Threats of Biodiversity

1. Extinction of many species: The biodiversity of earth's surface has now been
faced with mass extinction of many species on a global scale. Rising sea levels,
warmer temperatures and melting ice caps destroy animals' habitats.
Every type of organism such as microorganisms, fungi, plants, and animals all are
threatened with dire consequences.
Many of the animal's species have already been lost. Moreover nearly 650
mammals, 210 reptiles and 1100 birds are threatened with extinction.
2. Massive destruction of forest land: Humans cutting down precious forests for
agriculture, fuel or to build houses. The ecosystem has been highly disturbed as a
result of massive destruction of forests. Many forests have been destroyed:
• to extract wood and other precious herbs,
• for expansion of agricultural land,
• for expansion of habitable area,
• for industrialization.
3. Industrialization: In many cases the production (usually industrial) and
release of wastes acting as pollutants have completely destroyed the habitat of
many species. Excessive release of greenhouse gases and the resultant global
warming and climate are real threats to biodiversity.
4. Shrinking habitat: The habitat areas in most cases have got shrunk due to
many reasons and stand as isolated patches or islands. The smaller the area of the
habitat, the lower would be the number of species.
5. Urbanization: Humans building over animals' habitats.
6. Shortages of water: Not enough water for certain species to survive.
7. Pollution: Poisonous gases in the air causing respiratory problems in many
species. Plastics, oil and other water contaminants making it difficult for fish 2nd
sea birds to thrive in our rivers, lakes and oceans.
The table below summarizes the main threats occurring in our country.
Main threats Some underlying causes
Threats in terrestrial areas
Degradation, Spread of the urbanised areas, road network and
destruction and industrial area and associated problems (noise,
fragmentation of pollution); abandon of former agricultural practices
natural habitats that were favourable to biodiversity
Decrease in the Intensification of agricultural practices (yielding
capacity of the pollution and disturbance) and disappearance of
agricultural areas to landscape elements provide food and shelter that
 )onds, etc.)

Pollution of soils, air Excess of heavy metals (industry, roads), manure

and water and pesticide (agriculture) and other pollutants
Invasions by alien International trade and transport (roads, railways,
species rivers | gardening practices, exotic trees in forestry,
exotic pests released in the wild, climate change, etc.

Epidemics affecting Arrivals of pathogens that are favoured by the

wildlife introduction of exotic species, pollution and the
destruction of habitats
Climate change Carbon emissions, deforestation and other land use
changes due to human activities
Desiccation of soils and Excess pumping of underground water tables
wetlands
Recreation and leisure Overuse of green open spaces and wild areas, little
respect for nature, mountain biking and motor sports
in fragile areas, dogs not on leash
Threats in marine areas
Overfishing and decline Industrial fishing, over-exploitation of target
of species species, by-catch species
Pollution and Land-based activities (river run-off), atmospheric
eutrophication deposition, maritime traffic
Degradation and Beam trawling, dredging, sand and gravel extraction
destruction of the sea
floor
Alien species Maritime trade (ballast waters, fouling), leisure
introductions navigation, mariculture, climate change
Leisure and tourism
Coastal development, water quality in summer (high
population), mechanical beach cleaning, noise and
other perturbations due to the high population

In-situ Conservation and Ex-Situ 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.
Humans have been directly or indirectly dependent on biodiversity for sustenance
to a considerable extent. However, increasing population pressure and
developmental activities have led to large scale depletion of the natural resources.
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.
Types of Conservation
1. In-situ conservation 2. Ex-Situ conservation
In-situ Conservation
In-situ conservation is on site conservation or the conservation of genetic resources
in natural populations of plant or animal species, such as forest genetic resources in
natural populations of tree species.
It is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural
habitat, either by protecting or cleaning up the habitat itself, or by defending the
species from predators.

