Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth at all levels of biological organization, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. It is classified into three main types: genetic diversity within species, species diversity between species, and ecosystem diversity of biological communities. Maintaining biodiversity is important as different species and ecosystems interact and provide services that support human welfare and survival. Loss of biodiversity can disrupt ecosystem functions and impact both environmental and economic aspects of human societies.

2. BIODIVERSITY
• VARIATION OF LIFE AT ALL LEVEL OF BIOLOGICAL ORGANISATION.
• THE VARIETY AND VARIABILITY AMONG ALL GROUPS OF LIVING ORGANISMS AND
THE ECOSYSTEMS IN WHICH THEY OCCUR
• THE MANIFESTATIONS OF ALL TYPES OF DIVERSITIES ARE FOUND AT ALL THESE
LEVELS OF ORGANISMS.
• THUS ONE CAN DEFINE BIODIVERSITY AS THE DEGREE OF VARIETY IN NATURE WITH
REGARDS TO BIOLOGICAL SPECIES.

3. BIODIVERSITY IS CLASSIFIED INTO THREE
TYPES:
• GENETIC DIVERSITY
• SPECIES DIVERSITY AND
• COMMUNITY OR ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY

4. GENETIC DIVERSITY
• GENETIC DIVERSITY REFERS TO THE VARIETY OF GENETIC INFORMATION CONTAINED IN ALL OF
THE INDIVIDUAL PLANTS, ANIMALS AND MICROORGANISMS.
• GENETIC DIVERSITY OCCURS WITHIN AND BETWEEN POPULATIONS OF SPECIES AS WELL AS
BETWEEN SPECIES.
• WITHIN INDIVIDUAL SPECIES, THERE ARE VARIETIES, THAT ARE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM ONE
OTHER. THESE DIFFERENCES ARE DUE TO DIFFERENCES IN THE COMBINATION OF GENES.
• GENES ARE THE BASIC UNITS OF HEREDITARY INFORMATION TRANSMITTED FROM ONE
GENERATION TO THE OTHER.

5. • THE WHOLE AREA OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND DEVELOPMENT DEPEND ON
GENETIC DIVERSITY.
• THE PLANT AS WELL AS ANIMAL GENETIC RESOURCES PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE
ECONOMY OF A COUNTRY.
• GENETIC DIVERSITY IS THE WHOLE BASIS FOR A SUSTAINABLE LIFE SYSTEM IN THE
EARTH.
• SCIENTISTS IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD ARE TRYING TO INTRODUCE GENETICALLY
MODIFIED SEEDS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR FOR BETTER YIELD AS WELL AS FOR THE
RESISTANCE OF DROUGHT AND FLOOD SITUATIONS.

6. SPECIES DIVERSITY
• A DISCRETE GROUPS OF ORGANISMS OF THE SAME KIND IS KNOWN AS SPECIES.
• THE SUM OF VARIETIES OF ALL LIVING ORGANISMS AT THE SPECIES LEVEL IS
KNOWN AS SPECIES DIVERSITY.
• THE BIOTIC COMPONENT IS COMPOSED OF A LARGE NUMBER OF SPECIES OF
PLANTS, ANIMALS AND MICROORGANISMS WHICH INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER
AND WITH THE ABIOTIC COMPONENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

7. • THE NUMBER OF SPECIES IN A REGION IS A MEASURE FOR SUCH DIVERSITY. THE
RICHNESS OF SPECIES IN A GIVEN REGION PROVIDES A YARD STICK FOR SPECIES
DIVERSITY.
• SPECIES DIVERSITY DEPENDS AS MUCH ON THE GENETIC DIVERSITY AS ON THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION.
• THE GOOD CLIMATE WITH GOOD PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY SUPPORTS A BETTER
SPECIES DIVERSITY.
• SPECIES RICHNESS IS A TERM WHICH IS USED TO MEASURE THE BIODIVERSITY
OF A GIVEN SITE.

8. COMMUNITY OR ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY
• A SET OF BIOTIC COMPONENTS (PLANTS, ANIMALS AND MICROORGANISMS) AND
ABIOTIC COMPONENTS (SOIL, AIR, WATER, ETC) INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER
IS KNOWN AS AN ECOSYSTEM.
• THE DIVERSITY AT AN ECOLOGICAL LEVEL OR HABITAT LEVEL IS KNOWN AS
ECOSYSTEM DIVERSITY.

9. • THIS IS THE NUMBER OF SPECIES IN A COMMUNITY OF ORGANISMS.
• MAINTAINING BOTH TYPES OF DIVERSITY IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE FUNCTIONING OF
ECOSYSTEMS AND HENCE TO HUMAN WELFARE.
• INDIA IS ONE OF THE 12 CENTRES OF DIVERSITY AND ORIGIN OF SEVERAL CULTIVATED
PLANTS IN THE WORLD.
• IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 15,000 SPECIES OF PLANTS OCCUR IN INDIA. THE FLOWERING
PLANTS COMPRISE 15,000 SPECIES OF WHICH SEVERAL HUNDRED (5000-7500)
SPECIES ARE ENDEMIC TO INDIA.
• THE REGION IS ALSO RICH IN FAUNA, CONTAINING ABOUT 65,000 SPECIES OF ANIMALS.

10. • THESE VARY FROM THE HUMID TROPICAL WESTERN GHATS TO THE HOT DESERT OF
RAJASTHAN, FROM THE COLD DESERT OF LADAKH AND THE ICY MOUNTAINS OF
HIMALAYAS TO THE WARM COASTS OF PENINSULAR INDIA INCLUDING COASTAL
REGION OF ORISSA.
• THE INDIAN TRADITION TEACHES US THAT ALL FORMS OF LIFE, HUMAN, ANIMAL
AND PLANTS ARE SO CLOSELY LINKED THAT DISTURBANCE IN ONE GIVES RISE TO
IMBALANCE IN THE OTHER.
• OUR OLD SCRIPTURES TELL LOT ABOUT THESE THINGS.

11. • IN ADDITION TO SPECIES RICHNESS, SPECIES ENDEMISM IS A TERM USED TO
MEASURE BIODIVERSITY BY WAY OF ASSESSING THE MAGNITUDE OF DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN SPECIES.
• IN THE TAXONOMIC SYSTEM SIMILAR SPECIES ARE GROUPED TOGETHER IN GENERAL,
SIMILAR GENERA IN FAMILIES, FAMILIES IN ORDERS AND SO ON TILL IN THE LEVEL OF
KINGDOM.
• THIS PROCESS IS A GENUINE ATTEMPT TO FIND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN
ORGANISMS. THE HIGHER TAXA HAVE THOUSANDS OF SPECIES.
• SPECIES THAT ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM ONE ANOTHER CONTRIBUTES MORE TO
OVERALL BIODIVERSITY.

12. BIO-GEOGRAPHICAL CLASSIFICATION OF
INDIA:
• BIOGEOGRAPHY OR BIOLOGICAL GEOGRAPHY IS RELATED TO ECOLOGY AND
ECOSYSTEM OF A REGION.
• ITS STUDIES INCLUDE VARIATION OF FLORA AND FAUNA OVER THE EARTH
SURFACE. IT ALSO ENCOMPASSES STUDY OF BIOSPHERE AND ITS INTERACTION
WITH HUMAN POPULATION.

13. • BIOGEOGRAPHY STUDIES CONSIDER PHYTOGEOGRAPHY (FOREST),
ZOOGEOGRAPHY (ANIMALS, INSECTS), PEDOLOGY (SOIL) HYDROLOGY (WATER),
OCEANOGRAPHY (OCEAN).
• MANY OF THE ENDANGERED AND ENDEMIC SPECIES NEED HUMAN INTERVENTION
FOR SURVIVAL. INDIAN GOVERNMENT THROUGH VARIOUS PROJECTS IS TRYING
TO CHECK THIS PROCESS OF ENDANGERING OF SPECIES.

15. ECONOMIC TERMS
ECONOMICALLY THERE ARE MAIN TWO TYPES OF VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY. THEY ARE :
• USE VALUE
 DIRECT VALUES
 INDIRECT VALUES
 OPTION VALUES
• NON USE VALUE
 BEQUEST VALUE
 EXISTENCE VALUE

16. THE TOTAL ECONOMIC VALUE APPROACH
usually measures
output
Direct use values
(structural values)
usually measures
benefits/services
Indirect use values
(functional values)
Option values
Use values
Bequest values Existence values
Non-use values
Total Economic Value

