India contains a great wealth of biological diversity in its wetlands and marine areas. The country is home to approximately:
The importance of these biological resources cannot be overestimated for the continued welfare of India’s population.
A large number of both flora and fauna face the threat of extinction due to increasing demands on natural resources.
The Government has taken several measures to conserve biodiversity, including legislative action. The most important among these is the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
This Act covers conservation and use of biological resources and associated knowledge occurring in India for commercial, research, bio-survey, and bio-utilisation purposes. It provides a framework for: