What is unique of Indian plant biodiversity ? Discuss briefly the threats and various conservation strategies.

Unique Features of Indian Plant Biodiversity

Indian plant biodiversity is distinguished by several key features:

• High Endemism: Approximately 33% of India’s plant species are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. This is particularly pronounced in the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Biogeographic Zones: India encompasses ten biogeographic zones, each with distinct flora adapted to specific climatic and edaphic conditions. These zones include the Trans-Himalayan, Himalayan, Indian Desert, Semi-Arid, Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau, Coastal, Gangetic Plains, and North-Eastern regions.
• Vegetation Types: India exhibits a wide range of vegetation types, from tropical rainforests in the Western Ghats and Andaman Islands to alpine meadows in the Himalayas, thorn forests in arid regions, and mangrove forests along the coast.
• Centers of Origin and Diversity: India is considered a center of origin for several important crop plants, including rice, sugarcane, spices, and medicinal plants.
• Evolutionary Significance: The Western Ghats, in particular, are recognized as a significant evolutionary hotspot, harboring ancient plant lineages and exhibiting high levels of species diversification.

Threats to Indian Plant Biodiversity

Indian plant biodiversity faces numerous threats, leading to habitat degradation and species loss:

• Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Deforestation due to agricultural expansion, urbanization, infrastructure development (roads, dams), and mining are major drivers of habitat loss.
• Climate Change: Altered rainfall patterns, increased temperatures, and extreme weather events are impacting plant distribution, phenology, and survival rates.
• Invasive Alien Species: Introduction of exotic species like Lantana camara, Parthenium hysterophorus, and Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) outcompete native flora and disrupt ecosystem functioning.
• Over-exploitation: Unsustainable harvesting of medicinal plants, timber, and other forest products threatens their populations.
• Pollution: Air and water pollution from industrial and agricultural sources negatively impact plant health and reproduction.
• Shifting Cultivation: While traditionally sustainable, increased population pressure and shorter fallow periods are making shifting cultivation detrimental to forest regeneration.

Conservation Strategies

A multi-pronged approach is required to conserve Indian plant biodiversity:

• In-situ Conservation: Protecting plants within their natural habitats. This includes:
  • Protected Area Network: Establishing and managing national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, and conservation reserves. (As of 2023, India has 106 national parks, 566 wildlife sanctuaries, 18 biosphere reserves, and 111 conservation reserves).
  • Community Forest Rights Act (CFRA), 2006: Empowering local communities to manage and conserve forest resources.
  • Sacred Groves: Conserving traditional sacred forests managed by local communities.
• Ex-situ Conservation: Conserving plants outside their natural habitats. This includes:
  • Botanical Gardens: Maintaining living collections of plants for research, education, and conservation. (e.g., Royal Botanic Garden, Kolkata; National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow).
  • Seed Banks: Preserving seeds of important plant species for future use.
  • Gene Banks: Storing genetic material of plants for breeding and conservation purposes.
  • Tissue Culture: Propagating rare and endangered plants through tissue culture techniques.
• Legal Frameworks:
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides legal protection to endangered plant species.
  • Forest Conservation Act, 1980: Regulates deforestation and promotes forest conservation.
  • Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Conserves biological diversity and promotes sustainable use of biological resources.
• Sustainable Use and Management: Promoting sustainable harvesting practices, agroforestry, and eco-tourism.
• Research and Monitoring: Conducting research on plant diversity, distribution, and threats, and monitoring the effectiveness of conservation efforts.