Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the variety of flora and fauna found in a particular region. It includes the wide variety of plants, animals and microorganisms living in different ecomssyste.
Flora and Fauna in India
→ India is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of biological diversity.
→ India has about 8.1% of the world’s recorded species, while it covers only about 2.4% of the world’s land area.
→ India has a vast variety of flora and fauna because of its varied relief, climate and ecosystems.
→ About 10% of India’s recorded flora is under threat.
→ About 20% of India’s mammals are on the threatened list.
Depletion of Flora and Fauna
→ Habitat destruction
→ Expansion of agriculture
→ Commercial and scientific forestry
→ Large-scale development projects
→ Mining activities
→ Industrialisation and urbanisation
→ Over-exploitation of forest resources
→ Hunting and poaching of wild animals
→ Environmental pollution
→ Forest fires and overgrazing
→ Loss of biodiversity and natural habitats
→ Decline and extinction of several species
Conservation of Forest and Wildlife
Conservation means the protection and preservation of forests, wildlife and their natural habitats for the future.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
→ The Wildlife Protection Act was implemented in 1972 to protect wildlife and their habitats.
→ It gave legal protection to wild animals throughout the country.
→ Hunting and poaching of protected species were restricted.
→ The Act created a framework for establishing protected areas such as Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks.
→ Special attention was given to the protection of endangered species.
→ The Act was amended in 1986 and 1991 to strengthen wildlife protection.
→ Under these conservation measures, many species received legal protection from hunting and trade.
→ It became an important step towards the conservation of India’s biodiversity and wildlife.
Project Tiger, 1973
→ Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to protect the tiger from extinction.
→ In 1973, the tiger population had fallen to 1,827, from an estimated 55,000 at the beginning of the 20th century.
→ Project Tiger aimed not only to save the endangered tiger, but also to preserve large natural habitats and biodiversity.
→ Why was Project Tiger Started?
- Major threats: poaching, habitat loss, prey depletion and population growth.
- Tiger skins were traded and bones were used in traditional medicines.
- India and Nepal had about two-thirds of the world’s tigers, making them major targets of poaching and illegal trade.
→ Important Tiger Reserves in India:
- Corbett National Park — Uttarakhand
- Sunderbans National Park — West Bengal
- Bandhavgarh National Park — Madhya Pradesh
- Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary — Rajasthan
- Manas Tiger Reserve — Assam
- Periyar Tiger Reserve — Kerala
National Park
vs
Wildlife Sanctuary
vs
Biosphere Reserve
→ National Park: A protected area for conserving wildlife and natural vegetation; human activities are highly restricted.
→ Wildlife Sanctuary: A protected area where wild animals are protected in their natural habitats; some human activities may be allowed.
→ Biosphere Reserve: A large protected area for conserving biodiversity, ecosystems and traditional ways of life; it also supports research and education.
Types of Forests
According to their legal status, forests are divided into three categories:
1. Reserved Forests
→ These are forests where human activities are highly restricted.
→ They are considered the most valuable forests for the conservation of forest and wildlife.
→ More than half of India’s total forest land is Reserved Forest.
2. Protected Forests
→ These forests are protected from further depletion, but some activities may be allowed under government rules.
→ Almost one-third of India’s total forest area is Protected Forest.
3. Unclassed Forests
→ These are forests and wastelands that are not classified as Reserved or Protected Forests.
→ They may belong to the government, private individuals or communities.
→ They are mainly found in North-Eastern states and parts of Gujarat.
Protection by Communities
Sariska Tiger Reserve – Rajasthan
→ In Sariska Tiger Reserve, villagers fought against mining activities in the protected area.
→ They used the Wildlife Protection Act to stop mining and protect the forest.
Alwar District – Rajasthan
→ In Alwar district, five villages declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’.
→ They made their own rules to protect wildlife and forests.
→ They banned hunting and protected the area from outside encroachment.
Chipko Movement – Himalayas
→ The Chipko Movement was started by local communities to protect forests from cutting.
→ Villagers hugged trees to prevent them from being felled.
→ It showed the importance of community participation in forest conservation.
Beej Bachao Andolan
→ Beej Bachao Andolan was started in the Tehri region of Uttarakhand.
→ Farmers preserved traditional seeds and promoted biodiversity and sustainable farming.
Joint Forest Management (JFM)
→ Joint Forest Management involves local communities and the Forest Department working together to protect and manage forests.
→ The programme was formally introduced in 1988 in Odisha.
→ Local communities help in forest protection, while they receive benefits from the forest in return.