Conservation and sustainable management of local hotspots of biodiversity

Abstract

The conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems are the vital components in the pursuit of development goals that are ecologically, economically and socially sustainable. This requires an understanding of the complex functioning of ecosystems and recognition of the full range and diversity of resources, values and ecological services that they represent. The ecologically sensitive regions (ESRs) or the ‘ecological units’ are the hotspots of biodiversity with exceptional biotic and abiotic elements. Identification of ESRs considering spatially both ecological and social dimensions of environmental variables helps in ecological and conservation planning as per Biodiversity Act, 2002, Government of India. The current research attempts to integrate ecological and environmental considerations into administration and prioritizes regions as ESR 1-ESR 4 through weightage score metrics at local administrative unit-Panchayat levels in Uttara Kannada district, Central Western Ghats, Karnataka state considering attributes such as biological, geo-climatic, social, etc. Prioritization of ESRs helps in the implementation of the sustainable developmental framework with the appropriate conservation strategies through the involvement of local stakeholders. Geo-visualization of hotspots of biodiversity at local level enables the regional planner in evolving appropriate conservation strategies for sustainable management particularly on a defined geographical area. Web-based SDSS is implemented through FOSS: Free and open-source software would aid in prudent use of natural resources, while realizing the vision of Biodiversity act, 2002, towards empowering Biodiversity Management Committees in panchayat based on the knowledge of local biodiversity richness with ecological status.