Free flowing and biodiversity rich rivers: most endangered species in India
Indian Rivers are some of the last global frontiers of rich freshwater diversity, endangered and threatened species. According to India’s National Biodiversity Action Plan, “Nearly 50% of the aquatic plants of the world are recorded from the Indian sub-continent but only a few have been studied in detail.” India is a very diverse country with respect to freshwater fish species (650+ species). In freshwater fish diversity, India is eighth in the world and third in Asia. These rivers support millions of livelihoods and indigenous people. Rivers flowing through Eastern, Western and North Eastern Himalayas and Western & Eastern Ghats have been designated as global hotspots of freshwater biodiversity.