NCI 2024
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    Mammals Birds Amphibians Reptiles Myxini – Hagfishes Petromyz' – Lampreys Sharks & rays Animals Holocep' – Chimaeras Ray-finned fishes Dipneusti – Lungfish Gastropoda – Snails & slugs Coelac' – Coelacanths Insecta – Insects / bugs Arachnida – Spiders & scorpions Malacostraca – Malacostracans Diplopoda – Millipedes Bivalvia – Marine molluscs Cephalopoda – Squids & octopuses Chilopoda – Centipedes Pycnogonida – Sea spiders Merostomata – Horseshoe crabs More Classes
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    India is one of the world’s mega-diverse countries, with about 7-8% of the world’s documented species spread over only 2.4% of total land area. Even recently becoming the world’s most populous country, India maintains its diverse range of wildlife and habitats. From the snowy Himalayas to the tropical Western Ghats and the arid Thar Desert, India offers a wide range of habitats supporting diverse creatures.

    Along with famous animals like the Asian elephant, Indian rhinoceros, and Bengal tiger, it is home to a wide range of birds, reptiles, and marine life. Four of the 36 globally designated biodiversity hotspots with areas in Indian jurisdiction, are the Himalayas, Indo-Burma, the Western Ghats, and Sundaland. Additionally, India has over 92,037 animal species (of which 61,375 are insects) and 45,500 plant species across its 10 biogeographic regions.

    Score Rank Change
    Total Score – NCI 2024 45.5 176 N/A
    Land Management 42 154 N/A
    Protected Areas (Terrestrial) 2 174 N/A
    Ecological Representativeness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 100 1 N/A
    Connectedness of Terrestrial Protected Areas 52 95 N/A
    Protected Areas (Marine) 0 122 N/A
    Pristine Habitat (Converted Land) 60 171 N/A
    Sustainable Nitrogen Management (Soil Pollution) 45 58 N/A
    Sustainable Pesticide Use 39 82 N/A
    Threats to Biodiversity 54 177 N/A
    Threatened Species (Terrestrial) 73 153 N/A
    Threatened Species (Marine) 68 42 N/A
    Threatened Species’ Coverage by Protected Areas 29 171 N/A
    Species Coverage by Marine Protected Areas 0 134 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Terrestrial) 6 155 N/A
    Species with Declining Populations (Marine) 0 10 N/A
    Depleted Fisheries 31 19 N/A
    Fishery Pressure in the High Seas 100 59 N/A
    Invasive Species Pressure 94 94 N/A
    Capacity and Governance 60 115 N/A
    Total Management Cost 100 8 N/A
    Conservation Culturomics 38 117 N/A
    Conservation Legislation 33 122 N/A
    Ratification of CBD 100 1 N/A
    Ratification of CITES 100 1 N/A
    Political Stability and Absence of Violence 30 124 N/A
    Control of Corruption 44 85 N/A
    Government Effectiveness 58 53 N/A
    Future Trends 35 133 N/A
    Climate Change Mitigation 35 133 N/A

    Four pillars elaborated:

    Land Management

     Regarding land management, India’s vast geographical area includes 38.8%, characterized by arid and semi-arid conditions, and 5.62% in the cold, arid Trans-Himalayan region. Unique habitats like India’s deserts, with 628 plant species, and cold deserts (Himalayas) protect rare species like the Snow Leopard and require conservation attention. Though 7.5% of India’s terrestrial area is protected, improvements are needed in marine protected areas, with only 0.2% coverage in national waters and none in the EEZ.

    Land conversion for urban, industrial, and agricultural purposes has reached 53%, stressing the need for sustainable land use practices. Soil pollution, indicated by the sustainable nitrogen index at 0.77, requires attention to maintaining soil health. Additionally, the relatively high pesticide use score of 2.46 needs careful management to minimize environmental impacts. India’s diverse wetlands and mangrove-covered areas, spanning approximately 4,445 km² (1,716 mi²), contribute to rich biodiversity.

