Government of Tamil Nadu

Department of Employment and Training

Course : TNPSC Combined Civil Services Examination - IV(Group IV / VAO)

Subject : Zoology
Topic : Environment ecology

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 Environment, ecology

Biodiversity

 Biodiversity is the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat.

Measurement of Biodiversity

 Biodiversity is measured by two major components:

1. species richness, and

2. species evenness.

Species richness

 It is the measure of number of species found in a community

Alpha diversity

 It refers to the diversity within a particular area or ecosystem, and is usually expressed by
the number of species (i.e., species richness) in that ecosystem.

Beta diversity

 It is a comparison of diversity between ecosystems, usually measured as the change in

amount of species between the ecosystems.

Gamma diversity

 It is a measure of the overall diversity for the different ecosystems within a region.

Species evenness

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 It measures the proportion of species at a given site, e.g. low evenness indicates that a
few species dominate the site.

Genetic diversity

 Genetic diversity is the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a
species.
 A single species might show high diversity at the genetic level [E.g. Man: Chinese, Indian
American, African etc.]. India has more than 50,000 genetically different strains of rice,
and 1,000 varieties of mango.
 Genetic diversity allows species to adapt to changing environments. This diversity aims to
ensure that some species survive drastic changes and thus carry on desirable genes.

Species diversity

 It is the ratio of one species population over total number of organisms across all species
in the given biome. ‘Zero’ would be infinite diversity, and ‘one’ represents only one species
present.
 Species diversity is a measure of the diversity within an ecological community that
incorporates both species richness (the number of species in a community) and
the evenness of species.
 For example, the Western Ghats have a greater amphibian species diversity than the
Eastern Ghats. There are more than 200000 species in India of which several are
confined to India (endemic).
 Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic
location, such as an island, nation, country or other defined zone, or habitat type;
organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found
elsewhere. A particular type of animal or plant may be endemic to a zone, a state or a
country. The extreme opposite of endemism is cosmopolitan distribution.
 Species differ from one another, markedly in their genetic makeup, do not inter-breed in
nature. Closely-related species however have in common much of their hereditary

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 characteristics. For instance, about 98.4 per cent of the genes of humans and
chimpanzees are the same.
 According to the IUCN (2004), the total number of plant and animal species described so
far is slightly more than 1.5 million, but we have no clear idea of how many species are yet
to be discovered and described. A large proportion of the species waiting to be discovered
are in the tropics. Estimate place the global species diversity at about 7 million.
 More than 70 per cent of all the species recorded are animals, while plants (including
algae, fungi, bryophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms) comprise no more than 22 per
cent of the total.
 Among animals, insects are the most species-rich taxonomic group, making up more than
70 per cent of the total. That means, out of every 10 animals on this planet, 7 are insects.

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 The number of fungi species in the world is more than the combined total of the species of
fishes, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
 It should be noted that these estimates do not give any figures for prokaryotes. Biologists
are not sure about how many prokaryotic species there might be.
 In general, species diversity decreases as we move away from the equator towards the
poles. With very few exceptions, tropics (latitudinal range of 23.5° N to 23.5° S) harbour
more species than temperate or polar areas.
 India, with much of its land area in the tropical latitudes, has more than 1,200 species of
birds.
 The largely tropical Amazonian rain forest in South America has the greatest biodiversity
on earth- it is home to more than 40,000 species of plants, 3,000 of fishes, 1,300 of birds,
427 of mammals, 427 of amphibians, 378 of reptiles and of more than 1,25,000
invertebrates.

Why tropics have greater biological diversity?

 Speciation is generally a function of time, unlike temperate regions subjected to frequent

glaciations in the past, tropical latitudes have remained relatively undisturbed for millions
of years and thus, had a long evolutionary time for species diversification.
 Tropical environments, unlike temperate ones, are less seasonal, relatively more constant
and predictable. Such constant environments promote niche specialization and lead to a
greater species diversity.
 There is more solar energy available in the tropics, which contributes to higher
productivity; this in turn might contribute indirectly to greater diversity.

The importance of Species Diversity to the Ecosystem

 For many decades, ecologists believed that communities with more species, generally,
tend to be more stable than those with less species.
 What exactly is stability for a biological community? A stable community should not show
too much variation in productivity from year to year; it must be either resistant or resilient

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 to occasional disturbances (natural or man-made), and it must also be resistant to
invasions by alien species.
 Although, we may not understand completely how species richness contributes to the well-
being of an ecosystem, we know enough to realize that rich biodiversity is not only
essential for ecosystem health but imperative for the very survival of the human race on
this planet.

Bioprospecting: nations endowed with rich biodiversity explore molecular, genetic and
species-level diversity to derive products of economic importance.

Keystone species and Foundation Species

 Keystone species is a species whose addition to or loss from an ecosystem leads to

major changes in occurrence of at least one other species.
 Certain species in an ecosystem is considered more important in determining the
presence of many other species in that ecosystem.
 All top predators (Tiger, Lion, Crocodile, Elephant) are considered as keystone
species because it regulates all other animal population indirectly. Hence top
predators are given much consideration in conservation.
 If keystone species is lost, it will result in the degradation of whole ecosystem. For
example certain plant species (ebony tree, Indian-laurel) exclusively depends upon
bats for its pollination. If the bat population is reduced then regeneration of particular
plants becomes more difficult.
 Foundation species is a dominant primary producer in an ecosystem both in terms of
abundance and influence. Example: kelp in kelp forests and corals in coral reefs.

