ABSTRACT
The hot arid region of India is also very important from biodiversity point of view. It is characterized by extreme temperature, low and erratic rainfall, high evapo-transpiration, intense solar radiation and strong wind. Moreover, the market value of various products e.g. guggal resin has increased enormously resulting in their over-exploitation and on the other hand has gradually resulted in depletion of these resources. As pointed out by Mc Neely the major challenges in implementing the conservation of biological diversity in arid land lies so much in the biology of species concerned, but rather in the social, economic and political arena within which people operate. Therefore, local people participation is the key for conserving the plant biodiversity. The socio-religious movements like Chipko movement have been geared to meet conservation efforts. Efforts must be to initiate action which strengthens conservation programme capitalizing this ethos so as to ensure community participation.
