ECOSYSTEMANDBIODIVERSITY GUIDEDSELFSTUDYPROGRAMME - MANIFEST IAS
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Contents
Tiger, Leopard and Elephant population by state ............................................................................................................................................. 4
IUCN Red List India (Threatened)............................................................................................................................................................................. 4
Tiger Reserves in India ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Biosphere Reserves in India ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Ramsar Sites in India ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8
38 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India............................................................................................................................................................. 9
All India tiger estimation – 2018 ............................................................................................................................................................................ 10
India State of Forest Report 2019 .......................................................................................................................................................................... 11
Forest and Tree cover of India in 2019 ............................................................................................................................................................... 12
State of India’s Birds report, 2020 ......................................................................................................................................................................... 15
Conservation measures: ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
Hangul or Kashmir Stag .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Wild cats and their color morphs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Purple frog ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Arunachal Pit Viper ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
Barn Owl ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Grizzled giant squirrel ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Water Hyacinth ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
The Hornbill festival ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Iterative evolution ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
Tiger census report 2018: .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
Rhino conservation ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Great Indian Bustard .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 21
State butterfly of Tamil Nadu ................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Kelp Forests ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Impressed tortoise ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 22
Dragon Fish ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
The golden Langur ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
Black Soft-Shell Turtle ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Balsams ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Indian Grey Wolf............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24
Orchids in India ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24
Amazon Rainforest Forest ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 25
Gharial ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 25
Blood oozing tree ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Ganga Dolphin.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26
Nilgiri Tahr ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27
Vultures species in India............................................................................................................................................................................................. 27
Wild Buffalo ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Clouded Leopard ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28
The Starry Dwarf Frog ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 28
Tarantula Spider ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Snow Leopard .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 29
Tasmanian Tiger ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30
Sixth mass extinction.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Pangolin .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 31
Olive Ridley Turtles....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 31
Emperor Penguin ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Definition of forest......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Avian Botulism ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Tiger, Leopard and Elephant population by state
State Tigers (2019) Elephants (2019) Leopards (2015)
Andhra Pradesh 58 80 343
Arunachal Pradesh 29 1614 489
Assam 190 5719 2,487
Bihar 31 25 32
Chhattisgarh 19 247 846
Goa 3 0 71
Gujarat 0 0 1,355
Jharkhand 5 679 29
Karnataka 524 6049 1,129
Kerala 190 5706 472
Madhya Pradesh 526 7 1,817
Maharashtra 312 6 905
Meghalaya 0 1754 0
Mizoram 0 7 0
Nagaland 0 446 0
Odisha 28 1976 345
Rajasthan 69 0 434
Tamil Nadu 264 2761 815
Tripura 0 102 0
Uttar Pradesh 173 232 194
Uttarakhand 442 1839 703
West Bengal 88 194 0
Total 2,967 29,964 12,466
IUCN Red List India (Threatened)
Birds WPA, 1972 IUCN CITES CMS
Black-necked crane Sch I (Part III) VU I I/II
Cheer pheasant Sch I (Part III) VU I
Hooded Crane Sch I (Part III) VU I I/II
Rufous-necked Hornbill Sch I (Part III) VU II
Houbara bustard Sch I (Part III) VU I I/II
Saker Falcon Sch I (Part III) VU I/II
Sclater's Monal Sch I (Part III) VU
Nicobar megapode Sch I (Part III) VU
Western Tragopan Sch I (Part III) VU
Blyth's Tragopan Sch I (Part III) VU I
Whale shark Sch I (Part IIA) VU II
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Giant guitarfish Sch I (Part IIA) VU
Porcupine ray Sch I (Part IIA) VU
Fishes WPA, 1972 IUCN CITES CMS
Great Indian bustard Sch I (Part III) EN I
Lesser florican Sch I (Part III) EN
Narcodam hornbill Sch I (Part III) EN II
White-winged Wood Duck Sch I (Part III) EN I
Knifetooth sawfish Sch I (Part IIA) EN
Freshwater sawfish Sch I (Part IIA) EN
Green sawfish Sch I (Part IIA) EN
Jerdon’s Courser Sch I (Part III) CR
Pink headed duck Sch I (Part III) CR I
Siberian White crane Sch I (Part III) CR I I/II
White-rumped Vulture Sch I (Part III) CR
Slender-billed Vulture Sch I (Part III) CR
White bellied hereon Sch I (Part III) CR
Gangetic shark Sch I (Part IIA) CR
Mammals WPA, 1972 IUCN CITES CMS
Cheetah Sch I (Part I) VU I
Clouded Leopard Sch I (Part I) VU I
Dugong Sch I (Part I) VU I II
Fishing Cat Sch I (Part I) VU
Grizzled Giant Squirrel Sch I (Part I) VU II
Himalayan Tahr Sch I (Part I) VU
Asiatic Wild Ass Sch I (Part I) VU I II
Marbled Cat Sch I (Part I) VU I
Nilgiri Langur Sch I (Part I) VU
Argali Sch I (Part I) VU II
Rusty Spotted Cat Sch I (Part I) VU I
Sloth Bear Sch I (Part I) VU II
Takin Sch I (Part I) VU II
Wild Yak Sch I (Part I) VU
Assamese Macaque Sch II (Part I) VU
Brown Palm Civet Sch II (Part I) VU III
Indian Giant squirrel Sch II (Part I) VU II
Asiatic Black Bear Sch II (Part I) VU I
Nilgiri Marten Sch II (Part I) VU II
Brown mongoose Sch II (Part I) VU III
Red goral Sch III VU I
Brow-Antlered Deer Sch I (Part I) CR I
Asiatic Lion Sch I (Part I) CR I
Malabar Civet Sch I (Part I) CR III
Pygmy Hog Sch I (Part I) CR I
Wroughton's Free tailed Bat Sch I (Part I) CR
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Himalayan grey langur Sch II (Part I) CR
Namdhapa Flying Squirrel Sch II (Part I) CR
Leather back turtle Sch I (Part II) CR I I(II)
Amphibians and Reptiles WPA, 1972 IUCN CITES CMS
Logger Head Turtle Sch I (Part II) EN I(II)
Olive Ridley sea turtle Sch I (Part II) EN I/II
Malabar tree toad Sch IV EN
Tiger Reserves in India
Area of Area of
Sl. Name of Tiger the core the buffer Total area
No. Reserve State (Sq. Km.) (Sq. Km.) (Sq.Km.)
