Biodiversity Decline in Protected Areas

Why in News?

Biodiversity is declining more quickly inside key protected areas than outside them, according to a new study by the Natural History Museum (NHM), London.

How much has the biodiversity declined across the globe?

• Biodiversity – It is  the ‘diversity’ of life on Earth at all levels, from genes to ecosystems and  it includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
• Global Biodiversity - Of 8-20 million species of organisms in Earth, only about 2 million eukaryotes have been recognized and named so far.
• Biodiversity Intactness Index (BII) - It estimates how much of a region’s natural biodiversity is still left on average.
• Global Biodiversity Decline - The index has decreased by 1.88 % points globally between 2000 and 2020.
• Biodiversity decline in Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs)
  • Unprotected areas within CBAs -  1.9 %
  • Protected areas within CBA - 2.1 %

Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) are Ecosystems and areas such as wetlands that are crucial for biodiversity  and 22% of which is protected.

What are the reasons for the biodiversity decline in protected areas?

• Lack of Ecosystem Approach - Many of the protected areas are not designed to safeguard the whole ecosystem but only certain species.
• Ecosystem Degradation - Habitat loss affects species abundance, genetic diversity, species richness, species distribution.

53 % of  land in India is under conversion for urban, industrial, and agricultural purposes.

• Inadequate Conservation Measures - Merely designating more areas as protected “will not automatically result in better outcomes for biodiversity.
• Mining – Proximity of oil, natural gas, and other hydrocarbons exploration and mining areas to protected areas.
• Pollution - Pollution from nearby industrial activities can degrade habitats and harm wildlife within protected areas.
• Insufficient Enforcement - Lack of stringent enforcement of protection laws allows illegal activities like poaching and logging to continue.
• Climate Crisis - More frequent and intense droughts and wildfires have severely impacted the protected areas.

What are the significances of protected areas for biodiversity?

• Habitat Preservation - They safeguard critical habitats, ensuring the survival of various species by protecting the environments they depend on.
• Biodiversity Hotspots -  Many protected areas are biodiversity hotspots, rich in unique species that might not be found elsewhere.
• Genetic Diversity - Protected areas maintain genetic diversity by preserving a wide range of species and their genetic variations, which is essential for the resilience of ecosystems.
• Species Preservation - By maintaining natural habitats, protected areas help preserve endangered and threatened species, allowing them to recover and increase their populations.
• Research and Monitoring - They provide opportunities for scientific research and monitoring, helping us understand ecological processes and develop effective conservation strategies.
• Climate Change Mitigation - By preserving forests and other ecosystems, protected areas help mitigate climate change driven biodiversity loss.

What lies ahead?

• Conduct region-specific analysis to determine the specific reasons for  landscape deterioration within protected areas.
• Focus on 30×30 commitment made by countries at Biodiversity COP15 to put at least 30% of the world’s lands and oceans under conservation by 2030.
• Promote ecosystem level conservation activities along with species conservation efforts.
• Strict enforcement of guidelines regulating mining activities in Protected areas as well as Eco Sensitive Zones.

Prohibition of mining activities in National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries (“Protected Areas”) shall also extend to an Eco sensitive area up to one kilometre (“km”) from the boundary of the Protected Area.

References

Indian Express | Biodiversity Intactness Index