About the Book
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth within and between all the species of plants, animals, micro-organisms and the biosphere in which they live and interact. It includes millions of different species that live on earth besides the genetic differences within species. Extinction is a native process that takes place over long period of times because of natural shifts in the environment. Last century witnessed a large number of species going extinct at an alarming rate due to environmental changes of habitat loss and pollution caused by human activities. Passenger pigeon, paradise parrot, desert rat kangaroo, Tasmanian tiger, Arabian ostrich and hundreds more are now extinct. Biodiversity needs to be conserved because it is essential for life support system and makes life sustainable on earth. Wetlands filter pollutants from water, plants and trees reduce global warming by absorbing Co2 and micro-organisms break down organic material and fertilize the soil. Medicines originating from plants and animal species save millions of lives and relieve tremendous suffering. In this context, volume 2 presents articles on biodiversity and conservation from biodiversity of medicinal plants and their conservation to bioactivity of mushrooms to molecular diversity of fish to threats to marine and forest biodiversity. The volume 2 provides discussion on the following topics: o Biodiversity and conservation o Tapping into biodiversity: From metagenomics to industrial enzymes o Trichoderma: Biodiversity and species concepts o Diversity and distribution of earthworms in Kollam district of Kerala o Diversity towards seeds morphology, anatomy and physiology for endemic species in Madagascar o Conservation of medicinal plants o Endophytic fungal diversity in medicinal plants o Carum copticum herb for treatment of important human diseases o Bioactivity of mushrooms: Exploitable properties for drug development and health care o Vascular flora of rocky outcrops in an ecotonal area in north-eastern Brazil o Molecular diversity of fish based on DNA markers o Threats to marine biodiversity in Arabian gulf o Integrated management of coral bleaching and migration o Biodiversity: Threats and conservation o European union and Greek forestry The volume spreads over 15 articles contributed by 31 authors representing 8 nations viz. Bahrain, Brazil, England, Greece, India, Madagascar, Malaysia and United States of America giving an overview of the activities being carried out in different parts of the world by researchers on Biodiversity and Conservation.
About the Author :
Dr. Anil Kumar is Manipur-Tripura Cadre IFS Officer of 1980 batch. He had outstanding academic career from Allahabad University. He is Postgraduate in Mathematics and Economics. He obtained PG (Diploma) in Forest Survey using Aerial Photographs and Remote Sensing Techniques (one year) from ITC, Netherlands. He completed Ph.D. on the topic "Rural Development through Forestry and Allied Activities in Hills district of PAURI" from Economics Department, Manipur University. He had to his credit several technical papers on Forestry and Allied subjects published in International Journals. As Director, Directorate of Forest Education, Dehradun, he was engaged in capacity building programme of front-line staff in the whole country. He arranged to conduct the refresher courses for the first time in the country. He published a reference Manual as "Training Material for Frontline Staff". As Professor at Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun, he was instrumental in formulating Mid-Career-Training Programme at different levels of IFS Officers. He imparted training in important Forestry subjects as Forest Biometry, Forest Economics, Forest Laws, etc. to Indian Forest Services and State Forest Services and State Forest Service's trainee officers. He also wrote a book entitled "Fundamentals of Forest Statistics". He held several important positions in the Forest Department, Manipur, including Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Forest Development Agencies & Conservation) and Chief Wildlife Warden. He had worked as Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Central), N.E. Region at Shillong with additional charge of Additional Director General of Forests (FC), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. As Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Central), N.E. Region, his present assignment includes supervision in the Regional Office for the diversion of forest land for various non-forestry purposes in eight States (All seven NE States and Sikkim) and approval of Working Plan in the eights, States etc. At present, as Additional Director General of Forests (FC), his assignment inter alia involves all aspects of conservation of forests and development of forest sector in the country, including evolution and implementation of forest policy and legal framework, international collaborations, and to coordinate and supervise the functioning of various forestry divisions of the Ministry, which include Forest Conservation, Forest Policy/Forest International Cooperation, Research and Training, Survey and Utilisation, Forest Protection, National Afforestation Eco-Development Board (NAEB), Externally Aided Projects and Regional Offices dealing with Forest Division, etc.
Dr. Bhola Ram Gurjar is a Professor in Civil (Environmental Engineering) and Head of Centre for Transportation Systems (CTRANS) at India's premier technological institution, Indian Institute of Technology - IIT Roorkee. He holds a PhD in the area of Environmental Risk Analysis from India's premier technological institution I.I.T. Delhi followed by Postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute in Mainz (Germany). He has about 25 years' progressive professional experience in industry, teaching, training, research, and consultancy. Professor Gurjar has (co)authored / (co)edited nine books and 140 publications in total. He has received several awards and fellowships including the prestigious Advanced Postdoctoral Research Fellowship of the Max Planck Society (Germany) (2002-2005) and UKIERI Grant to visit Univ. of Surrey (U.K.) (Dec. 2012-Jan. 2013). Based on his outstanding research work at the MPIC - Mainz, the Scientific Steering Committee of the global change SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training (START), Washington, D.C., U.S.A., honored him with the 2004 START Young Scientist Award. He has received the American Society of Civil Engineers' State of the Art of Civil Engineering Award for the year 2014 on the co-edited book "Climate Change Modeling, Mitigation, and Adaptation". He is also co-recipient of The Nawab Zain Yar Jung Bahadur Memorial Medal (best research paper award) from Environmental Engineering Division of The Institution of Engineers (India), Kolkata, for the year 1995-96. The Institution of Engineers (India)'s National Design and Research Forum (NDRF) has awarded him the National Design Award for Environmental Engineering 2011. Prof. Gurjar is fellow and life member of several professional bodies and organizations and serves them actively. For example, Prof. Gurjar has served the Roorkee Local Centre of The Institution of Engineers (India) as Honorary Secretary and Chairman from 2010-2012 and 2012-2014, respectively. Recently, recognizing his significant contribution in the discipline of Environmental Engineering, the Environmental Division Board of the Institution of Engineers (India) has conferred on him the Award of Eminent Environmental Engineer during the Inaugural Session of 31st National Convention of Environmental Engineers held on 6th November, 2015 in Chandigarh, India. He has also received The Institution of Engineers (India) Uttarakhand State Centre's Eminent Engineers Award - 2014. The award was conferred by the Hon. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand on 3rd February 2016 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Dr. Gurjar is among the leading academics and researchers who have worked extensively in the area of environmental science and engineering specially focused on air and water pollution, and environmental quality and health risk assessment, which is reflected in his several highly cited research papers published on these themes.
