Protecting incredible India

India has only 2.4% of the world’s land — yet, it is home to eight percent of the world’s known species. The IUCN finds India a veritable Noah’s Ark, housing over 91,000 animal species. Holding four of 34 global biodiversity hotspots, India’s forests, mountains, coasts, deserts and wetlands shelter over 1,200 species of birds, 240 amphibians, over 2,000 — nearly 12% — of the world’s fish species, 8,61,696 insects and 47,000 plant species. With such wondrous biodiversity, no wonder India is one of just 17 mega-biodiverse countries in the world.

This biodiversity underpins key ecosystem services — the labours of all these beings, from busily flying insects to steadily rooted trees, tiny birds to mighty elephants, make and hold together our physical world. Biodiversity enables clean water and air, the recycling of nutrients and the stability of the ground beneath our feet. Over 75% of the 115 top food crops rely on pollination by animals — bees, birds, monkeys and deer provide us fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and even our daily coffee. With biodiversity powering multiple ecosystem services, the UN calculates a single year’s habitat conversion, through deforestation, pollution, building and mining, costs $250 billion annually.

The World Economic Forum finds the annual value of nature’s contributions, from food to medicine — 50% drugs are developed using biodiversity — flood protection, etc., is $125 trillion, much more than global GDP. The loss of biodiversity is thereby an enormous risk, both in terms of losing nature’s unbounded beauties and the incredible benefits it brings to humanity.






India’s biodiversity is thus a vast treasure. Protecting it means conserving a great deal, from our food independence to climatic stability. As a sixth mass extinction characterises the global Anthropocene, the UNEFPI estimates India’s management of its biodiversity will be key to preserving the world’s species. Importantly, dedicated conservationists are working assiduously to protect our species. Their insights are invaluable to preserve both our natural heritage and India’s iconic philosophy — live and let live. Join Times Evoke on a vibrant journey exploring conservation efforts across India. These bolster our freedom by protecting the freedom of all our species.