Biodiversity and its Conservation (Advanced Paper II)

Paper Code: 
LSC 144 H
Credits: 
4
Contact Hours: 
60.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
12.00
Unit I: 
Biodiversity- Concept and Values

 

  • History, definition and concept of Biodiversity
  • Biodiversity Values
  • Hierarchical components of Biodiversity- Species Diversity, Genetic diversity and Ecosystem diversity
  • Measuring Biodiversity: Sampling, inventorying, monitoring and diversity indices
  • Threats to Biodiversity
 

Extinction

12.00
Unit II: 
Wildlife Conservation and Management

 

  • Conservation Strategies: In-situ (e.g., protected areas, sanctuaries) and ex-situ (e.g., zoos, seed banks) conservation
  • Restoration of wildlife population: Captive breeding, Soft and hard release
  • Human-Wildlife Conflict: Causes, impacts, and mitigation strategies
 

Community Involvement in Conservation: Role of indigenous knowledge and community-based conservation

12.00
Unit III: 
Legal frameworks for Biodiversity and Wildlife conservation in India

 

  • International Agreements and Conventions: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), CITES, Ramsar Convention, and the UN SDGs.
  • National Policies and Legislation: Wildlife Protection Act, Biodiversity Act, and Forest Conservation Act (India-specific laws) or similar relevant national frameworks.
  • Intellectual Property Rights and Biodiversity: Bioprospecting, access, and benefit-sharing
 

 

12.00
Unit IV: 
National and International organizations involved in Biodiversity/Wildlife Protection

 

  Roles and Responsibilities of the following

  • SACON (Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History)
  • IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)
  • IBWL (Indian Board for Wildlife)
  • WII (Wildlife Institute of India)
  • ENVIS (Environmental Information System)
  • WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
  • TRAFFIC (Trade Records Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce)
  • NBA (National Biodiversity Authority)

 

12.00
Unit V: 
Modern Challenges and Emerging Issues in Biodiversity Conservation

 

  • Climate Change Impacts: Effects of global warming on biodiversity, species migration, and ecosystem shifts.
  • Urbanization and Biodiversity: Habitat loss, urban ecosystems, and biodiversity-friendly urban planning.
  • Wildlife Toxicology: Impacts of pollutants on biodiversity through bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and toxin-related health issues in wildlife species.
 

Technological Innovations: Use of remote sensing and genetic technologies (e.g., gene editing) in biodiversity conservation

Essential Readings: 

SUGGESTED READINGS:

  • Chaudhuri, A. B., & Sarkar, D. D. (2003). Megadiversity Conservation: Flora, Fauna and Medicinal Plants of India’s Hotspots. New Delhi: Daya Publishing House.
  • Gaston, K. J., & Spicer, J. I. (2004). Biodiversity: An Introduction. Malden: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Gopal, R. (2012). Fundamentals of Wildlife Management. Delhi: Natraj Publishers.
  • Grimm, N. B., et al. (2008). Global Change and the Ecology of Cities. Science, 319(5864), 756–760.
  • Hunter, M. L. (2007). Wildlife Conservation Policy. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Karanth, K. U., & Madhusudan, M. D. (2002). Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflicts in Southern Asia. Bangalore: Center for Wildlife Studies.
  • Koh, L. P., & Ghazoul, J. (2010). Spatially Explicit Scenarios for Global Biodiversity Conservation. Biological Conservation, 143(6), 1395–1404.
  • Primack, R. B. (2014). Essentials of Conservation Biology. Sunderland: Sinauer Associates.
  • Singh, M. (2008). Intellectual Property Rights and Biodiversity Conservation: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of the Values of Medicinal Plants. New Delhi: Springer.
  • Sutherland, W. J. (2000). The Conservation Handbook: Research, Management, and Policy. Malden: Blackwell Science.
  • Turner, W., et al. (2003). Remote Sensing for Biodiversity Science and Conservation. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 18(6), 306–314.
  • Wilson, E. O. (1988). Biodiversity. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.

 

 

 

 

Academic Year: 
2025-2026
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