17. DIRECT VALUES
• DIRECT VALUES ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ENJOYMENT OR SATISFACTION RECEIVED
DIRECTLY BY BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES
• THEY CAN BE RELATIVELY EASILY OBSERVED AND MEASURED ,OFTEN BY ASSIGNING
PRICES TO THEM
• THERE ARE TWO TYPES
 CONSUMPTIVE USE (NON-MARKET VALUE)
 PRODUCTIVE USE (COMMERCIAL VALUE)

18. CONSUMPTIVE VALUE
• THE VALUE OF NATURE’S PRODUCTS THAT ARE CONSUMED DIRECTLY SUCH AS
FIREWOODS , FODDER AND MEAT.
• IN OTHER WORDS THE PRODUCTS WHICH ARE CONSUMED DIRECTLY WITHOUT PASSING
THROUGH THE MARKET
• CONSUMPTIVE USE VALUE SELDOM APPEAR IN NATIONAL INCOME ACCOUNTS.

19. • THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT OF CONSUMPTIVE USE IS
THAT SOME RURAL COMMUNITIES CLOSEST TO THE FORESTS
OR OTHER NATURAL AREAS CAN PROSPER THROUGH THE
SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING OF WILDLIFE SPECIES.
• HUNTING, DIRECT-CONSUMPTION (E.G. COLLECTION
OF BERRIES, MUSHROOMS, HERBS, PLANTS) ARE ALL
“CONSUMPTIVE USES”
Consumptive use Values:

20. PRODUCTIVE USE
• PRODUCTS THAT ARE COMMERCIALLY HARVESTED FOR EXCHANGE IN FORMAL MARKETS
• EACH SPECIES IS VALUABLE TO HUMANS.
• THE GLOBAL COLLECTION OF GENES , SPECIES , HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS IS A
RESOURCE THAT PROVIDES FOR HUMAN NEEDS NOW.
• IT IS ALSO ESSENTIAL FOR HUMAN SURVIVAL IN THE FUTURE.
• THIS IS OFTEN THE ONLY VALUE OF BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE
INCOME ACCOUNTS

21. Productive Use Values
• PRODUCTS SUCH AS ANIMAL SKINS,IVORY,
MEDICINAL PLANTS,HONEY,BEEWAX,FIBERS,
GUMS,ETC.

22. INDIRECT VALUES
• IT DEALS PRIMARILY WITH THE FUNCTIONS OR ECOSYSTEMS
• DO NOT NORMALLY APPEAR IN NATIONAL ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS , BUT THEY MAY OUTWEIGH
DIRECT VALUES WHEN THEY ARE COMPUTED
• REFLECTS THE VALUE OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY TO SOCIETY LOCALLY OR AT LARGE RATHER THAN
TO INDIVIDUALS OR CORPORATE ENTITIES.
• DIRECT VALUES OFTEN DERIVE FROM INDIRECT VALUES BECAUSE HARVESTED SPECIES OF PLANTS
AND ANIMALS ARE SUPPORTED GOODS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY THEIR ENVIRONMENT

23. TWO TYPES OF INDIRECT VALUES
• NON CONSUMPTIVE USE
 SOCIAL VALUES
 ETHICAL VALUES
 AESTHETIC VALUES
• OPTION VALUES

24. NON - CONSUMPTIVE VALUES
• THESE ARE THE INDIRECT VALUES OF ECOSYSTEM
FUNCTIONS.
• SUCH AS THE WATERSHED PROTECTION,
PHOTOSYNTHESIS,REGULATION OR CLIMATE AND
PRODUCTION OF SOIL
• POLLINATION , HABITAT FOR OTHER SPECIES

25. SOCIAL VALUE
• BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA, PARTICULARLY ,IS
IMPORTANT FOR ITS RELIGIOUS,SPIRITUAL AND
OTHER CULTURAL USES.
• MANY PLANTS AND ANIMALS HAVE RITUAL
SIGNIFICANCE
• THE ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM IS UTILIZED FOR CULTURAL
AND SPIRITUAL PURPOSES.

