Biodiversity and Its Conservation: Threats, Laws, and Hotspots
Lesson Overview
- What Is Biodiversity and Why Is It Vital for Life on Earth?
- How Is Biodiversity Measured and Classified Scientifically?
- What Are the Scientific Causes of Biodiversity Loss?
- How Does India Contribute to Global Biodiversity Conservation?
- What Laws and Programs Regulate Biodiversity Conservation in India?
- What Is the Scientific Importance of Biodiversity Hotspots?
- How Are Threatened Species Categorized by IUCN?
- What Is the Structure and Function of Biosphere Reserves?
- What Are the Scientific Methods of In-Situ and Ex-Situ Conservation?
- Why Are Species Like the Cheetah and One-Horned Rhino Important?
- How Do Protected Areas Ensure Conservation Success?
- How Do Communities and Education Support Biodiversity Conservation?
When forest fires wipe out rare species or cities expand into wetlands, the real loss is deeper than what we see-it's biodiversity. This lesson explores the science behind conserving Earth's biological wealth. Students will uncover what biodiversity means, why it's vanishing, and how conservation laws and strategies can protect it.
What Is Biodiversity and Why Is It Vital for Life on Earth?
Biodiversity is the total variety of life across all levels of biological organization. This includes diversity at the genetic, species, and ecosystem levels. Biodiversity plays a key role in sustaining ecosystem function, providing ecosystem services, and maintaining resilience against environmental change.
- Genetic diversity provides organisms with the ability to adapt to environmental changes.
- Species diversity ensures the interdependence of organisms within ecosystems.
- Ecosystem diversity maintains different habitats, each supporting unique life forms.
Biological diversity is essential for agriculture, medicine, ecological stability, and the aesthetic and cultural value of nature.
How Is Biodiversity Measured and Classified Scientifically?
Ecologists quantify biodiversity using several indices and levels:
- Genetic diversity is measured by allelic richness and heterozygosity within populations.
- Species diversity is often assessed using the Shannon Index or Simpson Index.
- Ecosystem diversity is studied by evaluating the variety of biotic communities and physical environments in a region.
Biogeographical classifications identify biodiversity-rich areas such as biodiversity hotspots, which possess:
- At least 1,500 endemic plant species.
- Over 70% loss of original habitat.
India includes four global biodiversity hotspots: Himalayas, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka, and Sundaland (Nicobar Islands).
What Are the Scientific Causes of Biodiversity Loss?
Biodiversity loss arises from several ecological and anthropogenic factors:
- Habitat fragmentation isolates populations, reducing gene flow.
- Deforestation causes direct loss of flora and fauna.
- Climate change alters species distributions and disrupts phenology.
- Pollution leads to bioaccumulation and biomagnification of toxins.
- Overexploitation exhausts populations beyond recovery.
- Invasive species outcompete native species by altering food webs.
Recent studies indicate that species extinction rates are now 100 to 1,000 times the natural background rate.
How Does India Contribute to Global Biodiversity Conservation?
India is among the 17 megadiverse nations, harboring approximately 7–8% of global biodiversity.
- India has over 90,000 documented animal species and 40,000 plant species.
- India supports unique endemic species like the lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, and Great Indian bustard.
- India's varied topography, from deserts to rainforests, promotes species richness and ecosystem heterogeneity.
Several conservation zones include Kaziranga National Park, famous for the one-horned rhinoceros, and Gir Forest, the last wild habitat of the Asiatic lion.
What Laws and Programs Regulate Biodiversity Conservation in India?
India has enacted several laws and launched programs to ensure biodiversity conservation:
- The Wildlife Protection Act (1972) provides legal protection for endangered species and establishes protected areas.
- The Biological Diversity Act (2002) facilitates the conservation of biodiversity and equitable benefit sharing.
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) regulates access to genetic resources.
- The Forest Conservation Act (1980) restricts deforestation and forest land use changes.
Conservation programs include:
- Project Tiger: Launched in 1973, this protects Bengal tiger populations.
- Project Elephant: Initiated in 1992 to conserve elephants and their habitats.
What Is the Scientific Importance of Biodiversity Hotspots?
Biodiversity hotspots are critical because they represent areas with both high endemic species richness and significant threat levels.
- The Western Ghats are rich in amphibian and plant endemism.
- The Himalayas support diverse climatic zones and species, including snow leopards.
- The Indo-Burma region is a center of freshwater biodiversity.
Conservation in hotspots involves:
- Habitat corridor establishment.
- Anti-poaching enforcement.
- Community-led conservation initiatives.
Hotspots account for less than 2.4% of the Earth's surface but host over 50% of the world's endemic plant species.
How Are Threatened Species Categorized by IUCN?
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies species into risk categories based on population trends and threat levels.
- Critically endangered (CR): 50% chance of extinction within five years.
- Endangered (EN): High risk of extinction in the near future.
- Vulnerable (VU): Significant risk of extinction in the medium term.
- Near Threatened (NT): Likely to qualify for threatened category soon.
- Least Concern (LC): Widespread and abundant.
IUCN's Red List guides conservation actions and international funding decisions.
What Is the Structure and Function of Biosphere Reserves?
Biosphere reserves balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable use. Created by UNESCO, they consist of three functionally distinct zones:
- Core zone: Strictly protected for research and ecosystem preservation.
- Buffer zone: Permits controlled activities like research, education, and ecotourism.
- Transition zone: Encourages sustainable human settlement and resource use.
India has 18 biosphere reserves, including Nilgiri, Sunderbans, and Gulf of Mannar, supporting conservation and socioeconomic development.
What Are the Scientific Methods of In-Situ and Ex-Situ Conservation?
Conservation biology uses both in-situ and ex-situ strategies:
- In-situ conservation:
- Protects species in their natural habitat.
- Examples: National parks (Corbett, Kaziranga), sanctuaries, biosphere reserves.
- Ex-situ conservation:
- Maintains species outside natural environments.
- Examples: Zoological parks, seed banks, cryopreservation of genetic material.
Each method has advantages:
- In-situ methods maintain ecological processes.
- Ex-situ methods allow breeding programs and genetic storage.
Why Are Species Like the Cheetah and One-Horned Rhino Important?
Keystone and flagship species play roles in ecological integrity and public engagement.
- The cheetah went extinct in India in the 1950s. India plans to reintroduce it through translocation from Africa.
- The one-horned rhinoceros is conserved in Kaziranga, where its population has increased due to anti-poaching laws.
These species represent ecosystems and help generate conservation funding and policy interest.
How Do Protected Areas Ensure Conservation Success?
Protected areas reduce habitat loss, protect migratory routes, and act as climate refuges.
- National parks prohibit human settlement and commercial exploitation.
- Wildlife sanctuaries allow limited resource use.
- Conservation reserves buffer core conservation zones.
India's first national park, Jim Corbett, was established in 1936 and pioneered tiger conservation.
Well-managed protected areas support:
- Breeding success of endangered species.
- Biodiversity-based tourism.
- Scientific research and monitoring.
How Do Communities and Education Support Biodiversity Conservation?
Community participation increases conservation success by integrating local knowledge and reducing dependence on forest resources.
- Joint Forest Management (JFM) involves local communities in forest conservation.
- Eco-development programs promote sustainable livelihoods such as handicrafts and organic farming.
Rate this lesson:
Back to top