Importance, Consequences & Conservation of Biodiversity

1. WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
5th & 6th JUNE, 2020
IMPORTANCE & CONSERVATION
OF BIODIVERSITY
By
Asst. Prof. Shri Sandeep Kulkarni
Dept. of Environmental Studies

2. Aspects
 Biodiversity - Definition
 Founder of the term
 Types of Biodiversity
 Locations: International & National
 Origins & Geological History
 Significance & Usage
 Consequences of losses
 Contemporary issues
 Conservation methods

3. Biodiversity:
It is the variability of all the living organisms including
terrestrial, marine & fresh aquatic ecosystems & the
ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes
the varieties within species, between species & of
ecosystems.
Who used the term?
In 1916 – J. Arthur Harris first used biological diversity.
In 1980 – Thomas Lovejoy used the term in scientific book.
In 1985 - W. G. Rosen used contracted form biodiversity.

5. Inter-linkage of
species

7. India with 2.45% of the world’s area, has 8.10% of
the world’s total biodiversity with a species count
of over 1, 35, 261.
1 - Recorded number of plant species in India:
Bacteria – 850
Algae - 6,500
Fungi - 14,500
Lichens - 2,021
Bryophyta - 2,825
Pteridophyte - 1,200
Gymnosperms - 48
Angiosperms - 18,000
2 - Recorded number of animal species in India:
Invertebrates – 84, 484
Vertebrates - 4, 833
Source: ENVIS, BSI, 2006; IUCN Red List 2007*.

8. Origins & geological history:
Age of the Earth: 4.54 billion years. In 2015, "remains of biotic life" were found in Western Australia are 4.1
billion-year-old rocks. Since then, 5 major mass extinctions & minor events have taken place, at different
intervals of geological time.
But when humans emerged an ongoing biodiversity reduction & loss of genetic diversity is taking place. Ex:
Holocene extinction due to human impacts on habitat destruction.
How much do we know about Biodiversity?
More than 99.9 % of all species that ever lived on Earth, amounting to over five billion species, are estimated
to be extinct.
Currently range of species range: 10 million - 14 million, out of which 1.2 million have been documented &
over 86 % have not yet been described. That means we know very less.
About 2, 20, 000 plants; 1 million marine species; 10 – 30 million insects; 5 – 10 million bacteria; 1 million
mites; 3 million fungi. About 5, 000 - mammals; 10, 000 – birds; 8, 000 reptiles; 6, 000 amphibians; 31, 000
fishes.

9. Significance & Usage:
They are the caretakers of all ecosystems. The
natural world is an enormous bank account of
capital assets, capable of paying life sustaining
dividends indefinitely.
Provides three favours:
Provisioning Services – Ex: food, wood, fresh
water.
Regulating Services – Ex: climate regulation, pest
/ disease control.
Cultural Services – Ex: landscape aesthetics,
cultural heritage, outdoor recreation & spiritual
significance.

10. Table: Example of market sectors dependent on genetic resources
Sector Size of Market Comment
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for National and International
Policy Makers 2009 , p.17
Pharmaceutical US$ 640 bn. (2006) 25-50% derived from genetic
resources
Biotechnology US$ 70 bn. (2006)
from public
companies alone
Many products derived from
genetic resources (enzymes,
microorganisms)
Agricultural seeds US$ 30 bn. (2006) All derived from genetic
resources
Personal care, Botanical
and food & Beverage
industries
US$ 22 bn. (2006)
for herbal
supplements
US$ 12 bn. (2006)
for personal care
US$ 31 bn. (2006)
for food products
Some products derived from
genetic resources. represent

12. China (1958 - 1962) led an economic & social campaign under The
Chairman – Mr. Mao Zedong.
Agrarian economy converted to an Industrial society to surpass the
economy of UK. Iron production increased by 45%.
Farmers were working for steel production & construction projects, due
to Govt. order, instead of harvesting the crops.
Industry increased, but agriculture decreased. The yield rotted in the
field.
The Four Pests Campaign / Smash Sparrows Campaign
Four pests eliminated: Rats, Flies, Mosquitoes & Sparrows.
Reason: Sparrows ate too much grain.
Declaration: “Birds are public animals of capitalism".
Rumour: One sparrow eats food of 60, 000 humans.
Consequences of loss of Biodiversity: With one example “Smash Sparrow Campaign”

