This document discusses biodiversity and the environment. It defines biodiversity as the variability among living organisms, including diversity within and between species and ecosystems. It then discusses the different types of biodiversity like genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity. Some key facts provided include that there are 5-100 million species on Earth, India contains 12.53% of the world's biodiversity despite only occupying 2.47% of the world's land area, and conservation measures like maintaining habitat integrity and controlling fires and overharvesting are important for preserving biodiversity.

1. BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENT
Vivek Srivastava
Assistant Professor
Lovely Professional University

2. Natural Resources
Indestructible --- Air
Water
Destructible --- Renewable : Soil
Forest
Wildlife
Non-renewable : Minerals

3. Biodiversity - Definition
The variability among living organisms from all
sources including terrestrial, marine, and other
aquatic ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are a part; this
includes diversity within species, between
species and of ecosystems.

4. 1.
1. Genetic diversity
Genetic diversity - genetic variability or diversity
- genetic variability or diversity
within a species, i.e. between the individuals of a
within a species, i.e. between the individuals of a
species
species
Example ;
Example ; 5,000 recorded varieties of mango
88,000 recorded varieties of Oryza sativa
Types of Biodiversity

5. 2.
2.Species diversity
Species diversity - diversity between different species
- diversity between different species
Example ;
Example ; Felis
Felis tigris
tigris
Felis
Felis domestica
domestica

6. 3. Ecosystem diversity
3. Ecosystem diversity – diversity within a region
– diversity within a region
Grassland Shola forest

7. Facts related to Biodiversity
 Total Land Area of Earth –
Total Land Area of Earth –
510,065,284 sq.km
510,065,284 sq.km
 Forest Cover –
Forest Cover – 38.7 m. sq.km
38.7 m. sq.km
(26%)
(26%)
 40%
40% of Global Forest Land is
of Global Forest Land is
in South America, Africa,
in South America, Africa,
and South Asia.
and South Asia.

8. Facts related to Biodiversity contd..
 There are
There are 5
5 million to
million to 100
100 million
million
species on earth.
species on earth.
 Only about
Only about 1.9
1.9 million species
million species
have been catalogued so far.
have been catalogued so far.
 There are
There are 34
34 recognised
recognised
“
“Hotspots
Hotspots”
” in the world.
in the world.
 44.4%
44.4% of Global Plant species and
of Global Plant species and
35.3%
35.3% of Vertebrate species are
of Vertebrate species are
present in Hotspots
present in Hotspots.
.

9. Total land area of India - 143 million.ha
India occupies 2.47% of the World’s geographical
area and has only 1% of the forest
Facts related to Biodiversity contd..
India has 16.1% of world human
population and 15.1% of cattle
population
Forest Cover in India –
Forest Cover in India –
23.57 %
23.57 %

10. India is sharing
India is sharing 12.53 %
12.53 % of
of
world’s biodiversity
world’s biodiversity
India has
India has 3.9 %
3.9 % of grasslands,
of grasslands,
2.0 %
2.0 % of hot deserts,
of hot deserts, 4.1
4.1 m.ha
m.ha
of wetland ecosystems.
of wetland ecosystems.
India is the
India is the 7
7th
th
largest country in
largest country in
the world and one among the
the world and one among the
17
17 mega diversity centers.
mega diversity centers.
Facts related to Biodiversity contd..

11. Facts related to Biodiversity contd..
India recorded :
India recorded :
 45,000
45,000 + species of wild plants
+ species of wild plants
 89,000
89,000 + species of wild animals
+ species of wild animals
 At least
At least 320
320 species of wild
species of wild
relatives of crops have been
relatives of crops have been
originated here.
originated here.

12. Facts related to Biodiversity contd..
In India:
1,39,000 species of plants, animals
and microbes are recorded
More than 4 lakh species are yet to be
identified
There are three mega centers of
endemism and 26 micro centers of
endemism

13. PLANT SPECIES IN INDIA AND WORLD
Taxa Species
India World
Bacteria 850 4000
Viruses unknown 4000
Algae 6500 40,000
Fungi 14,500 72,000
Lichens 2000 17,000
Bryophyta 2850 16,000
Pteridophyta 1100 13000
Gymnosperms 64 750
Angiosperms 17,500 250,000

14. ANIMAL SPECIES IN INDIA AND WORLD
Taxa Species
India World
Insects 60,000 8,00000
Mollusca 5000 100000
Fishes 2,500 23,000
Amphibians 190 4,520
Reptiles 400 6,550
Birds 1,175 8,400
Mammals 872 4,231

15. Hotspots
Hotspots
1. Endemism-
1. Endemism-
(0.5% or 1500 species of the world’s 3
(0.5% or 1500 species of the world’s 3
Lakh Plant species as endemics should
Lakh Plant species as endemics should
be present)
be present)
2. Degree of Threat
2. Degree of Threat
Hotspots
Hotspots
1. Western Ghats
1. Western Ghats
2. Eastern Himalayas
2. Eastern Himalayas
3. Indo-Burma region
3. Indo-Burma region
4. Sundaland (Indonesia, Malaysia, parts
4. Sundaland (Indonesia, Malaysia, parts
of India especially Nicobar Islands)
of India especially Nicobar Islands)

16. Threatened Species: The term is used in conservation
context for species which are in
one of the categories –
Endangered
Vulnerable
Rare
Indeterminate
RED DATA BOOK
IUCN categories
Extinct
A species not definitely located in
the wild and never sighted even
once in the last 50 years

17. Why Biodiversity is important?
Provides food, fodder, fruit, fuel, timber, medicine
1.Commercial value :
Oil, Fertilizers etc. extracted from species
of plants and animals.
2.Biological value:
Pollination
Soil formation
Nutrient enrichment
-

18. 3.Recreational Value:
Can not be measured in terms of
money.
4. Aesthetic Value:
Art, Poetry, Literature.
5.Scientific Value:
Gene Pool, Evolution,
Human Welfare, etc,.

19. Value of a Tree
A tree that lives for 50 years generates:
• Rs. 5.3 lakhs worth of oxygen
• Facilitates Rs. 6.4 lakhs worth of soil erosion
control
• Creates Rs. 10.5 lakhs worth of air pollution
control
• Provides Rs. 5.3 lakhs
worth of shelter for birds
and animals

20. • Recycles Rs. 6.4 lakhs worth of fertility
• Besides provide flower, fruits and timber
• When a tree is fell it is something worth
more than Rs. 33. 9 lakhs.
….Value of a Tree

21. Threats to Biodiversity
1. Deforestation and overgrazing
2. Habitat destruction and fragmentation of the
area.

22. 3. Poaching and hunting for flesh, fur,
skin, horn, naiI and recreation.
4. Forest fires including smoking in the
woods.
5. Over exploitation
‑
of the resources.

23. 6. Natural calamities like floods, high wind
velocities, earthquakes, etc.,.
7. Pollution of various kinds and release of
toxic substances.
8.Soil erosion and loss of soil nutrients.

24. 9.Population pressure and unequal
distribution of the resources
10. Agricultural expansion
11.Spreading urbanization and establishment
of industries.
12.Construction of hydro electric
‑
power projects

25. 13. Climatic changes like depletion of ozone,
global warming, increased concentration
of carbon dioxide, etc,
14. Mining activities and quarrying.
15. Lack of awareness.

26. Impact of Loss Of Biodiversity
Impact of Loss Of Biodiversity
Global warming and climate change

27. Increased pollution
Soil erosion and loss of fertility
Decomposition rate
by microbes is altered
Nutrient cycling is altered

28. Reduces gene pool - affects speciation
Food chain is altered
Alteration in Hydrologic
Cycle

29. Conservation Measures:
Conservation Measures:
1. Maintenance of the integrity
1. Maintenance of the integrity
of the habitat and improvement
of the habitat and improvement
of habitat in productivity and
of habitat in productivity and
quality for the desired species
quality for the desired species
to grow and reproduce well.
to grow and reproduce well.

