LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

A risk for humanity and environment

SHIBLA NARGHEEES B

M.ARCH 2022-2024
 • Earth’s biodiversity is under threat and the main culprit is the one who depend
on it most: human being.

• biodiversity loss - reduction or disappearance of the variety of living

beings that inhabit the planet.

• It is one of humanity's great challenges.

• As a planet, we are failing to meet all

the targets set for slowing down
biodiversity destruction in 2020
already. ( devastating conclusion of the
fth Global Biodiversity Outlook report)

• published in September 2020 by the

Intergovernmental Science-Policy
Platform on Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The
document not only warns of the
alarming degradation of nature, but
points to it as a variable that increases
the risk of future pandemics.
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 WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY LOSS
Biodiversity- number of genes, species, individual organisms within a given species, and biological
communities within a de ned geographic area, ranging from the smallest ecosystem to the global
biosphere.
BIODIVERSITY LOSS

• decline in the number, genetic variability, and variety of species, and the biological communities in a
given area.

• This loss in the variety of life can lead to a breakdown in the functioning of the ecosystem where
decline has happened.

• biodiversity loss, also called loss of biodiversity, a decrease in biodiversity within a species, an
ecosystem, a given geographic area, or Earth as a whole.

Biodiversity loss refers to the decline or disappearance of biological diversity

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• Idea of biodiversity : species diversity

• The loss is in an alarming rate

• out of a total of eight million, one million species are in danger of extinction.
Some researchers even dared to talk about the sixth mass extinction in the
history of the planet.( report by UN with IPBES)
 Why is Biodiversity Important?
Biodiversity boosts ecosystem productivity where each species, no
matter how small, all have an important role to play.

• Healthy ecosystem provide us with many essentials

• Plants covert energy from sun making it available to other life forms

• Bacteria and other living organisms breakdown organic matter into nutrients providing
plants with healthy soil to grow in.

• Pollinators are essential in plant reproduction which is guaranteeing our food production

• Plants and ocean act as major carbon sink

 • In short biodiversity provide us with many clean air,fresh water, good quality soil and
crop production.

• It help us ght climate change and adapt to it as well reduce the impact of natural
hazard

• Since living organism interact in dynamic ecosystem,the disappearance of one

species can have a far reaching impact on the food chain.

• It is impossible to know exactly what the consequences of mass extinction would

be for humans
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EFFECTS OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS
Biodiversity loss has many consequences, not only for the environment, but also for human
beings at the economic and health level.
During the presentation of the IPBES report, David Cooper, the Deputy Executive Secretary of
the Convention on Biological Diversity, took the opportunity to warn about this in the midst of
the COVID-19 crisis: "As we degrade ecosystems, the risk of future pandemics increases."

Extinction of species
The alteration and destruction of habitats puts thousands of species in danger of extinction.
Threat to human beings
Biodiversity loss endangers human well-being by affecting soil and water, which are fundamental
to food production.
Proliferation of pests
For example, imbalances in ecosystems can lead to the emergence of pests that damage crops.
Increase in carbon dioxide emissions
The capacity of forests and oceans to absorb carbon dioxide will decrease if their ecosystem is
adversly affected
 Economical and social e ects

Humans rely on various plants,

animals,and other organisms for
food, building materials, and
medicines.so their availability is
important.the loss of among these
resources threatens global food
security and pharmaceuticals

Permanent ecological changes

Changes in ecosystem,landscape,
global biosphere due to human
activity since industrial revolution

Aesthetic loss
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 Solutions to biodiversity loss

• Education

• Protection of species in their

habitat

• Protection of habitat

• Stop deforestation

• Stop over hunting

• Stop over shing

• Prevent species invasion

• Control pollution

• Protect water bodies

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Cases

Ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest are rich in diversity.

Deforestation threatens many species such as the giant leaf frog

Mountain Pygmy-Possum

• As global temperatures continue to rise, one particular species has already keenly experienced its effects : the
Mountain Pygmy-Possum.

