Top 6 Values of Biodiversity in India

This article throws light upon the top six values of Biodiversity in India. The values are: 1. To Meet Survival Needs 2. Aesthetic Value 3. Economic Value 4. Ethical Value 5. Ecological Services 6. Religious, Spiritual and Other Cultural Uses.

Value # 1. To Meet Survival Needs:

Perhaps the most important value of biodiversity, particularly in a country like India, is that it meets the basic survival needs of a vast number of people. Even today there are many traditional com­munities which depend, wholly or partially, on the surrounding natural resources for their daily needs of food, shelter, clothing, household goods, medi­cines, fertilisers and entertainment.

Value # 2. Aesthetic Value:

Each species and ecosystem adds to the richness and beauty of life on Earth. Once a species be­comes extinct, it is gone forever. A natural eco­system once destroyed is impossible to recreate. The value people attribute to the aesthetic func­tion of nature is partly reflected in the number of people who visit areas of natural beauty.

This func­tion near or within a dense human settlement is best seen at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the outskirts of Bombay, which receives a traffic of 1.5 millions visitors every year.

Value # 3. Economic Value:

Each species is of potential value to humans. So are healthy ecosystems. The global collection of genes, species, habitats and ecosystems is a re­source that provides for human needs now, and is essential for human survival in the future. Humans depend on other species for all of their food and for many medicines and industrial products.

Up to 80 per cent of the people in developing countries depend on traditional medicine for pri­mary health care, most of which is derived from plants and some from animal and mineral sources. About 20,000 species of plants are used for me­dicinal purposes in these countries. Nearly one-quarter of all prescription drugs used in the de­veloped world are based on plants.

Value # 4. Ethical Value:

Each species is unique and has a right to exist. Each species is worthy of respect regardless of its worth to human beings. This point of view was recognised in the World Charter for Nature, adopted by the United Nations in 1982.

Value # 5. Ecological Services:

Species evolve to fill particular niches (role in an ecosystem) or habitats. Many species depend on each other in intricate ways for survival. Specific life forms present in a particular habitat helps in providing conditions for other life forms to live in that environment. Destroying one species can lead to further extinctions or changes.

The primary indirect value of biodiversity lies in the services provided by the ecosystems and taxa (distinct groups of organisms) by maintain­ing an intricate network of life forms. Some ef­forts have been made to put a monetary value on such services.

In India an attempt at valuing the ecosystem services, such as protecting against soil erosion and purifying the air, provided by a me­dium-sized tree over a period of 50 years worked out to be roughly Rs. 15,70,000.

Value # 6. Religious, Spiritual and Other Cultural Uses:

Biodiversity in India, particularly, is important for its religious, spiritual and other cultural uses. Many plants and animals have ritual significance. Among auspicious flowers offered in temples are Hibiscus offered to goddess Kali and Datura flowers to Lord Siva.

In some parts of India such as Gujarat, Sami (Prosopis spicigera) is used in sacrificial fires. Various plant and animal species are considered sacred on account of their association with different deities. Some animal species are termed vahanas or ve­hicles of deities and are hence venerated. Impor­tant among these are the bull for Lord Siva, the rat for Lord Ganesh and the lion for Goddess Durga.