Evolution of Biodiversity and Strategy for its Conservation and Sustainable Utilization

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Evolution of Biodiversity and Strategy for its
Conservation and Sustainable Utilization
Dr. P.Pushpangadan Director National Botanical
Research Institute Lucknow (India)
Dr. G.R.D. College of Science, Coimbatore December
30, 2004
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Biodiversity

• The term 'biodiversity' is being taken in its
  holistic sense, to encompass all levels of
  biodiversity, ecological and evolutionary
  processes, including
• Natural ecosystems e.g. forests, grasslands,
  wetlands, deserts, mountains, coastal and marine
  areas, including the historical changes taking
  place in such ecosystems.
• Wild species and varieties species of plants,
  animals, and micro-organisms existing in their
  natural state and the genetic variation within
  each of these species.

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Biodiversity

• Agricultural ecosystems e.g. farmlands,
  pastures, capture fisheries, aquaculture,
  including historical changes in land-use
  patterns.
• Domesticated species and varieties species of
  crops livestock (including poultry), captive-bred
  fish, pets, and micro organisms in ex-situ
  collection and the genetic variation within each
  of these species.
• In general we may say that Biodiversity exist at
  a various levels such as
• species, genetic and habitat

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Biodiversity

• According to Convention on Biological Diversity
  (CBD), biodiversity is the variability among all
  living organisms from all sources, including,
  interalia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic
  ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they
  are part this includes diversity within species,
  between species and of ecosystems.

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Biodiversity

• Biological diversity is the central tenet of
  nature, one of its key defining features.
  Evolution has produced an amazing variety of
  plants, animals and micro-organisms, intricately
  interconnected, and worthy of respect and
  conservation in their own right. Biodiversity is
  also the basis for the continuous evolution of
  species. This diversity is also the backbone of
  human societies and cultures, in terms of the
  ecological functions it provides and the myriad
  survival and livelihood it meets.

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Major events in Geological record (the cosmic
calendar)
Events Years ago
Big bang formation of Universe 4800 Million
Origin of life and evolution of biological cells 3500 Million
Evolution of Blue green algae 3200 Million
Filamentous algae 2000 Million
Eukaryotic cells and photosynthetic cells 400 Million
Photosynthetic organisms Thallophytes fungi land plants 320 Million
Bryophytes Mosses Liverworts 300 Million
Tracheophytes Club mosses (Lycopodium, Selaginella) 280 Million
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Major events in Geological record (the cosmic
calendar Contd..)
Events Years ago
Gymnosperms Cycadoides 280 Million
Ginkgos 250 Million
Conifers 250 Million
Angiosperms 100-125 Million
Ants 60 Million
Agriculture by Ants 50 Million
Homo habilis (Progenitor of humans) 2.5 Million
Homo sapiens (Humans) 1.5 Million
Agriculture by Humans 12000 Years
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Genesis of the Global Concern on Biodiversity
Conservation

• First discussed in 1972 U. N. Conference at
  Stockhlom
• U. N. General Assembly by a resolution on 15th
  December 1972 established UNEP. .
• First Governing Council met in 1973 identified
  Conservation of Nature, Wildlife and Genetic
  Resources as Priority areas.
• The World Commission on environment and
  Development (WCED) was constituted in 1983.
• WCED submitted its report Our Common Future in
  1987 called for Conservation of Biodiversity for
  Sustainable Development.

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Genesis of the Global Concern on Biodiversity
Conservation

• UNEP constituted an ad-hoc. Working Group of
  Technological and Legal experts to prepare an
  international legal instrument for conservation
  and sustainable use of Biodiversity which
  resulted in CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
  (CBD).
• 171 countries signed CBD in June1992 during the
  Earth summit at Rio de Janeiro.
• CBD came -into force as an International Law On
  29th Dec. 1993.

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Genesis of the Global Concern on Biodiversity
Conservation

• India ratified CBD on 18th February 1994 and came
  into force from 19th May 1994.
• 188 countries are now parties to CBD (as on
  December 2004)

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Reasons for Conserving Biodiversity

• Ethical
• Ecological
• Economic
• Aesthetic
• Evolutionary

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Action Programme

• Prepare -passport data of all important and
  endemic biodiversity passport data should cover
  morphological cytological chemical and molecular
  level (DNA/gene level) information so as to
  prevent bio/germplasm.
• Identification of problems and solutions in
  conservation, threatened status of species
  ecosystems.
• Identification of problems and solutions in
  conservation.

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Conservation of Biodiversity Strategies
Priorities
IUCN, UNEP WWF 1980 came out with the first
global strategy for Conservation. This strategy
defined conservation as "Management of human
use of biodiversity so that it may yield the
greatest sustainable benefit to present
generation while maintaining its potential to
meet the needs and aspirations of future
generation " This definition involves two
complementary components , Conservation' and
sustainability
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Conservation of Biodiversity Strategies
Priorities

• Primary Goal of World Conservation Strategy is
• Maintenance of essential ecological processes and
  life support systems on which human survival and
  economic activities depend
• Preservation of species and genetic diversity
• Sustainable use of species and ecosystems which
  support millions of rural communities as well as
  major industries.
• Thus a logical strategy for conservation of
• biodiversity should involve
• Protection, preservation, maintenance,
  exploitation,
• conservation and sustainable utilization of
• Biodiversity

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Conservation of Biodiversity Strategies
Priorities
Most widely accepted scientific methods of
biodiversity conservation are (i)In situ
methods (ii) Ex situ methods In situ
conservation This is being done by effecting
protection of Natural habitat(s) as such so as
the species or stock of biological communities in
their natural state is protected from human
intervention e.g. Biosphere reserves, national
Parks, wild life sanctuaries, sacred groves or
other protected natural ecosystems or on farm
agro diversity. The idea of establishing
protected areas network has been taken a
central place in all policy decision process
related to biodiversity conservation both at
national and international levels
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RD work on Plant Biodiversity Thrust Areas
Future Strategies

• Complete survey, inventory, documentation and
  preparation of digital database along with
  virtual herbarium
• Identification of rare, endangered and endemic
  plants
• Bioprospecting of biodiversity and selection.
• Domestication, genetic enhancement and
  development protocol for cultivation of selected
  wild plant.
• Development of package of practices for post
  harvest management and processing.
• Development of location specific value added
  product development from locally available
  bioresources that convert the local biodiversity
  into economic wealth thereby generating gainful
  mass rural employment and prosperity to the
  nation.

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Strength of South East Asia in Biodiversity

• Rich in all levels of biodiversity species,
  genes, habitat.
• Rich in cultural diversity that generated rich
  fund of indigenous knowledge systems.
• Humanity has tapped only a fraction of this
  nature's vast genetic library.
• Over 80-85 genetic resources of South Asian
  countries are hitherto untapped.
• Excellent opportunity for hunting novel genes,
  drugs, pharmaceuticals, new chemicals / raw
  materials for new industrial ventures.

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Action Programme

• Important points that the biodiversity rich
• third world nations should undertake
• Complete inventory documentation of all
  Biological resources including the microorganisms
  
• Check list/database of the floristic wealth of
  the nation along with the
• associated knowledge system
• Ground check to know the actual situation and
  identify the gaps
• Study- genetic diversity, distribution pattern,
  association pattern and gradients
• Identify- rare, endemic and endangered status of
  spp. , if any.