Flagship species

 A flagship species is a species chosen to represent an environmental cause, such as

an ecosystem in need of conservation.
 These species are chosen for their vulnerability, attractiveness or distinctiveness in

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 order to engender support and acknowledgement from the public at large.
 Example: Indian tiger, African elephant, giant panda of China, mountain gorilla of
Central Africa, orangutan of Southeast Asia and the leatherback sea turtle.

Ecological diversity

 Ecological diversity refers to the different types of habitats. A habitat is the cumulative
factor of the climate, vegetation and geography of a region.
 It includes various biological zones, like lake, desert, coast, estuaries, wetlands,
mangroves, coral reefs etc.
 At the ecosystem level, India, for instance, with its deserts, rain forests, mangroves, coral
reefs, wetlands, estuaries, and alpine meadows has a greater ecosystem diversity than a
Scandinavian country like Norway.

Services provided by Biodiversity

 Ecosystem services.
 Protection of water resources.
 Soils formation and protection.
 Nutrient storage and recycling.
 Pollution breakdown and absorption.
 Contribution to climate stability.
 Maintenance of ecosystems.
 Recovery from unpredictable events.

Biological services

 Food and shelter.

 Medicinal resources.
 Wood products.

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 Ornamental plants.
 Breeding stocks, population reservoirs.
 Future resources.
 Diversity in genes, species and ecosystems.

Social services

 Research, education and monitoring.

 Recreation and tourism.
 Cultural values.

Biodiversity of India

 India is a recognized as one of the mega-diverse countries, rich in biodiversity and

associated traditional knowledge.
 India has 23.39% of its geographical area under forest and tree cover.
 With just 2.4% of the land area, India accounts for nearly 7% of the recorded species even
while supporting almost 18% of human population.
 In terms of species richness, India ranks seventh in mammals, ninth in birds and fifth in
reptiles.
 In terms of endemism of vertebrate groups, India’s position is tenth in birds with 69
species, fifth in reptiles with 156 species and seventh in amphibians with 110 species.
 India’s share of crops is 44% as compared to the world average of 11%.

India Represents

 Two ‘Realms’
 Five Biomes
 Ten Bio-geographic Zones
 Twenty five Bio-geographic provinces

Realms

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 Biogeographic realms are large spatial regions within which ecosystems share a broadly
similar biota.
 Realm is a continent or sub-continent sized area with unifying features of geography and
fauna & flora.
 The Indian region is composed of two realms. They are:

1. the Himalayan region represented by Palearctic Realm and

2. the rest of the sub-continent represented by Malayan Realm

 In world Eight terrestrial biogeographic realms are typically recognized. They are

1. Nearctic Realm
2. Palaearctic Realm
3. Africotropical Realm
4. Indomalayan Realm
5. Ocenaia Realm
6. Australian Realm
7. Antarctic Realm
8. Neotropical Realm

Biomes of India

 The term biome means the main groups of plants and animals living in areas of certain
climate patterns.
 It includes the way in which animals, vegetation and soil interact together. The plants and
animals of that area have adapted to that environment.

The five biomes of India are:

1. Tropical Humid Forests

2. Tropical Dry or Deciduous Forests (including Monsoon Forests)
3. Warm deserts and semi-deserts
4. Coniferous forests and

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5. Alpine meadows.

Bio-geographic Zones

 Biogeography deals with the geographical distribution of plants and animals.

 Biogeographic zones were used as a basis for planning wildlife protected areas in India.
 There are 10 biogeographic zones which are distinguished clearly in India. They are as
follows:

Trans-Himalayas

 An extension of the Tibetan plateau, harboring high-altitude cold desert in Laddakh (J&K)
and Lahaul Spiti (H.P) comprising 5.7 % of the country’s landmass.

Himalayas

 The entire mountain chain running from north-western to northeastern India, comprising a
diverse range of biotic provinces and biomes, 7.2 % of the country’s landmass.

Desert

 The extremely arid area west of the Aravalli hill range, comprising both the salty desert of
Gujarat and the sand desert of Rajasthan. 6.9% of the country’s landmass.

Semi-arid

 The zone between the desert and the Deccan plateau, including the Aravalli hill range.
15.6 % of the country’s landmass.

Western Ghats

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 The hill ranges and plains running along the western coastline, south of the Tapti river,
covering an extremely diverse range of biotic provinces and biomes. 5.8% of the country’s
landmass.

Deccan Peninsula

 The largest of the zones, covering much of the southern and southcentral plateau with a
predominantly deciduous vegetation. 4.3 % of the country’s landmass.

Gangetic plain

 Defined by the Ganges river system, these plains are relatively homogenous. 11% of the
country’s landmass.

North-east India

 The plains and non-Himalayan hill ranges of northeastern India, with a wide variation of
vegetation. 5.2% of the country’s landmass.

Islands

 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, with a highly diverse set of
biomes. 0.03% of the country’s landmass.

Coasts

 A large coastline distributed both to the west and east, with distinct differences between
the two; Lakshadweep islands are included in this with the percent area being negligible.

Bio-geographic provinces

 Bio-geographic Province is a ecosystematic or biotic subdivision of realms. India is divided

into 25 bio geographic zones.

