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Biodiversity in the time of flood

Biodiversity in the time of the flood GS-III: Biodiversity in the time of deluge  Context Floods impact the poorest strata of society the most, causing a loss of lives, livelihood options, and assets. There is a need for the assessment of floods from a ‘sustainable development perspective. Causes for floods The root cause of such floods is the high precipitation levels. Anthropogenic factors like unscientific development and over-exploitation of nature aggravat

Himalayan Ibex and Endemic species

Himalayan Ibex Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III-  Environment A recent study by scientists of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has proved that Himalayan Ibex is a distinct species from the Siberian Ibex. Key Points The study was funded through the National Mission on Himalayan Studies. The National Mission on Himalayan Studies is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. It targets to provide much needed focus

All about World Earth Day

Earth Day Every year on April 22nd we celebrate Earth Day. The Earth day is conducted in more than 192 countries around the world. The Earth Day is expected to display backing for conserving the environment. UNESCO Conference held in 1969 recommended selecting March 21st, 1970 as the first Earth Day. The United States chose to celebrate a separate Earth Day on April 22nd annually. Later this date became the internationally accepted Earth Day in 1990. There are also several communities th

Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute

Context: The Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) here is gearing up to play a key role in a nationwide project to decode the genetic information of all known species of plants and animals in the country. Indian Initiative on Earth BioGenome Sequencing (IIEBS) The Institute has been selected as one of the Biological Knowledge and Resource Centres of the Indian Initiative on Earth BioGenome Sequencing (IIEBS). It will join hands with other pre

National Mission for Clean Ganga organised IDEAthon

National Mission for Clean Ganga organised IDEAthon Context: The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) organized an IDEAthon on “The future of River Management’ to explore how the COVID-19 crisis can shape River Management strategies for the future. Dealing with the COVID-19 crisis has been a challenge for most countries across the globe which have witnessed some sort of lockdown in most t

Environment Impact Assessment

Environment Impact Assessment Notification(EIA), 2020 extended till 30th June. Context The Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 published the draft notification namely, Environment Impact Assessment Notification extending the EIA assessment by 2 months till 30th June due to COVID-19 pandemic. About Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental im

Lockdown air: less NO2, same PM2.5 and more urban ozone

Lockdown air: less NO2, same PM2.5 and more urban ozone Introduction While traffic pollution has been falling, the lockdown may be leading to the generation of a dangerous pollutant, urban ozone, which can cause airway inflammation in humans. The research is specific to the UK. It has been conducted by experts from The University of Manchester. Nitrogen oxides Levels of nitrogen oxides were found reduced in most locations in the UK during mid-March and April. The level of decline

Wayand’s giant jackfruit enters Guinness record

Wayanad's giant jackfruit enters the Guinness record A massive jackfruit, weighing over 52 kg and 117 cm long, is eyeing to enter the Guinness record book. The fruit was found in a private plantation at Kappattumula in nearby Mananthavady and is likely to replace the existing Guinness record of the heaviest jackfruit globally. Another giant jackfruit, weighing 51.500 kg, from Kollam, is also vying for the record books. To date, the world's heaviest jackfruit according to Guinnes

Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats.

Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats. States express desire to expedite early notification of Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats. Context: Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar today interacted with Chief Ministers, Cabinet Ministers & State Government Officers of six states viz, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu through Video Conference to discuss issues relating to notification of Ecologically S

Charu Mussel

Invasive mussel spreads in backwaters An invasive mussel native to the South and Central American coasts is spreading quickly in the backwaters of Kerala, elbowing out other mussel and clam species and threatening the livelihoods of fishermen engaged in molluscan fisheries. The rapid spread of the Charu mussel (Mytella strigata) may have been triggered by Cyclone Ockhi which struck the region in 2017, according to a paper published in the Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries.

Wajre Urban Forest model

Wajre Urban Forest model This year’s theme for World Environment Day  is ‘Biodiversity’. In view of the prevalent situation due to COVID-19 pandemic the ministry will be holding virtual celebrations of World Environment Day on this year’s theme theme with focus on Nagar Van (Urban Forests). In Pune city on the forest land of 40 acres a forest has been developed. More than 65000 trees, 5 ponds, 2 watch towers have been established, with many trees growing u

National Gene Bank

National Gene Bank Part of: GS-III- Bio-diversity (PT-MAINS-PERSONALITY TEST) Recently, the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) under the Ministry of AYUSH and the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) under the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The purpose of this MoU is to conserve the Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Genetic Resources (MAPGRs) in the National Gene Bank (NGB). Establishment: The

Aerial Seeding in Haryana

Aerial Seeding in Haryana GS-Paper-3 Biodiversity (PT-MAINS) IFS EXAM Recently, the Haryana government has employed aerial seeding techniques to improve green cover in the Aravalli area of the state. The project is being carried out on a pilot basis to regenerate the low vegetation density or denuded areas on inaccessible or difficult sites of Aravalli and Shivalik hills. Aerial Seeding Aerial Seeding is a plantation technique wherein seed ball

Forest loss threatens hornbills

Forest loss threatens hornbills A study based on satellite data has flagged a high rate of deforestation in a major hornbill habitat in Arunachal Pradesh. Issues: Using fine-scale satellite imagery, changes in forest cover of Papum Reserve Forest (RF) adjoining the Pakke Tiger Reserve as well as a part of Assam affected by illegal felling and ethnic conflict was assessed. Papum RF is a nesting habitat of three species of the large, colourful fruit-eating hornbills: Great

A tale of mangrove migration

A tale of mangrove migration Introduction: In 2008, Punarbasu Chaudhuri, mangrove ecologist from the University of Calcutta spotted an interesting mangrove plant at the bank of river Hooghly inside Kolkata city. It was quite unusual, as mangroves require a cyclic supply of saline water, and this growth at an upstream zone was remarkable. He then started an investigation on their distribution in the Hooghly estuary, and his recent paper suggests that the mangroves have started moving

Pathways to diversity

Pathways to diversity Context: The UN Summit on Biodiversity was convened on September 30, 2020. The member nations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) took note of the link between biodiversity loss and the spread of animal pathogens, calling for an end to destructive industrial and commercial practices. The Summit on Biodiversity will be convened under the theme “Urgent Action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development.” Issues: Aichi Targets we

2 New Ramsar Wetlands added: Now the total is 39

2 New Ramsar Wetlands added: Now the total is 39 Ramsar Convention or Convention on Wetlands of International Importance It is an intergovernmental treaty for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It was adopted on 2 Feb 1971 (Thus World Wetlands Day) in the Iranian city of Ramsar (Caspian Sea) and came into force in 1975. (WNBSR also in 1971) It is the only global environmental system treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem. Criteria for Wetland

CSIR-CMERI’s Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility

CSIR-CMERI’s Municipal Solid Waste Processing Facility Recently, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research’s Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-CMERI) has developed a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Processing Facility (Decentralised Solid Waste Management Plant) to solve the problem of waste management in India. MSW Processing Facility: It is developed following the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules 2016 prescribed by the Ministry of Environ

COVID-19, climate and carbon neutrality

COVID-19, climate and carbon neutrality By, Jairam Ramesh is an MP (Rajya Sabha) and a former Union Minister Context Our lives have been turned upside down. The COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath can be seen either as a longish pause on the button of economic growth or as an opportunity for reset, recalibration and rethink. Note: Phrase can be used in Essay:   History is divided into two periods: Before the Common Era or BCE and the Co

Biodiversity governance: The agreements and laws that help enforce it

Biodiversity governance: The agreements and laws that help enforce it Context This article talks about the issues related to biodiversity governance in India. Extensive biodiversity loss in the past decades has spared neither developed nor developing countries. Nagoya protocol: This rapidly accelerating biodiversity loss led to a series of negotiations and agreements among countries like the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD, in its spirit, laid the found

The Paris Agreement is no panacea

The Paris Agreement is no panacea Context Many developing countries, including India, which hesitated to sign the Paris Agreement because it had exempted developed countries from their mandatory obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, turned into its devout supporters the moment Mr. Trump denounced it as a hoax and announced his decision to withdraw from it. Today, the Paris Agreement is deemed as the panacea for all environmental ills when the truth is that it is a repudiati

Climate Change Knowledge Portal

Climate Change Knowledge Portal Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has launched the ‘India Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Objective: The Portal will help in disseminating knowledge among citizens about all the major steps the Government is taking at both national and international levels to address climate change issues. Benefit: It will be a single point Information resource which provides information on the different climate initiative

Pilibhit tiger reserve gets the first TX2 award

Pilibhit tiger reserve gets the first TX2 award: Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Uttar Pradesh has bagged the first international award, TX2, among the 13 tiger-ranging countries for having doubled the number of tigers in less than the stipulated time. In 2014, All India Tiger Estimation estimated 25 tigers in Pilibhit and the 2018 estimation showed an increase by projecting 65 tigers. Conservation Excellence Award for 2020: Transboundary Manas Conservation Area straddling the India-

Maharashtra sets up Desalination plants

Maharashtra sets up Desalination Plants in Mumbai It is now the fourth state in India to experiment with the idea. Features A desalination plant turns salt water into water that is fit to drink. The most commonly used technique used for the process is reverse osmosis where external pressure is applied to push solvents from an area of high-solute concentration to an area of low-solute concentration through a membrane. The microscopic pores in the membranes allow water molecules th

Himalayan serow

Himalayan serow A Himalayan serow has been sighted for the first time in the Himalayan cold desert region-Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. Himalayan serow resembles a cross between a goat, a donkey, a cow, and a pig. There are several species of serows, and all of them are found in Asia. The Himalayan serow, or Capricornis sumatraensis thar, is restricted to the Himalayan region. Taxonomically, it is a subspecies of the mainland serow (Capricornis sumatraensis).

Arunachal Kiwi

Arunachal Kiwi Arunachal Kiwi got organic certification for Kiwi under Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North East Region (MOVCD-NER). [MOVCD-NER is a scheme for the north-eastern states by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare under the Central government.] Arunachal Pradesh is the first in the country to get this certification for Kiwis. These kiwis have grown Ziro Valley located in the Lower Subansiri district in Arunachal. An agricultural practice

Migratory birds in Harike wetland, Punjab

Migratory birds in Harike wetland, Punjab Winter migratory water birds using the central Asian flyway have started making a beeline to Punjab’s Harike wetland, offering a delight for bird lovers. Birds such as the Eurasian coot, greylag goose, bar-headed goose, gadwall and the northern shoveler are the prominent ones that could be sighted at Harike. Among other species, common pochard, spot-billed duck, little cormorant, pied avocet, great cormorant, ferruginous pochard and common

National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-being

National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-being The Government of India has recently launched the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-being. The mission aims to explore the neglected links between biodiversity science and human well-being across the sectors of health, economic development, agricultural production and livelihood generation, in combination with efforts to mitigate climate change and related disasters. One of the components of the mission explicitly lin

A Budget not for the environment

A Budget not for the environment Introduction In 1991, when the then Finance Minister Manmohan Singh ushered in economic reforms that catapulted India into the global economy in a belief that once there is enough money in the economy through growth, it can be put for ecological purposes. A dismal gap Governments have not put in the substantial new financial resources raised through rapid growth into environmental protection. Budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Enviro

Circular Economy

Circular Economy It is an economic system aimed at eliminating waste; and the continual use of resources. It is a system of resource utilization where reduction, reuse and recycling of elements prevail. Circular systems create a closed system, minimizing the use of resource input and the creation of waste, pollution and emissions. It is an alternative to a traditional linear economy. This linear economy is modelled on the take-make-waste industrial model (make, use, dispose o

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve

Simlipal Biosphere Reserve   Simlipal National Park is a national park and a tiger reserve in the Mayurbhanj district of Odisha. It is part of Similipal-Kuldiha-Hadgarh Elephant Reserve popularly known as Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve. Simlipal National Park derives its name from the abundance of semul (red silk cotton trees) that bloom here. It was the second largest national park in India. Its reserve is part of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserv

CSIR Floriculture Mission

CSIR Floriculture Mission Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Floriculture Mission will be implemented in 21 States and Union Territories of India. Efforts are being made to take the agro-technologies, new varieties and value addition technologies with the CSIR institutions to the farmers and entrepreneurs.  It is being implemented in collaboration with Directorate of Floriculture (ICAR); KVIC; APEDA; TRIFED; Fragrance and Flavour Development Centre (FFDC), a

SATAT Initiative

SATAT Initiative Context: Indian Oil, NTPC and SDMC have signed an MoU to develop a waste-to-energy facility at Delhi's Okhla landfill site using gasification technology. About the SATAT initiative: The initiative is aimed at providing a Sustainable Alternative To Affordable Transportation (SATAT) as a developmental effort that would benefit both vehicle users as well as farmers and entrepreneurs. Compressed Bio-Gas plants are proposed to be set up mainly through independent

Biofuels

Biofuels Researchers of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad are studying impediments to incorporating biofuels into the fuel sector in India. Significance of Biofuels: Biofuels in India are of strategic importance as it augers well with the ongoing initiatives of the Government such as Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and Skill Development and offers a great opportunity to integrate with the ambitious targets of doubling Farmer's Income, Import Reduction, Emp

Gregarious bamboo flowering in India

Gregarious bamboo flowering in India What is the Gregarious flowering of bamboo? Gregarious bamboo flowering refers to the phenomenon when all populations of a particular species flower roughly at the same time. The bamboo plants die after flowering and setting seeds. Such synchronised flowering, sometimes at intervals as long as 50 to 120 years, may bring in its wake a swarm of rats, subsequent famine and loss of lives and livelihoods. National Bamboo Mis

Increasing House Sparrow Population in India

Increasing House Sparrow Population in India House Sparrow population was on the decline in cities, for decades. But now citizen-led movements across various states are facilitating the increase of the House Sparrow population. About House Sparrow: House Sparrow(Passer domesticus) is a bird of the sparrow family Passeridae, found in most parts of the world. Characteristics of House Sparrow: The male and female House Sparrow are easily distinguishable not in size but in col

Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve

Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve Odisha government has proposed a second biosphere reserve in the southern part of the state at Mahendragiri. Similipal Biosphere Reserve is Odisha’s first such reserve, which was notified in 1996. The area of the proposed Mahendragiri Biosphere Reserve is spread over Gajapati and Ganjam districts in the Eastern Ghats and is near the Mahendragiri peak. Soura Tribe: They are a Munda ethnic group from eastern India living in southern O

Migratory Birds Found Dead near Pong Lake

Migratory Birds Found Dead near Pong Lake As many as 27 migratory birds died on account of avian influenza in Himachal Pradesh’s Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary. The lake is fed by the Beas River. Its numerous perennial tributaries are Gaj, Neogal, Binwa, Uhl, Bangana, and Baner. Government of India also declared Pong Dam Lake as a “Wetland of National Importance” The sanctuary area is covered with tropical and subtropical forests & it shelters a great number of In

Environment Related Important Dates

Environment Related Important Dates GS-Paper-ENVIRONMENT DATES- Prelims Context: Environmentally important dates are highly important for PRELIMS in the UPSC examination and also a student can utilize in MAINS. This article is about Environmentally Important Days, being celebrated in India to increase awareness regarding various aspects, and concerns on the environment. February February 2 World Wetlands Day February 27

Do insects migrate? Which insect has the longest migration route?

Do insects migrate? Which insect has the longest migration route? Many dragonflies, beetles, butterflies, locusts and moths are known to migrate during the breeding season and the distance travelled varies with species. Most insects travel in large groups and scientists have been studying these movements for several years. A recent study (PNAS) noted that the painted lady butterfly (Vanessa cardui) can make 12,000 to 14,000 kilometre round trips. This is the longest annual insect migrati

Sunderlal Bahuguna and Chipko Movement

Sunderlal Bahuguna and Chipko Movement The 94-year-old environmentalist succumbed to Covid-19 on May 21, 2021, at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. With his demise, India has lost one of the finest environmentalists and social workers who had also been part of India’s freedom movement. About Sundarlal Bahuguna Born in village Maroda near Tehri, Uttarakhand on January 9, 1927, he was an active revolutionary during the Indian Free

Sikkim Vegetation

Sikkim Vegetation Sikkim, the smallest State with less than 1% of India’s landmass, is home to 27% of all flowering plants found in the country, reveals a recent publication by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). Flora of Sikkim – A Pictorial Guide, released earlier this week, lists 4,912 naturally occurring flowering plants in the tiny Himalayan State. The total number of naturally occurring flowering plants in the country is about 18,004 species, and with 4,912 species, th

Clean Ganga Fund- Role in Ganga Conservation

Clean Ganga Fund- Role in Ganga Conservation The main goal of the Government’s flagship program Namami Gange has been to make Ganga clean and restore its pristine glory. Rejuvenation of such a long river not only poses tremendous challenges but also requires huge investment. The Government has already quadrupled the budget, but still, it will not be sufficient for such a mammoth amount of work. Therefore, a Clean Ganga Fund was created by the Government, in which everyone can contri

Achieving Paris Agreement- the key to save endemic species: Study

Achieving Paris Agreement- the key to save endemic species: Study According to a study published in the journal Biological Conservation, 90% of the endemic species will face extinction unless the goals of the Paris Agreement are met. For example, Kolar Leaf Nose Bat is endemic to India and endemic to only one cave in Hanumanahalli village in Kolar district, Karnataka Endemic species are those plants and animals that exist only in one geographical region. Species can be endemic

Where does India stand on methane emissions?

