26
(UN 2019). Loss of biodiversity is a threat to the ecosystem as a whole by disrupting
the structure and proper functioning of the ecosystem.
India is one of the world’s 12 mega-biodiversity centres. According to National
Biodiversity Authority report 2017–2018, India has 91,200 animal and 45,500 plant
species, comprising 6.5% of all known wildlife. The faunal diversity consists of
2500 fishes, 150 amphibians, 450 reptiles, 1200 birds, 850 mammals and 68,000
insects. The fish diversity in India represents 57% of the total families and 80% of
the global fish. Although India is designated as a mega-biodiversity area, it also has
two of the world’s most threatened ‘hot spots’: the Eastern Himalayan region and
the Western Ghats.
At least 10% of India’s recorded wild flora and possibly more of its wild fauna
are threatened; many are on the brink of obliteration. Of the wild fauna, 80 species
of mammals, 47 of birds, 15 of reptiles, 3 of amphibians and a large number of
moths, butterflies and beetles are endangered. Twelve out of 19 species of primates
are endangered. The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and the pink-headed duck
(Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) have become extinct. There must be many more that
have been annihilated, unrecorded either because they were not that spectacular or
because their existence remained unknown (http://southasia.oneworld.net/news/
paradise-lost-indias-biodiversity-towards-extinction#. S. Balaji 2010; accessed on
27.12.2019).
The reasons for biodiversity loss in India are (i) escalating human population, (ii)
habitat destruction (deforestation) and fragmentation, (iii) overuse of natural
resources, (iv) climate change, (v) introduction of alien species, (vi) environmental
pollution, (vii) natural calamities, (viii) development and utilization of various
forms of energy resources, (ix) changes in the land use and (x) direct exploitation of
organisms.
2.4 Disaster: Natural and Man-Made
2.4.1 Natural
India is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world in terms disasters both
natural and manmade. According to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, disaster is
defined as a ‘catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising
from natural or manmade causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or
damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as
to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area’. More than
half of India’s landmass is vulnerable to more than one hazard of high-intensity.
India witnessed 614 recorded disasters such as floods, earthquakes, extreme temperature, drought, landslides and storms during 1970–2015 which accounted for a
loss $93 billion along with more than 198,000 deaths (Cred 2015).
P. K. Sikdar and S. Basu
(UN 2019). Loss of biodiversity is a threat to the ecosystem as a whole by disrupting
the structure and proper functioning of the ecosystem.
India is one of the world’s 12 mega-biodiversity centres. According to National
Biodiversity Authority report 2017–2018, India has 91,200 animal and 45,500 plant
species, comprising 6.5% of all known wildlife. The faunal diversity consists of
2500 fishes, 150 amphibians, 450 reptiles, 1200 birds, 850 mammals and 68,000
insects. The fish diversity in India represents 57% of the total families and 80% of
the global fish. Although India is designated as a mega-biodiversity area, it also has
two of the world’s most threatened ‘hot spots’: the Eastern Himalayan region and
the Western Ghats.
At least 10% of India’s recorded wild flora and possibly more of its wild fauna
are threatened; many are on the brink of obliteration. Of the wild fauna, 80 species
of mammals, 47 of birds, 15 of reptiles, 3 of amphibians and a large number of
moths, butterflies and beetles are endangered. Twelve out of 19 species of primates
are endangered. The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and the pink-headed duck
(Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) have become extinct. There must be many more that
have been annihilated, unrecorded either because they were not that spectacular or
because their existence remained unknown (http://southasia.oneworld.net/news/
paradise-lost-indias-biodiversity-towards-extinction#. S. Balaji 2010; accessed on
27.12.2019).
The reasons for biodiversity loss in India are (i) escalating human population, (ii)
habitat destruction (deforestation) and fragmentation, (iii) overuse of natural
resources, (iv) climate change, (v) introduction of alien species, (vi) environmental
pollution, (vii) natural calamities, (viii) development and utilization of various
forms of energy resources, (ix) changes in the land use and (x) direct exploitation of
organisms.
2.4 Disaster: Natural and Man-Made
2.4.1 Natural
India is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world in terms disasters both
natural and manmade. According to the Disaster Management Act, 2005, disaster is
defined as a ‘catastrophe, mishap, calamity or grave occurrence in any area, arising
from natural or manmade causes, or by accident or negligence which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property, or
damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as
to be beyond the coping capacity of the community of the affected area’. More than
half of India’s landmass is vulnerable to more than one hazard of high-intensity.
India witnessed 614 recorded disasters such as floods, earthquakes, extreme temperature, drought, landslides and storms during 1970–2015 which accounted for a
loss $93 billion along with more than 198,000 deaths (Cred 2015).
P. K. Sikdar and S. Basu