#Environment-current #PT2021
Himalayan trillium
- Scientific Name: Trillium govanianum
- Himalayan herb is often called Nagchatri in local areas.
- Location: Temperate and sub-alpine zones of the Himalayas.
In India: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand.
- IUCN has placed it in “Endangered” category.
- Concern: Its population is expected to decline by at least 50% between 2010 and 2079.
Causes for decline:
1. Overexploitation.
2. Slow to reach reproductive maturity.
3. Poor capacity for seed dispersal.
4. Due to its high medicinal quality, it is vulnerable to trading.
Importance:
1. It can cure diseases like dysentery, wounds, skin boils etc.
2. It can be also used as an anti-cancer and anti-aging agent.
Himalayan trillium
- Scientific Name: Trillium govanianum
- Himalayan herb is often called Nagchatri in local areas.
- Location: Temperate and sub-alpine zones of the Himalayas.
In India: Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand.
- IUCN has placed it in “Endangered” category.
- Concern: Its population is expected to decline by at least 50% between 2010 and 2079.
Causes for decline:
1. Overexploitation.
2. Slow to reach reproductive maturity.
3. Poor capacity for seed dispersal.
4. Due to its high medicinal quality, it is vulnerable to trading.
Importance:
1. It can cure diseases like dysentery, wounds, skin boils etc.
2. It can be also used as an anti-cancer and anti-aging agent.
#PT2021 #environment_current
Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary:
It owes its name to the narrow stretch of River Mahanadi
The area was made a sanctuary in 1976 and spreads out in four districts of Odisha namely Angul, Budh, Cuttack and Nayagarh.
The Satkosia Gorge is a unique feature in geomorphology of India because here Mahanadi cuts right across the Eastern Ghats and has formed a magnificent gorge.
Fauna: It is known for Gharials, Mugger crocodile and rare freshwater turtles like Chitra indica and Indian softshell turtle.
Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary:
It owes its name to the narrow stretch of River Mahanadi
The area was made a sanctuary in 1976 and spreads out in four districts of Odisha namely Angul, Budh, Cuttack and Nayagarh.
The Satkosia Gorge is a unique feature in geomorphology of India because here Mahanadi cuts right across the Eastern Ghats and has formed a magnificent gorge.
Fauna: It is known for Gharials, Mugger crocodile and rare freshwater turtles like Chitra indica and Indian softshell turtle.
#Environment
Whale Shark
- News: A whale shark was rescued by fishers in Odisha coast.
- It is very important for marine megafauna like turtles, whales and sharks.
Key points:
1. The dotted whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean
2. It is often called ‘Gentle Giant’ in fishing parlance.
3. It is a ‘filter feeder shark’ which means it does not eat meat like other sharks.
4. They filter sea water and feed on tiny planktons.
Found: The largest whale shark aggregation in India is:
1. Along the Gujarat coats.
2. On the Bay of Bengal coast
3. Andhra Pradesh.
- Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world.
- They are a protected species under the,
1. Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 - Schedule I
2. IUCN Red List - Endangered
3. CITES - Appendix II
Threat -
1. Accidental entanglement in fishing nets
2. Oil and gas drilling
3. Shipping lanes, etc.,
Whale Shark
- News: A whale shark was rescued by fishers in Odisha coast.
- It is very important for marine megafauna like turtles, whales and sharks.
Key points:
1. The dotted whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean
2. It is often called ‘Gentle Giant’ in fishing parlance.
3. It is a ‘filter feeder shark’ which means it does not eat meat like other sharks.
4. They filter sea water and feed on tiny planktons.
Found: The largest whale shark aggregation in India is:
1. Along the Gujarat coats.
2. On the Bay of Bengal coast
3. Andhra Pradesh.
- Whale sharks are found in all the tropical oceans of the world.
- They are a protected species under the,
1. Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 - Schedule I
2. IUCN Red List - Endangered
3. CITES - Appendix II
Threat -
1. Accidental entanglement in fishing nets
2. Oil and gas drilling
3. Shipping lanes, etc.,
#Environment
New Red Algae Species
- Two new species of red seaweed - Hypnea indica and Hypnea bullata.
- Discovered by marine biologists from Central University of Punjab.
1. Hypnea indica - Discovered from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Somnath Pathan and Sivrajpur in Gujarat.
2. Hypnea bullata - Discovered from Kanyakumari and Diu island of Daman and Diu.
- Rhere are 63 species in the genus Hypnea globally.