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roresiry oy tarmers,
especially those using unconventional farming practices. In-situ conservation is
being done by declaring area as protected area.
In India, following types of natural habitats are being maintained:
• National parks,
• Wildlife sanctuaries and
• B iosphere reserves.
India has over 600 protected areas, which includes over 90 national parks, over 500
animal sanctuaries and 15 biosphere reserves.
1. National Parks: A national park is an area which is strictly reserved for the
betterment of the wildlife and where activities like forestry, grazing or cultivation
are not permitted. In these parks, even private ownership rights are not allowed.
Their boundaries are well marked and circumscribed. They are usually small
reserves spreading in an area of 100 sq. km to 500 sq. Km. In national parks, the
emphasis is on the preservation of a single plant or animal species.
List of some major National Parks of India:
S.No. Sfame State Established Area (in
<m2)
1. Corbett National Park Uttarakhand 1921 1318.5
2. Dudhwa National Park Uttar Pradesh 1977 490.29
3. Gir National Park Gujarat 1965 258.71
4. Canha National Park Madhya 1955 940
Pradesh
5. Kanger Ghati National Chhattisgarh 1982 200
Park (Kanger Valley)
6. Kaziranga National Park Assam 1974 471.71
7. Nanda Devi National Uttarakhand 1982 630.33
Park
8. Sariska National Park Rajasthan 1955 866
9. Silent Valley National Kerala 1980 237
Park
10. Sundarbans National ParkWest Bengal 1984 1330.12

2. Wildlife Sanctuaries: A sanctuary is a protected area which is reserved for the

conservation of only animals and human activities like harvesting of timber,
collecting minor forest products and private ownership rights are allowed as long
as they do not interfere with well-being of animals. Boundaries of sanctuaries ar
not well defined and controlled biotic interference is permitted, e.g., tourist
activity.
List of some major Wildlife Sanctuaries of India:
S.No. Nfame State Establishe Area (in
d km2)
1. Ghana Bird Sanctuary Rajasthan 1982 28.73
2. Hazaribag Wildlife Sanctuary Jharkhand 1954 183.89
3- Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Tamil 1940 321.55
Nadu
4. Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary West 2012 216
Bengal
5. Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary Rajasthan 1960 288.84
6. Anamalai Wildlife Sanctuary T nil Nadu 1989 117.10
(Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary
and National Park)
• Biosphere Reserves:
It is a special category of protected areas where human population also forms a
part of the system. They are large protected area of usually more than 5000 sq.km.
A biosphere reserves has 3 parts- core, buffer and transition zone.
8. Core zone is the inner zone; this is undisturbed and legally protected area.
9. Buffer zone lies between the core and transition zone. Some research and
educational activities are permitted here.
10. Transition zone is the outermost part of biosphere reserves. Here cropping,
forestry, recreation, fishery and other activities are allowed.
The main functions of biodiversity reserves are:
1. Conservation: To ensure the conservation of ecosystem, species and genetic
resources.
2. Development: To promote economic development, while maintaining
cultural, social and ecological identity.
3. Scientific Research: To provide support for research related to monitoring
and education, local, national and global issues.
Biosphere reserves serve in some ways as 'living laboratories' for testing out and
demonstrating integrated management of land, water and biodiversity.

Advantages of In- Situ Conservation

• In-situ conservation is a cheap and convenient way of conserving biological
diversity as we play a supportive role only. Factors detrimental to the existence of
the species concerned are eliminated and the species is allowed to grow in its
natural environment in which it has been growing since a long time. This reduces
the cost of conservation efforts enormously.
• In order to ensure the survival of the species we protect the entire natural
habitat or the ecosystem. Naturally to protect a population of carnivores there have
to be adequate population of herbivores in the system which serves as food for the
predators. To maintain the population of herbivores there has to be plenty of green
vegetation for the herbivores to feed on.
Thus, a large number of organisms are protected and maintained in the process.
The biological wealth of our. planet is very imperfectly known to us. By sorting
out and protecting a few species in artificial habitats we shall almost certainly
leave a large number of life forms which are also as important to us as are those
organisms which we are currently trying to preserve and protect. Thus, in-situ
conservation offers way to protect to a large number of organisms simultaneously
known or unknown to science,
• In a natural system organisms not only live and multiply but evolve as well.
A natural ecosystem allows free play of natural agencies - like drought, storms,
snow, fluctuation in temperatures, excessive rains, fires, pathogens etc. - which
provide an opportunity to the organisms to adjust to the prevailing conditions of
the environment and evolve into a better adopted life form.
Bx-Situ Conservation
Ex-Situ conservation is the preservation of components of biological diversity
outside their natural habitats. This involves conservation of genetic resources, as
well as wild and cultivated or species and draws on a diverse body of techniques

nd facilities. Such strategies include establishment of botanical gardens, zoos,

conservation strands and gene, pollen seed, seedling, tissue culture and DNA
banks.
• Seed gene bank: These are cold storages where seeds are kept under
controlled temperature and humidity for storage and this is easiest way to store the
germ plasma of plants at law temperature. Seeds preserved under controlled
conditions (minus temperature) remain viable for long durations of time.
• Gene bank: Genetic variability also is preserved by gene bank under normal
growing conditions. These are cold storages where germplasm are kept under
controlled temperature and humidity for storage; this is an important way of
preserving the genetic resources.
• Cryopreservation: This is the newest application of technology for
preservation of biotic parts. This type of conservation is done at very low
temperature (196°C) in liquid nitrogen. The metabolic activities of the organisms
are suspended under low temperature, which are later used for research purposes,
iv. Tissue culture bank: Cryopreservation of disease free meristems is very
helpful. Long term culture of excised roots and shoots are maintained. Meristem
culture is very popular in plant propagation as it's a virus and disease free method
of multiplication.
11. Long term captive breeding: The method involves capture, maintenance
and captive breeding on long term basis of individuals of the endangered species
which have lost their habitat permanently or certain highly unfavorable conditions
are present in their habitat.
12. Botanical gardens: A botanical garden is a place where flowers, fruits and
vegetables are grown. The botanical gardens provide beauty and calm
environment. Most of them have started keeping exotic plants for educational and
research purposes.
13. Animal Translocation: Release of animals in a new locality which come
from anywhere else.
14. Zoological Gardens: In zoos, wild animals are maintained in captivity and
conservation of wild animals (rare, endangered species). The oldest zoo, the
Schonbrumm zo which exists today also, was established in Vienna in 1759.
In India, the 1st zoo came into existence at Barrackpore in 1800. In the world,
there are about 800 zoos. Such zoos have about 3000 species of vertebrates. Some
zoos have undertaken captive breeding programmes.
Advantages of Ex-Situ preservation:
1. It is useful for declining population of species.
2. Endangered animals on the verge of extinction are successfully breeded.

• Threatened species are breeded in captivity and then released in the natural
habitats.
• Ex-Situ centres offer the possibilities of observing wild animals, which is
otherwise not possible.
• It is extremely useful for conducting research and scientific work on
different species.
Difference between In-situ and Ex-Situ conservation
15. Definition of in situ and ex situ conservation
In situ conservation: It is the conservation and protection of genetic resources of
plant and animal species in their natural habitats itself.
Ex situ conservation: It is conservation of biological diversity outside their
natural areas and is done through different methods like captive breeding, botanical
garden, zoos, aquaria etc.
16. Types of conservation
In situ conservation: Conservation of species in situ takes place in their natural
habitats. Some of the operations include performance recording, breeding
programmes, ecosystem management at sacred groves, gene sanctuary,
biodiversity hotspots, community reserves and biosphere reserves.
Ex situ conservation: Ex situ conservation involves plant and animal species.
Conservation of plants include; storage of seeds, conservation of pollen, artificial
propagation of plants along with reintroduction into the wild, and storing plant
shoots in situation of suspended development (in vitro conservation). Conservation
of animals include techniques like storing animal embryos, slow growth storage,
storing ovule/semen/genetic material called DNA, reintroduction programmes,
Cryo Bank, Germplasm Bank or captive breeding programmes by means of gene
pools and livestock parks.
17. Advantages of in situ and ex situ conservation In situ conservation
4. It doesn't involve removing species from their natural ecosystems.
5. It is not as disruptive as ex situ conservation, i.e. ecological integrity is
maintained.
6. It involves protection of larger populations and conservation of organisms
and their habitat as a whole.
7. The organisms/species get the opportunity to evolve.
8. Allows and facilitates scientific studies of the area.
Ex situ conservation
9. It involves protection of species from external threats like predation and
poaching.

