OF NE REGIONS DBT-NECAB Workshop Assam Agricultural University, - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

N ATIONAL W ORKSHOP ON “P OTENTIAL B IOTECHNOLOGY P ROGRAMMES USING B IORESOURCES OF NE REGIONS ” DBT-NECAB Workshop Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat 1 September 12 -14 , 2019

B IODIVERSITY AND B IOPROSPECTING : A HIDDEN FUTURE IN NATURE Prof. Dr. Prabhakar Ranjekar Former Director Grade Scientist and Head, Biochemical Sciences Division, National Chemical Laboratory Pune-411048 2 Email: pranjekar@gmail.com

P RESENTATION : ORGANIZATION  Biodiversity: Brief Introduction  Global Biodiversity Hotspots  International Research Programmes  Bioprospecting: Definitions and Examples  Global Bioprospecting Programmes  Future Directions 3

B IODIVERSITY : B RIEF I NTRODUCTION 4

B IODIVERSITY : D EFINITION  Biodiversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth.  Biodiversity is typically a measure of variation at the genetic, species, and ecosystem level.  It is the foundation of ecosystem services to which human well-being is intimately linked. 5

B IODIVERSITY : G ENESIS  The term “ biological diversity ” was used first by wildlife scientist and conservationist Raymond F. Dasmann in 1968, where he advocated conservation. It was widely adopted only in the 1980s 6 Raymond F. Dasmann University of California, Santa Cruz, California

F ATHER OF BIODIVERSITY  The term biodiversity first appeared in a publication in 1988 when entomologist E. O. Wilson used it as a title.  Nature holds the key to our aesthetic, intellectual, cognitive and even spiritual satisfaction 7 E. O. Wilson Harvard University, USA

I NTERNATIONAL DAY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY - 22 M AY  The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 “The International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB )” to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.  In December 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted 22 May as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the text of the Convention on 22 May 1992 by the Nairobi Final Act of the Conference for the Adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity. 8

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS 9

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: ASIA-PACIFIC 1] East Melanesian Islands  Once largely intact, the 1,600 East Melanesian Islands are now a hotspot due, sadly, to accelerating levels of habitat loss. 2] Himalaya  The Himalaya Hotspot is home to the world’s highest mountains, including Mt. 10 Everest.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: ASIA-PACIFIC 3] Indo-Burma  Encompassing more than 2 million km² of tropical Asia, Indo-Burma is still revealing its biological treasures. 4] Japan  The islands that make up the Japanese Archipelago stretch from the humid subtropics in the south to the boreal zone in the north, resulting in a wide variety of climates and 11 ecosystems.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: ASIA-PACIFIC 5] Mountains of Southwest China  With dramatic variations in climate and topography, the Mountains of Southwest China support a wide array of habitats including the most endemic-rich temperate flora in the world. 6] New Caledonia  An island the size of New Jersey in the South Pacific Ocean, New Caledonia is the home of no less 12 than five endemic plant families.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: ASIA-PACIFIC 7] New Zealand  A mountainous archipelago once dominated by temperate rainforests, New Zealand harbors extraordinary levels of endemic species. 8] Philippines  More than 7,100 islands fall within the borders of the Philippines hotspot, identified as one of the world’s biologically richest 13 countries.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: ASIA-PACIFIC 9] Polynesia-Micronesia  Comprising 4,500 islands stretched across the southern Pacific Ocean, the Polynesia-Micronesia hotspot is the epicenter of the current global extinction crisis. 10] Southwest Australia  The forest, woodlands, shrublands, and heath of Southwest Australia are characterized by high 14 endemism among plants and reptiles.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: ASIA-PACIFIC 11] Forests of Eastern Australia  The hotspot consists of a discontinuous coastal stretch along the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales, extending inland and further west. This region contains more than 1500 endemic vascular plants. 12] Sundaland  The spectacular flora and fauna of the Sundaland Hotspot are succumbing to the explosive growth of industrial 15 forestry in these islands.

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS: ASIA-PACIFIC 13] Wallacea  The flora and fauna of Wallacea are so varied that every island in this hotspot needs secure protected areas to preserve the region’s biodiversity. 14] Western Ghats and Sri Lanka  Faced with tremendous population pressure, the forests of the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka have been dramatically impacted by the demands for timber and agricultural land. 16

I NTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION  The map shows 34 biodiversity hotspots which cover 2.3% of the Earth's land surface, yet more than 50% of the world’s plant species and 42% of all terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to these areas (Conservation International). These are the areas which are suffering 17 biodiversity loss and where attention is needed.

I NDIA : RICH IN BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY  It is situated in the Indomalaya ecozone and comprises of 2 out of the 34 biodiversity hotspots in the world. In India, there are approximately-  350 mammals which make up 7.6% of world species  1224 birds which make up 2.6% of the world species  197 amphibians which make up 4.4% of the world species  408 reptiles which make up 6.2% of the world species  2546 fishes which make up 11.7% of the world species  15000 flowering plants which make up 6% of the world species 18

B IODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN I NDIA 1] The Western Ghats  These hills are present along the western edge of peninsular India.  Most of the spices, black pepper and cardamom all are believed to have originated in the Western Ghats. 2] The Eastern Himalayas  This region comprises of entire Indian Himalayan region. These Himalayan Mountains are the highest in the world and abode to some of the highest peaks of the world.  There are almost 163 endangered 19 species in this region including 36 plant species.

B IODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS IN I NDIA 3] Indo-Burma  This region consists of numerous countries including North- Eastern India  Almost 13,500 plant species can be spotted in the region half of which are endemic and cannot be found in any other place in the world 4] Sundaland  This region lies in South-East Asia. The Nicobar Islands represent India. These islands were declared as the world biosphere reserve in 2013 by United Nations. These islands have a rich terrestrial as well as marine ecosystem. 20

I NTERNATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAMMES 21

C ONVENTION ON B IOLOGICAL D IVERSITY (CBD)  Rio de Janeiro, South Africa  As of 2016, the Convention has 196 parties, which include 195 states and the European Union.  Aim to bring the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components  The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from commercial and other utilization of genetic resources. 22

C ONSULTATIVE GROUP FOR I NTERNATIONAL A GRICULTURE R ESEARCH (CGIAR)  Location: Montpellier, France (1971)  It is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food-secured future.  Prime objective is to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring sustainable management of natural resources. 23

C ONVENTION ON I NTERNATIONAL T RADE IN E NDANGERED S PECIES OF W ILD F AUNA AND F LORA (CITES)  Washington, D.C. (1973)  CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals.  Aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. 24

I NTERNATIONAL I NSTITUTE FOR E NVIRONMENT AND D EVELOPMENT (IIED)  London, United Kingdom (1971)  It acts as the links between biodiversity, conservation and local people's livelihoods.  IIEM mission is to build a fairer, more sustainable world, using evidence, action and influence, working in partnership with others.  Partnerships are at the heart of our work: we have more than 350 partnerships working in 60 countries “We work together to strengthen people’s voices in the decision-making arenas that affect them — from village councils to international conventions. ” 25 – Andrew Norton, Present Director

I NTERNATIONAL S EED T REATY  Madrid (2004)  Also known as “ The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture”  The conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security. 26

C ONVENTION ON M IGRATORY S PECIES (CMS)  Bonn, Germany (1979)  Also called “The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals”  Aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. 27