Page 12 - Guidelines for Training/ Orientation of Faculty on IKS

Unit IV. Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Learning Outcomes
After completion of this unit, students would be able to :

• Understand the concepts of ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation.

• Describe the main types of ecosystems and their distribution in India and the world.
• Discuss the factors impacting biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation in India and
the world.

• Explain major conservation strategies taken in India.

Unit Outline
Biodiversity and its distribution: Biodiversity as a natural resource; Levels and types of biodiversity;

Biodiversity in India and the world; Biodiversity hotspots; Species and ecosystem threat categories.

Ecosystems and ecosystem services: Major ecosystem types in India and their basic characteristics-
forests, wetlands, grasslands, agriculture, coastal and marine; Ecosystem services- classification and their
significance.

Threats to biodiversity and ecosystems: Land use and land cover change; Commercial exploitation of
species; Invasive species; Fire, disasters and climate change.

Major conservation policies: in-situ and ex-situ conservation approaches; Major protected areas;
National and International Instruments for biodiversity conservation; the role of traditional knowledge,
community-based conservation; Gender and conservation.

Suggested Readings

1. Bawa, K.S., Oomen, M.A. and Primack, R. (2011) Conservation Biology: A Primer for South
Asia. Universities Press.

2. Sinha, N. (2020) Wild and Wilful. Harper Collins, India.

3. Varghese, Anita, Oommen, Meera Anna, Paul, Mridula Mary, Nath, Snehlata (Editors) (2022)
Conservation through Sustainable Use: Lessons from India. Routledge.

4. Bhagwat, Shonil (Editor) (2018) Conservation and Development in India: Reimagining
Wilderness, Earthscan Conservation and Development, Routledge.

5. Krishnamurthy, K.V. (2003) Textbook of Biodiversity, Science Publishers, Plymouth, UK

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