Biodiversity of India
India as a Mega Diverse Nation
• Mega-diverse countries are places with an incredibly large variety of plants and animals, including many species that can only be found there (Endemic Species).
• To be considered mega-diverse, a country needs to have at least 5,000 species that are found only in that country (Endemic), and it must also have marine ecosystems within its borders.
• Mega-diverse countries may only cover about 10% of the Earth’s surface, but they are home to around 70% of all the different plants and animals (Terrestrial Biodiversity) found on land.
• According to the United Nations World Conservation Monitoring Centre, there are only 17 countries that qualify as mega-diverse. These countries are Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, United States, and Venezuela.
• In February 2002, during a meeting in Cancun, Mexico, 12 countries came together to form an alliance called the Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries (LMMC). These countries were Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, and Venezuela. Their goal was to work together to protect and sustainably use biodiversity. Over time, more countries like Malaysia, Philippines, Guatemala, and Iran joined this group to contribute to conservation efforts.
Mega-diverse countries have several characteristics that make them unique:
• Geographic Position: Most mega-diverse countries are located in tropical areas, which have a lot of different species because of the warm climate.
• Diversity of Landscapes: These countries have diverse landscapes like mountains and different types of scenery, which create varied environments with different climates, soils, and rainfall.
• Isolation: Some mega-diverse countries are made up of islands or are separated from other landmasses. This isolation has allowed unique plants and animals to develop, a process known as the Founder Effect.
• Size: The bigger the country, the more diverse its habitats and species can be.
• Evolutionary History: Some mega-diverse countries are located where different biogeographical regions meet.
This creates a mix of species with different evolutionary histories, leading to unique features and traits.
Culture: Traditional practices like farming and nomadic lifestyles have led to the domestication of plants and animals, adding to the diversity of species.
India’s Stake in Global Biodiversity
India is one of the 17 mega-diverse countries in the world, meaning it has a lot of different plant and animal species.
Even though India only covers about 2.4% of the Earth’s land area, it’s home to about 7-8% of all the species known to science. This includes around 91,000 species of animals and 45,500 species of plants.
Some of these species, like certain types of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and plants, are found only in India and nowhere else in the world.
Unfortunately, many of these species are endangered, with roughly 1,500 plant species alone facing the risk of extinction. However, thanks to conservation efforts, India is still home to rare and unique animals like the Asiatic Cheetah, Asiatic Lion, Indian Elephant, and many more.
India Represents
• Two ‘Realms’
• Five Biomes
• Ten Bio-geographic Zones
• Twenty-five Bio-geographic provinces
Biogeographic Realms
• Biogeographic realms are large geographic regions that have relatively similar groups of plants and animals. They often have distinct evolutionary histories due to geographic isolation, but the organisms within them are uniform across the region.
• In the Indian subcontinent, there are two biogeographic realms:
• Himalayan Region (Palearctic Realm): This area is characterized by the Himalayan Mountain range and includes the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. It falls within the Palearctic realm.
• Rest of the Subcontinent (Malayan Realm): This encompasses the southern and central parts of the Indian subcontinent, excluding the Himalayan region. It belongs to the Malayan realm.
Globally, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recognizes eight terrestrial biogeographic realms:
• Nearctic Realm
• Palearctic Realm
• Afrotropical Realm
• Indomalaya Realm
• Oceania Realm
• Australian Realm
• Antarctic Realm
• Neotropical Realm
Biomes of India
Biomes are regions classified based on the types of plants and animals that live there, influenced by factors like temperature, sunlight, and soil type. They show how different species interact with each other in a particular environment.
The 5 biomes of India are:
Tropical Humid Forests
Tropical Dry or Deciduous Forests (including Monsoon Forests)
Warm deserts and semi-deserts
Coniferous forests and
Alpine meadows.
Biogeographic zones refer to specific areas where different types of plants and animals are distributed across geological timeframes. These zones help classify India into different regions, which is important for planning and designating wildlife protected areas.
In India, there are 10 distinct biogeographic zones:
Trans-Himalayas
Himalayas
Desert
Semi-arid
Western Ghats
Deccan Peninsula
Gangetic Plain
North-east India
Islands
Coasts
Each zone has its own unique ecological characteristics, including climate, terrain, and the types of species found there. These zones play a crucial role in conservation efforts and biodiversity management in India.
Bio-Geographic Provinces
Bio-geographic provinces are subdivisions within biogeographic realms, which are large-scale ecological regions. These provinces further contain multiple biomes, which are distinct types of ecosystems. In India, there are
25 such biogeographic provinces, each characterized by
unique combinations of plants, animals, and environmental conditions. These provinces help scientists and conservationists understand and manage biodiversity across
the country.
| (9) Northeast India | 9A: North-East – Brahmaputra Valley 9B: North-East – North East Hills |
| (10) Islands | 10A: Islands – Andaman 10B: Islands – Nicobars |
Biodiversity Hotspots in India
Biodiversity hotspots are areas with exceptionally high levels of biodiversity and are considered crucial for conservation efforts.
In India, there are four main biodiversity hotspots:
Himalaya: Encompasses the entire Indian Himalayan region, extending into neighboring countries like Pakistan, Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, China, and Myanmar.
Indo-Burma: Covers Northeastern India, the Andaman group of Islands, and extends into Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and southern China.
Sundalands: Includes the Nicobar group of Islands and extends into Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines.
Western Ghats: Encompasses the entire Western Ghats region in India, including parts of Sri Lanka.
These hotspots are areas of significant ecological importance due to their rich biodiversity and high levels of endemism. Protecting these regions is crucial for preserving global biodiversity.
