Preserving

Life
Conservation
of Plants and
Animals

P R E S E N T E R N A M E

AT I F Z U B A I R
 Introduction
Conservation of plants and animals is a
critical endeavor in our modern world,
addressing the pressing need to protect
and preserve the rich biodiversity that
sustains life on Earth. This presentation will
provide a detailed overview of the
importance of conservation, current threats
to biodiversity, strategies employed in
conservation eff orts, success stories, global
initiatives, challenges faced, and the future
outlook for plant and animal conservation
P R E S E RV I N G L I F E
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C O N S E RVAT I O N O F P L A N T S A N D A N I M A L S
 W H AT ’ S

T O D AY ' S
Conservation
WHY IT
C O N S E R VAT I O
WORLD M AT T E R
N
The term "Conservation" According to a report Conservation matters
by "WWF" Over 1 because it ensures the
Means the prevention and survival of species,
careful management of million species face
maintains ecological
plants and animal species extinction due to
balance, and preserves
in order to prevent their human activities like natural resources for
extinction. It involves deforestation, future generations. It
protecting and restoring pollution, and hunting. helps combat climate
natural resources, And a diff erent reports change, protect
including plants and biodiversity, and sustain
states that each year
animals, to ensure their the ecosystems that
more than 100k species
survival and prevent the support human life and
become extinct :(
loss of biodiversity. well-being.

PRES ERV ING LIFE

CONS ERVAT ION OF PL ANT S A ND ANIM A LS
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 Biodiversity
The term "Biodiversity" is derived from Greek word "bios" = life and
"diversity" = variety. It refers to the number and variety of plants,
animals and other organisms that exist on Earth. It is crucial for
maintaining ecological balance, as each species plays a specific role in
ecosystems. Biodiversity supports essential services like air and water
purification, pollination, nutrient recycling, and climate regulation. It
provides food, medicines, and raw materials, ensuring economic and
cultural benefits. A loss of biodiversity can disrupt ecosystems and
threaten human survival. Conserving biodiversity is vital for a
sustainable and healthy planet.

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 Importance of
Conservation
C O N S E R V A T I O N P L A Y S A V I T A L R O L E I N M A I N T A I N I N G
T H E D E L I C A T E B A L A N C E O F O U R P L A N E T ' S E C O S Y S T E M S
A N D E N S U R I N G T H E S U R V I V A L O F C O U N T L E S S S P E C I E S .
 Biodiversity Maintenance Climate Regulations
• Conservation is crucial for • Plants, particularly forests, play a
maintaining biodiversity, which is significant role in absorbing
the variety of life on Earth. carbon dioxide and mitigating
Biodiversity is essential for climate change. Conservation
ecosystem stability and eff orts help preserve these natural
resilience, providing a wide range carbon sinks, reducing the impact
of organisms and ecosystems that of global warming. By protecting
and restoring ecosystems, we can
contribute to ecological balance
enhance nature's ability to
• It supports processes such as pollinati on, nutrient
cycling, and climate regulati on, which are vital for regulate the climate and mitigate
the survival of all species, including humans. the eff ects of climate change
 Protection of Endangered Economic and Medicinal
Species Benefi ts
• Many plant and animal species are • Biodiversity provides numerous
at risk of extinction due to habitat economic benefits, including
destruction, pollution, and climate resources for agriculture, forestry,
change. Conservation eff orts aim and fisheries. Many medicines are
to protect these species by derived from plants and animals,
preserving their natural habitats highlighting the importance of
and implementing strategies to conserving these resources for
prevent further decline future medical discoveries
• This is crucial for maintaining the • By protecting biodiversity, we safeguard
genetic diversity and ecological roles of potential sources of new medicines and
these species. economic opportunities.
 Ecosystem Cultural and Educational
Services Value

Plants and animals provide

• Biodiverse ecosystems off er
essential ecosystem services opportunities for scientific
such as pollination, water research and education,
purification, and soil fertility. helping us understand the
Conservation ensures the natural world and our place
continued availability of these within it. They also hold
services, which are critical for cultural significance for many
human survival and well-being. communities, providing a sense
These services often go of identity and heritage
unnoticed but are fundamental to • Conservation eff orts help preserve
our quality of life and economic these cultural and educational
stability. resources for future generations.
Current Threats to
Biodiversity
T O E F F E C T I V E L Y A D D R E S S C O N S E R V A T I O N N E E D S ,
I T ' S E S S E N T I A L T O U N D E R S T A N D T H E M A J O R
T H R E A T S F A C I N G P L A N T A N D A N I M A L S P E C I E S
W O R L D W I D E :
 Current Threats to Biodiversity

