News Highlights:
India is in a prime position to lead the world in becoming a biodiversity champion because it currently has 17% of the world’s population and 17% of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
Key Takeaway:
- The importance of our planet’s biodiversity was strongly articulated at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Canada.
- 188 country representatives adopted an agreement to “halt and reverse” biodiversity loss by conserving 30% of the world’s land and 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030, known as the 30×30 pledge.
Biodiversity Conservation:
- About:
- Biodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe all the different species of plants, animals, microorganisms and the ecosystem in which they live, interact and thrive.
- Biodiversity conservation means protecting all the millions of different species that live on our planet and protecting the multitude of different ecosystems that lets these organisms survive and evolve.
- Types of Biodiversity:
- Genetic Diversity: It refers to the diversity within species.
- Species Diversity: It refers to the diversity between species.
- Ecosystem Diversity: It refers to the diversity within the ecosystem.
- Importance of Biodiversity conservation:
- Preserving the health of water, soil and air.
- Helps in agricultural activities
- Helps in controlling climate change
- Reduces pollution
- Increases tourism potential
- Natural Products, medicines and other valuable products for humans.
Various Measures for Biodiversity Conservation:
- Conservation of Habits:
- Habitat destruction is one of the major factors in the threatening of plants and animals.
- If adopting eco-friendly practices during urban and other developments, the damage to the habitat can be prevented considerably.
- Captive Breeding:
- Species which are reduced to dangerous levels need more intensive management, and one strategy is captive breeding.
- It means the eggs from the nests of endangered birds are taken and hatched in captivity.
- Captive breeding in zoos, animal breeding parks, and research centres has also been attempted with some success.
- Providing Critical Resources
- Another way to improve the habitat of a threatened species is to determine which resource is limiting.
- Identifying and providing that critical resource may help to increase the population.
- Control of Introduction of Alien Species
- Alien species can cause the existing population to decrease or even become extinct.
- The individuals of alien species may affect the other species by preying on them, providing tough competition for food, or destroying their habitat.
- The alien species can also cause a population explosion of existing species by killing off their natural predator.
- Development of Reserves
- The establishment of Biological reserves, National parks, Forest reserves, Wildlife refuges and Biosphere reserves are effective means of preserving wildlife species.
- Besides, the maintenance cost and requirement of resources are minimal. An important aspect of these reserves is that more than one endangered species can be protected in the same area.
- Legislative Measures
- Several legal approaches have been used to preserve biodiversity. One is to enact laws regulating the killing of members of certain species, with severe penalties for breaking the law.
- Research and Documentation
- First, a list of endangered species is established by various national and international agencies.
- Another important action used to save an endangered species is the compilation of information about it.
- Public Awareness
- Public awareness is an important aspect of the conservation of the environment and biodiversity.
Programmes launched in India towards biodiversity conservation:
- The Union Budget 2023:
- It mentioned “Green Growth” as one of the seven priorities/Saptarishis.
- The budget adopts the following seven priorities — inclusive development, reaching the last mile, infrastructure and investment, unleashing the potential, green growth, youth power and financial sector.
- The National Mission for a Green India:
- It aims to increase forest cover on degraded lands and protect existing forested lands.
- National Mission for a Green India (GIM) is one of the eight Missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
- The Green Credit Programme:
- It incentivises environmentally sustainable and responsive actions by companies, individuals and local bodies.
- The programme aims to encourage climate-conscious action from one and all to reduce carbon footprints collectively.
- The Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI):
- It is significant because of the importance of mangroves and coastal ecosystems in mitigating climate change.
- It seeks to educate and spread awareness worldwide on the role of mangroves in curbing global warming.
- The PM Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment, and Amelioration of Mother Earth (PM-PRANAM):
- It aims to reduce inputs of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides which is critical for sustaining agriculture.
- The basic objective of the scheme is to incentivise the farmers to reduce the overall consumption of fertilisers by incentivising the states through the creation of a proper environment.
- The Amrit Dharohar scheme:
- It is expected to encourage the optimal use of wetlands and enhance biodiversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism opportunities and income generation for local communities.
Pic Courtesy: Freepik
Content Source: The Hindu