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.

What is the most important message conveyed by the passage ?

(a) Endemism is a characteristic feature of Himalayan region.
(b) Conservation efforts should emphasize on biogeographic ranges rather than on some species or habitats. ✓ UPSC's answer
(c) Climate change has adverse impact on the Himalayan ecosystem.
(d) Without Himalayan ecosystem, the life of the communities of uplands and downstreams will have no sustenance.

Why the answer is (b)

• The passage first states that the Himalayan ecosystem is vulnerable to geological, population, resource-exploitation and climate-change pressures.

• It then identifies endemics with restricted distribution and specialized habitat requirements as among the most vulnerable elements.

• It says conservation of endemic elements in representative ecosystems/habitats is significant for conservation plans.

• It then directs a shift to contemporary conservation approaches based on landscape-level interconnectivity between protected area systems.

• The central recommendation is to move from a species-habitat focus to an inclusive focus on expanding biogeographic range, so the key option follows.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) Endemism is a characteristic feature of Himalayan region.: The passage mentions endemism only as a vulnerability factor, not as its central conservation message.
(c) Climate change has adverse impact on the Himalayan ecosystem.: Climate change is presented as a threat that motivates conservation, but the passage’s main recommendation is about biogeographic-range conservation.
(d) Without Himalayan ecosystem, the life of the communities of uplands and downstreams will…: The passage says ecosystem damage would affect upland and downstream communities, but it does not claim their life would have no sustenance without the ecosystem.

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.