Jan-17Envi Flashcards
Jan-17Envi -Index
- Kyoto Protocol
- Olive Ridley
- Deer Antlers
- Hakki Habba
- Zingiber Pseudosquarrosum
- Idukki Wildlife Santuary
- China Bans Ivory Trade
- Larsen C Ice shelf Poised to Calve
- Ban On Import of Exotic Animals Skin
- Polachira Wetlands
- Mining Accidents
5.1. KYOTO PROTOCOL
Why in News?
Recently the Union Cabinet had approved the ratification of the second commitment period (2013-2020) of the Kyoto Protocol on containing the emission of greenhouse gases.
About Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and entered into force on 16 February 2005.
The detailed rules for the implementation of the Protocol were adopted at COP 7 in Marrakesh, Morocco, in 2001, and are referred to as the “Marrakesh Accords.” Its first commitment period started in 2008 and ended in 2012.
The protocol was developed under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-UNFCCC.
The participating countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol and committed to cutting the emissions of the Green House Gases such as Methane (CH4), Nitrous oxide (N2O),Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and carbon dioxide(CO2).
Classification of Parties to the Kyoto protocol
Annex I: Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex I of the Convention. These are the industrialized (developed) countries and “economies in transition” (EITs). EITs are the former centrally-planned (Soviet) economies of Russia and Eastern Europe. The European Union-15 (EU-15) is also an Annex I Party.
Annex II: Parties to the UNFCCC listed in Annex II of the Convention. Annex II Parties are made up of members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Annex II Parties are required to provide financial resources to enable developing countries in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions (climate change mitigation) and manage the impacts of climate change (climate change adaptation).
Annex B: Parties listed in Annex B of the Kyoto Protocol are Annex I Parties with first or second round Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions targets.
Non-Annex I: Parties to the UNFCCC not listed in Annex I of the Convention are mostly low-income developing countries. Developing countries may volunteer to become Annex I countries when they are sufficiently developed.
Least-developed countries (LDCs): 49 Parties are LDCs, and are given special status under the treaty in view of their limited capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change.
Mechanisms to stimulate green investment
Emission Trading: Emissions Trading‐mechanism allows parties to the Kyoto Protocol to buy ‘Kyoto units’ (emission permits for greenhouse gas) from other countries to help meet their domestic emission reduction targets.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Countries can meet their domestic emission reduction targets by buying greenhouse gas reduction units from (projects in) non Annex I countries to the Kyoto protocol.
Joint Implementation: Any Annex I country can invest in emission reduction projects (referred to as “Joint Implementation Projects”) in any other Annex I country as an alternative to reducing emissions domestically.
Initiatives by India to Counter Climate Change
National action plan on climate change (NAPCC): Government of India has launched eight Missions as part of NAPCC in specific areas which include assessment of the impact of climate change and actions needed to address climate change.
National Solar Mission
National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
National Water Mission
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
National Mission for a “Green India”
National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change
National Action Programme to Combat Desertification: It is proposed to initiate activities such as assessment and mapping of land degradation, drought monitoring and early warning system, drought preparedness plans, and on-farm research activities for development of indigenous technology etc.
5.2. OLIVE RIDLEY
Why in News?
Kerala has sought permission from Union government to allow
the use of Antlers of Spotted and Sambhar deer in Ayurvedic
medicines by amending Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Antlers are extension of Deer’s skull and all the three species
of deer found in Kerala Spotted deer, Sambhar deer and
Barking deer shed their antlers annually which regrow again.
State governments and other wildlife authorities have huge
quantity of antlers in their custody as their sale and use are
banned in India under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Though proposal only includes collection of antlers already shed, it may trigger the reckless hunting of deer.
Some Additional Information
The Act of 1972, has included antler in the definition of wildlife trophy which is defined as the “whole or any part of any captive animal or wild animal”.
Trophy hunting is the shooting animals for pleasure where trophy is the animal (or its head, skin, antler or any other body part) that the hunter keeps as a souvenir.
Wildlife and wildlife trophies are considered as owned by the government.
