Biological diversity is an umbrella term for the degree of nature’s variety, including both the number and frequency of ecosystems, species or genes in a given assemblage. It is usually considered at three different levels, “genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity”. Ecosystems provide natural cycles of nutrients of water, of oxygen and carbon dioxide and of other chemicals like sulphur, nitrogen and carbon. Ecological processes govern primary and secondary production, mineralization of organic matter in soils and sediments, storage and transport of minerals and biomass. Efforts to conserve species must therefore also conserve the ecosystems of which they are a part. Human influences tend to reduce diversity, particularly where they are intensive and long-standing, but limited human activities can actually increase diversity. Aquatic habitats parallel these generalizations, with the tropical systems- especially coral reefs and large old lakes having greater diversity than temperature systems. Development agencies are becoming concerned about the depletion of these species and ecosystems, with the growing awareness that development depends on their maintenance. The overexploitation of biological resources is providing the major new development challenge of the late 20th century. The fundamental problem is that more people earn greater immediate benefits from exploiting biological resources than they do from conserving them. To the extent that resources exploitation is governed by the perceived self-interest of various individuals or groups, behaviour affecting maintenance of biological diversity can best be changed by providing new approaches to conservation which alter people’s perceptions of what behaviour is in their self-interest. The present global concerns for sustainable development and conservation of natural resources are of recent origin as compared to the long tradition and culture of nature conservation in our country. Principles of conservation and sustainable management were well established in the pre-historic India. Our ancient literature is full of such examples where values and sensitivity of humans towards nature was glorified and the principle of sustainability was established at its best.
Action is required at the strategic level, where governments establish national and international objectives for addressing on a broad front the fundamental problems of degradation of biological resources, and at the tactic level, with specific actions designed to address specific problems. Guidelines are presented to stimulate the greatest possible government commitment to conserving the entire spectrum of biological diversity, in an economically optimal way, and to assist development agencies- both national and international, in improving the design of projects that affect biological diversity. They provide practical advice for the formulation of policies for the sustainable development of biological resources, and for the conservation of policy into practice through specific project interventions. They include detailed advice on how incentives packages can be designed and implemented by resource management agencies, and how specific project interventions can be most effective.
The ever-increasing population and changing lifestyles are making the environment problems critical. Higher educational institutions can be best at solving the current situation. St. Xavier’s Bangalore adopt the approach of nature conservation and sustainable development through imparting qualitive education and training. Our institution provides world class manpower training and knowledge expertise to solve critical environment problem through following the notion of green campus.