• Native to Australia and found only in the snowy mountain tops in Victoria and New South Wales, this tiny
mammal goes through a prolonged hibernation – under two to four metres of snow – of up to seven months
during winters.

• Because of global warming, there is less available snow, forcing the marsupial to come out of hibernation
earlier, resulting in greater food competition and higher risk of exposure to prey.

• Today’s estimates place about 2,000 individuals left in the wild for this already vulnerable species.
 Orangutan

• Both the Bornean and the Sumatran orangutan that are native to Indonesia
have been severely impacted by deforestation in the country. The latter are
reported to have lost approximately 60% of their key habitat between 1985 and
2007, largely due to logging, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure, and in
support of the palm oil industry –

• Indonesia is now home to over 60,000 square kilometres of palm plantations.

As these majestic forest dwellers are arboreal creatures, meaning that they
spend most of their lives in trees, the loss of forest land causes irreversible
damage to the species’ survival.

• A century ago, there were probably more than 230,000 orangutans in total, but
the Bornean orangutan is now estimated at about 104,700 while the Sumatran
at about 7,500

Stellar’s Sea Cow

• This marine mammal became extinct within 27 years of their discovery in

1741 by naturalist Georg W Steller.

• Reaching a length of over 30 feet and weighing between eight-10 metric

tons, the sea cow was larger than today’s manatees with a broad,
horizontal forked tail uke. Its weight is largely attributed to three to four
inches of blubber to help them conserve heat in its natural habitats –

• found primarily in the North Paci c Ocean – and one-inch thick outer
skin. But because of these attractive features.the slow-moving animal
was hunted extensively for its skin, fat, and meat to the point of
extinction
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 Sunda Tiger

• Of all the big cats, tigers are the closest to extinction. with fewer than
3,900 tigers remaining in the wild, they exist in only 4% of their historic
range.

• Sunda tigers in particular are especially vulnerable. With numbers

estimated to be at fewer than 400 today, accelerating deforestation and
rampant poaching mean it could end up extinct like its Javan and
Balinese counterparts.

• Despite increased efforts in tiger conservation – including strengthening

law enforcement and anti poaching capacity – a substantial market
remains in Sumatra and other parts of Asia for tiger parts and products. 

Rhino

• Rhinos are one of the most poached animals on the planet.

• Their horns are used in traditional Chinese medicine and displayed as

a symbol and demonstration of wealth. A Javan rhino horn can sell for
high price per kg on the black market. Because of poaching, three of
the ve species of rhinos are among the most endangered animals in
2022: the black rhino, the Javan rhino and the Sumatran rhino.

• The Javan rhino is the closest to extinction with only around 60

individuals left, all of which are in Ujung Kulon National Park in
Indonesia, while black rhino population is estimated to be around
5,500 individuals.
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 Snow Leopard

• snow leopards used to have much larger

habitats and prowled across the mountain
ranges of Asia.

• Now, they can only be found in Ladakh,

Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and the
western and eastern parts of the Himalayas,
with population numbers down to about 500 in
India.

• Unsurprisingly, this drop is the result of human

interference, namely animal poaching for its
pelt and body parts, and a rapid decline of
prey due to increasing domestic livestock,
which depletes the high altitude pasture lands.
Con icts between remote communities and
snow leopards have also been a threat to the
species, as well as hydroelectric and mining
projects, which reduces the leopard’s natural
habitat.
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Turtles
Elephants
Polar bear

Indian Bison (Gaur)

The largest and tallest in the family of wild cattle, the

Indian bison is an animal native to South Asia and
South-East Asia but one that is severely threatened
by wildlife poaching (for its meat, horns and
medicinal products), shrinking habitats and food
scarcity from the destruction of grasslands.

Famously the inspiration behind the branding of the

popular energy drink, Red Bull, the bison has
unfortunately lost more than 70% of its population in
many parts of their range.