13. Actions: Bang pots & pans, Sparrow
nests destruction, breaking of eggs &
killing of chicks, Shooting the birds.
One man killed 20, 000 sparrows
The sparrow population was brought near extinction. This resulted in ecological imbalance, pest population exploded &
crop-eating vermin swarmed the country, destroying the crops.
Effect: 1) Rice yield decreased. 2) Ecological imbalance & locust population increased due absence of predator.
3) Eventually, China had to face Great Famine which killed 15 – 45 million people due to starvation.

14. Extermination
& Famine

15. Later effects:
 Famines do not only kill, but they are perilous to the survivors who suffer from ill-health for decades afterwards.
 The 1958 “smash sparrow” campaign had many fallouts in Chinese culture, including murders of people for food.
 The starving people ate grass, sawdust, leather, dead animals & human dead bodies, dogs, cats, rats, mice & insects.
 Yang Jisheng says: In Gansu people killed outsiders or even their own children & ate them.
 This led to the 1962 Sino-India war as Mao Zedong saw a “soft target” in India.
 The Govt. regime controlled all the food, failing to feed their own people. Later allowed private farming in 1978.
 The famine evoked an affection for consumption & illegal raising of the wildlife & exotic animals. Govt. then was ready
for anything. They encouraged humongous wildlife farming industry.
 Endangered animals like Tigers, Pangolins, one-horned Rhinoceros from Assam were trafficked into China. This created
global and regional networks for illegal trafficking in critically endangered wild species.
Books: The Institutional Causes of China’s Great Famine, 1959-1961 by Xin Meng (2009)
China's great famine: 40 years later – Vaclav Smil (1999) – NCBI, USA

16. Contemporariness of loss of biodiversity
 Biodiversity itself is not a threat to humanity. But ecological
destruction, loss of habitats, poaching & smuggling causes
transmission of viruses from animals (domestic & wild) to
humans, which is called as zoonosis & this increases risk to
human life.
 About 435 diseases have spread by zoonosis in the last 60
years. Like AIDS from primates, Ebola from bats, Machupo
virus from rodents etc.
Biodiversity loss and the rise of zoonotic pathogens Richard Ostfeld (2009 - Research Gate)

17. Two Hypotheses:
 There was interaction between live exotic animals, domestic
animals (living & dead) & human beings due to close
contact.
 There are two hypotheses that have been discussed: one is
jumping from a bat directly to a human & then the other
idea is that it jumped from a bat to a pangolin, which
changed the virus a little bit & then it jumped to a human.
Whatever it is let us all be safe, follow hygiene instructions &
protect everyone.
Hope this kind of situation may not arise again. Let us care for
the nature.
Protect Biodiversity, ultimately it will protect us.

18. Conclusion:
Each & every organism is
very important; never
underestimate the power of
small. We are well versed
with it now.
One living thing is a single
bead of the beautiful
necklace of Nature; if you
destroy one bead, then the
entire Ecosystem will
collapse.

19. References:
The Wonder of Birds – Jim Robbins
China's Environmental Challenges - Judith Shapiro
20th Century in Bite-Sized Chunks – Nicola Chalton
https://www.researchgate.net/publication
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/article/
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/
https://www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/
https://www.globalissues.org/article/
https://ensia.com/features/covid-19
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india
https://www.deccanherald.com/opinion/
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/
https://www.geospatialworld.net/blogs/
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/biodiversity/
https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-pandemic
https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters
https://www.thevintagenews.com/2016
https://www.amusingplanet.com/2019
https://journals.sagepub.com
https://tfipost.com/2020/
https://escholarship.org/content
https://eml.berkeley.edu/~webfac/bardhan
Acknowledgement:
I am grateful to all the writers / researchers / reporters &
Image providers in Google, who helped me to beautify my
presentation & enlightened with the facts, figures & reality.
I thank The Management & Principal Dr. Mrs. Veena Sanekar
of K. J. Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce, Mumbai;
CF – Coordinator Ketaki Ketkar & Students; Mamata
Tendulkar, Meera V., all Teaching Staff; All the Participants
for being a part of “World Environment Day – 5th June, 2020”
celebration & making it a grand success.

20. CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

21. Simple question, how many of you have provided water like this in summer?
If yes, then it could be one of many steps to conserve animals.

22. INDIA & CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY:
 India with it 2.4 % of world’s landmass supports 8.1 % of world’s biodiversity.
 It is estimated that some 70 % of India’s population is dependent locally on natural ecosystems for subsistence-
livelihood including fuel, housing, food, water & health-care herbs.
 Empirical information suggests that 8, 000 species of plants & hundreds of species of fauna constitute this base of
human dependency.
 India supports 16 % human & 18 % cattle population of the world’s 2.4 % landmass.
 India is one among the 17 mega diverse countries of the world. But many plants and animals are facing threat of
extinction. To protect the critically endangered and other threatened animal and plant species, Government of
India has adopted many steps, laws and policy initiatives.
https://www.jagranjosh.com
https://www.researchgate.net/publication

23. Important Indian Acts passed related to Environment & Bio Diversity:
Fisheries Act 1897
Indian Forests Act 1927
Mining and Mineral Development Regulation Act 1957
Prevention of cruelty to animals 1960
Wildlife protection act 1972
Water (prevention and control of pollution) act 1974
Forest Conservation Act 1980
Air (prevention and control of pollution) act 1981
Environment Protection Act 1986
Biological Diversity Act 2002
Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers (recognition of rights) act
2006

24. 1. Action plan
2. In situ conservation –
a) National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries
b) Biosphere Reserves
c) Wetlands, Mangroves & Coral Reefs
d) Endangered Wildlife Special Projects
e) Protected Plots
f) World Heritage Sites
g) Sacred Forest & Sacred Lakes
3. Ex situ conservation –
a) Zoological Parks
b) Aquaria
c) Botanical Gardens
d) Gene Banks
e) Pollen / Semen conservation
f) Tissue Culture Technique
g) Recombinant DNA technology
4. Efforts at Individual level
Biodiversity Conservation Methods:
moef.gov.in/wp-content

25. 1. ACTION PLAN:
To conserve the biodiversity, the immediate task will be to devise & enforce time bound program, following direction are:
a) Inventorization of biological resources in different parts of the country including the island ecosystem;
b) Conservation of biodiversity through PAN like National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Biosphere Reserves, etc.
c) Rehabilitation of rural poor/tribes displaced due to creation of protected areas;
d) Conservation of micro-organisms which help in reclamation of wastelands and revival of biological potential of land;
e) Protection and sustainable use of genetic resources/germplasm through appropriate laws and practices;
f) Regular access to biological resources of the country with the purpose of securing equitable share in benefits arising out
of the use of biological resources and associated knowledge relating to it;
g) Control of over-exploitation through TRAFFIC, CITES and other agencies, and also through treaties / protocols /
environmental protection laws at National / International level;
h) Protection of domesticated plant and animal species in order to conserve indigenous genetic diversity;
i) Maintenance of corridors between different nature reserves for the possible migration of species in response to climate,
or any other disturbing factor;
j) Support for protecting traditional skills and knowledge for conservation;
k) Multiplication and breeding of threatened species through modern techniques of tissue culture and biotechnology;
l) Discouragement of monoculture introduction; and
m) Restriction on introduction of exotic species without adequate investigations.

26. 2. In situ conservation:
Conservation of ecosystem &
natural habitat; maintenance &
recovery of viable population
of species in the natural
surrounding where they have
developed their distinctive
characteristics.
National Parks (NP) - 102:
An area of land set aside to
conserve the environment,
natural objects & the wildlife.