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 S.N Biogeographic Biogeographic Provinces (25)
o. Zones (10)
1 Trans Himalaya 1A: Himalaya – Ladakh Mountains
1B: Himalaya – Tibetan Plateau
1C: Trans – Himalaya Sikkim
2 The Himalaya 2A: Himalaya – North West Himalaya
2B: Himalaya – West Himalaya
2C: Himalaya – Central Himalaya
2D: Himalaya – East Himalaya
3 The Indian Desert 3A: Desert – Thar
3B: Desert – Katchchh
4 The Semi-Arid 4A: Semi – Arid – Punjab Plains
4B: Semi – Arid – Gujarat Rajputana
5 The Western 5A: Western Ghats - Malabar Plains
Ghats 5B: Western Ghats – Western Ghats Mountains
6 The Deccan 6A: Deccan Peninsular – Central Highlands
Peninsula 6B: Deccan Peninsular – Chotta Nagpur
6C: Deccan Peninsular - Eastern Highlands
6D: Deccan Peninsular – Central Plateau
6E: Deccan Peninsular - Deccan South
7 The Gangetic 7A: Gangetic Plain - Upper Gangetic Plains
Plains 7B: Gangetic Plain – Lower Gangetic Plains
8 The Coasts 8A: Coasts – West Coast
8B: Coasts – East Coast
8C: Coasts – Lakshadweep
9 Northeast India 9A: North – East – Brahmaputra Valley
9B: North – East – North East Hills
10 Islands 10A: Islands – Andaman
10B: Islands – Nicobars

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 Wildlife Diversity Of India

Himalayan mountain system

 The west Himalayas have low rainfall, heavy snowfall (temperate conditions), whereas in
east Himalayas, there is heavy rainfall, snowfall only at very high altitudes, whereas at
lower altitudes conditions are similar to the tropical rain forests. Flora and fauna of both
Himalayas differ.

Himalayan foothills

 Flora: Natural monsoon evergreen and semi-evergreen forests; dominant species are sal,
silk-cotton trees, giant bamboos; tall grassy meadow with savannahs in terai.
 Fauna: Includes big mammals of like elephant, sambar, swamp deer, cheetal, hog deer,
barking deer, wild boar tiger, panther, hyena, black bear, sloth bear, Great Indian one-
horned rhinoceros, wild buffalo, Gangetic gharial, golden langur.

[Some of these which are threatened are explained in the next post: Red Data Book]

Western Himalayas (High altitude region)

 Flora: Natural monsoon evergreen and semi-evergreen forests; rhododendrons; dwarf

hill bamboo and birch forests mixed with alpine pastures.
 Fauna: Tibetan wild ass (kiang) [Don’t confuse this with Asiatic wild ass which in found in
Kutch region], wild goats (thar, ibex) and blue sheep; antelopes (Chiru and Tibetan
gazelle), deers (hangul of Kashmir stag and shou or Sikkim stag, musk deer); golden
eagle, snow cocks, snow partridges; snow leopard, black and brown bears; birds like
Griffon vultures.

What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?

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1. Oryx is adapted to live in hot and arid areas whereas Chiru is adapted to live in steppes
and semi-desert areas of cold high mountains. .
2. Oryx is poached for its antlers whereas Chiru is poached for its musk.
3. Oryx exists in western India only whereas Chiru exists in north-east India only.
4. None of the statements a, b, and c given above is correct.

They are both antelopes.

Answer: a)

Eastern Himalayas

 Flora: Oaks, magnolias, laurels and birches covered with moss and ferns; coniferous
forests of pine, fir, yew and junipers with undergrowth of scrubby rhododendrons and
dwarf bamboos; lichens, mosses, orchids, and other epiphytes dominant (due to high
humidity and high rainfall).
 Fauna: Red panda, hog badgers, forest badgers, crestless porcupines, takins etc.

Peninsular – Indian sub-region

 It has two zones.

1. peninsular India and its extension into the drainage basin of the Ganges river system, and
2. desert region of Rajasthan-the Thar of Indian desert region.

Peninsular India

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 It is home to tropical moist deciduous to tropical dry deciduous and scrub vegetation
depending upon the variation in rainfall and humidity.
 Flora: Sal in north and east extensions (higher rainfall) and teak in southern plateau are
dominant trees.
 West Ghats have evergreen vegetation (flora and fauna similar to evergreen rainforests of
north eastern of India. In dry areas of Rajasthan and Aravalli hills, trees are scattered and
thorny scrub species predominate. The forests give way to more open savannah habit.
 Fauna: Elephant, wild boar, deers (cheetal or axis deer), hog deer swamp deer or
barasinga, sambar, muntjak or barking deer, antelopes (four-hourned antelope, nilgiri,
blackbuck, chinkara gazelle), wild dog or dhole, tiger, leopard, cheetah, lion, wild pig,
monkey, striped hyena, jackal, gaur.

Indian desert

 Thar desert of Rajasthan has unique flora and fauna.

 Flora: Thorny trees with reduced leaves; cacti, other succulents are the main plants.
 Fauna: Animals are mostly burrowing ones. Among mammals rodents are the largest
group. The Indian desert gerbils are mouse like, rodents, other animals are, Asiatic wild
ass, black buck, desert cat, caracal, red fox; reptiles (snakes, lizards and tortoise) well
represented. Desert lizards include agamids, and geckos. Among birds the most
discussed is Great Indian bustard.

Tropical rain forest region

 Distributed in areas of western Ghats and north east India.

 Flora: Extensive grass lands interspersed with densely forested gorges of evergreen
vegetation known as sholas occur in the Nilgiris (an offshoot of Western
Ghats). Sholas also occur in Anamalai and Palani hills.
 The rain forests of the Western Ghats have dense and lofty trees with much species
diversity. Mosses, ferns, epiphytes, orchids, lianas and vines, herbs, shrubs make diverse
habitat. Ebony trees predominate in these forests.

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 Fauna: It is very rich with all kinds of animals. There are wild elephants, gaur and other
larger animals. Most species are tree dwellers. The most prominent are hoolock gibbon
(only ape found in India), golden langur, capped langur or leaf monkey, Assam macaque
and the pig-tailed macaque, lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur slender loris, bats, gaint
squirrel, civets, flying squirrels, Nilgiri mongoose, spiny mouse.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

 Flora: These are home for tropical rain forests. Mangroves are distributed in the coastal
areas.
 Fauna: Among mammals, bats and rats; Andaman pig, crab-eating macaque, palm civet
and deers (spotted deer, barking deer, hog deer, sambar).
 Among marine mammals there are dugong, false killer whale, dolphin.
 Among birds are rare one is Narcondum hornbill, white-bellied sea-eagle.
 Salt-water crocodile, a number of marine turtles, coconut crab, lizards (the largest being
water monitor), 40 species of snakes including cobra, viper, coral and sea snake, python,
etc. are present.

Mangrove swamps of Sunderbans

 Sunderbans are delta of the Ganges where both the Brahmaputra and Ganges join and
drain into the Bay of Bengal.
 Flora: Various species of mangroves.
 Fauna. In the higher regions of mangroves, there are spotted deer, pigs, monitor lizard,
monkeys. The most interesting animal of Sunderbans is the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Biodiversity Conservation

 When we conserve and protect the whole ecosystem, its biodiversity at all levels is
protected. E.g. we save the entire forest to save the tiger. This approach is called in situ
(on site) conservation.

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 However, when there are situations where an animal or plant is endangered or threatened
and needs urgent measures to save it from extinction, ex situ (off site)conservation is the
desirable approach.

Benefits of Biodiversity conservation

 Conservation of biological diversity leads to conservation of essential ecological diversity

to preserve the continuity of food chains.
 The genetic diversity of plants and animals is preserved.
 It ensures the sustainable utilization of life support systems on earth.
 It provides a vast knowledge of potential use to the community.
 A reservoir of wild animals and plants is preserved, thus enabling them to be introduced, if
need be, in the surrounding areas.
 Biodiversity conservation assures sustainable utilization of potential resources.

In situ conservation

 Faced with the conflict between development and conservation, many nations find it
unrealistic and economically not feasible to conserve all their biological wealth.
 On a global basis, this problem has been addressed by eminent conservationists. They
identified for maximum protection certain ‘biodiversity hotspots’ regions with very high
levels of species richness and high degree of endemism (that is, species confined to
that region and not found anywhere else).
 Initially 25 biodiversity hotspots were identified but subsequently nine more have been
added to the list, bringing the total number of biodiversity hotspots in the world to 34.
 These hotspots are also regions of accelerated habitat loss. Three of these hotspots –
Western Ghats and Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma and Eastern Himalayas cover our country’s
exceptionally high biodiversity regions.
 Although all the biodiversity hotspots put together cover less than 2 percent of the earth’s
land area, the number of species they collectively harbour is extremely high and strict
protection of these hotspots could reduce the ongoing mass extinctions by almost 30 per
cent.

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 In India, ecologically unique and biodiversity-rich regions are legally protected
as biosphere reserves, national parks, sanctuaries, reserved forests, protected
forests and nature reserves.
 India now has 14 biosphere reserves, 90 national parks and 448 wildlife sanctuaries.
 Plantation, cultivation, grazing, felling trees, hunting and poaching are prohibited in
biosphere reserves, national parks and sanctuaries.

Protected Area Network in India

 National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by the Prime Minister of India provides for
policy framework for wildlife conservation in the country.
 The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) was adopted in 2002, emphasizing the
people’s participation and their support for wildlife conservation.

Reserved & Protected Forests

 As of present, reserved forests and protected forests differ in one important way:

1. Rights to all activities like hunting, grazing, etc. in reserved forests are banned unless
specific orders are issued otherwise.
2. In protected areas, rights to activities like hunting and grazing are sometimes given to
communities living on the fringes of the forest, who sustain their livelihood partially or
wholly from forest resources or products.

 The first reserve forest in India was Satpura National Park in Madhya Pradesh.
 Typically, reserved forests are often upgraded to the status of wildlife sanctuaries, which in
turn may be upgraded to the status of national parks, with each category receiving a
higher degree of protection and government funding.

Wildlife Sanctuaries or wildlife refuges

 Wildlife Sanctuaries or wildlife refuges are home to various endangered species.

 They are safe from hunting, predation or competition.