The gaur is listed as a vulnerable species by the

IUCN and is protected by India’s 1972 Wild Life
Protection Act, which calls for the reintroduction of
native plants and regulation of indiscriminate cattle
grazing around areas where the gaurs roam.
 Bengal Tiger
• Bengal tigers account for about half of
the world’s total tiger population, 70% of
which can be found living in India.

• Though this big cat is an adaptable

animal that can live in various habitats
including forests, mangroves and
wetlands, and has the ability to cope with
hot or cold temperatures, Bengal tiger
populations have plummeted over the
years.

• animal has been endangered following

decades of persistent poaching for its
skin and body parts, trophy hunting, and
severely reduced habitat from urban
development. The species now live in
just 7% of their historical habitat range,
with fewer than 2,000 individuals left in
the wild.

• In a densely populated country like India,

human-wildlife con ict is also a
contributing factor to its dwindling
numbers. 
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 India is one of the mega
Wounded hill- western ghats biodiversity centres in the world.
It hosts 4 biodiversity hotspots:

Himalayas

Western Ghats,

 Indo-Burma region

Sundaland (Includes Nicobar
group of Islands).

These hotspots have numerous

endemic species.

There are many crucial important ecosystems are occurred in Western ghats. This
ecosystem is providing a number of threatened habitats, such as unique seasonally
blooming mass- owering of herbs on meadows and plateaus, Shola forest, mangrove
forest, Myristica swamps, freshwater stream and rivers.
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 • The forests of the site include some of the best representatives of non-equatorial tropical evergreen
forests anywhere and are home to at least 325 globally threatened ora, fauna, bird, amphibian,
reptile and sh species.

• The Western Ghats are the home for not only biological factors but also physical factors like
perennial rivers. The major river systems originating in the WGs are the Godavari, Kaveri, Krishna,
Thamiraparavati & Tungabhadra.

• The biodiversity hotspot in India has a wide range of diversity from invertebrates to mammals.

• But this untouched pristine and serene landscape is now facing some serious threats s.

• 2.2 lakh trees will be axed in Western Ghats

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• On March 20, the controversial Hubballi-Ankola railway line project was cleared at the
Karnataka State Wildlife Board meeting in Bengaluru.The proposed 164.44-km line will
pass through the Western Ghats and see felling of 2.2 lakh trees.The Hubballi-Ankola
railway is slated to run from Hubballi in Dharwad district to Ankola in Uttara Kannada
district over a distance of 168 km, cutting through dense forests of the Western
Ghats.In particular, the railway line is proposed to be laid in two biodiversity hotspots –
 the Kali Tiger Reserve and Bedthi Conservation Reserve.

• According to a site inspection report submitted to the Ministry of Environment,

Forest and Climate Change, nearly 80% of the proposed line pass through the
dense forest lands. The total land required is 995.64 hectares, including 595.64
hectares of forest land, 184.6 hectares of wetland, and 190 hectares of dry land.
Resource degradation
SHIBLA NARGHEEES B

M.ARCH 2022-2024
The depletion of natural resources occur when resources are consumed at a faster
rate than their replacement.

Natural resources Are those in existence without human actions.they can be

renewable or non renewable
 • Resource depletion happens when the consumption of resources become
excessive and the same become scarce,as they are consumed at a faster rate than
they can be replenished

• The term is most commonly associated with fossil fuel,water, shing,mining,logging,

deforestation .

Resource degradation

• Resource degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of

resources such as water,air,soil,the destruction of ecosystem and extinction of wild
life.

• It is de ned as any change or disturbance to the environment that is percieved to be

undesirable.

• A resource that is rare on earth due to depletion has a higher value than a natural
resource that is in abundance.

• Due to increasing global population,the level of natural resource degradations are also
increasing.
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Courses of resource depletion
Overpopulation
• The total global population is more than seven billion people. Still, there is a consistent increase
in the overall earth populace and this has been a critical factor in accelerating the depletion of
natural resources. An increase in the populace expands the need for resources and conditions
necessary to sustain it.

• Even if everyone tried to adopt a correspondingly low material standard of living, with the
population approaching eight billion, it would still cause the depletion of natural resources.

• Research further indicates that

developing countries are using more
and more resources to industrialize
and support their ever-increasing
population. Hence, the depletion of
natural resources will continue as long
as the world population increases.
Poor farming practices
• Humans are causing a lot of stress on land resources due to the over-reliance
on food production for daily nutritional requirements. Poor irrigation practices,
for example, are a key contributing factor to the salinization and alkalization of
the soil that sustains plant growth.

• Poor soil management practices and the use of heavy machinery and farming
equipment also destroy the soil structure, making it unsuitable for plant growth.
Due to the drastic soil vibrations and destruction, the fertile material vital to life
is being destroyed.

• Some farming practices, such as excessive use of pesticides, fungicides, and

herbicides, equally kill important soil micro-organisms that are essential in
replenishing nutrients in the soil. Furthermore, irresponsible farming leaves the
soil vulnerable to soil erosion, which could further result to soil degradation.
 Logging
• The World Bank reported that the net loss of global forest between 1990 and 2016
was 1.3 million square kilometers. The gross loss every year that followed was
around 13 million hectares, and by July 2022, the net loss of global forest was around
17 million hectares.

• On the same note, tropical deforestation is estimated to occur at a rate of one percent
annually, especially in the Latin American regions. People are clearing forests
primarily for agricultural reasons due to the increase in population pressure.

• Humans are also cutting down trees to make

space for residential complexes and
multiplexes. Through deforestation, the
planet loses not only trees but also
thousands of animals and great plant
biodiversity due to the destruction of their
natural habitats.

• A lot of ora and fauna species have

become rare, endangered or extinct over the
years due to the said practice. Moreover,
increased logging activities also lead to soil
erosion that degrades natural soil minerals
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Overconsumption of Natural Resources
• The 1760 industrial revolution saw large-scale mineral and oil exploration, and the
practice has been gradually growing, leading to more and more natural oil and
mineral depletion.

• Together with the advancements in technology, development, and research in the

contemporary era; exploitation of minerals has become easier and humans are
digging deeper to access different ores. The increased exploitation of different
minerals has led to some of them entering into a production decline.

• For example, minerals such as gasoline, copper, and zinc production are estimated
to decline in the next 20 years. Plus, oil mining continues to rise due to the upsurge
in the number of engines that use petroleum, thereby magnifying its depletion.

• The peak oil theory supports this fact by putting forward that there will come a time
when the globe will experience uncertainties about alternative means of fuel owing
to the over-harvesting of petroleum. When the peak of petroleum production is
passed, an irreversible decline on the production rates will be faced.
Industrial and Technological Development
The present-day world is incessantly becoming industrialized as more and more
countries make major technological breakthroughs. But as technological advancements
continue, there is also a considerable growth in industries that release toxins and
chemical by-products which are eventually deposited in lakes, oceans, soils, and lands.

Some of the industrial by-products are organic compounds, metals, radioactive

materials, and other destructive wastes. As a result, the by-products and toxic materials
alter natural habits such as aquatic systems and wildlife.

Examples of the impacts include acidic lakes, dead zones, and the death of wildlife as
well as aquatic life. Industrial and technological advancements have also driven the
demand for virgin materials for research, development, and production.
Pollution
• An increase in population and modern anthropogenic activities is a major
contributor to the disposal of pollutants into the natural environment, and as
such, the value of the natural environment is gradually exposed to
degradation.

• The soil, air, lakes, and seas are being contaminated with sewage, radioactive
materials, and toxic chemicals, among other pollutants. Pollution can directly
kill plants and animals, destroy the environment and cause further dilemmas,
thus leading to natural resource depletion.

