Biodiversity Scenario in India

Abstract

India, the seventh largest country in the world with 2.4% global space and a total area of 3,287,263 sq km, belongs to Oriental realm. Being the Asia's second largest nation it provides shelter to about 90,000 animal species in less than 50% geographical region surveyed so far. With over 45,000 registered wild plant species, India accounts for about 8.5% of world's known species of flora and fauna. Mega diversity countries altogether hold 60 to 70% of world's biodiversity. India, one of the mega diversity countries, has so far protected 4.3% of its total land area. It is well-known for original home land for many agricultural crops. It is also noted for high endemicity, especially in the Himalaya and Western Ghats. Besides species diversity, India represents every major ecosystem diversity from the mountains, to forests, deserts, wetlands, mangroves, islands, etc. Besides the recognized hotspots, like Western Ghats and eastern Himalaya, India is endowed with other rich biodiversity locales. Conservation efforts have sometimes been conflicting, affecting tribal populations, living within or near protected areas. Information on recorded Indian biodiversity appears to be fragmentary, although a consolidated account would be significant in effective policy making for conservation at national as well as international levels, sustainable use of bioresources and for ensuring our biofuture. The present communication attempts to sum up the relevant up to date biodiversity information known from India succinctly that would have significance to researchers, policy makers and conservation biologists. Ecosystem-, species- and genetic diversity are discussed along with a note on agro- and livestock- biodiversity. Following CBD in 1992, to which India is a party, it has enacted "Biological Diversity Act" in 2002 and "Biological Diversity Rules" 2004, offering a three tier management system to ensure Access and Benefit Sharing mechanism for sustainable use and promoting conservation.