Biodiversity Conservation for Sustainable Development

Contents: Forward. Preface. Introduction. I. Participatory approach for biodiversity conservation: 1. Conservation of biodiversity in India: an erosion of social responsibility/Nagendra P. Singh. 2. Conserving biodiversity: role of eco-tourism/Prakash P. Bakre. 3. Gender and biodiversity management in India/M.S. Swaminathan Foundation. 4. Role of financial institutions in conserving biodiversity/V.S. Bhaduria and V. Mashar. 5. Diversity and conservation of shrubs of hot arid region of Rajasthan, India/J.P. Singh, V.S. Rathore and R.K. Beniwal. II. Biodiversity and agricultural sustainability: 6. Biodiversity and sustainable agricultural development: emerging issues and concerns/P.K. Chhonkar. 7. Crop biodiversity: conservation, characterization and utilization/B.M. Prasana. 8. Biodiversity for sustainable soil health and agricultural productivity/A.K. Patra and P.K. Chhonkar. 9. Main stream in agro-biodiversity conservation and management/M.N. Jha, Anil Pandey and Sonia Kumari. III. Enhancing soil biodiversity for increasing productivity: 10. Recent biotechnological approaches for exploring soil biodiversity/A.K. Patra and S.C. Kaushik. 11. Microbial diversity in soil: current knowledge and challenges/J.C. Tarafdar and Sushma Dave. 12. Soil biodiversity and bioprospecting -an overview/A.K. Patra, A. Swarup and H.P. Pathak. IV. Environment, forest and biodiversity: 13. Environmental change and biodiversity in India/H. Pathak, S. Mohanty, A.K. Patra and Shalini Singh Tandon. 14. Biodiversity loss: impact of global climate change/Shalini Singh Tandon. 15. Impact of GM crops on above and below ground biodiversity/A.K. Patra and Anand Swarup. 16. Forest biological diversity: assessment and conservation planning/Karan Deo Singh. 17. Sacred forestry: the case of Rajasthan, India/Deep N. Pandey. 18. 'Oran' - a traditional biodiversity conservation system in Rajasthan/Aman Singh. Index. List of contributors.

"This publication embodies papers contributed by eminent social and agricultural scientists of repute from different parts of India during the two regional seminars in eastern and western region organized under aegis of Asian Society of Entrepreneurship Education and Development (ASEED), an NGO active in the field of biodiversity awareness and education that was supported by Ministry, Environment and Forest Government of India. Fueled by population pressure, rapid expansion and intensification of agriculture coupled with our insensitivity towards biodiversity reservoir has resulted in shrinking of basic biodiversity base. Nevertheless, attempts by scientists, government agencies and NGOs across the globe have created awareness for preserving biodiversity for the greater good of the humanity.

This book has been edited by two eminent scientists Dr. Nagendra P. Singh and Dr. P.K. Chhonkar. The entire volume has rich quality of papers that could act as referral to take up further action strategies and research initiatives on the conservation process for biodiversity. The attempt of the editors in this endeavor has been to offer a conceptual and research foundation to those who are motivated to take up further action on the area of biodiversity conservation and awareness campaign.

ASEED being committed to sustainable development theme at the ground level through advocacy and field intervention, has launched publication of this kind would set a strong model towards integrated learning on biodiversity conservation. Inputs forwarded by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Chairman MSSF have added quality touch to the book." (jacket)