• Uncontrolled releases of carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur oxide, and

carbon dioxide, for example, have resulted in the degradation of the ozone
layer and global warming — environmental changes with their resultant
depletive impacts on different natural habitats. Millions of different animal and
plant species have thus lost their natural habitats and are on the verge of
extinction.
 E ects
Water shortages
• Poor farming practices, deforestation, and pollution are major causes of water
resource depletion due to contamination, wastage, and the destruction of natural
water catchment areas.

• As of today, approximately two billion people lack access to clean water because
of the effects of deforestation and contamination of water sources and
groundwater. Water shortages further contribute to famine and food insecurity.

Oil depletion
Oil is a nonrenewable resource that accounts for roughly 40 percent of the total
global energy consumption. Oil is used for plenty of purposes, and together with
technological advancements, it is being more frequently used than ever.

Research by EIA’s International Energy Outlook had shown that due to the high rate
of oil exploitation, the amount of oil remaining would last for only 25 years. Moreover,
EIA’s research stated that by 2030, oil consumption will be at 118 million barrels per
day.
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•

Loss of forest cover

• Approximately 18 million acres of forest cover are destroyed annually. This means that half
of the world’s natural forest cover has already been cleared and millions of animal and
plant habitats are destructed.

• Furthermore, studies indicate an increase in deforestation in the past three decades has
resulted in a 12% to 17% rise in greenhouse gases globally. Due to the lack of trees to
absorb carbon dioxide, global warming is becoming more severe.

• Other devastating effects of deforestation include soil erosion, an increase in greenhouse

gases leading to global warming, loss of biodiversity, increased ooding, and drought.

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Depletion of minerals

There has been an increase in the exploitation of minerals such as phosphorus,

gasoline, copper, and zinc, among others, to sustain the seven billion people on
earth.

Studies by the Global Phosphorus Research Institute, for example, show that the
earth could run out of phosphorus—an essential element for plant growth—in the
next 50 to 100 years.

Studies by the United States Geological Survey also indicate that there is an increase
in non-renewable resource consumption of natural minerals and construction
materials such as copper, sand, gravel, and stone.
Extinction of Species
Due to the changes in the living conditions of animals as a result of resource
overexploitation and habitat degradation, some species may go extinct. Habitat
destruction is one of the primary reasons why species of plants and animals are being
endangered, or worse, extinct.
 Solutions
1. Make Electricity Use More Ef cient

We use natural resources, such as coal and natural gas, to produce the electricity we use
in homes, of ces, stores and elsewhere. We can conserve some of that electricity simply by
turning things off and unplugging them when we’re not using them and by using more
energy-ef cient appliances and light bulbs.
Advanced technologies, such as smart thermostats, also help conserve energy by
automatically turning appliances on and off as needed.
 
2. Use More Renewable Energy

About 63 percent of our electricity comes from fossil fuels, which are natural resources that
only replenish over an extremely long time.
Resources like wind and sunlight, however, can also be used to generate electricity, but
these resources are renewable. That means once they are used, they become available
again quickly. While using fossil fuels to generate electricity burns up nite resources, using
renewables does not.
Renewable energy also doesn’t release greenhouse gases, which are causing climate
change.
 
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 3. Promote Sustainable Fishing Rules

One-third of the world’s sh populations are overexploited or severely depleted.
Reduced sh populations can alter entire ecosystems and hurt coastal economies that
depend on shing. Introducing new laws — and ensuring existing ones stay in place —
that protect at-risk sh populations and ecosystems is crucial to preventing these
problems.
At the consumer level, buying only sustainably sourced sh can help.
Further reading: What Is a Sustainable Fish
 
4. Avoid Single-Use Plastics

In 2016, global plastics production was approximately 335 million metric tons, and
about half of that was used to make single-use products, according to the Earth Day
Network.
Reducing our plastic use helps us avoid the use of the resources needed to make
plastic and prevents plastic waste from harming the natural environment. Substituting
single-use plastics like plastic grocery bags, utensils and straws with durable items
can help.
 
