Biodiversity in Uttar Pradesh

According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, the green cover of Uttar Pradesh stands at 9.96 percent of its total geographical area, indicating gradual improvement through conservation efforts.

Biodiversity in Uttar Pradesh

Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life on Earth, encompassing genetic diversity, species diversity, and ecosystem diversity. It forms the ecological foundation for sustainable development, livelihood security, and climate resilience.
Uttar Pradesh, despite high population pressure, possesses rich biological diversity owing to its varied physiographic regions such as the Terai belt, Gangetic plains, Vindhyan plateau, and riverine ecosystems.

Status of Biodiversity in Uttar Pradesh

• Forest and Green Cover
  • Total Forest Cover: Around 6.98% of the state’s area
  • Total Green Cover (Forest + Tree cover): 9.96% (ISFR 2023)
  • Dominant forest types include Tropical Moist Deciduous, Dry Deciduous, and Terai forests
• Protected Area Network
  • National Parks: 1 (Dudhwa National Park)
  • Wildlife Sanctuaries: 24 to 26
  • Tiger Reserves: 4 – Dudhwa, Pilibhit, Amangarh, Ranipur
  • Ramsar Sites: 10 wetlands of international importance

Major Ecosystems and Biodiversity Hotspots in UP

• Terai Ecosystem
  • Terai belt districts are Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar, etc.
  • Rich in sal forests, grasslands, and wetlands
  • Supports tiger, swamp deer, one-horned rhinoceros (reintroduced)
• Gangetic Riverine Ecosystem
  • This ecosystem is found in district of Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Mirzapur, etc.
  • Habitat for Gangetic Dolphin, gharial, turtles, and migratory birds
  • Important wetlands like Sarsai Nawar Jheel and Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary
• Vindhyan and Bundelkhand Region
  • Vindhyan and Bundelkhand Region are present in Jhansi, Jalaun, Mahoba, Chitrakoot, etc.
  • Dry deciduous forests
  • Species like sloth bear, chinkara, hyena

Institutional and Policy Measures by Uttar Pradesh Government

• Institutional Framework
  • Uttar Pradesh Biodiversity Board (2006) established under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002
  • Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at Gram Panchayat level for:
    • Preparation of People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs)
    • Conservation of local bio-resources
• In-Situ Conservation
  • Dudhwa National Park: Flagship protected area in Terai region
  • Important Wildlife Sanctuaries:
    • Hastinapur Sanctuary – Upper Gangetic plains
    • Katarniaghat Sanctuary – Gharial conservation
    • National Chambal Sanctuary – Gharial and dolphin protection
  • Tiger Conservation: Population increase due to corridor management and anti-poaching measures
• Ex-Situ Conservation
  • Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), Lucknow:
    • DNA Bank of 128 medicinal plants
  • Seed Banks, Botanical Gardens, Zoological Parks
  • Elephant Conservation & Care Centre, Mathura
• Wetland Conservation
  • 10 Ramsar Sites, including:
    • Bakhira Bird Sanctuary (Ramsar 2021)
    • Sur Sarovar
    • Sarsai Nawar Jheel
  • Important for migratory birds of Central Asian Flyway
• Biodiversity Parks
  • Central-approved Mega Biodiversity Park Project
  • Key parks:
    • Mohanpur Biodiversity Park (Mirzapur)
    • Ramghat (Bulandshahr)
    • Alamgirpur (Hapur)
• State Forest Policy, 2017
  • Focus on:
    • Scientific forest management
    • Community participation
    • Afforestation and agro-forestry
  • Targeted increase in tree cover outside forests

Challenges related to Biodiversity Conservation in Uttar Pradesh

• Low forest cover: Uttar Pradesh has forest and tree cover significantly below the national average, limiting habitat availability and ecological resilience.
• Human–wildlife conflict: Frequent conflicts in the Terai region, especially involving tigers, elephants, and leopards, lead to loss of life, crops, and declining local support for conservation.
• Wetland degradation: Encroachment, sewage discharge, agricultural runoff, and invasive species are degrading wetlands, affecting migratory birds and aquatic biodiversity.
• Habitat fragmentation: Expansion of roads, railways, canals, and urban infrastructure disrupts wildlife corridors and restricts animal movement and genetic exchange.
• Climate change impacts: Changing rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are altering species distribution, breeding cycles, and increasing vulnerability of sensitive ecosystems.

Way Forward

• Policy strengthening: Implement a comprehensive State Biodiversity Conservation Policy aligned with Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) targets and SDGs.
• Landscape-level conservation: Promote wildlife corridors and buffer zones, particularly in Terai and Bundelkhand regions, to ensure habitat connectivity.
• Community participation: Encourage community-based conservation through eco-development committees, compensation mechanisms, and livelihood incentives such as eco-tourism and agroforestry.
• Wetland restoration: Rejuvenate wetlands under Mission Amrit Sarovar and Ramsar guidelines with scientific management and local stewardship.
• Mainstreaming biodiversity: Integrate biodiversity concerns into infrastructure, industrial, and urban planning through environmental impact assessments and nature-based solutions.

Conclusion

Biodiversity is the ecological backbone of Uttar Pradesh, supporting agriculture, water security, climate resilience, and livelihoods. While initiatives like ISFR-guided afforestation, Ramsar site expansion, and tiger conservation show progress, a dedicated State Biodiversity Conservation Policy with strong community participation is essential.
Protecting biodiversity is not just an environmental imperative but a developmental necessity, directly contributing to SDGs 13, 14, and 15.