conservation of forest biodiversity in india - up state · pdf file ·...

Uttar Pradesh State Biodiversity Board

National Conference onForest Biodiversity : Earth’s Living Treasure

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Conservation of Forest Biodiversity in India

K. VenkataramanDirector, Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata 700 053

Email : [email protected]

IntroductionBiodiversity encompasses the variety of all life

on earth. India is one of the 12 mega biodiversitycountries of the world. With only 2.5% of the landarea, India already accounts for 7.8% of the recordedspecies of the world. Biodiversity also includescountless m illions of races, subspecies and localvariants of species and the ecological processes andcycles that link organism s into populat ions,communities, ecosystems and ultimately the entirebiosphere. A m ore easily recognized elem ent ofbiological diversity is the dist inct species. Anassociation of species in an area is anotherrecognizable element of biological diversity which istermed as community. Communities form the bioticcom ponents of ecosystems. Biologically diversecom m unities contain sufficient com positional,structural and functional variety that they are assureda high prospect of continued presence and ecologicalinfluence in an area. Biodiversity is mainly recognizedat three levels, namely species level, genetic level andecosystem level. Genetic diversity refers to variationwithin individual species; species diversity pertainsto be variety of species; and ecosystem diversityrefers to diversity of ecosystem s and habitats.Biodiversity is dynamic at all three levels, the geneticcomposition of species changes over time in responseto natural and human-induced selection pressures;occurrence and relative abundance of species in eco-logical communities change as a result of ecologicaland physical factors, ecosystems strongly respond toexternal dynamics and internal pressures.

India is located in the south of Asia, betweenlatitudes 6o and 38o N and longitudes 69o and 97oE.

The Indian landm ass, extending over a totalgeographical area of about 329 m ha, is bounded bythe Himalaya in the North, the Bay of Bengal in theEast, the Arabian Sea in the West, and Indian Oceanin the South. In terms of landmass, it is the seventhlargest country in the world. Its coastline of about8000 km extends over 200 nautical miles in the off-shore forming an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)of 2.02 million sq km. India has a tropical monsoonclimate. The south-west monsoons and north-eastmonsoons bring rain into India. Rainfall is unevenlydistributed and it varies both tem porarily andspatially. Western Ghats, along the states of Goa,Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala, West Bengal,and Assam receive an annual rain fall of 2000 mm.Maharashtra, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh along theVindhya Mountains receive annual average rainfallof 1000-2000 mm. South coastal plains and NorthWestern Deccan and upper Gangetic plains receivean annual rain fall of 500-1000 mm. Hot desert areasof Rajasthan and Gujarat and the cold desert areasof Ladakh in Jam m u and Kashm ir and Lahul-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh receive an annual rainfallof 100 mm.

The wide variety in physical features andclim atic situations have resulted in diversity ofecological habitat s such as forests, grasslands,wetlands, coastal and marine ecosystems and desertecosystems which harbour and sustain the immensebiodiversity.

Forest cover of the country is 7,65,210 sq km(23.42%) while forest cover analysed by the satelliteis 6,39,900 sq km (19.47%). India is endowed withdiverse forest types ranging from the Tropical Wet


National Conference onEarth’s Living Treasure

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evergreen forests in North-East to the TropicalThorn forests in the Central and Western India. Theforests of the country can be divided into 16 majorgroups comprising 221 types. The following are theforests types: 1. Tropical wet evergreen (North Eastand South and Andaman and Nicobar Island), 2.Tropical sem i evergreen (South and East), 3.Tropical m oist deciduous (Central and East), 4.Tropical littoral and swamp (Along the coast Eastand West), 5. Tropical dry deciduous (West andCentral), 6. Tropical thorn (West and Central), 7.Tropical dry ever green (Central and South), 8.Subtropical broad leaved hill forests (South), 9.Subtropical pine (Sub-Him alayan tract) , 10 .Subtropical dry evergreen (North-East and South),

11. Mountain wet temperate (Himalaya and Nilgiris),12. Himalayan Moist temperate (Temperate areas ofHim alaya), 13. Him alayan dry tem perate (Drytem perate areas of Him alaya) , 14 . Sub-alpine(Himalaya), 15. Moist Alpine shrub (Himalaya) and16. Dry alpine shrub (Himalaya).

These forests provide several essential servicesto mankind. Forests are the source of a number offood items, fuel, wood, fodder, medicine and timber.Other economic uses include providing raw materialfor forest based industries. Some of the minor forestproduce include gums, resins, honey etc. Forestsperform important ecological functions such asmaintaining delicate ecological balance, conserving



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soil, controlling floods, drought and pollution.Forests provide habitats for innumerable plantsanimals and microorganisms. Forests are a sourceof recreation and religious inspiration.

Most of the forest ecosystems in India are underacute form of degradation mainly due to: i. loss offorest land due to agriculture, industries and humansettlement; ii. loss of forest land due to multi-purpose projects, construction of roads, erection oftransmission lines, quarrying, shifting cultivationetc; iii. Degradation due to illicit felling lopping forfodder and fuel wood, overgrazing, forest litterrem oval, forest fires, over felling, conversion tomonoculture, mining, army operations, introduction

of exotics, fire and pollution; and iv. human andcattle population exploitation around forest land.The other causes of degradation of this ecosystem arepoverty, landlessness, derivation of livelihood fromforests, lack of land use planning, biotic interferencesand lack of restrictive covenants and punit ivelegislations.

Threats to Forest BiodiversityBiological resources have traditionally been a

major source of food for local inhabitants and ofm ajor econom ic value in term s of com m ercialexploitation. The human exploitation of biologicalresources has increased dramatically in the last fewdecades for reasons, both commerce and subsistence




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living. Ecosystems and biological diversity of Indiahave been exploited since long time but it is onlyin the last century that the rate of exploitation hasincreased dramatically, due mostly to the increase inthe human population. Except for som e of theAndaman-Nicobar Islands, no pristine area existstoday. At the end of the last century or in thebeginning of this century, very few areas of Indiaremained unaffected, whereas most were partiallydeteriorated and a few were severely affected.

Natural threats

The major stresses on terrestrial ecosystemscause removal of top soil by flash flood and earthquake and destruction of the marine ecosystems by

storm and waves, particularly cyclones. Cyclonicdisturbances develop during October-Novemberalong the coast. These cyclones have sustained windswith speed ranging from 65 to 120 km per hour.High-speed winds cause extreme wave action thatkills many fauna and flora, also break coral intorubbles and sometimes-large amounts of sand andother materials may be dumped onto the coral reef.Also freshwater runoff kills many fauna and flora insemi-enclosed bays and lagoons by lowering salinityand depositing large am ounts of sediments andnutrients.

Human impacts

Varied human activities which are, a cause for



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concern over and above the natural disturbances,include habitat destruction due to development,industrialization, pollution, eutrophication fromsewaged and bad agricultural practices, runoff andsedim entation from developm ent act ivit ies(projects), physical impact of maritime activities,dredging, collect ing, and dest ructive fishingpractices, pollution from industrial sources and oilrefineries and the synergistic impacts of anthro-pogenic disturbance. A general rule for coastal zoneis: whatever is used on land today ends up in theaquifer or coastal zone tomorrow.

Conservation of Forest Biodiversity in IndiaThe Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

intended to provide a comprehensive National legalframework for wildlife and forest protection, withconservation of species as the main criteria. Thestrategy includes total environmental protection andconservation with the assum ption that all suchprotected areas should be free from human activities.The act prohibits hunting of wildlife, protects theirhabitats and restrains trade in wild animals, trophiesetc. The two-pronged approaches of this act are:

● Specified endangered species are protectedregardless of its location and

● All species are protected in specified areas

The scope of this act was slightly ambiguous inthe init ial stages, as the definition of wildlifeincluded only selected wild anim als and birds.However, the scope was broadened in WildlifeProtection Amendment Act 1991 to include flora aswell as fauna.

Today, the protection of environment is a globalconcern, as evinced by the numerous InternationalConventions in this area. The objectives of theseInternational Conventions are :

● Establish uniform conservation rules;

● Express the commitment of the contracting

parties to conserve species and their habitats;and

● Organise effective international cooperation

Som e such scientific conventions include:International. Biological Program m e (WorldConservation Union), MAB Program m e(UNESCO), and The World Conservation Strategy(IUCN, UNEP & WWF) for which theGovernm ent of India is a signatory. The m ostimportant convention on the preservation of wildlifeis the Convention on Internat ional Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora,CITES (also known as Washington Convention)signed on 3rd March 1973, which was subsequentlyam ended at Bonn on 22nd June 1979. TheConvention's goals are to m onitor and stopcom m ercial internat ional trade in endangeredspecies, maintain those species under internationalcommercial exploitation as an ecological balance andassist countries enabling a sustainable use of thespecies through international trade. The draft policyof the CITES includes 25 articles, highlightingdefinitions, fundamental principles, regulation oftrade of animals in Appendix I- III, internationalmeasures, legislation, amendments and resolution ofdisputes.

