Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation in Tropical Islands

Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation in Tropical Islands provides comprehensive information on climate change, biodiversity, possible impacts, adaptation measures and policy challenges to help users rehabilitate and preserve the natural resources of tropical islands. While biodiversity and climate change of tropical islands has previously received less attention, it is ironically one of the most vulnerable regions in this regard. The core content of the work derives largely from the ideas and research output from various reputed scientists and experts who have recorded climate change impacts on aquatic and coastal life in tropical regions.

Contributors have direct working experience with the tribes in some of the tropical islands. All of their expertise and information is compiled and presented in the work, including coverage related to climate change. This work highlights the ever-growing need to develop and apply strategies that optimize the use of natural resources, both on land and in water and judicious use of biodiversity. It functions as a critical resource on tropical island biodiversity for researchers, academicians, practitioners and policy makers in a variety of related disciplines.

Covers a huge range of biodiversity documentation, conservation measures and strategies that can be applied to various sectors, from forests to agricultureBrings together expertise from researchers in the area who have direct experience in the regions describedContains a wealth of field research related to biodiversity conservation and its applications from a variety of tropical islands

I: PREAMBLE 1. The Nature and Characters of Tropical Islands 2. Tropical Islands: Ecosystem and Endemism

II: BIODIVERSITY OF TROPICAL ISLANDS 3. Diversity of Ethno-Medicinal Plants of Tropical Islands – With Special Reference to Andaman and Nicobar Islands 4. Biodiversity of Polynesian Islands: Distribution and Threat From Climate Change 5. Structure and Species Diversity of Mangrove Ecosystem 6. Coconut Biodiversity – Nature’s Gift to the Tropical Islands 7. Habitat Ecology and Diversity of Rocky Shore Fauna 8. Marine Ecosystems of Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Species Abundance and Distribution 9. Invasive Species in Freshwater Ecosystems – Threats to Ecosystem Services 10. Avian Diversity of Bay Island and Its Assessment Tools 11. Marine Fishery Resources and Species Diversity of Tropical Waters 12. Rice Genetic Resources in Tropical Islands

III. CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS ON TROPICAL ISLAND 13. Climate Change Projections and Addressing Intrinsic Uncertainties 14. Climate Resilient and Livelihood Security – Perspectives for Mauritius Island 15. Livestock and People – The Intimate Relation Under Threat 16. Shifting Equilibrium of Pest and Diseases in Agriculture 17. Uncertainties in Measuring Climate Change Impact on Marine Biodiversity 18. Biodiversity and Climate Change Impacts on the Lakshadweep Islands

IV. ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT 19. Biodiversity Conservation: Issues and Strategies for the Tropical Islands 20. Diversification of Island Agriculture – A Viable Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change 21. Land Shaping Methods for Climate Change Adaptation in Coastal and Island Region 22. Harnessing Genetic Resources in Field Crops for Developing Resilience to Climate Change 23. Coping with Climatic Uncertainties Through Improved Production Technologies in Tropical Island Conditions 24. Bioshield: An Answer to Climate Change Impact and Natural Calamities?

V. POLICY DECISIONS AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATIONS IN THE TROPICAL ISLANDS 25. Coastal Area Management: Biodiversity and Ecological Sustainability in Sri Lankan Perspective 26. Conservation of Coral Reef Environment: Perspectives for Tropical Islands 27. Marine Biodiversity – Strategies for Conservation, Management and Ecological Restoration 28. Agro-Meteorological Advisory Services for Informed Decision Making in India