The following text, from the Convention on Biological Diversity website, illustrates well the context for India Biodiversity:
“India is one of the 17 “megadiverse” countries and is composed of
a diversity of ecological habitats like forests, grasslands, wetlands, coastal and marine ecosystems, and desert ecosystems.
Almost 70% of the country has been surveyed and around 45,000 plant species (including fungi and lower plants) and 89,492 animal
species have been described, including 59,353 insect species, 2,546 fish species, 240 amphibian species, 460 reptile species, 1,232
bird species and 397 mammal species. Endemism of Indian biodiversity is significant with 4950 species of flowering plants, 16,214
insects, 110 amphibians, 214 reptiles, 69 birds and 38 mammals endemic to the country. One of the major causes for the loss of
biodiversity in India is the expansion of agriculture in previously wild areas. Other impacts include: unplanned development,
opening of roads, overgrazing, fire, pollution, introduction and spread of exotics, excessive siltation, dredging and reclamation
of water bodies, mining and industrialization. In this century, the Indian cheetah, Lesser Indian rhino, Pink-headed duck, Forest
owlet and the Himalayan mountain quail are reported to have become extinct and several other species (39 mammals, 72 birds and
1,336 plants) are identified vulnerable or endangered.”
For the full text, please see http://www.cbd.int/countries/profile.shtml?country=in#status
The main problem as far as biodiversity is concerned is land use changes. Even when land use changes are legal and beneficial, care should always be taken to minimize negative effects on biodiversity. This is of particular importance near protected areas. But this is also true in urban or semi-urban landscapes. Large fruiting trees for example keep birds, bees and bats sheltered from extinction. Island refuges in human-dominated landscapes protect some species from extinction and buffer microclimate.