Bio-geographical classification

• Biogeography


  The study of the distribution of species (biology), organisms, and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time
• India has a rich heritage of natural diversity
• India harbours nearly 10% of the world's floral diversity comprising over 17500 documented flowering plants, 6200 endemic species, 7500 medicinal plants and 246 globally threatened species in only 2.4% of world's land area
• India is one of the 12th Mega diverse regions of world
• 10 Biogeographic zones in India

  • Trans-Himalayas
  • Himalayas
  • Desert
  • Semi-arid
  • Western Ghats
  • Deccan Peninsula
  • Gangetic plain
  • Coasts
  • North-east India
  • Islands
• Trans-Himalayan zone


  • High altitude cold and arid mountain areas, including cold deserts
  • Sparse alpine steppe vegetation with endemic species such as Ibex, Snow leopard, Black necked crane, marbled cat, Marmots
• Himalayan zone


  • Alpine and sub-alpine forests, grassy meadows and moist deciduous forests
  • Diverse habitats for a range of species including endangered ones such as Hangul and Musk Deer
• Indian Desert


  • Arid zone with large expanses of grasslands that support several endangered species such as the Great Indian Bustard
  • Plant species are Acacia nilotica, Prosopis cineraria, Salvadora oleoides and Tecomella spp.
• Semi-Arid zone


  • Savannah woodland and dry deciduous and tropical thorn forest zone in Western India
  • Supports the highest wildlife biomass
  • Endangered Asiatic Lion found in Gir forests of Gujarat
  • Largest herbivores are Blackbuck, Chowsingha, Nilgai, and Gazelle
• Western Ghats


  • Moist evergreen forests are most extensive
  • Home to approximately 15,000 species of higher plants
  • Rainfall is heavy, possibly more than 2,000mm in most areas but can exceed 5,000mm in some areas
  • Forests have been replaced by tea, coffee, cocoa, rubber, cardamom, chincona and other plantations
  • Endemic faunal species such as the Nilgiri Langur and the Lion-tailed Macaque
• Deccan Peninsula (Plateau)


  • Ranges from semi-arid to moist-deciduous/semi-evergreen type of climate
  • Supports some of the finest forests in India with abundant populations of deer and antelope species such as Chital, Sambar and Four-horned Antelope
  • Small populations of Asian Elephants and Wild Water Buffaloes as well Gharhial is restricted to some rivers
• Gangetic plain


  • Mostly under agriculture, fertile land and supports dense human population
  • Supports many large and charismatic mammals such as One-horned Rhinoceros, Asian Elephant and Wild Water Buffalo
  • Other characteristic fauna includes Swamp Deer, Hog Deer and Hispid Hare
• Coast


  • Diverse set of biotic communities including beaches, mangroves, mud flats, coral reefs and marine angiosperm pastures
  • Sundarbans shared with Bangladesh is the largest contiguous mangrove area in the world
  • Fauna includes Dungdong, Hump-back dolphin of turbid estuarine waters, varied turtles, especially Batagur basker of Sunderbans estuary
• North East


  • Represents the transition zone between the Indian, Indo-Malay and Indo-Chinese biogeographic regions
  • One of the richest in communities, in species
  • Only region where the full richness of the large herbivore fauna typical of alluvial grasslands can still be found: rhinoceros, buffalo, elephant, swamp deer, hog deer, pygmy hog and hispid hare
• Islands


  • Lakshadweep islands and the Andaman group of islands
  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands have some of India's finest tropical evergreen moist forests and show high degree of endemism in flora and fauna
  • Mammal fauna is poor, mostly rodents and small mammals
• Ecological Problems


  • Loss of Species and Biomass
  • Changes in Climatic Conditions
  • Drying up of rivers and aquifers
  • Floods and Droughts
  • Desertification
  • Rapid melting of glaciers
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety


  The full name of the treaty is the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety


  • The international treaty concerns the movement of LMOs (living-modified organisms) resulting from modern technology from one nation to another
• Genetically modified organism (GMO)


  An animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques
• Living modified organisms (LMOs)


  Living organisms that have a novel combination of genetic material secured from the use of modern technology
• Biosafety Protocols


  • Intended to provide uniform international requirements for ensuring the safe transport and use of these products
• The Biosafety Protocol was adopted by more than 130 countries in Montreal, Canada


  January 29, 2000
• The Biosafety Protocol came into force


  2003
• The protocol was adopted in Montreal in 2000 but is named after Cartagena, the original city in Colombia where the protocol was supposed to be adopted</b>
• Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity

  • Seeks to protect biodiversity from the potential risks caused by LMOs arising from modern technology
• The protocol was adopted because of the tremendous advancements in biotechnology and the associated concerns about its safety and usage concerning biodiversity
• Cartagena Protocol


  • Chiefly governs LMOs that are intentionally introduced into the environment (trees, seeds or fish)
  • Genetically modified (GM) farm commodities (grain and corn used for animal feed, food, or for processing)
  • Does not cover pharmaceuticals for humans addressed by other international agreements and organizations or products derived from LMOs, such as cooking oil from GM corn
• Biodiversity rule 2004 (Act 2002)


  Objectives: Conservation, Sustainable Use, Equitable Benefit Sharing
• Biodiversity rule 2004 (Act 2002)


  • Key Components: Biodiversity Authority, Biodiversity Heritage Sites, Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS)
• Regulation of Biological Resources


  Permissions and Approvals, Benefit Sharing, Offenses and Penalties
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)


  • Established at the local level to promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
• Implementation and Compliance


  • Compliance Mechanisms to monitor and ensure compliance with the Act's provisions