SGS 41 Biodiversity 1 (1)

8/17/2019 SGS 41 Biodiversity 1 (1)

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CCoonn v v eennt t iioonna a ll GGeenneerra a ll SSt t uuddiieess--4411 C

oncepts Facts and Protection Framework of Biodiversity of India

-1 vil Services Examination 2013

T T a a rrggeet t 220 0 1133

www.gktoday.in

GKToday’s Reader Supported Email Assistance Programme for General Studies Papers of Civil Services Examinations | [email protected] | © 2011-13 Suresh Soni | All Rights Reserved

1

The Biodiversity Concepts diversity of life in all its forms

Latitudinal Diversity

Gradient Terrestrial biodiversity is up to 25 times greater than ocean biodiversity.

Concept of Mass Extinctions

biopoiesis

Eoarchean Era

Cambrian explosion

mass extinction events

Ordovician–Silurian extinction event This was the first mass extinction of biodiversity

Late Devonian extinction

Permian–Triassic extinction: Earth's largest extinction

Triassic–Jurassic extinction

Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction or K-T extinction, or K-Pg extinction Mammals and birds emerged as

dominant land vertebrates in the age of new life.

Carboniferous (359.2 MYA), rainforest collapse

The concept of Current Holocene Extinction

Sixth Extinction

The United Nationsdesignated 2011-2020 asthe United Nations Decade

on Biodiversity.


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Quaternary extinction event

Value of Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services

Humans cannot exist without biodiversity

as option value bequest

value existence value

intrinsic value

Causes of biodiversity loss

Habitat change:

one quarter of Earth’s terrestrial surface

Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services are processes by which the environment produces benefitsuseful to people, akin to economic services. They include:

Provision of clean water and air Pollination of crops

Mitigation of environmental hazards Pest and disease control Carbon sequestration

Accounting for the way in which ecosystems provide economic goods is anincreasingly popular area of development. The concept of ecosystem services issimilar to that of natural capital. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessmentreleased in 2005 showed that 60% of ecosystem services are being degraded orused unsustainably


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Climate change:

Invasive Species:

Overexploitation of bioresources:

Pollution and nutrient loading:

Biodiversity Hotspots

Norman Myers

Endemism:

Loss of Habitat:

What are Invasive species?

Invasive species are those that are introduced—intentionally orunintentionally—to an ecosystem in which they do not naturallyappear and which threaten habitats, ecosystems, or native species.These species become invasive due to their high reproduction ratesand by competing with and displacing native species that naturally

appear in that ecosystem. Unintentional introduction can be the resultof accidents (e.g. when species escape from a zoo), transport (e.g. inthe ballast water of a ship); intentional introduction can be the resultof e.g. importing animals or plants or the genetic modification oforganisms.


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North and Central America

South America

Europe and Central Asia

Africa

South Asia

South East Asia and Asia-Pacific

East Asia

Criticism of Biodiversity Hotspots


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Concept of Ecosystem Approach

Approach places human needs

at the centre of biodiversity management It aims to manage the ecosystem, based on the multiple functions that

ecosystems perform and the multiple uses that are made of these functions The ecosystem approach does not aim for

short-term economic gains, but aims to optimize the use of an ecosystem without damaging

Bioprospecting and BiopiracyBioprospecting

bioprospecting includes biopiracy

Biopiracy

neem tree Azadirachta indica

first ever bio-piracy case by National Biodiversity Authority against

the developers of Bt brinjal

Convention on Biological Diversity legally binding treaty

Objectives of CBD


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6Parties to the CBD

CBD – Important Provisions

Sovereign rights of States

Responsibility of States to conserve and sustainable use their biodiversity

access to technologies to developing

countries to address biodiversity loss

Why US not ratified the CBD?

which call for technology transfer to developing countries

Bodies established by CBD

Conference of the Parties

CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal,

Importance of CBD and the National Action for implementation of provisions of CBD

fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources,

notably those destined for commercial use


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close and traditional dependence of indigenous and local communities

on biological resources and the need to ensure that these communities share in the benefits arising from the

use of their traditional knowledge and practices relating to the conservation and sustainable use of

biodiversity.

National action under the CBD

national biodiversity strategies and action

plans

Protocols to CBD

Cartagena Protocol on BiosafetyBackground to the Cartagena Protocol

selective breeding and cross-fertilization

India after extensive consultative process had enactedBiological Diversity Act in 2 2 for giving effect to theprovisions of the CBD. The same is true for many otherdeveloping countries also. However, in the near absence ofuser country measures, once the resource leaves the countryproviding the resources, there is no way to ensurecompliance of ABS provisions in the country where it is used. Towards this, a protocol on access and benefit sharing wasnegotiated at Nagoya, Japan in October 2010. This iscalled Nagoya Protocol.