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5. Drive Less

Gasoline is a product made from crude oil, a nite natural resource and fossil fuel. Car
manufacturing also requires many different kinds of natural resources, includes rubber and
various metals.
You can conserve natural resources by not owning a car, owning a more fuel-ef cient car or
driving less. Walking, bicycling taking public transportation and carpooling are all excellent
alternatives to driving.
 
6. Recycle More and Improve Recycling Systems

In addition to switching away from single-use plastics, we can also recycle more to help with
the plastic problem. Check with your local government or recycling company to see what you
can recycle curbside where you live. For other items, you may be able to nd a business in
your community that can help recycle items.
Improving our recycling systems can also help. Researchers can nd new, more ef cient ways
to recycle, local governments can make recycling easier and businesses can implement
recycling programs for their employees.
 

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7. Use Sustainable Agriculture Practices

Agriculture is necessary but extremely resource-intensive. There are, however, ways
to farm more sustainably.
Rotating crops and planting cover crops helps to keep soil healthy. Using fewer
chemicals and integrating biological pest control and natural fertilizers can help, as
well. Precision agriculture, which uses technology to optimize resource use, can help
farmers use less fertilizer, pesticides, water and other inputs.
 
8. Reduce Food Waste

Approximately a third of the food produced for human consumption every year gets
wasted or lost. Because of all the resources required to grow, transport and prepare the
food, this is a huge waste. Keeping track of the food you have, planning meals and
shopping trips ahead of time and properly storing food can help reduce food waste at
home.
 
9. Promote Sustainable Forest Management

Forests are full of natural resources. The ecosystem services they provide are valued
at approximately $33 trillion annually, and about a quarter of the world’s population
depends on them to make a living. Yet, we’re destroying forests faster than the earth
can replenish them — at a rate of about 60 acres each minute.
Sustainable forest management practices can help prevent this. These practices mimic
the natural destruction and regeneration patterns of nature and involve aspects such as
establishing protected areas, create a harvesting plan and using logging techniques
that are easier on the natural environment.
The Forest Stewardship Council and the Rain forest Alliance Certi ed certify
businesses and products, so consumers can tell which ones are created using
sustainable forestry management.
 
10. Treat Wastewater Before Discharging It

Water is, of course, crucial to survival, but more than 2 billion people don’t have clean
drinking water at home.
Part of the reason for this is that some industrial plants and wastewater treatment
plants, especially in developing countries, discharge water into streams and rivers
without adequately treating it. It’s crucial that wastewater discharge regulations are
enforced if they exist, and that they get introduced that if they don’t yet exist.
Preventing natural resource depletion is vital for the environment, economy and the
health and well-being of the human population. We use a vast range of natural
resources, but there are even more ways to conserve them.

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 Cases
Mining in goa
Goa is a small state in India, sandwiched between the Arabian Sea on the West and the
Western Ghats—a steep escarpment rising 3,000 feet on the East, a mere 40 km away.
While famous for its beaches, the interior of Goa is a landscape of rich, endemic
biodiversity. Nearly two-thirds of Goa is covered by forests. Goa has nine major
ecosystems including complex estuarine environments with combined agri-pisci-culture,
lateritic (clayey, rich in oxides) plateaux, and the Western Ghats, one of the biodiversity
hotspots of the planet. At the same time, Goa has large deposits of iron-ore, which it has
exported in large quantities for over 50 years.

Mining was a major economic activity in Goa, but it was also Goa’s biggest environmental
and social problem. As long ago as 1985, the benthic (bottom-dwelling) life of the rivers,
including the iconic windowpane oyster, was almost wiped out because of the iron-ore
covering the river beds (Parulekar et al 1986). Many other adverse effects have occurred,
including disappearing hills, forests, fauna, and springs; increases in respiratory disease,
deaths from unsafe roads, and iron-ore dust blanketing elds.