The Act prescribes imprisonment up to 3 years and fine of Rs. 25,000 for offences involving wildlife trophies.
Antlers have medicinal values to invigorate spleen, strengthen bones/muscles, boost blood flow, etc.
—Fig—
5.4. HAKKI HABBA
It is a three day bird festival which was held at Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary near world famous Hampi in
Ballari district, Karnataka.
It was the 3rd edition jointly organized
by State’s Forest Department and Eco
Tourism Board in association with the
local birdwatchers’ association.
The first two editions were held in
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, Mandya
district and Kali Tiger Reserves, Uttara
Kannada district.
The objective of the festival is to create
awareness among the people about
conservation of birds.
Birds like Great Indian Bustard, Bar-headed geese, Partridges, Painted Sand grouses, Yellow throated bulbul, Great horned Owl, Black Storks were sighted along the bank of River Tungabhadra in Hampi.
Box–Sloth Bears
Indian Sloth bears are a species of bear found only in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
It is nocturnal animal, locally known as KARADI, lives in open scrub forests having outcrop of rocks, boulders and caves as shelter.
They have poor vision and hearing but good sense of smell.
Daroji sanctuary established in 1994 is biggest sloth bear sanctuary in Asia.
Current status: IUCN RED list – Vulnerable, in CITES included in Appendix I and Schedule I of wildlife protection act, 1972.
5.5. ZINGIBER PSEUDOSQUARROSUM
Why in news?
It is a new species of ginger recently discovered by botanists of The
Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
It belongs to Genus Zingiber and used for its medicinal values by the
local Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of the Andamans.
Its properties
Like other Ginger it is also edible and its pseudo stem is red in colour.
Its monocotyledonous flowers are lotus shaped with reddish tinge, fruits are pot shaped while Inflorescence buds are like pitcher.
This particular species have tuberous roots and the buds have no smell.
The juice of its fleshy tuberous roots is used to treat abdominal pain and anti-helminthic troubles.
Its rhizomes are widely used as a spice or a traditional medicine.
The odd shape of this species of ginger makes it distinct from the many others in the genus Zingiber.
Most common species of Ginger, Zingiber Officinale, known for aromatic smell is grown widely across India.
Box–Botanical Survey of India
It is an institution established in 1890 with the objectives of exploring the plant resources of the country and identifying pl
5.6. IDUKKI WILDLIFE SANTUARY
Why in News?
Recently there was a birds and butterfly survey at the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala).
About Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
The Forest type:
West Coast Tropical Evergreen forests,
Semi Evergreen forests,
Moist Deciduous Forests,
Hill shoals and Grass Lands.
Average rainfall is 3800mm and the highest peak is Vanjur Medu (1272m).
Biodiversity: common animals found are - Elephant, Sambar, Barking Deer, Mouse deer, Bonnet macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Malabar giant squirrel.
Birds: Osprey (fish eagle), listed in the IUCN red category, Great Indian Hornbill, Grey-headed Bulbul, etc.
It is also notorious for illegal cultivation of marijuana – world renowned “Idukki Gold” or “Kerela Gold”
The highlights of the survey
Newly spotted birds in the sanctuary - Scally Thrush, Booted Warbler, Paddyfield Warbler, Blue Rockhill, etc.
The rarely sighted newly spotted butterfly species - Malabar Hedge Hopper, Malabar Tree Nymph, etc.
It is becoming a favored destination for migratory birds as it is closely located to Idukki Arc Dam.
The Idukki Arch Dam is the Asia’s biggest Arch Dam of 555 feet high.
—Fig—
5.7. CHINA BANS IVORY TRADE
Why in news?
China has announced to ban all ivory trade and processing activities by the end of 2017, a move described by wildlife conservationists as a “potential game changer” for African Elephants.
As per the new rule, owner of ivory products can either keep them or give them as gifts or sell them at supervised auctions with official approval.
The move follows a resolution at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in South Africa last October to close domestic ivory markets.
Present situation
Though ivory trade is ban in international market since 1989, legal domestic markets have continued in many countries around the world.
