For the past two decades, an increasing number of studies have focused and been published on biodiversity. This is principally due to the fact that the world’s flora and fauna are disappearing at rates greater than the historical mass extinction events (Chapin III et al., 2001). As recently suggested by Thomas et al. (2004), there is an 18% to 40% risk of species-level extinction resulting majorly from global warming and drastic change happening in the climatic conditions. Moreover, other processes such as agricultural expansion, for example, in response to an increasing demand for food have a negative impact on biodiversity as a result of habitat destruction (Tilman et al., 2001). ypes,what is biodiversity,how to preserve biodiversity,innovations happening

1. Sreeremya.s

2. • For the past two decades, an increasing number of studies
have focused and been published on biodiversity. This is
principally due to the fact that the world’s flora and fauna
are disappearing at rates greater than the historical mass
extinction events (Chapin III et al., 2001). As recently
suggested by Thomas et al. (2004), there is an 18% to 40%
risk of species-level extinction resulting majorly from global
warming and drastic change happening in the climatic
conditions. Moreover, other processes such as agricultural
expansion, for example, in response to an increasing
demand for food have a negative impact on biodiversity as
a result of habitat destruction (Tilman et al., 2001).

3. • Biodiversity is the variety of all life forms: the
different plants, animals and micro-organisms,
their genes and the ecosystems of which they
are a part.

4. • Genetic diversity-the total genetic
information contained in the genes of all species.
• Species Diversity-The variety of species,
refers to the number of species and the number
of individuals in a species.
• Ecosystem Diversity- the variety of
habitats natural communities and ecological
processes.

5. • The National Strategy for the Conservation of
Australia’s Biological Diversity
• Natural Heritage Trust
• Wild life reserves- e.g. National Parks.
• Flora and Fauna guarantee act
• Endangered species Program
• Quarantine
• Education
• Breeding Programs

6. • Biodiversity is one of the earth’s greatest treasures. Microorganisms represent a
largely untapped source of novel bioactive compounds and metabolic pathways
which could be exploited for new biotechnological applications and products.
Microbes and their activities may also promote or alleviate climate change apart
from its application in pharmacy, agriculture and industrial fields. Microbes can
perform numerous functions essential for biosphere like nutrient recycling and
environmental detoxification. Exploitation of microbial diversity has an important
role in sustainable development worth millions of rupees.
• Compared to plants and animals, microbes are least explored since they are
mostly considered as pathogens and very little is known about their beneficial
potentiality. There is a lack of understanding especially in microbial interaction
with the environment [2]. Hence, there arises an urgent need to raise the public
awareness about its economic value by taking effective measures in exploiting and
conserving the microbial diversity.
• An attempt has been made to discuss about the strategy of microbial screening
and its applications along with future innovative practices that has to be
undertaken in order to conserve its diversity.

7. II. PURPOSE
• Research in microbial biodiversity helps in exploiting
the limitations of microbes that are in extreme
conditions. Studies about their diversities can be used
to monitor environmental changes and conservation of
higher organisms. As mentioned in Fig 1, the microbes
are the major sources of beneficial potential.
• Discovery of several novel genes isolated from new
microbes provided phylogenetic similarities and
evolutionary relationship among divergent groups of
microorganisms which nurture the environment on
which human society depend