CITES parties regulate wildlife trade throughcontrols, regulations and certifications on the specieslisted in three appendices. The Ministry ofEnvironm ent & Forests, Governm ent of Indiaadopts a national legislation to provide officialdesignation of a Management Authority for issuingthe permits and certificates based on the advice ofa designated Scientific Authority (Zoological Surveyof India for faunal matters). These two designatednational authorities also enhance the CITESenforcement through cooperation with customs,police or appropriate authorities.

Appendix-I , II and III of CITES includesarticles related to trade and export of any specimenof a species that require prior grant and presentation




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of an export perm it issued by scientific andmanagement authority. Similarly, such authoritiesalso regulate the import. The scientific authorities'perm its only after satisfying that such export-imports will not be detrimental to the survival of thespecies. The principle of such export-import policyis to determine that the species in question have aconsistent level throughout its range/ecosystem.

Appendix-I include all species threatened withextinction, which are or may be affected by trade.Trade in specimens of these species must be subjectto particularly strict regulation in order not toendanger further their survival and must only beauthorized in exceptional circumstances.

Appendix-II includes– i. all species whichalthough not necessarily now threatened withextinction may become so unless trade in specimensof such species is subject to strict regulation in orderto avoid utilization in compatible with their survival;and ii. other species which must be subject toregulation in order that trade in specimens referredto in above subparagraph (i) may be brought undereffective control.

Appendix-III shall include all species, whichany party identifies as being subject to the regulationwithin its jurisdiction for the purpose of preventingor restricting exploitation, and needing thecooperation of other parties in the control of trade.

The first Red Data Book on Indian Animalscontaining data in the 1993 IUCN form at onvertebrate species (except fishes) threatened withextinction was published by Zoological Survey ofIndia in 1994. The categorization in this book wasaccording to 1993 IUCN Criteria. They were Extinct,Critical, Endangered, Vulnerable, Rare andInsufficiently Known. It was based generally on theupdated information on population size and degreeof threat to the population and habitat. The speciesaccount followed the standard IUCN Red Data Bookformat. The Red Data Book on Indian Animals (Part-1) Vertebrates includes an updated data on 77

mammals, 55 birds, 20 reptilian and 1 amphibianspecies. Similar attempt was done earlier in 1983,when a species-wise account was published onthreatened animals of India on the basis of the thenIUCN Criteria. The account covered data on 81mammal, 47 birds, 15 reptiles and 3 amphibian rarespecies.

IUCN Red List Categories and CriteriaPrepared by the IUCN Species Survival

Commission, as approved by the 51st meeting of theIUCN Council Gland, Switzerland, 9 February2000, IUCN-The World Conservation Union, 2001.

Extinct (EX)

A taxon is Extinct when there is no reasonabledoubt that the last individual has died. A taxon ispresumed extinct when exhaustive surveys in knownand/or expected habitat, at appropriate tim es(diurnal, seasonal, annual), throughout its historicrange have failed to record an individual. Surveysshould be over a time frame appropriate to the taxon'slife cycle and life form.

Extinct in the Wild (EW)

A taxon is Extinct in the Wild when it is knownonly to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as anaturalized population (or populations) well outsidethe past range. A taxon is presumed Extinct in theWild when exhaustive surveys in known and/orexpected habitat, at appropriate times (diurnal,seasonal, annual), throughout its historic range havefailed to record an individual. Surveys should be overa period appropriate to the taxon's life cycle and lifeform.

Critically Endangered (CR)

A taxon is Critically Endangered when the bestavailable evidence indicates that it is not Extinct andit is considered to be facing an extremely high riskof extinction in the wild. Survey should be over atime appropriate to the taxon’s life cycle and lifeform.



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Endangered (EN)

A taxon is endangered when the best availableevidence indicates that it is not CriticallyEndangered but is considered to be facing a very highrisk of extinction in the wild in the near future, asdefined by any of the criteria.

Vulnerable (VU)

A taxon is Vulnerable when the best availableevidence indicates that it is not CriticallyEndangered or Endangered but is thereforeconsidered to be facing a high risk of extinction inthe wild in the medium-term future, as defined byany of the criteria.

Near Threatened (NT)

A taxon is Near Threatened when it hasevaluated against the criteria but does not qualify forCritically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerablenow, but is close to qualifying for or is likely toqualify for a threatened category in the near future.

Least Concern (LC)

A taxon is Least Concern when it has beenevaluated against the criteria and does not qualify forCritically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable orNear Threatened. Widespread and abundant taxa areincluded in this category.

