Biodiversity and Wildlife

Paper Code:

25ENV 223

Credits:

Contact Hours:

4.00

Max. Marks:

100.00

Objective:

This course will enable the students to –

Acquaint students with the conflicts that have arisen as a result of shrinkage of wildlife habitats
Analyze the values of biodiversity and scientific approaches for conservation that can lead to sustainable development
Get an insight into the scientific and social perspective of conservation

Course Outcomes:

Upon completion of this

course, the students will:

CO46: Evaluate different types of biodiversity and their importance in various contexts

CO47: Appraise the causes of biodiversity loss and extinction of species and critically evaluate strategies to mitigate these factors

CO48: Appraise the diverse wildlife habitats, values and factors leading to wildlife depletion

CO49: Analyze the role of international, national, and state agencies and scientific organizations, in the conservation and management of wildlife

CO50: Critically examine biodiversity/ wildlife and human linkages, and help in policy formulation for conservation

CO51: Contribute effectively to course-specific interaction

10.00

Unit I:

Introduction to Biodiversity

Biodiversity: Concept and Definition
Types of Biodiversity: Species, genetic and ecosystem (α, β and γ)
Value of Biodiversity: Direct and indirect
Hotspots and hope spots of Biodiversity in India
Concept of Endemic, Endangered and threatened species as given by IUCN

12.00

Unit II:

Biodiversity Conservation

Causes of loss of Biodiversity
Extinction of species: Causes and examples with special reference to India
Conservation methods and strategies situ (National parks, Sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves, sacred groves, coral reefs, wetlands and mangroves) and ex-situ (Botanical gardens, Zoos, Gene banks) methods
Role of biotechnology in biodiversity conservation

10.00

Unit III:

Introduction to Wildlife

· Wildlife habitat: Ecozones of India and their faunal diversity

· Importance of Wildlife and Forests

· Wildlife Trade and Crime

Wildlife in Rajasthan

14.00

Unit IV:

Wildlife Management in India

Need for Wildlife Conservation/Management
Conservation and management strategy of wildlife
Restoration of wildlife population: Captive breeding, Soft and hard release
Important projects for the conservation of wildlife in India: Projects Tiger, Lion, Rhino, Elephant
National and International organizations involved in Wildlife protection (SACON, IUCN, BNHS, IBWL, WII, ENVIS, WWF, CITES, TRAFFIC)

14.00

Unit V:

Legal implementation towards Wildlife and Biodiversity

Man and Biosphere programme: Main objectives
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Main objectives
Wildlife Protection Act,1972
The Biological Diversity Act 2002
Biosafety Protocol
Biopiracy
IPRs and Ownership of Traditional Knowledge
Role of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in the conservation of biodiversity and wildlife

Essential Readings:

ESSENTIAL READINGS

Hossetti, B. B. Wildlife Management in India
Mathur, R. (2014).Wildlife Conservation and Management. Meerut: Rastogi Publications,
Kothari, A.(1997). Understanding Biodiversity. New Delhi: Orient Longman.
Kato, M. (1999). The Biology of Biodiversity. Tokyo: Springer Verlag.
Krishnamurthy, K.V. (2003). An Advanced Textbook on Biodiversity – Principles and Practice. New Delhi: Oxford and IBH Publishing.
Meffe, G. K. and Carroll, R. C. (1994). Principles of Conservation Biology. Massachusetts: Sinauer Associates Inc.
Singh, M. P. Singh, B. S. and Dey, S. S. (2004). Conservation of Biodiversity and Natural Resources. New Delhi: Daya Publishing House.

SUGGESTED READINGS

Agarwal, A. Narain, S. and Sharma, A. (Eds.) (1999). Global Environmental Negotiations I: Green Politics. New Delhi: Centre for Science and Environment.
Chandel, K.P.S. Shukla, G. And Sharma, N. (1996). Biodiversity in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India Conservation and Utilization. New Delhi: National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources.
Chaudhuri, A. B. and Sarkar D.D. (2003). Megadiversity Conservation, Flora, Fauna and Medicinal Plants of India’s Hotspots. New Delhi: Daya Publishing House.
Groombridge, B. (Ed.) (1992).Global Biodiversity Status of the Earth's Living Resources. London: Chapman & Hall.
Glowka, L. Guilmin, F. B. and Synge, H. (1994). A Guide to the Convention on Biological Diversity, IUCN Gland Switzerland and Cambridge, UK.
Hawkins, R. E. (1987).Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History. Bombay Natural History Society: OUP India
UNESCO.(2002). Biosphere Reserves: Special places for people and nature.UNESCO, Paris

References:

e-RESOURCES