Nagarjunsagar
1 Srisailam Andhra Pradesh 2595.72 700.59 3296.31
2 Namdapha Arunachal Pradesh 1807.82 245 2052.82
3 Kamlang Arunachal Pradesh 671.00 112 783
4 Pakke Arunachal Pradesh 683.45 515 1198.45
5 Manas Assam 840.04 2310.88 3150.92
6 Nameri Assam 200 144 344
7 Orang Assam 79.28 413.18 492.46
8 Kaziranga Assam 625.58 548 1173.58
9 Valmiki Bihar 598.45 300.93 899.38
10 Udanti-Sitanadi Chattisgarh 851.09 991.45 1842.54
11 Achanakmar Chattisgarh 626.195 287.822 914.017
12 Indravati Chhattisgarh 1258.37 1540.7 2799.07
13 Palamau Jharkhand 414.08 715.85 1129.93
14 Bandipur Karnataka 872.24 584.06 1456.3
15 Bhadra Karnataka 492.46 571.83 1064.29
16 Dandeli-Anshi Karnataka 814.884 282.63 1097.514
17 Nagarahole Karnataka 643.35 562.41 1205.76
18 BR Temple Karnataka 359.1 215.72 574.82
19 Periyar Kerala 881 44 925
20 Parambikulam Kerala 390.89 252.772 643.662
21 Kanha Madhya Pradesh 917.43 1134.361 2051.791
22 Pench Madhya Pradesh 411.33 768.3023 1179.632
23 Bandhavgarh Madhya Pradesh 716.903 820.0351 1598.1
24 Panna Madhya Pradesh 576.13 1021.97** 1578.55
25 Satpura Madhya Pradesh 1339.264 794.044 2133.308
26 Sanjay-Dubri Madhya Pradesh 812.571 861.931 1674.502
27 Melghat Maharashtra 1500.49 1268.03 2768.52
28 Tadoba-Andhari Maharashtra 625.82 1101.771 1727.591
29 Pench Maharashtra 257.26 483.96 741.22
30 Sahyadri Maharashtra 600.12 565.45 1165.57
31 Nawegaon-Nagzira Maharashtra 653.674 - 653.674
32 Bor Maharashtra 138.12 - 138.12
33 Dampa Mizoram 500 488 988
34 Similipal Odisha 1194.75 1555.25 2750
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
35 Satkosia Odisha 523.61 440.26 963.87
36 Ranthambore Rajasthan 1113.364 297.9265 1411.291
37 Sariska Rajasthan 881.1124 332.23 1213.342
38 Mukandra Hills Rajasthan 417.17 342.82 759.99
Kalakad-
39 Mundanthurai Tamil Nadu 895 706.542 1601.542
40 Anamalai Tamil Nadu 958.59 521.28 1479.87
41 Mudumalai Tamil Nadu 321 367.59 688.59
42 Sathyamangalam Tamil Nadu 793.49 614.91 1408.4
43 Kawal Telangana 893.23 1125.89 2019.12
44 Amrabad Telangana 2166.37* 445.02* 2611.39*
45 Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh 1093.79 1107.985 2201.775
46 Pilibhit Uttar Pradesh 602.798 127.4518 730.2498
47 Corbett Uttarakhand 821.99 466.32 1288.31
48 Rajaji TR Uttarakhand 255.63 819.54 1075.17
49 Sunderbans West Bengal 1699.62 885.27 2584.89
50 Buxa West Bengal 390.5813 367.3225 757.9038
Biosphere Reserves in India
S. Area MAB
Date of
N Name (in Location (State) in
Notification
o. km2) year
Part of Wayanad, Nagarhole,
Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur,
1 Nilgiri 01.09.1986 5520 2000
Silent Valley and Siruvani hills
(Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka).
Nanda Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and
2 18.01.1988 5861 2004
Devi Bageshwar districts (Uttarakhand).
3 Nokrek 01.09.1988 820 Part of Garo hills (Meghalaya). 2009
Great Southern most islands of Andaman
4 06.01.1989 885 2013
Nicobar And Nicobar (A&N Islands).
Indian part of Gulf of Mannar
Gulf of
5 18.02.1989 10500 between India and Sri Lanka (Tamil 2001
Mannar
Nadu).
Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon,
6 Manas 14.03.1989 2837 Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang
districts (Assam)
Part of delta of Ganges and
Sunderb
7 29.03.1989 9630 Brahamaputra river system (West 2001
ans
Bengal).
8 Simlipal 21.06.1994 4374 Part of Mayurbhanj district (Orissa). 2009
Dibru-
Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia
9 Saikhow 28.07.1997 765
Districts (Assam)
a
Dehang- Part of Siang and Dibang Valley in
10 02.09.1998 5112
Dibang Arunachal Pradesh.
Parts of Betul, Hoshangabad and
Pachmar
11 03.03.1999 4926 Chindwara districts of Madhya 2009
hi
Pradesh.
Khangch Parts of Khangchendzonga hills and
12 07.02.2000 2620 2018
endzong Sikkim.
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
a
Neyyar, Peppara and
Agasthy
13 12.11.2001 1828 Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and 2016
amalai
their adjoining areas in Kerala.
