Enumerate and analyse the wild life species that occur in the different
biogeographic zones of India.
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GEOGRAPHY AND MAJOR BIOMES OF INDIA
India is the seventh largest country in the world and Asia's second largest nation with an area of 3,287,263 sq.km. encompassing a varied landscape rich in natural resources. India is shielded by the world's highest mountains, the Himalayas, in the north. The southern part of India takes the shape of a peninsula and divides the Indian Ocean into the Bay of Bengal to the southeast and the Arabian Sea to the southwest. The southern tip of Kanyakumari is washed by the Indian Ocean. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep group of islands in the Arabian sea are also a part of India.
India has a great diversity of natural ecosystems from the cold and high Himalayan ranges to the sea coasts, from the wet northeastern green forests to the dry northwestern arid deserts, different types of forests, wetlands, islands and the oceans. India consists of fertile river plains and high plateaus and several major rivers, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Indus. The climate of India is determined by the southwest monsoon between June and October, the northeast monsoon between October and November and dry winds from the north between December and February. From March to May the climate is dry and hot.
India, being a vast country, shows a great diversity in climate,
topography and geology and hence the country
is very rich in terms of biological diversity.
India's biological diversity is one of the most significant in the
world, since India has only 2% of the total landmass of the world
containing about 6% of the world's known wildlife.
The country has 10 different biogeographic zones and 26 biotic provinces.
S.No. Biogeographic zones Biotic provinces
1. Trans-Himalaya Ladakh mountains, Tibetan plateau
2. Himalaya Northwest, West, Central and East Himalayas
3. Desert Thar, Kutch
4. Semi-arid Punjab plains, Gujarat Rajputana
5. Western Ghats Malabar plains, Western Ghats
6. Deccan Peninsula Central highlands, Chotta-Nagpur, Eastern highlands, Central Plateau, Deccan South
7. Gangetic plains Upper and Lower Gangetic plains
8. Coast West and East coast, Lakshadweep
9. North-East Brahmaputra valley, Northeast hills
10. Islands Andaman and Nicobar
CAUSES OF ECOLOGICAL DESTRUCTION AND DEPLETION
The rapid deterioration of the ecology due to human interference is aiding the disappearance of wildlife from the biosphere.
The common problems are habitat disturbance and destruction, introduction of exotics, exploitation, marine pollution, natural disasters like floods, earthquakes and forest fires.
The major problems of certain specific zones are as follows.
- Wetlands: siltation, eutrophication, encroachment, tourism.
- Forests: deforestation and degradation, extended cultivation, road laying, mining operation.
- Seas: hot water from nuclear and thermal power plants, toxic effluents from coastal areas, oil spills, blasting and dredging, collection of undersized fishes and other organisms, exploitation of ornamental seashells, chanks and pearl oysters by domestic shell craft industry, export of sea fans and seaweeds.
- Corals: used as a raw material in the cement factories, exploitation of antipatharians and precious red coral for jewellery, commercial exploitation of aquarium fishes from Indian coral reefs.
- Mangroves: agriculture, aquaculture, fuel wood extraction, diversion of fresh water for irrigation resulting in increased salinity.
- Rivers: heavy metal pollution, persistent biocides, organic wastes, removal of sand from river beds.
- Animals: exploited for their skin, fur, wood, tusk, meat, medicine and oil, trade, hunting, poaching.
LEGISLATION FOR PROTECTING ENDANGERED SPECIES
Considering the importance of flora and fauna, major national and international efforts have been make to protect and conserve the rich biodiversity and endangered species of wildlife and flora. Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), 1973, is a significant step in this direction. The convention recognized that wild fauna and flora in their many beautiful and varied forms are irreplaceable parts of the natural systems of the earth, which must be protected by all means. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992 is another milestone.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is our national initiative to protect wildlife. The Act provides for establishment of a Wildlife Board and setting up of Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks. The Act also makes hunting of wild animals a punishable offence. The Biological Diversity Bill, 2000 which is in the offing, also interalia, strives to protect and conserve the biodiversity and endangered species in India.