International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released a flagship report titled “Agriculture and Conservation” which comprehensively explores the complex relationship between agriculture and conservation.

Impact of Agriculture on Biodiversity

• Negative Impacts
  • Agriculture directly threatens 34% of species assessed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  • Direct threats from agriculture include conversion of natural habitats to croplands, pasturelands, plantations and irrigation. 
  • Indirect impacts through introduction of invasive alien species, nutrient loading, soil erosion, agrochemicals, and climate change. 
• Positive Impact: About 17% of species on IUCN Red List have agriculture documented as a habitat. 

Impact of Biodiversity on Agriculture

• Positive Impact: Ecosystems support agriculture through two main categories: 
  • Provisioning services i.e. production of biomass and genetic materials, and 
  • Regulating and maintenance services i.e. climate regulation, sediment retention, nutrient cycling, water flow regulation, pollination etc. 
• Negative Impact: Ecosystem disservices such as crop predation, pests and pathogens.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) released the latest edition of its biennial ‘Living Planet’ report.

Key finding: 

• Biodiversity loss: Wildlife population declined by 73% over the past 50 years (1970–2020). 
  • Freshwater populations have suffered heaviest declines followed by terrestrial and marine populations. 
• Reasons for decline: Habitat loss, degradation, climate change, invasive species. 
• Findings on India
  • Adopting India's consumption patterns worldwide would need less than one Earth by 2050.
  • Andhra Pradesh Community-Managed Natural Farming (APCNF) is a good example of the positive socio-economic impacts of nature-positive food production. 
  • Praised India’s millet mission.

National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) has given approval to develop Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) as Bihar’s second tiger reserve after Valmiki Tiger Reserve. 

• NTCA is a statutory body established under Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972. 

About NTCA

• Location:  Located on a Kaimur Hills plateau between the Son River (south) and Karmanasa River (west). 
  • It is spread over Central highlands (include Satpura-Maikal hills and Vindhya-Bagelkhand hills) and Chota Nagpur Plateau.
  • It is linked to Bandhavgarh-Sanjay-Guru Ghasidas-Palamau tiger landscape.
• Fauna: leopards, wild boars, sloth bears, etc.
• Forest Type: Northern Tropical Mixed Dry Deciduous Forests

10th Wild Ass Population Survey conducted by Gujarat Forest Department has found a 26.14% (6,082 in 2020 to 7,672 in 2024) increase in the population of Indian Wild Ass. 

Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur) 

• About: One of the five subspecies of the Asiatic wild ass, referred to as ‘Ghudkhur’. 
• Habitat: Arid zone of northwestern Indian subcontinent; presently only restricted to the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) in Gujarat. 
• Behavioral Characteristics: Solitary, Shy, present in low densities across its distribution range.  
  • Horns found only in adult males, for browsing preferred nutrient rich forage. 

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Red List of Threatened: Near Threatened
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix I