Reasons of biodiversity decline and State Action plan

Himachal Pradesh is one of the western Himalayan states. This mountainous state covers a broad altitudinal range from 350 meters above sea level (msl) to 6816 msl. The state is one of the biodiversity hotspots, has 8 forest types and 38 sub-types . The climate of Himachal Pradesh varies from semi-tropical to semi-arctic. The varied physiographic and climatic conditions have given rise to diverse natural ecosystems such as forests, grasslands and pastures, rivers, lakes, wetlands and glaciers. Himachal Pradesh is bestowed with 3295 species of plants and 5721 species animals. Along with the bio-climatic conditions, the biodiversity of the state is also shaped by the livelihood options followed in the state such as agriculture and livestock mixed farming system, apple orchards and pastoralism. The domesticated biodiversity in form of goats and sheeps form a remarkable feature of the state. The culture and traditional knowledge of biodiversity is demonstrated by large number of sacred forests and groves, sacred wetlands and number of other biodiversity conservation traditions associated with the livelihood practices of the local communities.

 Value of Bio-Diversity

Bio-diversity provides a foundation for the continued existence of a healthy planet and our own well being. Bio-diversity generates greater resilience. It is to be noted that when ecosystems are diverse, there is a pathway for primary production and ecological processes, such as nutrient cycling so that if one is damaged or destroyed, an alternative path way may be used and the ecosystem can continue its functioning in the normal form. If biological diversity is greatly reduced, the functioning of ecosystem is put at risk. The multiplication of genes, species and ecosystems is a resource that can be tapped as human needs change. Bio-diversity conservation entails a shift from a reactive posture protecting nature from the impacts of development to a proactive effort seeking to meet people’s needs from biological resources while ensuring the long term ecological sustainability of earth’s biotic wealth. At global level it involves not only the protection of wild species and their habitat, but also the safeguarding of genetic diversity of cultivated and domesticated species and their wild relatives. The conservation of biological diversity seeks to maintain life support system provided by the nature in all its ways and the living resources are essential for ecological sustainable development.

Causes of biodiversity decline in Himachal

1.The mono-cultivation practice is one of the causes for deforestation in Himachal. The replacement of natural forest ecosystem by mono specific tree plantation leads to the disappearance of a number of plant species; this situation leads to deforestation. For instance apple’s garden in upper Shimla hills are are established by cutting lot of trees .

2. Forest fires are also one of the causes for deforestation. Forest fires are intentional caused by human beings; accidental fires also caused by tribes and naturally catch fire due to some trees like chir in summer in shivalik hills. They destroy forest vegetation .

3. Undertaking of development activities in the forest area is another cause for deforestation. It means conversion of forest for development activities, such as building colleges, univ, in forest area and hudge number of trees cut down, also for construction of roads, hotels etc.

4. The expansion of tourism in forest areas poses serious environmental degradation leading to endangering flora, fauna species and other environmental resources and the rate of reduction in conservation of forest is one of the causes behind deforestation.

5.Global warming which causes climate change also influence biodiversity, change in the pattern of weather conditions like rainfall patterns changed over the years like in some areas rainfall is so low that draught like conditions occur and in some area flood like situation arise in state. Temperature increased over the years lead to melting of glaciers, flora and fauna became so vulnearable and finding hard to survive. Same with cropping pattern, human health is also effected.

6. wetlands which are major source of biodiversity are also staggering due to increase of temperature .

7. Illicit exploitation of forest wood ,grazing of trees and grasses is another cause for deforestation. It may be noted that the increasing use of wood in construction and commercial uses has led to dramatic increase in smuggling. This situation has led to deforestation. Both rural and tribal populations are dependent on the forests surrounding their villages for meeting their daily needs of fuel wood and it is a major reason for deforestation.

8. Bio-diversity is disturbed on the consequences of harmful fishery practices and over exploitation of fisheries. It may be noted that 16 albatross species have been threatened by long line fishing (as per the 2000 IUCN Red list)

9. Land degradation in consequence of applying chemical fertilizers affects the bio-diversity of earthworms.

10. The practising of mono-cultivation is one of the causes that threatens the biodiversity. The replacement of forest ecosystem by mono specific tree plantation can lead to disappearance of a number of plant and animal species. In some distt. Of Himachal like lahaul spiti, sirmaur focus is given to only one commercial crop like potato on a large scale, this thing reduce the soil fertility.

11.The practising of shrimp culture around the coastal ecosystem destroys the bio-diversity of marine living organisms due to the discharge of toxic chemicals from the shrimp ponds into the marine water.

12. The use of chemicals to control insects, pests, weeds and fungi enhances the productivity of crops. But their excessive use destroys some of the beneficial insects and also affects the health of human beings in the form of pesticide poisoning, so government also started schemes like zero budget farming in the state to reduce use of chemical fertilizers.

