ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY 25TH Cop, UNFCCC Why in News?

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

25TH CoP, UNFCCC Why in News? The 25th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP25,UNFCCC) in Madrid, the longest in history, ended in deadlock and disappointment over most of the contentious issues.  The delegates from 200 countries couldn't reach a consensus on Article 6 of Paris Agreement (deals with the establishment and functioning of carbon markets, the shares of proceeds from which had to feed into finances for mitigation, adaptation and implementation).

Why CoP25 failed?  Countries agreed in Paris in 2015 to revisit their climate pledges by 2020.  But many countries were pushing this year for a clear call for all countries to submit more ambitious climate pledges next year.  But countries such as China and Brazil opposed placing any obligation on countries to submit enhanced pledges next year, arguing it should be each country’s own decision.  They instead argued the focus should be on pre-2020 action by developing countries to meet their previous pledges.

Article 6 under Paris Agreement Article 6 under Paris Agreement contains three separate mechanisms for “voluntary cooperation”towards climate goals: two based on markets and a third based on “non-market approaches”.

Carbon markets under the Paris Agreement (Article 6)  Market Mechanism 1 (Article 6.2) – - It sets up a carbon market which allows countries to sell any extra emission reductions {called as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMO)} they have

achieved compared to their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) target. - E.g., if a country has committed to reducing its emissions by 100tCO2e (tonnes of CO2 equivalent), but actually reduces 120 tCO2e, it would be able to sell the extra 20tCO2e reduced to another country, which has not managed to meet its own target. This is a voluntary direct bilateral cooperation between the countries aiming to promote sustainable development, while ensuring environmental integrity and transparency(the reporting requirements under Paris regime).  Market Mechanism 2 (Article 6.4) - The second mechanism would create a new international carbonmarket for the trading of emissions reductions created anywhere in the world by the public or private sector. - This new market referred to as the “Sustainable Development Mechanism” (SDM) seeks to replace the CDM. - In contrast to direct bilateral cooperation under Mechanism 1, this mechanism will be supervised by a body designated by the UN Conference of the Parties (CoP). O - Another unique aspect of this mechanism is mobilizing the private sector to participate in climate change mitigation by providing suitable incentives.

 The non-Market Approach - Article 6.8 recognises “non- market” approaches to boost “mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology transfer and capacity-building”, in situations where no trade is involved.

- This could involve similar activities to those under Article 6.2 or 6.4, without the added element of trading. E.g., a country could support a renewable energy scheme overseas via concessional loan finance, but there would be no trading of any emissions cuts generated.

MIYAWAKI METHOD OF AFFORESTATION Why in news?

The Miyawaki method of afforestation, which has revolutionised the concept of urban afforestation by turning backyards into mini-forests, is to come up on the government office premises, residential complexes, school premises, and puramboke land in Kerala.

 The government intervention comes in the wake of the highly successful technique, pioneered by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, executed in the State by individuals to increase the green cover in urban and semi-urban areas. By promoting natural vegetation on land destroyed by natural calamities and man-induced mistakes along the coastline of Japan, Miyawaki managed to raise mini-forests.  The replication of the model across Kerala, which has suffered floods, landslips and soil erosion, assumes significance with the Rebuild Kerala initiative on.

What is Miyawaki Method? Miyawaki method helps to create a forest in just 20 to 30 years, while through conventional methods it takes anywhere between 200 to 300 years.  The approach is supposed to ensure that plant growth is 10

times faster and the resulting plantation is 30 times denser than usual.  Only native species are planted.

YADADRI METHOD

Why in news? Telangana’s Haritha Haram heralds Yadadri model of Green Revolution.  Haritha Haram is the annual afforestation drive promoted by the Telangana state government.  Presently in its sixth year, Haritha Haram heralds the Yadadri method of planting begun on an experimental basis two years ago.  This Yadadri pattern follows the Japanese Miyawaki technique (invented by botanist Akira Miyawaki) of growing urban forests, in a short time and less space. This unique method of afforestation is gaining popularity especially in urban areas which have less green space.

INDIA STATE OF FOREST REPORT, 2019

Recently, The Ministry of Environment (MoEFCC) released biennial 'India State of Forest Report (ISFR) – 2019’. The ISFR, a biennial exercise assesses the- • o Treecover o Mangrovecover o Growing stock inside & outside the forest areas of Carbon stock in Indian forests o Forest types & Biodiversity o Forest fire monitoring o Forest cover in different slopes & altitudes

1. Report is published by Forest Survey of India (foundedin1981,Hq:Dehradun) 2. It is the 16th report in the series , starting from 1987 3. 16th ISFR is completely digital.

4. Data from LISS 3 Sensor onboard resource sat-2 satellite is used. Key findings  There is an increase of 5,188 sq. km in the total forest and tree cover of the country. “Out of this, the increase in the forest cover has been observed as 3,976 sq km and that in tree cover is 1,212 sq. km (Tree cover is defined as patches of trees less than 1 hectare and occuring outside the recorded forest area).  Forest Cover reported in ISFR includes all lands having trees >1 hectare in area with tree canopy density >10% irrespective of ownership, legal status of the land & species composition of trees.  Range increase in forest cover has been observed in open forest followed by very dense forest and moderately dense forest.

 Area-wise Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in the country followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Maharashtra.  In terms of forest cover as percentage of total geographical area, the top five States are Mizoram (85.41%), Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%), Meghalaya (76.33%), Manipur (75.46%) and Nagaland (75.31%).

 Decline of Forest Cover in North Eastern Region. Total forest cover in the North Eastern region is 1,70,541 sq km, which is 65.05% of its geographical area.  There has been a decrease of forest cover to the extent of 765 sq km (0.45%) in the region. Except Assam and Tripura, all the States in the region show decrease in forest cover.

Mangrove Cover  The Mangrove ecosystems are unique & rich in biodiversity and they provide numerous ecological services/.  Mangrove cover has been separately reported in the ISFR 2019 and the total mangrove cover in the

country is 4,975 sq km.  An increase of 54 sq Km in mangrove cover has been observed as compared to the previous assessment of 2017.  Top three states showing mangrove cover increase are Gujarat (37 sq km) followed by Maharashtra (16 sq km) and Odisha (8 sq km).

Carbon Stock  The total carbon stock of the country was estimated at 7124 million tons, which is an increase of 42.6 million tons from the last assessment. It implies that India is on the right track to

achieve its Paris Agreement commitment of 2.5 -3 billion carbon sinks.

Largest area under Wetlands – 1. Gujarat 2. West Bengal Bamboo cover – 1. Madhya Pradesh 2. Maharashtra 3. Arunachal Pradesh

SCHEME TO TRADE IN FORESTS

Why in news? The Forest Advisory Committee has approved a scheme that could allow “forests” to be traded as a commodity.

How was it done till now?  In the current system, industry needs to make good the loss of forest by finding appropriate non-forest land — equal to that which would be razed.  It also must pay the State Forest Department the current economic equivalent called “Net Present Value” of the forest land.  It is then the Forest Department’s responsibility to grow appropriate vegetation that, over time, would grow into forests.  Therefore, the user agency needs to pay both for NPV and compensatory afforestation (funds go to CAF).  Industries have often complained that they find it hard to acquire appropriate non-forest land, which has to be contiguous to existing forest.

How is the new scheme different?  The proposed ‘Green Credit Scheme’, as it is called, allows agencies — they could be private companies, village forest communities — to identify land and begin growing plantations.

 After three years, they would be eligible to be considered as compensatory forest land if they met the Forest Department’s criteria.  An industry needing forest land could then approach the agency and pay it for parcels of such forested land, and this would then be transferred to the Forest Department and be recorded as forest land.  As it currently stands, industries need to find appropriate non- forest land in lieu of and equal to the forest land that was razed. The industry would also have to pay the State Forest Department the current economic equivalent of the forest land. It is then the responsibility of the Forest Department to restore vegetation in that area, which would over time grow into forests.

Net Present Value (NPV): is a monetary approximation of the value that is lost when a piece of forest land has been razed, under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.  This is on the basis of the services and ecological value and there is prescribed formulae for calculating this amount which depends on the location and nature of the forest and the type of industrial enterprise that will replace a particular parcel of forest.  The Supreme Court mandates this must be paid by those who use forest land for non-forestry purposes and only limited exemptions are permitted.  It was developed by a committee led by Professor Kanchan Gupta, of the Institute of Economic Growth.  These payments go to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF) and are used for afforestation and reforestation.  The CAF is managed by the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).  Decided by the Forest Advisory Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) decides on whether forests can be diverted for projects and the NPV to be charged.

Forest Advisory Committee  It is a statutory body which was constituted by the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980.  It comes under the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC).  It considers questions on the diversion of forest land for non-forest uses such as mining, industrial projects, townships and advises the government on the issue of granting forest clearances. However, its role is advisory. It comprises of official members, including the top bosses of the forest bureaucracy and three independent experts, who are the non-official members.

CAMPA  To compensate for the loss in the interim, the law requires that the Net Present Value (NPV) of the diverted forest is calculated for a period of 50 years, and recovered from the “user agency” that is “diverting” the forests.  The compensatory afforestation money and NPV are supposed to be collected from the user agency by the government of the state in which the project is located, and deposited with the central government. The money will eventually flow back to the state to be used for afforestation or related works.  The states would deposit money collected from user agencies with the national CAF, to be eventually credited into state CAFs as per their entitlement. The states would, however, receive only 90% of their share; the other 10% would be held back to cover administrative expenses.

RAMSAR WETLANDS

Why in news? India has added 10 more wetlands to sites protected by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

The 10 new ones are :  Nandur Madhameshwar, a first for Maharashtra.  Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve and Nangal in Punjab.  Nawabganj, Parvati Agra, Saman, Samaspur, Sandi and Sarsai Nawar in Uttar Pradesh. The other Ramsar sites are in Rajasthan, Kerala, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Tripura. With this, a total of 37 sites in the country have been recognised under the international treaty. Nandur Madhameshwar  It is the first Ramsar site in Maharashtra.  It is a mosaic of lakes, marshes and riparian forest on the Deccan Plateau.  Construction of the Nandur Madhameshwar Weir at the confluence of the Godavari and Kadwa Rivers helped create a thriving wetland.  Its diverse habitats contrast with the surrounding semi-arid conditions caused by the rain shadow of the Western Ghats mountain range.  It provides sanctuary to critically endangered species including Deolali minnow (a fish), Indian vulture and white-rumped vulture.

Saman Bird Sanctuary (Mainpuri, UP)  It is a seasonal oxbow lake on the Ganges floodplain.  The Sanctuary is particularly important as a wintering site for many migrants including the greylag goose, with over 1% of the South Asian population present during winter.

Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary (Unnao, UP)  It is a shallow marshland. Monsoon rains feed this diverse wetland while the Sarda Canal supplies additional water.  The Sanctuary supports recreation and tourism activities as well as local biodiversity.  The highly invasive common water hyacinth poses a threat, as does the removal of timber from the forests.  It is known to host Siberian cranes among migratory bird species that rest here during the winter months.

Samaspur Bird Sanctuary (Raebareli, UP)  It is a perennial lowland marsh typical of the Indo-Gangetic Plains in Uttar Pradesh.  Its six connected lakes are heavily dependent on monsoon rains.  The Sanctuary harbours threatened species such as the endangered Egyptian vulture and Pallas’s fish eagle and more than 1% of the South Asian population of the vulnerable common pochard.  A tall grass called “Sarpat” is also found in bunches at every spot.

Sandi Bird Sanctuary (Hardoi, UP)  It is a freshwater marsh, also designated as Important Bird Area by Birdlife International.  The Sandi Bird sanctuary is also known by its ancient name as “Dahar Jheel” (Jheel = Lake).  River Garra, formerly known as Garun Ganga, passes near the sanctuary.  It is home to over 1% of the South Asian populations of common teal, red-crested pochard and ferruginous duck while vulnerable sarus crane has a population of 200 individuals within the Sanctuary.

 The Sanctuary dried out leading to a subsequent collapse in waterbird populations from 2014 to 2015.

Parvati Agra Bird Sanctuary (UP)  It is a permanent freshwater environment consisting of two oxbow lakes.  They are rain-fed lakes in a deep natural depression in the Gangetic plains of the terai region of Uttar Pradesh.  The Sanctuary is a refuge for some of India’s threatened vulture species: the critically endangered whiterumped vulture and Indian vulture and the endangered Egyptian vulture have all been recorded.  Invasive species such as the common water hyacinth along with the development of roads and railways present significant threats.

Sarsai Nawar Jheel (Etawah, UP)  This typical wetland of the IndoGangetic floodplain in Uttar Pradesh is fed by precipitation run-off from the South West monsoon rains.  It is an example of co-habitation of humans and wildlife: farming practices across most of the Site play important roles in sustaining the waterbird habitats.  A particular beneficiary is the vulnerable sarus crane, with a population of 400 individuals making up the largest flock in the region.  Other threatened species present include the critically endangered whiterumped vulture and endangered woolly-necked stork.  It is recognized by Birdlife International as an Important Bird Area.

Beas Conservation Reserve (Punjab)  It is a 185-kilometre stretch of the Beas River majorly in Punjab.  The River is dotted with islands, sand bars and braided channels creating a complex environment supporting substantial biodiversity.

 The Reserve hosts the only known population in India of the endangered Indus river dolphin.  Further threatened species include the endangered masheer and hog deer as well as the vulnerable smoothcoated otter.  A programme was initiated to re-introduce the critically endangered gharial.

Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary (Punjab)  It is Located in the Shiwalik foothills of Punjab which is highly eco-sensitive.  It occupies a human-made reservoir constructed as part of the Bhakra-Nangal Project on Sutlej River in 1961.  The site is of historic importance as the Indian and Chinese Prime Ministers formalized the “Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence” there in 1954.

Keshopur-Miani Community Reserve (Punjab)  It is a mosaic of natural marshes, aquaculture ponds and agricultural wetlands maintained by the annual rainfall runoff.  It is heavily human influenced and includes a series of managed fishponds and cultivated crops such as lotus and chestnut.  The Site is an example of wise use of a community-managed wetland, which provides food for people and supports local biodiversity.  Threatened species present include the vulnerable common pochard and the endangered spotted pond turtle.

What is Ramsar List of Wetlands?

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands' Mission is “conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world”.  At the time of joining the Convention, each Contracting Party must designate at least one wetland site within their territory for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (the Ramsar List).

 The Convention, signed by India in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, is one of the oldest inter-governmental accord for preserving the ecological character of wetlands.

Ramsar Wetlands of India

COMPLETE PHASE-OUT OF HCFCs

Why in news? India has successfully achieved the complete phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC)-141 b, which is a chemical used by foam manufacturing enterprises and one of the most potent ozone depleting chemical after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

 HCFC-141b is not produced in What are HCFCs? the country and all the domestic  HCFCs are compounds containing requirements are met through carbon, hydrogen, chlorine and imports. fluorine.  With the notification from  They are less stable than CFCs MoEFCC, prohibiting the import because HCFC molecules contain of HCFC-141 b, the country has carbon-hydrogen bonds.  They have shorter atmospheric completely phased out the lifetimes than CFCs and deliver important ozone depleting less reactive chlorine to the chemical. stratosphere.  Simultaneously, the use of  HCFCs are also part of a group of chemicals known as the volatile HCFC-141 by foam organic compounds (VOCs). manufacturing industry has also  HCFCs do not usually dissolve in been closed as on 1st January, water, but do dissolve in organic 2020 under the Ozone Depleting (carbon-containing) solvents. Substances (Regulation and Control) Amendment Rules, 2014.

What is Montreal Protocol?  It seeks to cut the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances (ODS) such as Chloroflourocarbons and Hydro-chloroflourocarbons in order to protect the earth’s fragile ozone layer.  It also aims at phase out HCFCs by 2030. It came into force in 1989 and has been ratified by 197 parties making it universally ratified protocol in UN history.  Multilateral Fund: The Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol was set up in 1991 to

help developing countries to comply with the provision of the Protocol.  It provides financial and technical assistance to developing member countries whose yearly per capita consumption and production of ODSs is less than 0.3 kg. The activities of the Fund are implemented by four bodies: 1. UNEP 2. UN Development Programme (UNDP) 3. UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) 4. World Bank

Vienna Convention  The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer was signed in 1985 under which UN member countries recognized the importance of curbing damage to the ozone layer. As per the Convention’s provisions, countries agreed to adopt the Montreal Protocol to further the goals of the Vienna Convention.

Kigali Agreement  The Kigali Agreement is an amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which is an environmental treaty signed by countries to phase out Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs) from the earth’s atmosphere.  After coming into force in 1989, the Montreal Protocol has undergone many amendments. The Kigali Amendment is the 8th amendment.  The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer entered into force on 1st January 2019, following ratification by the required number of countries.  The agreement aims to phase down HFCs by reducing its manufacture and consumption.  HFCs are used as replacements for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) since they (HFCs) do not have any impact on the depletion of the ozone layer.  The agreement classifies the signatory parties into three as per the phase-down schedules to freeze and reduce the production of HFCs.

1. The first group consists of developed countries, led by the US and the European Union countries, that would have started the phase-down of HFCs by 2019, and reduce the level to 15% of 2012 level by the year 2036. 2. The second group consists of developing economies such as China, Brazil, and also some African States that will start the phase-down by 2024 and decrease it to 20% of 2021 levels by the year 2045. 3. The third group (in which India is placed) consists of developing economies and also some of the hottest nations, that will start the phase-down by 2028 and reduce the level to 15% of 2024-26 levels by the year 2047. Examples: Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia.

LOCUST ATTACK

Why in news? Locust attacks emanating from the desert area in Pakistan have struck parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat, causing heavy damage to standing crop.

What are locusts?  Locusts are a group of short- horned grasshoppers that multiply in numbers as they migrate long distances in destructive swarms.  The swarms devour leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, bark and growing points, and also destroy plants by their sheer weight as they descend on them in massive numbers.  Only four species of locusts are found in India: Desert locust (Schistocercagregaria), Migratory locust (Locustamigratoria), Bombay Locust (Nomadacrissuccincta) and Tree locust (Anacridium sp.).  A small swarm of the desert locust (Schistocercagregaria), a polyphagous feeder (eating a large variety of plants), eats on average ‘as much food in one day as about 10 elephants, 25 camels or 2500 people'.  Locust control and research -being implemented through the Locust Warning Organisation (LWO), established in 1939 and amalgamated in 1946 with the Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage (PPQS) (Faridabad) of the Ministry of Agriculture.  The LWO’s responsibility is monitoring and control of the locust situation in Scheduled Desert Areas, mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, and partly in Punjab and Haryana.  India is most at risk of a swarm invasion just before the onset of the monsoon. The swarms usually originate in the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOCUST PLAGUE, UPSURGE & OUTBREAK

Locust Outbreak  Before the outbreak stage, the FAO first issues ‘Desert Locust threats’ that are determined from an analysis of national survey and control data combined with remote sensing imagery and historical records. Such threats have been issued in 2012, 2013, and 2015. Not all threats develop into an outbreak.  When there are good rains and green vegetation develops, Desert Locusts – which are always present somewhere in the deserts between Mauritania and India – can rapidly increase in number and within a month or two, start to concentrate, gregarise which, unless checked, can lead to the formation of small groups or bands of wingless hoppers and small groups or swarms winged adults.  Such a situation is called an ‘outbreak’, and usually occurs with an area of about 5,000 sq. km (100 km by 50 km) in one part of a country.

