Biodiversity Conservation in India

Biodiversity Conservation in India

We know that ecosystems are changing due to habitat loss & fragmentation, invasive species, overexploitation, co-extinctions, pollution, etc. Most people are beginning to recognise that diversity at all levels—gene pool, species, and biotic community—is important and needs to be conserved.

There are two basic strategies of biodiversity conservation: in situ (on-site) and ex situ (off-site). In situ & ex situ are Latin phrases that mean in/on site & out/off site, respectively.

In Situ (On Site) Conservation

• The in situ (on-site) conservation emphasises the protection of the total ecosystem.

• When we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem, its biodiversity at all levels is protected—We save the entire forest to save the tiger. This approach is called in situ conservation.

• Faced with the conflict between development and conservation, many nations find it unrealistic and economically not feasible to conserve all their biological wealth. Invariably, the number of species waiting to be saved from extinction far exceeds the conservation resources available.

• On a global basis, this problem has been addressed by eminent conservationists. They identified certain 'biodiversity hotspots' regions for maximum protection.

Biodiversity Hotspots

British environmentalist Norman Myers (1934–2019) developed the hot spots concept in 1988 to designate priority areas for in situ conservation. The hotspots are the richest and the most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth.

Key Criteria for Determining a Hotspot:

1. Number of Endemic/Unique Species: Endemic species means unique species—species that are found nowhere else. It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics.

2. Degree of Threat: Measured in terms of habitat loss. If species have lost at least 70% of their original habitat, they will be considered under threat.

About 20% of the human population lives in the hotspot regions.

Initially, 25 biodiversity hotspots were identified, but later 11 more were added, bringing the total to 36 hotspots worldwide.

Although all the biodiversity hotspots together cover less than 2% of the Earth's land area, they harbour an extremely high number of species, and strict protection could reduce ongoing mass extinctions by almost 30%.

Hotspots in India & Its Neighbour Countries

Out of the 36 hotspots in the world, 4 are located in India and its neighbouring countries: Indo-Burma, Sundaland (Nicobar), Himalayas, and Western Ghats–Sri Lanka.

(i) Indo-Burma

• Burma is nowadays known as Myanmar. The Indo-Burma hotspot spreads from Eastern Bangladesh to Vietnam.

• Includes Indian states south of the Brahmaputra River: Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Meghalaya & Tripura.

• Indian regions cover only 5% of the land surface of this hotspot.

Concerned Countries: Bangladesh (Eastern Part), India (North Eastern Part), Myanmar, China, Thailand, Southern Cambodia, and Vietnam
Area: 23,73,057 km²

(ii) Sundaland

• UNO declared Sundaland a hotspot in 2013.

• Lies in South-East Asia, spreading from the Nicobar Islands to Indonesia.

• Includes the Nicobar Islands of India.

• Indian region covers 1.28% of the land surface of this hotspot.

Concerned Countries: India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Indonesia

Area: 15,01,063 km²

Speciality: Sundaland is home to the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia, measuring one metre across.

(iii) Himalayas

• The Himalaya is bordered on the northwest by the Karakoram & Hindukush, on the north by the Tibetan Plateau, and the south by the Gangetic Plain.

• Spreads 2400 km from Pakistan to China.

Indian Regions Covered: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Darjeeling (north West Bengal), Sikkim, northern Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh

• Indian region covers 44.4% of the hotspot’s land surface.

Concerned Countries: Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, China
Area: 7,41,706 km²

(iv) Western Ghats — Sri Lanka

• Lies in India and Sri Lanka, spreading from the Western Ghats (Sahyadri Hills) to the highlands of south-western Sri Lanka.

Indian Regions Covered: Southern Gujarat, Western Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Western Tamil Nadu

• Indian region covers 64.9% of the hotspot’s land surface.

Concerned Countries: India & Sri Lanka
Area: 1,89,611 km²

Protected Areas in India

In India, ecologically and biodiversity-rich regions are legally protected as Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

• To date: 18 Biosphere Reserves, 106 National Parks, 553 Wildlife Sanctuaries.

• 903 protected areas covering 5.02% of the land surface (against the 10% internationally suggested norm).

First Biosphere Reserve in India

• Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve — first in India, established in 1986.

• (World’s first biosphere reserve—Dry Tortugas, Florida, USA—established in 1979).

First National Park in India

• Hailey National Park (renamed Ramganga National Park in 1952, then Jim Corbett National Park in 1956) — the first in India, established in 1936.

• (World’s first national park—Yellowstone, USA—established in 1872).

Final Thoughts

Biodiversity is the foundation of life on Earth, sustaining food, water, clean air, and vital ecosystem services. The loss of biodiversity threatens not just plants and animals but also human well-being and climate stability. India’s biodiversity hotspots and biosphere reserves safeguard countless unique species, while in situ and ex situ conservation strategies work hand in hand to protect them.

From protected areas like national parks to sacred forests preserved by communities, every effort strengthens ecological resilience. Local community involvement ensures resources are used sustainably, keeping nature and people in harmony.

Ultimately, conservation is not a choice but a necessity, and each action we take today helps secure the planet’s natural heritage for future generations.