Key features:
1. consists of calcareous, erect, branched red seaweeds.
2. They grow in the intertidal regions of the coast
(area that is submerged during the high tide and exposed during low tides.)
Uses - widely used in the food industry.
Threat -
1. Prone for the damage from ocean acidification
2. Climate change.
New Red Algae Species
- Two new species of red seaweed - Hypnea indica and Hypnea bullata.
- Discovered by marine biologists from Central University of Punjab.
1. Hypnea indica - Discovered from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, and Somnath Pathan and Sivrajpur in Gujarat.
2. Hypnea bullata - Discovered from Kanyakumari and Diu island of Daman and Diu.
- Rhere are 63 species in the genus Hypnea globally.
Key features:
1. consists of calcareous, erect, branched red seaweeds.
2. They grow in the intertidal regions of the coast
(area that is submerged during the high tide and exposed during low tides.)
Uses - widely used in the food industry.
Threat -
1. Prone for the damage from ocean acidification
2. Climate change.
#Environment
Purple Revolution
- Announced by :Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu.
- It is phase 2 of purple revolution under Aroma Mission.
- Background: success of the phase 1 in Doda, Jammu.
Benefit:
1.Farmers in Doda district had their incomes quadrupled after shifting to lavender cultivation.
2. First-time farmers were given free lavender saplings
3. Those who have cultivated lavender before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.
4. The farmers will get help from IIIM-Jammu to sell their produce.
5. Farmers could reach the four distillation units for extraction of lavender oil.
- Governments in Himachal Pradesh, Arunahal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are also encouraging their farmers to take up lavender.
Purple Revolution
- Announced by :Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu.
- It is phase 2 of purple revolution under Aroma Mission.
- Background: success of the phase 1 in Doda, Jammu.
Benefit:
1.Farmers in Doda district had their incomes quadrupled after shifting to lavender cultivation.
2. First-time farmers were given free lavender saplings
3. Those who have cultivated lavender before were charged Rs. 5-6 per sapling.
4. The farmers will get help from IIIM-Jammu to sell their produce.
5. Farmers could reach the four distillation units for extraction of lavender oil.
- Governments in Himachal Pradesh, Arunahal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are also encouraging their farmers to take up lavender.
#Environment
African Elephants
- Based on latest population estimates.
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declares,
1. African Forest elephants as ‘Critically Endangered’
2. African Savanna elephants as ‘Endangered’.
Threat:
1. poaching
2. ongoing conversion of their habitats
- primarily to agricultural and other land uses
- African Forest Elephant live in forests of Central and West Africa.
- African Savanna Elephant live in the plains of sub-Saharan Africa.
African Elephants
- Based on latest population estimates.
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declares,
1. African Forest elephants as ‘Critically Endangered’
2. African Savanna elephants as ‘Endangered’.
Threat:
1. poaching
2. ongoing conversion of their habitats
- primarily to agricultural and other land uses
- African Forest Elephant live in forests of Central and West Africa.
- African Savanna Elephant live in the plains of sub-Saharan Africa.
#Environment
Chilika Lake
News: National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has found that the Chilika lake in Odisha was once part of the Bay of Bengal.
Key points
- Asia’s largest brackish water lake.
- Formation - The process of the formation of the Chilika,in later part of the Pleistocene epoch.
- The sea is connected with the Chilika Lake near Satapada through a shallow and narrow connecting channel.
- This channel was obstructed by shoals, sand spits and sandbars.
- The lake became shallower due to the deposition of sediments.
- Mahanadi as outflow from the lake was restricted.
Chilika Lake
News: National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) has found that the Chilika lake in Odisha was once part of the Bay of Bengal.
Key points
- Asia’s largest brackish water lake.
- Formation - The process of the formation of the Chilika,in later part of the Pleistocene epoch.
- The sea is connected with the Chilika Lake near Satapada through a shallow and narrow connecting channel.
- This channel was obstructed by shoals, sand spits and sandbars.
- The lake became shallower due to the deposition of sediments.
- Mahanadi as outflow from the lake was restricted.
#Environment
Biodiversity Heritage Site
- News: An area at Amboli in Western ghats in Sindhudurg district as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
- Declared by Maharashtra government
- BHS are areas that are
1. Unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems
2. Terrestrial, coastal, and inland and marine waters
3. Having rich biodiversity.
The biodiversity contains:
1. Species richness - Wild and domesticated species or intra-specific categories.
2. High endemism,
Presence of rare, endemic and
threatened species, keystone species
species of evolutionary significance.
3. Presence of wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or land races or their varieties.
4. Biological components represented by fossil beds and having cultural or aesthetic values.
5. Area with significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values
important for the maintenance of cultural diversity.
Biodiversity Heritage Site
- News: An area at Amboli in Western ghats in Sindhudurg district as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
- Declared by Maharashtra government
- BHS are areas that are
1. Unique, ecologically fragile ecosystems
2. Terrestrial, coastal, and inland and marine waters
3. Having rich biodiversity.
The biodiversity contains:
1. Species richness - Wild and domesticated species or intra-specific categories.
2. High endemism,
Presence of rare, endemic and
threatened species, keystone species
species of evolutionary significance.
3. Presence of wild ancestors of domestic/cultivated species or land races or their varieties.
4. Biological components represented by fossil beds and having cultural or aesthetic values.
5. Area with significant cultural, ethical or aesthetic values
important for the maintenance of cultural diversity.
#Environment
Protected wetlands
- News: Srinagar’s Dal Lake along with five other ones in Jammu and Kashmir is to be declared protected wetlands.
- Other lakes - Wular Lake, Nigeen Lake; Sanasar Lake, Manasbal Lake and Purmandal lake or Chotta Kashil.
- Decided by: Jammu and Kashmir Wetland Authority, chaired by Chief Secretary.
- Various wetlands of Jammu and Kashmir and recommend their notification under,
1. Environment Protection Act, 1986 and
2. Wetland (Conversation & Management) rules.
Protected wetlands
- News: Srinagar’s Dal Lake along with five other ones in Jammu and Kashmir is to be declared protected wetlands.
- Other lakes - Wular Lake, Nigeen Lake; Sanasar Lake, Manasbal Lake and Purmandal lake or Chotta Kashil.
- Decided by: Jammu and Kashmir Wetland Authority, chaired by Chief Secretary.
- Various wetlands of Jammu and Kashmir and recommend their notification under,
1. Environment Protection Act, 1986 and
2. Wetland (Conversation & Management) rules.
#Environment
Crocidura narcondamica
- It is a new species of insectivorous mammal, a white-toothed shrew .
- Discovered by the scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
Location: Narcondam Island of the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands.
Key features:
- Shrews are small and mouse-like mammals.
- live in sub-leaf stratum in the
forests.
- Insects are the primary diet of these animals.
- This new species has a distinct external morphology with darker grey dense fur with a thick, darker tail compared to other species of the Crocidura genus.
- Its craniodental characters also make them distinct.
Crocidura narcondamica
- It is a new species of insectivorous mammal, a white-toothed shrew .
- Discovered by the scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
Location: Narcondam Island of the Andaman and Nicobar group of islands.
Key features:
- Shrews are small and mouse-like mammals.
- live in sub-leaf stratum in the
forests.
- Insects are the primary diet of these animals.
- This new species has a distinct external morphology with darker grey dense fur with a thick, darker tail compared to other species of the Crocidura genus.
- Its craniodental characters also make them distinct.
#environment_current #PT2021
New Big 5 project:
- It is an international initiative of more than 250 of the world’s wildlife photographers, conservationists and wildlife charities.
- Created by British photographer Graeme Green.
- to raise awareness about the crisis facing the world’s wildlife from threats including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, illegal wildlife trade and climate change.
- launched in April 2020
New Big 5 project:
- It is an international initiative of more than 250 of the world’s wildlife photographers, conservationists and wildlife charities.
- Created by British photographer Graeme Green.
- to raise awareness about the crisis facing the world’s wildlife from threats including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, poaching, illegal wildlife trade and climate change.
- launched in April 2020
#environment_current #PT2021
Sunderlal Bahuguna
- environmentalist and Gandhian Sunderlal Bahuguna is no more.
- He was one of the founders of the Chipko movement, in the 1970s to save Himalayan forests.
- He also led the charge against the construction of big dams in the Himalayas in the 1980s.
- He also led a movement of women’s groups, or mahila mandals, to enforce prohibition in Tehri Garhwal.
Sunderlal Bahuguna
- environmentalist and Gandhian Sunderlal Bahuguna is no more.
- He was one of the founders of the Chipko movement, in the 1970s to save Himalayan forests.
- He also led the charge against the construction of big dams in the Himalayas in the 1980s.
- He also led a movement of women’s groups, or mahila mandals, to enforce prohibition in Tehri Garhwal.