Locust Upsurge  When an outbreak or contemporaneous outbreaks are not controlled and if widespread or unusually heavy rains fall in adjacent areas, several successive seasons of breeding can occur that causes further hopper band and adult swarm formation.  Ex: The upsurge of 1992-1994 affected India after Desert Locusts that bred for several generations along the Red Sea coastal plains in the winter of 1992 moved via the Arabian interior to India and Pakistan.

Locust Plague  When an upsurge is not controlled and ecological conditions remain favourable for breeding, locust populations continue to increase in number and size, and the majority of the infestations occur as bands and swarms.  It takes at least one year or more for a plague to develop through a sequence that commences with one or more outbreaks and followed by an upsurge. A major plague exists when two or more

regions are affected simultaneously. The area in which plagues occur covers about 29 million sq. km and can extend across 58 countries.  There have been six major plagues in the 1900s, one of which lasted almost 13 years.

Present situation  The current locust attack (2019-2020) has been categorised as an upsurge.  The FAO said spring-bred locust swarms, which migrated to the Indo-Pakistan border and travelled east to northern states, are expected to return back to Rajasthan with the start of the monsoon in coming days.

INDIAN OCEAN DIPOLE IS THE CAUSE OF RECENT LOCUST SURGE

A pattern of warming in the Indian Ocean may be a trigger for the recent Locust surge.  A phenomenon called the Indian Ocean Dipole, in which the western and eastern parts of the ocean, warm differentially, tend to have an outsized impact in bringing excessive rains to India and West Asia.  A ‘positive’ dipole is when the western part is hotter by a degree or more than the eastern. Last year saw one of the strongest positive dipoles in the Indian neighbourhood which brought on a difference of more than two degrees.  The Indian Ocean Dipole was so strong that it over-rode concerns of a drought in India last June and brought torrential rainfall — the most India has seen in decades.  This extended rainfall continued in several parts of West Asia, Oman, Yemen and in the Horn of Africa — Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya — so much so that that the dry sand became heavily moisture laden, facilitating the formation of several locust swarms.  While this dipole was beginning to take shape by late 2018 — and locust outbreaks were growing in Africa — it increased last

year. Due to favourable winds, it helped swarms to fly and breed in traditional grounds in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.  The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a specialised agency of the United Nations has been sending alerts on developing swarms.  Somalia announced a national state of emergency due to the outbreak in February 2020, while Pakistan declared a national emergency for the second time this year, in April.  The unusually mild summer this year, which saw several bouts of rainfall over north and western India from March to May, also helped the insects breed. The normal locust season in India spans June-November and coincides with the kharif season.

How are they controlled?  A locust attack has to be dealt with by spraying pest control and plant protection chemicals.  Strong Indian Ocean Dipoles are expected to become more frequent whetted by an overall trend of warming oceans.

CONVENTION ON CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS

The Thirteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP13), an environment treaty under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) concluded in Gandhinagar, India with the adoption of a number of significant resolutions and decisions to address the conservation needs and threats facing migratory species around the globe.

Theme – “Migratory Species connect the planet and together we welcome them home”.

 CMS COP13 was the largest ever in the history of the Convention.

Key Highlights  Ten new species were added to CMS Appendices at COP13. Seven species were added to Appendix I, which provides the strictest protection: the Asian Elephant, Jaguar, Great Indian Bustard, Bengal Florican, Little Bustard, Antipodean Albatross and the Oceanic White-tip Shark.  The Urial, Smooth Hammerhead Shark and the Tope Shark were listed for protection under Appendix II, which covers migratory species that have an unfavourable conservation status and would benefit from enhanced international cooperation and conservation actions.  New and extended Concerted Actions with targeted conservation plans were agreed for 14 species.  CMS COP13 also adopted the Gandhinagar Declaration - The Declaration calls for migratory species and the concept of ‘ecological connectivity’ to be integrated and prioritized in the new Framework, which is expected to be adopted at the UN Biodiversity Conference in October.

Three CMS Ambassadors - for terrestrial, avian, and aquatic species - were named at the relaunch of the CMS Ambassadors Programme: the internationally renowned conservationist Ian Redmond OBE (for terrestrial), award-winning explorer and environmentalist Sacha Dench (for avian), and Indian actor and environmental activist Randeep Hooda (for aquatic). They will help raise awareness about the important work of CMS and the plight of migratory species.

 Seven Migratory Species Champions were recognized during a special high-level event on the eve of the conference.  Under the Champion Programme, Germany, India, Italy, Monaco, Norway, the European Commission, and the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi were acknowledged for their generous contributions to CMS initiatives. These range from wildlife conservation in Africa to the implementation of measures to preserve marine life.  Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and CMS extended their decade-long partnership protecting Dugongs, African-Eurasian birds of prey and other migratory animals of regional 3 importance. A donor agreement was signed during a high-level event on the opening day of COP13.  Ethiopia joined the CMS Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptos MOU). In addition, the Sharks MOU has two more cooperating organizations – Divers for Sharks and the Save Our Seas Foundation.  Two sets of commemorative stamps were issued at COP13.  A special set of UN stamps featuring endangered migratory species was the result of a collaboration of the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).  Government of India also issued a special stamp edition featuring the Great Indian Bustard - the mascot of COP13.  India, as COP13 host, will assume the role of COP Presidency for the next three years.

STATE OF INDIA’S BIRDS REPORT 2020

Why in news? State of India’s Bird 2020 was released at the 13th Conference of Parties of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) held at Gandhinagar, Gujrat.

 The State of India’s Bird 2020 report assesses the status of 867 Indian birds.  It raises the alarm that several spectacular birds, many of them endemic to the sub-continent, face a growing threat from loss of habitat due to human activity, widespread presence of toxins including pesticides, hunting and trapping for the pet trade.  Apart from citizen data from birdwatchers, other organisations o Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) o Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) o Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) o National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) o Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) o Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) o Wetlands International South Asia (WI-SA) o Wildlife Institute of India (WII) o World Wide Fund for Nature India (WWF-India) have worked on this report.

Declining trend: The groups that show the greatest decline are raptors, migratory shorebirds, and habitat specialists, including White-rumped Vulture, Richard’s Pipit, Indian Vulture, Large-billed Leaf Warbler, Pacific Golden Plover and Curlew Sandpiper.

Increasing Trend: The species that have shown an increase in numbers include Rosy Starling, Feral Pigeon, Glossy Ibis, Plain Prinia and the Ashy Prinia.

Categorisation of Birds: The study categorized 101 species as “high concern”, 319 as “moderate concern” and 442 into “low concern”. Out of the species categorised as a high concern, 26% are classified globally by IUCN as “least concern”.

Analysis of Species

 India Peacock o The numbers of India’s national bird, the Indian Peacock, has increased dramatically over the past few decades. o The increase in numbers of the species has been attributed to a combination of the bird expanding its range (earlier it was absent in Kerala), conservation efforts and associated penalties for poaching under Schedule I of the Wildlife Act. o It is listed as ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List.

 Indian Vultures o It has experienced catastrophic population declines starting in the early 1990s. o The declines are almost entirely attributable to inadvertent poisoning by the livestock anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac. o Surveys conducted have shown that White- rumped Vulture has suffered the most severe declines, followed by Indian Vulture and Egyptian Vulture.

 House Sparrow o The House Sparrow has been found to be stable across the country as a whole, although declining in the major cities. o It has been declared as the “State Bird of Delhi” to save the species and enhance awareness about their life and habitat. o The reasons for the decline include decreasing insect populations (a key part of the diet of sparrow chicks) and paucity of suitable nesting sites. o Moreover, the popular theory that radiation from mobile phone towers is a factor is not supported by the findings of this report.

 Bustards in India o All the four species of bustards in India (the Great Indian Bustard, Macqueen’s Bustard, Lesser Florican and Bengal Florican) have suffered continuous population declines. o The decline is observed due to historical hunting and widespread habitat loss, with their slow growth and reproduction. o The largest of them, the Great Indian Bustard, is classified as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List 2019 and has been included in the CMS list in the 13th COP.

 Waterbirds o It showed overall long-term declines, amongst which migratory shorebirds and gulls and terns appear to have declined the most. o Overall, migratory species (both long-distance and within- subcontinent) show steeper declines than residents.

ILLEGAL SANDMINING

Why in news? Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has for the first time released guidelines to monitor and check illegal sand mining in the country. It includes directions to states to carry out  River audits  Put detailed survey reports of all mining areas online and in the public domain  conduct replenishment studies of river beds  monitor mining with drones, aerial surveys, ground surveys and set up dedicated task forces at district levels.  Online sales and purchase of sand and other riverbed materials to make the process transparent.  Night surveillance of mining activity through night-vision drones.

 The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 has empowered state governments to make rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals. Background  Sand is a minor mineral defined under Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).  The present guidelines list following as major sources: River (riverbed and flood plain, Lakes and reservoirs, Agricultural fields, Coastal/ marine sand, Palaeo-channels and Manufactured Sand (M-Sand).  MMDR Act, 1957 empowers state governments to frame rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals (both major minerals and minor minerals) and for purposes connected therewith.  Control of illegal mining is, therefore, under the legislative and administrative jurisdiction of state governments.

E-FLOW NORMS Why in news? 4 of the 11 projects are flouting norms for hydro power projects on the upper reaches of the river Ganga’s tributaries to release minimum quantities of water through the year says Central Water Commission (CWC).

