Envs CH-4 P1 PDF

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
CHAPTER-4
BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION

Different levels of biodiversity, value of biodiversity, biodiversity hotspot
KM_SPCMC_ENVS_SEM-2_2021
Biodiversity
• The richness and variety of
life forms on earth.
• Microbes, plants, insects,
reptiles, amphibians, birds
and mammals.
Different levels of biodiversity
• The four main levels of biodiversity are species, genetic, ecosystem, and global biodiversity.
1. Genetic Diversity
Genetic diversity encompasses all the variety of different genetic information contained in
animals, microorganisms and plants. A single species of organisms with diverse genetic diversity
portray more adaptability and survival mechanism against adverse environmental conditions. Eg.
Mangifera indica is the mango species but it has a variety of forms in India.
2. Species Diversity
Species diversity refers to the variety of organisms in the environment. They can be further
subdivided into:
• Species richness- It is the total number of species in a given region or locality.
• Special abundance- This is the relative number of organisms among the species (the number of
individuals per species).
• Taxonomic diversity (Phylogenetic)- The hierarchical classification based on the phylogenetic
evolution of different species of organisms.
3. Ecosystem Diversity
• It deals with the variations in ecosystems within a
geographical location. Eg. Wetland ecosystem, marine
ecosystem, estuarine ecosystem, forest ecosystem etc.
• There are three categories of ecosystem diversity:
a) Alpha diversity- Alpha diversity is just the diversity of
each site (local species pool).
b) Beta diversity- Beta diversity represents the differences
in species composition among sites.
c) Gamma diversity- Gamma diversity is the diversity of
the entire landscape (regional species pool).
4. Global Diversity
• Global diversity refers to the range of differences that
depict the composition of a group of two or more species
in a global context.
Value of biodiversity
1. Direct values- These are those ways by which we can directly use biodiversity for our benefit. For example we can use
plants as food of for deriving medicines in the laboratory.
Direct values are further classified into:

Consumptive use Value: Consumptive use value is the value put on the products of nature which are consumed directly
without passing through a market. For example, if we use firewood by cutting down a tree or consume an animal after
hunting it.
Productive use value: Productive use value is the value put on the products of nature which are consumed after passing
through a market. For example, if we buy fish from the market then it will have productive use value.
2. Indirect values or Non-Consumptive value- These are those ways by which we don't physically use a plant or animal,
but by virtue of its existence it provides services that keep the ecosystem healthy. Indirect values would include ethical or
moral value, existence value, ecological value, aesthetic value, cultural or spiritual value, option value and scientific or
educational value.
• Ethical and Moral value- Every species has its moral right to exist on earth.
Every human culture, religion and society has its own ethical values. There
are several cultural, moral and ethical values, which are associated with the
conservation of biodiversity. We have in our country a large number of
sacred grooves preserved by tribal people in several States.
• Social value- Social values are a set of moral principles defined by society
dynamics, institutions, traditions and cultural beliefs.
• Aesthetic value- Nature contributes immensely to the beauty of the world.
We can not imagine a world without trees, grass, flowers, birds or animals.
Thus, biodiversity has immense aesthetic value for us.
• Ecosystem value- Every species plays a unique role in the ecosystem.
Through this role its maintains the ecological balance. Thus, the
ecosystems don't get disrupted.
Biodiversity hotspot
Biodiversity hotspots- Norman Myers, a British Ecologist, developed the concept
of hot spots in 1988 to designate priority areas for in situ conservation. According to
him, the hot-spots are the richest and the most threatened reservoirs
of biodiversity on the earth. Myers listed 25 such hotspots in his paper which covered
11.8% of the total land on the Earth. The 36 hotspots now cover about 15.7% of the land.
There are 4 out of 36 biodiversity hotspots of the world located in India —
✓The Himalayas
✓Indo-Burma region
✓Western Ghats
✓Sundaland.
To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:
• It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics
• It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation.
Indian hotspots
• The Himalayas- It covers some parts of Pakistan,
China, Myanmar, whole Nepal and Bhutan and North
Indian state/UT of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh,
Meghalaya. The Himalayas house more than 10,000
plant species, 300 mammals, 970 birds, 105
amphibians, 170 reptiles and 270 freshwater fishes.
• Indo-Burma region- This region spans over the
North-eastern states, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos,
Thailand, Vietnam and the southern part of China.
• Western Ghats- Western Ghats (the Sahayadri
range) is one of the latest additions to the list of
biodiversity hotspots in India while Sri Lanka, though
not a part of India, is considered as biodiversity
hotspots of South Asia.
• The Sundaland- this biodiversity hotspot region
covers indo-Malayan islands (Indonesia and
Malaysia). It includes the Nicobar group of Islands–
Borneo, Java and Sumatra, Singapore, Philippines.
Conservation
• Conservation is the protection, preservation,
management, or restoration of wildlife and natural
resources such as forests and water. Through the
conservation of biodiversity and the survival of many
species and habitats which are threatened due to
human activities can be ensured. There is an urgent
need, not only to manage and conserve the biotic
wealth, but also restore the degraded ecosystems.
• Conservation can broadly be divided into two types:
1. In-situ conservation- In-situ conservation is on site
conservation of plant or animal species. In natural
site of the organism.
2. Ex-situ conservation- Ex-situ conservation is the
preservation of components of biological diversity
outside their natural habitats.

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ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION

Direct values are further classified into:

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