex situ

conservation. for instance , the Gangetic gharial has been

reintroduced within the rivers of Uttar Pradesh , Madhya

Pradesh and Rajasthan where it had become extinct.

Seedbanks, botanical, horticultural and recreational

gardens are important centres for ex situ conservation.

In situ conservation

Conserving the animals and plants in their natural

habitats is understood as in place conservation. This includes

the establishment of

1. National parks and sanctuaries

2. Biosphere reserves

3. Nature reserves

4. Reserved and guarded forests

5. Preservation plots

6. Reserved forests

Agrobiodiversity conservation

After the introduction of cotton, tobacco, sugarcane,

sunflower, soyabean then on, farmers became victims of

monocultures in their greed for money. Therefore, many of

the indigenous sorts of crops were lost. Moreover, the

hybrid sorts of fruits and vegetables (e.g. tomatoes),

introduced for pulp are more vulnerable to disease and

pests. Though hybrid varieties are preferred, traditional

wild sorts of the seeds should be conserved for future

use within the event of a plague which might completely

wipe out the hybrids.

Convention of Biological Diversity

The aim of the convention is to save lots of species and plants

from extinction and their habitats from destruction.

The developed countries are trying to find a sustainable

supply of biological resources from the developing

countries and straightforward access to them also . The developing

countries lacking the technology to take advantage of their

resources are inviting the developed countries to try to to so.

This has resulted within the developed nations channelling out

the benefits of those natural resources. The developing

countries are now demanding a better share of the accrued

economic benefits. The developed nations also are 

concerned by the unsustainable exploitation of natural

wealth, particularly rainforests.

Key points from the Convention on Biological Diversity

The aim of the Convention on Biological Diversity is 'the

conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use

of its components and therefore the fair and equitable sharing of

the benefits arising out of the use of genetic

resources. The convention stipulates that Parties must:

1. Develop national strategies for the conservation and

sustainable use of biological resources;

2. Establish training and research programmes for the

conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and

support such programmes in developing countries;

3. Promote public education and awareness of the

conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity;

4. Encourage technology and biotechnology transfer

particularly to developing countries;

5. Establish an information exchange between the parties

on all subjects relevant to biodiversity;

6. Promote technical and scientific cooperation between

parties (particularly to developing countries) to

enable them to implement the convention;

7. Make sure that countries that provide genetic resources

have access to the advantages arising from them; and

The major causes for biodiversity loss

Loss of biodiversity occurs when either the habitat

essential for the survival of a species is destroyed, or

particular species are destroyed. the previous is more

common as habitat destruction may be a fallout of development.

The latter reason is encountered when particular species

are exploited for economical gain or looked for sport or

food.

Natural causes for the loss of biodiversity

Natural causes include floods, earthquakes, landslides,

natural competition between species, lack of pollination

and diseases.

Man-made causes for the loss of biodiversity

1. Destruction of habitat within the wake of developmental

activities like housing, agriculture, construction of

dams, reservoirs, roads, railway tracks, etc.

2. Pollution, a present of the economic revolution are often 

given the pride of place for driving a spread of

species in air, water and land towards extinction.

3. Motorcars, air-conditioners and refrigerators, the

three symbols of a contemporary , affluent society, have

been instrumental in heating and ozone

depletion.

4. An outsized number of species are threatened by

overhunting, poaching and illegal trade.

5. Indiscriminate use of toxic chemicals and pesticides

and overexploitation of wildlife resources for

commercial purposes are liable for the rapid

decline within the number of some species.

6. Genetic erosion arises from the loss (due to

commercial and anthropogenic pressures) of habitats

rich in biodiversity and from the disappearance of

the traditional conservation practices of untamed 

species in their habitats by rural and tribal people.

Projects to save lots of threatened species

Project Tiger:

Project Tiger was initiated as a Central Sector Scheme in

1973 with 9 tiger reserves located in several habitat

types in 9 different states. There are totally 18 Reserves

in 13 states.

Crocodile Breeding Project:

The project was started in Orissa then extended to

several other states in April 1975 with UNDP assistance.

The main objective was to guard the three endangered

species of crocodiles namely - gavial ,

Crocodylus palustris and therefore the salt water crocodile,

Crocodylus porosus.

Lesser Cats Project:

The project was launched in 1976 with the help of

WWF in India for conservation of 4 species of lesser

cats e.g. leopard cat Kerr, Felis marmorta Martin,

Felis lemruinki Vigors Horsfield and Felis viverrina

Bennet, found in Sikkim and Northern a part of West Bengal .

The Manipur Brow-antlered Deer Project:

This was launched in 1981 in Manipur to save lots of the brow-

antlered deer (Cerevus eldi eldi) which is on the verge of

extinction.

Project Elephant:

It was launched in 1991 to guard the Asiatic elephant

which is additionally a highly species due to large

scale poaching.

Project Rhino:

It was launched in 1987 in Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary in

Assam to save lots of the lesser one horned rhinoceros from

extinction. It covers a neighborhood of 430 sq.km. and is that the 

natural of the dwindling rhino.

Himalayan Moschus moschiferus project:

This was launched in 1981 to save lots of the endangered Moschus moschiferus 

which is facing extinction. Captive breeding has yielded

good results.

Project Hangul:

This project was launched in 1970 in Kashmir valley to

save the highly endangered Kashmir stag (Cerevus elaphus

hanglu) which is facing extinction. As a result, their

population has increased.

Conclusion:

If proper care isn't taken, the biodiversity of Earth may

become extinct at some point and if it happens then, humans need to 

find another planet to measure . It’s better to act now before it

gets too late.