9.Enviro-48T Flashcards
- CONSERVATION MEASURES
3. 6.1. GLOBAL WILDLIFE PROGRAM
Why in news?
Recently, India hosted Global Wildlife Program
during which India’s National Wildlife Action Plan
(NWAP) for the period 2017-2031 and Secure
Himalaya were released.
Global Wildlife Program
• “Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and
Crime Prevention for sustainable development”
program also known as Global Wildlife Program
(GWP) was launched in response to increasing
crime against animals in natural habitat.
• It works towards wildlife conservation and
sustainable development by fighting against illicit
trafficking in wildlife through a holistic
comprehensive approach.
• India is a partner country of Global Wildlife
Program along with other Asian and African
countries.
Implementing Agencies: World Bank Group, United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) & Asian
Development Bank (ADB).
Other Collaborating Partners: International
Consortium to Combat Wildlife Crime (ICCWC),
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), The Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES) Secretariat, World Wildlife
Fund (WWF), International Union for the Conservation.
of Nature (IUCN), TRAFFIC, WildAid.
Priorities of Global Wildlife Program
• Promoting community-based resource
management, achieve biodiversity goals and
tourism development
• Increasing knowledge sharing and enhance
collaboration,
• Implement monitoring and evaluation framework
• Promote donor cooperation and ensure proper
monitoring of international fund
3.6.2. NATIONAL WILDLIFE ACTION
PLAN (NWAP) FOR 2017-2031
Important Components of NWAP 2017-2031 o strengthening and promoting the integrated management of wildlife and their habitats o adaptation to climate change and promoting integrated sustainable management of aquatic biodiversity in India o promoting eco-tourism, nature education and participatory management o strengthening wildlife research and monitoring of development of human resources in wildlife conservation o enabling policies and resources for conservation of wildlife in India. • The plan has adopted the Landscape approach rather than the earlier strategies more concentrated on national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. • The Landscape approach is based on the importance of conservation of uncultivated flora and undomesticated fauna that had ecological value irrespective of their place of occurrence. • Plan also highlights role of private sector in the wildlife protection by ensuring adequate fund flow from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund. • It also emphasizes upon preservation of genetic diversity and sustainable utilization of species and ecosystem.
3.6.3. SECURE HIMALAYA
The Ministry of Environment, forest and climate
change in collaboration with UNDP has launched
a six-year project to ensure conservation of
locally and globally significant biodiversity, land
and forest resources in the high Himalayan
ecosystem spread over four states in India.
The project aims to:
• Sustain critical ecosystem services (such as
fresh water, erosion reduction, mineral
resources, land for food crops, medicinal
plants, etc.)
• Conserve vulnerable snow leopards and
other endangered species by securing
community livelihoods, enhancing
enforcement, strengthening community
institutions,
• Improve knowledge, advocacy and
information systems for promoting
landscape-based conservation approaches.
• Specific landscapes (Alpine pastures, subalpine forest and critical watersheds)
under SECURE Himalayas are:
o Changthang (Jammu and Kashmir)
o Lahaul – Pangi and Kinnaur (Himachal
Pradesh)
o Gangotri – Govind and Darma – Byans
Valley in Pithoragarh (Uttarakhand)
o Kanchenzonga – Upper Teesta Valley
(Sikkim).
Snow Leopard
• Recently, International Union of Concerned
Scientists (IUCN) down listed the Snow Leopard
from its list of endangered species to vulnerable
list.
Project Snow Leopard (2009)
• It was launched to safeguard and conserve India’s
unique natural heritage of high-altitude wildlife
populations and their habitats by promoting
conservation through participatory policies and
actions.
• Project is operational in five Himalayan States viz.
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh
• Threat: Snow leopard — at the apex of ecological
pyramid — suffered the most, partly on account of
their relatively smaller population and also because
of man-animal conflict. This situation got
aggravated by the hostile landscape forming its
habitat.
Status of Snow Leopard:
• Schedule I under Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
• Appendix I of the Convention on International
Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which
makes trading of animal body parts (i.e., fur,
bones and meat) illegal in signatory countries
• Appendix I Convention on Migratory Species
(CMS)
The Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection
Program, GSLEP: Under this program, snow leopard
range countries have committed to securing 20
landscapes across the cat’s range by 2020.
Other major Government steps to protect
Himalayan Ecosystem
• The National Mission for Sustaining the
Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).
• Himalayan Research Fellowships Scheme
under the ministry of environment, forest
and climate change (MoEFCC)
o Aim: The scheme aims to create a young
pool of trained environmental
managers, ecologists and socioeconomists. This pool will help generate
information on physical, biological,
managerial and human aspects of
Himalayan environment and
development.
o Implementation: The fellowship scheme
will be executed through various
universities and institutions working in
the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) and
preference will be given to the
Institutions from north-eastern states.
o Funding: The financial support will be
provided under the National Mission on
Himalayan Studies (NMHS) and the
fellowships will be awarded for a
maximum period of three years.
o Focus areas: The research may be
undertaken in any of the identified broad
thematic areas (BTAs) of the NMHS such
as water resource management including
rejuvenation of springs and catchments,
hydropower development, assessment
and prediction of water-induced hazards,
livelihood options including ecotourism
opportunities, biodiversity management
including recovery of threatened species
and skill development.
The Government of India in 2015 launched the
“National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS)” a
Central Sector (CS) Grant-in-Aid Scheme with a vision
“to support the sustenance and enhancement of the
ecological, natural, cultural and socioeconomic capital
assets and values of the Indian Himalyan Region (IHR).
The Mission has been revamped recently and
focussing on Demand Driven Action Research on the
Thematic Areas- (i) Water Management (ii) Livelihood
Options and Employment Generation (iii) Biodiversity
Conservation and Management and (iv) Skill
Development and Capacity Building.
The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan
Ecosystem (NMSHE) is one of the eight missions
under the National Action Plan on Climate Change
(NAPCC).
• It is a multi-pronged, cross-cutting mission across
various sectors.
• It contributes to the sustainable development of
the country by enhancing the understanding of
climate change, its likely impacts and adaptation
actions required for the Himalayas- a region on
which a significant proportion of India’s
population depends for sustenance.
• It seeks to facilitate formulation of appropriate
policy measures and time-bound action
programmes to sustain ecological resilience and
ensure the continued provisions of key
ecosystem services in the Himalayas.
• It intends to evolve suitable management and
policy measures for sustaining and safeguarding
the Himalayan ecosystem along with developing
capacities at the national level to continuously
assess its health status.
3.6.4. INDIA AWARDED BY CITES
Why in news?
• India has been awarded a certificate of
commendation by the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) for its effort to
combat illegal wildlife trade.
CITES
• It is an international agreement between
governments which aims to ensure that
international trade in specimens of wild animals
and plants does not threaten their survival.
• It was drafted as a result of a resolution adopted
in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN.
• The convention is legally binding on the parties
such that domestic legislation ensures the
implementation of CITES at the national level.
• World wildlife day is celebrated on 3rd March, the
date of adoption of CITES.
• Appendix I lists species that are threatened with
extinction and CITES prohibits international trade
in specimens of these species except for scientific
research.
• Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily
now threatened with extinction but that may
become so unless trade is closely controlled. No
import permit is necessary for these species under
CITES.
• Appendix III is a list of species included at the
request of a Party that already regulates trade in
the species and that needs the cooperation of
other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal
exploitation
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
• It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body
established by the Government of India under the
Ministry of Environment and Forests, to combat
organized wildlife crime in the country.
• It was constituted in 2007 by amending the
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
• It also assists and advises the Customs authorities
in inspection of the consignments of flora & fauna
as per the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act,
CITES and EXIM Policy governing such an item.
• It coordinated “OPERATION THUNDER BIRD”
(INTERPOL’s multi-national and multi-species
enforcement operation) in India.
• It has launched Operation wildnet counter the
menace of the illegal trade through internet.
More about the News
• The award was given to Wildlife Crime
Control Bureau (WCCB) for its efforts in
conducting and coordinating a species-specific
wildlife enforcement operation Kurma.
Operation Save Kurma
• It was conducted to combat the proliferating
illegal trade in live turtles and its parts from
the country to destinations abroad.
About Indian Turtles
• Turtles are listed in Schedule 1 of the The
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Amendment
2002.
• Types of Indian turtles - Olive Ridley Turtles,
Green Sea Turtle, Hawksbill Turtle, Leathery
Turtle, Eastern Mud Turtle
• Loggerhead Turtle and Olive Ridley Turtle are
listed as Endangered by IUCN (International
Union of Conservation of Nature) while
Leatherback Turtle is listed as critically
endangered.
• Government has recently decided to establish
Turtle Sanctuary at Allahabad under Namami
Gange programme
3.6.5. TIGER CONSERVATION
Why in news?
• India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh have
agreed to conduct a joint census of Tiger
population.
• Orang tiger reserve has seen an increase in
tiger density from 17 in 2013 to 28 tigers in
2017 during phase IV of the all-India tiger
estimation programme.
• NTCA has approved relocation of 6 tigers to
Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in north Bengal
from neighbouring Assam as part of a plan for
augmentation of tiger population.
Tiger Population (High to low Population): Karnataka,
Uttrakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam,
Kerala.
• The NTCA report on status of tigers, copredators and prey in India, said the density in
Kaziranga National Park was 12.72 per 100 sq.
km., followed by Jim Corbett National Park (11) in
Uttarakhand and Bandipur National Park (10.28)
in Karnataka.
About the Joint Tiger Census
• Indian subcontinent is a home to about 80-
90% of the tiger population of the world
with India being home to around 60% of
global tiger population (2500 tiger according
to 2016 tiger census).
• Between the borders of India and Nepal
there are contiguous national parks such as –
o Parsa National park and Chitwan National
Park in Nepal are connected with Balmiki
National Park
o Katarniaghat National Park in India is
adjoined to Bardiya National Park
o Dudwa National Park (India) is connected
to Shuklaphant National Park in Nepal
• The authorities of participating nations will
follow same protocol while conducting the
census which will ensure avoiding chances of
repeated counting of same tiger.
Initiatives for Tiger conservation
• Project Tiger is an ongoing Centrally
Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of
Environment, Forests and climate change
(MoEFCC), providing central assistance to the
tiger States for tiger conservation in
designated tiger reserves, the implementing
agency for this project is the National Tiger
conservation authority.