As per Great Elephant Census, 2016 population of African elephants have declined by 30% in past 7 years primarily because of poaching with just 415,000 left in the wild.
China has the biggest ivory market in the world - some estimates suggest 70% of the world’s trade ends up there where it is seen as a status symbol and prices can reach as high as $1100 per kg.
Conservationists estimate that more than 20,000-30,000 elephants were killed for their ivory last year, with similar tolls in previous years.
Impact
Setting such an aggressive timeline to close- once and for all-the largest domestic ivory market in the world is globally significant and will immensely boost conservation efforts.
It will make it harder for Ivory traffickers to sell their illegal stocks.
Such ban will pressurize countries like Britain, Japan and especially neighbouring Honkong (world biggest legal retail market for elephant ivory) to close their ivory markets.
5.8. LARSEN C ICE SHELF POISED TO CALVE
Why in News?
Larsen C ice shelf, located on Antarctic Peninsula witnessed an enormous rift, which has disproportionately grown in past few months, now extending upto 175 Km long.
British researchers monitoring the rift as a part of Project MIDAS says that only 12 miles (19 km) now connect the chunk of ice to its parent iceshelf.
If the rift fully extends, the resulting iceberg would be approximately 5000 sq km and will be one of the biggest icebergs ever recorded.
Though there is lack of credible evidence to directly correlate
calving of iceberg with global warming but it indeed show climate change has caused the thinning of the ice shelf.
Impact
If iceberg separates, Larsen C Ice shelf will be at its most retreated position ever recorded, fundamentally changing the landscape of the Antarctic Peninsula.
New configuration will be less stable than prior to the rift and might meet the same fate as its neighbours Larsen A (collapsed in 1995) and Larsen B (collapsed in 2002).
Land ice that have been blocked by the breaking iceberg, will drop into the ocean and eventually would raise the sea level.
Ice shelf
It is a floating extension of land-based glaciers which flow into the ocean.
As they already float in the ocean, their melting does not directly contribute to sea-level rise.
The breaking of ice shelves is a natural process but global warming is thought to have accelerated this process.
In recent decades many major ice shelves have disintegrated or lost substantial volume like Prince Gustav channel, Larsen Inlet, Wordie, Muller, Jones Channel, Wilkins, Larsen A, Larsen B, etc.
—Fig—
5.9. BAN ON IMPORT OF EXOTIC ANIMALS SKIN
Why in News?
Director General of Foreign Trade has prohibited the import of skins of animals like reptiles and furs of minks, foxes and chinchillas.
Present Situation
India’s import policy allows import of raw hides, skin, leather, fur, skins of reptiles, mink, fox etc.
But they are subjected to regulation under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 allows the slaughter of animals only for subsistence but this too is regulated to minimize the pain and suffering of animals.
Way forward
Various nations are switching to cruelty-free alternatives like fake snake, mock croc, faux fur etc. so that animals don’t have to be slaughtered for their skin feeding fur, skin and leather industries.
Also animals are not fabric and thus no amount of justification can be enough to wear their skin/fur.
With this ban, India showed its commitment to eliminate unnecessary pain and suffering to animals.
About CITES (Came in force in 1975, Also called Washington Convention)
It is an international agreement between governments aiming to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
It is a legally binding treaty where different species are categorized into groups called Appendices.
Appendix I: Includes species threatened with extinction, trade only in exceptional situation; Appendix II: Includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, trade strictly regulated; Appendix III: species that are protected in at least one country, which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.
Box–Director General of Foreign Trade:
It is an attached office of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
It is responsible for formulating and implementing the Foreign Trade Policy with the main objective of promoting India’s exports.
It plays a role in developing trading relations with other nations.
5.10. POLACHIRA WETLANDS
Why in News?
Recently the 27th annual waterfowl census was conducted in the Polachira Wetlands, in Kollam, Kerala
This year 15 Eurasian spoonbills were sighted at Polachira. They are migratory birds breeding from the UK and Spain in the west through to Japan in the East.
What are Wetlands?
Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life.
These areas have the soil covered by water or are present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or
for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season.