26. Some Examples
• AMONG AUSPICIOUS FLOWERS OFFERED IN TEMPLES ARE HIBISCUS OFFERED
TO THE GODDESS KALI
• DATURA FLOWERS TO SIVA
• GUJARAT SAMI (PROSOPIS SPICIGERA)IS USED IN SACRIFICIAL FIRES
• SACRED VALUE WAS ATTACHED TO PATCHES OF FOREST BELIEVED TO BE THE
ABODE OF GODS AND ANCESTORS, AND UTILIZED ONLY FOR PRAYER AND
RELATED RITUALS.
• A NETWORK OF SUCH SACRED GROVES IS STILL IN EVIDENCE IN SOME PARTS
OF INDIA

27. ETHICAL VALUES
• ALTHOUGH ECONOMIC ARGUMENTS CAN BE ADVANCED TO JUSTIFY THE
PROTECTION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY, THERE ARE ALSO STRONG ETHICAL
ARGUMENTS FOR DOING SO.
• PROTECTING BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY CAN BE JUSTIFIED ON ETHICAL GROUNDS AS
WELL AS ON ECONOMIC GROUNDS.
• ETHICAL ARGUMENTS ASSERT THAT HUMANS HAVE A DUTY TO PROTECT SPECIES
BASED ON THEIR INTRINSIC VALUE, UNRELATED TO HUMAN NEEDS

28. • PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHTS TO DESTROY SPECIES AND SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO
PREVENT THEIR EXTINCTION
• THE LOSS OF ONE SPECIES HAVE FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES TO BIOLOGICAL
COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SOCIETY.
• PEOPLE MUST LEARN TO LIVE WITHIN THE ECOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS OF THE PLANET.
• MUST LEARN TO MINIMIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THEIR ACTION
• PEOPLE ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY TO FUTURE GENERATIONS OF HUMANS TO KEEP
THE EARTH IN GOOD CONDITION.

29. AESTHETIC VALUES
• REGARDLESS OF OUR OWN MATERIAL SELF-INTEREST , WE SHOULD TREAT NATURE
RESPECTFULLY.
• ENLIGHTENED SELF INTEREST, ARGUING THAT PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY AND
DEVELOPING OUR KNOWLEDGE OF IT WILL MAKE US BETTER AND HAPPIER PEOPLE.
• NEARLY EVERYONE ENJOYS WILDLIFE AND JOY MAKES OUR LIVES GOOD LIVES.
• A LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY COULD VERY WELL LIMIT THE CREATIVE ENERGIES OF
PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE AND THUS RESTRICT THE DEVELOPMENT.

30. Some Examples
• THE BEAUTY OF WILDFLOWERS IN GLACIER NATIONAL PARK .
• HIKING , CANOEING AND MOUNTAIN CLIMBING ARE
PHYSICALLY INTELLECTUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY
SATISFYING.
• PEOPLE SPEND TENS OF BILLONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN
THESE PURSUITS, PROOF ENOUGH OF THEIR VALUE.

31. OPTION VALUE
• THE INTANGIBLE VALUES OF BIODIVERSITY .
• THAT IS KEEPING OPTIONS FOR THE FUTURE AND SIMPLY KNOWING THAT CERTAIN
SPECIES EXIST .
• A SPECIES POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE AN ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO HUMAN SOCIETY AT SOME
POINT IN THE FUTURE IS ITS OPTION VALUE.
• AS THE NEEDS OF THE SOCIETY CHANGE , SO MUST THE METHODS OF SATISFYING THOSE
NEEDS.
• THE OPTION VALUE OF SPECIES COULD BE ONLY RECENTLY UTILIZED BY HUMAN BEINGS

32. Some Examples
• HEALTH AGENCIES AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES ARE
MAKING A MAJOR EFFORT TO COLLECT AND SCREEN SPECIES
FOR COMPOUNDS THAT HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIGHT
CANCER.
• IN SOME CASES WELL KNOWN SPECIES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO
HAVE EXACTLY THOSE PROPERTIES NEEDED TO DEAL WITH A
SIGNIFICANT HUMAN PROBLEM

33. NON-USE VALUES
• BEQUEST VALUE: THE CURRENT GENERATION PLACES VALUE ON ENSURING THE
AVAILABILITY OF BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONING TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THIS IS DETERMINED BY A PERSON’S CONCERN THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS SHOULD HAVE
ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. IT INDICATES A PERCEPTION OF BENEFIT
FROM THE KNOWLEDGE THAT RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING PASSED TO
DESCENDANTS.

