BIODIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE

Paper Code: 
ENV 223
Credits: 
5
Contact Hours: 
75.00
Max. Marks: 
100.00
Objective: 

Course objectives

This course will enable the students to –

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

Course Outcomes (COs):

 

Course

Learning outcomes

(at course level)

Learning and teaching strategies

Assessment

Strategies

Paper Code

Paper Title

ENV 223

Biodiversity and Wildlife

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

CO33: Describe the principles of wildlife and conservation biology and how they are used to manage biodiversity and wildlife

CO34: Identify the values of biodiversity and scientific approaches for conservation that can lead to sustainable development

CO35:  Explain issues and problems of conservation of endangered biota and long-term preservation of biodiversity

CO36:  Determine biodiversity/ wildlife and human linkages, and help in policy formulation for conservation

Approach in teaching:

Lectures, Interactive sessions

Informative videos, Discussion on annual survey reports

Learning activities for the students:

Map activity, Practical and field-based learning, Learning through memory game

 

Power point presentation, Class Assignment, Model/Poster Making, Open book test, Google quiz, Class Test, Semester End Examination

 

 

14.00
Unit I: 
Introduction to Biodiversity
  • Definition and concept of Biodiversity
  • 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

 

15.00
Unit II: 
Biodiversity Conservation
  • Causes of loss of Biodiversity
  • Extinction of species :Causes and examples with special reference to India
  • Conservation methods and strategies-in 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

 

14.00
Unit III: 
Introduction to Wildlife
  • Wildlife habitat: Ecozones of India and their faunal diversity
  • Methods of studying wildlife (Line Transect, Quadrat Method, Mark Recapture, Radiotelemetry, Indices)
  • Wildlife Trade and Crime
  • Wildlife in Rajasthan

 

16.00
Unit IV: 
Wildlife Management in India
  • 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, Rhino, Lion Project, elephant , Lion tailed macaque, Hoolock gibbon and Gharial
  • National and International organizations involved in Wildlife protection (SACON, IUCN, BNHS,IBWL,WII,ENVIS, WWF, CITES, TRAFFIC )

 

16.00
Unit V: 
Legal implementation towards Wildlife and Biodiversity
  • Man and Biosphere  programme: Main objectives
  • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) : Main objectives
  • Biosafety Protocol
  • Intellectual Property Right (IPR)and the TRIP Agreement
  • Wildlife Protection Act,1972
  • The Biological Diversity Act 2002
  • Role of Ministry of Environment  Forest and climate change (MoEFCC) in conservation of biodiversity and wildlife

 

Essential Readings: 
  • 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 Earths Living Resources. London: Chapman & Hall.
  • Kato, M. (1999). The Biology of Biodiversity.Tokyo: Springer Verlag.
  • Kotwal, P.C. and Banerjee, S. (2002). Biodiversity Conservation – In Managed forest and protected areas. India: Agrobios.
  • 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.
  • Sharma, P. D. (2000). Ecology and Environment. Meerut: Rastogi Publications, India.
  • Singh, B. (1992). Social Forestry for Rural Development. New Delhi:Anmol Publishers.
  • Singh, J. S. Singh, S.P. and Gupta, S.R. (2006). Ecology, Environment and Resource Conservation. New Delhi: Anamaya Publishers.
  • Singh, M. P. Singh, B. S. and Dey, S. S. (2004). Conservation of Biodiversity and Natural Resources. New Delhi: Daya Publishing House.
  • Soule, M. E. (1986). Conservation Biology. The Science of Scarcity and Diversity. Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinaur Associates, Inc.

 

Academic Year: 
2019-2020
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