Key facts

  • The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993.
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is India's principal wildlife law for protected species and protected areas.
  • Project Tiger began on 1 April 1973 with 9 original tiger reserves, including Ranthambore.
  • The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 created the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees.

Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993.

  2. 2

    CBD treats biodiversity at three connected levels: genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity.

  3. 3

    Whittaker's alpha, beta and gamma diversity describe local, between-site and regional scales of diversity measurement.

  4. 4

    The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is India's principal wildlife law for protected species and protected areas.

  5. 5

    Project Tiger began on 1 April 1973 with 9 original tiger reserves, including Ranthambore.

  6. 6

    The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 created the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees.

  7. 7

    Keoladeo Ghana and Sambhar Lake are high-yield Rajasthan examples for wetland and Ramsar-linked biodiversity.

  8. 8

    The Great Indian Bustard in the Desert National Park landscape is a key Rajasthan conservation example linked to power-line collision risk.

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Meaning and levels of biodiversity

Biodiversity means the variability of life across genes, species and ecosystems. In exam terms, this is the basic definition to remember before moving to laws, protected areas or conservation programmes. The Convention on Biological Diversity made this definition the global reference point by treating biological diversity as variation among living organisms and their ecological complexes.

The three levels are simple. Genetic diversity is variation within a species, such as inherited differences that help populations adapt. Species diversity refers to the variety and relative presence of species in a habitat. Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of habitats and ecological processes across a landscape, such as forest, scrub, wetland, floodplain and agricultural mosaics. Rajasthan examples make the idea clear: Khejri populations show adaptation in arid conditions, Keoladeo shows wetland biodiversity, and the Thar shows open dryland ecosystems.

Remember this distinction: biodiversity levels tell what varies in nature, not how a survey site is measured.

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