Bio-diversity in the service of rural communities

M.V.Ashok
Chief General Manger, NABARD, Ranchi

Introduction
I don’t know how many of you are aware that the year 2010 has been declared as the International Year of Biodiversity by the United Nations Organization. In the fitness of things the Society has organized this conference on the subject of Biodivesity. I am grateful to the orgnisers of the conference to have invited me for delivering the Key Note Address.
What is Biodiversity? In a mixed group like this I feel we must be on the same plane before we go further. Biological diversity or biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms, their interdependence and how they affect one another : the different plants, animals and microorganisms, and the ecosystems, they form. Typically biological diversity is usually considered at three different levels: ecosystems they form. Typically biological diversity is usually considered at three different levels:
i) Genetic diversity,
ii) Species diversity
iii) Ecosystem diversity.
Genetic diversity refers to the variety of genetic information contained in all of the individual plants, animals and microorganisms. Genetic diversity occurs within and between populations of species as well as between species.
Species diversity refers to the variety of living species.
Ecosystem diversity relates to the variety of habitats, biotic communities, and ecological processes, as well as the tremendous diversity present within ecosystems in terms of habitat differences and he variety of ecological processes.

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