Achanak Covers parts of Anupur and Dindori
amar - districts of M.P. and parts of
14 30.3.2005 3836 2012
Amarka Bilaspur districts of Chhattishgarh
ntak State.
Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendra
15 Kachchh 29.01.2008 12,454 Nagar and Patan Civil Districts of
Gujarat State
Pin Valley National Park and
Cold surroundings; Chandratal and
16 28.08.2009 7770
Desert Sarchu&Kibber Wildlife Sancturary in
Himachal Pradesh
Seshachalam Hill Ranges covering
Seshacha
17 20.09.2010 4756 parts of Chittoor and Kadapa districts
lam Hills
of Andhra Pradesh
Part of Panna and Chhattarpur
18 Panna 25.08.2011 2999
districts in Madhya Pradesh
Ramsar Sites in India
Date of
No. Wetland State notification
1 Chilika Lake Odisha 01-Oct-81
2 Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan 01-Oct-81
3 Harike Wetland Punjab 23-Mar-90
4 Loktak Lake Manipur 23-Mar-90
5 Sambhar Lake Rajasthan 23-Mar-90
Jammu and
6 23-Mar-90
Wular Lake Kashmir
7 Kanjli Wetland Punjab 22-Jan-02
8 Ropar Wetland Punjab 22-Jan-02
9 Ashtamudi Wetland Kerala 19-Aug-02
10 Bhitarkanika Mangroves Odisha 19-Aug-02
Madhya
11 19-Aug-02
Bhoj Wetland Pradesh
12 Deepor Beel Assam 19-Aug-02
13 East Kolkata Wetlands West Bengal 19-Aug-02
14 Kolleru Lake Andhra Pradesh 19-Aug-02
15 Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary Tamil Nadu 19-Aug-02
Himachal
16 19-Aug-02
Pong Dam Lake Pradesh
17 Sasthamkotta Lake Kerala 19-Aug-02
Jammu and
18 19-Aug-02
Tsomoriri Kashmir
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
19 Vembanad-Kol Wetland Kerala 19-Aug-02
Himachal
20 08-Nov-05
Chandra Taal Pradesh
Jammu and
21 08-Nov-05
Hokera Wetland Kashmir
Himachal
22 08-Nov-05
Renuka Lake Pradesh
23 Rudrasagar Lake Tripura 08-Nov-05
Jammu and
24 08-Nov-05
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes Kashmir
25 Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch) Uttar Pradesh 08-Nov-05
26 Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary Gujarat 24-Sep-12
27 Sundarban Wetland West Bengal 01-Feb-19
28 Nandur Madhameshwar Maharashtra 21-Jun-19
29 Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh 19-Sep-19
30 Sarsai Nawar Jheel Uttar Pradesh 19-Sep-19
31 Beas Conservation Reserve Punjab 26-Sep-19
32 Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve Punjab 26-Sep-19
33 Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary Punjab 26-Sep-19
34 Sandi Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh 26-Sep-19
35 Samaspur Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh 03-Oct-19
36 Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh 02-Dec-19
37 Saman Bird Sanctuary Uttar Pradesh 02-Dec-19
• Agra Fort, Uttar Pradesh
38 UNESCO World Heritage • Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh
Sites in India • Rani Ki Vav, Patan, Gujarat
• Group of Monuments at Pattadakal, Karnataka
Cultural World Heritage Sites in India
• Elephanta Caves, Maharashtra
• Taj Mahal, Agra • Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda University),
Bihar
• Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
• Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
• Hampi, Karnataka (formerly Victoria Terminus), Maharashtra
• Ajanta Caves, Maharashtra • Mountain Railways of India
• Ellora Caves, Maharashtra • Qutub Minar and its Monuments, New Delhi
• Bodh Gaya, Bihar • Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park,
• Sun Temple, Konark, Odisha Gujarat
• Red Fort Complex, Delhi • Hill Forts of Rajasthan
• Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh • Churches and Convents of Goa
• Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu • Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka, Madhya Pradesh
• Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram, • The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of
Tamil Nadu •
• Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi Mumbai
• Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, Rajasthan • The Pink City - Jaipur
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ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
• The Historic City of Ahmedabad number of tigers at 526, closely followed by
• Capitol Complex, Chandigarh Karnataka at 524 with Uttarakhand at
number 3 with 442 tigers.
Natural World Heritage Sites in India • It was a moment of pride for the country as it
achieved its commitment to the St.
• Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam
Petersburg Declaration, of doubling the
Tiger population, much in advance to the
• Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal 2022 deadline.
• Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal
• Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in
Pradesh
their tiger numbers while the tiger’s numbers
• Manas Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam in Odisha remained constant. All other States
• Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan witnessed a positive trend.
• Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National • Viewed at the landscape level, all 5 landscapes
Parks, Uttarakhand showed an increase with the Central Indian
• Western Ghats landscape recording the highest increment.
• Approach: India has been estimating its tigers
Mixed World Heritage Site in India using a double sampling approach involving a
mark-recapture framework to ascertain tiger
• Khangchendzonga National Park numbers, which is being improved over time
keeping in view advancements made in
science.
All India tiger estimation – • During the 4th cycle, in sync with the
2018 Government of India’s “Digital India”
initiative, data was collected using Android-
On the occasion of International Tiger Day,
based application- M-Stripes (Monitoring
Prime Minister released the results of the fourth
system for Tigers’ Intensive Protection and
cycle of All India Tiger Estimation – 2018.
Ecological Status) and analyzed on the
The count of tigers in India has risen to 2967,
applications’ desktop module.
in 2018, according to this census.
Key Highlights • The Prime Minister also released a report of
the 4th cycle of the Management
• The Tiger Estimation exercise is believed to be Effectiveness Evaluation of Tiger Reserves
the world’s largest wildlife survey effort in (MEETR) with Pench Tiger Reserve, Madhya
terms of coverage, the intensity of sampling Pradesh scoring the highest and
and quantum of camera trapping. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu
• India conducts the All India Tiger showing the highest increment in management
Estimation every four years. Three cycles of since the last cycle for which the latter was
the estimation have already been completed in awarded. 42% of the tiger reserves fell in the
2006, 2010 and 2014. Very Good management category, 34% in the
• The 33% rise in tiger numbers is the highest Good category, 24% in the Fair category while
ever recorded between cycles which stood at no tiger reserve was rated Poor.
21% between 2006 to 2010 and 30% between • Projecting tiger reserve as engines of growth
2010 and 2014. The rise in tiger numbers was was highlighted in the report released on
in conformity with the average annual growth Economic Valuation of Tiger Reserves which
rate of tigers since 2006. was jointly published by the NTCA and the
• The rise in tiger numbers was in conformity Indian Institute of Forest Management Bhopal.
with the average annual growth rate of tigers
since 2006. Madhya Pradesh saw the highest
10ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
India State of Forest Report o Special thematic information on forest cover in
hill, tribal and north eastern states;
2019 o Carbon Sink
o Bamboo cover
• The Ministry of Environment, Forest and o Mangrove cover
Climate Change releases the biennial ‘India
State of Forest Report (ISFR)’. • The assessment considers all trees stands with
canopy density over 10% having an extent of
• ISFR is a biennial publication of Forest
more than 1 Ha including bamboos, orchards,
Survey of India (FSI), an organization under
coconut, palm etc. within recorded forest,
MoEFCC which assesses the forest and tree
private, community or institutional lands.
cover, bamboo resources, carbon stock and
Classification of Forest Cover into density
forest fires.
classes:
• ISFR 2019 is the 16th in the series since
• Very Dense (Canopy Density > 70%)
1987.
• Moderate Dense (Canopy Density 40% to
• It provides state wise and district wise forest
70%)
cover.
• Open Forest (Canopy Density 10% to 40%)
• The accuracy level achieved in the current
assessment is the highest amongst all the • Scrub: Degraded forest lands (Canopy density
previous assessments.ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Forest and Tree cover of • Compared to the assessment of 2017, there is
an increase of 5,188 sq. km (0.65%) in the
India in 2019 total forest and tree cover of the country
(Increase in the forest cover - 3,976 sq.km and
that in tree cover - 1,212 sq. km.
• Range increase in forest cover has been
observed in open forest followed by very
dense forest and moderately dense forest.
Top 5 states having highest forest cover area-
wise:
1. Madhya Pradesh
2. Arunachal Pradesh
3. Chhattisgarh
4. Odisha
5. Maharashtra
Top 5 states having highest forest cover as a
percentage of total geographical area:
1. Mizoram (85.41%)
Highlights 2. Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%)
• India is among the top ten nations in the 3. Meghalaya (76.33%)
world in terms of Forest area. 4. Manipur (75.46%)
• The countries are: Russia, Brazil, Canada, US, 5. Nagaland (75.31%)
China, Australia, Congo, Argentina, Indonesia, The top three states showing an increase in
India. forest cover are:
Findings of the report: 1. Karnataka (1,025 sq. km)
• The total forest and tree cover of the country is 2. Andhra Pradesh (990 sq. km)
80.73 million hectare which is 24.56 percent 3. Kerala (823 sq. km)
of the geographical area of the country.
12ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
• The increasing trend of forest and tree cover is
largely due to the various national policies
aimed at conservation and sustainable
management of our forests like:
o Green India Mission
o National Agroforestry policy (NAP)
o REDD plus policy
o Joint Forest Management (JFM)
o National Afforestation Programme
o Funds under Compensatory Afforestation to
States (CAMPA)
• There has been a decrease of forest cover to
the extent of 765 sq km (0.45%) in the
North-east region. Except Assam and Tripura,
all the States in the region have shown a
decrease in forest cover. Sharpest declines
are in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Top three states showing mangrove cover
Mizoram, increase are:
Reason for decline in tree cover inside forests: 1. Gujarat (37 sq. km)
o Due to tribal populations getting “land titles” 2. Maharashtra (16 sq. km)
(patta) 3. Odisha (8 sq. km)
o Rise in trees outside the forest area as due to Biodiversity:
an increase in tree plantation and afforestation • Species Richness of top five States for plant
activities.
• Trees outside forests comprise nearly 36.4%
of the total tree and forest cover in the country.
Maharashtra had the largest extent of such
tree outside forest.
• Mangrove cover has been separately reported
in the ISFR 2019 and the total mangrove
cover in the country is 4,975 sq. km. An
increase of 54 sq. km (about 1%) in
mangrove cover has been observed.
Forest Fires FO
• 21.40% of the forest cover of the country is
highly to extremely fire prone.
• Map showing forest areas under different
fire prone classes:
13ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
• The National Action Plan also acknowledges
the role of FSI in providing timely forest fire
alerts to the SFDs and Communities.
Bamboo
• Top ten States in terms of bamboo bearing
area (%)
ES, 2018 • The total bamboo bearing area has increased
• Recognizing the need to revamp forest fire by 3,229 sq. km.
management in the country, the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Carbon Stock
(MoEF&CC), Government of India has come • The total carbon stock of the country has
up with the National Action Plan on Forest seen an increase of 42.6 million tons from the
Fires, 2018. last assessment. The annual increase in the
• One of the main objectives of the action plan carbon stock is 21.3 million tons, which is
is to reduce the incidences of fires by 78.2 million tons CO2 equivalent.
informing, enabling and empowering forest Wetlands
fringe communities and incentivizing them to • There are 62,466 wetlands covering 3.8% of
work in tandem with the State orest the area in the country. Amongst the States,
Departments (SFDs). Gujarat has the largest area of wetlands
• The plan also aims to reduce the vulnerability within Recorded Forest Area (RFA) in the
of forests against fire hazards across the country followed by West Bengal.
diverse forest ecosystems in the country, • Dependence of fuel wood on forests is the
enhancing the capabilities of institutions in highest in Maharashtra, whereas, for fodder,
fighting fires, and accelerating the recovery small timber and bamboo, dependence is
after a fire incidence. highest in Madhya Pradesh.