• The NTCA is a statutory body of the MoEFCC,
with an overarching supervisory /
coordination role, performing functions as
provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972. It has the responsibility of conducting
the Tiger census every four years.
• It has recently started using an app, called
the Monitoring System for Tiger-Intensive
Protection and Ecological Status or MSTrIPES developed by The Wildlife Institute
of India (is an Autonomous Institution of the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, Government of India). It also uses
information technology for improved
surveillance (e-Eye system) using thermal
cameras.
• IUCN has specified tigers as endangered in
the Red List of Threatened Species. There
are three subspecies of Tigers which are
extinct including Balinese tigers, Caspian
tigers and Javan tigers.
• A first of its kind, Telangana State will have
eco-friendly bridges over a canal cutting
across the tiger corridor linking the TadobaAndhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.
• The Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation
Programme (ITHCP) is a strategic funding
mechanism which aims to save tigers in the
wild, their habitats and to support human
populations in key locations throughout Asia.
o It is supported by the German
Government and the German
Development Bank (KfW) and was
launched in late 2014.
o The programme contributes to the
international goal set up during the 2010
St- Petersburg Tiger Summit to double
wild tiger populations by 2022 (up to
6’000 tigers)
o IUCN as the programme implementing
agency.
The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) is a 810 km stretch
between the river Yamuna in the west and the
river Bhagmati in the east, comprising the Shivalik
hills, the adjoining bhabhar areas and the Terai
flood plains.
• It is spread across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar, and the low-lying hills of Nepal.
The landscape has most well-known Tiger
Reserves and Protected Areas such as Corbett
Tiger Reserve, Rajaji National Park, Dudhwa
Tiger Reserve, Valmiki Tiger Reserve and
Nepal’s Bardia Wildlife Sanctuary, Chitwan
National Park, and Sukhla Phanta Wildlife
Sanctuary.
• These forests are home to three flagship
species, the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), the
greater one horned rhino and the Asian
elephant
3.6.6. ELEPHANT CENSUS
Why in news?
Recently, Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change released an elephant census
report, titled ‘Synchronized Elephant Population
Estimation India 2017’
Elephant corridors: These are narrow strips of land
that allow elephants to move from one habitat patch
to another. There are approx. 100 identified elephant
corridors in India.
Elephant in National Heritage animal of India.
Gaj Yatra is a nationwide campaign to protect
elephants, launched on the occasion of World
Elephant Day led by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI).
Highlight
• Decline in population: There has been a
decline in overall elephant population from
2012 to 2017 by 3000. This might be due to
faulty counting method used in 2012.
• Karnataka has the highest number of
elephants (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719)
and Kerala (3,054)
• Increase in the geographical range:
Elephants have been reported for the first
time in Manipur, Mizoram, Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• There have been increasing instances of the
human-elephant conflict due to loss and
degradation of wildlife habitats or climate
change impacts like temperature and
precipitation modification
• First time, all-India synchronised elephant
census was carried out to avoid errors in
estimation arising from the significant
movement of elephants across different
states.
International Initiative
Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE)
Programme
• It was established in 2003, through a
Conference of the Parties (COP) resolution to
the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES).
• It is an international collaboration that tracks
trends in information related to the illegal
killing of elephants across Africa and Asia, to
monitor effectiveness of field conservation
efforts.
• Purpose: To provide information needed for
elephant range States to make appropriate
management and enforcement decisions, and
to build institutional capacity within the
range States for the long-term management
of their elephant populations.
Steps Taken for Elephant conservation
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:
• Under it, Elephant is a Schedule I animal.
IUCN Status: Asian elephants are listed as
“endangered” in the IUCN Red List of threatened
species.
Project Elephant:
• It was launched in the year 1992 as a Centrally
Sponsored Scheme
• Objectives:
✓ To protect elephants, their habitat &
corridors
✓ To address issues of man-animal conflict
✓ Welfare of captive elephants
• Elephant reserves are established across states to
achieve above objectives.
3.6.7. SPECIAL PROTECTION FORCE
FOR ONE-HORNED RHINOS
Why in news?
The Assam government is going to raise a new
Special Protection Force (SPF) for better
protection of one-horned rhinos.
Greater One –horned Rhinos (Indian Rhino)
• They are mainly spread across parts of India
and Nepal, with India being home to 2,200
rhinos, or over 85 per cent of the population.
• Rhinos in India today are found in parts of
Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam.
• According to World Wildlife fund data of
2012, Assam has 91 percent of total Rhino
population of India which is mainly
concentrated in Kaziranga National Park, and
a few in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and
Manas national park.
• The Indian rhinoceros is also known to help in
seed dispersion, moving large tree seeds
from forested areas to grasslands through
excreta.
• The Indian rhino was moved from its status of
endangered (since 1986) to vulnerable in
2008 by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Indian Rhino Vision 2020
• Launched in 2005, Indian Rhino Vision 2020 is
an ambitious effort to attain a wild population
of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos
spread over seven protected areas in the
Indian state of Assam by the year 2020.
• Indian Rhino Vision aims to translocate Rhinos
from Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora.
Wildlife Sanctuary to five other protected
areas namely Manas, Laokhowa,
Buracharpori-Kochmora, Dibrusaikhowa and
Orang.
3.6.8. BLACKBUCK CONSERVATION
RESERVE
Why in news?
