Biodiversity Conservation

In-situ Conservation In-situ conservation is on site conservation or the conservation of genetic resources in natural populations of plant or animal species , such as forest genetic resources in natural populations of tree species. It is the process of protecting an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat , either by protecting or cleaning up the habitat itself or by defending the species from predators. In India following types of natural habitats are being maintained as protected area 1. National parks 2. Wildlife sanctuaries 3. Biosphere reserves

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003 to implement India's Biological Diversity Act (2002).The NBA is a statutory and autonomous body and it performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory functions for the Government of India on issues of conservation, sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological resources. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) plays a crucial role in protecting Indian agriculture by checking biopiracy and protecting indigenous and traditional genetic resources. While the NBA does have a regulatory role, it does not directly monitor and supervise scientific research on genetic modification of crop plants. This task is typically handled by other scientific and regulatory bodies. Any application for Intellectual Property Rights related to genetic or biological resources cannot be made without the approval of the NBA. This is a significant measure to prevent the exploitation of India's rich biodiversity without proper compensation and benefit sharing. Therefore, only statements 1 and 3 are correct.

The Gond and Korku tribes, residing in Madhya Pradesh's Betul and Harda districts, celebrate a festival called "Hari Jiroti" during the monsoon season. This month-long festival involves planting saplings of fruit-bearing trees, reflecting their deep connection to nature and sustainable practices.

**Statement 1 is correct:** BirdLife's Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) Programme aims to identify, monitor, and protect a global network of IBAs for the conservation of the world's birds and other wildlife. **Statement 2 is incorrect:** The British biologist Norman Myers coined the term biodiversity hotspot in 1988 as a biogeographic region characterized both by exceptional levels of plant endemism and by serious levels of habitat loss. **Statement 3 is correct:** One of their key activities involves identifying and designating Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), critical sites for bird conservation that also contribute significantly to overall biodiversity.

**Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)** attempts to create financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. REDD goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. REDD has the potential to simultaneously contribute to climate change mitigation and poverty alleviation, whilst also conserving biodiversity and sustaining vital ecosystem services. **Protection of biodiversity:** Forests are incredibly diverse ecosystems, and protecting them through REDD initiatives helps safeguard countless species of plants and animals. **Resilience of forest ecosystems:** By reducing deforestation and degradation, REDD helps maintain healthy forests that can better withstand natural disturbances like droughts, floods, and pests. **Poverty reduction:** Many forest communities rely on forests for their livelihoods. REDD programs can provide financial incentives for sustainable forest management, creating income opportunities and alleviating poverty. Therefore, the correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

Urban Forests use the Miyawaki method to create urban forests. Miyawaki urban forests are fascinating complex ecosystems, in balance with today's soil and climate conditions. This technique works worldwide irrespective of soil and climatic conditions.  Over 2000 forests were successfully created using this method. Doctor Akira Miyawaki, botanist and professor, is the inventor of the technique since 1980. He is a recipient of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize, which is the equivalent of a Nobel Prize in ecology.