What is the most important message conveyed by the passage ? (a) Endemism is a characteristic feature of Himalayan region.

Question

PASSAGE

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 inrepresentative 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. 

(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.

Answer 1

(b) The most important message conveyed in the passage is summed up in the last few lines. The idea is to shift the attention from merely the species-habitat focus to the entire biographical range meaning all the plants and animals including humans so that climatic adjustments can be taken care of more effectively.