• India is home to an exceptionally high level of biodiversity, and to nearly one-fifth of the world’s human population.
• Just 17 of the world’s 170-some countries contain 70 percent of its biodiversity, earning them the title “megadiverse.” India is one of these megadiverse countries.
• Unfortunately, India also has three of 34 “global biodiversity hotspots” - unique, biologically rich areas which are facing severe conservation threats.

The rapid rate of hotspot degradation makes it imperative that conservation science be pursued immediately and vigorously in these habitats, to devise effective measures which curtail the rapidly diminishing biodiversity, and to protect unique biota from the onslaught of humanity.

Immense Potential
The value of this biodiversity is immense (including economic, social and cultural) and its potential future value is far greater. To take an example, the ecosystem services from the forested watersheds of two great mountain chains, the Himalayas and the Western Ghats, indirectly support several million people in India. The economic value of such ecosystem services is immense. The non-timber forest products alone have been estimated to be worth $200 million per year. The existing biodiversity also has the further potential to add billions of dollars to the country’s economy, in new products from its unique species, and from services such as ecotourism. Information about biodiversity combined with India’s expertise in information technology and emerging strength in biotechnology has the immense potential to increase the current and future value of the country’s biodiversity.