SHRI VAISHNAV VIDHYAPEETH VISHWAVIDYALAYA, INDORE

SHRI VAISHNAV SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

SESSION:-2020-21
TOPIC:-BIODIVERSITY THREATS AND CONSERVATIONS

SUBMITTED BY:- SUBMITTED TO:-

KASHISH CHETNANI DR. NAMARATA JAIN
YAMINI SHASTRI
PRIYANKA PANCHAL
RAJ JAIN
SALIL JAIN
SHUBHAM JAIN
SOHAIL NAGORI
 Index
1. INTRODUCTION
2. TYPES OF BIODIVERSITY
3. IMPORTANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
4. THREATS
Habitat Loss
Poaching Of Wildlife
Man Wildlife Conflicts
5. CONSERVATIONS
 In-situ
 Ex-situ
6. BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
7. NEED FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
 BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity describes the richness and variety of life on earth. It is the most complex and
important feature of our planet. Without biodiversity, life would not sustain.

The term biodiversity was coined in 1985. It is important in natural as well as artificial ecosystems. It deals with nature’s variety,
the biosphere. It refers to variabilities among plants, animals and microorganism species. Biodiversity includes the number of
different organisms and their relative frequencies in an ecosystem. It also reflects the organization of organisms at different
levels.
 TYPES
1. SPECIES DIVERSITY

2. GENETIC DIVERSITY

3. ECOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
 IMPORTANCE
1. Biodiversity Offers a Number of Natural Services
We humans depend on a number of natural services offered by ecosystems to live a healthy life on the Earth.
They are as follows:-
 Maintaining The Balance of The Ecosystem
 Provision of Biological Resources
 Social Benefits

2. Biodiversity and Food

Biodiversity provides for a variety of foods for the planet. Because of the availability of different species,
humans are able to obtain a range of materials and foods to support their well-being and health. The various
foods such as fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, and cereals are all available because of the planet’s biodiversity.

3. Biodiversity and Human Health

Biodiversity also plays an essential role in drug discovery and medicinal resources. Through biological diversity,
scientists have made significant advances in medical discoveries and have found cures for several diseases. All
this has been possible because of research into the various animal and plant genetics as well as biology.
4. Biodiversity and Industry
Biological sources provide many industrial materials. The numerous industrial raw materials, including rubber,
cotton, leather, food, paper, timber, water, fiber, oil, and dyes, are supplied by the biological resources. These
resources are then used by the industries to process and manufacture different products for human and other
uses.

5. Adjustment and Adaptation

The biodiversity in genetic makeup helps plants and animals to adapt and adjust to respective environmental
changes. Genetic diversity, for instance, helps species to fight diseases.

6. Continuity of Planet and Balance of the Ecosystem

Biodiversity plays an important role in offering ecological services that make life livable on Earth. The ecological
balance and biodiversity are crucial for all of the earth, not just humans. The ecological services include air
purification, replenishing and cleaning water systems, absorbing chemicals and breaking down pollutants,etc.
Crucial life cycles such as the water cycle and the nitrogen cycle are all determined by biodiversity.
Which country has the highest biodiversity?
Ans.America is the continent that has the most countries rich in biodiversity: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela and the United
States. For its part, in Asia, the countries with the greatest biodiversity are China, Indonesia, India, Philippines and Malaysia. In Africa,
Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. And, lastly, Oceana has Australia and Papua New Guinea. These countries,
together are home to more than 70% of the planet's bio-diversity!

Which country has the lowest biodiversity?

Ans.Because little to nothing grows in ground that is frozen year-round except for some forms of microscopic life, the arctic biome has the least amount of
diversity among all the major ecosystems of the Earth. Covered in ice, most of the region experiences deeply cold temperatures. their territory is only 10% of
the earth's surface.

What would happen without biodiversity?

Ans.Biodiversity loss affects economic systems and human society. This lack of biodiversity among crops threatens food security,because
varieties may be vulnerable to disease and pests, invasive species, and climate change.

If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function, no
amount of money will save us.

- David Suzuki
 THREATS
The threats to biodiversity can indeed be immense, given the complexity of biodiversity and the millions of chance
possibilities that can introduce changes to ecosystems. The challenges are immense when you consider that
biodiversity is being constantly and rapidly destroyed throughout the world, and greater still when the need arises
for co-ordinating all activities in line with international policies and events. Approaches in biodiversity as
conservation may also vary across countries, regions and in local settings.
 HABITAT LOSS
Habitat loss—due to destruction, fragmentation, or degradation of habitat—is the primary threat to the survival of
wildlife in the United States. When an ecosystem has been dramatically changed by human activities—such as
agriculture, oil and gas exploration, commercial development, or water diversion—it may no longer be able to
provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise young that wildlife need to survive. Every day there are fewer
places left that wildlife can call home.
Major Kinds of Habitat Loss

1. Habitat destruction
 A bulldozer pushing down trees is the iconic image of habitat destruction. Other ways people directly destroy habitat include
filling in wetlands, dredging rivers, mowing fields, and cutting down trees.