27. Wildlife
Sanctuaries
(WLS) - 512:
Conservation of
species.

29. Wetlands (16)

31. Coral Reefs

32. Endangered Wildlife Special Projects
Project Tiger: Launched in 1973, there are 44 Tiger Reserves,
covering 52,653 km2 distributed in 21 states.
Project Elephant: Launched in 1992, there are 30 Elephant
Reserves distributed in 13 states.
Gir Lion Project: Launched in 1975, there are 180 lions
distributed in 1412,12 km2 in Gujarat.
Crocodile Breeding Project: Launched in 1975, there are 16
crocodile rearing centers in 8 states.
Rhinos Conservation: Launched in 1978, in Assam.
Snow-Leopard Project: There are 12 snow-leopard reserves
throughout the Himalayas.

33. Preservation Plots: There are 309 preservation plots all over the country, 287 in natural forest & 22 in plantation forest.
World Heritage Sites: World Heritage Convention in 1977, listed 5 natural sites in India.
1. Kaziranga National Park, Assam
2. Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan
3. Manas National Park, Assam
4. Nanda Devi National Park, Uttaranchal
5. Sunder bans National Park, West Bengal

35. 3. Ex-Situ Conservation: Conservation of an organism outside its natural habitat in a carefully controlled situation.
Successful ex situ conservation programs have been done for all the three species of crocodiles, breeding of the pygmy
hog in Guwahati zoo, Manipur brow antlered deer in Delhi zoo.
Zoological Parks: Roughly 5,00,000 mammals, birds, reptiles & amphibians in zoos throughout the world.

36. Aquaria: Breeding program for endangered fish species.
Botanical Gardens:
There are 2000 botanical
gardens in 150 countries;
together they maintain 6 million
accessions in their living
collections and 142 million
herbaria specimens.

37. Gene Bank:
It is a facility / institution where valuable plant materials lost in the wild. It
can be preserved in viable condition. Gene banks conserve stocks of both
seeds & vegetative plant parts in dry, low temperature (below -196 ºC),
vacuum containers. A gene bank preserves biodiversity in the form of seeds,
sperms, ovule, tissue culture, pollen & DNA.
Pollen / Semen Conservation:
Preservation of pollen / spores of flowering & spore bearing plants are stored
under appropriate condition allowing subsequent use for crossing with living
plants materials. Similarly semen are stored for artificial insemination in
animals.

38. Tissue Culture Technique:
For conservation of a specific genetic type (clone) or seeds progeny are
highly variable or plants have recalcitrant seeds. Shoot tips are preferred
materials as they are more stable, easier to regenerate into whole plants
& produce virus free clonal plants. It is now possible to preserve animal
cells, spermatozoa, ovarian & embryonic tissues.
Recombinant DNA Technology:
It allows us to clone any DNA in Escherichia coli & soon it will hopefully
be possible to extend such cloning to yeast & other organisms. Cloned
DNA, therefore, appears to be an attractive candidate for genetic
conservation. In addition to cloned genes, the entire genomic DNA of
plant population can be preserved. Recombinant DNA technology can
make use of genes of plant material that has lost viability. From DNA
libraries of such material, a relevant gene or gene combination can be
retrieved and put to use.

39. 4. Efforts of an Individual: Ex – Conservation of Snakes & Crocodiles
With the ban on snakeskin’s trade, Irulas, expert snake catchers in Tamil Nadu, lost their livelihood.
Romulus Whitaker, set up Irula Cooperative Society to help them, for extracting snake venom & selling it to the institutes
& organizations that make lifesaving anti-venom.
Later he learnt snake catching from Irulas & crocodile catching from Papua New Guinea.
In 1972, he & his friends set up Madras Snake Park, which is tourist spot now in Chennai having great educational,
scientific & conservation value.
Park has 31 species of Indian snakes, all 3 species of Indian crocodiles, 4 species of exotic crocodiles, 3 species of Indian
turtles, 5 species of lizards & endangered species of Indian python.
He has also established a Crocodile bank – the gene bank for crocodile.
Whitaker’s life & work throws light on that a single individual can make a significant contribution to the conservation of
biodiversity through passion and dedication.

40. "जियो और िीने दो “