MANAGEMENT III

School of Law, Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, Bangalore

FINAL PROJECT FOR MANAGEMENT III (ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT) –

BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

SUBMITTED BY: ISABEL ROY JOHN

81021219011
BBA LLB BATCH 2019-24

SUBMITTED TO: MR. MAHABAL SHETTY,

PROFESSOR OF MANAGEMENT,
SCHOOL OF LAW
NMIMS, BANGALORE.

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ABSTRACT

In the age of advanced technology and progressive inventions, issues of global warming and
biodiversity has generated much attention. Overexpansion of industrial facilities, increase in
pollution, exponential population growth and subsequent over-consumption contribute to the
wave of species extinction. It represents global biodiversity loss that has an adverse effect on
the human life.

The goal of this paper is to explore major biodiversity issues and the current status of
biodiversity management, nationally and internationally. Several laws have been enacted in
an attempt to curb the rising biodiversity concerns in India such as The Biodiversity Act
(2002), The Indian Forest Act (1927), The Environment Protection Act (1986), among others.
The planet has set sail towards massive climate change and biodiversity problems that have to
be solved using efficient management techniques and coordination between countries
realizing the true impact of it. Since biodiversity also plays an important role in economic
development of a state, it needs a participatory approach in management from all the levels of
society.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................................2

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT...........................4

What is Biodiversity?.............................................................................................................5

Uses of Biodiversity...............................................................................................................5

Threats to Biodiversity...........................................................................................................6

CHAPTER 2 - TOOLS FOR BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT...........................................8

CHAPTER 3 - INDIA’S STANCE ON BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT........................10

Existing Legislations............................................................................................................10

National Biodiversity Characterization at Landscape Level................................................10

CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................12

REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................13

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MANAGEMENT III

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION TO BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

Biodiversity and its interconnection to humanity is critical. Communities across the world
realize the importance of biodiversity as their needs and wants are satisfied by rich
biodiversity. The need for management arises when the gap in conservation and consumption
is observed. Biodiversity management is essential for sustainability of the existing resources.
Economists and ecologists, scientists and policy makers are involved in examining factors
that affect biodiversity management. If the management services for biodiversity are
unsustainable now, future generations are in greater risk.

This paper will explain the importance, distribution, sustenance and management of
biodiversity. In terms of management, several new technologies, new ways of assessing
models, innovative experiments and ways of measurements have developed in the recent
years. Thus, the literature around this topic has been stimulating and dynamic. Further
reading into the project will help gain an idea about the existing literature. The threats to
biodiversity are ever increasing, but little has been done to combat it. The efforts made by
organizations and citizens are well recognized and praised, since the understanding of the
grave implications is still less. Awareness of biodiversity management is another step that
ensures execution. Environmental issues are on the rise, but few believe that there is no
obligation to act on it. That is why we see many nations ordering the foundations of
industries and factories to be laid, in place of the forests that have thrived at the same location
for years. In Mumbai’s Aarey forest, thousands of locals protested against the decision of
cutting down nearly 2,500 trees for a metro shed. Recently, Goa’s forests were being
destroyed for building a coal corridor in an extremely ecological fragile state.

The balance in progress and environment has to be realized as soon as possible. The
management in biodiversity begins with the measurement of ecological values in and around
the area. It helps to decide conservation techniques and management tools. The measurement
has both, qualitative and quantitative aspects. On a smaller scale, individuals and non-profit
organizations make use of such knowledge of biodiversity management and try to reduce the
human impact on the environment. Our ability to evolve and adapt to future changes is futile,
if the environment itself doesn’t contain the necessary biodiversity we need.

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What is Biodiversity?

Convention on Biological Diversity defines biodiversity as “the variability among living

organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between
species and of ecosystems.”1 In the simplest words, biodiversity is the variety of biological
components on the planet. It is the most complex feature of nature with the least amount of
weight in its matter. As a whole, biodiversity is divided into three sections –

i. Species Diversity
ii. Genetic Diversity
iii. Ecological Diversity

In a particular area, we may find a variety of animals that are differentiated by their species.
For example, the group of mammals include rodents, to bats, to elephants to humans. Some
animals diverge and find their own species, contributing to the ever-evolving diversity. Most
of the animals and plants are related and have specific characteristics due to genetic
similarity. Ecological diversity is a broader concept wherein living and non-living
components are in a single, concentrated area and learn to coexist in a single system. Since
each system cannot be identified because of the huge number of species within, they have
been classified on a widespread system. The diversity is seen in different ecosystems like
rainforests, mangroves, deserts, etc.

Uses of Biodiversity

The uses of biodiversity can be categorized into – commercial and consumptive use.
Biodiversity provides benefits to the agricultural sector, forestry, fisheries, aquatic and health
sectors, among others. Though machinery and industrialization has augmented the
agricultural sector, the necessity of biodiversity is still a given. The process of breakdown and
recycling occurs within the soil, the act of pollination requires natural movement.
Agroecosystem services can be delivered with a technical combination of artificial resources
and existing naturally available resources. Forestry also plays an important role in fulfilling

1
Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) Convention on Biological Diversity. Secretariat of the Convention
on Biological Diversity, Montreal, Canada.