• The plan proposes nine strategies to address Technology used:
the issue, including establishment of a “Centre • The biennial assessment of forest cover of the
of Excellence on Forest Fire Management” at country using mid-resolution Satellite data is
FSI. based on interpretation of LISS-III data from
14ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Indian Remote Sensing satellite data Gandhinagar, Gujarat. A massive database of
(Resourcesat-II). around 10 million observations uploaded by
• For the first time, Ortho-rectified satellite 15,000 birdwatchers on online platform,
data has been used for forest cover mapping eBird and ‘citizen science data’ to assess the
due to its better positional accuracy as it distribution and trends of common Indian birds
removes effects of image perspective (tilt) and was used.
relief (terrain) and scale distortions in the Findings:
image. • 867 species of Indian birds were assessed in
this report.
• Only 48 per cent of all the species analyzed
have registered a stable bird population and
a slight increase in their numbers.
• During the last two decades, over half the
species assessed have declined.
• These declines are particularly acute for birds
of prey, migrant shorebirds, birds of forests
and grasslands and endemic birds of the
Western Ghats.
• To the list of 67 globally threatened Indian
bird species identified by the IUCN Red List.
• The report adds 34 more species, making the
number of species of high conservation
concern in India now 101.
• 319 birds are categorized as moderate
concern and 442 birds as low concern
species.
• India has witnessed a big decline in:
o Migratory shorebirds
o Raptors
o Indian Vulture
o Large-billed Leaf Warbler
• Schematic diagram of the broad approach o Curlew Sandpiper
followed in forest cover mapping: o Richard’s Pipit
o White-rumped Vulture
• The species which have registered a healthy
State of India’s Birds report, spurt in their numbers include:
2020 o Rosy Starling
o Feral Pigeon
• This is the first comprehensive assessment of o Glossy Ibis
the distribution range, trends in abundance, o Plain Prinia
and conservation status for most of the bird o Ashy Prinia.
species that regularly occur in India. • A good growth has been observed in Indian
• The report was released at the 13th Peacock’s population and has been mentioned
Conference of Parties (CoP) of the as the species of ‘least concern’ on the IUCN
Convention on the Conservation of list.
Migratory Species of Wild Animals, held in
15ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
• The number of India’s domestic or house • The IBAs serve as conservation areas for
sparrows has decreased in large cities but is protection of birds at the global, regional or
almost stable overall. The reasons for sub-regional level. The IBAs contain a range
decreasing numbers of house sparrows are of habitats, such as wetlands, mudflats,
lack of suitable nesting sites and lack of insect microhabitats in biodiversity hotspots,
(a key part of sparrow’s diet) population. grasslands and scrublands.
• Raptors overall are in decline, with ‘open • The Bombay Natural History Society and
country’ species such as the Pallid and Birdlife International have identified 467
Montagu Harriers, White-bellied Sea Eagle IBAs in India.
and Red-necked Falcon suffering the most. However, additional conservation needs
• Migratory shorebirds, along with gulls and include:
terns, seem to have declined the most among • Careful regulation and monitoring of
water birds. environmental toxins,
• The Indian vulture has recorded a consistent • Management and conservation of key habitats
drop in its numbers since the 1990s. that are under-represented in the Protected
• White-rumped Vulture has suffered the most Area network (e.g. grasslands).
severe declines, followed by Indian Vulture • Maximization of the conservation potential of
and Egyptian Vulture (former two are multi-use landscapes.
critically endangered and the latter one is • Expansion of monitoring efforts to track the
endangered on Red list). abundance and ranges of species.
• The Indian bustards including the Great • Promotion of more research to understand the
Indian Bustard, the Macqueen’s Bustard, cascade of causes of population and range
Lesser Florican and the Bengal Florican have change,
decreased in numbers due to loss of habitat • Creation of an enabling framework to respond
and hunting practices by humans. rapidly to early warnings of decline.
• As birds are excellent indicators of the state
Conservation measures: of our natural world and potent cultural
symbols of nature, this national-level
• India’s commitment to conservation is assessment is a significant step in monitoring
emphasized by its participation in key and conservation of India’s rich and varied
international conventions and initiatives, biodiversity.
including: EBird
o The Convention on Migratory Species • It is a global online notebook for birdwatchers
o The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands to maintain and share their bird lists as well as
o CITES their bird photos and audio recordings.
o The Convention on Biological Diversity etc.
• While eBird is based at the Cornell Laboratory
• A number of national initiatives support and of Ornithology, USA, an India-specific portal
expand on existing conservation laws, is curated and customized by Bird Count India.
especially the Central Asian Flyway Action Globally, eBird is the largest repository of
Plan, which specifically focus on migratory biodiversity information.
birds and their habitats.
• The notion of Important Bird Areas (IBA),
now integrated into the concept of Key
Biodiversity Areas, is a significant
component of India’s conservation planning.
16ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Hangul or Kashmir Stag ● They arise from random genetic mutations.
● Dibang Valley hosts the world’s most
o Hangul is the state animal of Jammu & diverse range of colour morphs of a wild cat
Kashmir. species ever reported on one site.
o It is restricted to the Dachigam National Park Asiatic Golden Cat
of Jammu & Kashmir.
● It is a wild cat native to north-eastern Indian
o It was once widely distributed in the
subcontinent.
mountains of Kashmir and parts of Chamba
● IUCN status - Near threatened
district in neighboring Himachal Pradesh.
