6.2.7. CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

In order to maintain and conserve biodiversity, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, government of India has already taken several steps to manage wildlife, the objectives of which are:

1. Maintenance of a number of species in protected areas such as National Parks, Sanctuaries.
2. To improve the biosphere reserves.
3. Implement strict restrictions of export of rare plants and animals.
4. Educate the public on these through the government agencies and NGOs.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests in India plays a vital role in conserving biodiversity. To achieve this, several important steps have been initiated. First, they work on maintaining species populations in protected areas like National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries, where wildlife can live safely without human interference. Second, efforts are made to enhance biosphere reserves, areas that support a diverse range of organisms. Third, there are strict controls on the export of rare species to prevent exploitation and preserve them for future generations. Lastly, raising public awareness about biodiversity is crucial, and this is done through education initiatives supported by government and non-governmental organizations.

Imagine a community garden where everyone works together to protect the plants and animals. Just as the community creates safe spaces for these organisms, the Ministry of Environment and Forests works to create protected areas for wildlife. By teaching people about the importance of plants and animals, just like a gardening workshop may teach how to care for the garden, they ensure that everyone understands how to contribute to conservation efforts.

A) In-situ conservation: The preservation of species in its natural ecosystem is called in-situ conservation. As a consequence, protected areas are being identified and maintained for natural conservation of species by individual countries. For the conservation and management of endangered species several projects have been established. These are:

• Tiger Projects: Corbett National Park which is 300 km from New Delhi is the oldest National Park of India having 1318.54 sq km. It was one of the nine Tiger Reserves created at the launch of the Project Tiger in 1973.
• Gir Lion Projects: The Gir Forest of Gujarat where lions are found. This has an area of 1412 sq kms and declared as a National Park.
• Elephant Projects: The objective was to ensure long-term survival of population of elephants (not come into operations). Project Elephant (PE), a centrally sponsored scheme, was launched in February 1992 to provide financial and technical support to major elephant bearing States in the country for protection of elephants and their habitats.

In-situ conservation refers to the effort of protecting species within their natural habitats. This involves establishing protected areas such as national parks and wildlife sanctuaries where species can thrive without human disturbances. The Corbett National Park and Gir Lion Project are examples of in-situ conservation efforts. The Corbett National Park, which is home to tigers, was one of the first Tiger Reserves created in India to protect this endangered species. Similarly, the Gir Forest in Gujarat is specifically set aside to protect the Asiatic lion. Projects like Project Elephant aim to support the long-term survival of elephants by ensuring their habitats are protected and maintained.

Think of in-situ conservation like a school environment where children learn and grow in their classrooms. Just like teachers protect and nurture students in school, in-situ conservation protects plants and animals in their natural settings. This ensures they have the necessary resources, like food and shelter, just as students need books and a safe space to learn.

B) Ex-situ conservation: The conservation of elements of biodiversity out of the context of their natural habitats is referred to as ex-situ conservation. Zoos, botanical gardens and seed banks are all examples of ex-situ conservation. In India we have the following important gene and seed bank facilities: i) National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) is located in New Delhi. Here agricultural and horticultural crops are stored by cryopreservation of seeds, pollens etc. by using liquid nitrogen at a low temperature as low as -1960 C. ii) National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) located at Karnal, Haryana. It preserves the semen of domesticated bovine animals.

Ex-situ conservation is the practice of preserving biodiversity outside of its natural environment. This can include zoos, botanical gardens, and seed banks where endangered species can be protected and nurtured away from their original habitats. For example, the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources in India stores various seeds and crops under controlled conditions at very low temperatures to ensure their viability for the future. Similarly, the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources preserves genetic material from domesticated animals to maintain their genetic diversity.

Consider ex-situ conservation like having a safety vault for valuable items. Just as you might store important documents in a secure place to protect them from damage, ex-situ conservation stores plants and animals in places like zoos and seed banks to safeguard their genetic resources. This ensures that if something happens to their natural habitat, we still have a way to protect and possibly repopulate those species.

The following measures should be adopted for the conservation of biodiversity:

1. Overgrazing in the forest and areas of vegetation should be controlled because it may destroy the useful rare plants.
2. The habitat of plants and animals should be conserved.
3. The natural condition of ecosystem should be studied and researched in time and again, then specific programs for conservation should be conducted.
4. Human activities should be done without destroying the natural environment.
5. Illegal hunting and smuggling of animals and plants should be strictly avoided.
6. Effective laws and rules should be adopted for the conservation of rare animals and plants.
7. Industries are established from the raw materials. During the process of collecting raw materials, care should be taken not to destroy useful plants and habitats of animals.
8. Public awareness should be created about the importance of rare animals and plants, causes of rareness and measures for their preservation.

To effectively conserve biodiversity, several measures need to be implemented. First, it's important to control overgrazing in forests so that rare plants aren't destroyed. Conserving the natural habitats where these plants and animals live is crucial. Continuous study of ecosystems helps understand their conditions and informs conservation actions. It's also essential that human activities don't harm these environments. Strong laws are necessary to prevent illegal hunting and trading of wildlife. Additionally, industries should operate sustainably without harming nature, and it’s vital to educate the public about the significance of biodiversity and how they can help in its preservation.

Think of these conservation measures like rules in a game. Just as rules guide a game to ensure everyone plays fairly and has fun, these measures guide how we interact with the environment. They help protect rare plants and animals, ensuring they can thrive, just like how good rules ensure a fair chance for all players in a game.

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