Biodiversity threat through exotic species monitoring and management using Remotely Sensed data and GIS techniques - A case study of Banni (Kachchh) Gujarat, India  K L N Sastry Scientist, FED/FLPG/RESA, Space Applications Centre (ISRO), Ambavadi vistar (PO), JodpurTekra, Ahmedabad - 380 015. Ph: 079-6914026 (O), 7485271 ®, FAX: 079-6762735 Email: klnsastry@hotmail.com P.S. Thakker, Ravi Jadhav Abstract The Rio-summit 1992 (United States Conference on Environment and Development) reflected Global Consensus of biodiversity, the environment and the bio-sphere area in perilous state and that the current state of these natural system has being caused by human activity (Ref. Weaver RD & Ke.Chun.Kim) Global warming a side effect of air pollution may play havoc with the worlds eco-systems in the coming decades, but present threat to bio-diversity is most alarming one and needs immediate attention. Bio-diversity encompasses the totality of Life on Earth, in all its variety of molecular, cellular, species wise, ecological & landscape patterns includes millions of plants, animals and micro-organisms, the genes they contain and the intricate ecosystems of which they are a part. India has tremendous biodiversity, genetic as well as of species and ecosystems. It contains over 5 percent of the world's biodiversity on 2 percent of the Earth's surface. This diversity can be attributed to the vast variety of landforms and climates resulting in habitats ranging from tropical to temperate, and from alpine to desert. The number of plant species in India is estimated to be over 45,000, representing about 7 percent of the world's flora. These include over 15,000 flowering plants of which 4,900 species are endemic to the countty (MoE&F 1994). It is extremely difficult to measure loss of biodiversity. One way to estimate biodiversity loss is to measure loss of specific habitats. But if biodiversity is being lost, so what? Why should we worry? It is a cause for concern because biodiversity, in all its forms, is important for the health of our planet and of human society in terms of various facts. Biodiversity is essential for sustainable development, but finding sustainable ways of living is essential through conservation of biodiversity. However this study relates to one of the major causes of biodiversity loss, i.e. introduction of non-native species (also known as "alien" or "exotic" species), deliberately or accidentally, has been a major threat to biological diversity worldwide as the introduced species have often flourished at the cost of the local species. Based on the analysis carried out it was found that by the year 2020 more than 56% of the total geographical area of Banni would be under prosopis which destroys entire bio-diversity and grassland eco-system of the area, if proper controlling measures were not taken immediately. |