Biodiversity and Conservation
Biodiversity and Conservation tests levels of diversity, hotspots, IUCN categories, in-situ and ex-situ conservation, international conventions and Chhattisgarh's protected areas.
Core rules
- Three levels: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity.
- India has four biodiversity hotspots: Himalaya, Indo-Burma, Western Ghats–Sri Lanka and Sundaland (Nicobar).
- IUCN Red List: Extinct, Extinct in the Wild, Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near Threatened, Least Concern and Data Deficient.
- In-situ conservation: national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves and sacred groves. Ex-situ: botanical gardens, zoos, seed banks and cryopreservation.
- CBD (1992) principles include sovereign rights, prior informed consent and benefit sharing; the Nagoya Protocol (2010) covers access and benefit sharing; the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted in 2022.
- Chhattisgarh: Achanakmar–Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (2005), Kanger Valley, Indravati and Guru Ghasidas; sal, teak, bamboo and medicinal plants.
Worked example
A plant is found only in Kanger Valley and nowhere else. Reasoning: restricted natural occurrence means it is endemic. If its removal causes disproportionate change in the community, it is also a keystone. Endemism concerns distribution; keystone concerns ecological effect-one species can be both.
Traps
- Calling all rare species 'endangered'; rarity and threat are different.
- Mixing 'hotspot' with any biodiversity-rich area.
- Saying ex-situ conservation protects habitats.
- Forgetting that biosphere reserves have core, buffer and transition zones.