Hurdles for conservation science in India

India, one of the 17 megadiversity countries in the world, harbours a high level of biodiversity. This biodiversity is also unique: four of the 34 global hotspots of biodiversity, the Western Ghats, the Himalayas, the north-eastern India, south of Brahmaputra, along with Andaman Islands, and the Nicobar Islands, part of the Sundaland hotspot are located within the country. The biodiversity hotspots contain an unusually large proportion of endemic species as compared to other parts of the world. Another unusual feature of the biodiversity hotspots is that all of them suffer a high rate of habitat degradation. The megadiversity countries and the biodiversity hotspots in particular, can make remarkably unique contributions to science. Equally important, the rapid degradation of habitats in the hotspots makes it imperative that science be pursued vigorously in these habitats so that we can devise adequate measures to curtail rapidly diminishing biodiversity and protect unique biotas from the onslaught of humanity.