Selective breeding processes are put in place.

• It involves reintroduction of several organisms that have left their natural
habitat
• Improvised quality of off-springs can be obtained
• Disadvantages of in situ and ex situ conservation In situ conservation:
18. It requires larger areas
19. Animals are always under threat of several diseases or any natural disasters.
20. Risk of increased inbreeding and thus reduced fitness which is known
as homozygosity.
21. The animal species could be less productive and thus expensive to be
monitored and maintained.
22. Poachers and ecological tourists may find these thriving habitats as an
opportunity and may cause harm.
Ex situ conservation
It can be considered only for a few kinds of species.
Due to human interference, rare species remain under threat.
Interbreeding
Hybridization
Captive species show divergent genetics.
Poor germination rate.
Costly method of conservation.
Harm to seeds by pests.
• Mobility of in situ and ex situ conservation
In situ conservation: In situ conservation offers greater mobility to the animal
species being safeguarded in its habitat.
Ex situ conservation: Ex situ conservation provides less mobility to the organisms
due to relatively smaller habitat or area than the in situ.
• Examples of in situ and ex situ conservation
In situ conservation: National Parks, Sacred forests, lakes, Marine Parks,
Biosphere reserves, Gene sanctuaries. For e.g. Rhododendrons.
Ex situ conservation: Captive Breeding, Zoo, Gene Banks, Sperm and Ova
Banks, Animal Translocation, Seed Banks, Aquarium, In vitro fertilization,
Cryopreservation, Tissue Culture, Safaris. For e.g. Botanical gardens like Kew in
London

Endangered Animals in India

The 'endangered animals' definition includes all animals in immediate danger of
extinction (disappearing from earth). Animals defined as threatened by the act
include all species of plants, animals and insects except for 'pest' insects that will
probably become endangered in the future.
An Endangered Species is a species (a population) of animals, plants or other
organisms this is in danger of becoming extinct. This could happen because there
are few of that animal left, its predators have grown in number, or the climate that
it lives in is changing, or the places it lives in have been destroyed. The World
Conservation Union (IUCN) has estimated that endangered species are 40% of all
organisms.
In simple, Endangered Animals refers to a species that is in danger of extinction
throughout I or a significant portion of its range.
The world is filled with endangered species of animals, many of which can be
found in While some of these species are critically endangered, some are near
threatened and some are even extinct. There are some species that are left in such
few numbers that your next generation may not be able to ever see them, if nothing
is done for their conservation.
Endangered Animals in India
While we hope that more efforts are taken to conserve these species, following is
the list of some endangered animals that you can find in different parts of India.
• Bengal Tiger: The Bengal Tiger is the national animal of both, India and
Bangladesh. The tiger's coat is yellow to light orange, with stripes ranging from
dark brown to black. The number of tigers has reduced dramatically in the past few
years, due to poaching and human-tiger conflict.
• Asiatic Lion: Asiatic Lion aka the Indian Lion or Persian Lion is a lion
subspecies which is endangered. It differs from the African lion by less inflated
auditory bullae, a larger tail tuft and a less developed mane.
• Snow Leopard: The snow leopard is a large cat native to the mountain
ranges in Central and South Asia. Snow leopards have long, thick fur, and their
base color varies from smoky gray so yellowish tan, with whitish under parts.

