Biodiversity in
India
SAMEER ANSARI
CSE (4TH SEM)

WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?
The term 'biodiversity' encompasses the variety of all life on
earth. It is identified as the variability among living organisms
and the ecological complexes of which they are part, including
diversity within and between species and ecosystems.
Quite simply it can be defined as
“variety,
variability, between genes,
species and ecosystems”

Significance of Biodiversity
 Biological diversity has direct consumptive value in
food, agriculture, medicine, industry.
 It also has aesthetic and recreational value.
 Biodiversity maintains ecological balance and
continues evolutionary process.
 The indirect ecosystem services provided through
biodiversity are photosynthesis, pollination,
transpiration, chemical cycling, nutrient cycling, soil
maintenance, climate regulation, air, water system
management, and waste treatment and pest control.

I - Junction of different regions :
Since India lies at the confluence of African, European and Indo-Malaysian
region the biota, all of which contribute to the richness of the
characteristic Indian biodiversity.
II-Biogeographic Diversity in India:
India has ten biogeographic regions :
The Trans-Himalayan, The Himalayan, The Indian desert,The Semi-arid zone(s), The
Western Ghats, The Deccan Peninsula, The Gangetic Plain, The Northeast India, The
Islands and The Coasts
III-Habitats and Ecosystems
India has a diverse range of ecosystems.

Flora and Fauna in India
1. There are about 45,000 species of plants, which is about 7% of world's
total. About 33% of these are endemic.
2. There are 15,000 flowering plants, which is 6% of world's total.
Roughly, 1,500 plant species are endangered.
3. There are 91,000 animal species, representing about 6.5% of world's
fauna. These include 60,000 insect species, 2,456 fish species, 1,230 bird
species, 372 mammals, over 440 reptiles and 200 amphibians with
largest concentration in Western Ghats and 500 molluscs.
4. Livestock diversity is high. There are 400 breeds of sheep, 27 of cattle
and 22 of goats found in India.
5. It has also globally important populations of some of Asia's rarest
animals, such as the Bengal Fox, Asiatic Cheetah, Marbled Cat, Asiatic
Lion, Indian Elephant, Asiatic Wild Ass, Indian Rhinoceros, Markhor, Gaur,
Wild Asiatic Water Buffalo etc.

Biodiversity Hot Spots in
India
Biodiversity hotspots are the areas with higher concentration of
endemic species and which usually experience rapid rate of habitat
modifications and loss.
 India figured with two hotspots in an identification of 25 of the
world's biologically richest and most threatened ecosystems. These 2
hotspots that extend into India are
 the Western Ghats/Sri Lanka and
 the Indo-Burma region (covering the Eastern Himalayas);
and they are included amongst the top eight most important
hotspots.

Western Ghats
 The Western Ghats - stretching
some 1,600km from the north
of Mumbai to the southern tip
of India - are a biodiversity
hotspot that contains a large
proportion of the country's
plant and animal species; many
of which are only found here
and nowhere else in the world.
 Hosting the country’s largest
population of Asian
elephants as well as Bengal
tigers, lion-tailed macaques ,
sloth bears and much more.

Some Endemic Species of Western Ghats
Indian Gaur Malabar Grey
Hornbill
Nilgiri Tahr
Lion Tailed
Macaque
Nilgiri Langur Nilgiri Marten

Eastern Himalayas
 Himalayas is home to world’s highest mountains , including
Mt. Everest. Abrupt rise in rise of mountains results in diversity
of ecosystems that range from Alluvial grasslands and
subtropical broad leaved forests to alpine meadows above the
tree line. It’s a home to a variety of large birds, mammals,
including tiger, elephants rhinos and wild water buffaloes.

Some Endemic Species of Eastern
Himalayas
One Horned
Rhinoceros
Snow Leopard
Chestnut Breasted
Patridge Irrawaddy Squirrel
Black Striped
Weasel
Indian Water
Buffalo

Major Threats to Biodiversity
 1. Habitat Loss and Degradation:
 2.Exploitation:Exploitation, including hunting, collecting, fisheries and
fisheries by catch, and the impacts of trade in species and species’
parts, constitutes a major threat.
 3.Alien Invasive Species:
 4.Disturbance, persecution and uprooting, including deliberate
eradication of species considered to be pests
 5. Incidental take, particularly the drowning of aquatic reptiles and
mammals in fishing nets
 6. Disease, both exotic and endemic, exacerbated by the presence of
large number of domestic livestock or introduced plant species
 7. Limited distribution, which may compound the effects of other
factors.

Conservation of Biodiversity in
India:
Projects to conserve Wildlife:
 Project Tiger: Project Tiger was launched by the Government of India
with the support of WWF-International in 1973 and was the first such
initiative aimed at protecting this key species and all its habitats.
 Crocodile Conservation: The near extinction of crocodiles in the wild
in the 1960s led to a Crocodile Breeding and Conservation Program was
initiated in 1975 to protect the remaining population of crocodilians in
their natural habitat.
 Project Elephant: Project Elephant was launched in 1992 to ensure the
long-term survival of a viable population of elephants in their natural
habitats in north and northeastern India and south India. It is being
implemented in 12 States

Individual Steps to preserve
Biodiversity
 HELP THE BEES!
 PLANT LOCAL FLOWERS, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
 CONSERVE YOUR WATER USE
 REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE
 TAKE A WALK
 BUY LOCAL FOODS WHEN YOU CAN
 EDUCATE YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU