Biodiversity and its

importance
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 Ecology
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sf] ;]/f]km]/f], pgsf] :jefj / afgLx?, pgsf] hLjgqmd,
hg;+Vof OTof= ;Fu ;DaGw /fVb5 .

The study of living organisms, both plants and

animals in their natural habitats or homes.
 Ecosystem
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All the living things in an area and the way they
affect each other and the environment

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 The biodiversity: concept in brief
• Biodiversity refers to the 'number' and 'variability' of
flora and fauna in a given territory.
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jg:ktLsf] ;+Vof / kl/j[lQzLntf a'lemG5 .
• The CBD and, based on such, Nepal Biodiversity
Strategy (2002) defines the term as follows.” Biological
diversity means the variability among living organisms
from all sources including , inter alia, terrestrial,
marine and other aquatic ecosystem and the
ecological complexes of which they are part; this
includes diversity within species , between species
and of ecosystems”
 Types of Biodiversity
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!_ kfl/l:yltsLo k|0ffnL (Agro-Ecosystem) sf]
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• it refers to the variability among the living
organisms in different ecosystems or
ecological complexes
@_ k|hftLo ljljwtf (Species Diversity)
 it includes variability within the species and
variability among the species of plants,
animals and micro-organisms
#_ j+zf0f'ut ljljwtf (Genetic Diversity)
 it refers to range of diversity in plant
and animal genetic resources
 it includes diversity among individuals
of a species as well as variability
among the species
 High Variation
• Because of geomorphic situations and
resulting differences in climate, altitude, river
system, soils, forest types and other land uses,
Nepal is rich in ecosystem level biodiversity.
• It is reported that ecologists have identified
118 ecosystems in Nepal representing
different biological communities.
• They are mainly described in terms of forest,
rangeland, wetland, mountain and agro
ecosystems.
Physiographic Zones Ecosystem#

Terai 10

Siwalik 13

Mahabharat and Middle Mountains 52

(Midhills)
Higher Mountain (Highlands) 38

Inner Himalaya, Tibetan marginal 5

Mountain
(Source: NBS,2002)
 Major Land uses % area
h+un (Forest) 29.0
;fgf emf8L ePsf] h+un 10.6
(Scrubland/ deg. Forest)
r/g (Grassland) 12.0
kfgL (Water) 2.6

v]tL ePsf] (Agriculture) 21.0

v]tL gePsf (Uncultivated) 7.0
ljljw 17.8

(Source: MOAC,2007)
Ecosystem types Description
Forest 35 forest types identified, categorized into10 major groups such
as tropical, subtropical (broad leaved and pine), lower temperate
(broad leaved and mixed), upper temperate (broad leaved and
mixed), Temperate coniferous, sub alpine and alpine.

Rangeland Comprises grasslands, scrublands, pastures and degraded forest

ranging from subtropical savannahs to temperate grasslands,
alpine meadows and trans-Himalayan cold and arid steppes.

Wetland Distinguished by presence of water, natural or artificial, and

permanent or temporary. Major types in are lake, ponds, stream,
marshes and swamps. 163 sites in terai and 79 sites in the
mountains. considered as the most threatened type of habitats

Mountain Covers 83% of land area in . Represents highest number of

species including valuable endemic species and beta diversity.
Agro-ecosystems Associated with agricultural land system. Comprises mainly of
cultivated/domesticated species of crops and livestock and their
wild relatives and local landraces. Much diversified in due to high
level of geomorphic and climatic variations.
 Nepal, occupying only 0.09% of the world area,
represents for high amount of species level
biodiversity.
Organisms Species in
Lichens 2.3
Fungi 2.4
Algae 2.6
Bryophytes 5.1
Pteridophytes 3.4
Gymnospers 5.1
Angiosperms 2.7
 Organisms Species in Nepal

Platyhelminthes 3.4

Spiders 1.4

Butterflies/moths 2.6

Other insects 0.7

Fishes/amphibians 1.0

Reptiles 1.6

Birds 9.3

Mammals 4.5
• Genetic diversity is most useful in agriculture
in developing animal breeds and crop
varieties.
• Because of destruction and degradation of
habitats and use of selective
cultivars/landraces in case of
cultivated/domesticated species, plant and
animal species are decreasing/threatened,
and thus genetic diversity eroding.
 Agro-biodiversity
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s[lifhGo kfl/l:yltsLo k|0ffnL, -s[lifhGo ag:klt,
hLjhGt', hnr/ / ;"Id hLjf0f'sf j+zf0f'ut, k|hflt /
kfl/l:yltsLo k|0ffnL txsf hft Pj+ leGgtf (Variety
and variability), s[lif kfl/l:yltsLo k|0ffnL (Agri
ecosystem) nfO{ wfGg cfjZos k|d'v sfo{x?
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• k/fu ;]rg (Pollination)
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+j4{g (Habitat conservation management)
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 Importance of Biodiversity

Economic well-being and other welfare of human society

• agriculture
• recreational
• medicinal
• Environmental sustenance: for the welfare of present and
future generation.
 In the present context-
•  Issues of ecological destruction/ degradation, and adverse
impact on agricultural productions.
• Global interest and national obligation
 Major threats to agrobiodiversity
conservation in Nepal:
1. Destruction/ degradation of natural habitats
2. Use of improved varieties/ breeds with commercialization of
agriculture
3. High use of pesticides
4. Changes in farmers' interest, farming systems and crop selection.
5. Lack of conservation oriented marketing system.
6. Income poverty
7. Lack of public awareness
8. Problems in implementing agrobiodiversity policy.
 Major stages in agrobiodiversity
conservation:

1. Survey and identification

2. Characterization
3. Evaluation
4. Conservation
 Major approaches to
agrobiodiversity conservation:
• In-situ conservation (including indigenous
knowledge):
– area protection
– community forestry/ leasehold forestry/ agroforestry
– community gene-bank/ records/ registration
– participatory plant breeding/ participatory variety
selection
– ecotourism/ agro-ecotourism
– biodiversity demonstrations
– IEE/EIA with biodiversity concerns 
• Ex-situ conservation
– National/ international gene-bank
– biotechnical approaches
– collection and maintenance
– breeding on local germplasms.
• Arrangements for fair and equitable sharing
on benefits of biodiversity conservation
activities.
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