30. 2
2 Prevention and control of
Prevention and control of
forest fires. Burning of
forest fires. Burning of
grasslands has to be controlled.
grasslands has to be controlled.
By controlling the forest fire,
By controlling the forest fire,
protection can be given to
protection can be given to
wildlife.
wildlife.
3
3 Excessive cutting should
Excessive cutting should
be eliminated and only mature
be eliminated and only mature
trees should be harvested. New
trees should be harvested. New
seedlings should replace the
seedlings should replace the
harvested trees.
harvested trees.

31. 4
4 Fragmentation of the forest area or wildlife
Fragmentation of the forest area or wildlife
habitat, which decreases the biological diversity
habitat, which decreases the biological diversity
(both genetic diversity and ecological diversity),
(both genetic diversity and ecological diversity),
should be minimised.
should be minimised.
5
5 Wise
Wise
management in
management in
the control of
the control of
insects and
insects and
disease that
disease that
attack trees.
attack trees.

32. 6
6 Measures to check the velocity of wind in
Measures to check the velocity of wind in
deserted areas, planting 'wind
deserted areas, planting 'wind
breaks' across the direction of wind is helpful.
breaks' across the direction of wind is helpful.
Trees and shrubs may be
Trees and shrubs may be
planted in several rows to check the blowing
planted in several rows to check the blowing
away of the fertile top soil,
away of the fertile top soil,
which determines the vegetational growth.
which determines the vegetational growth.
7
7 One should not smoke
One should not smoke
in the woods. Camps fire
in the woods. Camps fire
and trash fires should
and trash fires should
be carefully tended and
be carefully tended and
thoroughly
thoroughly
extinguished.
extinguished.

33. 8
8 Grasses such as
Grasses such as Cynodon dactylon
Cynodon dactylon
are utilised as erosion resisting plants.
are utilised as erosion resisting plants.
Conservation of many such types of
Conservation of many such types of
grasses help in improving the soil
grasses help in improving the soil
fertility of the region for luxuriant growth of the
fertility of the region for luxuriant growth of the
plants.
plants.
9
9 Reforestation in degraded forest and agricultural
Reforestation in degraded forest and agricultural
wastelands with suitable
wastelands with suitable
strains of tree species,
strains of tree species,
which are viable, genetically
which are viable, genetically
superior and disease resistant
superior and disease resistant

34. 10.Protection of forest from illicit felling and
10.Protection of forest from illicit felling and
overgrazing.
overgrazing.
11.Establishment and maintenance of
11.Establishment and maintenance of
'germplasm banks' of wild species for future
'germplasm banks' of wild species for future
genetic improvement and breeding
genetic improvement and breeding
programme.
programme.

35. 12.
12. The maintenance and preservation of
The maintenance and preservation of
germplasm of vegetatively propagated
germplasm of vegetatively propagated
species is often a difficult task. Hence to
species is often a difficult task. Hence to
conseve these 'genepool' development
conseve these 'genepool' development
of tissues culture techniques should be
of tissues culture techniques should be
greatly emphasized.
greatly emphasized.

36. 13. Improvement of the heredity
13. Improvement of the heredity
of trees and proper adoption of
of trees and proper adoption of
breeding techniques.
breeding techniques.
14. The Management of natural
14. The Management of natural
forests, which will ensure
forests, which will ensure
future productivity and
future productivity and
environmental stability, should
environmental stability, should
be practiced.
be practiced.

37. 15. If the principles and procedures of
15. If the principles and procedures of
"Social Forestry" are followed, the
"Social Forestry" are followed, the
stress on the exploitation of renewable
stress on the exploitation of renewable
forest resources can be minimised.
forest resources can be minimised.

38. 16. Conservation of endangered and endemic species
16. Conservation of endangered and endemic species
in natural forests, which are the “guardians of
in natural forests, which are the “guardians of
diversity”, should be given prime importance.
diversity”, should be given prime importance.
17. Proper utilization and management of non wood
‑
17. Proper utilization and management of non wood
‑
based resources and establishment of " Energy
based resources and establishment of " Energy
Plantations".
Plantations".

