CONTENTS:-

BIODIVERSITY:- INTRODUCTION
1. Types of Biodiversity

2. Biodiversity of India

3. Importance of Biodiversity

4. Uses of Biodiversity

5. Threats to Biodiversity

6. Conservation of Biodiversity
 BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity generally refers to the variety and variability of life

on Earth. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
biodiversity typically measures variation at the genetic, species,
and ecosystem level. 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, and is richest in
the tropics. These tropical forest ecosystems cover less than 10 percent of
earth's surface, and contain about 90 percent of the world's species. 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. Biodiversity generally tends
to cluster in hotspots, and has been increasing through time, but will be likely to
slow in the future.
Rapid environmental changes typically cause mass extinctions. More than 99.9
percent of all species that ever lived on Earth, amounting to over five billion
species, 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. 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
explosion—a 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 Permian–Triassic
extinction event, 251 million years ago, was the worst; vertebrate recovery took
30 million years. The most recent, the Cretaceous–Paleogene 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 positively
impacts human health in a number of ways, although a few negative effects are
studied.
The United Nations designated 2011–2020 as the United Nations Decade on
Biodiversity.
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.

Biodiversity conservation on the Earth is related to the protection of rainforest,

where live more than half of the 10 million species of the planet. Most of these
species have not yet been discovered and described.

For the reason that the destruction of the rainforest, at the rate of 100000 sq km
a year, causes the loss of the richest ecosystems in biodiversity, and with them
the extinction of tens of thousands species, Giovanni Onore – lay brother,
professor of Entomology, Director of the Museum of the Pontificia
Universidad Catolica del Ecuador (Quito) and President of the Otonga
Foundation – since 1996 is engaged in rainforest conservation by purchasing
rainforest in Ecuador (Otonga Forest).
In 2000, Gianfranco Caoduro, teacher of Natural Sciences at the Liceo
Montanari of Verona, developed the Biodiversity Project to sensitise students
and citizens on rainforest conservation.
With the help of several Secondary Schools of Verona began a fundraising
campaign to buy pieces of rainforest. Money was collected by selling small
trees grown by students of Agrarian Schools and little objects of vegetable
ivory made by the indios of Ecuador. The vegetable ivory (local name tagua)
comes from seeds of a palm-tree (Phytelephas aequatorialis) widespread in the
tropical forests of Ecuador.
 In 2004 WBA adopted the Biodiversity Project, which involved many
Secondary Schools of the Venetian area. The students collected more than
105000 € with which the Otonga Foundation bought 50 more hectares of
Otonga Forest and supported the economy of several indios families, skilled
craftsmen of tagua manifacture.

A sampling
of fungi collected during
summer 2008 in
Northern Saskatchewan mix
ed woods, near LaRonge is
an example regarding the
species diversity of fungi. In
this photo, there are also
leaf lichens and mosses.

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.
 1. Types of Biodiversity:

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.

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.
3. 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) α-Diversity:
It tells the species diversity in a given community.

It depends upon species richness and evenness.

(ii) β-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) γ -Diversity:
It describes diversity of habitat over a total land escape or geographical area.
 2. Biodiversity of India

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 earth’s 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.)
 3. 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, clothing’s, medicines etc.

The biodiversity has the following importance’s:

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 earth’s 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.
 4. 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

2. Mammals 372

3. Reptiles and amphibians 580

4. Birds 1175

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.

Strategies for Conservation of Biodiversity:

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.

The different advantages of in situ conservation are as follows:

(a) If is a cheap and convenient way of conserving biological diversity.

(b) 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.

1. 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.

2. 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.

Some important national Parks of India are:

(i) Biological Park, Nandankanan, Orissa,

(ii) Corbett national Park Nainital, U.P. (First national Park)

(iii) Koziranga national Park, Jorhat, Assam

(iv) Tudula national Park, Maharashtra

(v) Hazaribagh national Park, Hazaribagh, Bihar

(vi) Band havgarh national park, M.P.

(vii) Bandipur national park, Karnataka.

(viii) Kanha National Park, M.P.

(ix) Reibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur

(x) Nawgaon National Park, Maharashtra

3. 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.

Some important sanctuaries of Orissa are as follows:

(i) Nandankanan Zoological Park

(ii) Chandaka Elephant reserve

(iii) Simlipal Tiger Reserve

(iv) Bhitarkanika Wild life Sanctuary

(v) Gharial project at Tikarpada

(vi) Chilika (Nalaban) Sanctuary

4. 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.

Some importance of biosphere reserves are as follows:

(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 con-
servation.

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.

Some important areas under these conservation are:

(i) Seed gene bank,

(ii) Field gene bank;

(iii) Botanical gardens;

(iv) Zoos.

The strategies for ex-situ conservations are:

(i) Identification of species to be conserved.

(ii) Adoption of Different ex-situ methods of conservation.

(i) Long-term captive breeding and propagation for the species which have lost
their habitats permanently.

(ii) Short-term propagation and release of the animals in their natural habitat

(iii) Animal translocation

(iv) Animal reintroduction

(v) Advanced technology in the service of endangered species.

The different advantages of ex-situ conservation are:

(a) It gives longer life time and breeding activity to animals.

(b) Genetic techniques can be utilised in the process.

(c) Captivity breed species can again be reintroduced in the wild.

Some disadvantages of this method are:
(a) The favourable conditions may not be maintained always.

(b) Mew life forms cannot evolve.

(c) This technique involves only few species.

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.

The hot spots are determined considering four factors:

(i) Degrees of endemism;

(ii) Degree of expectation

(iii) Degrees of threat to habitat due to its degradation and fragmentation and

(iv) Number of Species diversity.

The global hot spot and endemic species present within them are:
(1) North East Himalayas (3,500);

(ii) Western Ghats (1,600);

(iii) Cape region of South Africa (6,000);

(iv) Upland Western Amazonia (5,000);

(v) Madagascar (4,900);

(vi) Philippines (3,700)

(vii) Boreo (3, 500);

(viii) South West Australia (2,830);

(ix) Western Ecuador (2,500);

(x) Colombian Choco (2,500);

(xi) Peninsular Malaysia) (2, 400);

(xii) Californian Floristic Province (2,140);

(xiii) Central Chile (1,450);

(xiv) Eastern Arc. Mts (Tanzania) (535);

(xv) South West Srilanka (500);

(xvi) South west Tvorie (200).

Different mechanisms involved in the conservation of biodiversity is shown in

Fig. 5.1.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Cbse Books

 www.google.com

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biodiversity

 https://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/l-3/1-
define-biodiversity.htm

 https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/what-is-
biodiversity.php
 CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that the project entitle
Biodiversity & Its Conservation by of Gurkul
International Sen. Sec. School has submitted his project
to “Mr. Dinesh Kanwar” under his supervision.

Teacher’s sign. Examiner sign.

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my
teacher Mr. Dinesh Kanwar as well as our principal Mrs.
Gurpreet Mathur who gave me the golden opportunity to do
this wonderful project on the Topic Biodiversity which also
helped me in doing a lot of Research and I came to know
about so many new things am really thankful to them.
Secondly I would also like to thank my parents and
friends who helped me a lot in finalizing this project within the
limited time frame.