Conservation of Plants and Animals: Biodiversity & Species

Conservation of plants and animals is very important because they are the important components of biodiversity. Biodiversity can be defined as the varities of living species present on the earth and their interaction with surrounding environment. Since we are only familiar with the plant and animal species we see every day, most of us may not be aware of the wide variety of species that once ruled the forests but are now on the verge of extinction.

Some of the reasons behind the extinction of species are – habitat destruction, natural disasters, adaptation to new environments, and climate change. The main aim of the conservation of plants and animals is to protect them for a sustainable future.

---

Biodiversity Conservation

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

Biodiversity is related to the variabilities among plants, animals, and microorganism species. The ecological balance between all living organisms is the basis of survival on earth. Marine life has more species than terrestrial life. Marine life includes coral reefs, microorganisms, and a variety of living organisms. Forests, wildlife, and artificial settlement are part of terrestrial life. All of these are interrelated with each other. 

Plants, animals and microorganisms are the components on which humans are directly dependent for food, carbon dioxide and healthy life. Therefore, conservation of biodiversity is essential for a better and sustainable life on earth. Various strategies have now been developed to conserve the entire biodiversity which includes the establishment of national parks, botanical gardens, wildlife sanctuaries, etc.

Biodiversity

---

Conservation of Plants and Animals

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

The word “Conservation” simply means storing or saving resources for future use. The main aim of the conservation of plants and animals is to protect endangered, vulnerable, and threatened species along with their habitat in order to maintain the ecological balance on the earth. This helps in maintaining a healthy and functional environment for the survival of all the species on earth. The human activities are one of the rootcauses of extinction of species. This can be understood as humans are forced to exploit nature including plants and animals and their habitats for economic purposes. 

In our pursuit of money, we humans are unaware that in one way or the other, we are putting our lives at risk. Due to continued economic and human activities, plant and animal species like Lepidodendron, Dodo bird, etc. are now considered as extinct species under the Red Data Book.

• Due to the continuous extinction of species on a large scale, the government was forced to take necessary steps.
• Later, they came forward with several measures for the conservation of plants and animals in the year 1993. 
• The conservation of entire biodiversity was divided into two categories- in situ and ex situ biodiversity conservation. 
• Biodiversity can be protected by the establishment of habitats, and sanctuaries for plants and animals.

National Park 

National Park is a highly restricted area where not a single human activity is permitted. The main purpose of the establishment of the national park is to protect the historic and cultural heritage of the area. For example, rock shelters and caves that were part of ancient times are protected. 

Manas National Park in Assam

Botanical Gardens

The conservation of plants (including threatened and endangered species) are done in the large area called botanical gardens. Plants are also conserved in the research laboratories and gene banks. 

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuaries are places where wild animals are conserved. The animals stay in their natural habitat and only limited human activity is permitted. Hunting, poaching, and deforestation are strictly banned there. Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala is known for being the habitat of elephants and tigers. 

Wildlife Sanctuary

Tiger Reserves

Tiger reserves came in the year 1973 and it is specially made for conserving the species of tigers. Tiger is the national animal of India so it is important to save them as they are at the risk of extinction. India's first national park, Jim Corbett National Park is home to over 200 tigers.

Tiger Reserve

Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserves are the place where different species of plants and animals are preserved. The zoologists and botanists do research and attain important knowledge and information about floras and faunas. An example of a biosphere reserve is the Pachmarhi biosphere reserve where different species of floras and faunas are found. 

Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve

---

Factors Affecting Biodiversity

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

The loss of biodiversity occurs when a particular species and its habitat is harmed or destroyed for the benefit of humans. Humans are exploiting the forest by cutting down trees on a large scale. They do it for the establishment of parks, societies, malls, and houses. 

Threats to Biodiversity

But the causes can be of two types either natural or human cause. 

• Natural causes: The loss of floras and faunas occurs due to factors like floods, drought, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, etc. They destroy human settlements as well as the ecosystem. 
• Human causes: These include the loss of species of plants and animals due to humans for their benefit. Humans perform deforestation, hunting, poaching, mining, and urbanization. Due to this, endangered species’ numbers are decreasing and pose a very high risk of extinction. 

---

Things to Remember 

• The variations of life on earth make biodiversity which consists of different floras and faunas that maintain a balance on the earth in every sphere. 
• The ecosystem is the interaction between the living species and the environment in order to make the balance between them.
• The earth is rich in biodiversity because it has a great number of species of plants and animals.
• Most of them are familiar to us whereas there are even unknown species that are yet to be recognized. 
• Deforestation is the process of cutting down trees at a large scale for the benefit of humans.
• Humans are exploiting nature day by day for their purposes which results in the extinction of plants and animals. 
• There is a serious need to conserve the forest and habitat for a sustainable future.