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human utilities with the hunting activities practiced by many for food, collecting wild food,
paper production by trees. In an ecologically sensitive forest, such resources are in plenty.
Even in water bodies like oceans and lakes, the fishes can be harvested directly for use. But
this depends on a functioning ecosystem within the water bodies; good water quality,
nutrients, species and habitats are all essential to gain a good harvest. With increasing
pollution, marine biodiversity is affected and consequently on the living beings using it for
consumption. Marine pollution will be one of the first environmental issues we will have to
overcome due to human impact.2

Threats to Biodiversity

Minimizing the threats to biodiversity serves as an imperative step in managing biodiversity

issues. It is done by environmental impact assessments and planning. These threats arise
when human interactions with components of the environment intensify. In India itself, the
paper stresses on all the various indicators that showcase the effects of the threats to
biodiversity. In a developing country like India, exploitation of resources is one of the major
causes of decline. A country with a population touching more than a billion people is bound
to have a singular impact on biodiversity in the form of habit destruction. This occurs due to
the infrastructural projects that are being planned every year on endangered forest lands.
Even natural calamities have a similar effect on biodiversity. The devastating effects of
floods in India, which is the most common form of natural disaster due to its water locked
areas, has a great impact on the resources. Being the most basic economic rule – when a
particular resource is scarce/less in number, its value automatically increases. Thus, forests
and ecological areas are gaining attention by many environmental conscious people and
organizations that aim to conserve biodiversity and protect them.

In the chart inserted below, we see the percentage of the threats that currently affect
biodiversity at large. This data was compiled in 2014 by the WWF (World Wide Fund for
Nature) in its Living Planet Report. At 45%, it is habitat degradation, change and loss – this
means that the environment of certain species is changing or even worse, getting destroyed. It
is commonly seen in instance of forest displacing for other projects wherein along with the
trees, the shelter and biological communities of animals, birds, microorganisms are shaken up
and conveniently lost in destruction. Next at 37%, it is exploitation. According to Bipin Joshi,

2
https://www.cbd.int/doc/case-studiesinc/cs-inc-ireland-en.pdf

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India’s biodiversity is a victim of over exploitation. 3 In his article, he mentioned few of the
rare species still thriving in India, but warned against future issues that may crop up due to
extreme human interference. Following this, climate change and invasive species, pollution,
diseases are also major threats though the percentages few years ago are still low. Currently,
extreme pollution around the world has gradually reached a point where climate change is
being noticed on a large scale. Further, with an increase in population stems the conception of
many diseases as well.

3
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/features/indias-declining-biodiversity-a-victim-of-over-
exploitation201806071234410002/

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CHAPTER 2 - TOOLS FOR BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

In a report published by The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity 4, it was highlighted

that the management and conservation of the biodiversity in regions should be taken into
consideration at the policy making levels effectively. Even with private organizations and
business taking an interest in biodiversity management, environment polices and basic
ecosystem conservation can be achieved. With relevant management ideologies and
resources, businesses have more scope in bringing about change due to their influence. Since
the laws and policies in place are usually vaguely worded with no access to easy
measurement and accountability, businesses and the private sector in their expertise help in
implementing the ideas and provisions efficiently.

The premise of tools for biodiversity management is that it presents a hypothesis firstly. It
makes an assumption of a region with its existing information from several databases on the
public domain. Then the actual groundwork is seen when geo-informatics assess and monitor
the ecosystem and its conditions. It makes use of roughly structured indicators in a bid to gain
insight into ecological zones and understand patterns of loss or growth. Thus, these
biodiversity systems aim at maintaining and managing biodiversity for restoration.

Tools such as modeling tools, remote sensing and GIS tools, geo-informatics tool and
Biodiversity Conservation Information Systems, space technologies are few of the available
5
and widely used for biodiversity management. The modelling tools help in assessing data
and making effective use of the biodiversity related observations available. The tools will
help in drafting policies and management solutions across areas from a national to local level.
Each level requires models that are specific to its requirements and biodiversity status. In
ecological research, such modelling tools help immensely in predictive biodiversity giving
challenging results in the sphere of climate change, introduction of new species due to
environmental pressures, etc. Another popular management tool is GIS (Geographic
Information Systems) that works with satellite sensors to capture real time images and further
derives information from the data extracted for mapping and monitoring specimens in their
habitats. (Prasad, et al., 2015). The Western Ghats in India is one of those biodiversity rich
regions that constantly undergo rapid transformations. There is diverse climate and

4
http://teebweb.org/publications/
5
http://www.isca.in/IJENS/Archive/v4/i2/13.ISCA-IRJEvS-2014-163.pdf

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topography which enables it to house a huge number of plant and animal species. Thus, GIS
tools help in analyzing the causes and consequences of biodiversity loss with the help of
technology that gauges social economic factors along with geographical factors. Since GIS is
computer-based system, its accuracy can be predicted to be better than other resources. 6 The
computer systems and technologies in general form the base for geo informatics tools. Usage
of such tools and techniques in management help in a holistic understanding of the ecological
factors and biological facets in a particular region, thereby allowing us a chance to conserve
and protect the rich diversity of different species.

On a global scale, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) works in partnership

with countries and communities and organizations that aim at facilitating ecosystem services.
It connects with them and offers aid to make sure biodiversity is protected in ways that
address challenges and issues within locals and bring about awareness. It helps to mainstream
biodiversity in fiscal policies, economic sectors and development programs.

Barriers to biodiversity management

In 2013, an article published in the Royal Society Journal focused on four attributes that can
serve as a barrier to management. Considering biodiversity management on a world-wide
scale, the issues of knowledge and awareness gaps along with heterogeneity across places are
prevalent. Wealth being one of the primary causes was established, followed by language,
geographical locations and security. It is noticed that even with technology and information
systems aiding the conservation of biodiversity, these have to be available at all location
locally to achieve greater accuracy in data. The lack of awareness among communities with
regards to such geoinformatics tools and also, the security concerns that come with it are a
major hindrance to global adoption of biodiversity management tools.

6
Menon, S., & Bawa, K. (1997). Applications of geographic information systems, remote-sensing, and a landscape
ecology approach to biodiversity conservation in the Western Ghats. Current Science, 73(2), 134-145. Retrieved
December 10, 2020, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/24098267

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CHAPTER 3 - INDIA’S STANCE ON BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT

Being a megadiverse country holding 18% of the world’s population and 8% of globally
recorded species, India has taken impressive steps in the conservation of biodiversity. Being
one of the one fifty Governments that signed the Convention on Biological Diversity in
1992(CBD – 199), it decided to recognize biodiversity and its management as an important
activity to implement in the country. In the following years, National Biodiversity Authority
(NBA) was set up that regulates and manages resources at a central level. It advises the
Centre on various biodiversity issues and sustainability. It has the headquarters in the state of
Tamil Nadu but extends its services all over with the establishment of local Biodiversity
Management Committees (BMCs). It follows a three-tiered system with NBA at the center,
the State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the state level and BMCs. Any exploitation of local
resource without the prior approval of the NBA can incur fines. This approval is mandatory
not only to Indian citizens and institutions, but on foreigners as well.

Existing Legislations
The Government passed the Biological Diversity Act (BD Act) in 2002. It was passed in
accordance with CBD to provide a framework for the sustainable management and
conservation of the country’s natural resources. This law broadly defines biodiversity as
plants, animals, microorganisms and their parts, their genetic materials and by-products. The
regulation of access to Indian biological resources as well as scientific cataloguing of
traditional knowledge about ethnobiological materials, were the main objectives for
proposing this act. Though the first few years of this Act had no implementation, a recent PIL
(Public Interest Litigation) filed in the NGT (National Green Tribunal) accelerated a
nationwide implementation of the 2002 Act. In March 2020, the number of BMCs grew
exponentially.

National Biodiversity Characterization at Landscape Level

A web-based Biodiversity Information System was set up in a collaborative project of the
Department of Biotechnology and Department of Space in India. 7 Being an initiative by the
Government of India, it helps to monitor the important biodiversity of India and create
models based on the spatial information for the purpose of management and conservation.
With the help of this system, the data procured was with a classification approach. It was then
identified correctly and divided into several categories to achieve subsets of threatened
7
https://bis.iirs.gov.in/

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species, rare species, endemic species, etc. This helped in forming policies and resolutions
accordingly.

Green India Mission

Launched in 2014, it is one of the projects undertaken by the Prime Minister to protect
biodiversity. The Ministry of Environment and Forests tries to respond the global climate
change crisis by focusing on India’s forest cover. The project protects and conserves the
forests, it does the job of implementing the adaptation and mitigation measures. Its aims were
to increase the forest cover, improve the existing forest cover, restoration of grasslands and
wetlands, increasing forest-based livelihood income, etc. However, with the lack of
groundwork in India, the GIM missed it target by 34%. In the years of 2015 – 2017, the
decided forest cover was lower than expected.

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)

The heart of this Plan is to integrate conservation and sustainable use of resources into
national decision-making level so that proper steps can be taken and implemented. The Plan
works on a global level and tries to monitor targets being achieved by the signatory countries.
It tries to involve the countries in contributing to the biodiversity indicators. It states long
term goals and objectives to be achieved in a fixed time frame.

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CONCLUSION

The challenges before biodiversity with the pressure of climate change is reflected in the
problems faced by policy makers or managers that deal with them. Several possibilities and
resources are invented and exist before people to help them manage biodiversity concerns,
yet navigating these high-end resources can lead to confusion, overspending, lack of
knowledge and lag in decision-making. Substantial increases in knowledge are required
before the impacts and cost-effectiveness of these interventions on human well-being can be
accurately determined and to use the outlined methodologies. Taking into account the current
pandemic, it posed an exceptional opportunity to the citizens to realize the importance of the
link between human beings and wildlife in the environment we share. This also leads us to
the consciousness that a well–managed environment is a necessity. Thus, this paper states
that the strategic framework for more effectively incorporating the impact of climate change
in models exploring the effectiveness of protected areas.

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REFERENCES

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21539736/
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2012.2649

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