#Environment
NGT Order on Banni Grasslands
News: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered all encroachments to be removed from Gujarat's Banni grasslands
is within six months and directed a joint committee to prepare an action plan in a month.
Key features:
- The nomadic pastoralist community, the Maldharis welcomed the move.
- The NGT said that the Maldharis will continue to hold the right to conserve the community forests in the area.
- It granted to them as per the provisions in Section 3 of Forest Rights Act, 2006.
NGT Order on Banni Grasslands
News: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered all encroachments to be removed from Gujarat's Banni grasslands
is within six months and directed a joint committee to prepare an action plan in a month.
Key features:
- The nomadic pastoralist community, the Maldharis welcomed the move.
- The NGT said that the Maldharis will continue to hold the right to conserve the community forests in the area.
- It granted to them as per the provisions in Section 3 of Forest Rights Act, 2006.
#Environment
WHO BioHub
News: WHO will establish the first BioHub Facility in Spiez, Switzerland.
- The BioHub will allow rapid sharing of pathogens between labs and partners.
Features:
1. It facilitate a better analysis and preparedness against them.
2. It will help in safe reception, sequencing, storage and preparation of biological materials.
3.Distribution to other labs.
4. It will enable member states to share biological materials with and via the BioHub.
Significance
1. will help contribute to the establishment of an international exchange system for SARS-CoV-2
2. Establishing other emerging pathogens.
3. It assess risks and launch countermeasures.
4. It will ensure timeliness and predictability in response activities.
WHO BioHub
News: WHO will establish the first BioHub Facility in Spiez, Switzerland.
- The BioHub will allow rapid sharing of pathogens between labs and partners.
Features:
1. It facilitate a better analysis and preparedness against them.
2. It will help in safe reception, sequencing, storage and preparation of biological materials.
3.Distribution to other labs.
4. It will enable member states to share biological materials with and via the BioHub.
Significance
1. will help contribute to the establishment of an international exchange system for SARS-CoV-2
2. Establishing other emerging pathogens.
3. It assess risks and launch countermeasures.
4. It will ensure timeliness and predictability in response activities.
#environment_current #PT2021
Blackbucks
- Odisha’s blackbuck population has doubled in the last six years, as per the census released recently by the chief conservator of forest (wildlife).
- Protection status:
The blackbuck is a Schedule-1 animal according to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
- as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the Red Data Book.
Blackbucks
- Odisha’s blackbuck population has doubled in the last six years, as per the census released recently by the chief conservator of forest (wildlife).
- Protection status:
The blackbuck is a Schedule-1 animal according to the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
- as ‘Vulnerable’ according to the Red Data Book.
#environment_current #PT2021
Bhitarkanika National Park
- in Odisha
- famous for its mangroves, migratory birds, turtles, estuarine crocodiles, and countless creeks.
- India’s second-largest mangrove forest.
- It is represented by 3 Protected Areas, the Bhitarkanika National Park, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
- It is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Mahanadi river systems.
- It is said to house 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975.
-Fauna
spotted deer, bird species and other species such as wild boars, jackal, hyenas, jungle cat, fishing cats, water monitor lizards, rhesus macaques, common languor, Indian civet cat and hare.
- It was designated a national park in September 1998 and as a Ramsar site by UNESCO in August 2002.
Bhitarkanika National Park
- in Odisha
- famous for its mangroves, migratory birds, turtles, estuarine crocodiles, and countless creeks.
- India’s second-largest mangrove forest.
- It is represented by 3 Protected Areas, the Bhitarkanika National Park, the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.
- It is located in the estuary of Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, and Mahanadi river systems.
- It is said to house 70% of the country’s estuarine or saltwater crocodiles, conservation of which was started way back in 1975.
-Fauna
spotted deer, bird species and other species such as wild boars, jackal, hyenas, jungle cat, fishing cats, water monitor lizards, rhesus macaques, common languor, Indian civet cat and hare.
- It was designated a national park in September 1998 and as a Ramsar site by UNESCO in August 2002.
#environment_current #PT2021
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve:
- in Assam.
- Formed in 1908
- located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots.
- It hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses.
- It is a World Heritage Site.
- Recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species.
- ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.
- crisscrossed by four main rivers — Brahmaputra, Diphlu, Mora Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve:
- in Assam.
- Formed in 1908
- located in the edge of the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspots.
- It hosts two-thirds of the world’s great one-horned rhinoceroses.
- It is a World Heritage Site.