39. 18. Implementation of effective and scientific
18. Implementation of effective and scientific
methods to minimise the pollution of water, soil
methods to minimise the pollution of water, soil
and air to ensure high productivity of the
and air to ensure high productivity of the
biomass in this region. Prevention of water
biomass in this region. Prevention of water
pollution will protect the aquatic animal life.
pollution will protect the aquatic animal life.
19. Improper land degradation due to mining
19. Improper land degradation due to mining
activities should be stopped.
activities should be stopped.

40. 20. Sensible and wise use of forest products and
20. Sensible and wise use of forest products and
the public awareness about the importance of
the public awareness about the importance of
forest wealth to mankind and ecosystem can
forest wealth to mankind and ecosystem can
promote the conservation
promote the conservation
21. Control of soil erosion and establishment of
21. Control of soil erosion and establishment of
vegetative cover will provide fruit or browse for
vegetative cover will provide fruit or browse for
wild animals.
wild animals.

41. 22. Efforts should be intensified
22. Efforts should be intensified
to curb the destructive
to curb the destructive
activities of poachers.
activities of poachers.
23. Stabilization of water levels
in pools, ponds and lakes
should be undertaken so
as to prevent seasonal
destruction of aquatic
life through evaporation.
24. Development of renewable
resources in an area according
to the need of organisms
in the same area.

42. 25. Prey - predator relation should be worked out
based on the carrying capacity of the habitat.
This will help in promoting the habitat
improvement.
26. Conservation also includes restoration of those
species, which can and should be restored.

43. 27. Establishment of National Parks, National
Sanctuaries are excellent areas for the
preservation of natural biotic communities.
28. Establishment of Biosphere Reserves.

44. 29. Development of electronics as a tool in the
conservation of wildlife should be given
prime importance as electronic devices are
helpful in aerial photography, data
collection of plants and animals, detection of
forest fires, educational programmes and
monitoring of animal movements.

45. 30. Implementation of educational programmes to
promote the knowledge of conservation and
preservation of wildlife (including flora and fauna)
should be done through literatures, scientific
exhibitions, audio visual aids and conferences
‑
stressing upon environmental conservation

46.  National Park
 Wildlife Sanctuaries
 Wetlands
 Mangroves
 Sacred Groves
 Protected Landscapes
 Ethnobiological Reserves
 Reserve and Protected Forests
 Preservation plots
 Biosphere Reserves

47. Sacred Groves
Sacred groves comprise of patches of forests or
natural vegetation from a few trees to forests of
several acres – that are usually dedicated to local
folk deities (Example – Ayyanar and Amman) or
tree spirits (Vanadevatas).
These spaces are protected
by local communities
because of their religious
beliefs and traditional
rituals that run through
several generations.

48. In India 13,270 sacred groves are documented
Experts estimate is in the range of 100,000 –
150,000
Himachal Pradesh --- 5000
Karnataka --- 1424
Kerala --- 2000

49. Names of sacred State
groves
Devara kadu Karnataka
Deo Bhumi Himachal Pradesh
Kovil Kadu Pondcherry and
TamilNadu
Kavus Kerala
Devrais Maharashtra
Mausmai Megalaya
Bugyal Uttaranchal
Machhiyal Uttaranchal & H.P.
(sacred water bodies)

50. 31. Team of scientists from various disciplines like
31. Team of scientists from various disciplines like
Botany, Zoology, Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil
Botany, Zoology, Agriculture, Horticulture, Soil
Science, Pharmacology, Engineering, Silviculture
Science, Pharmacology, Engineering, Silviculture
and Economics and trained foresters,
and Economics and trained foresters,
administrators, forest lovers all should be
‑
administrators, forest lovers all should be
‑
integrated in managing, promoting and
integrated in managing, promoting and
implementing conservation programmes
implementing conservation programmes

51. THANK YOU ALL