Biological Diversity -
Biological Diversity or Biodiversity is a combination of two words, Bio (life) and diversity (variety). Biological diversity refers to the numbers, variety, and variability of living organisms and ecosystems. The term includes all terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic organisms.
Biodiversity has formed for an extended period of time (about 3.5 billion years) on Earth. Many events have changed the biodiversity on Earth. Many species are no longer available. Dinosaurs were present 65 million years ago but they are not available now. Species can be divided into three groups: endemic, endangered and extinct.
The species that are present in large numbers in an ecosystem are called endemic species. A rich biodiversity means a wide variety of endemic species.
Endangered species are the species that are present in such amounts that if they are not protected, they will not be available anymore after some period of time.
The species which were present earlier in an area but are not found there anymore are called extinct species.
Important types of biodiversity -
Species diversity refers to the number of plant and animal species in a community or an ecosystem. It varies a great deal between ecosystems. For example, species diversity is very high in tropical rainforests and coral reefs and low in isolated islands. You will find a large number of different plants and animals in an ecosystem with high diversity,
Genetic diversity is the variety in the genetic makeup among individuals within a species.
Ecosystem diversity is the variety of habitats found in an area. It is the variety of forests, deserts, grasslands, aquatic ecosystems, etc. that occur in the area.
The following factors determine the degree of diversity in an ecosystem or community:
Habitat stress: Diversity is low in habitats under any stress like harsh climate or pollution.
Geographical isolation: Diversity is less in isolated regions like an island. If a species on an island disappears due to random events, it cannot be easily replaced. Organisms from the mainland have difficulties in reaching and colonizing the island.
Dominance by one species: The dominant species consumes a disproportionate share of the resources. This does not allow many species to evolve and flourish.
Availability of ecological niches: A complex community offers a greater variety of niches than a simple community and promotes greater diversity.
Geological history: Old and stable ecosystems like rainforests that have not experienced many changes have high diversity. An ecosystem like the Arctic has undergone many changes and this does not allow many species to establish themselves.
Biodiversity Loss -
Biodiversity loss refers to the extinction of species from the planet. This not only reduces the species diversity but also the genetic diversity of Earth.
The evolutionary history of life suggests that many species have become extinct over time. As newer species evolve by natural selection, weaker ones gradually fade away. Although species richness has generally increased over time since the evolution of life on earth, in the last 500 million years, there have been a few episodes of large-scale decline of biodiversity too. These were the episodes of historical mass extinctions when more than half of all species on Earth disappeared in a very short duration of time. Such mass extinctions were caused by natural factors like - natural climate change, asteroid collisions, large-scale volcanic eruptions etc.
Measuring the Current Loss of Biodiversity -
International organisations like the World Wildlife Fund play a pivotal role in monitoring global biodiversity. The outcome of its efforts is the Living Planet Report which is released every two years. The Living Planet Index (an index for measuring global biodiversity) tracks the state of biodiversity by measuring the population abundance of thousands of vertebrate species around the world.
As per the latest Living Planet report 2018:
- Living Planet Index shows an overall decline of 60% in population sizes between 1970 and 2014.
- Current rates of species extinction are 100 to 1000 times higher than the standard rate of extinction in Earth’s history before human pressures became prominent
- .Species population declines are especially pronounced in the tropics, with South and Central America suffering the most dramatic decline of an 89% loss compared to 1970
- Freshwater species numbers have also declined with the freshwater index showing an 83% decline since 1970.
The report observes that the present level of biodiversity decline and degradation are not normal; they increasingly resemble some of the catastrophic extinctions in the geologic past. Therefore, the present biodiversity loss is being called as Sixth Extinction.
What is meant by Biodiversity Conservation?
In biodiversity conservation, we study how human activities affect the diversity of plants and animals and develop ways of protecting that diversity. Conservation ranges from protecting the population of a specific species to preserving entire ecosystems.
Approaches for conservation of biodiversity -
As per the Living Planet Report 2018,’ We are the first generation that has a clear picture of the value of nature and man’s enormous impact on it. We may also be the last that can act to reverse this trend.’ We know that biodiversity holds immense value for human life and maintains ecological stability. Therefore biodiversity conservation Becomes extremely critical.
Globally, there are two basic approaches to biodiversity conservation.
In-Situ Conservation -
It refers to the conservation of biodiversity in its natural habitat.
It is done through Protected Area Networks (PANs) and other biodiversity conservation sites like Biosphere Reserves.
Ex-Situ Conservation
It refers to the conservation of biodiversity outside its natural habitat.
It is done through zoological gardens, botanical gardens, seed banks, gene banks etc.
The biodiversity conservation approach to be adopted depends upon the population status of species. If a particular species is on the verge of extinction,ex-situ conservation is a preferred approach. Otherwise, in most cases, a mix of in-situ And ex-situ conservation is popular with major dependence upon in-situ conservation.
Biodiversity Conservation Sites-
Major types of sites for in-situ observation of biodiversity are -
A. Protected Area Networks (PANs) - These are specially demarcated geographical areas for long-term conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems. Examples include national parks, Wildlife sanctuaries etc.
B. Biosphere Reserves (BRs)- These are an international designation by UNESCO for the representative Parts of natural and cultural landscapes extending over large areas of terrestrial, coastal and Marine ecosystems.
in 1968, UNESCO organised the Biosphere Conference that saw the beginning of the concept of a ‘Biosphere Reserve’. The aim of this conference was to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.
This conference resulted in the launching of UNESCO’s ‘Man and the Biosphere’ (MAB) programme in 1971. It is an intergovernmental Scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of the relationship between people and their environments.
