Factors responsible for biodiversity decline in Uttarakhand :

Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variability within and between all microorganism plants and animals both wild and domesticated and the ecological system which they co- exist and inhabit. Biodiversity is also known as biological diversity. Biodiversity is the variety of all species on our planet. It includes different plants, animals, birds and micro-organisms, their genes, their habitats and all the ecosystems (forests, grass-lands, lacks, ponds, rivers, wet-lands etc.).The term “biological diversity” was first used in year 1980 by Lovejoy (most commonly used to describe the number of species). It is the one of the greatest wealth of the planet.

The floral & faunal composition is diverse and interesting. Between the Himalaya in the north and the hills and the plateau in the south lies a vast Gangetic Plains which is one of the largest homogenous alluvial plains in the world. In Uttarakhand, the Bhabar skirts the Shiwaliks mainly in Garhwal and Nainital- Pilibhit while the Terai extends from River Yamuna on the west and a large portion of it lies in the Nepal. The Terai in Uttarakhand covers lower portion of district Nainital.

The present state of the Uttarakhand conforms to its rich heritage status supported by a rich floral diversity, vegetation, forest cover, healthy and pristine ecosystem and tremendous conservation efforts from species level to genetic level and to ecosystem level. Due to its unique bio-diversity, the state is also home to several rare and endangered species of herbal and aromatic plants. Realizing the immense potential of this resource in the state, the state government has declared Uttarakhand as a Herbal State. But in today scenario state facing lot of challenges to maintain the rich biodiversity. Some of the factors are :

Factors responsible for biodiversity decline in Uttarakhand :

Biodiversity of state becoming threatened due to biotic and abiotic factors in the absence of perspective strategic action plans for conservation of the biological resources. Many species have critically a low population which is further being affected by catastophies or over exploitation leading to the elimination of species. There are some factors which are responsible for biodiversity decline in state:

1. Agro horticulture: Uttarakhand is primarily an agro horticulture state, 90 % of population dependent upon these primary sector activities so to enhance the agricultural land areas forest are cut down and increase the vulnearbility of flora and fauna, loss of habitat, more stress given to commercial crops, and ignoring other crops, which imbalance the micro- organisms level in the soil .

2. Climate change: Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time (i.e., decades to millions of years). Climate change may refer to a change in average weather conditions, or in the time variation of weather within the context of longer-term average conditions. Due to rise in temperature in the himalayan state average temperature rises. animals who survive in cold weather left with no option, snowfall which is important for apple production also reduced and it also hamper the tourism in the state.

3. Global warming:  Due to global warming glaciers are melting and rivers of state have glacial origin became flood prone and and the organism in the rivers like fishes, prawns,frog etc. sometime washed away and died. It also hamper the hydro potential of the state which is also one of the main earning resource for the state. It is also becoming a major cause for loss of biodiversity. For example if the present rate of global warming continues, coral reefs which are biodiversity hotspots will disappear in 20-40 years. 10% of all species might become extinct by 2015, if global warming continues.

4. Imbalance b/w dev. and environment : Unscurplous harvesting of forest resources and insufficient measures to regenerate the resources.Roads, houses, parks are developed  by compromising the environment

5. Lack of awareness: Awareness among the people who matter most the people who living in the periphery of forest like tribal people sell forest product on commercial level. cutting of the trees to extract their roots, people also use fertilizer inappropriately and reduce the fertility of soil which leads to decline in production,loss to economy.

The state has taken following steps towards conservation of biological diversity:

• Corbett National Park, established in 1936 is the first National Park of the Asian Mainland
• Undivided U.P. was the first state in the country to establish a separate Wildlife Preservation Organization as part of the Forest Department in 1956.
• Project Tiger was launched in Corbett National Park on 1st April 1973.
• Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, established in 1988 is India’s second Biosphere Reserve.
• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks are designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.
• The country’s first Conservation Reserves , Asan Wetland and Jhilmil Tal were dedicated to the Nation , the President of India on 14th august,2005.
• Shiwalik Elephant Reserve which includes eleven forest divisions, two national parks (Rajaji, Corbett) and the Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary and covering an area of about 5180 sq.km declared in 2002.
• An Anti poaching unit has been established for the prevention and control of wildlife offences.
• The state Wildlife Advisory Board has been set up under the Chairmanship of the Hon. Chief Minister.
• Uttarakhand, with the second highest tiger population in the country after Karnataka, now has a second tiger reserve after the Corbett Tiger Reserve. The Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR) has been notified by the Government of India as the 48th tiger reserve in country. The area declared as the tiger reserve (1075.17 sq km) includes the 255.63 sq km of the Rajaji National Park’s buffer zone.

Steps to be taken : 

1. Effecting implementation of programme through unique linkages, including with civil society and local government institutions and through public private partnership.
2. Engineering new and innovative forms of market, regulatory and voluntary mechanisms to promote sustainable development.
3.Create awareness among folk to sustainably use resources .
4. Proactive role of the governance and citizen to protect biodiversity.

          Thus biodiversity which is crucial for the well being of life on earth, is coming under the threat of many factors related to human activities. There is an urgent need to take action to protect the magnificent biodiversity of our planet. We must create economic policies in order to maintain the Earth’s biodiversity and take appropriate measures to protect habitats and species.