Biodiversity parks and case studies

Biodiversity and its conservation

1. BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION CASE STUDIES OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BIODIVERSITIES NATIONAL ACSE STUDY : YAMUNA BIODIVERSITY PARK, DELHI INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY : DAINTREE NATIONAL PARK, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA SUBMITTED BY : POOJA SHARMA M.ARCH ( LANDSCAPE ) – 2 ND SEM

2. INTRODUCTION The term Biodiversity was first coined by Walter G. Rosen in 1986. The biosphere comprises of a complex collections of innumerable organisms, known as the Biodiversity, which constitute the vital life support for survival of human race. Biological diversity, abbreviated as biodiversity, represent the sum total of various life forms such as unicellular fungi, protozoa, bacteria, and multi cellular organisms such as plants, fishes, and mammals at various biological levels including gens, habitats, and ecosystem .

3. What is Biodiversity ? The word Biodiversity originates from the Greek word BIOS = LIFE and Latin word DIVERSITAS = VARIETY or DIFFERENCE. The whole word bio diversity generally therefore means : VARIETY OF LIFE . Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life. It is a measure of the variety of organisms present in different ecosystems. The loss of biological diversity is at grave threat. To counter global climate change. Sustainable physical and social environment for improving quality of life. Conservation and Development of the Natural features. To protect the ground water recharge zones and enhance its capacity. Why Biodiversity Park?

4. There are three types of biodiversit ies

5. Species Biodiversity Species Diversity is the effective number of different species that are represented in collection of individuals Genetic Biodiversity Genetic diversity, the level of biodiversity refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. Ecosystem Biodiversity Ecosystem diversity refers to the diversity of a place at the level of ecosystems. The term differs from biodiversity, which refers to variation in species rather than ecosystems.

6. DISTRIBUTION OF BIODIVERSITY Flora and fauna diversity depends on- Climate Altitude Soils Presence of other species M o s t o f t h e bio d i v er si ty concentrated in Tropical region. BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS : A region with high biodiversity with most of spices being Endemic. India have two Biodiversity Hotspots- East Himalayan Region and Western Ghat.

7. BENEFITS OF BIODIVERSITY Consumptive value: Food/Drink Fuel Medicine B e tter crop varieties Industrial Material Non-Consumptive Value : Recreation Education and Research Traditional value

8. Ecological services:  Balance of nature  Biological productivity  Regulation of climate  Degradation of waste  Cleaning of air and water  Cycling of nutrients  Control of potential pest and disease causing species  Detoxification of soil and sediments  Stabilization of land against erosion  Carbon sequestration and global climate change  Maintenance of Soil fertility

9. THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY Natural causes : Narrow geographical area Low population Low breeding rate Natural disasters Anthropogenic causes: Habitat modification Overexploitation of selected species Innovation by exotic species

10. Pollution Hunting Global warming and climate change Agriculture Domino effect

11. CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity inventories Conserving Biodiversity in protected Habitats- • • In situ conservation Ex situ conservation  Seed Bank, Gene Bank, Pollen Bank, DNA Bank Gene Bank z o o Bandhavgarh National Park

12. Restoration of Biodiversity Imparting Environmental Education Enacting, strengthening and enforcing Environmental Legislation Population Control Reviewing the agriculture practice Controlling Urbanization Conservation through Biotechnology

13. BIODIVERSITY IN INDIA Categories No. of Indian Species % of Indian species Evaluated Species Threatened In India Mammals 3 8 6 59 41% Birds 1219 _ 7% Reptiles 4 9 5 73 46% Amphibians 2 7 79 57% Freshwater Fish 7 46 70% Source- Based on Kumar et.al 2000

14. BIODIVERSITY CONVENSIONS  The first convention on biodiversity organized at Rio De Janerio, capital of Brazil from June 5 to 16, 1992 named as United Nation Conference On Environment and Development (UNCED), batter known as Rio Summit to maintain ecological balan c e and e n rich b i odiversit y . T he signed by 150 countries agree m e nt on including th r e e biodiversity prog r a mm e s - To ensure conservation of biodiversity Sustainable use of biodiversity Rational and equitable share of profit to accrue from use of genetic resources.  The second convention organized at Johannesburg in 2002 called World Summit On Sustainable Development (WSSD) where the Biodiversity and Sustainable Ecosystem Management was the issue.

15.  The International Conference held on Biodiversity in Relation to Food & Human Security in a warming planet 15-17 February, 2010 in Chenna i.  International Conference on Wildlife & Biodiversity Conservation held on 3 to 5 June, 2010 at Dal lake, Srinagar, Kashmir.  Indian Biodiversity Congress (IBC) & Indian Biodiversity Expo(IBE ) will be held on 27-31 December at Thriuvananthapuram, Kerala .