What are e-flow/ecological flow/environmental flow norms?  Environmental flows are the acceptable flow regimes that are required to maintain a river in the desired environmental state or predetermined state.  A river's e-flow is the quantity and timing of water that is essential for the river to perform its ecological functions and also important from the social and cultural standpoint.  As part of the Centre's Namami Gange river cleaning project, Aviral Dhara (uninterrupted flow) is one of two important components, along with Nirmal Dhara (Unpolluted flow).  The ecological flow, or e-flow notification as it is called, specifies that the upper stretches of the Ganga — from its origins in the

glaciers and until Haridwar — would have to maintain: 20% of the monthly average flow of the preceding 10-days between November and March, which is the dry season; 25% of the average during the ‘lean season’ of October, April and May; and 30% of monthly average during the monsoon months of June- September.  The compliance of minimum environmental flow is applicable to all existing, under-construction and future projects.  The mini and micro-projects which do not alter the flow characteristics of the river or stream significantly are exempted from these environmental flows.  The Central Water Commission is the designated authority and the custodian of the data and will be responsible for supervision, monitoring, regulation of flows and reporting of necessary information to the appropriate authority and also take emergent decisions about the water storage norms in case of an emergency.

EVOLUTION OF CRZ RULES IN INDIA Regularising population and commercial pressure on the active play zone of the sea waves was at the heart of the notification, when it was first issued in 1991 under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986.  It demarcated an area up to 500 metres from the high tide line (HTL) all along the coast as CRZ, classified it into four categories depending on their land use or sensitivity and regulated developmental activities in the areas.  In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, which killed 10,000 people along the eastern coast, CRZ Notification 2011 was brought in to beef up coastal zone.  In fact, over the last 27 years, the notification has been iterated twice and modified 34 times, making it the most amended law in the history of India.  As per the 2011 notification, CRZ-1 includes the most ecologically sensitive areas like mangroves, coral reefs and sand dunes, and intertidal zones. It was off-limits for tourism activities and infrastructure development, except for defence, strategic and rare public utility projects.

CRZs have been classified into 4 zones for the purpose of regulation:

CRZ-I: includes ecologically sensitive areas, where no construction is allowed except activities for atomic power plants, defense. CRZ-II: includes designated urban areas that are substantially built up. Construction activities are allowed on the landward side only. CRZ-III: includes relatively undisturbed areas, mainly rural areas. No new construction of buildings allowed in this zone except repairing of the existing ones. However, constructions of dwelling units in the plot area lying between 200-500m of the high tide line is allowed. CRZ-IV: includes the water area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 nautical miles seaward. Except for fishing and related activities, all actions impugning on the sea and tidal water will be regulated in this zone.

The latest notification further categorises CRZ-1  CRZ 1A - It allows “eco-tourism activities - mangrove walks, tree huts, nature trails, etc. Sea links, salt harvesting and desalination plants and roads on stilts. The controversial land reclamation, in which new land is created from oceans or lake beds and is known to have strong impacts on coastal ecology, has been allowed in intertidal or CRZ-IB areas, for ports and sea links.  In CRZ-II, a substantially built-up area, project developers can now increase the floor area ratio or floor space index, and build resorts and other tourism facilities. A large part of South Mumbai falls in this category.  The latest notification drastically shrinks NDZ to 50 m from HDL in densely populated areas (where population exceeds 2,161 per sq km as per the 2011 Census). This technically allows resorts, hotels and tourism facilities to be built right up to HTL.  The committee under MS Swaminathan, set up in the aftermath of the tsunami, went as far as suggesting a land rights recognition law along the lines of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 for

the communities who subsist on the coastal areas based on their customary rights. Salient Features of Notification 2018  Floor Space Index Norms Eased: In CRZ, 2011 Notification, for CRZ-II (Urban) areas, Floor Space Index (FSI) was frozen as per 1991 Development Control Regulation (DCR) levels. o In the CRZ, 2018 Notification, it has been decided to de- freeze the same and permits FSI for construction projects to enable redevelopment of these areas to meet the emerging needs.  New Categories for densely populated rural areas:  For CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have now been stipulated as below: o CRZ-III A - These are densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometer as per 2011 Census. Such areas will have a No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the High Tide Line as against 200 meters from the High Tide Line stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011. o CRZ-III B - Rural areas with a population density of below 2161 per square kilometer as per 2011 Census. Such areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL.

 Tourism infrastructure in coastal areas: Temporary tourism facilities such as toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities etc. have now been permitted in Beaches. However, a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of such facilities.  CRZ Clearances streamlined: Only such projects/activities, which are located in the CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) and CRZ IV (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 Nautical Miles seaward) will be required to be cleared by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. For, the CRZ-II (urban) or CRZ III (rural) areas, the CRZ clearance will be considered at the state level by the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA).

 No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters for Islands: For islands close to the mainland coast and for all Backwater Islands in the mainland, NDZ of 20 m has been stipulated.  Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance: Specific guidelines related to their conservation and management plans have been drawn up as a part of the CRZ Notification.  Pollution abatement: In order to address pollution in Coastal areas treatment facilities have been made permissible activities in CRZ-I B area (the area between the Low tide line and High tide line) subject to necessary safeguards.  Defense and strategic projects are exempted from regulations.

CRZ RULES FOR ‘BLUE FLAG’ BEACHES The Environment Ministry has relaxed Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules that restrict construction near beaches to help states construct infrastructure and enable them to receive ‘Blue Flag’ certification.

Blue Flag Certification  It is an international recognition conferred on beaches that meet certain criteria of cleanliness and environmental propriety by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an NGO based in Copenhagen, Denmark.  A ‘Blue Flag’ beach provides hygienic and clean bathing water, basic infrastructure to tourists and sustainable development in the area.  Chandrabagha beach located on the Konark coast of Odisha is the first beach in the country to receive ‘Blue Flag Certification’.  The certification is accorded by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environment Education, with 33 stringent criteria under four major heads for the beaches, that is 1. Environmental Education and Information 2. Bathing Water Quality 3. Environment Management and Conservation 4. Safety and Services  The 13 earmarked beaches are —

The Blue Flag certification, however, requires beaches to create certain infrastructure — portable toilet blocks, grey water treatment plants, a solar power plant, seating facilities, CCTV surveillance and so on. However, India’s CRZ laws don’t allow the construction of such infrastructure on beaches and islands.  Central Government hereby declares that for the purpose of Blue Flag Certification, in such identified beaches, the following activities and facilities shall be permitted in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), including Islands, subject to maintaining a minimum distance of 10 meters from HTL (High Tide Line).

BLACK CARBON

Why in news? Black carbon concentrations near the Gangotri glacier rose 400 times in summer due to forest fires and stubble burning from agricultural waste, and triggered glacial melt, says a study by scientists at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG).

 Black carbon results from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. The fine particles absorb light and about a million times more energy than carbon dioxide. It is said to be the second largest contributor to climate change after CO2  But unlike CO2, which can stay in the atmosphere for years together, black carbon is short-lived and remains in the atmosphere only for days to weeks before it descends as rain or snow.  India is the second largest emitter of black carbon in the world, with emissions expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades  Black carbon absorbs solar energy and warms the atmosphere. When it falls to earth with precipitation, it darkens the surface of snow and ice, reducing their albedo (the reflecting power of a surface), warming the snow, and hastening melting.

HUBBALI-ANKOLA RAILWAY LINE

Why in news? The Karnataka government cleared the controversial project at State wildlife board meeting.  The state government, which cleared the proposed Hubballi- Ankola railway line, appears to have underestimated the total number of trees that would be felled in the process while ignoring the biodiversity of the region.  Railways claims that the project involves felling of 1.78 lakh to 2.2 lakh trees. But according to a report submitted by an expert committee, these figures are a gross underestimation given the high canopy density along the track alignment extending to 168 km.

 The report pointed out that the alignment of the track passes through the Western Ghats forests and the region is part of the Bedthi Conservation Reserve (at Yellapur), closer to Dandeli Hornbill Conservation Reserve and located in the buffer region of Anshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve, which is about 6.5 km from the track alignment.  The railway line passes through different types of forests, including evergreen, semi-evergreen, moist deciduous, and dry deciduous forests with a high canopy density.  They have pointed out that the forests along the proposed project zone is rich in fauna represented by 29 species of mammals, 256 species of birds, 8 species of reptiles, and 50 species of butterflies.  “Majority of mammals belong to IUCN Red List and most of them are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,” says the report.

State Wildlife Board : Section 6 in The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 : Constitution of State Board for Wild Life.— (1) The State Government shall, within a period of six months from the date of commencement of the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002 constitute a State Board for Wild Life consisting of the following members, namely:— (a) the Chief Minister of the State and in case of the Union territory, either Chief Minister or Administrator, as the case may be— Chairperson; (b) the Minister in-charge of Forests and Wild Life—Vice Chairperson.

Kali Tiger Reserve  The Kali Tiger Reserve (previously known as Dandeli-Anshi Tiger Reserve) comprises of two important protected areas of the region, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary and Anshi National Park which are contiguous to each other in the Western Ghats.  The Kali River flows through the reserve and is the lifeline of the ecosystem.

 Connected to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary, Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary and Sahyadri Tiger Reserve through important wildlife corridors.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Background  Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, India notified its first EIA norms in 1994, setting in place a legal framework for regulating activities that access, utilise, and affect (pollute) natural resources. Every development project has been required to go through the EIA process for obtaining prior environmental clearance ever since.  The 1994 EIA notification was replaced with a modified draft in 2006. Earlier this year, the government redrafted it again to incorporate the amendments and relevant court orders issued since 2006, and to make the EIA “process more transparent and expedient”.

Categories under EIA, 2006 Category A projects – Mandatorily requires EIA from Central Government in the MoEFCC on the recommendations of an Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC).

Category B projects - requires EIA from State Government on recommendations of State of UT level Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)  Category B1 (Mandatory)  Category B2 (Does not require EIA)

The EAC and SEAC shall be reconstituted after every 3 years. However, in the absence of a duly constituted SEAC, a Category ‘B’ project will be treated as Category A project.