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 They are safeguarded from extinction in their natural habitat.
 Certain rights of people living inside the Sanctuary could be permitted.
 Grazing, firewood collection by tribals is allowed but strictly regulated.
 Settlements not allowed (few exceptions: tribal settlements do exist constant; efforts are
made to relocate them).
 A Sanctuary can be promoted to a National Park.
 There are more than 500 wildlife sanctuaries in India.

National Park

 National parks are areas reserved for wild life where they can freely use the habitats and
natural resources.
 The difference between a Sanctuary and a National Park mainly lies in the vesting of
rights of people living inside.
 Unlike a Sanctuary, where certain rights can be allowed, in a National Park, no rights are
allowed.
 No grazing of any livestock shall also be permitted inside a National Park while in a
Sanctuary, the Chief Wildlife Warden may regulate, control or prohibit it.

Eco-Sensitive Zones

 The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002–2016) of MoEFCC stipulated that state
governments should declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries as eco fragile zones or ESZs under the Environmental
(Protection) Act, 1986.
 The purpose of the ESZ was to provide more protection to the parks by acting as a shock
absorber or transition zone.
 Eco-Sensitive Zones would minimise forest depletion and man-animal conflict.
 The protected areas are based on the core and buffer model of management.
 The core area has the legal status of being a national park.
 The buffer area, however, does not have legal status of being a national park and could be
a reserved forest, wildlife sanctuary or tiger reserve.

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 With reference to ‘Eco-Sensitive Zones’, which of the following statements is/are
correct?

 Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972.
 The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human
activities, in those zones except agriculture.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: d) Neither

Biosphere Reserve

 Large areas of protected land for conservation of wild life, plant and animal resources and
traditional life of the tribals living in the area.
 May have one more national parks or wildlife sanctuaries in it.

Core area

 Comprises a strictly protected ecosystem for conserving ecosystems, species and genetic
variation. In core or natural zone human activity is not allowed.

Buffer zone

 Used for scientific research, monitoring, training and education.

Transition area

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 Ecologically sustainable human settlements and economic activities (tourism) are
permitted.
 With the cooperation of reserve management and local people several human activities
like settlements, cropping, recreation, and forestry are carried out without disturbing the
environment.

Conserving Biodiversity

The most important strategy for the conservation of biodiversity together with traditional
human life is the establishment of

1. biosphere reserves
2. botanical gardens
3. national parks
4. wildlife sanctuaries

Answer: a)

Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB programme)

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 It was first started by UNESCO in 1971.
 Later introduced in India in 1986.

Aim

1. Studying the effects of human interference and pollution on the biotic and abiotic
components of ecosystems.
2. Conservation the ecosystems for the present as well as future.

The main objects of MAB programme are to:

1. Conserve representative samples of ecosystem.

2. Provide long term in situ conservation of genetic diversity.
3. Provide opportunities for education and training.
4. Provide appropriate sustainable managements of the living resources.
5. Promote international co-operation.

Tiger Reserves

 Same as sanctuaries. But they are monitored by NTCA under Project tiger.
 The various tiger reserves were created in the country based on ‘core-buffer’ strategy.

Core area

 The core areas are freed of all human activities.

 It has the legal status of a national park or wildlife sanctuary.
 Collection of minor forest produce, grazing, and other human disturbances are not
allowed.

Buffer areas

 Twin objectives:

1. providing habitat supplement to spillover population of wild animals from core area.

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2. provide site specific co-developmental inputs to surrounding villages for relieving their
impact on core area.

 Collection of minor forest produce and grazing by tribals is allowed on a sustainable basis.
 The Forest Rights Act passed by the Indian government in 2006 recognizes the rights of
some forest dwelling communities in forest areas.

Conservation Reserves

 Conservation Reserves can be declared by the State Governments in any area owned by
the Government, particularly the areas adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries and
those areas which link one Protected Area with another.
 Such declaration should be made after having consultations with the local communities.
 The rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are not affected.

Community Reserves

 Community Reserves can be declared by the State Government in any private or

community land, not comprised within a National Park, Sanctuary or a Conservation
Reserve, where an individual or a community has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its
habitat.
 As in the case of a Conservation Reserve, the rights of people living inside a Community
Reserve are not affected.

Sacred Groves

 India has a history of religious/cultural traditions that emphasised protection of nature.

 In many cultures, tracts of forest were set aside, and all the trees and wildlife within were
venerated and given total protection.
 Such sacred groves are found in Khasi and Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, Aravalli Hills of
Rajasthan, Western Ghat regions of Karnataka and Maharashtra and the Sarguja,
Chanda and Bastar areas of Madhya Pradesh.

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 In Meghalaya, the sacred groves are the last refuges for a large number of rare and
threatened plants.

Ex situ Conservation

 In this approach, threatened animals and plants are taken out from their natural habitat
and placed in special setting where they can be protected and given special care.
 Zoological parks, botanical gardens, wildlife safari parks and seed banks serve this
purpose.
 There are many animals that have become extinct in the wild but continue to be
maintained in zoological parks.
 In recent years ex situ conservation has advanced beyond keeping threatened species.
Now gametes of threatened species can be preserved in viable and fertile condition for
long periods using cryopreservation techniques, eggs can be fertilized in vitro, and plants
can be propagated using tissue culture methods.
 Seeds of different genetic strains of commercially important plants can be kept for long
periods in seed banks.
 The national gene bank at National Bureau Of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR),
Delhi is primarily responsible for conservation of unique accessions on long-term basis, as
base collections for posterity, predominantly in the form of seeds.