16. C O N C L U S I O N Biodiversity is our life. If the Biodiversity got lost at this rate then in near future, the survival of human being will be threatened. So, it is our moral duty to conserve Biodiversity as well our Environment. Long- term maintenance of species and their management requires co-operative efforts across entire landscapes. Biodiversity should be dealt with at scale of habitats or ecosystems rather than at species level.

17. NATIONAL CASE STUDY YAMUNA BIODIVERSITY PARK JAGATPUR KHADAR, YAMUNA DELHI

18. Yamuna Biodiversity Park AERIAL VIEW OF YAMUNA BIODIVERSITY PARK,DELHI

19. LOCATION

20. Aim of Yamuna Biodiversity Park T o p r o t ect and su s t a in the biodiversity. To protect the natural drainage of river Yamuna in Delhi. T o p r o vide r egi o na l l e v el open and green spaces. T o p r o t e ct the g r oun d r e cha r g e zones like river Yamuna and Ridge

21. Origin and Salient features of the site This park is located close to river Yamuna, Jharoda, Wazirabad Actually 1km away from the main stream of Yamuna but still in its Basin It was a part of the flood plain during some 30-40 years back DDA acquired land in 2001-2002 and planned biodiversity park in 2003 The area is low lying used to get seasonally flooded and long spell of standing water has turned soil more saline(pH=8.9) For developing park two pronged strategies were adopted- physical and biological interventions

22. Physical Intervention To deal with localized flooding terrain was modified by creating wasteland and marshes Mounds were created for leaching soil of excess salt and make niches for biodiversity Biological Intervention Biological inputs for improving habitat quality Farm yard manure, vermi compost leaf mould etc were provided Leguminous species and some other characteristic grass were introduced

23. Importance of Yamuna Biodiversity Park Emerging as the capital's most visited public plac e. Prominent centre for learning and understanding the environment. Home for biologically rich wetlands, grassland communities, A wide variety of fruit yielding species and an abundance of medicinal herbs. The Park also comprises a native flora and fauna which used to exist a 100 years ago and then became extinct locally.

24. Important Features of the site Ten mounds which illustrate different forest ecosystems found in the Yamuna basin Structure and composition is done in such a way to give it a natural view and environment The soil for mounds were brought from a digging wasteland and reservoirs. Different species of grass and shrubs were planted for soil better holding and for increasing biomass Different ecosystems such as deciduous forest, evergreen forest, sub-tropical evergreen, moist tropical deciduous forest etc. Broad divisions are bambuselum, Nature Interpretation centre, conservatory of fruit yielding species, wetland for migratory birds and the nature reserve area.

25. Zoning of Park The front portion of the Yamuna Biodiversity Park, a 220m southward and 140m northward stretch from the main entry gate with 20-30m width is demarcated as Domesticated Biodiversity Zone. Enclosed by a hedge of poplar, it features plants like Ailanthus Butea and Bauhinia The outer iron fencing is embraced by multi-coloured climbers like Jasmine and QuisqualiS. The Conservatory of fruit yielding species The Migratory duck’s wetland The Nature Reserve area. Nature Interpretation Centre

26. Bambusalem Vide diversity of bamboo species..presently 37 varieties of bamboo. Habitat of bulbul and many other creatures Nature Interpretation centre Study centre for biodiversity and Allied bio geo interpretations

27. Flora According to prof. C R Babu of Delhi University, initially only mongooses, lizards and 31 species of birds were there in the park up until 2004 .  By 2014 the biodiversity park already had 900 species of native plants. The native species reintroduced included  Adina ,   Sal ,   teak  and  Hardwicke .  As of 2019, it has about 1,500 species of plants and animals, and 200 species of birds .

28. Fauna By 2014, the wetlands was already attracting thousands of  migratory birds  from Siberia, Central Asia and Europe. It had 200 species of birds, 75 species of butterflies, 10 species of snakes, and big mammals like  porcupine ,  small Indian civet  and  wild boars .