• India’s first wildlife conservation reserve
dedicated exclusively to the blackbuck has
been approved by the state government in
the trans-Yamuna region of Allahabad in
Uttar Pradesh under Wildlife Protection Act,
1972.
• It is the “first ever conservation reserve” of
any kind in U.P.
Details
• Blackbucks, known for their majestic spiral
horns and coat colour contrasts, are found in
grasslands and open forests.
• They once inhabited the open savannahs of
north and central India but are now restricted
to just a few patches and habitats, primarily
due to human population growth, ecosystem
degradation and hunting.
• They are native to the Indian subcontinent
that has been classified as Least Concerned
in 2017 (earlier status was near threatened
by IUCN since 2003). They are now extinct in
Bangladesh and Pakistan.
• There are a few national parks and
sanctuaries inhabited by blackbuck in the
country, like the Velavadar Wildlife
Sanctuary in Gujarat and the Ranibennur
Blackbuck Sanctuary in Karnataka. However,
there are not many conservation reserves
exclusively dedicated to it.
• Bishnoi community is known as protectors of
Blackbuck.
Bishnoi Community
• Followers of Bishnoism Started in 1485 AD by
Saint Guru Jambheshwar
• They live in western Rajasthan and environment
conservation is their cultural part.
• Amrita Devi Bishnoi: Early Chipko Movement of
1730 AD. (Died protecting Khejri tree)
• Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award by
Environment Ministry
• They do not cut trees. They only collect dead
wood.
• Do not believe in rituals, idol-worship, and caste
system.
3.6.9. CROCODILE CONSERVATION
IN BHITARKANIKA
Why in news?
There has been a steady increase in sightings of
salt water crocodile nests in the swampy creeks
of the Bhitarkanika National Park on the Odisha
coast.
About Bhitarkanika
• Bhitarkanika is a unique habitat of Mangrove
Forests crisscrossed with numerous creeks and
mud flats located in Kendrapara district of Orissa.
• It is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani,
Dhamra & Mahanadi river systems.
• The wetland is represented by as many as 3
protected Areas, namely “The Bhitarkanika
National Park”, “The Bhitarkanika Wildlife
Sanctuary” and “The Gahirmatha Marine
Sanctuary”.
More about the news
• Bhitarkanika is said to house 70% of India’s
estuarine or salt water crocodiles whose
conservation started in 1975.
• Apart from this salt water crocodiles are also
found in the Sundarbans in West Bengal, and
in the large mangrove wetlands of the
Andaman Islands which form a good nesting
ground for them.
• In India there are three species of Crocodile
i.e. Gharial (Critically endangered) which is
unique to Indian subcontinent, mugger
(Vulnerable) or marsh crocodiles and the salt
water (Least concern) or estuarine crocodiles.
Crocodile Conservation and breeding project:
• It was launched initially in Orissa in 1975 and
subsequently in other States with technical
help from the Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP).
• Its strategy included protection of remaining
population, rebuilding natural population,
promotion of captive breeding, research and
involvement of local people.
• Contrary to popular myths, crocodiles help in
increasing the population of fish as they feed
on predator fish e.g. Catfish that restricts
growth of other fish
3.6.10. CONSERVATION OF
MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD
ANIMALS
Why in News?
• In the 12th session of the Conference of the
Parties (CoP) to the CMS, several species of
vultures, including four that have India on
their migratory routes, were awarded the
highest protection.
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species
of Wild Animals (CMS) or Bonn convention
• It is the only global convention specializing in the
conservation of migratory species, their habitats
and migration routes
• It comes under the aegis of the United Nations
Environment Programme.
• It provides a global platform for the conservation
and sustainable use of migratory animals and
their habitats.
• Appendix I of the Convention: It includes
Migratory species threatened with extinction
• Appendix II of the Convention: It includes
Migratory species that need or would significantly
benefit from international co-operation.
Highlight of the conference
• Species of vulture which received highest
protection under the convention (Appendix I)
are the red-headed vulture, white-rumped
vulture, Indian vulture and slender-billed
vulture.
• Threat to vultures: Vultures are faced with
threats such as poisoning, hunting, collision
with electricity cables and habitat
degradation.
• Whale shark, which inhabits the Indian
Ocean, also got global protection which are
on the verge of extinction due to over-fishing,
vessel strikes etc
• Caspian seal has also been identified for
conservation. It is the only marine mammal
found in the world’s largest inland sea, where
its migration is prompted by ice formation
and foraging.
• It was also decided that India will host
13thCMS COP.
Vulture in India
• There are nine species of vultures in India out of
which, 3 have been on critically endangered list
of IUCN and also listed under Schedule I of the
Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. These are:
o White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis)
o Slender billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris)
o Indian Vulture/long-billed vulture (Gyps
indicus)
Note: Red-headed vulture is on critically endangered
list of IUCN but not listed under Schedule I of the Wild
Life (Protection) Act, 1972
• They are known as Natural Sanitary Workers,
essential for environmental and ecological
balance
Other Conservation steps
• Prohibition on usage of anti-inflammatory
Diclonefac, as it was found that the use of
Diclofenac has caused steep decline in the
population of vultures in the country.