    Threats to Biodiversity

     Numerous factors, such as habitat loss and fragmentation by agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructural development, pose risks to India’s biodiversity. An alarming 23,300 km² (8,996 mi² )of tree cover was lost between 2001 and 2019 due to ongoing deforestation. Sensitive ecosystems like coral reefs and alpine regions are impacted by climate change. Protection measures are important as the IUCN Red List indicates that 15.9% of marine and 13.4% of terrestrial species are at risk. Although 65% of terrestrial species and 40% of marine species are found in Protected Areas (PAs), 46.9% of terrestrial and 67.5% of marine species face diminishing populations, highlighting conservation issues. Sustainable fishing is crucial, as 34.5% of fisheries in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are exhausted. High fishery pressure in the high seas highlights the need for effective management techniques.

    Capacity and Governance

     About 10.47% of India’s GDP was allocated to environmental and conservation management in 2023–2024. Many legislation in India’s legal system address various conservation issues, demonstrating the country’s devotion to the environment. Due to India’s role as both a source and transit point for trafficked wildlife, many species are illegally moved in and out of the country. Common wildlife seizures in India include ivory, Indian star tortoises, red sandalwood, and rhino horns. Particularly, pangolin poaching and tiger part trafficking are on the rise. India ranks fourth globally in illegal wildlife trading, worth over £15 billion annually, demanding stricter enforcement and international cooperation.

    Prime Minister Modi’s conservation policies prioritize renewable energy, afforestation, wildlife protection, and sustainable agriculture, contributing to global conservation efforts. India ratifies key international agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Despite facing political instability (Political Stability and Absence of Violence score: -0.6) and corruption ( score: -0.3), India maintains a solid democratic foundation (World Democracy Index: 7.04) and a Government Effectiveness score of 0.4. The Human Development Index (HDI) at 0.63 reflects socio-economic development.

    Future Trends

     Looking ahead, India faces both alarming biodiversity challenges and promising opportunities. The country’s biodiversity richness is under constant threat due to a population density that equals some of the world’s most congested areas and a doubled population since the late 1970s. Merely 5% of India’s land is officially protected. In sharp contrast, large protected areas exist in sparsely populated parts of countries like the USA and China. Millions of people in India reside near and even inside these protected areas, creating unique conservation challenges.

    Some species face an increased risk of extinction, as indicated by the latest Red List Index (RLI) in 2023, denoting a critical state. India’s Environmental Performance Index (EPI) score has declined over the decade, highlighting the urgent need for improved environmental policies and practices.

    Strong conservation legislation, government investment in 55 Tiger Reserves, and government compensation schemes encouraging local participation improve future prospects. In order to achieve long-term conservation results, buffer zone utilization and connectivity issues must be addressed efficiently.

    Enacting regulations that support sustainable development, allocating funds for environmental preservation, and putting into practice efficient conservation measures all depend on the strong leadership and dedication of policymakers. India can successfully handle the difficult difficulties ahead for conservation and open the door to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future mainly by utilizing its political will.


    Biodiversity

    India is a treasure trove of biodiversity and traditional knowledge. The country is notable for its high levels of endemism, particularly among vertebrates, ranking tenth globally in endemic birds, fifth in reptiles, and seventh in amphibians. This richness is especially pronounced in amphibians (41.5% endemism) and reptiles (34.3% endemism). Furthermore, India is one of the eight Vavilovian centers of origin for crop plants, home to more than 300 wild ancestors and relatives of domesticated crops that continue to evolve in natural conditions.

    In the table below are the number of known species in several main groups, how many of these species are Threatened with extinction, and how many of them are Endemic (unique to India only):


    Species
    (World rank)    		 Threatened % Threatened Endemic % Endemic
    Mammals 438 (#13) 93 21.2% 60 13.7%
    Birds 1,211 (#9) 89 7.3% 75 6.2%
    Reptiles 900 (#3) 54 6.0% 309 34.3%
    Amphibians 455 (#6) 75 16.5% 189 41.5%
    Fishes 2,666 (#10) 317 11.9% 200 7.5%
    Plants 45,000 (#3) 396 0.9% 711 1.6%

    Go To 2024 National Nature Conservation Index Main Page

    India

    Diverse lands, denser populations – nurturing nature among billions

    Score:

    45.5 / 100

    Rank:

    176 / 180