Biodiversity represents the genetic diversity within and between species and ecosystems. It provides benefits to human beings through resources like new medicines and ecosystem services worth trillions of dollars. However, biodiversity is under threat from factors like climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. The 2020 UN Biodiversity Conference aims to adopt a new 30-year plan for conservation and sustainable use of nature. The Hindu Kush Himalayan region contains four global biodiversity hotspots but its biodiversity is projected to plummet by 2100 due to threats. Biosphere reserves aim to foster sustainable development through zoning of core, buffer and transition areas.

1. Bio Diversity - 2
Sesion-9:
Environmental Studies & Disaster
Management
Prof. Ajay Mohan Goel
ajay.goel@bmu.edu.in

2. What is Biodiversity?
• Biodiversity is the variability among living
organisms including diversity within species,
between species and of ecosystems.
• Comprised of several levels:
• starting with genes,
• then individual species,
• then communities of creatures, and
• Finally entire ecosystems, such as forests
or coral reefs, where life interplays with the
physical environment.
• Represents the knowledge learned by
evolving species over millions of years
• How to survive through the vastly varying
environmental conditions Earth has
experienced.
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3. Benefits to Human Beings
• New medicines are harvested from nature
• Fungi that grows on the fur of sloths and can fight cancer
• Domesticated animals
• Services provided by ecosystems are estimated to be worth trillions of dollars – double the
world’s GDP.
• Biodiversity loss in Europe alone costs the continent about 3% of its GDP, or €450m (£400m),
a year.
• An aesthetic point of view,
• every one of the millions of species is unique,
• a natural work of art that cannot be recreated once lost.
• “Each higher organism is richer in information than a Caravaggio painting, a Bach fugue, or any
other great work,” Prof Edward OWilson (father of biodiversity)
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4. 2020 UN Biodiversity Conference
• Theme: “Ecological Civilization: Building
a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”
• Will frame the 15th meeting of the
Conference of the Parties to the CBD, to
be held in Kunming, China in 2020.
• The conference is expected to adopt a
new 30-year plan for the conservation
and sustainable use of nature
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5. Some Questions
1. How do we preserve biodiversity while also ensuring equitable and inclusive economic
development?
2. What happens if saving one species means that we cannot use limited resources to save
another?
3. Which species are the most critical to save?
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6. The Hindu Kush Himalayan region and 10 major river basins
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7. Population - KHK
• Mountain and hills of the Hindu Kush Himalaya is around 240 million people
• The total population in the ten major river basins is around 1.9 billion
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8. Biodiversity of HKH
• One of the highest diversity of flora and fauna
• Provide varied ecosystem services to one fourth of humanity.
• Four out of 36 global biodiversity hotspots
• A cradle for 35,000+ species of plants and 200+ species of animals.
• Numerous seeds of good practices
• conservation and restoration of degraded habitat along
• community development which need upscaling and out scaling.
• participatory and community-based approaches è large ecological, economic, and
social positive impacts.
• Substantial degraded forest areas are regenerating,
• decentralized practices reverse deforestation trends.
• Local communities have gained institutional space to decide for themselves
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9. Four global biodiversity hotspots and 10 river basins of the HKH
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10. Linkages between
ecosystems,
biodiversity, and
human wellbeing
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11. KeyThreats – Himalayan Ecosystem
• Climate change
• Habitat loss
• Species loss
• Infrastructure (development)
• Tourism
• Mining
• Pollution
• Population increase
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12. Biodiversity of
Hindu Kush
Himalayas will
plummet by
2100
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13. Marine heat waves threaten global biodiversity and the provision of
ecosystem services
• Oceans have warmed substantially over the past century.
• Marine heat waves: Discrete periods of extreme regional ocean warming, increased
frequency.
• Marine ecosystems in the southwest Pacific & mid-west Atlantic at greater risk.
• Linked to local extinctions, decreased rates of natural carbon sequestration, loss of critical
habitat and diminished socio-economic value.
• Globally, observed increased coral bleaching, decreased sea grass density and decreased
kelp biomass correlates with increased annual number of heat wave days.
Source: Smale et al., 2019. Nature Climate Change 9: 306-312.
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14. Biosphere Reserve
• Biosphere reserves have three interrelated zones - three complementary and mutually
reinforcing functions:
• core area(s) : strictly protected ecosystem for conservation of landscapes, ecosystems,
species and genetic variation.
• Buffer zone: surrounds or adjoins the core areas, for sound ecological practices to reinforce
scientific research, monitoring, training and education.
• Transition area: part of the reserve where the greatest activity is allowed, fostering
economic and human development that is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable.
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15. Biosphere Reserve
• Biosphere reserves have three interrelated zones: Core area(s), Buffer zone,Transition area
• Main Characteristics of Biosphere Reserves
• Achieve three international functions: conservation, development and logistic support.
• Have appropriate zoning schemes combining core protected areas with zones where sustainable
development is fostered by local dwellers and enterprises, highly innovative and participative
governance systems.
• Multi-stakeholder approach, involvement of local communities in management;
• Fostering dialogue for conflict resolution of natural resource use.
• Integrating cultural and biological diversity, traditional knowledge in ecosystem management.
• Demonstrating sound sustainable development practices and policies based on research and
monitoring.
• Acting as sites of excellence for education and training.
• Participating in theWorld Network.
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16. List of Biosphere Reserves of India
• NB: Those Biosphere reserves in bold are part of World Network of Biosphere
Reserves too.
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17. Thank you
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Prof. Ajay Mohan Goel
ajay.goel@bmu.edu.in