Blackbuck: The Blackbuck is an ungulate species of antelope and it is near

threatened. The main threat to this species is poaching, predation, habitat
destruction, overgrazing, inbreeding and sanctuary visitors.
• Red Panda: Red Panda is also known as lesser panda or red cat-bear. It is
an arboreal inanimai native to the eastern Himalayas. Red Panda's population is on
a decrease given to habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and inbreeding
depression.
• One-Horned Rhinoceros: The One-homed rhino is a large mammal, found
in Assam. Excessive hunting has reduced the number of this species. These rhinos
are killed to saw off their horn, which are sold at a very high value.
• The Nilgiri Tahr: The Nilgiri Tahr is an ungulate, endemie to the Nilgiri
Hills. Nilgiri tahrs are stocky goats with short, coarse fur and a bristly mane.
It can be spotted at: Eravikulam National Park, Nilgiri Hills, Anaimalai Hills,
Periyar National Park, Paini Hills
• Kashmir Red Stag (Hangul): The Kashmir stag also known as Hangul is a
critically endangered species. This deer has a light rump patch without including
the tail. Each of its antlers consists of 5 tines.
• Lion Tailed Macaque: The Lion-tailed macaque is an Old World Monkey,
endemie to the Western Ghats of South India. Its outstanding characteristic is the
silver-white mane which surrounds the head from the cheeks down to chin.
• Indian Bison (Gaur): Indian Bison is the largest extant bovine, native to
South Asia and South-East Asia. The bisons are highly threatened by poaching for
trade to supply international markets.
Causes of Endangered Species
> Destruction, modification, or restriction of habitat resulting from human activity
such as agriculture, urban development, mining, deforestation, and pollution
23. Human exploitation of a species for commercial, recreational, scientific,
educational, ther purposes that results in critically diminished population numbers
24. Competition and/or displacement by invasive species
Disease or predation by other animals to the extent that populations decline
significantly

Endemic Species of India

Meaning of Endemie Species
Endemie Species refers to any species whose range is restricted to a limited
geographical area. Endemic species are the animals and plants exclusively found in
a specific geographical area. For example, endemie species found in the Nilgiri
biosphere reserve are Nilgiri langurs, Great Indian horn bills, thorny costers, blue
mormons etc.
An endemie species is that which is distributed in a rather small geographic area
and that is not naturally found in other parts of the world. Endemism, on the other
hand, refers to a species that we can find naturally in one place.
Endemie plants and animals are those that are unique to a specific geographic
region. This makes them incredibly special and more vulnerable to extinction.
Because they are only found in certain locations, they require special conservation
efforts.
Endemie species of India are: Endangered and Endemie species of wild animals
found only in India are Asiatic Lion in Gir Forest National Park, Sangai deer at
Keibul Lamjao National Park, Nilgiri Tahr and Lion Tailed Macaque at Western
Ghats of India.
Native wild animals of Indian subcontinent are great Indian rhinoceros, Critically
Endangered Gharial, hoolock gibbon, Ganga River Dolphin, Chinkara, Blackbuck,
Saara hardwickii, Indian star tortoise, Indian bison, Assam roofed turtle and
Mugger crocodile.
• Asiatic Lion, Gir Forest: Asiatic Lion, also known as the Indian lions, are
listed as endangered and only found in and around Gir Forest National Park of
Gujarat. Gujarat Lion is one of five big cats inhabit India others being the Bengal
Tiger and Indiati Leopards.
• Sangai Deer, Loktak Lake: Sangai also called as brow antlered deer is
endemie and endangered species of deer, found only in Keibul Lamjao National
Park of Manipur. The Keibul Lamjao park is a marshy wetland located at the south
parts of the Loktak Lake.
• Lion Tailed Macaque, Western Ghats: Lion Tailed Macaque is India's
endangered primate species and also ranks among the rarest and most threatened
monkey, endemie to the Western Ghats of South India.
• Kashmir Stag, Kashmir Volley: Kashmir Stag also known as Hangul is the
only species of elk native to India and found in dense riveline forests of Dachigam
National Park, Kashmir Valley of Jammu and Kashmir and Chamba in Himachal
Pradesh.