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cross the species barrier

Provisions of Cartagena Protocol

Biosafety Clearing House

clearly labeled

Advanced Informed Agreement

Thus, the objective of the Cartagena Protocol is to ensure that recipient countries have both the opportunity and the

capacity to assess risks involving the products of modern biotechnology.

What is difference betewen LMO and GMO?

capable of transferring or replicating genetic material

Can a country ban import of LMOs?

What is Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure?

Conference of the Parties (COP):


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Nagoya ProtocolWhat is sharing the benefits of genetic resources?

The CBD recognizes national sovereignty over all genetic resources, and provides that access to valuable biological

resources be carried out on "mutually agreed terms" and subject to the "prior informed consent" of the country of

origin

country from which it came

has the right to benefit.

Nagoya Protocol

Outcome of COP 10 at Nagoya

Relevance & Scope of Nagoya Protocol

greater legal certainty and transparency

"If Kyoto entered history as the city where theclimate accord was born, Nagoya will be

remembered as the city where the biodiversityaccord was born."


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Nagoya Protocol also covers traditional knowledge

What are obligations of the countries under the Nagoya Protocol?

Obligations related to access to genetic resources

Obligations related to Benefit Sharing

Compliance obligations

Important Questions on Nagoya Protocol for UPSC Examination

Is Nagoya Protocol Legally Binding?

What is the meaning of use of Genetic Resources?

Do the antibodies, vitamins, enzymes, active compounds and metabolites come under Nagoya Protocol?


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On what kind of genetic materials Nagoya Protocol does not apply?

What are National rules onaccess and benefit sharing?

Does Nagoya Protocol speaks about patents?

no reference to patents

What are implications of Nagoya Protocol on economies such as India?

What is the Aichi Target?

"Aichi Target".


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India and Nagoya Protocol

international legislation for the

realization of benefits to the country of origin or provider country

What were the agendas of COP-11 at Hyderabad?

The mobilization of resources for action

on the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets will be at the top of the agenda

Outcome of the Hyderabad Summit

double funding

Saragasso Sea, Tonga archipelago key corals sites off

Agreements on Funding


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Marine Biodiversity

National Biodiversity Plans

Other Instruments to protect biodiversity

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Washington Convention

It is a legally binding treaty but does not affect the national legislations


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Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

The Biogeographic Regions of India

ten recognizable biogeographic zones

Biogeographic Region %*

Andaman & Nicobar Island 0.3Coastal region 2.5North East Region 5.2Gangetic Plains 10.8Deccan Plateau 42

Western Ghats 4

Semi Arid Region 16.6Indian Desert Zone 6.6Himalayan Zone 6.4Transhimalayan Region 5.6Total 100*Of total geographic area

Trans-Himalayan Region

biggest populations of wild sheep and goat in the world includes

Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia) and the migratory Blacknecked Crane (Grus nigricollis).

Himalayan Zone

Bharal (Pseudois nayaur ), Ibex Capra ibex Markhor

Andaman & NicobarIsland, 0.3

Coastalregiion , 2.5

North East Region ,5.2

Gangetic Plains,10.8

Deccan Plateau, 42Western Ghats, 4

Semi Arid Region,16.6

Indian Desert Zone,6.6

HimalayanZone, 6.4

TranshimalayanRegion, 5.6


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Capra falconeri Himalayan Tahr Hemitragus jemlabicus Takin Budoreas taxicolor

Hangul Cervus eldi eldi Musk Deer Moschus

moschiferus

Indian Desert Zone

Canis lupus Felis caracal Felis libyca Chamydotis undulate Ardeotis nigriceps

Semi Arid Region

This semi-arid region also has

several artificial and natural lakes and marshy lands.

dominant grass and palatable shrub layer in this zone supports the highest wildlife biomass

Sambar Cervus unicolor Chital Axis axis

Leo persica

Western Ghats

Nilgiri Langur (Presbytis jobni), Lion Tailed Macaque

(Macaca silenus), Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macroura), Malabar Civet (Viverricula megaspila),

Nilgiri Tahr (Hemitragus bylocrius) and Malabar Grey Hornbill (Ocycerous griseus).

(Indotestudo forstem) (Heosemys silvatica)

Deccan Plateau

Majority of the forests are deciduous in nature

Chital (Axis axis), Sambar (Cervus unicolor), Nilgai (Boselapbus

tragocamelus) and Chousingha (Tetracerus quadricornis) Barking deer


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16Gangetic Plain

North East Region

Coastal Region

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The islands house an array of flora and fauna not found elsewhere.

endemic island biodiversity is found only in the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands.