• National Action Plan (2006) on Vulture
Conservation: The Action Plan provides for
strategies, actions for containing the decline of
vulture population through ex-situ, in-situ vulture
conservation.
• Vulture Safe Zones (In-situ conservation
initiative): It is designated as natural habitat of
wild vultures and is made free of the presence of
the drug diclofenac in animal carcasses. It aims to
protect and increase the remaining vulture
populations and act as future release sites for the
captive-bred vultures.
• Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary: It is India’s
only vulture sanctuary in Karnataka
• ‘Vulture Restaurants’: These spots are located
strategically with a regular supply of safe food by
collecting dead animals from local people for
example in Punjab and Maharashtra
3.6.11. IMPORTANT BIRD AND
BIODIVERSITY AREAS
Why in News?
• Recently, BirdLife International has
recognised three new sites in Goa and nine in
Kerala as “Important Bird and Biodiversity
Areas”.
More on News
• Newly identified IBAs of Kerala: Achencoil
Forest Division; Anamudi Shola National Park;
Camel’s Hump Mountain, Wayanad;
Kurinjimala Wildlife Sanctuary; Malayattoor
Reserve Forest; Mankulam Forest
Division;Mathikettan Shola National Park;
Muthikulam-Siruvani; Pampadum Shola
National Park
• In Goa: Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Navelim
Wetlands and Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Kerala IBAs are home to three critically
endangered species (IUCN status)
o White-rumped Vulture
o Indian Vulture
o Red-headed Vulture
• Goa harbours a good population of the lesser
adjutant and the Nilgiri wood pigeon.
• The updated list has been published by the
Bombay Natural History Society
• Site under Important Bird and Biodiversity
Area does not ensure that the site gets legal
protection or becomes inaccessible to
people.
Bird Life International
• UK based, environment conservation, Non-Profit
Organisation
• Identifies: Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas
• Each BirdLife Partner is an independent
environmental not-for-profit, or NGO.
• Publishes a quarterly magazine, World Birdwatch.
• Manage Red List of Birds for IUCN.
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
• Non-governmental organization in India engaged
in conservation research
• Collaborated with technology company Accenture
to create Internet of Birds.
• Internet of Birds: online tool for birdwatchers that
identifies birds based on their photos
Various reasons for Declining Birds Population
• Degraded level of air quality and water sources
such as wetlands and ponds.
• Noise levels near urban areas of Manesar and
other industrial locations.
• Non- ionized microwave radiations from mobile
towers. Long-term exposure to low level Radio
frequency radiation (RFR) has damaging effects on
the nervous system, immune system and
navigation capacity of birds.
• Combustion of unleaded petrol which produces
compounds such as methyl nitrite which is highly
toxic for insects that form a major part of young
sparrow’s diet.
• Widespread use of garden pesticides, vanishing
open grasslands, rising air temperature.
• Bird-unfriendly architecture such as excess use of
glass, paints and declining trend of making birds
nesting place in houses.
3.6.12. ASIAN WATERFOWL CENSUS
2018
Why in news?
Recently, Asian Waterfowl Census was concluded
in Coimbatore.
About the Asian Waterfowl Census
• It is an international program that was
started in 1987 in the Indian Subcontinent.
• It is an integral part of International Water
Bird Census and is coordinated by Wetland
International (a global not-for-profit
organisation working to sustain and restore
wetlands and their resources for people and
biodiversity).
• In India the AWC is jointly coordinated by the
Bombay Natural History Society and
Wetland International
3.6.13. BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE
SITES
Why in news? Recently, Ameenpur Lake became the first water body in the country to be declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site. Features • It is located on the western fringes of Hyderabad in Telangana state. • It is a man-made lake and was constructed during the reign of Ibrahim Qutab Shah, who ruled the kingdom of Golconda between 1550 and 1580. Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) • They are well defined areas that are unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems - terrestrial, coastal and inland waters and, marine having rich biodiversity comprising of any one or more of the following components: o Richness of wild as well as domesticated species or intra-specific categories. o High endemism, o Presence of rare and threatened species, keystone species, species of evolutionary significance, o Wild ancestors of domestic/ cultivated species or their varieties, past preeminence of biological components represented by fossil beds and o Having significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values and are important for the maintenance of cultural diversity, with or without a long history of human association with them. • Under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BDA) the State Government in consultation with local bodies notifies Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS). • Further, the State Government in consultation with the Central Government may frame rules for the management and conservation of BHS. • The State Governments shall frame schemes for compensating or rehabilitating any person or section of people economically affected by such notification. Other Biodiversity heritage sites Name Region Importance Nallur Tamarind Grove Bengaluru It is popularly believed to be a relic of the Chola Dynasty. Hogrekan Chikmagalur The area has unique Shola vegetation and grass land and has a link with adjoining Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary and Yemmedode Tiger Reserve and serving as "Wildlife Corridor" between Kudremukha and Bhadra Wildlife Sanctuary. University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK Campus, Bengaluru Bengaluru The GKVK campus is considered one of the greenest areas in Bengaluru. Ambaraguda Shimoga It is located between Sharavathi Wild Life Sanctuary and Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary. It has Shola vegetation which is primitive vegetation in the Western Ghat and also has grasslands. Glory of Allapalli Gadchiroli (Mahrashtra) It is a reserved forest being preserved as natural forest having biological, ethnical and historical values. Tonglu BHS under the Darjeeling Forest Division Darjeeling (West Bengal)) It is a Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas Dhotrey BHS under the Darjeeling Forest Division Darjeeling (West Bengal) It is a Medicinal Plant Conservation Areas Dialong Village Tamenglong (Manipur