State biodiversity strategy and action plan

1. Formation of state biodiversity board :

Himachal Pradesh state biodiversity board has been constituted in state council for science and technology and environment under section 22 of the biological diversity act, 2002 for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of use of biological resources, knowledge and for matters connected here with and incidental thereto in the state .

2. Biological diversity act, 2002 :

Ministry of environment and forest, govt. of india New Delhi has enacted biodiversity act, 2002 and biological diversity rule 2004, for the conservation and sustainable use of the biological resource on equity and gender basis and regulation and management of biodiversity in the country. Biological diversity act, 2002, regulation and management of biodiversity at 3 levels namely :
1. National biodiversity authority at national level
2. State biodiversity board at at state level
3. biodiversity management committees at every local body/ panchyat level in the state.

3. Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs)

Local bodies constitute Biodiversity Management Committee in accordance with Section 41, within their area of jurisdiction for the purpose of promoting conservation, sustainable use and documentation of biological diversity including preservation of habitats, conservation of land races, folk varieties and cultivars, domesticated stocks and breeds of animals and micro-organisms and chronicling of knowledge relating to biological diversity.

Functions

Prepare, maintain and validate People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) in consultation with local people. The BMC is to maintain a Register giving information about the details of the avaibility and knowledge of local biological resources, their use or any traditional knowledge, access to biological and traditional knowledge granted, details of the collection of fee imposed and details of the benefits derived and the mode of their sharing.Advice on any matter referred to it by the State Biodiversity Board or Authority for granting approval, to maintain data about the local vaids and practitioners using the biological resources.

4. People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs)

People's Biodiversity Registers (PBR) document folk knowledge of status, uses, history, ongoing changes and forces driving changes in biodiversity resources, gainers and losers in these processes and people's perceptions of how these resources should be managed. The documents bring together important locality specific information on biodiversity resources and ecological processes affecting them. The main function of the BMC is to prepare People's Biodiversity Register in consultation with local people. The Register shall contain comprehensive information on availability and knowledge of local biological resources, their medicinal or any other use or any other traditional knowledge associated with them. Preparation of “People's Biodiversity Registers (PBR)”, the PBR is a participatory process requiring intensive and extensive consultation with the people. BMC lead to recognition of conservation oriented local practices such as protection of sacred groves. They help mobilise local communities to prudently manage local biodiversity resources in ways that would promote social justice. There are many encouraging signs globally, as well as within India, such as the coming in force of the Convention on Biological Diversity, forces promoting decentralised democratic systems of governance and institutions of co-management of natural resources which suggest that programmes like PBR will have an important role to play in promoting conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing.
of benefits of biodiversity resources in the coming decades.

5. Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources (ABS)

Access and Benefit Sharing of genetic resources (ABS) lies the idea that it is essential for the welfare of the current generation and future generations to allow everyone access to these resources while ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.
The concept of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) was introduced for the first time in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) negotiations in 1992. It is its third goal.
To summarise, according to the ABS concept, the supplier countries undertake to facilitate access to genetic resources, while the users undertake to share, in a fair and equitable manner, the benefits arising from the access and utilisation of these resources. The additional revenue thus obtained, whether in hard currency or in kind (transfer of skills, supply of equipment, etc.) would be redirected to priority to conservation activities of biological diversity.

6. Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)

Biodiversity Heritage Sites are rich Biodiversity Areas and are important components of local ecosystems which are being conserved and managed by the society. The Sites are like existing sacred groves wetlands and traditional crops areas in general which can be declared and notified as Biodiversity Heritage Sites. As per provision under Section 37(1) of ‘Biological Diversity Act, 2002’, The State Government may, from time to time in consultation with the local bodies, notify in the Official Gazette, areas of biodiversity importance as Biodiversity Heritage Sites under Biological Diversity Act.

Himachal Pradesh is bestowed with distinctive floral and faunal biodiversity having aesthetic,Cultural, commercial and genetic values. It is a mountainous state and have vast repository of flora and fauna having profuse variation in intra and inter-species levels. Variable treasures of the biological resources are because of its varied topography, geological formation, altitudinal rangesand climatic conditions. The range of biodiversity elements represented in the State varies fromsub-tropical region to that of temperate, dry temperate and alpine region. 95 percent of the floraland faunal species available in the State are endemic and 5 percent of the other species existing are of exotic nature So it is of utmost importance for us to develop quick and effective ways to protect species from extinction. If we fail to conserve the species facing extinction now, we are paving the way for easier and faster depletions in the future. We will live in a domesticated world lacking wild biodiversity, and in the words of poet and ecologist Gary Snyder, “if the human race…were to survive at the expense of many plant and animal species, it would be no victory.”

By: Pooja Sharda