- Recognized as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International for the conservation of avifaunal species.
- ‘big four’ species— Rhino, Elephant, Royal Bengal tiger and Asiatic water buffalo.
- crisscrossed by four main rivers — Brahmaputra, Diphlu, Mora Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri.
#Environment #PT2021
Blue-finned Mahseer
News: On the IUCN red list, the Blue-finned Mahseer (Tor Khudree) has been moved from the ‘endangered’ status to the ‘least concern’ status.
Location : The IUCN group is involved in conservation of the blue-finned and golden Mahseer for 50 years in Lonavala, Maharashtra.
Characteristics -
1. They inhabit both rivers and lakes.
2. Most of species ascend into rapid streams with rocky bottoms for breeding.
3. They are omnivorous.
4. They eat algae, crustaceans, frogs, insects and other fish. They also eat fruits that fall from trees overhead.
5. The species is migratory; moving upstream during rains.
6. It prefers clean, fast flowing and well oxygenated waters
Habitat - This species is found in River Mota Mola east of Pune and other rivers of the Deccan Plateau.
Threats -
1. Over harvesting
2. Habitat manipulation
3. Competition from other fish species
Blue-finned Mahseer
News: On the IUCN red list, the Blue-finned Mahseer (Tor Khudree) has been moved from the ‘endangered’ status to the ‘least concern’ status.
Location : The IUCN group is involved in conservation of the blue-finned and golden Mahseer for 50 years in Lonavala, Maharashtra.
Characteristics -
1. They inhabit both rivers and lakes.
2. Most of species ascend into rapid streams with rocky bottoms for breeding.
3. They are omnivorous.
4. They eat algae, crustaceans, frogs, insects and other fish. They also eat fruits that fall from trees overhead.
5. The species is migratory; moving upstream during rains.
6. It prefers clean, fast flowing and well oxygenated waters
Habitat - This species is found in River Mota Mola east of Pune and other rivers of the Deccan Plateau.
Threats -
1. Over harvesting
2. Habitat manipulation
3. Competition from other fish species
#Environment #PT2021
Operation Olivia
- Every year, the Indian Coast Guard conducts “Operation Olivia”
- Aim: to protect turtles as they arrive to nest in Odisha.
Acts:
1. Odisha has also formulated laws for protecting Olive Ridley turtles.
2. he Orissa Marine Fisheries Act empowers the Coast Guard as one of its enforcement agencies.
Threats:
1. Indiscriminate fishing with trawlers and gill nets
2. Beach soil erosion
3. Dense fishing activity along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
4. Trawlers, mechanised fishing boats and gill-netters.
Concern: It is estimated that only one in a thousand survive
Origin: early 1980s
Role:
1. It involves round-the-clock surveillance from November till May using fast patrol vessels, air cushion vessels, interceptor craft etc.
2.Enforcing the use of turtle excluder devices (TED) by trawlers in the waters adjoining nesting areas
3.Prohibiting the use of gill nets and curtailing turtle poaching.
Fact:
All five species of sea turtles found in India are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and in the Appendix I of the CITES.
Operation Olivia
- Every year, the Indian Coast Guard conducts “Operation Olivia”
- Aim: to protect turtles as they arrive to nest in Odisha.
Acts:
1. Odisha has also formulated laws for protecting Olive Ridley turtles.
2. he Orissa Marine Fisheries Act empowers the Coast Guard as one of its enforcement agencies.
Threats:
1. Indiscriminate fishing with trawlers and gill nets
2. Beach soil erosion
3. Dense fishing activity along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
4. Trawlers, mechanised fishing boats and gill-netters.
Concern: It is estimated that only one in a thousand survive
Origin: early 1980s
Role:
1. It involves round-the-clock surveillance from November till May using fast patrol vessels, air cushion vessels, interceptor craft etc.
2.Enforcing the use of turtle excluder devices (TED) by trawlers in the waters adjoining nesting areas
3.Prohibiting the use of gill nets and curtailing turtle poaching.
Fact:
All five species of sea turtles found in India are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and in the Appendix I of the CITES.
#PT2021 #environment_current
The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary
- It is a wildlife sanctuary located in the state of Odisha.
- The sanctuary is home to a herd of Blackbuck and Spotted Deer. Olive ridley sea turtles nest on the beaches.
The Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary
- It is a wildlife sanctuary located in the state of Odisha.
- The sanctuary is home to a herd of Blackbuck and Spotted Deer. Olive ridley sea turtles nest on the beaches.