Functions of Biosphere Reserves -
Biosphere Reserves have three interconnected functions:
1. Conservation - Protecting cultural diversity and biodiversity, including genetic variation, species and ecosystems.
2. Development- Fostering economic and human development that is environmentally and socially sustainable.
3. Logistic support- Facilitating demonstration projects, environmental education and sustainable development education and training, research and monitoring ( research and monitoring are also integral to the conservation and development functions).
Convention On Biological Diversity (CBD)
In 1980, three organizations -United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and WWF International- together prepared a World Conservation Strategy. It was a plan to conserve biodiversity, preserve vital ecosystem processes on which all life depends for survival, and develop sustainable uses of organisms and ecosystems. In 1991, they published a new version of this document entitled Caring for the Earth.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force in 1993. To date, there are 193 Parties to the convention.
CBD is an international legally binding treaty with three main goals:
1. Conservation of biodiversity
2. Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity.
3. Sharing the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way.
Under the Convention, governments undertake to conserve and sustain biodiversity. They are required to develop national biodiversity strategies and action plans and to integrate these into broader national plans for environment and development.
Other treaty commitments include:
A. Identifying and monitoring the important components of biological diversity that need to be conserved and used sustainably.
B. Establishing protected areas to conserve biological diversity while promoting environmentally sound development around these areas.
C. Respecting preserving, and maintaining traditional knowledge of the sustainable use of biological diversity with the involvement of indigenous people and local communities.
D. Promoting public participation, particularly when it comes to assessing the environmental impacts of development projects that threaten biological diversity.
Educating people and raising awareness about the importance of biological diversity and the need to conserve it.
E. Reporting on how each country is meeting its biodiversity goals.
While the Convention on Biological Diversity is a step forward, it has some drawbacks and implementation problems:
1. It excludes the existing gene bank collections. Thus, 4 million seeds, which are also of high commercial value, are outside the control of CBD.
2. It encourages bilateral agreements, even though many biodiversity issues are regional or global. This has led to some poor countries signing agreements with rich countries or big corporations giving away their rights over their biodiversity.
3. As with many international agreements, the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity has also been slow and poor. The Convention does not provide for severe penalties for violations, nor does it have an enforcement mechanism.
Major Global Organisations for Biodiversity Conservation -
World Wildlife Fund (WWF)- It is the world’s leading conservation organisation that focuses on the conservation of wildlife along with forests, oceans, freshwater, food and climate.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) was established in 1948. Its aim was to encourage international cooperation and provide scientific knowledge and tools to guide conservation action by bringing together governments and civil society organizations.
In 1964, the IUCN established the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which is the world’s most comprehensive data source on the global extinction risk of species. The IUCN Red List is often referred to as a Barometer of Life as it measures the pressures acting on species, which guides and informs conservation actions to help prevent extinctions.
TRAFFIC - It is a leading non-governmental organisation working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Its mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
The South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) - Aims to encourage regional cooperation in South Asia to strengthen wildlife law enforcement and curb illegal wildlife trade. SAWEN is a regional network of eight countries- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
International Whaling Commission (IWC) - The International Whaling Commission was set up under the International Commission for the Regulation of Whaling which was signed in 1946. The IWC is a global body charged with the conservation of whales and the management of whaling. It currently has 89 member governments from countries all over the world.
The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) - The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) is the collaborative effort of five inter-governmental organisations to support national wildlife law enforcement agencies. ICCWC’s mission is to strengthen criminal justice systems and provide coordinated support at national, regional and international levels to combat wildlife and forest crime.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Question: What is biodiversity Conservation?
Answer - Biodiversity is important for human existence. All forms of life are so closely interlinked that disturbance in one gives rise to an imbalance in the others. If species of plants and animals become endangered, they cause degradation in the environment. So, Biodiversity conservation is the practice of protecting and preserving all types of life forms and genetic diversity on the planet.
Question: What are the basic approaches for biodiversity conservation?
Answer - Globally, there are two basic approaches to biodiversity conservation
In-situ conservation -refers to the conservation of biodiversity in its natural habitat
Ex-situ conservation - refers to the conservation of biodiversity outside its natural habitat.
Question: What is a Protected Area Network?
Answer - These are demarcated geographical areas (National Parks, Wildlife sanctuaries etc.) for the long-term conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Question: What is the biosphere reserve?
Answer - A biosphere reserve is a protected large area of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems. It is an area for the conservation of wildlife, biodiversity, and the tribes inhabiting the area.
In 1968, UNESCO organised the Biosphere Conference that saw the beginning of the concept of a ‘Biosphere Reserve’. The aim of this conference was to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Question: What are the functions of Biosphere Reserves (BRs)
Answer - Biosphere Reserves have three interconnected functions:
Conservation - Protecting cultural diversity and biodiversity, including genetic variation, species and ecosystems.
Development- Fostering economic and human development that is environmentally and socially sustainable.
Logistic support- Facilitating demonstration projects, environmental education and sustainable development education and training, research and monitoring ( research and monitoring are also integral to the conservation and development functions).
Question: What is the role of zoos in biodiversity conservation?
Answer - Along with many other animals, zoos often preserve a few individuals of critically endangered species. If an animal breeds in captivity, the zoo may ultimately reintroduce the species into protected reserves.
Zoos need large spaces and huge funds. Only a small percentage of endangered species can be protected in zoos. The public tends to support the saving of large or popular species like the tiger, elephant, and panda. There is not much interest in protecting smaller or less attractive species, even if they are known to be very important for the ecosystem.