Status of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. It includes the variability of species in terrestrial, aerial and aquatic habitats, the diversity of ecosystems and the diversity of genes they harbor. It is an essential component of the nature and it ensures the survival of human species by providing food, fuel, shelter, medicines and other resources to mankind. Indirectly, biodiversity serves the humans by providing the basic life supporting systems such as clean air, water and fertile soil.
The Western Ghats region, wherein the state is situated, is one of the 25 biodiversity hotspots in the whole world. The state contains more than 4,500 species of flowering plants of which above 1,500 taxa are endemic in nature. There is also equally rich fauna belt in the state. The diversity of lower plants and animal groups, and the marine flora and fauna in particular even though not fully known, is remarkably rich in the state. An earlier rough estimate had shown that there are about 10,035 plant species indigenous to the state. The available information on the total floral wealth of the state is given in the table:

Plant Diversity in Kerala
Category	Number
Flowering Plants	4600
Grass species	350
Bamboo species	15
Reeds species	9
Orchid species	214
Gymnosperms	4
Ferns and Fern allies	200
Liverworts	200
Algae	231
Fungi	1044
Lichens	800

The state of Kerala possess rich faunal diversity, forming part of the Western Ghats. The table shows the richness of fauna in the state. Out of the 430 species of mammals reported from India, 102 species are represented in Kerala including 12 taxa endemic to the Western Ghats. Nearly 25% of the Indian avifauna is recorded from the state. Of which nearly 150 species have been located in the coastal area. About 448 reptiles are reported from India of which 187 species are recorded from Kerala.

Animal Diversity in Kerala
Category	Number
Large and medium sized mammals	48 genera
Birds species	475
Water Birds	101
Reptiles Genera	60
Lizard (endemic) species	30
Snake (endemic) species	57
Amphibia (endemic) species	86
Fresh water fishes (endemic) species	84
Butterflies	313