INTRODUCTION

DEFINITION OF BIO-DIVERSITY:

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich where as polar regions support fewer species. "Biological diversity" or "biodiversity" can have many interpretations. It is most commonly used to replace the more clearly defined and long established terms, species diversity and species richness. Biologists most often define biodiversity as the "totality of genes, species, and ecosystems of a region". An advantage of this definition is that it seems to describe most circumstances and presents a unified view of the traditional three levels at which biological variety has been identified: Species diversity Ecosystem diversity Genetic diversity. BIO-DIVERSITY OF INDIA Wildlife of India is a mix of species of diverse origins. India is home to a number of rare and threatened animal species. Home to about 7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of avian, 6.2% of reptilian, and 6.0% of flowering plant species. Tropical rainforest of the Andaman Islands, Western Ghats, and Northeast India, coniferous forest of the Himalaya. dry deciduous forest of central and southern India.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY

The Wildlife Conservation Society saves wildlife and wild Lands through careful science, international conservation, Education, and the management of the worlds largest system of urban wildlife parks. These activities change attitudes toward nature and help people imagine wildlife and humans living in sustainable interaction on both a local and a global scale. WCS is committed to this work because we believe it essential to the integrity of life on Earth

WCS currently oversees more than 300 conservation projects in 53 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. WCS field staff, the largest of any international conservation organization in the United States, is helping to save diverse habitats across the globe. By training local wildlife staff and students in research methods, WCS ensures that there is a permanent local capacity for conservation and management. The society also promotes local public awareness of endangered species and habitat loss.

WCS works in cooperation with local and national governments and conservation organizations by providing information based on its long-term field studies to decision-makers involved in conservation policy and action. As a result of these initiatives, WCS has helped establish more than 100 wildlife parks and reserves across the world. DEFINED Wildlife protection act started in 1972 Wildlife conservation is the protection of species and habitats of animals.

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ACT 1972

The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 refers to a sweeping package of legislation enacted in 1972 by the Government of India. Before 1972,India only had five designated national parks. Among other reforms, the Act established schedules of protected plant and animal species; hunting or harvesting these species was largely outlawed. The Act provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and plants; and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. It extends to the whole of India, except the State of Jammu & Kashmir , which has its own wildlife act. It has six schedules which give varying degrees of protection. Schedule I and part II of Schedule II provide absolute protection - offences under these are prescribed the highest penalties. Species listed in Schedule III and Schedule IV are also protected, but the penalties are much lower. Schedule V includes the animals that may be hunted. The plants in Schedule VI are prohibited from cultivation and planting. The hunting to the Enforcement authorities have the power to compound offences under this Schedule (i.e. they impose fines on the offenders). Up to April 2010 there have been 16 convictions under this act relating to the death of tigers.

IMPORTANCE OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Wild life refers to all living organisms in their natural habitat other than cultivated plants and domesticated animals. Importance Of Wild Life 1. To maintain ecological 'balance of nature' and maintain food chain and nature cycles. 2. It has economic value. Many wild plants provide useful substances like timber, paper, gums etc. And they also have wide applications in Ayurveda and other branches of medicine. Wild animals products are tusk, ivory, leather, honey etc. 3. Most important contribution of wild life for human progress is availability of large genepool for the scientists to carry breeding programs in agriculture, animal husbandry and fishery. 4. Wild life provides aesthetic value to man. 5. Wild life of a country is its cultural asset.

ECO-TOURISM

Ecotourism is entirely a new approach in tourism. Ecotourism is a preserving travel to natural areas to appreciate the cultural and natural history of the environment, taking care not to disturb the integrity of the ecosystem, while creating economic opportunities that make conservation and protection of natural resources advantageous to the local people. In short, ecotourism can be categorized as a tourism programme that is - "Nature based, Ecologically sustainable, where education and interpretation is a major constituent and where local people are benefited." All this together can be called ecotourism. If a travel does not satisfy any one of these constituents, then it is not called a real ecotourism venture. The Concern for Ecotourism Since ages, nature worship and the conservation ethics have been an inseparable part of Indian thought and traditions. Traces go back to ancient civilizations of India, when people used to nurture the philosophy of the oneness of life. The Indian tradition has always taught that, humankind is a part ofnature