All category B projects, which include projects with lesser size of capacity and smaller impact then category a come and publish State- level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).

The SEIAA was further directed to base its decision, recommending or denying the environmental clearance, on the recommendations of a state or union territory level expert appraisal committee.

Process of EIA It has four stages,  Screening  Scoping  Public hearing  Appraisal

Screening  This is only for category B projects, as all category a project are required to undergo EIA process.  For category B projects the state EAC decides its project belongs to category B1 and B2.  B1 category project required EIA while beta category projects are exempted from EIA.

Scoping  Meant for projects belonging to category A and B1

Public hearing  It is the process by which the contents of local affected persons in others who have plausible stake in and you don’t want to impact of the project or activity or asserted with a view to taking into account all the material concerns in the project or activity designed as appropriate.  A public hearing committee conducts public hearing  The committee as District Collector as chairman, members including officials of pollution control board, respective of taluka, gram Sabha.

Appraisal  Appraisal means detailed scrutiny by the expert appraisal committee or state level expert appraisal committee

Changes proposed in Draft EIA, 2020  It is set to supersede the 2006 notification  Post facto approval means that clearances for projects can be awarded even if they started construction or have been running face without securing environmental clearances.  Additionally, the 2020 draft also spells out how the government will take cognisance of such violations. It has to be reported either by a government authority or the developers themselves. There is no scope for any public complaint about violations. Instead, the reliance is on the violators to disclose, suo motu, that they broke the law. Not citizens for the civil society.  New construction up to under 50,000 sq m do not need details scrutiny by an expert committee or EIA. Earlier it was 20,000 sq m.  The draft notification provides for a reduction of time period from 30 days to 20 days for the public to submit their responses during a public hearing for any application seeking environmental clearance.

Red flags  While projects concerning national defence and security are naturally considered strategic, the government gets to decide on the “strategic” tag for other projects. The 2020 draft says no information on “such projects shall be placed in the public domain”. This opens a window for summary clearance for any project deemed strategic without having to explain why.  Additionally, the new draft exempts a long list of projects from public consultation. For example, linear projects such as roads and pipelines in border areas will not require any public hearing. The ‘border area’ is defined as "area falling within 100 kilometres aerial distance from the Line of Actual Control with bordering countries of India.” That would cover much of the Northeast, the repository of the country’s richest biodiversity.  While a significant slab of threshold limits is now pushed under category ‘B2’ projects, these projects are completely exempted from the EIA and public consultation process. Further, these categories have been kept fluid, -This means that essentially, all

the hydro-electric projects lesser than 25MW and irrigation projects that have a culturable command area between 2,000 and 10,000 hectares will not need an EIA or a public consultation for their appraisal.

What's exempt  All inland waterways projects and expansion/widening of national highways. These include roads that cut through forests and dredging of major rivers.

Legal question  An EIA notification is issued under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, to impose restrictions on setting up new projects or expansion or modernisation of existing projects. The section stipulates that such measures must benefit the environment.

B2 CATEGORY UNDER DRAFT EIA NOTIFICATION, 2020

Among the major departures from existing regulations is the removal of several activities from the purview of public consultation. A list of projects has been included under Category B2, expressly exempted from the requirement of an EIA (Clause 13, sub cl. 11).  The projects under this category include offshore and onshore oil, gas and shale exploration, hydroelectric projects up to 25 MW, irrigation projects between 2,000 and 10,000 hectares of command area, small and medium mineral beneficiation units, small foundries involving furnace units, some categories of re- rolling mills, small and medium cement plants, small clinker grinding units, acids other than phosphoric or ammonia, sulphuric acid, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in dye and dye intermediates, bulk drugs, synthetic rubbers, medium-sized paint units, all inland waterway projects, expansion or widening of highways between 25 km and 100 km with defined parameters, aerial ropeways in ecologically sensitive areas, and specified building construction and area development projects.

 Also, coal and non-coal mineral prospecting and solar photovoltaic projects do not need prior environmental clearance or permission in the new scheme.

Global norms  Aarhus Convention, 1998, which stipulates that environmental rights and human rights are linked, the present generation owes an obligation to future generations, sustainable development can be achieved only through the involvement of all stakeholders, government accountability and environmental protection are connected, and interactions between the public and public authorities must take place in a democratic context.

GLOBAL FOREST RESOURCES ASSESSMENT 2020 (FRA 2020)

Global conservation efforts appear to be having a positive impact on the planet’s forests. Deforestation rate globally decline between 2015 and 2020, according to the FRA 2020 released by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The report observes that an increasing number of forest areas are now protected as more countries are adopting better forest management practices. Countries have managed to achieve this success by enacting forest laws and monitoring forest resources with greater involvement of local communities in forest planning and forest policy development.

Key Findings  While forest area has declined all across the world in the past three decades, the rate of forest loss has declined due to the growth of sustainable management.  The rate of forest loss in 2015-2020 declined to an estimated 10 million hectares (mha), down from 12 million hectares (mha) in 2010-2015.

 Among the world’s regions, Africa had the largest annual rate of net forest loss in 2010–2020, at 3.9 mha, followed by South America, at 2.6 mha.  On the other hand, Asia had the highest net gain of forest area in 2010–2020, followed by Oceania and Europe.  However, both Europe and Asia recorded substantially lower rates of net gain in 2010–2020 than in 2000–2010.  Oceania experienced net losses of forest area in the decades 1990–2000 and 2000–2010.  The world’s total forest area was 4.06 billion hectares (bha), which was 31 per cent of the total land area. This area was equivalent to 0.52 ha per person, the report noted.  The largest proportion of the world’s forests were tropical (45 per cent), followed by boreal, temperate and subtropical.  More than 54 per cent of the world’s forests were in only five countries — the Russian Federation, Brazil, Canada, the United States of America and China.  The highest per cent of plantation forests were in South America while the lowest were in Europe.  South America had the highest share of forests in protected areas.

URBAN FOREST SCHEME

 Urban forest is the best way to bridge this gap. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has therefore, appropriately adopted Nagar van as the theme of WED celebrations 2020 to promote and conserve biodiversity in urban landscapes.

About the scheme  These forests will work as lungs of the cities and will primarily be on the forest land in the City or any other vacant land offered by local urban local bodies.  This Urban Forest project is now helping maintain ecological balance, serving both environmental and social needs. The Warje Urban Forest is now a role model for the rest of the country.

Warje Urban Forest or Smriti Van Before becoming a pioneering urban forest, Warje Hill was a barren land under the Maharashtra Forest Department. As the city grew, it caused many encroachments by slums and builders.  Four years ago, under an unique experiment the Maharashtra Forest Department joined hands with TERRE Policy, a city based NGO, Tata Motors and Persistent Foundation to turn the barren hill into a green forest.  Smriti Van today boasts of more than 6,500 grown up trees. Some have become 25-30 feet tall.

ANTHROPAUSE

Why in news? Researchers in the UK are set to study the "anthropause", a term they have coined to refer to the coronavirus-induced lockdown period and its impact on other species.

 The unprecedented curbs imposed on millions of people around the world, mainly due to restrictions in travel, led to reports of unusual animal behaviour. For instance, there were pumas sighted in Chile's Santiago, jackals in the parks of Tel Aviv in Israel, dolphins in the waters of Italy and even a monkey fight on the streets of Thailand.  The researchers believe studying this period will provide valuable insights into the relationship between human- wildlife interactions in the 21st century. They have outlined their study in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution.  Researchers have suggested the lockdown period, which is also being referred to as the “Great Pause”, be referred to with a more precise term. “We propose ‘anthropause’ to refer specifically to a considerable global slowing of modern human activities, notably travel," they said.  “We are aware that the correct prefix is ‘anthropo-’ (for ‘human’) but opted for the shortened form, which is easier to remember and use, and where the missing ‘po’ is still echoed in the pronunciation of ‘pause’," they added.  According to the researchers, as expanding human populations continue to transform their environments at “unprecedented rates”, studying how human and animal behaviour may be linked can help provide insights that may be useful in preserving global biodiversity, maintaining the integrity of ecosystems and predicting global zoonoses and environmental changes.  Further, because the reduction in human activity during the lockdown on both land and sea has been “unparalleled” in recent history, the effects have been “drastic, sudden and widespread”. Essentially, this gives them a chance to study the extent to which modern human mobility affects wildlife.

TIGERS IN INDIA

Why in news? Updated report on India’s Tiger Survey from 2018

About  India hosts 70% of the world’s tigers.

 The survey reveals that nearly a third of India’s tigers are living outside tiger reserves and nearly 17 of the 50 reserves are approaching the peak of their capacity at sustaining their populations.

Tiger census Report, 2018  The total count has risen to 2,967 from 2,226 in 2014 — an increase of 741 individuals (aged more than one year), or 33%, in four years.  This is by far the biggest increase in terms of both numbers and percentage since the four-yearly census using camera traps and the capture-mark-recapture method began in 2006. The number that year was 1,411; it rose by 295 (21%) to 1,706 in 2010; and by 520 (30%) to 2,226 in 2014.

India has 2,967 tigers, a third more than in 2014, according to results of a census made public on July 29 last year. Madhya Pradesh has the highest number of tigers at 526, closely followed by Karnataka (524) and Uttarakhand (442). Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in tiger population and all other States saw a “positive” increase, according to a press statement.

GREEN-AG PROJECT

Why in news? The Union government on July 28, 2020, launched the Green-Ag Project in Mizoram, to reduce emissions from agriculture and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.

