Glossary

• Alien Species :These are species that appear in areas outside their natural or historical habitat due to intentional or accidental human activities. They are also referred to as exotic or introduced species.
• Biome:A large ecological area within a region, such as a grassland or fir forest, defined by its unique vegetation and climate. Biomes represent major parts of the Earth’s living environment.
• Biotechnology : The application of science and technology to living organisms in order to develop products or processes that are useful to humans. Examples include genetically modified crops and vaccine production.
• Buffer Zone : An area located next to a protected area, which serves as a transition zone between regions managed for conservation and those used for other purposes. It helps reduce conflicts and safeguards biodiversity.
• Evolution : A slow and continuous process of change over time. In biology, organic evolution refers to genetic changes passed down through generations in living organisms.
• Ex Situ Conservation :A method of biodiversity conservation where components like seeds, pollen, or organisms are preserved outside their natural habitat. Example: Seed banks or botanical gardens.
• Extinction: The complete disappearance of a species when it can no longer reproduce and all members die out. Often caused by habitat destruction, climate change, or human activities.
• Fauna : Refers to all animal species found in a particular region or habitat.
  Example: Tigers and elephants are fauna of Indian forests.
• Flora: Refers to all plant species in a specific area. Example: Neem and banyan trees are flora of Indian plains.
• Gene: A basic unit of heredity, part of DNA, which carries instructions for building proteins in an organism.
• Gene Bank : A facility that stores genetic material such as seeds, tissues, or reproductive cells for conservation. Used in ex situ conservation.
• Genetic Diversity : The variation of genes within a population, species, or variety.
  High genetic diversity increases adaptability to changing environments.
• Habitat: The natural home of an organism or population, where it gets food, shelter, and mates. Example: Wetlands are habitats for many bird species.
• Habitat Degradation: The process where a habitat’s quality declines, making it difficult for species to survive. Caused by pollution, deforestation, or invasive species.
• Hotspot: A region that has a high number of unique (endemic) species and is under serious threat from human activities. Example: The Western Ghats and Himalayas are biodiversity hotspots in India.
• In situ Conservation: Protecting species in their natural habitat, allowing them to continue evolving and interacting with the environment. Example: National parks, wildlife sanctuaries.
• Invasive Species: Species that are introduced (accidentally or intentionally) to a new ecosystem where they do not naturally exist, often harming local biodiversity.
   Example: Water hyacinth, Lantana, or Nile perch in Lake Victoria.
• Inventory: The process of collecting and recording data about natural resources in a particular area. Used in forest surveys or biodiversity assessments.
• Patent: A legal right granted by a government to an inventor for exclusive use of a process or product for a certain time.
• Protected Areas: Areas of land or sea set aside specifically for conserving biodiversity, managed by legal or other means. Example: Kaziranga National Park, Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve.
• Rehabilitation: Actions taken to recover ecosystem services (like clean water or soil fertility) in degraded habitats.
• Restoration: Bringing an ecosystem back to its original natural condition, including species, structure, and functions.
• Seedbank: A storage facility where seeds of plant species are preserved for future use and conservation.
   Example: ICAR-NBPGR in India
• Species: A group of living organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
  Example: All dogs belong to the same species.
• Species Diversity: The number and types of species found in a given area.
  Higher diversity = healthier ecosystem.
• Succession: The gradual process by which ecosystems change and develop over time, especially after a disturbance (fire, flood, etc.).
• Sustainable Development: Development that meets current needs without harming the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
• Sustainable Use: Using biodiversity responsibly, so that species and ecosystems are not depleted or destroyed over time.
• Taxonomy: The scientific classification of organisms into categories like kingdom, phylum, genus, and species.
• Wild Species: Species that exist in the wild and have not been domesticated or genetically altered by humans.
• Wildlife : Animals (and sometimes plants) that are not domesticated and live in their natural environment.