Nilgiri Tahr, Nilgiri Hills: Nilgiri Tahr is a wild sheep species, Endangered
and endemie to the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. The Nilgiri ibex closely
related to the sheep, inhabits the open montane grassland habitat in Tamil Nadu
and Kerala.
• Purple Frog, Western Ghats: Purple Frog found only in the rainforest of
Western Ghats in India and spends most of its life underground. These uniquely
purple frogs are also known as pignose frog.
• Pygmy Hog, Assam: Pygmy Hog is the critically endangered species of suid
and now only found in Assam. These smallest wild pig or Piglets are the only
member of the genus Porcula.
• Bronzeback Vine Snake, Western Ghats: Bronze headed vine snake or
Western Ghats bronzeback is a grassland snake and mildly venomous species of
bronzeback snake, found largely in the Nilgiri Hills of the West ti Ghats.
• Nilgiri Blue Robin, Nilgiri Mountain: Nilgiri Blue Robin is endangered
and endemie to the Shola forest of southern India. This small passerine bird found
to occur only above 1200 m altitude in high altitude grasslands of Western Ghats.
• Malabar Civet, Western Ghats: Malabar Large Spotted Civet are largest
species of viverrid, endemie to the Western Ghats of India. Malabar Civet are
nocturnal and listed as critically endangered.
• Anaimalai Gliding Frog, Anaimalai Hills: Anaimalai flying frog also
known as false Malabar gliding frog is endemie to the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil
Nadu and threatened by habitat loss.
• Namdapha Flying Squirrel, Arunachal Pradesh: Namdapha Flying
Squirrel is endemie to northeastern India and found only in Namdapha National
Park of Arunachal Pradesh. The arboreal and nocturnal squirrel population is not
known.
Endemie Species of Wild Animals Found in Indian Subcontinent
Endemie species of wild animals found in India also include below list, some of
these wild species are categorized as Critically Endangered and Vulnerable by the
IUCN due to poaching and habitat loss.
• Madras Hedgehog
• Hispid Hare
• Nilgiri Marten
• Golden Langur
• Capped Langur
• Nilgai Blue Bull
• Nilgiri Langur
• Bonnet Macaque
• Brown Palm Civet
• Indian Wild Ass

Indian Giant Squirrel Black Footed Gray Langur

AFFORESTATION
Afforestation is a process where new forests are planted across land without trees.
As a forest grows, it naturally removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it in
its trees.
Afforestation is the planting or adding of trees in an area where there was never a
forest or plantation. This is a method to create a new forest. Reforestation is the
replanting of trees in an area where there was once a forest which was destroyed or
damaged.
Afforestation usually involves tree planting in agricultural or other lands that have
been abandoned due to poor soil quality or overgrazing. Over time, the soil was
depleted, so now not much will grow there. Abandoned urban areas, such as land
formerly cleared for buildings that no longer stand, can also be good candidates for
smaller afforestation projects.
Afforestation can occur on land where there may or may not have been forests at
one point in history. Deforestation may have occurred on lands hundreds of years
ago, or there may not be a record of a forest existing in the place targeted for
afforestation.
SOCIAL FORESTRY
Social Forestry means making use of unused and fallow lands so that deeper
forests are safeguarded from exploitation, by using fast-growing trees to meet the
needs of fodder and fuelwood. This article covers details on the 6 important
benefits of social forestry and the 5 different types of social forestry.
Objectives of Social Forestry
• Social forestry schemes have the main objectives to
• Improve the environment for protecting agriculture from adverse climatic
factors
Increase the supply of fuelwood for domestic use, small timber for rural housing,
fodder for livestock, and minor forest produce for local industry