Mizoram is one of the five states where the project will be implemented. Other states include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha and Uttarakhand.  The project is designed to achieve multiple global environmental benefits in at least 1.8 million hectares (ha) of land in five landscapes, with mixed land use systems. It aims to bring at

least 104,070 ha of farms under sustainable land and water management.  The project will also ensure 49 million Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2eq) sequestered or reduced through sustainable land use and agricultural practices.  The Green-Ag Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility, while the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation, and Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW) is the national executing agency.  Other key players involved in its implementation are Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).  The pilot project is supposed to end on March 31, 2026, in all states, including Mizoram, where the project covers 145,670 ha of land in two districts — Lunglei and Mamit. It aims to cover 35 villages and includes two protected areas — the Dampa Tiger Reserve and the Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary.  This project becomes unique for its site selection. The landscape has revenue villages and community land in close conjunction with national parks and protected areas.  Sustainable agriculture was the main component of the project and given the unique advantage of Mizoram in terms of agro- climatic conditions, water availability and a hard-working population, the state could produce niche products like passion fruits and provide them to the entire country, besides exploring export markets too.  The Green-Ag project would help local people take advantage of the rich agro-biodiversity present in their landscape for sustainability of agriculture and livestock production practices, promotion of secondary agriculture, establishment of green value chains and thereby enhancing their incomes.

KHAZAN FARMING SYSTEM

Why in news? Lands under estuarine agricultural system, called Khazan farming in Goa, are in state of decay

 The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, like most other low-lying floodplains of Goa, was characterised by an estuarine agricultural system called Khazan farming. This system is a carefully designed topo-hydro-engineered agro-aquacultural ecosystem mainly based on the regulation salinity and tides.  Today, for various reasons, but primarily due to post- independence agrarian reforms of 1961, these lands largely lie fallow and are in a state of decay. Lack of cultivation and maintenance of the bunds and sluice gates is leading to their breaching and the natural reclamation of these fallow lands by mangroves.

Khazan farming  Centuries ago, people in this region reclaimed low-lying brackish coastal floodplains and mangrove forests.  They constructed bunds using locally available material to prevent the ingress of salt water, which killed the halophilic mangroves.  To control the flow of tidal Sluice gates waters, they built openings in

bunds fitted with sluice gates. These gates acted as one way valves, allowing water from the main backwaters to enter the specially dug channels (poiems) around the fields. These channels would fill in with the oncoming tide and bring with them fish, crab and shrimp, and the gates would automatically shut when the water level was equal on both sides.  This prevented the water from overflowing into the fields used to grow paddy and which has a low tolerance to salt. When the tide receded, the sluice gates would open outwards automatically, allowing the water from the poiems to drain out. During this time, a bag net was set at the sluice gate to catch fish that had entered in earlier.  Everything has a place in the system — while well-managed khazan lands would not have mangroves growing within them, they were allowed to continue to flourish along the outer banks of the bund and the banks of the backwater or the estuary, because their significance for artisanal fisheries as fish nurseries was well understood.

Importance  Every bit of space was precious and used efficiently — the bunds were used to grow a variety of vegetables.  The Khazan system allowed for the farmer and the fisher to harmoniously coexist and was the key to sustaining what is considered Goa’s staple — fish, curry and rice.

What has happened now?  Today, for various reasons, but primarily due to post- independence agrarian reforms of 1961, these lands largely lie fallow and are in a state of decay.  Lack of cultivation and maintenance of the bunds and sluice gates is leading to their breaching and the natural reclamation of these fallow lands by mangroves.

ANIMALS/CONSERVATION AREAS IN NEWS

1. ASIATIC CHEETAH The Supreme Court recently allowed the Centre to introduce the African cheetah to a suitable habitat in India after a stay on 7 year long proposal. From Namibia to the Kuno Paplur Sanctuary (MP) With India’s own cheetahs vanishing, a plea for this had been filed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), seeking permission to introduce the African cheetah from Namibia. ‘Reintroduction’ of a species means releasing it in an area where it is capable of surviving.

African cheetah and Asiatic cheetah Before Namibia, India had approached Iran for Asiatic cheetahs, but had been refused. Asiatic cheetah - “critically endangered” species by the IUCN Red List, and is believed to survive only in Iran. From 400 in the 1990s, their numbers are estimated to have plummetted to 50-70 today, because of poaching, hunting of their main prey (gazelles) and encroachment on their habitat. Physically, there are barely any differences between the Asiatic and African sub-species of cheetahs.

African Cheetah – Vulnerable

Asiatic cheetahs in India In 1947, Maharaja Ramanuj Pratap Singh Deo of Koriya (now in Chhattisgarh) reportedly killed the last known Asiatic cheetah in India. Some more unconfirmed sightings were reported in 1951 and 1952, from the Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border and Chittoor district. The latter sighting is generally accepted to be the final credible sighting of a cheetah in India. In 1952, the cheetah was officially declared extinct from India.

Currently, wildlife experts have shortlisted three regions which have the potential to support cheetah populations -  The Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary (MP’s biggest) and Kuno- Palpur Wildlife Sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh  Shahgarh bulge landscape in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan have been declared potentially suitable for the reintroduction of the cheetah.  At a future date, when sufficient population has built up, other former range habitats in India (after revitalizing them) may also be considered for reintroduction like the Banni grasslands and Desert National Park etc.  A few wildlife groups have suggested the Moyar river valley in Tamil Nadu's Satyamangalam FD, part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve as it is a pristine forest with flourishing population of prey and a good record of conservation.

Asiatic cheetah African Cheetah

2. HOOLOCK GIBBONS

Why in news? Hoolock Gibbons, the only species of apes found in India, are threatened with extinction in the Ukhrul and Kamjong districts of Manipur, a report has claimed.

The two districts used to be covered with dense, tropical rainforests, which provided ideal tree canopies for the arboreal, brachiating ape species.

However, in the past three-four decades, rampant deforestation for timber, forest fires and indiscriminate hunting had led to the decline of not just the gibbons but also other herbivore species like wild goats, antelope and deer, the report said. Without the tree canopies, the gibbons cannot swing from branch to branch and stake out their territories. They also cannot adapt to living on the ground and cannot bear the high temperatures brought about by the loss of green cover, the report said.

Hoolock Gibbon

IUCN Status - Endangered  The hoolock gibbons are three primate species of genus Hoolock in the gibbon family, Hylobatidae, native to eastern Bangladesh, Nor theast

India, Myanmar and So uthwest China.  In northeast India, the hoolock (Western Hoolock Gibbon) is found south of Brahmaputra as well on the North Bank areas and east of the Dibang Rivers. Its range extends into seven states covering Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura (The seven northeastern states of India).  Like the other gibbons, they are diurnal and arboreal, brachiating through the trees with their long arms. They live together in monogamous pairs, which stake out a territory. Their calls serve to locate family members and ward off other gibbons from their territory. Their diet consists mainly of fruits, insects and leaves.

3. INDIA'S FIRST DOLPHIN OBSERVATORY IN BIHAR

The Bihar government is setting up India’s first observatory for the mammals in Bhagalpur district. Construction at the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) in the state’s Bhagalpur district is scheduled to be completed by early next year.  The structural design of the observatory is such that it will promote eco-tourism. “It will give people an incentive to visit the place and see dolphins in the sanctuary without disturbing them,  The observatory is being built on the Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat bridge over the Ganga.  The endangered Gangetic dolphin, India’s national aquatic animal, has reportedly become more visible in the VGDS due to minimum human activity on the Ganga during the ongoing novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown.

Gangetic Dolphins  The Ganges river dolphin is found in parts of the Ganges, Meghna, and Brahmaputra river systems in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.  They are locally known as Susu, which refers to the

noise the dolphin is said to make when it breathes.  The Gangetic river dolphin is India's national aquatic animal.  They are generally blind, they navigate by echolocation.  IUCN Status – Endangered

The Gangetic river dolphin is one of the four freshwater dolphin species in the world. The other three are found in the Yangtze river in China, the Indus river in Pakistan and the Amazon river in South America.

 The Amazon river dolphin is also known as the boto or ‘pink river dolphin. It is characterized by its long snout and pale pink color.  The Indus river dolphins locally as the Bhulan. They are found in the lower parts of the Indus River in Pakistan. Another small, isolated population can be found in the Beas River. The Beas River hosts the only known population of Indus River Dolphin in India and was also selected for the Gharial reintroduction programme.

4. ITERATIVE EVOLUTION

The world has seen many species of birds go extinct, but now we are seeing an interesting trend of de-extinction—also called resurrection biology or species revivalism—of a few birds. This process of evolution is known as iterative evolution. Here are some bird species that have risen from the dead.

Turquoise parrot  Native to eastern Australia, the parrot species went extinct in 1915. T  IUCN - ‘Least Concern’.  It mainly feeds on fruits, flowers, grasses, seeds and insects, and nests in hollows in gum trees.

Canada geese  These are very popular and found in Canada and parts of the US.  They are herbivorous and skilled at living in human altered areas.  It has now been introduced into the UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Argentina, Chile, etc. These birds can commonly be found in parking lots, golf courses and urban

parks, and enjoy a close relationship with humans. Northern bald ibis  This migratory bird is known for its unfeathered pinkish red face.  It feeds on small insects, lizards and other small animals. It was once spread over Middle East and parts of Africa and Europe, but disappeared from Europe around 300 years ago.  In recent years, reintroduction programmes have been set up for increasing its numbers. The Aldabra white-throated rail bird  The Aldabra white-throated rails have reappeared through iterative evolution.  It is known to be the last flightless bird in the Indian Ocean. The chicken-sized birds, indigenous to Madagascar, have migrated to Aldabra and lost their ability to fly.

Bald eagle  This bird of prey is found in North America. The adult bald eagle is actually white-headed with a brown body.  The female bald eagles are nearly 25% larger than the males.  The bald eagle is the national bird of the US and appears on

its seal.