Data Deficient (DD)

A taxon is Dat a Deficient when there isinadequate information to make a direct, or indirect,assessment of its risk of extinction based on itsdistribution and/or population status. A taxon inthis category may be well studied, and its biologywell known, but appropriate data on abundance and/or distribution are lacking. Data Deficient istherefore not a category of threat. Listing of taxa inthis category indicates that more information isrequired and acknowledges the possibility thatfuture research will show that threatened classi-fication is appropriate. It is im portant to makepositive use of whatever data are available.

In many cases great care should be exercised inchoosing between DD and a threatened status. If therange of a taxon is suspected to be relat ivelycircumscribed, and a considerable period of time haselapsed since the last record of the taxon, threatenedstatus may well be justified.

Not Evaluated (NE)

A taxon is Not Evaluated when it has not yetbeen evaluated against the criteria.

Convention on Biological DiversityThe Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

is a landmark in the environment and developmentfield, as it takes for the first time a comprehensiverather than a sectoral approach to the conservationof Earth ’s b iodiversity and sustainable use ofbiological resources. It was in the year 1984 that theneeds to have in place a global convention onbiological diversity started gaining momentum. Inresponse, the United Nations Environm entProgramme (UNEP) in the year (1987) recognizedthe need to streamline international efforts to protectbiodiversity. It therefore established an ad hocworking group to investigate “the desirability andpossible form of an um brella convention torationalize current activities in the field”. This groupby 1988 concluded that– a. the existing treaties wereinadequate to address the issue of conservation andsustainable use; and b. a new global treaty onbiological diversity was urgently needed.Organizations such as the World ConservationUnion (IUCN) and the Food and AgriculturalOrganization (FAO) contributed draft articles inaddition to specific studies commissioned by theUNEP. The UNEP Secretariat prepared the firstdraft and the formal negotiating process was startedin 1991 . The Inter-governm ental Negotiat ingCommittee for a Convention on Biological Diversity(INC) was given the task of ensuring the adoptionof the Convention. On May 22, 1992 the nations ofthe world adopted the CBD in Nairobi and on June5, 1992 the CBD was tabled at the UN Conference




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on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeirowhere a record 150 countries signed the Convention.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)was negotiated and signed by nations at the UNCEDEarth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in June1992. The Convention came into force on December29, 1993. India became a Party to the Convention in1994. At present, there are 175 Part ies to thisConvention.

The main objectives of the Convention are:

◆ Conservation of biological diversity;

◆ Sustainable use of the com ponents ofbiodiversity;

◆ Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arisingout of the utilisation of genetic resources.

Re-affirming the sovereign rights of Parties overtheir own biodiversity, the Convention balancesconservation with sustainable utilisation and accessto and use of biological resources and associatedknowledge with equitable sharing of benefits arisingout of such use. The CBD offers opportunities toIndia to realise benefits from its rich biologicalresources and associated traditional knowledge.

The CBD stipulates that the parties, eventhough having sovereign rights over their biologicalresources, would facilitate access to the geneticresources by other parties subject to nat ionallegislation and on mutually agreed terms. The CBDalso provides for equitable sharing of benefits arisingfrom the utilization of traditional knowledge andpractices, with holders of such knowledge. This hasmade it necessary for a legislation to be put in place,which lays down the framework for providing access,

for determining the term of such access and forensuring the equitable sharing of benefits.

India is a Party to the Convention on BiologicalDiversity (CBD) (1992). Recognizing the sovereignrights of States to use their own biological resources,the Convention expects the Parties to facilitate accessto genetic resources by other Parties subject tonational legislation and on mutually agreed uponterms (Article 3 and 15 of CBD). Article 8(j) of theConvention on Biological Diversity recognizescontributions of local and indigenous communitiesto the conservation and sustainable utilization ofbiological resources through traditional knowledge,practices and innovations and provides for equitablesharing of benefits with such people arising from theutilizat ion of their knowledge, pract ices andinnovations.

ConclusionThe wide spread loss of the global biological

wealth is one of the most serious crises today atInternational level. As many of the World's diverselife forms from m icrobes to higher animals andplant s have a direct or indirect influence onagricultural conservation of these organisms isessential for sustainable agriculture. To feed growingpopulation, agriculture m ust be intensified toprovide more food. It will also be essential to increasethe resilience of agriculture by maintaining a widearray of life forms with unique traits, such as treesthat survive drought conditions and cattle thatreproduce in harsh condit ions. Sustainableagricultural practices can both feed people andprotect oceans, forests and other ecosystems thatharbour biological diversity.

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