CAUSES OF WILDLIFE DESTRUCTION

Habitat Loss and Poaching

Habitat loss is the second most critical factor in species extinction. Worldwide, there is now 20 per cent less forest cover than existed 300 years ago, and there is five times as much land devoted to agriculture. Forests and fields that are cleared for agriculture can sustain only a fraction of the species they formerly held. Poaching and hunting are another major cause of animal species extinction. In some regions of Africa, hunters in search of much-needed food have wiped out scores of game species. Poaching and illegal trade in animals are US$2 billion to $3 billion global industries, and as long as rhinoceros horns bring US$12,500 per pound on the black market and ocelot pelts fetch US$40,000, exotic animals will continue to be endangered. In recent years, conservationists concluded that it is ineffective to try saving species one at a time. Most efforts to preserve biodiversity now focus on the maintenance of the habitat necessary for plant and animal survival rather than on particular species. Currently, 6 per cent of all the Earths land is protected or preserved habitat, although the preserves are not distributed equally across all continents. To that end, the World Conservation Union has set a goal of preserving 10 per cent of each of the Earths major ecological regions by the year 2000, thereby protecting greater numbers of species from extinction. HABITAT LOSS AND FRAGMENTATION

 Extensive human demand resulted into Habitat Loss. Rainforests are the main habitats Tropical rainforests are cleared for wood / timber resources development of petroleum resources mineral resources for cash-crop plantations and subsistence farming

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE TRADE

The international wildlife trade is a serious conservation problem, addressed by the United Nations' Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES, which currently has 175 member countries called Parties. The 15th meeting of the Parties took place in Doha, Qatar during 1325 March 2010.Wildlife trade consists of the trade, barter, or sale of wild specimens of animals and plants. It impacts many thousands of species that may be traded live, whole, or as a wide variety of parts, pieces and derivatives. The great diversity of items and products traded can make it very difficult to identify the species being traded. Species identification poses a significant challenge to authorities when responding to international wildlife trade.

EFFECTS OF WILDLIFE DESTRUCTION

Wildlife extinction has a large impact on our world that most people are not aware of. it will take at least 5 million years for speciation to rebuild the biodiversity we are likely to destroy during this century! (Sustaining Biodiversity) The instrumental value of some species should be taken into consideration. Species provide economic value in the form of food crops, fuelwood and lumber, paper, and medicine (Sustaining Biodiversity). The genetic information in species is also very important to mankind. The information is used to create new crop types, as well as food, medicines, and vaccines. The plants and animals of the earth are also important because of the recreational pleasure they provide us with. More people in America spend time watching wildlife than they do watching movies or sports. Ecotourism, generates at least $500 billion per year worldwide (Sustaining Biodiversity) There are many ways wildlife extinction has an influence on the world. Biologists conservatively estimate that the current rate of extinction is at least 1,000 to 10,000 times the rate before we arrived. This amounts to an annual extinction rate of 0.1% to 1% per year. These estimated extinction rats are startling and noteworthy. 1% extinction rate at least 20% of the worlds current animal and plant species could be gone by 2030 and 50% could vanish by the end of this century. (Sustaining Biodiversity)At these rates the amount of extinction will damage the world so drastically that it will take twenty times the amount of time it took to damage it, to fix it. The worst part is the rate of loss is likely to increase over the next 50- 100 years. (Sustaining Biodiversity) Land life zones are categorized as desert, forest, grassland, and tundra. They are the home to many species and are constantly threatened. Climate change and pollution is affecting these biomes and the species that inhabit them. Deforestation is happening constantly and this is extremely harmful to all of these biomes. Without some sort of protection many land life zones will be lost.

Aquatic life zones are categorized as freshwater and marine. Aquatic life zones are a major natural resource and should be respected and taken care of. These biomes are the most complex and also the most threatened. At 34% fish are the most endangered species in the world (Sustaining Biodiversity). Freshwater life zones suffer terribly from pollution, and runoff containing fertilizer and other wastes and industrial dumpings enter into rivers, ponds, and lakes and tend to promote abnormally rapid algae growth (The worlds biomes). Overfishing is also ruining these biomes. Aquatic life zones support so many of the species of this planet, and they should be treated as important as they are.

