SYLLABUS

GS-3: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context: A global study published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment warned that the conversion of natural habitats to farmland led to a 26 per cent decline in species richness, with India’s Western Ghats among the worst-affected regions.

More on the News

• The study was led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and China Agricultural University, to examine the impact of agricultural expansion within biodiversity hotspots across the world.

• Researchers from the University of Cambridge, the University of Maryland and the University of Oklahoma collaborated in the study.

Key Highlights of the Study

• The study focused on small-range vertebrates such as mammals, birds and amphibians with limited geographic distribution.

• Total abundance of animals and plants declined by around 12 per cent in Biodiversity hotspot areas converted to agriculture.

• Community diversity adjusted for population size fell by nearly 9 per cent.

• Community diversity means the variety of different species living and interacting in a specific area, reflecting the richness of life forms and their interactions within that ecosystem, contributing to its overall stability and health.

• Wildlife data were analysed using the global PREDICTS database by comparing intact habitats with farmlands.

• Satellite imagery showed that cropland within biodiversity hotspots expanded by 12 per cent between 2000 and 2019, faster than the global average of 9 per cent.

• Agricultural expansion was most intense in tropical regions near the equator, which also host the highest biodiversity.

• Major affected regions included the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest in South America, Indo Burma and Sundaland in Southeast Asia and parts of Africa.

• The study identified 3,483 high-risk zones across biodiversity hotspots covering about 1,741 million hectares, out of which nearly 1,031 million hectares were located outside protected areas.

• Protected areas are locations that receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values.

• In India, the Western Ghats showed similar patterns of accelerating land use change due to agriculture.

• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has rated the Western Ghats as being of “significant concern” in its 2025 World Heritage Outlook 4 report.
• India’s western ghat is a global Biodiversity Hotspot recognized by UNESCO, and home to over 5,000 flowering plants, 139 mammals, 508 birds and at least 325 globally threatened species.

• Experts warned that without targeted protection and sustainable farming practices, mass extinctions could intensify.

Key recommendations in the report: 

• Protected areas: Expand the protected areas strategically in biodiversity hotspots, particularly where rare species with limited ranges are concentrated. 

• Strengthen Protection: Management and enforcement inside existing protected areas must be strengthened to ensure actual wildlife safeguard.

• Agri-productivity: Improve farm productivity on land already being cultivated instead of clearing new areas.

• Increase International cooperation on food trade: Ensure biodiversity-rich but economically struggling countries aren’t forced to destroy their ecosystems to feed wealthier nations.

• Involve local communities: Recognise the Indigenous people's role in protecting and monitoring as an integral part of the conservation efforts.

Significance of the study 

• Ecological Impact: The study highlighted agriculture as a major driver of biodiversity loss within global biodiversity hotspots.

• Scientific Evidence: The study provided quantitative evidence of species decline in fragile ecosystems due to land use change.

• Conservation Gaps: The study revealed critical protection gaps as a large share of high-risk biodiversity zones lay outside protected areas.

• Policy and Planning: The study emphasised the urgent need to integrate conservation priorities with sustainable farming practices to prevent ecosystem collapse