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[Biodiversity][Thematic Report] CHALLENGES INDIA FACES AS A MEGA DIVERSE NATION |
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by Ishitwa - | 21-05-2019 17:32
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SIGNIFICANCE OF BIODIVERSITY
Natural environment needs to be placed at the heart of all decision makers. The services provided by healthy natural environment are very often taken for granted. Contributing to our well-being, the biodiversity embodies the foundation for the ecosystem services that we rely on in our everyday lives such as clean air, water food, recreation and landscape. It is vital to acknowledge the ambiguity of biodiversity in the environment. The imperativeness of biodiversity was formally conceded on a global scale in 1992 when 153 nations signed the Convention on Biodiversity at Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. Biodiversity refers to the existence of numerous plants and animals that collectively make up a healthy and liveable environment.
WHAT IS A MEGA DIVERSE NATION AND HOW DOES INDIA FIT INTO THIS CATEGORY
A mega-diverse country is one that harbours a preponderance of the Earth’s species and is therefore considered extensively bio-diverse. To qualify as a Mega diverse Country, a country must have at least 5000 of the world’s plants as endemics and have marine ecosystems within its borders. India stands out as one of the top most countries in the list of mega diverse nations. An 18% of endemic species reside in India. India is home to nearly half of the entire marine flora and 12% of world's bird species. India only consists of 2% of the earth's entire landmass but it houses 8% of the entire world's biodiversity. Along with high biodiversity of Indian wild plants and animals, there is also huge diversity of cultivated crops and breeds of domestic livestock. India also comprises of a few biodiversity hot spots such as Western Ghats, Himalayas, Sundaland and Indo-Burma region.[1]
CHALLENGES INDIA FACES AS A MEGA DIVERSE NATION
Despite the copious biodiversity over the Indian terrain, numerous conflicting issues have arisen that pose a challenge towards India to maintain its title as a mega diverse nation. The ‘bio- rich’ areas such as tropical forests, wetlands, and coral reefs are threatened to face extinction in the near future. Due to unsustainable practices over grasslands and agricultural lands, several badlands have emerged over the decade. The loss of wild habitats due to rapid human population growth and short term economic development are major contributors to the rapid global annihilation of biodiversity. Habitat loss of the fauna poses a colossal threat to the biodiversity, as large as a 10 million elimination of species by 2050.
The flora and fauna of Indian islands have also been hit by human incursion. The introduction of unsolicited species into islands such as 'congress grass' has led to the extinction of several other species in the region. Traditional farming practices such as 'slash and burn' in the Himalayas and 'rab' in the Western Ghats have evolved to be unsustainable for the ecosystem as the population has increased. As far as the marine ecosystem is concerned, the over fishing along the coasts of India has severely declined the fish stock and a mammoth extinction of turtles can be seen over the coast of Orissa. [2]
It is not hard to decipher that these challenges do not have limited local effects in India but it is a global phenomenon having its grassroots engraved into sheer negligence. The planet has seemingly reached the brink of tolerance towards this negligence and it is vital that humans realise that we only share this planet with millions of other species that need to coexist with humans. We can no longer remain spectators. We need to think globally but act locally, rededicating ourselves to protecting biodiversity in forests, coastal ecosystems and in our own neighbourhood.
SOURCES: [1] https://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/modelcurriculum/Chapter4.pdf [2]http://www.biologydiscussion.com/biodiversity/7-causes-of-biodiversity-loss-in-india-explained/4497 |
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9 Comments
interesting report, I enjoyed reading it!
Posted 10-08-2019 22:33
Hello Ishitwa
Thank you for your report about biodiversity and challenges faced by the india as diverse nation.
Green Cheers from Nepal :)
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Regards,
Kushal Naharki
Posted 17-06-2019 05:17
Hello ishwita
India is infact a mega diverse nation. It has lots of challenges. But as far as I know, India is doing a lot for the biodiversity conservation.
Thank you so much for this report.
Green cheers !
Posted 31-05-2019 13:04
Hi Ishitwa,
It is a very interesting report, I really learnt a lot from it. I would totally agree about the negative impact of introducing non-native species which leads to huge environmental impact at the end and also agree that it is not these challenges do not have a local effect but global - damaging out biodiversity and future of our population.
Thanks again!
Regards from Tbilisi, Georgia
Saba
Posted 29-05-2019 03:27
Hi Ishitwa,
Thank you for this wonderful and thorough report, and honestly I am impressed with the quality of your report. As environmental issues and biodiversity are not problems that are restricted to one country, it is crucial for us to act globally so as to effectively resolve environmental issues at hand. Since we are all part of this big ecosystem, biodiversity loss will definitely come back to us negatively and influence our living life. Before it is too late, we need to act quickly and more aggressively. I really like your photo! Great work, Ishitwa!
Louis Mentor
Posted 26-05-2019 18:10
Hello Ishitwa
Thank you for your thorough and well-organized report! It is amazing that India houses 8% of the entire world??s biodiversity and is home of 5000 endemic species. I wish people realize the significance of protecting biodiversity and learn that we must coexist with them.
The biggest takeaway from your article was that we have to “think globally but act locally” to protect biodiversity. I think it starts from learning the fact that humans are sharing environments with other millions of species. Thank you for sharing your report with us. Keep up the good work!
Wonhee Mentor
Posted 25-05-2019 23:36
Greetings Ishitwa,
Couldn't agree with you more when you said, 'We need to think globally but act locally.'
Yes, we should act upon preserving the environment in our daily lives and at the same time, think that this seemingly small act can impact the world in a global scale in the future.
This is a wonderfully written report, and the picture you've attached seems to alert the viewers that our environment is falling apart. But it seems that it's not too late and we can resolve this issue if we act upon it.
Posted 23-05-2019 09:15
The more variety, the better society!!
I think in-situ and ex-situ conservation can also lead to better way.
So it's time for youth like us to raise in the platform and show our great effort.
Posted 22-05-2019 16:21
Hey there Ishitwa!
I hope you are well! Wow, I am at awe at the fact that India a mega Diverse nation and it saddens me that so many species have to meet their doom due to a number of anthopogenic activities. You are right, we need to set our priorities in oder noting tat the safe guarding of the Earth is most important.
Thank you for your well written report! I enjoyed reading it Ishitwa!
warm regards,
Rosa
Posted 21-05-2019 22:33