Where does India stand on methane emissions? Context: This topic is important for UPSE Prelims and GS Paper3. Why India stay away from both the methane pledge and the forest conservation declaration at Glasgow? The story so far: At the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference (the 26th Conference of Parties-COP26) in Glasgow, the United States and the European Union have jointly pledged to cut emissions of the greenhouse gas methane by 2030. They plan to cut down emissio

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT

HUMAN-WILDLIFE CONFLICT Human-wildlife conflict refers to the harmful interaction between humans and wildlife that lead to a loss in terms of life, property and resources. The expanding human population and their greediness lead to the encroachment of wildlife areas and disturbing their natural habitation. VERMIN ISSUE AND RECENT LAW: Recently the wildlife (protection) amendment bill 2021 was introduced in the parliament with the objective to change the wildlife (protection) act 1972.&nbs

AMENDMENT IN ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT, 1986

AMENDMENT IN ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACT, 1986 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has proposed the amendments in the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The Environment Ministry has proposed to levy more fines and less imprisonment for environmental violations. Present Clause in the Act: Currently the act says that the violators will be punishable with imprisonment up to five years or with a fine up to one lakh or, both. If the violation continues, an additional f

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES The migratory monarch butterflies have been declared endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of threatened species. About monarch butterflies It's a sub-species of the Danaus Plexippus butterfly that travels around 4,000 kilometkilometers in America. It is the most recognizable butterfly species that are essential pollinators and further provides various ecosystem services such as maintaining the global fo

INDIA ADDS FIVE MORE RAMSAR SITES

INDIA ADDS FIVE MORE RAMSAR SITES India has added five more wetlands of international importance bringing the number of such sites in the country to 54 from the previous 49. These include three wetlands: (Karikili Bird Sanctuary, Pallikaranai Marsh Reserve Forest and Pichavaram Mangrove) in Tamil Nadu, Mizoram (Pala wetland) and Madhya Pradesh (Sakhya Sagar), In India Ramsar wetlands are spread over 11,000 sqkm and around 10% of the total wetland area in the country a

Gaia Hypothesis

Gaia Hypothesis Recently, James Lovelock, the creator of the Gaia hypothesis died on his 103rd birthday. What is Gaia's hypothesis? It is named after the ancient Greek goddess of Earth. It is an interaction between living organisms on the Earth with their inorganic surroundings forming a complex, self-regulating and synergistic system that helps to perpetuate and maintain optimum conditions for life on the planet.  It posits that life on Earth is a self-regulating commun

American Bullfrog & Brown Tree Snake

American Bullfrog & Brown Tree Snake The American bullfrog and Brown Tree Snake cost the world economy $16 billion, as per the study. The invasive duo has caused ecological damage in addition to ruining farm produce and causing expensive power interruptions. More than two million Brown Tree snakes populate the tiny Pacific Island, with one estimate calculating as many as 20 inhabitants per acre of Guam's jungle. The Brown Tree snakes have the most significant impact on P

Amendments to Biodiversity Bill, 2021

Amendments to Biodiversity Bill, 2021 The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill 2021 was recently the subject of an investigation by the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which recently submitted its recommendations. Image Source - Journals of India The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change submitted various revisions, which the JPC has accepted (MoEFCC). Biodiversity Act, 2002             To ensure the pr

Ocean Diversity Pact

Ocean Diversity Pact Deliberations on a groundbreaking deal to protect marine biodiversity on the high seas are being held in New York by a delegation from India and other UN members. 2018 saw the start of a number of conferences aimed at developing international regulations under the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding the preservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in certain regions. What are High Seas? The high seas are those are

Arctic Snailfish with Freeze Proteins

Arctic Snailfish with Freeze Proteins Scientists have discovered a fluorescent snailfish (Liparis gibbus) with antifreeze proteins coursing through its veins beneath a Greenland glacier. By doing this, snailfish may stop ice crystals from building up in their cells and bodily fluids. About the Discovery The first known Arctic bio fluorescent fish is also a result of the discovery of the Greenland snailfish. According to experts, it is uncommon for a marine animal to dis

Bhitarkanika National Park Odisha

Bhitarkanika National Park       Image Source - Kalinga tv There has been an increased confrontation between humans and crocodiles, now that the crocodile population in the Bhitarkanika National Park has reached saturation.     About Bhitarkanika National Park Orissa's Bhitarkanika National Park spans a massive 672 km2 region. It has India's second-largest mangrove habitat. A network of creeks and canals that rec

Sea Cucumber

Sea Cucumber Recent Chinese investment in a Sea cucumber farm has raised concerns among northern Sri Lankan fishermen. Image Source - Youtube About Sea Cucumber Marine creatures known as sea cucumbers have leathery skin and an elongated body with a single, branching gonad. They can be found in both tropical and temperate oceans, living in both deeper water and the intertidal zone. Sea cucumbers can be found in India in the waters surrounding the Lakshadweep and Andaman Nic

Medicinal Fungi

Medicinal Fungi Researchers at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai (IMSc) have conducted an analytical study of medicinal fungi, and the results suggest that some of the substances the fungi secrete may be useful as novel therapeutics. About MeFSAT (Medicinal Fungi Secondary Metabolites and Therapeutics), a database that contains data on 184 medicinal fungi, including mushrooms, was used by the researchers. Basidiomycota and Ascomycota are the two taxonomic div

Living Planet Report 2022

Living Planet Report 2022 Living Planet Report 2022 is published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). About Living Planet Report The Living Planet Report is the organization's main journal. Every two years, it is made available. It is an extensive analysis of changes in both global biodiversity and environmental health. It monitors shifts in the relative richness of populations of wild species all around the world. Since the 2020 LPR was published, 11,011

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment)

Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) At the Statue of Unity in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced "Mission LiFE" (Lifestyle for Environment) in the presence of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. About A new movement for sustainable and healthy living is called Mission LiFE. Mission LiFE will make the battle against climate change democratic with the help of each individual. It will assist in addressing the world's and humanity's main chal

Increasing the Biosphere's Footprint

Increasing the Biosphere's Footprint On November 3, 2022, the first 'International Day for Biosphere Reserves' will be held. More information about the World Network of Biosphere Reserves  (WNBR) UNESCO established the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) in 1971. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) is a network of internationally designated protected areas known as biosphere reserves that aim to demonstrate a harmonious relationship between people

Conservation of Wetlands

Conservation of Wetlands Every aspect of the Earth's environment has been impacted by humans in this Anthropocene period. The loss of Shallow Wetlands like lakes and ponds is becoming a serious worry as a result of these human-induced changes. The most recent period in Earth's history when human activity began to have a significant impact on the planet's climate and ecology is referred to as the Anthropocene Epoch. This term refers to an unofficial unit of geologic time.

