Problems Related to Ever-Increasing Human Population

1. Over-exploitation and depletion of natural resources: Rapid population growth increases demand, causing overuse and depletion of resources like water, soil, forests, and minerals, making them scarce for future generations.​
2. Changes in atmospheric condition and global warming: Excessive use of fossil fuels leads to accumulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, trapping heat in the atmosphere and causing global warming.​
3. Deforestation and loss of ecosystems: Cutting down forests for agriculture and human settlements destroys natural habitats and leads to the loss of entire ecosystems and many species.​

Over-exploitation and Habitat Destruction as Causes of Biodiversity Loss

1. Over-exploitation of species such as overfishing and overhunting leads to extinction (e.g., cheetah in India).
2. Destruction of habitats by changing forest lands into agricultural or industrial areas causes massive loss of biodiversity (e.g., clearing Amazon rainforests for cultivation).​

Or

Human activities often disturb the natural nitrogen cycle.

• Excessive use of fertilizers increases nitrogen content in soil, which causes soil acidification and eutrophication of water bodies.
• Deforestation and burning of fossil fuels release oxides of nitrogen into the atmosphere, causing air pollution and acid rain.
• Industrial nitrogen fixation and the combustion of fuels add excess nitrogen compounds like nitric oxide and nitrous oxide, which contribute to greenhouse effect and global warming.​

Information Gathered from a People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR)

A PBR (People’s Biodiversity Register) is a document prepared for every village to record local biodiversity. It provides:

1. Information about local species of plants, animals, birds, fishes, insects, and microorganisms.
2. Data on landscape, aquatic bodies, forests, and wastelands of the area.
3. Details of traditional knowledge related to use of plants and animals for food, medicine, and cultural purposes.
4. Identification of endangered, endemic, and economically important species, as well as local biodiversity hotspots.