34. NON – USE VALUES
• EXISTENCE VALUE: THIS IS THE BENEFIT, OFTEN REFLECTED AS A SENSE OF WELL BEING, OF SIMPLY KNOWING
MARINE BIODIVERSITY EXISTS, EVEN IF IT IS NEVER UTILISED OR EXPERIENCED, PEOPLE SIMPLY DERIVE BENEFIT
FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF ITS EXISTENCE. THE CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE WIDER PUBLIC ATTACH TO
MAINTAINING DIVERSE MARINE LIFE IS REVEALED THROUGH THEIR INTEREST IN MARINE BASED MEDIA
PRESENTATIONS, SUCH AS THE ‘‘BLUE PLANET’’. IN ADDITION, ARTICLES ON COLD WATER CORALS FREQUENTLY
APPEAR IN THE MEDIA DESPITE THE FACT THE MAJORITY OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC WILL NEVER SEE A COLD WATER
CORAL, THEY ARE INTERESTED IN THEM AND BENEFIT FROM THEIR EXISTENCE.

35. THE VALUE OF A TREE
• THE TREE THAT LIVES FOR 50 YEARS GENERATES RS 5.3 LAKHS WORTH OF OXYGEN ,
RECYCLES RS 6.4 LAKHS WORTH OF FERTILITY , FACILITATES RS.6.4 LAKHS WORTH OF SOIL
EROSION CONTROL , CREATES RS 10.5 LAKHS WORTH OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL , AND
PROVIDES RS 5.3 LAKHS WORTH OF SHELTER FOR BIRDS AND ANIMALS . BESIDES , IT
PROVIDES FLOWERS , FRUITS AND TIMBER .SO WHEN ONE TREE FALLS OR IS FELLED
SOMETHING WORTH MORE THAN RS.33.9 LAKHS IS LOST

36. THINK BEFORE CUTTING A TREE

37. BIODIVERSITY AT GLOBAL LEVEL
• CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES OF THE EXISTING BIODIVERSITY IS TEN MILLION
SPECIES, BUT IF ESTIMATES FOR INSECTS ARE CORRECT THEN IT COULD BE
AROUND 30 MILLION SPECIES, WE HAVE TILL NOW ENLISTED ABOUT 1.4 MILLION
SPECIES.
• IT INCLUDES AMONG OTHERS ABOUT 98% BIRDS, 95% REPTILES AND
AMPHIBIANS, 90% FISH AND ABOUT 85% HIGHER PLANTS KNOWN TO EXIST ON
THIS EARTH

40. BIODIVERSITY AT NATIONAL AND LOCAL
LEVELS
• INDIA HAS OVER 108,276 SPECIES OF BACTERIA, FUNGI, PLANTS AND ANIMALS
ALREADY IDENTIFIED AND DESCRIBED. OUT OF THESE, 84 PERCENT SPECIES
CONSTITUTE FUNGI (21.2 PERCENT), FLOWERING PLANTS (13.9 PERCENT), AND
INSECT (49.3 PERCENT). IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF SPECIES, THE INSECTA
ALONE CONSTITUTE NEARLY HALF OF THE BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA

41. BIODIVERSITY OF INDIA

42. INDIA AS A MEGADIVERSITY NATION
• MEGA BIODIVERSITY IS A CONCEPT FIRST PROPOSED AT SMITHSONIAN'S 1988
BIODIVERSITY CONFERENCE.
• INDIA IS ONE OF THE 12 MEGA DIVERSITY COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD
• IT HAS 47,000 SPECIES OF PLANTS AND 81,000 SPECIES OF ANIMALS
• HOUSES MANY ENDEMIC PLANTS AND ANIMALS
• CENTRE OF ORIGIN OF MANY FLOWERING AND CROP PLANTS
• GREAT MARINE DIVERSITY DUE TO 7500KM LONG COASTLINE

43. • SINCE INDIA HAS ALL TYPES OF CLIMATIC REGIONS, ITS BIODIVERSITY IS VERY
HIGH
• OCCUPIES 10TH RANK AMONG PLANT RICHNESS
• 11TH IN NUMBER OF ENDEMIC SPECIES OF HIGHER VERTEBRATES
• 6TH IN CENTERS OF DIVERSITY AND ORIGIN OF FOOD CROPS

44. BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA

45. • INDIA CURRENTLY HAS 80 NATIONAL PARKS
• NATIONAL PARKS HOUSE LARGEST NUMBER OF TIGERS FOUND IN THE WORLD
• 500 SPECIES OF MAMMALS, 2000 SPECIES OF BIRDS, OVER 500 SPECIES OF
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS AND AROUND 30000 SPECIES OF INSECTS

46. THANK YOU