Increase the natural beauty of the landscape; create recreational forests for
the benefit of rural and urban populations,
. Provide jobs for unskilled workers,
• Effect land rehabilitation
. Raise the standard of living and quality of life of rural and urban people.
AGROFORESTRY
Agroforestry is the smart integration of trees into farming systems. Unlike ftill-sun
fields, vulnerable and contributing to ecosystems degradation, agrofrestry is a way
to preserve productive ecosystems and adapt to climate change. The trees provide
multiple services for improved quality and longterm sustainability of the
production.
Agroforestry is the interaction of agriculture and trees, including the agricultural
use of trees. This comprises trees on farms and in agricultural landscapes, farming
in forests and along forest margins and tree-crop production, including cocoa,
coffee, rubber and oil palm. Interactions between trees and other components of
agriculture may be important at a range of scales: in fields (where trees and crops
are grown together), on farms (where trees may provide fodder for livestock, fuel,
food, shelter or income from products including timber) and landscapes (where
agricultural and forest land uses combine in determining the provision of
ecosystem services).
Agroforestry is agricultural and forestry systems that try to balance various
needs:
25. to produce trees for timber and other commercial purposes;
26. to produce a diverse, adequate supply of nutritious foods both to meet global
demand and to satisfy the needs of the producers themselves; and
27. to ensure the protection of the natural environment so that it continues to
provide resources and environmental services to meet the needs of the present
generations and those to come.
Agroforestry involves a wide range of trees that are protected, regenerated, planted
or managed in agricultural landscapes as they interact with annual crops, livestock,
wildlife and humans.

REEN BELT
Trees of a green belt, due to large surface area of their leaves, collectively provide
a natural basin for various air pollutants. A well-developed green - belt helps in
intercepting particulate matter and gaseous pollutants and obstructs their passage to
the ground.
The green belt areas refer to those areas where there are planned open spaces,
where no forms of development activities take place like as building of houses,
factories, dams etc. These spaces are used only for growing trees and plants.
Total 100 nos. of saplings each year will be planted to arrest dust & minimizes
propagation of noise. For which Budget is mentioned in total Project cost. The tree
species selected for plantation should have rapid growth, evergreen, large crown
volume and small/ pendulous leaf with smooth surface. Thick plantation will work
as a pollutant arrestor, reduces floods as well as avoids the situation of erosion of
soil during monsoon season.
The green belt has many benefits for people: Walking, camping, and biking areas
close to the cities and towns. Contiguous habitat network for wild plants, animals
and wildlife. Cleaner air and water.
Purpose of Green Belt
The stated objectives of green belt policy are to:
• Protection of natural or semi-natural environments
• Improvement of air quality in urban parts
• Confirm that urban inhabitants have admittance to landscape, with
consequent informative and recreational opportunities
• Protection of rural societies that might otherwise be absorbed by expanding
cities.
Advantages of Green Belt
i. Air Pollution control: Trees removes carbon dioxide from the
environment through the process of photosynthesis and release of
oxygen. T

ay they help to remove pollutants from air and improve air quality. A green belt
development would trap particulate matter and help in their removal from the air.
• Noise control: A green belt works as a barrier to the high intensity sound
waves. The sound waves can be deflected, refracted or absorbed by the trees that
ultimately reduce their intensity. Extend of intensity reduction depends on the
distance of green belt from the source of sound waves. Trees can make impact on
humidity and climate which affects sound intensity.
• The root system of trees binds to soil particles and helps in soil erosion
control by improving soil quality.
• Green belt retains water and prevent water run offs.
• Green belt offers area for walking, camping, and biking close to the cities
and towns.
• Green belt provide habitat for plants, animals and wildlife.
• Green belt provides better land use of patterns around the cities.
The efficiency of green belts varies depending on the location and country. They
can often be degraded by misuse by the urban dwellers. Sometimes infrastructural
development compromises with the green belt area. This results in the reduction of
green belts and creation of satellite towns.

