A race against time: Conserving Biodiversity in India

Author: Shubhashree Panda, SOA National Institute of Law

Biodiversity is the variety of life on the earth that is key to the stability and health of ecosystems and human well being. Moreover, many factors like habitat destruction, climatic change, overexploitation of natural resources and pollution are highly responsible for the threat to the environment. Conservation of biodiversity is now a global issue involving efforts to protect species, preserve ecosystems and maintain genetic biodiversity. The fundamental strategies for conserving biodiversity include the establishment of protected areas, sustainable resource management, ecosystem restoration and the integration of biodiversity goals into development policies. Despite some progress, stronger political commitment, increased funding and more effective conservation practices should be adopted. Successful biodiversity conservation not only helps to maintain ecological balance but also supports human health, economic stability and cultural heritage. Biodiversity helps to regulate natural processes such as the water cycle, soil formation and nutrient cycling. Food, medicines, clean water and raw materials are essential for human survival. This has been extracted from biodiversity. The global economy completely depends on the natural resources and primary and agricultural sectors like agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism. They are directly linked with biodiversity. The sustainable use of natural resources can help to reduce pressure on biodiversity. Sustainable forestry, fisheries, management and agriculture are highly essential. Reforestation, wetland restoration and coral reefs rehabilitation can help to bring back species and ecological balances that have been lost by human activities. Conservation efforts must be included by adopting climate mitigation strategies such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing natural based solutions. International agreements such as the Paris agreement on climatic change and the conservation of biological diversity create global commitments to conserve biodiversity. Public education campaigns, media outlets and environmental advocacy can inspire individual’s businessmen and the governments for protecting biodiversity.

Globalization, urbanization, deforestation, agriculture, fisheries, sustainable use of natural resources, overexploitation, habitat destruction, wildlife and restoration of degraded systems.

Biodiversity means variety of life on earth. It includes diversity of species, ecosystems and genetic variations within species. Biodiversity is an important ecosystem which provides services like clean water, food and air to the overall wellbeing of all life ecosystems including humans. There are so many factors which cause the loss of biodiversity like habitat destruction, climatic change, pollution, overexploitation of natural resources, invasive species which pose a lot of threat to the health of the planet. The aim of conservation is to mitigate these threats by applying certain majors like habitat protection, sustainable use of natural resources, species protection and restoration of degraded ecosystems. Conserving biodiversity is a crucial task for the future. The variety of life on earth is an integral part of the health and the stability of the ecosystems. It ensures by extension the survival of all life forms including humans. We can verify that from the smallest micro to the largest mammals, the biodiversity covers each and every aspect of life on the earth. Therefore, with the pace of environmental destruction because of human activity, it is difficult to preserve the inevitable resource which is a challenging aspect in our time. This article empowers the dignity of biodiversity, the hurdles, faces and strategies for conservation of biodiversity. Biodiversity is a very complex and interlinked concept that highlights the entire wave of life including ecosystems, species and genetic variations that is fundamental to the functioning of the planet. Biodiversity conservation may be approached at different levels including the conservation of the individual’s species, the preservation of entire ecosystems within species. These methods are highly required for ensuring the ecosystems sustaining the natural resources in which human societies are depended on. There are two main components of biodiversity- species diversity, genetic diversity. Species diversity means the variety of species within a particular area of habitant. It includes both species richness and their relative abundance. Genetic diversity means the variations in genes within a species. It permits populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions such as new diseases, changing climatic conditions or shifting food sources.