It damage the sea bed and causes devastation due to inundation.

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 Dying bharathapuzha
Roads were cut through the riverbed in Shoranur recently to smuggle the 40-ft high
heap of sand, costing crores of rupees, mined from the river during the construction of
the Shoranur-Cheruthuruthy check dam recently.

Hundreds of trucks lined up on the dried-up riverbed, violating the ban on the entry of
vehicles on the river course, are an everyday sight in the region. Also, hundreds of
people can be seen transporting sand in gunny bags on head loads in the Shoranur-
Pattambi areas.

Indiscriminate and illegal sand-mining affects the drinking water supply schemes and
threatens the very existences of the river. Sand mining has affected water supply
schemes in Ottapalam, Shoranur and Pattambi, which depend on the Bharathapuzha
water. Every year the depth of the well dug in the middle of the river course for drawing
water for the water supply schemes had to be increased due to the depletion of the
water table, Mr. Gopi said.The rst biodiversity study on the Bharathapuzha conducted
by the University Grants Commission in 2001 had found indiscriminate sand-mining as
the main reason for the degradation of the river.

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 It found that “indiscriminate sand-mining is a dominant environmental issue
throughout the river basin. The entire riverbed is cut up and run over by a very large
number of trucks that descend on it daily to transport sand for customers all over
South India. The situation is disastrous between Pattambi and Thirunavaya, where
both legal and illegal sand quarrying goes on unabatedly.”

Besides illegal sand-mining, hundreds of acres of the riverbed, dried up during the
summer, has been converted into vegetable farms. The authorities have not yet
taken any action against this.
 Mining in Rajasthan – A Case Study of Bijolia Mining Area
In order to evaluate scienti cally the e ect of mining on environment, a study sponsored by
Department of Environment and forest, Government of Rajasthan, was carried out in Bijolia
Mining area. The ndings were sensational and revealing.
• Bijolia is one of the largest mining areas of Rajasthan where mining on large scale
commenced nearly three decades ago. Since then, environment has been adversely
a ected.

• Mining activity in Bijolia area is spread over SURENDER SINGH CHAUHAN an area of
about 61.7 km2 and covers parts of Bhilwara, Bundi and Chittorgarh districts of Rajasthan
and Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh.

• Splitable sandstones of Vindhyan Supergroup are extensively mined for roo ng as well as
rough ooring purposes mainly near the villages of Nayanagar, Jharoli, Aroli, Gopalpura,
Shambhupura, Pachanpura, Kansia, Banio-Ka-Talab, Champapur, Gudha, Makreri, Nala-
Ka-Mataji, Budhpura and Lamba-Kho
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 E ects
a) Land Degradation in Bijolia

b) Dust and Air Pollution

c) Water pollution

d) Noise pollution

e) Hydro-geological disturbances

f) Loss of biodiversity

g) Human ecological impacts

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 Natural Gas Scarcity In Newzealand

• The depletion of abiotic resources is a critical issue for the present as well as future
generations. Resource depletion is governed by several factors including resource costs
and elasticity of demand, which are dynamic.

• For some gas-consuming sectors, consumption is reduced, but for other sectors other
fuels are substituted for the natural gas such as black coal and imported lique ed natural
gas (LNG). For the New Zealand case study, the substitution delays the exhaustion of the
domestic natural gas supply, at the cost of higher environmental impacts.

• The substitution of gas with black coal caused an increase in the environmental impact
indicator in the climate change category by 36%, 63% and 104% for the individualist,
hierarchist and egalitarian approaches, respectively.

• Similarly, the substitution of gas by imported LNG resulted in an increase in the same
category by 7%, 17% and 33% for the individualist, hierarchist and egalitarian
perspectives, respectively. .

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