Biodiversity Conservation

P.R. Sinha

Email: priya.sinha@iucn.org

Confluence of three major

realms - the Indo-Malayan,

Eurasian and Afrotropical

Biodiversity Wealth of India

26 recognized endemic

centres for flowering

plants

11.4%of the world’s

recorded flora

7.43% of the global

fauna

17 Mega diverse countries

in the world

Species richness in 17 Mega diverse

countries in the world

16% of world’s population;

14% of world’s livestock population

on about 2% of world’s land area.

Major challenges for conservation

Ensuring Representativeness of Ecosystems in

Protected Area Network in India

Biogeographic Zone:

Trans Himalayas

Biogeographic Zone:

Himalayas

Biogeographic Zone:

Desert

Biogeographic Zone:

Semi-Arid

Biogeographic Zone:

Western Ghats

Biogeographic Zone:

Deccan Peninsula

Biogeographic Zone:

Gangetic Plains

Biogeographic Zone:

Coasts

Biogeographic Zone:

North East

Biogeographic Zone:

Islands

Major Issues of PA Network

Size of Protected Areas – Average size 200 sq.km.

Distribution not proportional – States with

adequate and inadequate coverage

Protection offered in Single PA – Lion, Hangul,

Sanghai, Barasingha, etc.

Corridors and connectivity

Biotic pressures

Significant biodiversity exists outside PAs

Protected Area Size Classes in India

Key Policy and

Legal Instruments

National Environmental Policy,

2006

National Wildlife Action Plan,

2002-16

National Forest Policy, 1988

National Action Plan on Climate

Change 2008

Key Policy and Legal Instruments

Indian Forest Act, 1927

Wildlife Protection Act, 1972

Forest Conservation Act,

1980

Environment Protection Act,

1986

National Biodiversity Act,

2002

Landscape Dependent Species

www.wii.gov.in

Historical Tiger Distribution Mapped

to Current TehsilsReports from 18-19th Century

Tehsils with Tiger Presence (1999-2004)

Bt. 1999-2003

Taluk Level

Presence

WII’s Initiative of Tiger Monitoring

Human Population

2,384 Lakhs 10,270 Lakhs

30% Loss of Districts (Area)

CentralIndia

WesternGhats

ShivalikTerai

EasternGhats

North-East

Tiger Occupied Landscape Complexes

Sunderbans

About 300,000 km2 of potential Tiger Habitat Remaining

Only 81,880 km2 Currently Occupied by about 17 hundred Tigers

Conserving Landscapes - Importance of Corridors

Kanha

Pench

Satpura

Melghat

Tadoba

Achanakmar

Landscape level planning

Optimal Development Strategies –

Incorporating and Prioritizing

Conservation, Sociological, &

Economic Concerns on equal footing.

Tiger Re-introduction

The Last Resort…

Mainstreaming biodiversity concern

in developmental projects

♦ Protected Areas

♦ Corridors

♦ Eco-sensitive

Zone

Detrimental effects of ill-

planned developmental projects

● Changes in habitat quality and size

● Fragmentation of connected habitats

● Physical barriers and changes in population dynamics

● Injury and mortality of animals

● Increase in anthropogenic pressures

● Increased vulnerability of critical habitats

● Changes in ecosystems good and services

● Increased access and harvesting of resources

By Hasan Jamali, AP Photo

Restorative Ecology & Mitigation

Determining ranging pattern of

Olive Ridley turtles

EIA Studies - MoEF/ Supreme Court Directed (e.g.

Cumulative Assessment of Impact of HEP on Alaknanda

and Bhagirathi Rivers; Minimum Water Flow in Chambal

River; Impact of sand and boulder mining ,Uttarakhand;

Road Ecology, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra

Together we can succeed…