Botanical garden

 Botanical garden refers to the scientifically planned collection of living trees, shrubs,
herbs, climbers and other plants from various parts of the globe.

Purpose of botanical gardens

 To study the taxonomy as well as growth of plants.

 To study the introduction and acclimatization process of exotic plants.
 It acts as a germplasm collection.
 It helps development of new hybrids.
 It augments conserving rare and threatened species.
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 It facilitates training of staff.
 It acts as a source of recreation.

Zoo

 Zoo is an establishment, whether stationary or mobile, where captive animals are kept for
exhibition to the public and includes a circus and rescue centers but does not include an
establishment of a licensed dealer in captive animals.
 The initial purpose of zoos was entertainment, over the decades, zoos have got
transformed into centers for wildlife conservation and environmental education.
 Apart from saving individual animals, zoos have a role to play in species conservation too
(through captive breeding).
 Zoos provide an opportunity to open up a whole new world, and this could be used in
sensitizing visitors regarding the value and need for conservation of wildlife.

Which one of the following is not a site for in-situ method of conservation of flora?

1. Biosphere Reserves
2. Botanical Garden
3. National Park
4. Wildlife Sanctuary

In situ conservation = on the site conservation without displacing the affected organism.

Ex situ conservation = conserving the organism in an artificial habitat by displacing it from

its natural habitat.

Botanical Garden = Plants are bred in a protected environment far from their natural
home, especially for research purposes. So its Ex situ conservation.

Rest all along with protected forests and reserved forests are In situ conservation
methods.

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 Answer: b) Botanical Garden

Constraints in biodiversity conservation

 Low priority for conservation of living natural resources.

 Exploitation of living natural resources for monetary gain.
 Values and knowledge about the species and ecosystem inadequately known.
 Unplanned urbanization and uncontrolled industrialization.

Historic Citizen Movements to Conserve Biodiversity

Chipko Movement

 It is a social-ecological movement that practiced the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and

nonviolent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from falling.
 The modern Chipko movement started in the early 1970s in the Garhwal Himalayas of
Uttarakhand, with growing awareness towards rapid deforestation.
 The landmark event in this struggle took place on March 26, 1974, when a group of
peasant women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India,
acted to prevent the cutting of trees and reclaim their traditional forest rights that were
threatened by the contractor system of the state Forest Department.
 Their actions inspired hundreds of such actions at the grassroots level throughout the
region.
 By the 1980s the movement had spread throughout India and led to formulation of people-
sensitive forest policies, which put a stop to the open felling of trees in regions as far
reaching as Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.
 The first recorded event of Chipko however, took place in village Khejarli, Jodhpur district,
in 1730 AD, when 363 Bishnois, led by Amrita Devi sacrificed their lives while protecting
green Khejri trees, considered sacred by the community, by hugging them, and braved the
axes of loggers sent by the local ruler, today it is seen an inspiration and a precursor for
Chipko movement of Garhwal.

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 Appiko Movement

 Appiko movement was a revolutionary movement based on environmental conservation in

India.
 The Chipko movement in Uttarakhand in the Himalayas inspired the villagers of the district
of Karnataka province in southern India to launch a similar movement to save their forests.
 In September 1983, men, women and children of Salkani ‘hugged the trees’ in Kalase
forest. (The local term for ‘hugging’ in Kannada is appiko.)
 Appiko movement gave birth to a new awareness all over southern India

Difference Between Wildlife Sanctuary And National Park

Wildlife Sanctuary National Park
Human activities are allowed. No human activities are allowed.
Main aim is to protect a particular flora or fauna. Can include flora, fauna or even any object of
historical significance.
There are no fixed boundaries. Boundaries are fixed and defined.
It is open to the general public Not usually open to the public.
Sanctuaries are usually formed by the order of National Parks are formed by the State or
Central or the State Government central Legislature.
A sanctuary can be upgraded to a national park But a national park cannot be downgraded to
a Sanctuary.

List of National Parks (July, 2018)

Year of Area
S. No. Name of State/ Protected Area District(s)
Establishment (km2)

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

1 Campbell Bay NP 1992 426.23 Nicobar
2 Galathea Bay NP 1992 110.00 Nicobar
3 Mahatama Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) NP 1983 281.50 Andaman
4 Middle Button Island NP 1987 0.44 Andaman
5 Mount Harriett NP 1987 46.62 Andaman
6 North Button Island NP 1987 0.44 Andaman
7 Rani Jhansi Marine NP 1996 256.14 Andaman
8 Saddle Peak NP 1987 32.54 Andaman
9 South Button Island NP 1987 0.03 Andaman

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 Andhra Pradesh
1 Papikonda NP 2008 1012.86 East & West Godavari
2 Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) NP 2005 2.40 Kadapa
3 Sri Venkateswara NP 1989 353.62 Chittoor & Cuddapah

Arunachal Pradesh
1 Mouling NP 1986 483.00 Upper Siang
2 Namdapha NP 1983 1807.82 Changlang

Assam
1 Dibru-Saikhowa NP 1999 340.00 Tinsukia & Dibrugarh
2 Kaziranga NP 1974 858.98 Golaghat, Nagaon & Sonitpur
3 Manas NP 1990 500.00 Barpeta & Bongaigaon
4 Nameri NP 1998 200.00 Sonitpur
5 Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP 1999 78.81 Darrang & Sonitpur