2. Habitat fragmentation
Much of the remaining terrestrial wildlife habitat in the U.S. has been cut up into fragments by roads and development.
Aquatic species’ habitats have been fragmented by dams and water diversions. These fragments of habitat may not be large
or connected enough to support species that need a large territory where they can find mates and food. The loss and
fragmentation of habitats makes it difficult for migratory species to find places to rest and feed along their migration routes.

3. Habitat degradation
 Pollution, invasive species, and disruption of ecosystem processes (such as changing the intensity of fires in an ecosystem) are
some of the ways habitats can become so degraded, they no longer support native wildlife.
Main Causes of Habitat Loss

1. Agriculture
 Much of the habitat loss from agriculture was done long ago when settlers converted forests and prairies to cropland.
Today, there is increasing pressure to redevelop conservation lands for high-priced food and biofuel crops.

2. Land conversion for development

 The conversion of lands that once provided wildlife habitat to housing developments, roads, office parks, strip malls,
parking lots and industrial sites continues, even during the current economic crisis.

3. Climate change
The emerging driver of habitat loss is climate change. Wildlife that need the cool temperatures of high elevations, such as
the American pika, may soon run out of habitat. Coastal wildlife may find their habitat underwater as sea levels rise.

How to Combat Habitat Loss?

Ans. Combat habitat loss in your community by creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat near your home, school, or business. Plant
native plants and put out a water source so that you can provide the food, water, cover, and places to raise young that wildlife
need to survive.
 POACHING OF WILDLIFE
Poaching has been defined as the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use
rights. Poaching was once performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and a supplement for
meager diets. It was set against the hunting privileges of nobility and territorial rulers.
Various Causes of Poaching

1. Lax and broken regulation systems

Poaching in recent times has increased due to the existence of wildlife protection regulations that can be circumvented. Some
government officials have also taken a back seat in tightening poaching rules as they directly benefit from it.
2. Highly-priced and valued animal parts, products, and pets
The illegal wildlife market is a multibillion-dollar industry, and for this reason, there are cartels and top government as well as
wildlife regulation officials that benefit from the illegal trade.
3. Unproven religious, aphrodisiac, and medical values
Some animals have been hunted for religious purposes and religious ceremonial objects like the hooves, tails, skin, feathers,
teeth, heads, far, horns, ivory, and so on. Some Tibetan monks, for instance, have been known to hunt rare creatures for their
religious obligations.
Devastating Effects of Poaching
1. It leads to extinction
Poaching is the primary reason some animals are today considered extinct while others categorized as endangered species.
The African elephant, for instance, has been hunted in large numbers and over 100,000 were killed.

2. The animals suffer

Most animals need space to roam, swing from branches, and fly. When they are captured, such privileges are taken and the
animals tend not to survive in cages, suitcases, sacks or boxes.If they do survive, they suffer in their new and unnatural living
situations.

3. It leads to more human deaths

Poaching has in tragic ways lead to the death of so many people. In certain parks where security is beefed up, poachers kill the
rangers and officers, so that they can get access to the wild animals.
Extraordinary Ways to Stop Poaching
1. Engage the public
Poaching is primarily stopped or fought by law enforcement agencies. However, the public needs to be educated on the
importance of the wild animals they have and why poaching is bad for their economies.

2. Recruit more wildlife scouts

To protect the animals, more wildlife rangers and scouts need to be recruited. It is a source of income for the employees, and
they will help protect endangered animals.

3. Make tougher laws

The legal systems are already in place and they outlaw the practices. However, poaching still continues, meaning the law needs
to be toughened. More needs to be done in that front, to curb the demand and trade of animal parts and the selling of wildlife
as exotic pets.
 MAN WILDLIFE CONFLICTS
Man-animal conflict simply refers to the interaction between man and animal and resultant negative impact on man
and his resources or animal and its habitat. Conflicts between the man and animal have occurred since the dawn of
humanity. The result of this conflict is severe which result into the loss of crops to farmers, human beings getting
injured or killed and concerns for wildlife conservation as well.
Causes of conflict

1. Road Kills 
In recent times, expansion of road and rail network through forest ranges has resulted in animals getting killed or injured in
accidents on roads or railway tracks.

2. Fragmentation and shrinking of habitat

  In modern era, rapid urbanization and industrialisation have led to diversion of forest land to non forest purposes, as a result
the wildlife habitat is shrinking. This results in animals straying out of habitat in search of food, water or shelter bringing them
in conflict with humans.

