Answer:
- Coined by Norman Myers (1988), 'Biodiversity Hotspots' are regions that harbor at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and have lost more than 70% of their original natural habitat.
Out of 36 global hotspots, 4 regions extend into India:
- Himalaya Region: Covers the entire Indian Himalayan expanse (44.4% of the hotspot area) along with Nepal and Bhutan.
→ Key species: Snow leopard, Namdapha flying squirrel, musk deer, and hangul. - Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: Known as the Sahyadri range, 64.9% of which lies in India.
→ Key species: Lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri tahr, and Malabar civet. - Indo-Burma Region: Encompasses northeastern India (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, etc.; approx. 5%).
→ Key species: Rare freshwater turtle species, langurs, and primates (apes/monkeys). - Sundaland: Comprises India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands (1.28%) and parts of Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.).
→ Key species: Dugong (sea cow), saltwater crocodile, and olive ridley sea turtle.
Government Initiatives for Conservation
1. Institutional Measures (Three-Tier Framework)
- National Level: Establishment of the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA, Chennai) in 2003, which regulates access to biological resources and fair and equitable benefit sharing (ABS).
- State Level: Establishment of State Biodiversity Boards (SBB) across states.
- Local Level: Constitution of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) at panchayat and urban local body levels, alongside the documentation of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBR).
- Specialized Agencies: Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) and National Green Tribunal (NGT).
2. Policy and Legislative Measures
- Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Enacted to realize the objectives of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and curb biopiracy and illegal exploitation.
- Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Mandates the establishment of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves, and prohibits poaching.
- Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 & National Environment Policy, 2006: Notification of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) and balancing development with environmental sustainability.
- Species-Specific Schemes: Flagship initiatives such as Project Tiger (1973), Project Elephant (1992), Project Snow Leopard, and SECURE Himalaya.
⇒Through these comprehensive efforts, India ensures effective in-situ conservation of endangered habitats and threatened fauna across its biodiversity hotspots.