The threats of conserving biodiversity apart from its integrity and importance, biodiversity is rapidly declining due to the habitat destruction, climatic change, overexploitation of resources, pollution and the spread of different species. Deforestation, urbanization, and agriculture are the main causes of habitat destruction. It is one of the most important threats which leads to the loss of ecosystems that many species depend on. Climatic change exacerbates biodiversity by altering habitants, weather patterns and migration patterns. Species which are already at-risk zones may not be able to accommodate quickly to the shifting of the environment. Over exploitation of natural resources that is overfishing or illegal wildlife trade sprightly threatens the survival of specific species. For example, the populations of elephants rapidly declining as well as rhinos because of poaching for their tusks and horns is nowadays an issue. Conservation strategies are protected areas, sustainable practices, restoration of degraded ecosystems, legislations and policies and public awareness and education. In protected areas such as national parks and natural sanctuaries these areas provide safe habitats for species and allow ecosystems to function naturally without human interference. Promoting sustainable agriculture, forestry and fishing practices help to reduce the negative impact of ecosystems. Restoring ecosystems may be damaged by human activity that can be restored. Conservation efforts are being made that are sustainable and beneficial to the people who depend on the land for their livelihood. Governments should make some plan and program regarding biodiversity or the creation of enforcements of environmental laws and policies. International agreements that are CBD and national laws regulating wildlife conservation, pollution control and climatic change are important to coordinate worldwide efforts and ensure the protection of biodiversity. Awareness and education about biodiversity is essential and the threats. This awareness may be campaigns through media outlays and community involvement organizations and individuals’ actions in their daily life.

Current scenario of conserving biodiversity, biodiversity that is the variety of life on earth, is the key to functioning ecosystems and the wellbeing of all species. Moreover, it is a more important threat worldwide and sudden conservation efforts are required to address its decline. The present scenario of biodiversity conservation presents the complexity of the issues and a straight out the challenges faced by the government, organizations and local communities for protecting the diverse forms of life which sustain ecosystems and economies. The global biodiversity crisis has been put at a top level in alarming ways around the globe. According to the United Nations 2020, approximately 1 million species are currently at risk due to human activities. 28% of species are threatened as per the data of IUCN Red List. Over 17 % of the earth terrestrial areas and 8% of marine areas are designated as protected areas as per the world database on protected areas WDPA 2021. One major obstacle to conserving biodiversity is funding. That may be substantial financial resources required and many developing countries unable to protect the biodiversity due to lack of funds. The global environmental facility (GEF) and the green climate fund have provided some support. Apart from that more funds are to be required to meet such global conservation targets. The causes of biodiversity lead to threats of ecosystems, climatic change, overexploitation of natural resources, economic and development pressure and ethical and moral responsibility. On the other hand, some effects of conserving biodiversity that can be minimized by applying stabilizing ecosystems, improved human wellbeing, economic benefits, climatic change, mitigation and adaptation, increased resilience and adaptability and cultural and aesthetic values.

The conserving biodiversity is not an environmental issue but through coordinating global efforts by establishing protected areas, adopting sustainable practices, restoring ecosystems and enacting strong policies by government and humanity can safeguard the biodiversity for future generations. The current scenario of biodiversity is to conserve both progress and setbacks. International agreements, protected areas and community-based conservations are the main threats to biodiversity continue to grow. The stronger global cooperation and the integration of biodiversity into all sectors of the society should work together through which, it is possible to create a sustainable future in which biodiversity thrives and the planet’s ecosystems will continue to provide services that are vital to all life. The cause and effects of conserving biodiversity are strongly interlinked. Effective conservation efforts give a positive outcome and the protection of cultural and ethical values. It is essential to continue and expand efforts to conserve the planet’s biodiversity for the profit of current, present and future generations. Biodiversity helps and supports ecological functions that provide economic benefits upon which all life depends. In spite of many challenges posed by habitat loss, climatic change and human exploitation of natural resources, global efforts to conserve biodiversity are making progress.

1. Benayas, J.R., et al. (2009). Biological restoration, ecosystem services, and biodiversity conservation. Biological Conservation, 144(5), 1320-1328.

2. Cardinale, B. J.., et al. (2012). Biodiversity loss and its impact on humanity. Nature, 486(7401), 59-67

3. CBD. (2020). The convention on biological diversity. http://www.cbd.int/

4. CITES. (2020). Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. http://www.cites.org/

5. FAO. (2017). The State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

6. IPCC. (2021), Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

7. Watson, J. E., et al. (2014). The performance and potential of protected areas. Nature, 515(7525), 67-73.