Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, refers to the variety of life on Earth at all its levels, from genes to ecosystems, and the ecological and evolutionary processes that sustain it. It is the cornerstone of ecosystem services, providing essential resources like food, clean water, and climate regulation. However, biodiversity is facing unprecedented threats due to habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and overexploitation. The recent Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted at COP15 in Montreal (December 2022) underscores the urgency of conservation efforts, aiming to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. This necessitates a multi-faceted approach encompassing various conservation strategies.
Understanding Biodiversity
Biodiversity is not merely the number of species; it encompasses the variability within species (genetic diversity), between species (species diversity), and of ecosystems (ecosystem diversity). A healthy ecosystem relies on this intricate web of life. Loss of biodiversity weakens ecosystem resilience and threatens human well-being.
Major Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation
1. In-situ Conservation
In-situ conservation involves protecting species within their natural habitats. This is considered the most effective approach as it maintains ecological processes and allows species to continue evolving.
- Protected Area Network: Establishing national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, and conservation reserves. India has a network of 900+ protected areas covering approximately 5% of its geographical area (as of 2023). Examples include Kaziranga National Park (Rhinos), Jim Corbett National Park (Tigers), and Periyar National Park (Elephants).
- Community Conservation: Empowering local communities to manage and conserve biodiversity resources. Examples include Joint Forest Management (JFM) in India, where local communities participate in forest management in exchange for benefits.
- Sacred Groves: Traditional conservation practices where certain areas of forests are protected due to religious or cultural beliefs. These groves often harbor high biodiversity.
- Corridors: Establishing ecological corridors to connect fragmented habitats, allowing for gene flow and species movement.
2. Ex-situ Conservation
Ex-situ conservation involves protecting species outside their natural habitats. This is often used for species facing immediate threats or for maintaining genetic diversity.
- Botanical Gardens: Maintaining collections of plants for conservation, research, and education. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK) is a prime example.
- Zoological Parks: Maintaining collections of animals for conservation, research, and education.
- Gene Banks & Seed Banks: Preserving genetic material (seeds, sperm, eggs, tissues) for future use. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway is a crucial facility for preserving crop diversity.
- Cryopreservation: Preserving cells and tissues at extremely low temperatures.
3. Legal and Policy Frameworks
Several national and international laws and policies support biodiversity conservation:
- International:
- Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): A landmark international treaty adopted in 1992, aiming to conserve biodiversity, sustainably use its components, and share benefits arising from genetic resources.
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species): Regulates international trade in endangered species.
- Ramsar Convention: Focuses on the conservation of wetlands.
- National (India):
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides for the protection of wild animals, birds, and plants. Amended in 2022 to include provisions for management of human-animal conflict.
- Forest Conservation Act, 1980: Regulates the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes.
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Provides for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources.
- National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP): Provides a roadmap for biodiversity conservation in India.
4. Emerging Approaches
- Landscape Approach: Integrating conservation with sustainable development across landscapes.
- Ecosystem Restoration: Actively restoring degraded ecosystems. The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.
- Biotechnology: Utilizing biotechnological tools for conservation, such as genetic engineering to enhance species resilience.
- Financial Mechanisms: Developing innovative financial mechanisms, such as biodiversity offsets and payments for ecosystem services, to incentivize conservation.
Conclusion
Conserving biodiversity is not merely an environmental imperative but a fundamental requirement for human survival and well-being. A holistic approach integrating *in-situ* and *ex-situ* conservation, robust legal frameworks, community participation, and innovative financial mechanisms is crucial. The success of conservation efforts hinges on global cooperation, political will, and a fundamental shift towards sustainable practices. Addressing the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss, such as unsustainable consumption patterns and climate change, is paramount for securing a future where both humans and nature can thrive.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.