India, located between various geographical coordinates, is known for its significant biological diversity, housing over 91,200 animal species and 45,500 plant species. It ranks among the top ten species-rich nations and has two biodiversity hotspots: the Eastern Himalayas and the Western Ghats. Relevant legislations, such as the Wildlife Protection Act and the Biological Diversity Act, aim to protect and manage this rich biodiversity, focusing on conservation and sustainable use.

1. BIODIVERSITY IN
INDIA
Anand Charvin.G

2. • India is situated north of the equator between 66°E to
98°E and 8°N to 36°N. It is bordered by Nepal, China and
Bhutan in the north; Bangladesh and Myanmar in the
east; the Bay of Bengal in the south east; the Indian
Ocean in the south; the Arabian Sea in the west; and
Pakistan in the north-west.

3. • India, known for its rich heritage of biological diversity, has so far
documented over 91,200 species of animals and 45,500 species
of plants in its ten bio-geographic regions.
It is recognized as one of the eight
Vavilovian centres of origin and
diversity of crop plants, having
more than 300 wild ancestors and
close relatives of cultivated plants,
which are still evolving under
natural conditions.

4. • India ranks among the top ten species-rich nations and shows high
endemism. India has two biodiversity hot spots.
• Eastern Himalayas
• Western Ghats

5. INDIA IS SHARING 12.53 % OF WORLD’S
TOTAL BIODIVERSITY
•
Ratufa indica
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6. • In terms of species richness, India ranks seventh in
mammals,
• Ninth in birds.
In terms of endemism of vertebrate groups, India’s position
is tenth in birds with 69 species,
• Fifth in reptiles with 156 species and seventh in amphibians
with 110 species.
• India’s share of crops is 44% as compared to the world
average of 11%. India also has 23.39% of its geographical
area under forest and tree cover.

7. LEGISLATIONS RELEVANT TO BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
Relevant key legislation Key features
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
Deals with protection of wildlife and habitats and
provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and
plants and related matters, with a view to ensuring
the ecological and environmental security of the
country.
Indian Forest Act, 1927
Designed for forest management and protection, the
transit of forest- and the duty liveable on timber and
other forest produce.
Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
Designed for the conservation of forests and related
matters
Biological Diversity Act, 2002
Provides for conservation of biological diversity,
sustainable use of its components, and fair and
equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the
use of biological resources, knowledge and related
matters
Biological Diversity Rules, 2004
Deals with operationalizing the Biological Diversity
Act.

8. THE NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY
ACTION PLAN
• Strengthening and integrating in-situ, on farm and ex-situ conservation
• Augmentation of natural resource base and it sustainable utilization
• Regulating introductions and managing invasive alien species
• Assessment of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and desertification
• Integration of biodiversity concerns in economic and social development
• Impact of pollution
• Developing and integrating biodiversity databases
• Strengthening implementation of policy, legislative and administrative measures for
biodiversity conservation and management
• Developing national capacities for biodiversity conservation and appropriate use of new
technologies
• Use of economic instruments/valuation in biodiversity related decision- making processes
• International cooperation

9. TREATS TO
BIODIVERSITY
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10. REFERENCES
• Rajesh Gopal : Fundamentals of wildlife management:
• Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, India's fourth
national report to the convention on biological diversity :

11. THANK YOU