Species-Based Approach of Conserving Biodiversity

Biodiversity conservation can be carried out through different strategies, broadly categorized into species-based and ecosystem-based approaches. The species-based approach focuses on protecting and managing individual species that are threatened, endangered, or of special ecological, cultural, or economic importance. It emphasizes direct action to prevent the extinction of specific species and to restore their populations to sustainable levels.

Key Features of the Species-Based Approach

  1. Identification of Target Species
    The first step is to identify species that are endangered, threatened, or vulnerable. For example, the tiger, Asiatic lion, snow leopard, and gharial in India have been recognized as priority species for conservation.
  2. Legal Protection
    Laws and regulations are framed to protect these species from hunting, poaching, and trade. In India, the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 provides legal safeguards to species listed under its schedules.
  3. Captive Breeding and Reintroduction
    Many species are bred in captivity under controlled conditions and later reintroduced into the wild. For instance, the captive breeding program for the gharial has helped revive its population in Indian rivers.
  4. Recovery Programs
    Special recovery programs are launched to monitor and improve the population status of threatened species. The Project Tiger (1973) and Project Elephant (1992) are examples of species-based initiatives in India.
  5. Awareness and Community Involvement
    Education and awareness campaigns encourage communities to participate in species conservation. Sacred species like the cow or peepal tree are often protected due to cultural values, reflecting traditional species-based conservation practices.

Advantages of the Species-Based Approach

  • Focused Protection: Provides targeted conservation measures to prevent extinction of critically endangered species.
  • Flagship and Keystone Species: Protecting iconic species like tigers or elephants indirectly conserves their habitats and many associated species.
  • Public Support: Charismatic species attract public attention and funding, making conservation campaigns more effective.
  • Scientific Knowledge: Provides detailed information about the biology, ecology, and behavior of species, useful for long-term management.

Disadvantages of the Species-Based Approach

  1. Narrow Focus
    This approach emphasizes a few selected species, often charismatic or economically valuable, while ignoring less attractive but ecologically vital species such as amphibians, reptiles, or insects.
  2. Neglect of Ecosystems
    Focusing only on individual species may overlook the broader ecosystem and habitat that sustain them. Without habitat protection, long-term conservation is unsustainable.
  3. High Cost and Resource Demand
    Species-based conservation requires intensive monitoring, breeding, and management, which is expensive and resource-intensive. Limited funds may restrict efforts to a few species, leaving many others unprotected.
  4. Risk of Failure in Captive Breeding
    Captive breeding programs may face challenges such as inbreeding, loss of natural behavior, and failure of reintroduced species to survive in the wild.
  5. Human–Wildlife Conflicts
    Focusing on large species like elephants or tigers sometimes leads to conflicts with local communities, as these animals may damage crops, livestock, or even cause human casualties.
  6. Short-Term Approach
    Species-based measures may temporarily improve numbers, but without addressing underlying causes like habitat destruction, climate change, or pollution, extinction risks remain.

Conclusion

The species-based approach of conserving biodiversity plays an important role in preventing the extinction of threatened species and in raising awareness about conservation. Programs like Project Tiger and captive breeding initiatives have achieved notable successes. However, this approach has limitations because it often neglects ecosystems as a whole and may be expensive and selective. For sustainable biodiversity conservation, species-based strategies must be integrated with ecosystem-based approaches that protect habitats and ecological processes, ensuring the survival of all life forms, not just a few iconic species.