140 FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Human, as a herbivore and carnivorewith a very wide dietary range, isremarkably well equipped to exploit

the variable habitats of the world andconsumes a substantial number of differentplant and animal species. Early humans weredependent on those plants that producedsubstantial volumes of readily digestible fooduncontaminated by toxic or unpleasant oils oralkaloids. They were also dependent uponherbivores that were capable of relatively easymanagement. They tended to carry out geneticimprovements within the narrow range ofstock domesticated early in history.

Recent researches have shown that anumber of large wild ungulates are capable ofproducing meat using unimproved naturalvegetation on the same scale as improveddomestic stock eating much more heavilymanaged and altered vegetation. Methods ofextracting leaf protein from a range of plantshave opened up the possibility of cropping wildself-sustaining vegetation without intensivecultivation. The ‘green revolution’ is the mostimportant outcome of new varieties of seeds,insecticides and fertilisers. It is also the sourceof air, water and land pollution. The capacityof the earth to support human populationevidently, depends on a balance betweenpopulation density and available naturalresources. It is affected not only by primaryproduction and available energy sources butalso by the level of scientific knowledge leadingto their wise use.

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity exists at three different levels,namely species diversity, which is reflected

by morphological, physiological and geneticfeatures; genetic diversity, which comprisesgenetic or other variations within a species;and ecosystem diversity, which is reflectedin diverse biogeographic zones, such as lakes,deserts, coasts, estuaries, etc. The conser-vation of these ecosystems is a majorchallenge.

Humans have directly influenced the kindand distribution of the earth’s biotic stock.Increasing impact of humans on the bioticpatterns of the earth is an outcome of agrowing population and its requirement forfood and shelter. Human demands forresources result in the death of some speciesand survival of others. The early humans werehunters and gatherers. We may call themprimitive but from the ecological point of viewthey were not backward. Their lifestyle was asuccessful adaptation to the call of naturegiven the knowledge and technology of thetime.

The prehistoric overkill by early humans inassociation with deterioration in climate hasbeen recognised as principal factors for themammal extinction during the geologicalperiod (Pleistocene, about 2 million years ago).This episode of megafaunal extinction has notended, it is presently being extended to theearth’s marine environment. This is the resultof technology that has increased the influenceof humans within the depths of the world’soceans. The modern age of extinction is notcentred on any one group of animals such asmegafauna, but has affected a variety ofanimals, especially birds, fish and reptiles.Technological innovations and socioeconomicfactors serve to fuel the modern age ofextinction.

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In the wake of the extinction, a new foodsource based on domesticated plants andanimals became increasingly important.Mechanisation and industrialisation of tillagriculture has created enormous grainsurpluses. But in the course of producingthese surpluses, human’s series of changes inthe land has caused disruption in the patternof natural communities and soils. Thesechanges in turn have resulted in degradationof communities, both near and far. Freshwatersystems have undergone especially largechanges; till agriculture has also affectedorganisms of the marine environment.

In this age of industry and urbanisation,the growing population translates into morelands being cleared of their forests, more soilsbeing tilled to grow crops and more areas usedto erect homes, construct roads, build parkinglots and all the activities that channelresources toward urban locations. The loss ofsoil, movement of nutrients and contami-nation of the environment with toxic materialsare symptomatic of the excessive use of energyand unchecked outputs. Human manipula-tion of nature results in fragmented andincomplete systems. They have negativeimpact on air, water, soil and biotic resourcesof the planet.

Nearly 2 per cent of the known animals and8 per cent of the known plants of the worldtoday are at risk of extinction. Virtually, everyindustrial activity has a negative effect onwater quality. Rain has become acid; tillagriculture is a problem because of irrigation,erosion and runoff of pesticides and fertilisers;urban areas and highways are a problembecause of altered runoff and spillage of toxicsubstances; mining presents a problembecause of its impact on drainage and runoffof mine wastes; industrial and urban seweragecontain hazardous substances and causeeutrophication; all diminish the quality offreshwater systems.

Life has evolved over millions of years intoa highly integrated fabric. Life is resilient butit needs space. When any part of the patternof plant, animal or soil life is destroyed, thewhole fabric of life becomes diminished. The

desirable condition is a world where, insteadof deterioration of major resources, there isrecovery; where instead of extinction ofspecies there is continuation of species. It iswithin the power of humans to make culturaladjustments that would enhance the futurepatterns of life. Future generations will realisethe wisdom (or lack thereof) of our age bynoting the failures and successes we have hadin sustaining biodiversity and hence thequality of life on the earth.

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY

The goal of conservation strategy must be toensure that evolution continues allowingnatural forces to maintain and evolve species.This will maintain gene pools and retaingenetic traits that may prove valuable in thefuture. Future efforts to protect species and toprevent rare ones from extinction will dependon how human interaction with biosphereaffects them.

The social, ethical, cultural and economicvalues of biological diversity have long beenrecognised in religion, art and literature. Theconcept of biodiversity conservation is not newin India. The villagers have been found usingmore than 100 species of plants that arecommonly used in performing various ritualsand are planted by them in their farmyard.Project Tiger, launched in 1973, succeeded inincreasing the tiger population. The criticalproblem is not merely the conservation ofspecies or habitat but the continuation ofprocess of conservation.

The Government of India, along with 155other nations have signed the Convention ofBiodiversity at the Earth Summit held at Rio-di-Janerio, Brazil in June 1992. The NationalConservation Strategy outlines the policyaction required to give greater attention tobiodiversity conservation. The WorldConservation Strategy has suggested thefollowing steps for biodiversity conservation:(i) Efforts should be made to preserve the

species that are endangered;(ii) Prevention of extinction requires sound

planning and management;(iii) Varieties of food crops, forage plants,

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142 FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

timber trees, livestock, animals, and theirwild relatives should be preserved;

(iv) Each country should identify habitats ofwild relatives and ensure their protection;

(v) Habitats where species feed, breed, nursetheir youngs and rest should be safe-guarded and protected;

(vi) International trade in wild plants and

EXERCISES

Review Questions

1. Answer the following questions:(i) How are plants important to human beings?(ii) Mention the importance of animals to humankind.(iii) What are different types of biodiversity?(iv) What is conservation of biodiversity?(v) What changes have taken place after the launch of the Project Tiger?

2. Distinguish between:(i) National park and sanctuaries;(ii) Exploitation and conservation of forest;(iii) Genetic and species diversity.

3. Describe various measures of conservation of biodiversity as suggested by the WorldConservation Strategy.

Project Work

Collect names of national parks and sanctuaries of the state where your school is located.Also prepare a map showing their location.

animals be regulated.To protect, preserve and propagate varied

natural bounty, the Government of Indiapassed the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972,under which national parks and sanctuarieswere created. There are 66 national parks and368 sanctuaries in India today. Steps havealso been taken to conserve forests.