The biodiversity supports life. A wide varieties of life forms live together in an ecosystem which is stable and sustainable. Each species in an ecosystem contributes to make it stable and sustainable. Any changes in the survival of even a single species cause damage to the ecosystem posing threat to the biodiversity or survival of other species including human. Mostly these threats are manmade (Anthropogenic). According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these activities are categorized as follows.

1. Residential and commercial development: Construction of houses, buildings etc., for residential and commercial purposes.
2. Farming activities: Growing crops and keeping animals.
3. Energy production and mining: Thermal power station, hydroelectric power etc.
4. Transportation: Construction of roads, Pollution etc.
5. Exploitation of biological resources: Hunting or poaching of wild species both plants and animals for Foods and trade, manufacturing commercial products from plants and animals, collection of medicinal plants, Collection of fire wood from the forest etc.
6. Human intrusion & activities: Human settlement, land occupation, village, towns, urbanization.
7. Modification of Nature: Changing food chain, replacement of endemic species, introduction of new species or pathogens etc.

These all activities are responsible for posing threat to the biodiversity of a region.

Nature of threat

The threat refers to the condition that is responsible for causing disturbances or preventing survival of the species. The threat is recognized in the form of

1. Biodiversity loss
2. Destruction of habitat
3. Introduced and invasive species
4. Genetic pollution
5. Overexploitation
6. Climate change
7. Biodiversity loss

1. Biodivesity loss

Biodiversity loss refers to disappearance of species in their natural habitat leading to extinction. Many species disappeared from the planet due to many reasons. However, a good example of anthropogenic activity that is responsible for the biodiversity loss is ‘Extinction of the flightless bird ‘Dodo’, ‘Raphus cucullatus’ due to over hunting.

2. Destruction of habitat

Destruction of habitat refers to eradication of a large dimension of natural establishment within a short period of time. Destruction of forest, collection of boulders from the river bed etc. are the example of habitat destruction.

3. Introduced and invasive species

Sometimes, human procure exotic variety of species and introduced it to a new habitat for agricultural or commercial benefit. These nonnative species colonize the new habitat disrupting the ecosystem. They multiply rapidly and become invasive. The invasive species compete with the native species posing threat to the native species. Examples of ‘introduced invasive species has been documented. Lantana camara is an invasive plant species that has been found threatened to the farm land of India.

4. Genetic pollution

Genetic pollution refers to the transfer of genetic material from nonnative, genetically engineered population, mutated organisms etc., to the wild population. Introduced species or invasive species may be cause of genetic pollution. Genetic pollution may replace the native species by the newly introduced species with new genetic constitution. Wild population of salmon is likely to be reduced due to reproduction with domesticated salmon species escaped from their containment.

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5. Overexploitation

Overexploitation occurs when harvesting exceeds the production. Overexploitation is the major threat to the biodiversity of a region. Uncontrolled Collection of natural resources such as NTFP (Non-Timber Forest Product), Over fishing in the natural water bodies, Uncontrolled collection of medicinal plants from the natural habitat etc., may be the cause of destruction of habitat leading to the loss of biodiversity    

6. Climate change

As the name suggest, Climate change refers to the change in climate. But it is not happening within a short period of time. This a long-term process. The climate change means a long-term shift in climate. The climate refers to weather pattern, temperature, rainfall etc., of a region. Human already has experienced the change in climate by observing change in weather pattern, change in seasons, change in temperatures, change in humidity etc.

The main cause of climate change is believed to be the human activities. Burning of fossils, deforestation, agricultural and industrial practices leading to the emission of greenhouse gasses that traps more temperature at lower atmosphere causing global warming.

Effects of climate change

1. Formation or expansion of desert.

2. Melting of permafrost, glacier retreat, sea ice loss

3. extreme weather: Drought (Water scarcity), flood, storms etc.

4. Ocean acidification and rise of sea level.

Conservation of biodiversity

The conservation of biodiversity refers to Protection, Reproduction and Rehabilitation or restoration of species in natural habitat in order to maintain a sustainable ecological system for present and future generation.

There are mainly two methods of Biodiversity Conservation.

1. In-situ conservation

2.Ex-situ conservation

In-situ Conservation

In-situ conservation is the Conservation within the natural habitat It is an effective and convenient method of conservation of biodiversity.

The National parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves serve the in-situ conservation.

National Parks

National parks are maintained by government.  It has clear boundaries set by government. Human activities such as hunting, fishing, grazing, cultivation is prohibited in National parks. For example: Kaziranga National Park, Kanha National Park etc. it is designed to focus on more than one species.

Wildlife Sanctuaries

Wildlife sanctuaries are more or less same in size of the National Park. Human activities such as collection of fire woods, collection of NTFP (Non timber forest products) etc., are allowed. Agriculture is also allowed in its surrounding areas. Seasonal tourism is allowed in Wildlife Sanctuaries. The wild life sanctuaries are maintained to focus on a certain species of plants or animals.

Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserve forests occupies a wide area that may include National Parks and Wild life Sanctuaries. It represents the whole ecosystem. Biosphere reserve can be divided into three parts: The Core area, Buffer zone and transition area. The core area is a fully protected area where human activities are not allowed. Tourism and animal grazing is allowed in the Buffer zone. The outer region of biosphere reserve is the Transition zone where human habitation including domestication of farm animals and plants are allowed.