What are the most threatened biodiversity hotspots in India and steps taken to conserve natural vegetation and wildlife?
India is home to several biodiversity hotspots, but some of the most threatened ones include the Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma region, and Sundaland. To conserve natural vegetation and wildlife, India has taken various steps, such as establishing protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, implementing wildlife conservation acts, promoting community-based conservation initiatives, and raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity. Additionally, afforestation programs, conservation breeding efforts, and research on endangered species are also being carried out to protect India's rich biodiversity.
India is home to several biodiversity hotspots, but some of the most threatened ones include the Western Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma region, and Sundaland. To conserve natural vegetation and wildlife, India has taken various steps, such as establishing protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, implementing wildlife conservation acts, promoting community-based conservation initiatives, and raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity. Additionally, afforestation programs, conservation breeding efforts, and research on endangered species are also being carried out to protect India's rich biodiversity.
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 a host to 4 biodiversity hotspots- the Western Ghats, the Himalayas, the Indo-Burma region, and the Sunderland region. Biodiversity hotspots are those regions of the world that are rich in species which are endemic to that region only. Indo-Burma is one of the most threatened biodiversity hotspots, due to the rate of resource exploitation and habitat loss. The human population requires resources to survive and grow, and many of those resources are being removed unsustainably from the environment. The five main threats to biodiversity are habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation, invasive species, and climate change. Developing protective areas such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries to protect the animals in their natural habitat. The endangered and vulnerable species can be kept in captivity in places such as zoos and bred to increase their population. The cutting of forests should be strictly prohibited. In response to recent human encroachments, the Indian government has implemented various initiatives to conserve wildlife in the country. Some of these initiatives include Project Tiger, which was created to protect tigers from extinction, the Crocodile Conservation Project, and Project Elephant. Conservation of forests is the practice of saving the trees that are cut by industries and other organizations in the name of development and urbanization. It is planting new trees and taking care of them. Deforestation is the process of cutting trees and using the area for domestic or industrial purpose. Major direct threats to biodiversity include habitat loss and fragmentation, unsustainable resource use, invasive species, pollution, and global climate change. The underlying causes of biodiversity loss, such as a growing human population and overconsumption are often complex and stem from many interrelated factors. Agricultural expansion continues to be the main driver of deforestation, forest degradation and forest biodiversity loss. The global food system is the primary driver of biodiversity loss, with agriculture alone being the identified threat of more than 85 per cent of the 28,000 species at risk of extinction.
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