Deforestation Climate Change

Deforestation of forests for Climate change is a critical
agriculture, urbanization, and stressor that affects
industrial use. It leads to ecosystems and species. It
habitat destruction, loss of alters habitats and can lead
biodiversity, soil erosion, and to the extinction of species
climate change due to that cannot adapt quickly
increased carbon dioxide enough to changing
levels. Deforestation disrupts conditions
ecosystems and threatens the
survival of countless plant and Rising temperatures,
animal species. Sustainable changing precipitation
 Pollution Overexploitation
Pollution, including chemical, This includes overfishing, hunting,
plastic, and noise pollution, and logging, which deplete species
populations faster than they can
poses a significant threat to recover. Overharvesting is a major
wildlife. It can lead to habitat threat to both terrestrial and
degradation and directly harm marine biodiversity. Many species
plant and animal species. are pushed to the brink of
Pollutants can accumulate in extinction due to unsustainable
exploitation of natural resources.
food chains, causing long- Unable to render image
term damage to ecosystems Overexploitation, such as illegal
and biodiversity. wildlife trade, poses a significant
threat to many species
 Invasive Species Disease
The introduction of non- Emerging diseases, often
native species can disrupt exacerbated by human
local ecosystems, activities and climate
outcompeting or preying on change, pose a growing
native species, and leading threat to wildlife
to declines or extinctions populations. The spread of
. Invasive species can rapidly pathogens can be
alter ecosystems, often with particularly devastating for
devastating consequences species already under stress
for native biodiversity. from other factors.
 IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species
PROTECTING THE BIODIVERSITY
 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
PROTECTING THE BIODIVERSITY

So Lemme tell you real quick - International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural
Resources works towards assessing the global conservation status of diff erent plants and
animals species. It maintains a comprehensive list known as the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. Here species are classifi ed into nine categories, on the basis of
criteria like the rate of decline, population size, and area of geographical distribution. The
main aim of IUCN Red list is to focus the attention of conservationists towards the species
that are under the threat of becoming extinct. IUCN also publishes a catalogue, called the
"Red Data Book", which list rare species and those in danger of extinction.
The nine categories of IUCN Red List of threatened species are :
Extinct (EX), Extinct in the wild (EW), Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN),
Vulnerable (VU), Near threatened (NT), Least Concern (LC), Data defi cient (DD), Not
Evaluated (NE)

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 14
 Extinct :(
They are deadddddd 💀💀

Extinct (EX) Extinct in the Wild (EW)

Simplyy A group is Extinct A group is known to be Extinct in the
Wild when it is known only to survive
when there is no reasonable
in captivity and there is no free living
doubt that the last individual natural population of this species. A
has died / They no longer group is presumed to be extinct in the
beyond reasonable doubt that wild when exhaustive surveys known
and/or expected habitats, at
the species is no longer extant.
appropriate times and throughout its
Example : Passenger Pigeon, historic range have failed to record an
Dodo, Sea Mink, Pinta Island individual. Example : Alagoas,
Tortoise, Mammothhhhhhh etc. curassow, Hawaiian Crow, etc.
 Threatened
C R I T I C A L LY mar jayenge kuch time badd

ENDANGERED(C ENDANGERED VULNERABLE(V

R) (EN) U)

A group is The species that are A group is

critically not likely to survive vulnerable when it
endangered when and will soon become is likely to move to
extinct in the wild if
it is facing an endangered
the same causative
extremely high risk category in the
factors continue are
of extinction in the near future.
called endangered
wild in the species. Examples : Indian
immediate future. rhinoceros, Snow
Examples : Golden
Example : Gharial, Leopard,
Langur, Asiatic Lion,
Ivory Billed lion tailed-macaque, Barasingha, African 16

woodpecker, Great _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
 Lower Risk ( LR )

Near Threatened ( NT ) Least Concern ( LC )