Bihar
1 Valmiki NP 1989 335.65 West Champaran

Chhattisgarh
1 Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) NP 1981 1440.71 Surguja & Koria
2 Indravati (Kutru) NP 1982 1258.37 Dantewada
3 Kanger Valley NP 1982 200.00 Bastar

Goa
1 Mollem NP 1992 107.00 North Goa

Gujarat
1 Vansda NP 1979 23.99 Navasari
2 Blackbuck (Velavadar) NP 1976 34.53 Bhavnagar
3 Gir NP 1975 258.71 Junagadh
4 Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) NP 1982 162.89 Jamnagar
.
Haryana
1 Kalesar NP 2003 46.82 Yamuna Nagar
2 Sultanpur NP 1989 1.43 Gurgaon

Himachal Pradesh
1 Great Himalayan NP 1984 754.40 Kullu
2 Inderkilla NP 2010 104.00 Kullu

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3 Khirganga NP 2010 710.00 Kullu
4 Pin Valley NP 1987 675.00 Lahul & Spiti
5 Simbalbara NP 2010 27.88 Sirmaur

Jammu & Kashmir

1 City Forest (Salim Ali) NP 1992 9.00 Srinagar
2 Dachigam NP 1981 141.00 Srinagar & Pulwama
3 Hemis NP 1981 3350.00 Leh
4 Kishtwar NP 1981 425.00 Kishtwar & Doda

Jharkhand
1 Betla NP 1986 226.33 Latehar

Karnataka
1 Anshi NP 1987 417.34 Uttara Kannada
2 Bandipur NP 1974 874.20 Mysore & Chamarajanagar
3 Bannerghatta NP 1974 260.51 Bangalore
Dakshin Kannada, Udipi &
4 Kudremukh NP 1987 600.32
Chikmagalur
5 Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) NP 1988 643.39 Kodagu & Mysore

Kerala
1 Anamudi Shola NP 2003 7.50 Idukki
2 Eravikulam NP 1978 97.00 Idukki
3 Mathikettan Shola NP 2003 12.82 Idukki
4 Pambadum Shola NP 2003 1.32 Idukki
5 Periyar NP 1982 350.00 Idukki & Quilon
6 Silent Valley NP 1984 89.52 Palakkad

Madhya Pradesh
1 Bandhavgarh NP 1968 448.85 Umaria & Katni
2 Fossil NP 1983 0.27 Mandla
6 Indira Priyadarshini Pench NP 1975 292.85 Seoni & Chhindwara
3 Kanha NP 1955 940.00 Mandla, Balaghat & Dindori
4 Madhav NP 1959 375.22 Shivpuri
5 Panna NP 1981 542.67 Panna & Chhatarpur
7 Sanjay NP 1981 466.88 Sidhi
8 Satpura NP 1981 585.17 Hoshangabad
9 Van Vihar NP 1979 4.45 Bhopal
10 Dinosaur NP 2011 0.8974 Dhar district, MP
Maharashtra

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1 Chandoli NP 2004 317.67 Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri
2 Gugamal NP 1975 361.28 Amravati
3 Nawegaon NP 1975 133.88 Bhandara (Gondia)
4 Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) NP 1975 257.26 Nagpur
5 Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) NP 1983 86.96 Thane & Mumbai
6 Tadoba NP 1955 116.55 Chandrapur

Manipur
1 Keibul-Lamjao NP 1977 40.00 Bishnupur

Meghalaya
1 Balphakram NP 1985 220.00 South Garo Hills
2 Nokrek Ridge NP 1986 47.48 East Garo Hills

Mizoram
1 Murlen NP 1991 100.00 Champhai
2 Phawngpui Blue Mountain NP 1992 50.00 Lawngtlai

Nagaland
1 Intanki NP 1993 202.02 Dimapur

Odisha
1 Bhitarkanika NP 1988 145.00 Kendrapara
2 Simlipal NP 1980 845.70 Mayurbhanj

Rajasthan
1 Mukundra Hills NP 2006 200.54 Kota & Chittourgarh
2 Desert NP 1992 3162.00 Barmer & Jaisalmer
3 Keoladeo Ghana NP 1981 28.73 Bharatpur
4 Ranthambhore NP 1980 282.00 Sawai Madhopur
5 Sariska NP 1992 273.80 Alwar

Sikkim
1 Khangchendzonga NP 1977 1784.00 North Sikkim

Tamil Nadu
1 Guindy NP 1976 2.82 Chennai
2 Gulf of Mannar Marine NP 1980 6.23 Ramanathpuram & Tuticorin
3 Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) NP 1989 117.10 Coimbatore
4 Mudumalai NP 1990 103.23 Nilgiris

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5 Mukurthi NP 1990 78.46 Nilgiris

Telangana
1 Kasu Brahmananda Reddy NP 1994 1.43 Hyderabad
2 Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali NP 1994 14.59 Ranga Reddy
3 Mrugavani NP 1994 3.60 Ranga Reddy

Tripura
1 Clouded Leopard NP 2007 5.08 West Tripura
2 Bison (Rajbari) NP 2007 31.63 South Tripura

