3/23/2021 0 Comments Biodiversity Hotspots In India
However, efforts by conservationists since the 1970s have helped stabilize and grow these populations.These sites support nearly 60 of the worlds plant, bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species, with a very high share of endemic species.
![]() We all depend on them. But our planets biodiversity, the vast array of life on Earth, faces a crisis of historic proportions. Development, urbanization, pollution, disease theyre all wreaking havoc on the tree of life. It run parallel to the west coast of India and constitute more than 1600 km strip of forests in the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The region shows high species diversity as well as high levels of endemism. There are over 6000 vascular plants belonging to over 2500 genera in this hotspot, of which over 3000 are endemic. Many economically important plants such as banana, rice, ginger etc. The region also harbours over 450 bird species, about 140 mammalian species, 260 reptiles and 175 amphibians. Over 60 of the reptiles and amphibians are completely endemic to the hotspot. The region is geologically young and shows high altitudinal variation. Together, the Himalayan mountain system is the worlds highest, and home to the worlds highest peaks, which include Mount Everest and K2. Five families Tetracentraceae, Hamamelidaceae, Circaesteraceae, Butomaceae and Stachyuraceae are completely endemic to this region. Western tragopan are found here, along with some of Asias largest and most endangered birds such as the Himalayan vulture and White-bellied heron. The Relict Dragonfly (Epiophlebia laidlawi) is an endangered species found here with the only other species in the genus being found in Japan. The major threats to biodiversity decline are land use changes, pollution, changes in atmospheric CO 2 concentrations, changes in the nitrogen cycle and acid rain, climate alterations, and the introduction of exotic species, all coincident to human population growth. Climate will probably change least in tropical regions, and nitrogen problems are not as important because growth in rainforests is usually limited more by low phosphorus levels than by nitrogen insufficiency. Now, due to better infrastructure, contact of these areas with humans has increased. Activities such as logging of wood, increased agriculture, increased human habitation has led to destruction of forests and pollution of rivers. The government planned to establish habitat corridors, but these plans have not yet materialized in most areas. Activities such as mining, construction of large dams, highway construction has also caused significant destruction of habitats. Prime examples are pilgrimage destinations like Rishikesh and hill stations like Dehradoon. Places like Dehradoon are even experiencing a construction boom so large that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are also flocking there.
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