Wetlands, natural and manmade, freshwater or brackish, provide numerous ecological services.
The density of birds in a particular area of wetland can be indication of the ecological health of a wetland.
About Polachira Wetlands
The wetlands are the breeding ground for the Migratory Birds from all around the world.
Some of the birds sighted during the census are Comb ducks, Black headed ibis, Painted storks, Glossy Ibis, Indian moorhen, Eurasian coot, Pheasant-tailed jacana, Grey heron, large cormorant and large egret.
Significance of Wetlands
It helps to maintain sedimentation and balance of soil, helpful in water, carbon and nutrient cycles.
It helps to regulate the amount of water as excess water from rainfall and floods gets absorbed and can be used in times of need.
It is source of livelihood through fishing and rice farming to travel, tourism and water provision.
Wetlands host a large variety of life, protect our coastlines, provide natural sponges against river flooding and store carbon dioxide to regulate climate change.
They provide habitat for wildlife and migratory birds and help in conservation of environment.
Box–Ramsar Convention
It is international treaty for conservation and sustainable use of wetlands.
It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the convention was signed in 1971.
There are 26 Ramsar Sites in India designated as Wetlands of International importance.
Chilika Lake (Odisha), Point Cailmere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu), Sambhar Lake(Rajasthan) and Upper Ganga River(Uttar Pradesh) are a few noted ones.
The 2nd of February each year is noted as the World Wetlands Day.
5.11. MINING ACCIDENTS
Why in News?
In December 2016, 23 workers got trapped under debris at the Lalmatia open-cast coal mine in Jharkhand’s Godda district.
Background
Digging up more coal has become a national priority for India to meet its electricity needs.
Alongside ship-breaking, mining is the most dangerous profession in India.
NHRC in its 2014 report titled ‘Views on Mine Safety in India’ says:
o The frequency of incidents has increased in recent years.
o There has been a fatality every seven days in 2016.
Reasons of such accidents
Poor safety conditions for workers.
Not following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
PSUs outsource work to private companies that do not follow rules and regulations. eg.
o To prevent flying of coal dust water is not sprayed on open cast mines.
o Trucks are not covered with tarpaulin sheets.
This is despite the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act 1973, which nationalized private sector, accused of neglecting safety Standard Operating Procedures.
Careless use of explosives.
Other Issues involved in mining
Environmental degradation
Human Rights violation of local residents mostly tribals. Eg. Tribals constantly fear of their displacement.
Hiring of contract labourers from outside the area to circumvent protests by locals.
Labourers do not enjoy social security. Employment of child labour.
Outright corruption in projects sanctions for minerals exploitation.
Illegal mining by land owners and mafia.
Mining areas, especially coal mining, are located near Maoist zones adding to security costs.
Government initiatives on mining safety
Mines Act 1952 covers protection of health and safety of workers in mines.
Major incidents are investigated by the Oil Industry Safety Directorate and a committee set-up by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and lessons learnt report is shared with oil companies to prevent similar incidents.
Ministry of Mines has recently started Anti-collision system for dumpers, electronic telemonitoring system, slope stability system and gas monitoring system in some areas.
What needs to be done?
NHRC in its 2014 report mentioned the need for the mining sector to adopt best practices including-
Using scientific ‘training need assessment’ for officers and workers
Developing effective training delivery mechanisms
Working on comprehensive specialised training on accident investigation. Occupational health is not integrated with primary healthcare. It is the mandate of the Labour Ministry. This has to be shifted to Health Ministry for better synergy and finance allocation.
A regulator on occupational health safety is needed.
Way forward
The mining industry is a labour intensive industry. Therefore the government and the companies involved needs to devise a multi-pronged strategy that encompasses occupational safety along with protection of the rights of local residents and the environment.
Box–Occupational Hazards
Occupational hazard is a danger to a worker that is the result of the occupation he/she is involved in. The danger can range from diseases to even death. Examples:
Silicosis in stone crushing industry due to fine silica getting deposited in lungs.
Frostbites to soldiers posted on high mountains.
—Fig—
