Biodiversity and Conservation

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India has 4 biodiversity hotspots: (1) Eastern Himalayas, (2) Western Ghats, (3) Indo-Burma (northeastern India), and (4) Andaman Islands (part of the Sundaland hotspot).

In their natural habitats

In-situ (Latin = "in place") conservation protects species in their natural ecosystems and habitats, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, and sacred groves.

Protecting species outside their natural habitats (zoos, seed banks)

Ex-situ conservation removes organisms from their natural habitat and maintains them in controlled conditions: zoos, botanical gardens, seed banks, cryopreservation, and captive breeding programmes.

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Habitat destruction (H in HIPPO) is the number one driver of species extinction globally. It includes deforestation, agricultural expansion, urbanisation, and wetland drainage.