Asian crested ibis  Also known as Japanese crested ibis, the bird that is native to eastern Russia, China and Japan, it

had disappeared by 1963 with only one left.  They inhabit areas with tall trees, wetlands and agricultural lands, feeding on crabs, frogs, insects and small fish.

Pink pigeon  The species, endemic to Mauritius, became nearly extinct in the 1990s. Even today, only 400 pink pigeons remain.

5. LEOPARDS

Why in news? Recent study by TRAFFIC India on the seizure and mortality of ‘common leopards’ (Panthera pardus fusca) revealed that of the total of 747 leopard deaths between 2015-2019 in India, 596 were linked to illegal wildlife trade and activities related to poaching.  The study also said highest numbers of poaching incidents were reported from the States of Uttarakhand and Maharashtra.  The conservation status of common leopards was elevated from ‘Near Threatened’ in 2008 to ‘Vulnerable’ in 2015 by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Leopard census The last formal census on India’s leopards was conducted in 2014, which estimated the population between 12,000 and 14,000. The results of a recent census of leopard sightings are likely to be released soon by the Wildlife Institute of India.

TRAFFIC  This wildlife trade monitoring network is a joint program of WWF and IUCN.  It is a leading NGO based in Cambridge, UK.  It works to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.

Uttarakhand state forest department will open India's first conversation centre for snow leopards in Uttarakashi district soon.

 According to estimates, Uttarakhand has around 86 snow leopards. The state forest department is expected to start snow leopard estimation process with the help of camera traps from September this year.  The exercise which is being termed as the first-ever in the country by experts got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  In Uttarakhand, snow leopards are found in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, Gangotri National Park, Askot Wildlife Sanctuary and other places.  The global snow leopard project seeks to identify at least 20 landscapes and secure them as protected areas for the species by the end of 2020.  India has identified three such landscapes ranging around 47,000 sq km of area- Hemis-Spiti in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, Gangotri-Nanda Devi in Uttarakhand, and Kanchendzonga-Tawang in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

6. HORNBILLS

Why in news? A study based on satellite data has flagged a high rate of deforestation in a major hornbill habitat in Arunachal Pradesh.  Using fine-scale satellite imagery, a trio of ecologists assessed the changes in forest cover of the 1,064 sq.km. Papum Reserve Forest (RF) adjoining the Pakke Tiger Reserve (Pakhui Tiger Reserve) as well as a part of Assam affected by illegal felling and ethnic conflict.  Papum RF is a nesting habitat of three species of the large, colourful fruit-eating hornbills: Great, Wreathed and Oriental Pied.  Referred to as ‘forest engineers’ or ‘farmers of forest’ for playing a key role in dispersing seeds of tropical trees, hornbills indicate the prosperity and balance of the forest they build nests in.  Hornbills used to be hunted for their casques — upper beak — and feathers for adorning headgear despite being cultural

symbols of some ethnic communities in the northeast, specifically the Nyishi of Arunachal Pradesh.  While the protected areas such as Pakke are better guarded, the forests are often under pressure due to agricultural expansion, conversion to plantations or logging.

Papum Reserve Forest  Papum Reserve Forest is geographically situated in the south west of East Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh.  It is surrounded by Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary to the east and Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary to the west.  It is a part of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity hotspot in India.  There are four Biodiversity Hostpots in India : Himalaya, Indo- Burma, Sundalands and Western Ghats and Sri Lanka.  Papum Reserve Forest forms part of the Eastern Himalayas Endemic Bird Area (an Endemic Bird Area is an area of land identified by BirdLife International as being important for habitat-based bird conservation because it contains the habitats of restricted-range bird species).  It is covered by Subtropical Dry Evergreen and Semi-evergreen Forests, while the higher areas are under Subtropical Broadleaf Hill Forest cover.

Hornbills in India: They are found in the North-eastern forests and the Western Ghats except the Narcondam Hornbills which is endemic to the Narcondam island.

India is home to nine species of hornbills: Hornbill species: 1. Great Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Near threatened.  Largest of all hornbills in India.  Found in a few forest areas in Western Ghats and the forests along Himalayas.  State Bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.

2. Rufous-necked Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Vulnerable  Has Northern-most extent, ranging from North-eastern India to Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in West Bengal.

3. Wreathed Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Least Concern  Found in forests from far North-eastern India.

4. Narcondam Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Endangered  Endemic to Indian island of Narcondam in Andamans.  Smallest home range out of all species of Asian hornbills.

5. Malabar Pied Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Near Threatened  Common resident breeder in India and Sri Lanka.  Habitat: Evergreen and moist deciduous forests often near human settlements.

6. Oriental Pied Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Least Concern  Largest distribution, found in the Indian Subcontinent and throughout Southeast Asia.  Habitat: Subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

7. White-throated Brown Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Near Threatened  Found in forests from North-eastern India.  Common habitat: Namdapha National Park, Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh.

8. Malabar Grey Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Least Concern  Common in the Western Ghats and associated hills of southern India.

9. Indian Grey Hornbill:  IUCN Red List: Least Concern  Habitat: Mainly on the plains up to about 2000 feet, foothills of Himalayas southwards, bounded to west by Indus system and to east by Ganges Delta.

7. KANIYANAPURA ELEPHANT CORRIDOR

Why in news? The Forest Department has submitted a proposal to the State government to purchase 106 acres of land around Bandipur Tiger Reserve from farmers of the region who are keen to sell it in a bid to avoid recurring conflict and crop loss due to depredation.  If approved, it will help widen Kaniyanapura elephant corridor and pave way for the smooth passage of elephants from Bandipur to Mudumalai Tiger Reserves without disturbance.  There are legal ramifications with regard to another 200 acres and the documents have been forwarded to the legal cell of the government for verification and opinion. This pertains to land allotted to SC/ST communities whose ownership cannot be changed as per the Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act 1978.  Kaniyanapura elephant corridor has been identified as a priority 1 elephant corridor by wildlife experts in view of its ecological importance. At present, the corridor has a maximum width of about 500 m beyond which are private lands, revenue land and villages with human habitation which disturb elephant movement.

8. PANGOLIN

Why in news? Scientists have, for the first time, radio-tagged the Indian pangolin, an endangered animal.

Indian Pangolin

 The Indian pangolin, which resembles an ant-eater but dons a thick scaly skin, is hunted for meat and use in traditional Chinese medicine.  Radio-tagging involves attaching a transmitter to an animal to monitor its movements. Several wild animals — tigers, leopards and migratory birds — have been tagged over decades.  Pangolins are among the most trafficked wildlife species in the world. The projected population declines range from 50% to 80 % across the genus.  Out of the eight species of pangolin, the Indian Pangolin and the Chinese Pangolin are found in India.  Both these species are listed under Schedule I Part I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. World Pangolin Day, celebrated on the third Saturday in February, is an international attempt to raise awareness of pangolins and bring together stakeholders to help protect these unique species from extinction.

India Pangolin – Endangered Chinese Pangolin – Critically Engangered

9. FLAGSHIP MARSHLAND SPECIES

Why in news? 3 flagship marshland species found in Odisha's Chilika Lake – Fishing cat, Smooth-coated otter and Eurasian otter.

 The Fishing Cat Project recently found the presence of the fishing cat in India’s oldest Ramsar site, Odisha’s Chilika lake. It is the only wetland cat in India.  By-catch data from the project survey also revealed the presence of two otter species here — smooth-coated otter and Eurasian otter  The fishing cat is ‘Vulnerable’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened

Species. So is the smooth-coated otter. The Eurasian otter is ‘Near Threatened’.  All three are facing threats of habitat loss and especially the loss of wetland vegetation throughout the world.  At present, the Irrawady dolphin and migratory birds are the focus of research and management interventions in Chilika. The Irrawady dolphin signifies deep waters.

About Fishing Cat  It is a globally endangered species that in elusive and found in very few places in South and South-East Asia.  This fishing cat hunts in water.  It has specialized features like – partially webbed feet and water resistant fur that helps it to thrive in wetlands.  The ﬂat-headed cat of south•east Asia is the only other feline (relating to cats or other members of the cat family) that shares similar features. This makes them unique among all 39 extant cat species. Another globally endangered species, smooth•coated otter, both the species are supposed to enjoy conservation measures of the highest accord in India, much like the tiger and elephant.

The study has also recorded presence of Eurasian otter in Chilika. “T his is significant. Despite being a widely•spread and common species globally, very little is known of the species distribution and abundance in India and especi ally along eastern coast,” The project was a collaborative eﬀ ort between 1) The Fishing Cat Project 2) Chilika Development Authority,

3) Wild Orissa, 4) Mahavir Pakshi Suraksha Samity 5) Chilika Wildlife Division, Forest Department of Odisha Further steps : Science and conservation efforts by initiating a census on ﬁshing cats this year in collaboration with TFCP.

What are extant species? Study of the species, genera, families with members still alive.

10. WILD GAUR

Why in news? Gaur (BosGaurus), the largest extant bovine in the world, have not only returned to Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), but are also breeding there due to an increase in grassland cover, officials have said.

 Gaur are grassland specialists and their main food is grass.  The species is listed as ‘vulnerable’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species since 1986.  It is herbivores, which big cats such as tigers prey on, depend on such grassland.  An increase in their cover thus helps in supporting the prey population, in turn increasing the chances of the carnivores’ survival.  The first population estimation exercise of the Indian gaur carried out in the Nilgiris Forest Division has revealed that more than an estimated 2,000 Indian gaurs inhabit the entire division.

About Valmiki Tiger Reserve VTR was set up in the early 1990s. It is spread over 899 square kilometres in Bihar’s West Champaran district, bordering Nepal’s Chitwan National Park to its north and Uttar Pradesh to its west.