● It is placed in Schedule 1 of Wildlife
o The Hangul’s numbers have constantly
protection act.
declined over the decades and according to the
latest survey of 2017, the population of Hangul
is 182 in Dachigam and adjoining areas. Purple frog
o Small isolated Hangul herds have been
reported from adjoining areas of Dachigam Why in news?
which include Shikargah-Tral and the • Purple frog could soon be designated as
Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary in south Kerala’s state amphibian.
Kashmir. About Purple Frog:
o IUCN status: Critically Endangered
o It is placed under Schedule I of the Indian ● It is also known as Maveli frog.
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. ● Indigenous tribes in Kerala consume between
15,000 and 20,000 tadpoles annually during
• Reasons for decline in population: the monsoon season.
o Habitat fragmentation, predation and very low ● Adult frogs are believed to have medicinal
fawn-female ratio. benefits and are also considered aphrodisiacs.
o Male-female and fawn-adult disparity. ● Children wear amulets made from Adult
o Fawns are predated upon by the dogs. Maveli frogs as it is believed that doing so will
Ex-situ breeding centre has been set up in a reduce their fear of storms.
forested area in south Kashmir’s Shikargah- ● The frog spends the bulk of its life
Tral as a Hangul conservation measure. underground and only comes up for about two
weeks before the monsoons in order to mate.
● Male is a third of the size of the female.
Wild cats and their color ● Classified as an explosive breeder, the female
morphs of the species lays thousands of eggs at a
breeding site.
Why in news? ● They are quite widely distributed in Western
• Indian scientists from the Zoological Society Ghats.
of London (ZSL) and University College ● The frog is called ‘living fossil’ as it is
London (UCL) have discovered six color believed that they have coexisted with
morphs of the golden cat in Dibang Valley of dinosaurs almost 70 million years ago.
Arunachal Pradesh. Six color morphs include ● IUCN status - Endangered
tightly-rosetted, cinnamon, melanistic, grey,
golden, and ocelot types.
Arunachal Pit Viper
What are Colour morphs?
● Colour morphs are basically occurrences of Why in news?
two or more discrete colour forms of the • India’s newest pit viper found in Arunachal
animal within a population. E.g. Black panther Pradesh.
is a colour morph of the common leopard. About the viper:
17ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
• The newly discovered species makes Grizzled giant squirrel
Arunachal Pradesh the only Indian state to
have a pit viper named after it. Why in news?
• Scientific name is Trimeresurus • The researchers have sighted nests of the
arunachalensis. grizzled giant squirrel, at Pakkamalai Reserve
• It is a species of reddish-brown pit viper, a Forests near Gingee in the Eastern Ghats, for
venomous snake with a unique heat-sensing the first time.
system. About it:
• With this, India now has a fifth brown pit ● The species is usually known to nest only in
viper (Other four are Malabar, horseshoe, Western Ghats in South India.
hump-nosed and Himalayan). ● Found in the highlands of the Central and Uva
• Discovery makes the Arunachal pit viper the provinces of Sri Lanka, along the Kaveri River
second serpent to have been discovered after and in the hill forests of Karnataka, Tamil
the non-venomous crying keelback in the Nadu and Kerala.
State’s Lepa-Rada district in 2018. ● It has got its common name from the white
flecks of hair over its greyish body.
● IUCN status - Near threatened
Barn Owl
o Pakkamalai Reserve Forest in Villupuram
Why in news? district, Tamil Nadu has several diverse and
• The Union Territory of Lakshadweep has endangered species including the Golden
‘recruited’ three pairs of barn owls from Gecko, Bamboo Pit Viper and Mouse Deer.
Kerala under
A rodent management programme.
Water Hyacinth
About it:
● It is the most widely distributed species of Why in news?
owl. • Farming in Kuttanad, Kerala is affected by
● It is found almost everywhere in the world water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), locally
except polar and desert regions, in Asia north known as Pola or Kullavazha.
of the Himalayas, most of Indonesia, and some About the species:
Pacific islands. ● Water hyacinth is a free-floating and flowering
● It is respected as the acolyte of the Goddess invasive aquatic plant originated from
Chamunda in Karnataka. Amazon Basin, South America.
● In Bengal, it is revered as the carrier of ● The reproduction systems of water hyacinth
Lakshmi, the deity of wealth. are both sexual and asexual reproduction.
● The invasive plant doubles itself within 5–15
days.
● Water hyacinth affects the lake hydrology by
increasing the evapotranspiration of lake
water.
● It creates a favorable environment for the
production of snails and mosquitoes.
● The mat of water hyacinth affects recreation
and tourism facilities in large water bodies
(e.g. Vembanad Lake in Kerala), impacts
fishing and transportation, irrigation, and
hydropower infrastructures.
18ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
● Now water hyacinth has been used by o Note: The great hornbill is the state bird of
scientists to produce carbon nanoparticles Chin State in Myanmar, and of Kerala and
which can be used for detecting a commonly Arunachal Pradesh in India. Blyth's
used herbicide named pretilachlor. tragopan is the state bird of Nagaland.
The Hornbill festival Iterative evolution
Why in news? Why in news?
• The hornbill festival is celebrated in Nagaland • New research has found that once-extinct
every year. white-throated Aldabra rail has come back
About it: from the dead due to a rare process called
● To encourage inter-tribal interaction and to “iterative evolution”.
promote cultural heritage of Nagaland, the More information:
Government of Nagaland organizes the ● The white-throated rail is the only flightless
Hornbill Festival every year in the first week bird known in the Indian Ocean area.
of December. ● It is a chicken-sized bird, indigenous to
● The 1st Hornbill Festival was inaugurated Madagascar.
by the then President Dr. S Radhakrishnan ● Iterative evolution means the repeated
on 1st December 1963. evolution of similar or parallel structures from
● It is held at Naga Heritage Village, Kisama the same ancestor but at different times.
which is about 12 km from Kohima. ● Recent study from the University of
● All the tribes of Nagaland take part in this Portsmouth and the UK’s Natural History
festival. Museum found that on two occasions,
● The aim of the festival is to revive and protect separated by tens of thousands of years, a
the rich culture of Nagaland and display its rail species was able to colonise an island
extravaganza and traditions. called Aldabra.
● It is also called the “Festival of Festivals”. ● It subsequently became flightless on both
● The festival pays tribute to Hornbill, the occasions.
most revered bird for the Nagas. ● The last surviving colony is still found on the
About Great Hornbill: island.
• The great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) also ● However, Aldabra disappeared under the
known as the concave-casqued hornbill, great sea during an inundation event around
Indian hornbill or great pied hornbill, is one of 136,000 years ago.
the larger members of the hornbill family. ● The researchers studied fossil evidence from
● They are found in the forests of North 100,000 years ago when the island was
eastern region of India, Bhutan, Nepal, recolonised by flightless rails, and compared
Mainland Southeast Asia, Indonesian Island with fossils from before the inundation event.
of Sumatra. ● They concluded that one species from
● They are also found in a few forest areas in Madagascar gave rise to two different
the Western Ghats and in the forests along species of flightless rail on Aldabra in the
the Himalayas. space of a few thousand years.
● It is long-lived, living for nearly 50 years in
captivity.
● It will prey on small mammals, reptiles and
birds.
● IUCN status- Vulnerable
19ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Tiger census report 2018: India is 2967, which is more than double of
2006 ((Back in 2006 during the first census,
Why in news? there were only 1411 tigers counted, 1706
• On 29th July 2019, International Tiger Day, tigers in 2010 and 2226 tigers in 2014)).
PM Narendra Modi declared the result of ● This is the first time Bhutan, Bangladesh,
Tiger Census 2018. and Nepal are part of India’s Tiger census
Findings of the report: to jointly estimate the number of big cats in
● The total population of Royal Bengal Tiger in the region of shared border areas.
● The tiger habitats were divided into 5
landscapes:
o Shivalik Gangetic Plains
o Central India and the Eastern Ghats
o Western Ghats
o North Eastern Hills and Brahmaputra Flood
Plains
o Sundarbans
● The top Tiger States of India (by Tiger
population):
o Madhya Pradesh became the Tiger state of
India with 526 Tigers.
o Karnataka, who was holding the Tiger State
salutation since 2010 slipped to the second
position with 524 tigers.
o Uttarakhand is third with 442 Tigers
Population.
● There are 4 States (M.P., Karnataka,
Uttarakhand & Maharashtra) with more
than 300 Tigers.
● There are 4 States (Tamil Nadu, Assam,
Kerala, U.P.) with more than 150 Tigers.
● Total 8 States with more than 100% Increase
in Tiger population as compared to 2006.
● Buxa, Dampa and Palamau Tiger reserves
do not have a single tiger now.
● No Tigers were found in Mizoram state.
● Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh and
Periyar National Park in Kerala are the top-
rated Tiger reserves in India.
● There were 560 Tiger deaths reported between
2012 & 2017.
o With the new Digital Tiger census technique,
an Android application has been introduced
to make the tiger count more accurate. It is the
first time since 2006; forest officials have used
this technology.
20ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
Rhino conservation ● They are also known as the “Square-lipped
rhino” ('mowing-machines).
Why in news? ● Black rhinos are the smaller of the two
• India has collaborated with Bhutan, Nepal, African species.
Indonesia and Malaysia to increase the ● The greater one-horned rhinoceros is the
population of three species of Asian rhinos. largest of all rhino species (Habitat- India and
More information: Nepal).
● India and four rhino range nations recently ● Successful conservation efforts have led to an
signed the ‘New Delhi Declaration on Asian increase in the number of Greater One-
Rhinos 2019’ at the Second Asian Rhino horned or Indian rhinos (around 3,700) and
Range Countries meeting, held at New Delhi. its IUCN status has improved from endangered
● It was organised by the MoEFCC in to vulnerable.
collaboration with the IUCN Asian Rhino
Specialist Group, WWF- India and Aaranyak.
● The declaration was signed to conserve and Great Indian Bustard
review the population of the Greater one- Why in news?
horned, Javan and Sumatran rhinos every
• The critically endangered Great Indian
four years to reassess the need for joint actions
Bustard (GIB) is likely to be included in the
to secure their future.
global list of top 10 migratory species facing
● A twelve-point strategic action plan was
extinction under the UNEP's Convention for
outlined.
Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS) of
● The declaration includes:
Wild Animals. The theme of COP13, 2020 of
o undertaking studies on health issues of the
CMS was 'Migratory species connect the
rhinos;
planet and we welcome them home' and its
o their potential diseases and taking necessary
mascot is the Great Indian Bustard.
steps;
About the bird:
o collaborating and strengthening wildlife
● The GIB is one of the heaviest flying bird’s
forensics for the purpose of investigation;
endemics to the Indian subcontinent.
o Strengthening of transboundary collaboration
● They are primarily terrestrial birds.
among India, Nepal and Bhutan for the
● The GIB lays one egg every 1-2 years and the
conservation and protection of the Greater
success rate of these eggs is 60-70 per cent.
one-horned rhino.
● However, this rate has been reduced to 40-50
Note:
% due to predators like fox and dogs.
● Three species of Rhino - Black, Javan, and
● Today less than 150 individuals are left in
Sumatran are critically endangered.
India.
● Recently Sumatran rhinoceros has become
● They have poor frontal vision.
extinct in Malaysia, after the death of the last
● Maximum numbers of GIBs are found in
rhino in the country.
Jaisalmer and the Indian Army controlled
● It is the smallest of all rhino species.
field firing range near Pokhran, Rajasthan.
