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Introduction |
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The word 'resource' means supplying a material generally held in reserve. The common natural resources include energy, air, water, land, minerals, microorganisms plants and animals. |
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Biotic Resources |
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Wild life and forest constitute the biotic resources of nature. Wild life is abundant on land as well as in water, both fresh and marine. Life abounds in all habitats on land and in water. |
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Nature's Role In Extinction |
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Organic evolution not only creates new species but also eliminates some old ones. Many species became extinct before man appeared.
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Biodiversity |
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Biodiversity refers to the totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region. Biodiversity differs from place to place. The living world abounds with enormous biodiversity.; |
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Levels of Biodiversity |
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It refers to the variation of genes within a species. The genetic diversity enables a population to adapt to its environment and to respond to natural selection. The amount of genetic variation is the basis of speciation. Genetic diversity within a species often increases with environmental variability. |
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Gradients of Biodiversity |
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Biodiversity varies with change in latitude or altitude. The diversity increases as we move from high to low latitudes (i.e., from poles of equator). In the temperate region, the climate is severe with short growing period for plants while in tropical rain forests the conditions are favourable for growth throughout the year. This makes it possible for a large number of species to occur and grow. |
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Threats to Biodiversity |
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Habitat loss and fragmentation, disturbance and introduction of alien species pore greatest threats to biodiversity. Exotic species have large impacts in island ecosystems. |
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IUCN Red List Categories |
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The IUCN Red List is a catalogue of taxa that are facing the risk of extinction. The red list aims to impart information about the urgency and scale of conservation problems to the public and policy makers. |
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Conservation of Biodiveristy (Wild Life) |
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Conservation is defined as the management of human use of the biosphere so that it may yield the greatest sustainable benefit to the present generation while maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations. |
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Management of Wild Animals |
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Wild life management involves protection, preservation and perpetuation of species in their natural habitats. |
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Biosphere Reserves |
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The concept of biosphere reserves has been evolved by UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme (MABP). A biosphere reserve is a specified area in which multiple use of the land is permitted by dividing it into zones, each for a particular activity. |
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Hot Spots Of Biodiversity |
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Biodiversity is not uniformly distributed across the geographical regions of the earth. Norma Myers developed the hot spots concept in 1988 to designate priority areas for in-situ conservation. The hot spots are the richest and the most threatened reservoirs of plant and animal life on earth. |
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International Efforts For Conserving Biodiversity |
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The earth summit held in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro resulted in a convention on biodiversity, which came into force on 29th December 1993. |
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Biodiversity Conservation In India |
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The biodiversity management system for conserving biodiversity in India. |
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Forests |
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A biotic community dominated by trees and woody shrubs having closed canopy is called a forest. The science of development and management of the forest is called forestry. |
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Deforestation |
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Large areas of forests have been cleaned for agriculture, factories, road and rail tracks, industries, mining and quarrying have seriously affected the forest. |
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Conservation of Forests |
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The Forest Conservation Act. 1980 has come into existence, after mans realisation of the importance of forests and the need for their conservation. India's forest policy requires that there should be 60% forest cover in the hills and 20% in the plains. |
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Non-Governmental Efforts |
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Experts believe that for sustaining agriculture and maintaining the quality of environment at least 1/3rd of the country's land should be under forest. Government effort and public co-operation are equally essential for raising and protecting forests. |
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Environmental Ethics |
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Ethics is a discipline concerned with moral obligations, with emphesis on right and wrong. Our obligation towards the environment and other species is environmental ethics. We are right now over exercising our right and failing in our duty towards the environment. We have a right to draw from the environment but not to degrade the environment for other species and for future generations. Polluting the environment and depleting the natural resources are dangerous and selfish human acts. The right ethical behaviour would be for man to make a sincere effort to repair the environment and allow the natural resources to renew themselves so that all species may survive in nature. |
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Summary |
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Steps for conservation of wild life include protection of all threatened species in their natural habitat, preservation of the ecosystem and safeguarding of critical habitats. |
