Abstract
The variability of life on Earth is called biodiversity. Biodiversity takes into account all the living organisms present on Earth. Utilitarian values include the many basic needs humans obtain from biodiversity such as food, fuel, shelter, and medicine. Further, ecosystems provide crucial services such as pollination, seed dispersal, climate regulation, water purification, nutrient cycling, and control of agricultural pests. Biodiversity has cultural value to humans as well, for spiritual or religious reasons for instance. The intrinsic value of biodiversity refers to its inherent worth, which is independent of its value to anyone or anything else. Biodiversity loss refers to the decline or disappearance of biological diversity, understood as the variety of living things that inhabit the planet, its different levels of biological organization and their respective genetic variability, as well as the natural patterns present in ecosystems. The present case study is taken from mining project for extraction of coal by underground semi-mechanized mining bearing area of 659 ha.
TopMethodology & Approach
Sampling plots for floral inventory were chosen randomly within suitable habitats, drawing on methodologies outlined by Anderson (1867), Jain and Rao (1983), Dixit (1984), Wilson and Reeder (2005), Kumar (2013), and Kumar et al. (2013). The faunal survey methodology encompassed random surveys, opportunistic observations, diurnal bird observations, active searches for reptiles, assessment of faunal habitats, active searches for scats and footprints, animal calls, and review of past studies. Special attention was given to the presence of endemic and threatened species within the study area.