Biodiversity Protection and Wastewater Management Strategies

Primary Wastewater Treatment: Physical Process

Following preliminary treatment, sewage water is pumped into the primary sedimentation tank. In this tank, the sedimentation of suspended solids and organic matter occurs. Approximately 50-70% of the solids settle down, leading to a reduction of about 30-40% in coliform organisms.

The organic matter that settles is called primary sludge, which is then removed by mechanically operated devices. The supernatant (effluent) remaining in the primary sedimentation tank still contains significant amounts of dissolved organic matter and microorganisms, which are subsequently removed during secondary treatment.

Ex Situ Conservation: Protecting Endangered Species

When a species becomes critically endangered, special measures must be undertaken for its protection. One such measure is Ex Situ Conservation, where living beings are protected away from their natural habitats in specialized settings, often in captivity.

Examples of ex situ conservation facilities include:

• Wildlife safari parks
• Zoological parks
• Botanical gardens

Animals whose populations have declined are often allowed to breed in captivity to aid their recovery, such as at the Crocodile Bank of Chennai. Additionally, seed banks are established to conserve wild varieties of food grains and vegetables.

Nowadays, modern biotechnological techniques are also employed to protect endangered species, including:

• Tissue culture
• In vitro fertilization of eggs
• Cryopreservation (preservation of gametes at a low temperature of -196°C)

India's Biodiversity Act 2002: Conservation & Regulation

India actively participated in the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and is a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), established in 1992. To provide a robust framework for the sustainable management and conservation of the country’s natural resources, the Indian government enacted the Biological Diversity Act (BD Act) in 2002, in compliance with the CBD.

The BD Act broadly defines biodiversity to include plants, animals, and microorganisms, along with their parts, genetic materials, and by-products. It specifically excludes value-added products and human genetic material.

Key Objectives of the BD Act:

• Regulation of access to Indian biological resources.
• Scientific cataloging of traditional knowledge concerning ethnobiological materials.

A three-tier system has been established to approve the utilization of any biological resource for commercial or research purposes:

• National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) at the national level.
• State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs) at the state level.
• Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local level.

It is mandatory for foreigners, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Indian citizens, and institutions to seek permission from the NBA before exploiting local resources. The NBA possesses the powers of a civil court, and failure to seek its approval can result in imprisonment and a fine of up to 10 lakh rupees.