Arittapatti Village:Biodiversity Heritage Site

Arittapatti Village: Biodiversity Heritage Site In accordance with Section 37 of the Biodiversity Diversity Act, 2002, the Government of Tamil Nadu published a notification designating Arittapatti Village in Melur in the Madurai district as a biodiversity heritage site. The Biodiversity Heritage site is the first site to be nominated in the Southern State and is located on a 193.21 hectare parcel of land. The local residents' involvement in biodiversity and conservation initi

Nagoya Protocol

Nagoya Protocol The Nagoya Protocol has yet to provide benefits to indigenous populations in Mexico. Concerning Nagoya Protocol A supplementary agreement to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization (ABS). It offers a clear legal framework for the efficient realisation of one of the three goals of the CBD: the equitable and fair distribution of g

Kunming Montreal Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted

Kunming Montreal Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted at COP15 The UN Convention on Biological Diversity's 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) has accepted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).  188 of 196 member governments agreed on a new framework to halt the sharp and steady loss of biological species. These governments, supported by the U.S. and the Vatican, who are not a party to the Convention, adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framewor

A new species of tiny Boa from Ecuador

A new species of tiny Boa from Ecuador In honor of an Indigenous campaigner, researchers have named a new species of dwarf boa that they found in the Amazon of Ecuador. About Dwarf Boa: The snake, which belonged to the Tropidophiidae family, was up to 20 centimeters long when it was discovered in northern Ecuador's cloud forest. Based on its outward characteristics and bone structure, Tropidophis cacuangoae can be distinguished from other reptiles of the same spe

Butterflies Adaption

Butterflies Adaption Many intriguing facets of butterflies' adaptation and evolution processes have just come to light  In the Western Ghats of Karnataka, a study on many species of butterflies and their mimicry characteristics was done. What are the Study's Highlights? The results were divided into three categories: The species that are poisonous to predators serve as models. Batesian Mimicry Species: Those that adopted poisonous or unappealing features

Nobel's Helen Butterfly

Nobel's Helen Butterfly Arunachal Pradesh just discovered India's newest butterfly. About: A Swallowtail butterfly that was previously known to live in Myanmar, southern China, and India has now been discovered in India for the first time. In Arunachal Pradesh's Namdapha National Park, it is discovered at three different sites between September 2019 and September 2021. It is a Papilio noblei, or Noble's Helen, butterfly, which is highly rare. Characterist

Senna Spectabilis

Senna Spectabilis Senna spectabilis, an exotic invasive plant that poses a serious danger to  Karela’s animal habitat, has been identified as the target of a management strategy developed by the state. According to the management plan, no attempt should be made to remove trees before a comprehensive replanting strategy and the necessary funding are in place. Senna spectabilis: What is it? The deciduous Senna spectabilis tree is indigenous to tropical Ameri

Save Wetlands Campaign

Save Wetlands Campaign The "Save Wetlands Campaign" was introduced by the Union Minister for Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change in Goa.           This campaign is set up as a "whole of society" effort to conserve wetlands, promoting positive social change at all societal levels and integrating all social classes. The campaign's goal: The campaign will involve educating people on the importance of wetlands over the course of t

State Of India’s Environment Report

State Of India’s Environment Report In Context Of The Center for Science and Environment (CSE) and Down to Earth (DTE) Magazine has released the State of India's Environment report 2023, which assesses a wide range of topics including water, plastics, forests, and biodiversity in addition to climate change, agriculture, and industry. The report, an annual publication, emphasises migration, health, and food systems. Additionally, it addresses topics like biodiversity, fo

Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas India's exclusive economic zone encompasses 8118 km of coastline, approximately 2.02 million square kilometres. Nine states and seven union regions make up India's 372,424 square The National Portal & Helpline will provide necessary information and solutions to the Transgender community and the people engaged in the act of begging when needed.kilometre continental shelf. It faces significant challenges in maintaining its biodiversity as one of the world&#

SALT MARSHES

SALT MARSHES According to a study conducted by researchers at the Marine Biological Laboratory, more than 90% of the world's salt marshes may be lost to sea level rise by the end of the century. What are Salt Marshes The salt water brought in by the tides floods and drains salt marshes, which are coastal wetlands. They are marshy because the soil may be made up of peat and deep mud. Peat is a thick layer of decomposing plant debris. Peat is extremely spongy, wet, and p

World Wildlife Day

World Wildlife Day Latest Context World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually by the UNGA (United nation general assembly) to increase public awareness of the world's animals and plants. It was announced in December 2013 during the 68th meeting of the UN General Assembly. Partnerships for wildlife conservation will be the focus(Theme) of World Wildlife Day 2023, which aims to recognise people who are making a difference in preserving the world's flora and animals. Hist

Phytoplankton Blooms

Phytoplankton Blooms Around the coastlines of the world, massive phytoplankton blooms—huge blooms of microscopic algae floating on the ocean's surface—have grown bigger and more frequent. According to recent studies, massive phytoplankton blooms have grown bigger and more frequent around the world's coastlines, benefiting fisheries but also having the potential to be harmful. Findings from the Study The expansion: Coastal phytoplankton blooms grew by

Mimeusemia Ceylonica

Mimeusemia Ceylonica After being last seen 127 years ago at Trincomalee in Sri Lanka in 1893, researchers from Tamil Nadu have discovered a rare moth species for the first time in India in the buffer zone of Kalakkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR). About A species of moth known as Mimeusemia Ceylonica is a member of the Noctuidae family and subfamily Agaristinae. Entomologist George Hampson of England originally depicted and characterised it in 1893. The discovery of the

First Waterbodies Census

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has published the results of the nation's first-ever water body census, providing important new information about the water resources of the nation. The census offers a thorough inventory of the country's water resources, showing differences between rural and urban areas as well as different degrees of invasion. What does the Census of Waterbodies mean? In conjunction with the 6th Minor Irrigation Census for 2017–18, the waterbodies census

Climate Finance

Climate Finance (Environment) During the 3rd Climate and Development Ministerial, Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, COP28 President, has emphasized the need to address adaptation finance gaps and make climate finance more accessible to vulnerable nations. What is climate finance? Climate finance – It refers to local, national or transnational financing, drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will addr

NECP and EEEP Programme

Recently, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of public sector undertakings (PSU) under Ministry of Power have launched NCEP and EEFP. National Efficient Cooking Programme (NECP) – A subset of the Clean Cooking Scheme It focuses on Non-Solar/Electricity-based Induction Cook stoves, aligning with the Go- electric initiative by the Ministry of Power. Goal – EESL will deploy 20 Lakh energy-efficient induction cook s

Mercury contamination

According to a study, Birds living within vicinity of gold mining were found to have over 4 times higher mercury concentrations than those living at other sites across the tropics of Central and South America. Mercury contamination – It is global as mercury emissions disperse widely in the atmosphere. They are Highly toxic to the nervous system. Persistent in the environment. Bioaccumulates (higher concentrations in tissues of aquatic plants a

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Some large industrialised meat and dairy companies promotes a new metric for measuring methane emissions, called GWP* as a more accurate way to calculate emissions from the greenhouse gas (GHG). GWP – It tells us how much heat a greenhouse gas (GHG) traps in the atmosphere. It measures the energy absorbed by 1 ton of an atmospheric gas over a specific period relative to energy absorbed by 1 ton of Carbon di-oxide (CO2) over the same time. For example, the GWP of

Chimeras of Nature

In a recent landmark study, scientists reported the successful generation of a live chimera in non-human primates. What is chimera? In Greek mythology, a chimera was a fearsome creature with the combined features of a lion, a goat, and a snake. Chimerism- It is defined as a phenomenon of occurrence of more than one type of different and distinguished genotype in an organism. Chimera- It is defined as an organism composed of cells with different genotypes altogether.

Carbon-Dioxide Removal

As nations gather for the COP 28 in Dubai, the question of carbon capture’s future role in a climate-friendly world will be in focus. What is Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)? Carbon removal- Using technologies, practices, and approaches to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from our atmosphere through deliberate and intentional human actions. It captures CO2 from the atmosphere and locks it away for decades or centuries in plants, soils, oceans, rocks, saline aquifers, depleted

Mangroves as Carbon Sink

Volunteers in Chargheri village of Sunderbans help in planting lakhs of mangroves which offer a dense forest cover and a rich carbon sink. The Sunderbans is a complex network of islands set in the delta on the Bay of Bengal and spread across West Bengal and Bangladesh. Blue carbon – It is coined in 2009, a term for carbon captured by and stored in the world’s ocean and coastal ecosystems. Key ecosystems of blue carbon - Mangroves, salt marshes and

Compulsory Blending Obligation (CBO) of CBG

The National Biofuels Coordination Committee (NBCC) gave its nod to mandatory blending of compressed biogas (CBG) with compressed natural gas (CNG) and piped natural gas (PNG) from 2025-26. Biogas - It is an energy-rich gas produced by anaerobic decomposition of biomass. Sources include Agriculture residue, cattle dung, sugarcane press mud, municipal solid waste, and sewage treatment plant waste, among others. It can be burnt directly as a fuel, or purified and upgraded

Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF)

According to experts, if Global Biodiversity Framework Funds (GBFF) fails to find adequate money, countries will have to find more funds domestically. Establishment – It was launched at the 7th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Canada in 2023 where Canada and the United Kingdom made the initial contributions. Objectives To help countries achieve the 23 targets set under the KMGBF (the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodivers

Ban on Manjha threads

The Tamil Nadu government has enforced a complete ban on the sale, storage, purchase, import and use of manjha threads. Manjha threads refers to kite flying threads made of nylon, plastic or any other synthetic material which causes severe injury or even death of people and animals. The contravention of the ban shall be penalised under provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The ban comes after the National Green Tribunal in 2017 had imposed a total ban on Manjha t

Leh Berry

Leh Berry is a juice made from the sea buckthorn fruit of Leh, Ladakh. The sea buckthorn fruit is known as the "King of Vitamin C". It contains over 100 nutrients, 8 vitamins, 24 minerals, 18 amino acids, and antioxidants. It got Geographical Indication (GI) tag recently.

Muthassi Plavu

A recent study has found that the Muthassi Plavu at Thrikkodithanam, Kerala is 543 years old. Muthassi Plavu is a jackfruit tree stands tall near an ancient Mahavishnu temple. It has also ascertained the age of two other jackfruit trees located on the same property as 416 years and 396 years, respectively and temple advisory committee started efforts to secure a heritage status for the 3 trees. Thrikkodithanam temple, regarded as an important seat of the Tamil Vaishnav

Ethanol Blended Petrol Program

Recently the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution directed all mills and distilleries not to use sugarcane juice/syrup for making any ethanol “with immediate effect”. Status of Ethanol Production in India India is the world’s 3rd largest energy consuming nation and a significant part of India’s energy requirement is met through oil imports. Ethanol production capacity increased more than

CCS and CDR Technologies

The draft decisions taken at COP28 at Dubai have referred to the abatement and removal of carbon emissions using carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon-dioxide removal (CDR) technologies. What are ‘unabated’ fossil fuels? Unabated - Doing nothing to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases that are released from the burning of coal, oil, and natural gas. According to IPCC, unabated fossil fuels are those “without interventions&nbs

Algae-assisted Carbon capture

IIT Jodhpur’s innovative technology uses algae-assisted fuel cells to capture carbon dioxide, treat wastewater and generate power. It is an indirect method for converting CO2 into carbonates and then use it for algal growth. Aim – To generates power, algae biomass and treats water by utilising algae-assisted MFC for flue gas carbon capture. Flue gas the gas produced from the flue or chimneys of thermal power stations and other industrial plants

Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER)

Recently, India’s 1st winter scientific expedition to the Arctic has been flagged off from the MoES headquarters in New Delhi. It is a Central Sector umbrella scheme. Implemented by – Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) through National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa. Objectives – To promote long-term scientific programmes in the polar region and the surrounding oceans that have potential societal, strategic and

United Earth Amazonia prize

The United Earth Amazonia prize is a "Green Nobel" prize that recognizes environmental work in the Amazon rainforest. The prize highlights projects that help preserve and protect the rainforest and its biodiversity. The prize was instituted by Marcus Nobel, a Swedish-American businessman based in Portland, Oregon. The prize was inaugurated last year without any monetary reward, but it is set to expand its scope in 2024.

Artic- Artic research and Artic council

Arctic region, the enormous area around the North Pole spreading over one-sixth of the earth’s landmass.  Climate Changeand the rapid melting of the Arctic Ice cap is the most important phenomenon that is redefining the global perspective on the Arctic. The impact of rapid changes in the Arctic region goes beyond the littoral states. There is a need for global cooperation to respond to the current challenges regarding conservati

Pappathi Chola

There is an urgent need to protect Pappathi Chola, a biodiversity hotspot. Pappathi Chola, known for its high butterfly population, derived its name from the Tamil word Pappathi meaning butterflies. While Pappathi means butterfly, Chola means shola land. Many butterflies reach the area during their migratory course from the rain shadow forests of Tamil Nadu back to the higher elevations of Munnar. Pappathi Chola is also regarded as a hub of balsams (Impatiens balsamina) and rare vari

Selfing Syndrome

In the first evidence of rapid evolution, scientists have discovered a flower growing in Paris, France is producing less nectar and smaller flowers to attract fewer pollinators. Parisian pansies Scientific name - Viola arvensis; Common name - Field Pansy Habitat - It is a self-pollinating flower, native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. It is an herbaceous annual plant with serrated leaves, and usually flowers with white all over, except the bottom petal

United Earth Amazonia prize

The United Earth Amazonia prize is a "Green Nobel" prize that recognizes environmental work in the Amazon rainforest. The prize highlights projects that help preserve and protect the rainforest and its biodiversity. The prize was instituted by Marcus Nobel, a Swedish-American businessman based in Portland, Oregon. The prize was inaugurated last year without any monetary reward, but it is set to expand its scope in 2024.

Bhairavapalem Mudflat

Bhairavapalem Mudflats are located in Andhra Pradesh. The mudflats are named after the village of Bhairavapalem and are subject to tidal water, a habitat for crabs like mud crabs. The Godavari River flows into the sea through two mouths, one near Bhairavapalem and the other near Kottapalem. Bhairavapalem is also the name of a Reserve Forest in the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.

Year End Review – Environment

MoEFCC is the nodal agency for planning, co-ordination and overseeing the implementation of India’s environmental and forestry policies and programmes. Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) The updated NDCs seeks to enhance India’s contributions towards achievement of the strengthening of global response to the threat of climate change, as agreed under the Paris Agreement. It would safeguard India’s future development needs based on the pri

Darien Jungle Gap

It is a sparsely populated geographic region of the easternmost Isthmus of Panama that extends into northwestern Colombia, around the Gulf of Urabá.It forms the physiographic link between Central and South America. Over 100,000 minors crossed Darien gap in 2023 to reach US. Features - A hot, humid area typified by tropical rainforests, mangrove swamps, and low mountain ranges with cloud forest vegetation. The Pan-American Highway does not traverse Darién, which

Bio Credits – Biodiversity credits

There is an urgent need to regulate frameworks to ensure the effective implementation of biodiversity credits. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) Aim - KMGBF aims to catalyze transformative action by governments, and subnational and local authorities, with the involvement of all of society, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Adoption - KMGBF was adopted in 2022 at the 15th Conference of Parties (CoP15) of Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). F

Chipko movement

The Chipko movement was a non-violent agitation in 1973 that was aimed at protection and conservation of trees. Gandhian social activist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, founder of the cooperative organisation Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh, led the first Chipko movement near the village of Mandal in 1973. The movement is an uprising against the felling of trees in Uttar Pradesh’s Chamoli district (now Uttarakhand) in 1973. The uprising originated in Chamoli district and in no time spilled ont

Sikki or Golden Grass

Sikki artisans suffer livelihood losses amid climate change & state apathy. Family - Zizanoides grass family. Scientific name - Chrysopogon zizanioides Sikki finds mention in ancient Sanskrit texts such as the Ramayana, where it is referred to as viran, sugandhimool, ushir and nalad. Tarai Region - This grass grows indigenously in the Tarai regions of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and has an average height of 3-4 feet and Sikki is also now grown to arrest soil er

Mayurbhanj’s Red Ant Chutney

Mayurbhanj’s red ant chutney receives GI tag. The Chutney Made with - The chutney is made with read weaver ants by the tribal people of Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. Other name - It is also known by the name Similipal kai Chutney. Making - Red weaver ants are collected from the nests along with their eggs and cleaned. After that, the chutney is prepared by mixing and grinding salt, ginger, garlic and chillies. Characteristics - The hot chutney has

Litchi

National Research Centre on Litchi (NRCL) has successfully expanded litchi cultivation in India by providing technical help, plants and training to farmers. It is a sweet juicy fruit which is also known as lychee or lichee. Scientific name – Litchi chinensis under soapberry family (Sapindaceae). It is a small, oval roundish fruit that is native to Southeast Asia. Growing conditions – A sensitive fruit influenced by tempera

Vazhakulam variety

Vazhakulam pineapple is a pineapple grown in the Vazhakulam area of Kerala, India. The pineapple is unique in aroma, flavour and sweetness due to its high sugar content and low acidity. Vazhakulam is considered as the biggest pineapple market in India. It got its GI tag in 2009.

GolDN

IIT Bombay has developed an instrument, GolDN (pronounced as Golden) for melt-mixing of waste thermoplastic polymers and inorganic particulate fillers to manufacture polymer composites. GolDN is a single screw extruder that mechanically recycles waste plastic polymers through melt-mixing. The instrument can manufacture composites from thermoplastic waste that can be molded into materials like paver blocks, tiles, and bricks.