3.6.14. GANGA CONSERVATION
Why in News? • Recently, Chital Committee formed by the government on Desiltation of the river Ganga, submitted its report. Highlights • It recommends a region-specific approach instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. • De-silting of the confluence points, especially with huge silt carrying tributaries, such as Ghagra, Sone, etc., may be necessary to make confluence hydraulically efficient. • The Ganga Flood Control Commission should be entrusted with additional mandate to carry out necessary studies on sediment management in river Ganga. Other conservation efforts • Environment protection act 1986 envisages five tier structures at national, state and district level to take measures for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water so as to rejuvenate the river Ganga as below; o National Ganga Council under chairmanship of Prime Minister of India (It replaced National Ganga River basin authority). o Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under chairmanship of Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. o National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG) which will have a two-tier structure with a Governing Council and an Executive Committee. The NMCG will comply to the decisions of the National Ganga Council. ✓ The NMCG will now have the power to issue orders and also exercise the powers under the Environment. Protection Act. It can now fine polluters. ✓ NMCG will only take action in case of non-compliance when CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) does not do so. ✓ CPCB can also take action jointly with NMCG. ✓ A comprehensive River Basin Management Plan for Ganga is being prepared by the consortium of seven Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) for restoration of the wholesomeness of the Ganga ecosystem and improvement of its ecological health, with due regard to the issue of competing water uses in the river basin. ✓ The wholesomeness of the river can be grasped in terms of four defining concepts: “Aviral Dhara” (Continuous Flow”), “Nirmal Dhara” (“Unpolluted Flow”), Geologic Entity, and Ecological Entity. o State Ganga Committees and o District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in the states. Ganga Flood Control Commission (1972) • It is a sub-ordinate office of Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. • It acts as the secretariat and executive wing of Ganga Flood Control Board, headed by Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation with the Chief Ministers of Ganga river basin States and Member, NITI Aayog. ‘Namami Gange Programme’: It is an Integrated Conservation Mission under NMCG, with budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga. Main pillars of the Namami Gange Programme are: - o Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure o River-Front Development o River-Surface Cleaning o Bio-Diversity o Afforestation o Public Awareness o Industrial Effluent Monitoring • Initiatives under Namami Gange o Ganga Gram Yojana: 1600 villages situated along the banks of river Ganga will be developed under this scheme. In these villages open drains falling into river Ganga will be diverted and alternative arrangements for sewage treatment will be made. It has the following objectives: ✓ Strengthening grass root involvement of all stakeholders including Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies ✓ Encouraging the adoption/utilization of traditional knowledge ✓ To utilize sector level expertise from different levels in government, NGOs, citizens etc. ✓ Enhancing livelihood security through water security in rural areas. ✓ The villages will have toilets in every household. ✓ These villages will be developed under the Sichewal model (where cooperation of the villagers has been solicited for the water management and waste disposal). o Ganga Task Force has been approved by the Cabinet under the Public Participation component of the Namami Gange Programme. ✓ 4 Battalions of Composite Eco Task Force (CETF) named as Ganga Task Force will be raised. Out of which one battalion (ex-servicemen) will be from Territorial Army (TA) ✓ Jawans of the GTF will be deployed on the banks of Ganga to ensure that industry and civilians do not pollute the river. Swachh Yug Campaign • As part of its efforts to make villages located along Ganga open defecation-free, Government has launched a campaign 'Swachh Yug'. • It is a collaborative effort of three Union Ministries (The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation; Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports; Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation) to bring about behavioural change among people staying in villages along the river. • There are 5,169 villages located along Ganga in five states- UP, Uttarakhand, Bihar. Jharkhand and West Bengal, out of which 4480 villages are now open defecation free.
3.6.15. DOUBLING OF PROTECTED
AREAS
Why in news?
• MoEFCC is considering doubling the number
of protected areas such as national parks and
wildlife sanctuaries.
Present status
• At present protected areas are 729 in number
& cover 4.9% or 162,072 sq. km of India’s
geographical area.
• About 0.3% of EEZ (exclusive economic zone)
is under Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in
India.
• India’s network of protected areas is far
below the “Aichi Target”.
Aichi biodiversity targets
• They are a series of goals that were set in 2010 at
a Conference of Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity meeting for protection and
conservation of biodiversity.
• Target 11: By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial &
inland water, and 10% of coastal & marine areas,
are conserved through systems of protected areas
and other effective area-based conservation
measures.
Protected Area Network in India: provided under
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• Sanctuary is an area which is of adequate
ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological,
natural or zoological significance. It is
declared for the purpose of protecting,
propagating or developing wildlife or its
environment. In Wildlife sanctuaries
harvesting timbers, cultivation, collection of
forest products are allowed with permission.
• The National Park is like that of a Sanctuary.
The rights of the people living inside these
protected areas are tightly regulated and
activities like grazing, hunting, forestry or
cultivation, encroachment, destruction of
habitats and other activities are strictly
prohibited. But most national parks provide
outdoor recreation, camping opportunities
and are designed to educate the public on
the importance of conservation activities.