A species is considered Near When a species is considered Least
Threatened when it has been Concern, it does not meet the criteria
evaluated against the criteria but does for Critically Endangered,
not currently qualify for Critically Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near
Endangered, Endangered, or Threatened.
Vulnerable but is close to or is likely
This category includes species that are
to qualify for a threatened category in
widespread and abundant.
the near future.
Example : American Alligator, American
Examples : African Bush Elephant, Ball
Crow, Indian Peafowl, Baboon, Bald
Python, Badger, Bison, Basking shark,
Eagle, Brown Bear, Brown Rat, Brown-
etc.
throated Sloth, etc.
 Conservation of
Forests and Wildlife
 Steps Taken by Government For
Conservation of Forests and Wildlife
• Aff orestation and Reforestation: The Indian government has launched various
aff orestation and reforestation programs to increase forest cover and restore degraded
forests. These initiatives include the National Aff orestation Programme (NAP) and the Green
India Mission. The programs involve planting native tree species, promoting agroforestry, and
encouraging community participation in forest management.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs): The government has designed areas around protected forests
as Eco-Sensitive Zones to regulate activities that could harm the environment. These zones
act as buff er areas, minimizing the impact of human activities on wildlife habitats. Activities
such as Felling trees, mining, industrial development, and construction are restricted or
regulated within these zones.
• Conservation Education and Awareness: The government, along with various NGOs and
organizations, to conduct awareness campaigns and educational programs to promote the
importance of wildlife conservation. These initiatives aim to sensitize the public, especially
the younger generation, about the need to protect forests and wildlife.
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 Conservation Acts in India
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: This act provides comprehensive protection to wildlife and
their habitats. It prohibits hunting, poaching, and trade of endangered species, illegal mining
etc. The act also establishes schedules of protected plant and animal species, categorizing
them based on the level of protection required.
• Forest Conservation Act, 1980: This act aims to conserve forests and regulate
deforestation. It extends to the whole of India except the State of Jammu and Kashmir. It
requires prior approval from the central government for the diversion of forest land for non-
forest purposes. The act also emphasizes the importance of aff orestation and reforestation to
maintain ecological balance.
• Environment Protection Act, 1986: This act provides a framework for the protection and
improvement of the environment. It empowers the central government to take measures to
protect and improve the quality of the environment, control pollution, and regulate activities
that may harm the environment. The act also includes provisions for the conservation of
natural resources and biodiversity.
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 Conservation
Strategies
IN SITU EX SITU
C O N S E R VAT I O N C O N S E R VAT I O N
• It is the methods of • It is the methods of
conserving all the living conserving all the living
species, especially the species in the artful
wild and endangered habitats that refl ect their
species in their natural natural living habitats.
habitats and Ex-situ conservation of
environment. In-situ biodiversity includes
conservation of • botanical gardens, Seed
Biodiversity includes Banks & Gene banks, 1

•
 In Situ Conservation

National
Parks
A National Park is
a protected land
area, preserved in
natural conditions
to provide natural
habitat to wildlife.
Forestry, grazing,
cultivation and
free entry of
people are banned
in national parks.
In India there are
many national
parks for example
In Situ Conservation

Biosphere
Reserves
A Biosphere reserve is a
specific land area in which
multiple use of land is
permitted for preserving
biodiversity. It is divided
into three zones for
different activities
1. Core zone where no
human activity is
 permitted. It is also
known as natural zone
2. Buffer zone where
limited human activity
is allowed
3. Manipulation zone
where several human
activities are permitted.
There are 18 Biosphere
reserves in India for
example : Nilgiris, Nanda
devi, Valley of flowers, etc
I\
In Situ Conservation

Wildlife Sanctuary
A sanctuary is a protected
land area reserved for the
conservation of wild
 Ex-Situ conservations
Zoological Parks
A zoo refers to any park, cage or
enclosure in which live animals are
kept for public exhibition. It plays a
major role in creating awareness
among common people about the
need to conserve nature. It is an
artificial habitat that serve as a
breeding centres for some rare and
endangered animals.
 Ex-Situ conservations

Gene Bank
Gene bank or Seed Bank are
institutes that maintains stocks of
viable seeds, live growing plants
(orchard), tissues culture and frozen
germplasm with the whole range of
genetic variability
 Ex-Situ conservations

Botanical
Garden
Botanical gardens are large
protected areas established to
conserve rare and threatened
plants. It is a place where wide
variety of plants are cultivated
for scientific, educational and
ornamental purposes
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AT I F Z8UBB A I R
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