Essays

Biodiversity means "the variety of life on earth," It is the variability of all living organisms — including animal and plant species — the genes of all living organisms, and the terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of which they are part of. Thus, in essence, biodiversity represents all life.

Biodiversity also includes the structure of the ecosystems and habitats that support essential living resources, including wildlife, fisheries and forests. It composes ecosystems that maintain oxygen in the air, enrich the soil, purify the water, protect against flood and regulate climate. Thus, it plays a great role in fulfilling basic human needs such as food, shelter, and medicine.

India contains a great wealth of biological diversity in its forests, its wetlands and in its marine areas. The country is one of the mega biodiversity centres in the world and has two of the world's 18 'biodiversity hotspots', located in the Western Ghats and in the Eastern Himalayas, The total forest and tree cover of the country is estimated at 23.39 per cent of the geographic area, of which forest cover accounts for 21per cent. India is estimated to have 49,219 pidiit species representing 12.5% of the world's flora and 86, 8740 animal species representing 7.25% of the world's fauna.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. To finance new models for high-value forest conservation in India, through participatory approaches and mamstreaming of biodiversity conservation outcomes, the World Bank has approved financing of a US$15.36 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) and a grant of US$8.14 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund. The project seeks to demonstrate landscape conservation approaches in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat and Askot in Uttarakhand.

Over the last century, a great deal of damage has been done to the biodiversity existing on the earth. Increasing human population, greater consumption levels, and inefficient use of our resources are some of the causes that have led to overexploitation and manipulation of ecosystems. Trade of rhino horn and tiger skin etc has also led to the extinction of species. According to the latest tiger census report released on March 28, 2011 by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the current tiger population estimated is 1,706. Although the population of tiger has increased over the years, tigers face the threat of being killed for their skin.

Consequences of biodiversity loss are disastrous as disturbance to one species gives rise to imbalance in others. Presently, 57 species of animals and species of about 1500 flowering and non-flowering plants are categorized as critically endangered or very rare species.

Society's growing consumption of resources and increasing populations have led to a rapid loss of biodiversity, eroding the capacity of earth's natural systems to provide essential goods and services on which human communities depend. To enumerate ways of conservation of biodiversity wealth of India, The National Conference on Environment and Biodiversity of India will be held from 20th - 22^nd December 2011 in New Delhi. The conference would not only feature the beauty of the vast forest resources of India but would also discuss ways to prevent the loss of precious forest belts.

It is necessary that we realize the importance of our biological resources for the continued welfare of India's population.