• Conservation Reserves can be declared by
the State Governments in any area owned by
the Government, particularly the areas
adjacent to National Parks and Sanctuaries
and those areas which link one Protected
Area with another. The rights of people living
inside a Conservation Reserve are not
affected.
• Community Reserves can be declared by the
State Government in any private or
community land, not comprised within a
National Park, Sanctuary or a Conservation
Reserve, where an individual or a community
has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its
habitat. The rights of people living inside a
Community Reserve are not affected
3.6.16. NEW WETLAND
CONSERVATION RULES
Why in News?
• Recently, Central government notified
Wetlands (Conservation and Management)
Rules, 2017.
Background
• According to a Centre for Science and
Environment report, the loss of wetlands has
been linked to more frequent urban flooding
events, as witnessed in Mumbai and Chennai.
• According to key United Nations finding, the
wetlands – marshes, swamps, bogs, large or
small lakes, and ponds – are being lost more
rapidly than any other kind of ecosystem due
to encroachment and rapid urbanization.
• They support rich biodiversity and provide
wide range of ecosystem services such as
water storage, water purification, flood
mitigation, erosion control, aquifer recharge,
act as carbon sinks and others.
Provision under the new rules
• Definition of wetlands: They are defined as
“an area of marsh, fen, peatland or water;
whether natural or artificial, permanent or
temporary, with water that is static or
flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including
areas of marine water the depth of which at
low tide does not exceed six metres.
• Decentralisation of Power: Under the new
rules, the central government has
empowered the states and union territories
to identify and manage their wetlands.
• Constitute State Wetlands Authority in each
State and union territories that will be
headed by the State’s environment minister
and include a range of government officials.
They will prepare a list of all wetlands of the
State or union territory within three months.
• Setting Up National Wetlands Committee: it
will replace Central Wetlands Regulatory
Authority (CWRA), to monitor
implementation of these rules and advise the
Central Government on appropriate policies
and action programmes for conservation and
wise use of wetlands
• Banned activities: Certain activities are
banned in notified wetland like setting up of
industries, dumping of solid, electronic,
hazardous and construction wastes, poaching
of animals, conversion of wetland area into
non-wetland purposes, encroachment and
even construction of any permanent
structure will also be banned at the notified
wetlands.
• Applicability of rules: These rules shall apply
to the following wetlands or wetlands
complexes, namely:
o Wetlands categorised as ‘wetlands of
international importance’ under the
Ramsar Convention
o Wetlands as notified by the Central
Government, State Government and
Union Territory Administration.
Ramsar Convention on Wetland
• The Convention on Wetlands, signed in
Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an international
intergovernmental treaty for conservation of
wetlands. India is a party to the treaty.
• It provides framework for national action and
international cooperation for the
conservation and wise use of wetlands and
their resources.
• Major obligations of countries which are
party to the Convention are:
o Designate wetlands for inclusion in the
List of Wetlands of International
Importance.
o Promote, as far as possible, the wise use
of wetlands in their territory.
o Promote international cooperation
especially with regard to transboundary
wetlands, shared water systems, and
shared species.
o Create wetland reserves.
• World Wetland Day is observed every year on
2nd February. This day marks the adoption of
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The theme
of 2018 is “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban
Future”.
• The Montreux Record is a register of wetland
sites on the List of Wetlands of International
Importance where changes in ecological
character have occurred, are occurring, or are
likely to occur as a result of technological
developments, pollution or other human
interference. It is maintained as part of the
Ramsar List. Currently, two wetlands of India
are in Montreux record, Keoladeo National
Park, Rajasthan and Loktak Lake, Manipur.
Further, Chilka lake was placed in the record
but was later removed from it.
National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA)
• For conservation of lakes and wetlands,
Ministry of Environment and Forests has
been implementing two separate Centrally
Sponsored Schemes (CSS), namely the
National Wetlands Conservation Programme
(NWCP) and the National Lake Conservation
Plan (NLCP).
• Objective of NPCA are conserving aquatic
ecosystems (lakes and wetlands) through
implementation of sustainable Conservation
Plans and governed with application of
uniform policy and guidelines
3.6.17. NEW GUIDELINES ON
COMPENSATORY AFFORESTATION
Why in news?
• Recently, Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) issued
guidelines specifying criteria for suitability
and identification of land bank for
compensatory afforestation (CA).
Compensatory afforestation
• It refers to the afforestation and regeneration
activities carried out as a way of
compensating for forest land which is
diverted to non-forest purposes.
• The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 provide
that whenever a forest land is to be diverted
for non-forestry purposes, the equivalent
non-forest land has to be identified for
compensatory afforestation and funds for
raising compensatory afforestation are to be
imposed.
• The act further requires that:
o the non-forest land for CA are to be
identified contiguous to or in the
proximity of Reserved Forest or Protected
Forest, as far as possible.
o in case, non-forest land for CA is not
available in the same district, non-forest
land for CA is to be identified anywhere
else in the State/Union Territory.
o If non-forest land is unavailable in the
entire State/ UT, funds for raising CA in
double the area in extent of the forest
land diverted need to be provided by the
user agency on the basis of the rates
fixed by the State Forest Department.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016
• It established National Compensatory
Afforestation Fund (NCAF) under the public
account of India and State Compensatory
Afforestation Funds under public accounts of
states.
• These funds will receive payments for:
o compensatory afforestation,
o net present value of forest (NPV),
o Other project specific payments.
• The National Fund will receive 10% of these funds,
and the State Funds will receive the remaining
90%.
• The funds will be non-lapsable and interest
bearing by the rate decided by central
government on a yearly basis.
• Act provides statutory status for two ad-hoc
institution, namely;
o National Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority
(CAMPA) for management and utilisation of
NCAF.
o State Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority for
utilisation of State Compensatory
Afforestation Fund.
o The act also seeks to provide for constitution
of a multi-disciplinary monitoring group to
monitor activities undertaken from these
funds.
• The act also provides for annual audit of the
accounts by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
e-Green Watch has been developed for online
monitoring of various afforestation works being
carried out using CAMPA funds.
New Guidelines
• It mandates that states and UTs shall create
land bank for CA for speedy disposal of the
forest clearance proposals under FC Act
1980.
• The states shall also set up committee with
principal chief conservator of forests, chief
wildlife warden and representatives of
revenue department for expediting creation
of land banks in a systematic manner.
• The state governments shall formulate CA
scheme including activities like soil and
moisture conservation, regeneration
cleaning, silvicultural activities and shall
ensure maintenance of these plantations for
a period of seven to 10 years as per
requirement.
• It stipulates that for CA the number of plants
to be planted over CA land shall be at least
1,000 plants per hectare of forest land
diverted. However, if 1,000 plants cannot be
planted on the non-forest land identified for
CA, then the balance will be planted in
degraded forest land.
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
(MoEF&CC) has also come up with new guidelines for
diversion of forest land.
• These comprise a number of new costs for
diversion of forest land, including possession
costs, habitat fragmentation costs and various
ecological services cost like water recharge,
nutrients in the soil, carbon sequestration and
others.
• NPV [NET PRESENT VALUE] formula will be used
to assess the ecosystem service cost of diversion.
Net Present value [NPV] of forest
• It is defined under Forest (Conservation) Act of
1980.
• It is the amount paid by the project proponent for
diverting land for non-forest use to compensate the
loss in ecosystem services.
• It is calculated for a period of 50 years.
• For NPV estimation forests are categorised into six
eco-classes, or forest types, and three canopy cover
density classes—very dense forest, moderately
dense forest and open forest.
3.6.18. THREAT TO SACRED GROVES
Why in News?
• A recent study conducted by Central
University of Kerala found out the correlation
between rapid urbanisation, invasive species
and decreasing sacred groves.
Highlights
• Increasing urbanisation leads to waste
generation which attracts various invasive
species.
• These invasive species in the vicinity damage
the crop, prey on beneficial insects, crabs and
native species.
• Maharashtra accounts for highest number of
sacred grove followed by Karnataka.
• There is no specific action programme for
protection of sacred grove.
What are Sacred Groves?
• Patches of natural vegetation dedicated to local
deities or tree spirits.
• No hunting and logging, protected by local
communities (tribes).
• Annual processional festival to re-establish the
mystic bonds between the goddess and the
people.
Ecological Significance: Conservation of Biodiversity,
recharge of aquifer, Soil Conservation, valuable
medicinal plants.
Some of the important sacred groves are: Kavu, Sara
Kavu in Kerala, Kovil Kadu in Puducherry, Pavithravana
in Andhra Pradesh, swami shola in Tamil Nadu etc.
3.6.19. GREEN SKILL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
Why in news?
The government is expanding the Green Skill
Development Programme (GSDP) to an all-India
level.
Green Skills: Green skills are those skills needed to
adapt products, services and processes to climate
change and the related environmental requirements
and regulations. They include the knowledge, abilities,
values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and
support a sustainable and resource-efficient society.
(OECD definition)
These skills are required in areas such as such as
Renewable energy, Waste water treatment, Climate
resilient cities, Green construction, Solid waste
management etc.
More on news
• Utilising the vast network and expertise of
ENVIS Hubs/RPs, the Ministry of
Environment, Forests & Climate Change
(MoEF&CC) has taken up an initiative for skill
development in the environment and forest
sector to enable India’s youth to get gainful
employment and/or self-employment, called
the Green Skill Development Programme
(GSDP).
• After a pilot project in 2017, now ministry has
taken following steps to expand it:
o Increased budget allocation for ENVIS in
budget 2018-19 by 33%. Out of this, the
training courses under GSDP will be
funded.
o Increased target: A total of 5 lakh 60
thousand people will be imparted
training between 2018-19 and 2020-21.
o More green skills now: The government
has identified 35 courses including
pollution monitoring (air/water/noise
/soil), effluent treatment plant operation,
forest management, water budgeting etc.
Environmental Information System (ENVIS)
• It is a central sector scheme, being implemented
by MoEF&CC since 1982-83.
• It is a decentralized network of centres of which
o Some centres dealing with ‘‘State of the
Environment and Related Issues’’ are hosted
by State Government /UT Administrations,
called ENVIS Hubs
o Some are hosted by environment-related
governmental and non-governmental
organisations/ institutes of professional
excellence, with varied thematic mandates
pertaining to environment, called the ENVIS
Resource Partners (RPs).
