Status, Issues and Challenges of Biodiversity: Lower Plants (Non-vascular)

Abstract

India is a country of immense biodiversity; it has more than 95,000 species of animals and 45,500 species of plants in its ten biogeographic regions. Besides, it is recognized as one of the eight Vavilovian centres of origin and diversity of crop plants, having more than 300 wild ancestors and close relatives of cultivated plants, which are still evolving under natural conditions. India is also a vast repository of traditional knowledge associated with biological resources. India ranks among the top ten species-rich nations and shows high endemism. India has four global biodiversity hot spots. The varied edaphic, climatic and topographic conditions and years of geological stability have resulted in a wide range of ecosystems and habitats in the country. Regrettably, the Indian biodiversity is threatened with destruction due to population pressures and ill-conceived developmental activities. Earlier, most of the studies of wild crops and higher plants are available, but studies regarding non-flowering plants, i.e. cryptograms, are scattered. In addition to higher plants, particularly trees and medicinal herbs, orchids, agricultural crops and cryptograms also need protection.