29. W e tlan d s Two wetlands are have been created, one is narrow and 1.8km simulating river and the other one is wide open and deep spreading over 2 hectares It was created to serve as a habitat of aquatic life and serve the purpose of ecologically water purification, groundwater recharge, storage of rainwater and help in controlling flood during monsoon. Other special areas are Nurseries, Amphitheatre Poly houses Orchards Acacia grasslands 750m long drain from Jagatpur Village Rose Garden

30. Resting Point & Nature interpretation Centre RESTING POINT AND EATING CENTRE NATURE INTERPRETATION CENTRE

31. Restoration In 2005 restoration of flood plains of Yamuna commenced, which had been lying barren due to sodic soil making it difficult for plants to grow. In Phase-I, 157 acres ecosystem was restored by developing two wetlands, a grassland and forest communities. Native plant species were reintroduced to reduce the salt content in the soil. The pH level (scale of acidity) of the soil was not neutral and detrimental to the success of the native Indian plants. Researchers form Delhi University had to plant one specific species of grass that brought the pH level from 10 to seven (neutral) level .

32. Landscaping of Biodiversity park NATURE INT ERPR A TA TI O N CENTRE REFRESHMENT ZONE FOREST RESERVE MOUNDS ROSE GARDEN WASTEWATER RESERV BUFFER ZONE GRASSLAND MOUNDS BAMBOO BRIDGE STREAM OF WATER

33. INTERNATIONAL CASE STUDY DAINTREE BIODIVERSITY PARK QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA

34. DAINTREE BIODIVERSITY PARK

35. Daintree Rainforest Daintree rainforest is the largest rainforest in Australia. It was named after Richard Daintree. The Daintree covers over 3000 square kilometers . That’s nearly the size of Adelaide! It is packed with vegetation. People call this place the lungs of the earth. These lungs are being destructed by the same token. We are losing this rainforest rapidly, and we need to make an action. The  Daintree Rainforest  is a landscape with striking diversity. From the dense  rainforest  and mountain ranges to fast flowing streams, waterfalls and gorges. With such a rich array of flora and fauna set amongst stunning scenery, there is a rich and colorful world here waiting to be discovered.

36. LOCATION: • The Daintree forest lies on the North East coast of Australia in the area called Queensland, its a part of the larger area known as the wet tropics. • It runs parallel to the other Australian wonderland the Great Barrier Reef. • The wet tropics are a world heritage site, covering an area of 900,000 hectares (1/2 size of Wales).

37. Why is the Daintree so special? Its Size: The jungle stretches across approximately 1,200 square kilometers of land. It is the third largest tropical rainforest in the world and is the largest within Australia. It is also the only place where two world heritage listed sights stand side by side; where the rainforest meets the reef. The  GREAT BARRIER REEF  and the Daintree Rainforest live together peacefully and the wildlife flourishes between the two.

38. Its Age: Dating back 180 million years , Daintree is one of the oldest vegetations in the world. It is older than the even the famous Amazon Rainforest by about 10 million years. It’s Wildlife: The Daintree is one of the best biologically diverse rainforests in the world. Home to a huge percentage of the entire country’s animal population. This includes 30% of Australia’s frog population, 65% of butterfly and bats and around 12,000 different insect species . As well as being diverse, the animals are unique. Some of these species aren’t found anywhere else on the planet, including the Ulysses Butterfly, Boyd’s Forest Dragon, and the Southern Cassowary. The plants are just as interesting, with over three thousand types of plant species existing in the rainforest. The diversity, complexity, and age of the ecosystem’s plant species are one of the greatest in the entire world. Out of the 19 primate plants families remaining on earth, 12 are found in this rainforest. The ‘ Idiot Fruit’ is one of the most ancient plants that litter the rainforest, which thrived when dinosaurs wandered the earth. It is a Gateway: It acts as a gateway to one of the greatest tourist spots around; the Cape Tribulation. The Cape Tribulation is a coastal area within the National park and is bursting with unspoiled beaches with the beautiful reefs. It is a tropical heaven, untouched by urban development . The only way you can see this spectacular site is by passing through the rainforest, which acts as a protective border from the modern world.

39. CLIMATE : The  climate  of  DAINTREE rainforest  is sub-tropical humid  climate  with two seasons, a rainy and humid season in summer (October to May) and a relatively dry season between June and October. ... The average annual rainfall is 2,000 mm. This area between November and April can be affected by tropical cyclones.

