Passage

Passage – 1 The Himalayan ecosystem is highly vulnerable to damage, both due to geological reasons and on account of the stress caused by increased pressure of population, exploitation of natural resources and other related challenges. These aspects may be exacerbated due to the impact of climate change. It is possible that climate change may adversely impact the Himalayan ecosystem through increased temperature, altered precipitation patterns, episodes of drought and biotic influences. This would not only impact the very sustenance of the indigenous communities in uplands but also the life of downstream dwellers across the country and beyond. Therefore, there is an urgent need for giving special attention to sustain the Himalayan ecosystem. This would require conscious efforts for conserving all the representative systems. Further, it needs to be emphasized that the endemics with restricted distribution, and most often with specialized habitat requirements, are among the most vulnerable elements. In this respect the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, with rich endemic diversity, is vulnerable to climate change. The threats include possible loss of genetic resources and species, habitats and concomitantly a decrease in ecosystem services. Therefore, conservation of endemic elements in representative ecosystems/habitats assumes a great significance while drawing conservation plans for the region. Towards achieving the above, we will have to shift toward contemporary conservation approaches, which include a paradigm of landscape level interconnectivity between protected area systems. The concept advocates a shift from the species-habitat focus to an inclusive focus on expanding the biogeographic range so that natural adjustments to climate change can proceed without being restrictive.

Which one of the following statements best implies the need to shift toward contemporary conservation approach ?

(a) Exploitation of natural resources causes a stress on the Himalayan ecosystem.
(b) Climate change alters precipitation patterns, causes episodes of drought and biotic interference.
(c) The rich biodiversity, including endemic diversity, makes the Himalayan region a biodiversity hotspot.
(d) The Himalayan biogeographic region should be enabled to adapt to climate change smoothly. ✓ UPSC's answer

Why the answer is (d)

• The passage identifies climate change as a major threat to the Himalayan ecosystem, especially to endemics with restricted distribution and specialized habitats.

• It then states that conservation plans must shift to contemporary approaches based on landscape-level interconnectivity between protected areas.

• This approach moves from a narrow species-habitat focus to expanding the biogeographic range so organisms can make natural adjustments to climate change.

• Therefore, the statement that the Himalayan biogeographic region should be enabled to adapt to climate change smoothly best implies the need for that contemporary conservation approach.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Exploitation of natural resources causes a stress on the Himalayan ecosystem.: Exploitation of natural resources is mentioned as a general stress on the Himalayan ecosystem, not as the specific reason for shifting to landscape-level contemporary conservation.
(b) Climate change alters precipitation patterns, causes episodes of drought and biotic…: Altered precipitation patterns, droughts, and biotic interference are climate-change threats, not the conservation objective of enabling biogeographic adaptation.
(c) The rich biodiversity, including endemic diversity, makes the Himalayan region a…: Rich endemic diversity explains why the Himalayan region is a vulnerable biodiversity hotspot, but it does not directly imply the need for landscape-level interconnectivity to adapt to climate change.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.