3. Infestation of wildlife habitat 

Infestation of wildlife habitat by the invasive exotic weeds like Lantana, Eupatorium etc. have resulted in decreased availability

of edible grasses for the wild herbivores. As a result, herbivores come out of forest area and cause depredation of agricultural
crops on the fringes.
Consequences for humans

1. Injury or loss of human lives 

People living near forest areas and buffer zones are mostly at risk of attack by carnivores, straying out of forest areas in
search of food.

2. Crop depredation
  The destruction of crops by wild animals like wild boar etc. can result in loss of income of rural households and it can also
threaten the household s food security.

3. The killing of livestock 

The killing of livestock by carnivores can destroy income source of agro-pastoralists who depend exclusively on cultivation and
production of livestock.
Consequences for wildlife and environment
The killing of wild animals - The killing of wild animals in retaliation for incidents of human-wildlife conflict is a common reaction,
even though the identification of the real culprit is seldom possible. This has also resulted in wiping out of the whole population
of some species from certain areas and also endangering their existence.
Destruction of habitat due to increase in demand for land for housing and cultivation, forest lands are increasingly being
transformed into farm fields and housing projects etc. resulting in the destruction of habitat for wildlife.
Destruction of an ecosystem due to the killing of wild animals and diversion of forestland for non-forest purposes many
ecosystems across the world are on the verge of being destroyed.
Preventive measures
Man-animal conflicts have bad consequences not only for the mankind and the society but also for the wildlife. Though we
cannot completely avoid the man-animal conflict, it can be minimized and controlled to a large extent if some of the following
measures are adopted sincerely.
To control poaching - poaching of wild animals should be stopped so that the number of wild animals can be stabilized and
equilibrium between the numbers of prey animals and predators in the forest ecosystem can be maintained.
Wildlife corridors wildlife corridors will provide a safe pathway to animals in the human-inhabited and developed areas. This will
not only protect the animals from road kills but it can also steer them away from the human population thus prevent the man-
animal conflict.
Awareness Programmes it is important to create awareness among people and sensitize them about the Do s and Don ts in the
forest areas to minimize the conflicts between man and animal.
 CONSERVATION
Biodiversity conservation refers to the protection, preservaton, and management of ecosystems and natural habitats
and ensuring that they are healthy and functional.

The three main objectives of biodiversity conservation are:-

1. To protect and preserve species diversity.
2. To ensure sustainable management of the species and ecosystem.
3. Prevention and restoration of ecological processes and life support systems.
 IN – SITU CONSERVATION
It refers to the preservation and protection of the species in their natural habitat. It means the conservation of
genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species. In – situ conservation involves the management
of biodiversity in the same area where it is found.

Some advantages of In – situ conservation are:-

1. It preserves species as well as their natural habitat.
2. It ensures protection to a large number of populations.
3. It is economic and a convenient method of conservation.
4. It doesn’t require species to adjust to a new habitat.
 EX– SITU CONSERVATION
It means conservation of life outside their natural habitat or place of occurrence. It is the method in which part of
the population or the entire endangered species is taken from its natural habitat which is threatened and breeding
and maintaining of these species take place in artificial ecosystems. These artificial ecosystems could be zoos,
nurseries, botanical gardens, etc. The living environment are altered in these conservation sites, so there are fewer
survival struggles like scarcity of food, water, or space.

Some advantages of Ex – situ conservation are:-

1. Essential life sustaining conditions like climate, food availability, veterinary care can be altered and are under
human control.
2. Artificial breeding methods can be introduced leading to successful breeding and creating many more offspring
of the species.
3. The species can be protected from poaching and population management can be efficiently done.
4. Gene techniques can be applied to increase the population of the species and they can again be reintroduced
into the wild.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION STRATEGIES
1. Efficient utilization of natural resources.
2. Strict laws on deforestation and preventions of deforestation by every means.
3. Poaching and killing animals in the wild should be prevented.
4. Creating public awareness about conservation of biodiversity and its importance.
 NEED FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
Various types of conservation methods ensure a healthy ecosystem. A healthy ecosystem means a clean and healthy
environment, smooth running food chains, availability of resources, and soon.

Human beings are also majorly dependent on the environment for basic necessities and wellbeing. We are interdependent on a
variety of species of plants and animals for a living . Hence it is very important to coserve these species and their ecosystems
which are threatened by many human activities.

A threat to biodiversity poses a threat to humankind. It can be the cause of various grave problems like pollution, habitat loss,
resource exploitation, climate change, species extinction, disease outbreak, and so on.

For economic and various life support reasons it is very important to protect and preserve biodiversity.
THANK YOU