Describe physical factors in the study area of (India) e.g biodiversity
Answers
Answer:
Biodiversity is referred to as the variation of plant and animal species in a particular habitat. Species evenness and species richness form the major components of biodiversity.
India is known for its rich biodiversity and has 23.39% of the geographical area covered by forests and trees.
Coined by Norman Myers, the term “Biodiversity hotspots” can be defined as the regions which are known for their high species richness and endemism.
Biodiversity hotspots in India are an important topic for the IAS Exam and are under UPSC Mains GS-III syllabus. This article will discuss the major biodiversity hotspots in India. Aspirants will also find the list of IUCN endangered species. Aspirants can also download the notes PDF at the end of the article.
Along with Biodiversity, one may also read:
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) National Mission for Sustainable Habitat (NMSH) – One of the 8 NAPCC Missions
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Nagoya Protocol
United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) Green India Mission
Biodiversity – Species, Genetics and Ecosystem Kigali Agreement
Biodiversity Hotspots – 2 Main Qualifying Criteria
According to Conservation International, a region must fulfill the following two criteria to qualify as a hotspot:
The region should have at least 1500 species of vascular plants i.e., it should have a high degree of endemism.
It must contain 30% (or less) of its original habitat, i.e. it must be threatened.
Following the criteria must for an area to be declared as Biodiversity Hotspot, there are major four biodiversity hotspots in India:
The Himalayas
Indo-Burma Region
The Western Ghats
Sundaland
The Himalayas
Considered as the highest in the world, the Himalayas comprises of North-East India, Bhutan, Central and Eastern parts of Nepal. This region holds a record of having 163 endangered species which includes the Wild Asian Water Buffalo, One-horned Rhino, and as many as 10,000 plant species, of which 3160 are endemic. This mountain range covers nearly 750,000 km2.
Indo – Burma Region
The Indo-Burma Region is stretched over a distance of 2,373,000 km². In the last 12 years, 6 large mammal species have been discovered in this region: the Large-antlered Muntjac, the Annamite Muntjac, the Grey-shanked Douc, the Annamite Striped Rabbit, the Leaf Deer, and the Saola.
This hotspot is also known for the endemic freshwater turtle species, most of which are threatened with extinction, due to over-harvesting and extensive habitat loss. There are also 1,300 different bird species, including the threatened White-eared Night-heron, the Grey-crowned Crocias, and the Orange-necked Partridge.
The Western Ghats
The Western Ghats are present along the western edge of peninsular India and covers most of the deciduous forests and rain forests. This region consists of 6000 plant species of which 3000 are endemic. Originally, the vegetation in this region was spread over 190,000 km2 but has been now reduced to 43,000 km2. The region is also known for 450 species of birds, 140 mammals, 260 reptiles, and 175 amphibians.
Knowing in detail about the Western Ghats will be helpful for the aspirants for the Geography preparation.
Sundaland
The Sundaland hotspot lies in South-East Asia and covers Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. In the year 2013, the Sundaland was declared as a World Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations. This region is famous for its rich terrestrial and marine ecosystem. Sundaland is one of the biologically richest hotspots in the world which comprises 25,000 species of vascular plants, of which 15,000 are found only in this region.
Describe physical factors in India