Our natural resources are known to have some specific qualities of their own. These qualities are known as natural qualities. It is due to specific natural qualities that different natural resources have been useful to us and to the whole biosphere. But now, the condition has changed considerably.
The Conservation Status of Biodiversity is usually known through the comprehensive Inventory prepared periodically by the IUCN, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. This comprehensive Inventory of the Conservation Status of Species is popularly known as the Red List or the Red Data List.
Conservation of species in their natural habitats- in areas where they occur under normal conditions is called in-situ conservation.
This type of conservation strategy protects the entire area. Such an area is protected and maintained to conserve all the known or unknown species inhabiting it.
In this type of conservation, species are not isolated or provided with health care, food, or mating facilities. Only factors detrimental to species’ existence and development are eliminated in this conservation strategy. Human interference, such as hunting, cutting down trees, collecting firewood, etc., is completely banned in such areas.
Varieties of Biological Resources are in international demand today. To meet this international demand, illegal smuggling of these resources is done through illegal routes. Some species of plants and animals have been threatened, rare, endangered or critically endangered due to such practices. Several valuable species of plants and animals have become extinct due to these activities. The international trade in animal body parts is increasing rather rapidly due to their high prices in the international markets. Where possible, the trade of whole animals is also in full swing.
Species become endangered due to both natural and anthropogenic causes. Since man has no control over natural causes, we should consider anthropogenic causes only. Anthropological causes may be classified into two fundamental categories: Direct Causes and Indirect or underlying causes.
Biodiversity sources and also other sources supply raw materials to many important industries.
They have aesthetic value and an appeal for ecotourism, which supports the growth of the national economy. They are also potential sources of pharmaceuticals, other chemicals, agricultural materials, etc.
Pharmaceutical products of biodiversity origin offer important medicines to our healthcare systems and prepare a background for many social services. Besides these, biodiversity offers various ecosystem services as each of the numerous species of animals and plants depends on other animals or plants for survival, breeding, and development.
Species can be classified in many different ways. One species classification system may categorise species into Typological, evolutionary, and phylogenetic species.
Biodiversity and other sources supply raw materials to many important industries. They have aesthetic value and appeal for ecotourism, which supports the growth of the national economy. They are also potential sources of pharmaceuticals, other chemicals, agricultural materials, etc.
An association of all the plants at a particular place is called a Plant Community and the association of all the animals at the same place is called an Animal Community. Both the plant and animal communities inhabit a particular place living completely merged and interacting among them. Members of a community not only interact with the members of other communities, they interact with the members of their community and with the physical environment around them, as well.
The predominant features that create structural complexity in the environment, such as plants or animals are called as a habitat.
A process, in which natural habitat is rendered functionally unable to support the plants and animals occupying it, is named as Habitat destruction. In the process of habitat destruction, plants and animals that previously used the place are displaced or destroyed, reducing biodiversity.