THE NATURAL WEALTH OF INDIA Unique, mysterious and fascinating for nature lovers. In Indian philosophy, life in any form is deemed pure and it is advocated that compassion for all living creatures is essential. The tree has held a vital place in religious tradition, symbolizing the myth of creation. The Agni Purana reveals that the conservation rite becomes a soul-saving deed and that trees are objects of respect. The rich and fascinating variety of India's wildlife can be seen in the 80 national parks, 440 sanctuaries and 23 tiger reserves established by the Government of India.

India harbors 60% of the world's wild tiger population, 50% of Asian elephants, 80% of the one-horn rhinoceros and the entire remaining population of the Asiatic lion.

WILDLIFE OF INDIA (PAST)

There were More than 500 species of mammals 1,220 species of birds 1, 600 species of reptiles and amphibians 57,000 species of insects

WILDLIFE OF INDIA (TODAY)

The flora and fauna of wild species today is declining rapidly in India Possible extinction is a possibility for over 77 mammals, 72 bird species, 17 reptile species, 3 amphibian species Large amount of butterflies and beetles which are considered to be endangered. Rapid growth in industrialization has hampered the ecosystem and had badly affected the wild animals Wildlife of India is on the mercy of human beings as the mortality rate of animals is increasing due to hunting and poaching.

WILDLIFE DESTRUCTIONS IN INDIA

Over exploitation of forest Illicit felling of trees International wildlife trade (1960-1970) Nature against nature Encroachment of villagers on forest land Global warming (30% of all species might vanish in coming decade) Un healthy relations of Gov. and local population Local hunting and poaching by villagers Unloyalty of forest officials Eco-tourism and adventure tourism. Growth in vehicle pollution Wildlife road fatalities Damage of the natural habitat of birds and animals. Increase in wildfires

 Releasing of chemicals and other toxic effluents into the water bodies has led to poisoning of the water.

GOVERNMENT ROLE IN CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE

Wildlife protection act 1972 Project tiger 1972-73 Forest protection act 1980-88 Anti poaching agencies State wildlife dept State forest dept Ministry of environment and forest Army (IF APPLICABLE) Police Border security force Coast guards Wildlife conservation society

PROJECT TIGER

Project Tiger was launched in 1973 in India. The project aims at ensuring a viable population of tigers in their natural habitats and preserving areas of biological importance as a natural heritage for the people. The selection of areas for the reserves represented as close as possible the diversity of ecosystems across the tiger's distribution in the country. The project's task force visualized these tiger reserves as breeding nuclei, from which surplus animals would emigrate to adjacent forests. Funds and commitment were mustered to support the intensive program of habitat protection and rehabilitation under the project. The government has set-up a Tiger Protection Force to combat poachers, and funded the relocation of up to 200,000 villagers to minimize human-tiger confliction. During the tiger census of 2008, a new methodology was used extrapolating site-specific densities of tigers, their co-predators and prey derived from camera trap and sign surveys using GIS. Based on the result of these surveys, the total tiger population has been estimated at 1,411 individuals ranging from 1,165 to 1,657 adult and sub-adult tigers of more than 1.5 years of age.

SUGGESTIONS

 Creation of wildlife sanctuaries and reserves with mandatory fencing Special task force be prepared for preservation of this supreme predator No forestry operations carried out in core areas Dept. be provided with additional personal and wireless equipment with an immediate effect Rehabilitation of locals done outside the reserve forest with immediate effect Immediate compensesation to villagers in case of kill made by tiger Immediate seize of weapon license from villagers given before 1972 unless prescribed officially.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Love towards mother Earth, Nature & Animals Conservation laws for wildlife/forest practiced properly Strict actions against, who do not abide laws Non Bailable arrest to person found accused Non industrial activities besides reserve forest

CONCLUSION

Forests and wildlife are the renewable natural resource and if all the planned programmes are effectively executed, in a few decades the flora and the fauna will start flourishing Butremember Nature has always helped in flourishing the mankind. But this isn't about what nature gives to you, its what you, as a human being give back in return. Are you concerned about nature? Does saving the endangered species and taking necessary actions for those who are on the brink of extinction means something to you? Then lets join hands to save mother Earth!!!