Biodiversity Hotspots in India

Eastern Himalaya

Flora of Eastern Himalaya

Pitcher Plant

'Çradle of

Speciation'.

centre of origin and diversification five palms of commercial

importance coconut, arecanut, palmyra palm, sugar palm and wild date palm


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Taxol plant or Himalayan Yew

Fauna of Eastern Himalaya

Golden Langur

Namdapha Flying Squirrel from Arunachal Pradesh

Western Ghats

Flora of Western Ghats

Fauna of Western Ghats

Lion Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri

Langur, Nilgiri Tahr, Flying Squirrel, and Malabar Gray Hornbill

The Biodiversity Act 2002


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18Establishment of National Biodiversity Authority

office at Chennai

Powers and Functions of NBA

All foreign nationals

Establishment of State Biodiversity Board

The state board also will regulate by granting of approvals or otherwise requests for commercial utilization

or bio-survey and bio-utilization of any biological resource by Indians.

All Indians are required to provide prior intimation to State Biodiversity Boards for obtaining biological

material for commercial purposes in a state.

vaids and hakims

National Biodiversity Fund

o


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o

o

State Biodiversity Fund

o

o

o

o

o

Biodiversity heritage sites

Biodiversity Management Committee

local body shall

Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-section,–

"cultivar" means a variety of plant that has originated and persisted under cultivation or was specifically bred for the purpose of

cultivation;

"folk variety" means a cultivated variety of plant that was developed, grown and exchanged informally among farmers;

“landrace” means primitive cultivar that was grown by ancient farmers and their successors.

relating to the use of biological resources and knowledge jurisdiction of the

Biodiversity Management Committee.

Biodiversity Management Committees may levy charges by way of collection fees from any person for accessingor collecting any biological resource for commercial purposes

Other observations in Biodiversity Act

appeal to the Central Government


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National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP)

in situ, on-farm

and ex situ conservation

Wildlife Protection Act 1972

six schedules which

animals which may be hunted Common crow , Fruit bats, Mice &

Rats only.

VI contains the plants

"ex situ conservation” means the conservation ofcomponents of biological diversity outside theirnatural habitats;

"in situ conservation" means the conservation ofecosystems and natural habitats and themaintenance and recovery of viable populations ofspecies in their natural surroundings and, in thecase of domesticated or cultivated species, in thesurroundings where they have developed their

distinctive properties.


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How a Sanctuary is declared?

here please note that a resolution is passed and no need to pass an act for

alternation of the boundaries.

How a National Park is declared?

Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserves serve in

some ways as 'living laboratories' for testing out and

demonstrating integrated management of land, water and

biodiversity.

Differentiating National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries & Biosphere Reserves

Wild Life Sanctuaries, National Parks, Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves

Man & Biosphere Programme

UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB)Programme was launched in 1971 with the aim ofpromoting interdisciplinary research, training, and

communications in the field of ecosystemconservation and the rational use of naturalresources. The MAB Programme is suited torespond to the results of the 1992 United NationsConference on Environment and Development(UNCED) and especially the objectives of the

Convention on Biological Diversity.


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no human activity is allowed inside a

national park, while limited activities are permitted within the sanctuary.

, limited economic activity (sand and stone mining) is permitted

Selection Criteria of Biosphere Reserves

zonation,

Primary Criteria:

A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation

and should include additional land and water suitable for research and demonstration of sustainable methods of

research and management.

all trophic levels in the ecosystem

Secondary Criteria

Areas having rare and endangered species

Areas having diversity of soil and micro-climatic conditions and indigenous varieties of biota.

Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of

environment.

Number of Biosphere Reserves in India

India's Biosphere Reserves

Rank Year Name States Type Area

1 2008 Kachchh Biosphere Reserve Gujarat Semi-Arid 124542 1989 Gulf of Mannar Tamil Nadu Coasts 105003 1989 Sunderbans West Bengal Gigantic Delta 96304 1988 Nanda Devi Uttaranchal West Himalayas 58605 1986 Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka Western Ghats 55206 1998 Dehang Debang Arunachal Pradesh East Himalayas 51127 1999 Pachmarhi Madhya Pradesh Semi-Arid 49268 1994 Similipal Orissa Deccan Peninsula 43749 2005 Achanakamar - Amarkantak Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh Semi-Arid 38351 1989 Manas East Himalayas 283711 2000 Kanchanjunga Sikkim East Himalayas 262012 2001 Agasthyamalai Kerala Western ghats 170113 1989 Great Nicobar Andaman and Nicobar Islands Islands 885

14 1988 Nokrek Meghalaya East Himalayas 82015 1997 Dibru-Saikhowa Assam East Himalayas 76516 2009 Cold Desert Himachal Pradesh West Himalayas NA17 2010 Sheshachalam Hills The hill ranges spread in parts of

Chittoor and Kadapa districts of Andhra Pradesh have beendesignated as SeshachalamBiosphere Reserve in AndhraPradesh on 20th September, 2010.

Eastern Ghats 4755

18 2011 Panna Biosphere Reserve Part of Panna and Chhattarpurdistricts in Madhya Pradesh

NA

Why Biosphere Reserves?

strengthen the "National Efforts"

International Practices


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1. Plant species

2. Invertebrates

Legislation Framework around Biosphere Reserves

How a Biosphere Reserve is declared?

Role of Wildlife Protection Act in Biosphere Reserves

Compendium – India’s Protected Fauna-1The below compendium is based upon the Schedule 1 of the Wild Life Protection Act 1972. It continues in the next Module.

Kindly don’t mug any information as the notable points have been italicized or made bold. If any of them gives you interest, you

can surf more about them. Its worth note that every year, there is at least one question in your exam is based upon thesemembers of our wildlife. In some years, I have seen as many as three questions.

Andaman Wild pig

Sus scrofa andamanensis

: Sus salvantus scrofa

andamanensis

Black Buck (Antelope cervicapra)


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only living species of the genus Antilope.

Brow-antlered Deer or Thamin or Sangai

o The Manipuri brow-antlered deer, found in Manipur. It is called

sangai in Manipuri.

o

o

Keibul Lamjao National

Park, Loktak Lake, Manipur.

Himalayan Brown bear

Capped Langur (Presbytis pileatus)

Caracal (Felis caracal)

desert lynx

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus)


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In India, Cheetah is now not found in wild situations because it got extinct as back as 1940s.

Chinese Pangolin (Mainis pentadactyla)

Chinkara or India Gazelle (Gazella gazella bennetti)

This is the smallest asiatic antelope

Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

The clouded leopard is an almost monkey like climber and has been observed

hanging from branches from its rear feet upside down

Crab-eating Macaque (Macaca irus umbrosa)

The crab-eating macaque differs from other macaque species in the

fact that the crab-eating macaque has a long tail which is about the

same length as it's body.


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Despite its name, the crab-eating macaque does not only eat crabs and in fact at least 50% of the crab-eating

macaque's diet is made up from fruits, nuts and seeds.

Desert Cat (Felis libyca)

Dugong (Dugong dugong)

Fishing Cat (Felis viverrina)


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Gangetic dolphin (Platanista gangetica)

Platanista gangetica gangetica

Assam, Uttar Pradesh,

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand and

West Bengal (7 states ) and ideal habitats are in the

Ganga, Chambal, Ghaghra, Gandak, Sone, Kosi, the Brahmaputra and Kulsi rivers.

It is also known as Susu because of the sound it produces when breathing.

Indian bison or Gaur (Bos gaurus)

Golden Cat (Pardofelis temmincki)

There is another variety of River dolphins found inSouth Asia called Indus River Dolphin (Platanista

minor minor). It is found in Indus river in Pakistanand its Beas and Sutlej tributaries. Both GangesRiver Dolphin and Indus river Dolphin are now

taxonomically considered one species since 1998


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Giant squirrel (Ratufa macroura)

Himalayan Ibex (Capra ibex)

In India, Asiatic ibex is found in several protected areas in the western Himalayan region including: Jammu

and Kashmir - Kishtwar and Hemis National Parks.

Himalayan Tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus)

Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus)]

Indian Lion (Panthera leo persica)


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Lions are the only cats that live in groups, called prides. Prides are family

units that may include up to three males, a dozen or so females, and their

young.

Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur)

Indian Wild Ass

Sanctuary located in the Little Rann of Kutch is the largest wildlife

sanctuary in India

Indian Wolf (Canis lupas pallipes)

Kashmir Stag (Cervus elaphus hanglu)

Leopard or Panther (Panthera pardus)


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Leopard Cat (Prionailurus bengalensis)

Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)

Red pandas are one of the few animals whose diet is composed almost entirely on bamboo.

Red pandas are found in the Himalayas and mountainous regions of northern Myanmar, and westernSichuan and Yunnan Provinces in China.

Lion-tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus)

Found in the Western Ghats Mountains of southwest India and Inhabits evergreen broadleaf monsoon forest.

Loris (Loris tardigradus)


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Malabar Civet (Viverra megaspila)

Salim Ali's fruit bat (Latidens salimalii)

Markhor (Capra falconeri)

Mouse Deer (Tragulus meminna)


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32Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus)

Nilgiri Lungur

(To be continued in SGS – 42)

This document includes observations from State of Environment Report 2009, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005, State of

Forests Report 2011 and Documents of Ministry of Environment and other resources such as wikipedia and world fact book.