,
.
1 BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS
3
onds, rivers, woodlands, grasslands, deserts, mountains, t other waterscapes and landscapes are
examples of various Bystems. These habitats each have their unique set of organisms. I soecies present
in pond ecology differ from those found in a Et nabitat. As a result the diversity of ecosystem expands. In
other ids a territory with a diverse range of ecosystems or habitats will ie more biodiversity than one with
only one or two ecosystems.
-ot spots are areas with high density of biodiversity or mega ersrty. .Biodiversity, according to the ICUN
and UNEP, is defined re sum of genes, species, and eco systems in a region. The o-.ersity of the globe is
not evenly distributed. Some regions have It of species, while others have very few. Biodiversity hotspots
are ■s of the world that have a high concentration of uncommon arid table biodiversity.. Hot spots are
generally determined based on r factors:
Number of species/species diversity
Zegree of endemism (species restricted to a particular area or region) Zegree of threat to the habitat due
to its degradation and ~agmentation
Degree of exploitation.
According to Conservation International, a region must fulfill the : criteria to qualify as a hotspot. Two
criteria are the region should we at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should have a r degree of
endemism. It must contain 30% (or less) of its original x ■/ i.e. it must be threatened.

The number of hot spots in the world is 34 cove-rg than 2% of land surface with about 20% of huma' :: c
there. There are 15 hot spots in tropical forests. 5 - - type forests and 9 in island. India has 3 hot spc.s -
Himalaya and Western Ghats - Sri Lanka. India s xn country of mega-diversity with 2.4% of land area a"
“<2 global diversity.

'.YcxxSaXit

Fig 10: World map showing biodiversity hotsp:^

^1.7.3 BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS OF INDIA
1. The Himalayas: It includes sections of Pakistan 2*-^. Nepal and Bhutan, as well as Jammu and
Kas—r Pradesh, Uttarkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, arc ag-i mountain range covers nearly 750,000
km2 10,000 plant species, 300 animals, 970 birds. *1: a 170 reptiles, and 270 freshwater fish
species r re 3 thousand endemic plant species, eight birds fo-r tn four amphibians are among the
threatened sp-eres tigers, snow leopards, Asiatic elephants, one hcr-er red pandas, swamp deer,
water buffalo. Indian -: - necked cranes are the endemic yet endangered j
l Studies
27
ersity hotspots regions
S OF INDIA
« of Pakistan, China, Myanma ammu and Kashmir, Himach P’adesh, and Meghalaya. Th 50.000 km2.
There are arou' ds 970 birds, 105 amphibian fish species in the park. Thre eight birds, four animals, a'
threatened species. Himalaya ■phants, one horned rhinocerc trjffalo. Indian horn bills, bla; . et
endangered creatures.
ndo - Burma Region : The Indo-Burma Region is stretched over a distance of 2,373,000 km2. In the last
12 years, 6 large -ammal species have been discovered in this region: the Large- antiered Muntjac, the
Annamite Muntjac, the Grey-shanked Douc, re Annamite Striped Rabbit, the Leaf Deer, and the Saola.
This hotspot is particularly notable for its endemic freshwater turtle species, the majority of which are
endangered owing to overfishing and habitat destruction. The endangered Whiteeared Night-heron, Grey-
crowned Crocias, and Orange-necked -artridge are among the 1,300 bird species found here.
1. Western Ghats: The Western Ghats run along the western edge of peninsular India,
encompassing the majority of India’s seciduous and rain forests. It supports at least 325
internationally . -inerable flora, animal, bird, amphibian, reptile, and fish species, according to
UNESCO. The vegetation in this region used to cover 190,000 km2, but it has now been reduced
to 43,000 km2. 229 plant species, 31 animal species, 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5
reptile species, and 1 fish species are among the region’s globally vulnerable flora and fauna. “Of
the total 325 globally threatened species in the Western Ghats, 129 are classed as Vulnerable,
145 as Endangered, and 51 are listed as Critically Endangered,” according to UNESCO.