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Biodiversity and its Conservation
Biodiversity and its Conservation Introduction
Current Levels of Biodiversity
Alpha (α) and Beta(β) Biodiversity
Extinction and Endangered Species
Reasons of Concern for Loss of Biodiversity
Ethical and Aesthetic Rewards
Economic Benefits
Essential Services Provided by Natural Ecosystems
Steps to Preserve Biodiversity
In Situ and Ex Situ Conservation Gene Banks
In Situ Conservation
Ex Situ Conservation
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts at International Level
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts by G-15 Countries
Ex Situ Conservation Efforts in USA

	Biodiversity and its Conservation Biotechnology involves the use of life forms for human welfare. Therefore, extinction of wild species and destruction of ecosystems has been a major concern of policy makers and biotechnologists alike. One of the major efforts, has been to conduct a survey and conserve country's biodiversity, so as to save wild plants and animals from extinction.
National parks and sanctuaries have been established in many countries to meet this objective. Under the auspices of the United Nations also, funds are being established and other efforts being made for conservation of gennplasm at the global level. Biodiversity studies thus include the following: (i) a systematic examination of the full array of organisms on this globe, and (ii) a study of the methods by which diversity can be maintained and used for the benefit of mankind. A discussion on biodiversity in a book on biotechnology is relevant, because biodiversity is being utilized to provide genes from wild species for biotechnology exercises. In recent years, a discussion on biodiversity has become important also because countries in the North of the globe (developed countries) have been utilizing biodiversity available in the South (developing countries) without paying any compensation. Several Biodiversity Conventions were held in 1992 and thereafter for discussions on measures required to be taken by developing and developed countries to preserve the biodiversity.
A Biodiversity Convention was held in May, 1992 at Nairobi to formulate a treaty, that was desired to be signed at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) later held in Brazil in June 1992. .In this treaty, an agreement was sought by the developed countries to allow, as a matter of right, access of every country on the gennplasm or biodiversity available anywhere in the world. Since tropical countries are far richer than temperate developed countries, such a treaty would have benefitted only the developed nations. In view of this, the South (particularly India) had rejected such a treaty desired to be signed in this convention. Such a rejection was also based on the argument that while the convention was meant to globalize the natural resources, it did not want to globalize the benefits derived from biotechnology inventions.
Instead, the developed countries wanted to privatize biotechnology through patents and other intellectual property rights (IPR; consult next five chapters for details). Similarly, to the disadvantage of developing poor countries, the concept of Plant Breeders' Rights (PBRs) was recognized in the North, ignoring the Farmers' Rights' for compensation desired to be given to poor farmers in the developing countries (consult Chapter 56). Although, most countries agree to the need of preserving biodiversity, there is disagreement on the issue of 'who will pay for it'. While the developing countries feel that the conservation efforts will depend on flow of money from rich nations, the latter reject such a treaty to avoid payment of compensation for the losses, which the poor nations suffer due to inadequacy of their efforts towards biodiversity conservation. In view of serious implications of the biodiversity studies on developments in biotechnology, various aspects of biodiversity will be discussed in this chapter.