Uttar Pradesh
1 Dudhwa NP 1977 490.00 Lakhimpur-Kheri

Uttarakhand
1 Corbett NP 1936 520.82 Nainital & Pauri Garhwal
2 Gangotri NP 1989 2390.02 Uttarkashi
3 Govind NP 1990 472.08 Uttarkashi
4 Nanda Devi NP 1982 624.60 Chamoli
5 Rajaji NP 1983 820.00 Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal & Haridwar
6 Valley of Flowers NP 1982 87.50 Chamoli

West Bengal
1 Buxa NP 1992 117.10 Jalpaiguri
2 Gorumara NP 1992 79.45 Jalpaiguri
3 Jaldapara NP 2014 216.51 Jalpaiguri
4 Neora Valley NP 1986 159.89 Darjeeling
5 Singalila NP 1986 78.60 Darjeeling
6 Sunderban NP 1984 1330.10 North & South 24-Paraganas

(Source: Wildlife Institute of India)

Biosphere Reserves in India

S. Date of
Name Area (in km2) Location (State)
No. Notification
Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole,
5520 Bandipur and Madumalai,
1 Nilgiri 01.09.1986 (Core 1240 & Buffer Nilambur, Silent Valley and
4280) Siruvani hills (Tamil Nadu,
Kerala and Karnataka).

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 5860.69
Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh,
(Core 712.12,
2 Nanda Devi 18.01.1988 and Bageshwar districts
Buffer 5,148.570) &
(Uttarakhand).
T. 546.34)
820
(Core 47.48 & Buffer Part of Garo hills
3 Nokrek 01.09.1988
227.92, Transition (Meghalaya).
Zone 544.60)
Southern most islands of
885 (Core 705 &
4 Great Nicobar 06.01.1989 Andaman And Nicobar (A&N
Buffer 180)
Islands).
10,500 km2
Indian part of Gulf of Mannar
Total Gulf area
5 Gulf of Mannar 18.02.1989 between India and Sri Lanka
(area of
(Tamil Nadu).
Islands 5.55 km2)
Part of Kokrajhar,
2837
Bongaigaon, Barpeta,
6 Manas 14.03.1989 (Core 391 & Buffer
Nalbari, Kamprup and
2,446)
Darang districts (Assam)
9630 Part of delta of Ganges and
7 Sunderbans 29.03.1989 (Core 1700 & Buffer Brahamaputra river system
7900) (West Bengal).
4374
(Core 845, Buffer Part of Mayurbhanj district
8 Simlipal 21.06.1994
2129 & Transition (Orissa).
1400
765
Part of Dibrugarh and
9 Dibru-Saikhowa 28.07.1997 (Core 340 & Buffer
Tinsukia Districts (Assam)
425)
5111.50
Part of Siang and Dibang
10 Dehang-Dibang 02.09.1998 (Core 4094.80
Valley in Arunachal Pradesh.
&Buffer 1016.70)
Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad
11 Pachmarhi 03.03.1999 4926 and Chindwara districts of
Madhya Pradesh.
2619.92
Parts of Khangchendzonga
12 Khangchendzonga 07.02.2000 (Core 1819.34 &
hills and Sikkim.
Buffer 835.92)
Neyyar, Peppara and
Shendurney Wildlife
13 Agasthyamalai 12.11.2001 1828
Sanctuaries and their
adjoining areas in Kerala.
Covers parts of Anupur and
3835.51
Achanakamar - Dindori districts of M.P. and
14 30.3.2005 (Core 551.55 &
Amarkantak parts of Bilaspur districts of
Buffer 3283.86)
Chhattishgarh State.
Part of Kachchh, Rajkot,
15 Kachchh 29.01.2008 12,454 km2 Surendra Nagar and Patan
Civil Districts of Gujarat State
Pin Valley National Park and
16 Cold Desert 28.08.2009 7770 surroundings; Chandratal
and Sarchu&Kibber Wildlife

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 Sancturary in Himachal
Pradesh
Seshachalam Hill Ranges
covering parts of Chittoor
17 Seshachalam Hills 20.09.2010 4755.997
and Kadapa districts of
Andhra Pradesh
Part of Panna and
18 Panna 25.08.2011 2998.98 Chhattarpur districts in
Madhya Pradesh

Tamil Nadu
Protected Area Gazette Notification Database (Tamil Nadu)

National Park

S.No. Name of Protected Area

1 Guindy NP
2 Gulf of Mannar Marine NP
3 Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) NP
4 Mudumalai NP
5 Mukurthi NP

Wildlife Sanctuary

S.No. Name of Protected Area

1 Cauvery North Sanctuary
2 Chitrangudi WLS
3 Gangaikondam Spotted Deer WLS
4 Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) WLS
5 Kalakad WLS
6 Kanjirankulam WLS
7 Kanyakumari WLS
8 Karaivetti WLS
9 Karikili WLS
10 Kilaselvanur-Melaselvanur WLS
11 Kuthankulam-Kadankulam WLS
12 Nellai WLS
13 Point Calimere WLS
14 Pulicat Lake WLS
15 Satyamangalam WLS

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16 Srivilliputhur (Giant Squirrel) WLS
17 Udayamarthandapuram Lake WLS
18 Vaduvoor WLS
19 Vedanthangal WLS
20 Vellanadu WLS
21 Vellode WLS
22 Vettangudi WLS

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