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Part 1 - English version (PDF) - Convention on Biological Diversity

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India’s Fourth Nati<strong>on</strong>al Report to the <str<strong>on</strong>g>C<strong>on</strong>venti<strong>on</strong></str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Biological</strong> <strong>Diversity</strong><br />

38<br />

C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> status<br />

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Over 10% area of Western Ghats (around 13,692 km 2 ) is under legally designated PAs. The<br />

c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> network in the Western Ghats include 2 BRs; 16 NPs and 47 WLSs.<br />

Realizing the importance of biodiversity of Western Ghats regi<strong>on</strong>, some of the state governments<br />

have initiated acti<strong>on</strong> for DNA barcoding of species (Box 1.5). Barcoding is also being undertaken<br />

by the DBT.<br />

Western Ghats cluster (a network of high value biodiversity areas of the Western Ghats) is<br />

included in the tentative list of WHS.<br />

Identificati<strong>on</strong> and c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> of KBAs in the Western Ghats was initiated in 2003, coordinated<br />

locally by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Envir<strong>on</strong>ment (ATREE), and in<br />

collaborati<strong>on</strong> with the Wildlife C<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong> Society-India and the University of Agricultural<br />

Sciences, Bangalore. Using preliminary data <strong>on</strong> KBAs compiled by the Bombay Natural History<br />

Society (BNHS), 126 KBAs were delineated in the Western Ghats for high priority c<strong>on</strong>servati<strong>on</strong><br />

acti<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Box 1.5: Species in Western Ghats to be barcoded<br />

The Kerala State is set to join the global race to identify and distinguish biological species in threatened natural<br />

habitats, such as rainforests and tropical ecosystems. The State Council for Science, Technology and Envir<strong>on</strong>ment is<br />

preparing to embark <strong>on</strong> an ambitious project for DNA barcoding of life forms in the Western Ghats and Kerala. The<br />

DNA barcoding initiative is <strong>on</strong>e of the priority projects identified by the Council for launch, which involves the<br />

establishment of a barcoding centre of life for species identificati<strong>on</strong> and documentati<strong>on</strong>. A database of DNA barcodes<br />

will allow scientists to rapidly and cheaply identify species from samples.<br />

Source: The Hindu, M<strong>on</strong>day, Nov 19, 2007<br />

Linkages with NEP and NAPCC<br />

C<strong>on</strong>sidering that the mountains are important but highly fragile ecosystems the NEP envisages some<br />

measures for c<strong>on</strong>serving the mountain ecosystems in the country. These include, am<strong>on</strong>g others,<br />

i) adopting appropriate land-use planning and watershed management practices for sustainable<br />

development; ii) adopting “best practice” norms for infrastructure c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> in mountain regi<strong>on</strong>s to<br />

avoid or minimize damage to sensitive ecosystems and despoiling of landscapes; iii) encourage cultivati<strong>on</strong><br />

of traditi<strong>on</strong>al varieties of crops and horticulture by promoti<strong>on</strong> of organic farming, enabling farmers<br />

to realize a price premium; iv) encourage cultivati<strong>on</strong> of traditi<strong>on</strong>al varieties of crops and horticulture<br />

by promoti<strong>on</strong> of organic farming, enabling farmers to realize a price premium; v) promote sustainable<br />

tourism through adopti<strong>on</strong> of “best practice” norms of eco-friendly and resp<strong>on</strong>sible tourism; and,<br />

vi) c<strong>on</strong>sider unique mountain scapes as entities with “Incomparable Values”, in developing strategies<br />

for their protecti<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Further, under the recently released NAPCC, 2008, <strong>on</strong>e of the eight nati<strong>on</strong>al missi<strong>on</strong>s, namely the<br />

Nati<strong>on</strong>al Missi<strong>on</strong> for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, is aimed at evolving management measures<br />

for sustaining and safeguarding the Himalayan glaciers and the mountain ecosystem.<br />

1.3.4 Biodiversity of arid and semi-arid lands<br />

Arid and semi-arid regi<strong>on</strong> of India covers 127.3 mha i.e. 38.8% of total geographical area and spreads<br />

over 10 states. The hot arid z<strong>on</strong>e occupies major part of Rajasthan (60%), Gujarat (20%), Punjab and<br />

Haryana (9 %), and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra (10 %). The cold arid z<strong>on</strong>es are located

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