INTEGRATING HABITAT MODELING AND GENETIC DIVERSITY FOR EFFECTIVE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION: A CASE STUDY OF ENDANGERED SPECIES IN SOUTH ASIA

Abstract

Biodiversity loss in South Asia is accelerating due to habitat degradation, climate change, and genetic isolation, placing iconic species like the Bengal tiger and Indian rhinoceros at heightened risk. Effective conservation requires a multidimensional approach that considers both ecological suitability and genetic resilience. This study presents an integrated methodology combining habitat modeling with genetic diversity analysis to inform conservation planning for endangered species across South Asia.Using spatial distribution models and genetic heterozygosity indices, we evaluated habitat suitability and population health across key reserves and ecological corridors. The methodology incorporated environmental variable weighting, spatial simulations under climate change scenarios, and comparative assessments of inbreeding coefficients and gene flow metrics across fragmented populations. Wildlife corridors were optimized through combined landscape and genomic analyses to maximize connectivity and adaptive capacity.The findings reveal significant variation in habitat suitability across reserves, with environmental variables like forest cover and temperature exerting strong influence. Genetic assessments identified populations with reduced diversity and elevated inbreeding risk, emphasizing the need for genetic rescue and translocation. Simulation models predicted enhanced gene flow and population stability with strategically placed corridors and projected climate adaptation zones.This study concludes that conservation strategies informed by both habitat and genetic data offer superior precision and long-term efficacy. By aligning spatial ecology with molecular insights, policymakers and conservationists can design interventions that are both ecologically grounded and evolutionarily sustainable. Institutionalizing this integrated framework across South Asian conservation programs could significantly bolster species recovery and ecosystem resilience in the face of mounting environmental and anthropogenic pressures.