● Now only about 80 of them are left in
● Other areas where they are found in less
Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia.
than 10 in number are Kutch district in
● A small population of Javan rhinos is found in
Gujarat, Nagpur and Solapur districts in
only one national park on the northern tip of
Maharashtra, Bellary and Koppal districts
the Indonesian island of Java.
in Karnataka and Kurnool district and
● In Africa, Southern white rhinos, once
Amravati in Andhra Pradesh.
thought to be extinct, now thrive in protected
● Protected areas:
sanctuaries and are classified as near
o Desert National Park Sanctuary in Rajasthan
threatened.
21ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
o Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary in Andhra Kelp Forests
Pradesh
o Karera Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh Why in news?
Threats: • According to a research Underwater Arctic
● Collision/electrocution with power Forests (Kelps) are expanding.
transmission lines What are Kelp Forests?
● Irrigation and farming technology
● Mining ● Kelps are large brown algae seaweeds
● Wind turbines and Solar farms (photovoltaic attached to the seafloor and eventually grow
power stations) to the water’s surface and rely on sunlight to
● Plantation of exotic shrub/tree species in generate food and energy.
deserts and grasslands in the name of ● They are underwater forests that thrive well in
afforestation cold, nutrient rich waters.
o The government has recently released Rs 33 ● They are always coastal and require shallow,
crore to a project, titled ‘Habitat relatively clear water.
Improvement and Conservation Breeding of ● Kelp forests have been observed throughout
Great Indian Bustard-An Integrated the Arctic and the Canadian Arctic alone
Approach’, for five years from the represents 10 percent of the world’s
Compensatory Afforestation Fund coastlines.
Management and Planning Authority ● They even grow under sea ice.
(CAMPA) for conservation and breeding of ● Many fish species use kelp forests as
the GIB. nurseries for their young.
● Seabirds and marine mammals like sea lions,
sea otters and even grey whales use them as
State butterfly of Tamil shelter from predators and storms.
● Destructive fishing practices, coastal pollution
Nadu and accidental damage caused by boat
Why in news? entanglement are known to negatively affect
kelp forests.
• Tamil Nadu became the fifth state to declare a
● Sea urchins can destroy entire kelp forests
state butterfly.
by moving in herds whereas Sea otters play a
About it: key role in stabilizing Sea urchin populations
● Tamil Nadu has declared the Tamil Yeoman so that kelp forests may thrive.
butterfly species as the state butterfly.
● It is also known as Tamil maravan which
means warrior. Impressed tortoise
● It is endemic to western Ghats.
● Tamil Yeoman is uniformly orange in colour Why in news?
with a dark brown outer ring. • For the first time ever, the Impressed
● Tamil Nadu became the fifth state in the Tortoise (Manouria impressa) has been
country to announce its state butterfly. sighted in India.
o Maharashtra - Blue Mormon More information:
o Uttarakhand - Common Peacock ● A joint survey team of the Forest Department
o Karnataka - Southern Birdwing and two NGOs, Help Earth and Turtle Survival
o Kerala - Malabar banded peacock or Alliance (TSA), found a pair of the Impressed
buddha butterfly Tortoise in Arunachal Pradesh.
● This is the first record of the species from
India and makes India the third most turtle-
rich country in the world.
22ECOSYSTEM AND BIODIVERSITY GUIDED SELF STUDY PROGRAMME
● Northeast India was known to be the home ● In Dragonfish (a scale less fish found
of only the Asian Forest Tortoise (Manouria inhabiting deep in the sea) there are special
Emys) until the discovery of the Impressed organs called photophores that are known to
Tortoise. produce light.
● The species has a golden-brown shell and skin ● Apart from producing the traditional blue-
and became of its magnificent appearance it’s green colour, they are also capable of
called the impressed tortoise. producing the red light which helps them
● The male Impressed Tortoise is smaller than find their prey in the dark.
the female.
● The species is inhabiting moist primary
forest hill tracts of the Indo- Burma hot- The golden Langur
spot (Cambodia, China, Laos, Malaysia, Why in news?
Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam).
● It is frugivorous (fungi-eating). • Recently Endangered Golden Langur became
● The last reported range extension of the extinct in Guwahati’s Umananda island.
species was from Gwa, Myanmar. About it:
● TSA is currently carrying out a conservation ● Golden langurs occupy moist evergreen and
breeding program for the Impressed Tortoise tropical deciduous forests as well as some
with hopes of wild reintroduction. riverine areas and savannas in Assam and
● IUCN status - Critically endangered Bhutan.
● Its geographic range is limited to Assam, India
and neighboring Bhutan.
Dragon Fish ● Their hair ranges from dark golden to creamy
buff and their faces are black and hairless
Why in news? except for a long pale beard.
• Bioluminescence has been witnessed in this ● Its fur changes colors according to the
fish. seasons.
What is bioluminescence?
● Their diets consist of ripe and unripe fruits,
● Bioluminescence is the production and
young and mature leaves, leaf buds, flower
emission of light by a living organism.
buds, seeds, twigs, and flowers.
● It is a form of chemiluminescence.
● Habitat destruction is a major threat for
● It occurs widely in marine vertebrates and
them.
invertebrates, as well as in some fungi,
● IUCN status - Endangered
microorganisms including some
● Chakrashila is India’s first wildlife
bioluminescent bacteria and terrestrial
sanctuary with golden langur as the primary
arthropods such as fireflies.
species.
● In some animals, the light is bacteriogenic,
● As a part of MGNREGA around 27.24 lakh
produced by symbiotic organisms such as
Vibrio bacteria and in others, it is autogenic, trees will be planted in Assam to sustain the
produced by the animals themselves. colonies of the Golden Langurs in
● In a general sense, the principal chemical Bongaigaon district.
reaction in bioluminescence involves some
light-emitting molecule and an enzyme,
generally called the luciferin and the
luciferase, respectively.
● The reaction takes place inside or outside
the cell.
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