Wetland City Accreditation

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has submitted three nominations from India for Wetland City Accreditation (WCA) of Indore (Madhya Pradesh), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) & Udaipur (Rajasthan) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. WCA – A voluntary scheme that recognizes cities which have taken exceptional steps to safeguard their urban wetlands. Establishment – During the Ramsar Convention COP12, 2015. Objectives &nd

Amrit Dharohar Scheme

Recently, Ministry of Tourism started training in Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha under Amrit Dharohar Capacity Building Scheme. Goal – To promote unique conservation values of Ramsar Sites’. Ramsar Convention of 1971, an intergovernmental treaty for conservation and wise use of wetlands, was ratified by India in 1982. Purpose – To maintain healthy Ramsar Sites which Provide water and food security and buffer the landscape&nb

Nathapodytes nimmoniana

Researchers at the Indian Institutes of Technology Madras and Mandi have metabolically engineered plant cells to increase production of anti-cancer drug camptothecin (CPT). Nathapodytes nimmoniana Nathapodytes nimmoniana is an endangered medicinal plant widely distributed throughout the Western Ghats of India. The plant contains camptothecin (CPT) which is renowned anticancer drugs. Though, CPT found in many plant species but maximum amount of CPT has been reported from N. nimmo

Effects of industries on Dahej

Industrial pollution has destroyed local fisheries in Dahej near Bharuch, Gujarat. Dahej Location - Near the ancient port site of Barygaza (near today’s Bharuch) on the Gulf of Khambhat, Gujarat. Economic importance - It began to be developed as a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in 1990. It is one of the four Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemicals Investment Regions (PCPIR) in the country. Ecological significance - Th

Critically Important Antimicrobials (CIA)

The findings of a new survey by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) underscored the need for properly monitoring critically important antimicrobials to mitigate AMR. CIAs – They represent a class of antimicrobials. Categorised by – World Health Organisation (WHO). 3 groups – Based on their importance to human medicine and the urgency to preserve their effectiveness in treating infectious diseases. HPCIAs &nda

Sisal

Sisal is a species of flowering plant native to southern Mexico. Sisal, (Agave sisalana), plant of the family Asparagaceae and its fibre, the most important of the leaf fibre group. The leaves have been used to make twine, cloth, carpets and mezcal, a distilled alcoholic beverage. A recent study suggests that the sisal leaves could make sanitary napkins more sustainable in India.

Green Hydrogen from Whisky Distillery

Researchers at the Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh used wastewater from the whisky distilling industry to produce green hydrogen, which is a type of sustainable fuel. They did this by developing a new nanoscale material, nickel selenide that allowed distillery wastewater to replace fresh water in the green hydrogen production & it treats the wastewater.

Swachh Survekshan Awards 

Recently Union government announced the Swachh Survekshan Awards 2023. An annual cleanliness ranking for urban areas since 2016. Released by – Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Coverage – Originally 73 cities in 2016, now has increased along with 4,416 urban local bodies, 61 cantonments and 88 Ganga towns. About 1.58 crore online citizen feedback and 19.82 lakh face-to-face views were received as a part

India’s First Dark Sky Park

The Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra has been designated as India's first Dark Sky Park and the fifth in Asia, protecting the night sky and preventing light pollution. India’s First Dark Sky Park The Pench Tiger Reserve (PTR) in Maharashtra is India's first Dark Sky Park within a tiger reserve for earmarking areas around the park that restrict light pollution for stargazers to access pristine dark skies. Dark Sky Place certification focuses on light

Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee- Bio pollution

The Supreme Court recently questioned the Centre on why reports of the court-appointed Technical Experts Committee (TEC) on the biosafety of genetically modified (GM) crops were not looked into by the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). GEAC It is the statutory committee constituted under the “Rules for the Manufacture, Use/Import/Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells (Rules, 1989)” framed under Environmen

Paramyrothecium indicum- Fungus

Scientists recently discovered a new species of fungus in Kerala, named ‘Paramyrothecium indicum’. Paramyrothecium indicum It is a new species of phytopathogenic fungus. Phytopathogens are parasites surviving on a plant host.  Most of Paramyrothecium are phytopathogens. They are responsible for “serious plant diseases which might negatively affect crop productivity. Paramyrothecium leaf spots are a type of fungal disease that can affect

Humboldt’s Enigma

Explorers and naturalists have been curious why some areas are more biodiverse than others. What is Humboldt’s enigma? It is a term used to describe the puzzle of why some mountain regions, especially in the tropics, have exceptionally high biodiversity, contrary to the expected decrease in diversity away from the equator. It is named after Alexander von Humboldt, a 19th-century naturalist who explored the relationship between climate, geography, and species distribution.

Yen Denominated Green Bonds

Ministry of Power, has achieved a significant milestone by issuing its inaugural Japanese Yen (JPY) 61.1 billion green bonds under Global Medium Term Notes Programme. Yen Denominated Green Bonds It is REC Limited’s eleventh venture into the international bond market and inaugural Yen Bond issuance, which is also the first Yen Green Bonds issuance by any Indian PSU Time period: 5-year, 5.25-year and 10-year bonds issued at yield of 1.76%, 1.79% and 2.20% respectivelya It i

African dream herb

A dying traditional game, given a fresh lease of life at the ongoing Karbi Youth Festival (KYF) in central Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, has fuelled a drive for conserving a creeper known as the African dream herb. About African dream herb A perennial climbing vine that is used by African traditional healers to induce vivid dreams that enables them to communicate efficiently with their ancestors. Common names: Giant sea bean, African dream herb, snuff box and Entada r

Global Carbon Project (GCP) Report

The Global Carbon Project report for 2023 was released during the recent COP28 summit held in Dubai, UAE. It is a Global Research Project of Future Earth and a research partner of the World Climate Research Programme. Established in – 2001 It is prepared every year by a global consortium of scientists. Aim – To develop a complete picture of the global carbon cycle, including both its biophysical and human dimensions together with the inte

Pinanga Subterranea

Pinanga subterranea is a species of palm tree native to Borneo. It's the 1st known species of palm to flower and fruit almost exclusively underground. This rare phenomenon has only been recorded in one other plant group, the orchid Rhizanthella.

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