Importance of Biodiversity in India
The rich biodiversity of India has always played an important role for the benefit of human, animals and the environment.
Biodiversity generally refers to the variation in the species (Species Diversity) . However, it is also includes Eco-system and Genetic variations.
Such richness is attributed to the vast variation in physio-graphic and climatic conditions in India.
India is a agricultural country and produces wide variety of food products such as wheat, rice, maize, fruits, vegetables, etc. The crop diversity of India has got lots of economic and other benefits.
The Ayurvedic and other medicines are the results of rare herbs found in Himalayas and other areas.
India is a major preserver of varieties of plant species. More than 45,000 plants species have been estimated to be present in India, accounting for nearly 7 percent of the flora in the world. Of these 15,000 are estimated to be the flowering plants. The other important plant groups we find are gymnosperms, bryophytes, pteridophytes, lichens, algae and fungi.
The faunal wealth is no less diverse. The animal species are estimated to be around 81000. This accounts for 6.4 percent of the world’s fauna. Of the invertebrates more than 5000 are mollusks and 57000 insects.
The vertebrates include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. However, we have only a limited knowledge on the diversity of microorganisms in India.
