Biodiversity: Principles and Conservation

Contents: 1. What is Biodiversity.  2. Biodiversity: The Natural Biological Capital of the Earth. 3. Loss of Biodiversity. 4. Biodiversity Conservation. 5. Biodiversity Conservation: India Scenario. 6. Biodiversity Conservation: value Addition Through Biotechnology. 7. Biodiversity Conservation: Legal Aspects. 8. Biodiversity: Policy and Priority Setting. 9. Biodiversity Conservation: Future Strategies for India. 10. Appendix. 11. Abbreviations. 12. Glossary. 13. Bibliography.

Biological diversity term was first of all put forward by Norse and Mc Manus 1980. It contains two concepts i.e. genetic diversity and ecological diversity. Biodiversity or Biological Diversity a sum of all the different species of animals plants fungi and microbial organisms living on Earth and the variety of habitats in which they live. Scientists estimate that upwards of 10 million and some suggest more than 100 million different species inhabit the Earth. Each species is adapted to its unique niche in the environment from the peaks of mountains to the depths of deep-sea hydrothermal vents and from polar ice caps to tropical rain forests. Perhaps the greatest value of biodiversity is yet unknown. Scientists have discovered and named only 1.75 million species less than 20 per cent of those estimated to exist and of those identified only a fraction has been examined for potential medicinal, agricultural or industrial valves Most biologists agree that life on Earth is now faced with the most severe extinction episode since the event that drove the dinosaurs to extinction 65 million years ago. Species of plants animals fungi and microscopic organisms such as bacteria are being lost at alarming rates so many in fact that biologists estimate that three species go extinct every hour. Scientists around the world are cataloging and studying global biodiversity in hopes that they might better understand it or at least slow the rate of loss. Plant and animal species are disappearing from the earth at an alarming rate and many scientists believe that human activity is largely responsible. Biodiversity the biological variety that thrives in a healthy ecosystem- became the focus of intense international concern during the 1990s. There are several questions regarding biodiversity: 1. What species are disappearing particularly fast and why. 2. Is biodiversity essential to the health of the environment. 3. If sustaining biodiversity requires modifying human behavior and limiting population growth are there any benefits to reap? Efforts should be done to restore biodiversity. It is tough and difficult strategy. It requires specific knowledge about species and surrounding. This strategy includes diagnosis of factors responsible for the decline of species habitat conservation captive breeding and restriction of harvesting etc. the strategy include 1 reintroduction programmes in the original site of living ii augmentation programmes to increase the existing population size and genetic diversity of a species and iii introduction programmes for new areas. Any biodiversity conservation programme cannot succeed without the awareness and involvement of local people. The theme of the conservation must be in the sentiments of people. It is a crucial thing for success of any conservation programmes. Sustainable development has became key word is every policy of Government. But in present population explosion scenario it is important to provide alternative means to the ever increasing population otherwise all policies will be a eyewash only. The book present an overall scenario of the subject with latest available data. I am thankful to Agrobios India for publishing second edition of the book.