40. Vegetation • Deciduous tress, but look evergreen, as year round growing season means trees shed leaves at different times • 1% of sun reaches floor- shrubs etc adapt to lack of light • About 200 species of tree in an area size of football pitch • Soil has thick litter layer, as leaves continuously fall, but humus is thin due to rapid decomposition in humid conditions • Nutrients are rapidly leached (drawn down into and lost in soil) • Reddish in color due to high concentration of iron and aluminum

41. It’s the oldest intact tropical lowland rainforest in the world. It has the greatest diversity of plants and animals found anywhere in Australia. It is host to 12 of the world’s 19 primitive flowering plant species. It is home to 28% of frogs, 65% of ferns, 40% of birds and 34% of mammals in Australia. FLORA TYPES OF FLORA IN DAINTREE FOREST: IDIOT FRUIT ( Idiospermum australiense ) EPIPHYTES KING FERNS ( Angiopteris evecta ) NOAH’S SATINASH ( Syzygium maraca) NATIVE GINGERS (Family: Zingiberaceae ) FAN PALM  ( Licuala ramsayi ) PANDANUS YELLOW MAHOGANY ( Dysoxylum parasiticum )

42. The park supports more than 430 bird species. The  wompoo fruit-dove  is one of six species of pigeon that live in the park as well as significant populations of the endangered  cassowary , a flightless bird of substantial size. The buff-breasted paradise kingfisher  is a seasonal visitor. Mammals include the  striped possum ,  Daintree River ringtail possum , brown bandicoot , long-nosed bandicoot ,  musky rat-kangaroo , Bennett’s tree kangaroo , swamp wallaby ,  platypus  and short-beaked echidna . At least 23 species of reptile and 13 species of amphibian can be found in the park. Among the reptiles present are  Boyd's forest dragon ,  eastern water dragon ,  chameleon gecko , northern leaf-tailed gecko , the scrub or amethystine python ,  keel back , and the  green and northern tree snakes . Frogs found in the park include the  Australian lacelid ,  white-lipped tree frog ,  colorful-eyed tree frog and  common mist frog . The introduced  cane toad  is also present in the park. FAUNA

43. Mangrove Nurseries The mangrove system of forests that ring the mouths of creeks and rivers in the Daintree is a wonderful fish nursery that plays a particular importance in the ecology of the area. Mangroves are vital for many young fish species that migrate to the Great Barrier Reef later in life. They also hold the highest species diversity for this type of habitat anywhere in Australia.

44. What are the threats to the Daintree ? Humans make a huge impact on ecosystems, here are some of the many things we do that are slowing destroying the Daintree . Logging: Logging affects the Daintree Rainforest because if the loggers go and cut down all the trees and sell the timber for money there will be no rainforest left . Farming: Farming affects the Daintree Rainforest because farmers burn the rainforest in order to clear land for more farming . Development: Development is affecting the Daintree Rainforest because people are destroying the rainforest to build houses, roads and infrastructure . Mining: Mining is a problem because miners clear the rainforest and dig up the ground to extract minerals . Tourism: Tourism is a problem because as interest in the Daintree Rainforest grows, more buses and transport is needed to keep up with demand and that increases the carbon dioxide and impacts on climate change . As a consequence of human impact over 120 local animal and plant species are threatened. Example, the Cassowary is a threatened species and there are only 2,000 left.

45.   Services provided by the Daintree • Carbon Sequestration- Daintree plants and trees store carbon in leaves which reduces pollution and regulates climate • Medicine- 25% of drugs are from rainforests, including chemicals to treat diabetes, heart disease, malaria, arthritis and traditional headache tablets. Many Daintree plants are identified as containing cancer fighting properties • People of the rainforest- rainforest aborigine people are the original owners of the forest- the natural rainforest and its processes are integral to these people and the way they live • Tourism- ½ million tourist visits a year from home and abroad, come for scenery- unique combo of forest, coast and mountains and the GBR all together- nowhere else like this on Earth • Logging- began in 1930s in the 80s arguments ensued between conservationists and timber industry- decided continued logging at then rate UNSUSTAINABLE.

46. Save the Daintree Rainforest for Future Generations It is so important for us to preserve this one of a kind natural wonder. You are welcome to visit this stunningly diverse natural habitat, but please ensure that you leave this pristine environment as it was when you arrived. Take any rubbish with you when leaving the forest, don’t pollute the water and don’t feed the wildlife. Protecting this natural environment starts with you. As they say, ‘Leave nothing but footsteps and take nothing but photographs’. It is also vital to do what we can to protect the cassowary and boost their numbers in the Daintree. The best way to achieve this is with rainforest re-vegetation.  Rainforest Rescue  is a fantastic organization who undertakes in the necessary re-vegetation that is needed to support the cassowary population. Every donation helps to save this magnificent creature and help sustain the wonderful natural diversity of the Daintree Rainforest.

47. Who is involved in the management? Key players: Wet tropics management authority Douglas Shire Council (till2008) then Cairns regional council Australian Rainforest Foundation Wildlife preservation society of Queensland Australian Tropical Research Foundation Rainforest cooperative research council