11. CONSERVATION OF VULTURE

Why in news? The South India Vulture Conservation Group has come up with a blueprint for the conservation of vulture population in five South Indian States, which are home to six of the nine vultures species found in the country.  Strategies discussed included a plan for a synchronously coordinated survey in five States, need to press the governments to restrict availability of Nonsteroidal Anti- Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID) for veterinary use and to create a vulture safe zone in each south Indian State.  Out of nine vulture species in India, four namely — white- backed vulture, long-billed vulture, slender-billed vulture and red-headed vulture — are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN and all are in the Schedule-1 of the Wildlife Protection Act, the highest category of endangerment.  Except slender-billed vulture, the three other critically endangered species are found in the Moyar valley in the Nilgiris, whose population has seen a slight increase.

12. WHITE GIRAFFE

Why in news? Poachers have killed 2 extremely rare white giraffe in northeast Kenya, leaving just one such animal in the world.  The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had classified giraffes as vulnerable in the Red List in December

2016, when it noted that their population had dropped by over 40 percent since 1985.  The white appearance of the giraffe is due to leucism, a genetic condition that causes skin cells to have no pigmentation.  The condition leucism, which leads to the white colour of these giraffes, is different from albinism, because of which animals lack melanin throughout their body.  Leucism, on the other hand, is partial and leads to pale or patchy colouration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticles, but not the eyes.

13. GHARIALS

Why in new? Forty gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) were released in the Ghaghara river by the Bahraich forest division of Uttar Pradesh in the first week of May, amid the nationwide lockdown  Once the eggs hatch at the Kukrail centre, the animals are released in the Ghaghara, Gandak and Chambal rivers.  Like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar too is releasing gharials in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve as part of restocking the wild population.  Gharials are critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Species. The species is also listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Other sites  A major chunk of gharials in India is found in the Chambal river, which has about 1,000 adults. However, there are satellite populations of less than 100 adults in the Girwa river (Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh), the Ramganga river in Jim Corbett National Park and the Sone river.

 The Gharial is a fish-eating crocodile is native to the Indian subcontinent. They are a crucial indicator of clean river water.  It is also found at the rainforest biome of Mahanadi in Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, Orissa.

14. CROCODILES

India is home to three crocodilian species: 1. The mugger or marsh crocodile or broad snouted crocodile [IUCN Status -Vulnerable ] 2. The estuarine or saltwater crocodile [IUCN Status: least concern] 3. The gharial [IUCN Status - critically endangered]

 The mugger is the most widespread, found in other South Asian countries too.  The gharial is found mostly in Himalayan rivers.  The estuarine crocodile is found in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, the Sundarbans in West Bengal and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands. It is also found across Southeast Asia and northern Australia.  The estuarine crocodile is infamous globally as a known maneater. The mugger is also known to be dangerous. The gharial is known to be a relatively harmless, fish-eating species.  The crocodiles, in general, keep hitting headlines due to conflicts with humans, often resulting in the loss of life or limb.

Key human-crocodile conflict hotspots in India  Vadodara, the third-largest city in Gujarat, has been described as an island of crocodiles in a human-dominated landscape. The shallow, sluggish Vishwamitri river that flows through the heart of the city, is home to over 200 muggers. Every monsoon, the media is rife with reports of crocodiles entering city localities and being rescued. There have been attacks on humans, fatal as well as non-fatal, in the city and the surrounding district.

 Kota in Rajasthan - The city is located on the Chambal river that is home to a large population of both, muggers and gharials.  Experts suggest that culling is not a viable option for controlling the man-animal conflict of crocodiles. But options like better environmental awareness and education, geo-tagging of animals to monitor their movements, etc can be practiced.

Mugger/Marsh Crocodile Gharial

Saltwater Crocodile

15. SAL FOREST TORTOISE

Also known as the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), the sal forest tortoise, recently assessed as critically endangered, is heavily hunted for food. It is collected both for local use, such as decorative masks, and international wildlife trade.  Distribution - eastern and northern India and Southeast Asia.  The study also found that 29% of the predicted distribution of the species falls within high occurrence fire zones or areas where there is management. This includes Uttarakhand State which is the “westernmost” distribution limit of the species.  Jhum fire intervention directly kill the animals but also open up habitats, which, in turn, increases the chance of people finding the tortoise easily. Forest fires also perturb soil moisture which may impact forest floor thus changing the whole community on which the reptiles depend.  The brackish water turtle (Batagur baska) distributed in India and Bangladesh is also critically endangered.

16. NEW SPECIES OF DRAGONFLY ‘KONKAN ROCKDWELLER’

Why in news? A new species of dragonfly that is endemic to the lowland region of Konkan in Maharashtra, has been profiled in a study published on May 20, 2020.

 Bradinopyga konkanensis, christened ‘Konkan Rockdweller’ has been discovered by dragonfly enthusiast and photographer Dattaprasad Sawant and researcher Shantanu Joshi, whose paper has been published in the journal Zootaxa.

About  Dragonflies and damselflies, that belong to the Order Odonata, are some of the ecologically important insects of freshwater habitats.  The Western Ghats are home to about 196 species of odonates, more than 40 per cent of which are endemic to the region.  In 2017, a species, which looked similar to Brandinopyga geminta or Granite Ghost was photographed, but differed in some small details.  This is the only species of dragonfly or damselfly known to be endemic to the lowland coastal region of Konkan. This species prefers to perch on rocks and even concrete walls, which prompted to give it the name Konkan Rockdweller.

17. TWO NEWS LIZARD SPECIES

1. Cnemaspis chengodumalaensis  The Cnemaspis chengodumalaensis is named after the Chengodumala regionin Kozhikode district, where it is naturally found within

crevices of rocks.  It is a nocturnal gecko endemic to the Western Ghats.  The Chengodumala hills has been prone to indiscriminate granite mining over several decades and has the local villagers and activists demanding a reassessment of the environment impact study of the quarry.

With the discovery, their concerns about the lack of a proper biodiversity survey have been justified, indicating the need for a change in policies before permits are handed out to quarry developers.

2. Cnemaspis zacharyi  The other species, Cnemaspis zacharyi, has been found in the hills of neighbouring Wayanad dis trict, which has also been prone to adverse effects of climate change arising out of activities like deforestation, propping of plantations and illegal mining.  It was observed Cnemaspis zacharyi feed on cave crickets.  The lizard species is named after Dr Anil Zachariah, a renowned batrachologist who has contributed immensely to new amphibian species being discovered in the Western Ghats.

Both the lizard species, though referred to as day geckos, are actually nocturnal in nature.

18. GIR LIONS

Why in news? June 5 census of Asia’s exclusive population of lions indicates numbers have risen by 29% over five years. Unlike in previous years, this count was estimated not from a Census, but from a population “observation” exercise called Poonam Avlokan.  The first Lion Census was conducted by the Nawab of Junagadh in 1936; since 1965, the Forest Department has been regularly conducting the Lion Census every five years.

How were the numbers estimated?  Through Poonam Avlokan, which is a monthly in-house exercise carried out every full moon. Field staff and officers

spend 24 hours assessing the number of lions and their locations in their respective jurisdictions.  It was a mechanism developed by the Forest Department in 2014 as part of preparations for the 2015 Lion Census.

How is this ‘observation’ different from a regular census?  The Lion Census involves larger participation. Around 2,000 officers, experts and volunteers were involved in the 2015 Census. That makes the Census more transparent. The lion ‘observation’ this month was conducted by around 1,400 forest staff and a few experts.  The Lion Census usually runs for more than two days, including a preliminary census and a final census.  A ‘lion observation’ is an in-house exercise, conducted only by forest staff. The methodology too is different as, instead of remaining stationary at water points, teams keep moving in their respective territories and make their estimates based on inputs provided by lion trackers and on chance sightings.

Asiatic Lions IUCN Status – Endangered Current Range – Gir National Park. Asiatic Lions in the wild are found only in India. Additional sanctuary is being established on the nearby Barda WLS.

19. GOLDEN TIGER

India is home of a Golden Tiger that too the only one recorded in the entire world in this century in the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve. This female Golden Tiger is the only recorded individual in the wild in the 21st Century.  Golden tigers can be found in zoos and breeding centres across the world but no verified records in the wild exist.  The Golden Tiger or Golden Tabby Tiger is a rare morph of a Royal Bengal Tiger. This occurrence is believed to be caused

because of recessive genes in individuals, as a result of inbreeding with fragmented population, caused by habitat destruction and loss of connectivity.

20. TILLARI CONSERVATION RESERVE

Why in news? The Maharashtra State Forest Department declared 29.53 sqkm area of Dodamarg forest range in Sindhudurg district as ‘Tillari Conservation Reserve’.  The area covering nine villages in the forest range is known to serve as a corridor and even as a habitat for the population of tigers and elephants moving between the three states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.  Tillari will be the seventh corridor in the state to be declared as a ‘conservation reserve’. Conservation reserve denotes protected areas which typically act as buffer zones to or connectors and migration corridors between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests.

21. TOPIC - M.M.WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Why in news? Decks have been cleared to notify the Malai Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. The approval from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is expected any time now. Final notification will be made by the State government once the NTCA gives its formal approval.

 Once notified, Chamarajanagar district will have the rare distinction in the country of harbouring three tiger reserves. It already has Bandipur and Biligiri Ranganatha Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserves within its territorial limits.  Also, with this, Karnataka will have six tiger reserves, the others being Nagarahole, Bhadra, and Anshi-Dandeli, apart from Bandipur and BRT Tiger Reserves.  The sanctuary presently has about 20 tigers as evident in photographs from camera traps in Hanur, Ramapura, P.G. Palya, Hoogyam, M.M. Hills and Palar ranges, and wildlife experts vouch for its potential to rival the Bandipur-Nagarahole- Wayanad-Mudumalai landscape in the years ahead.

22. GULF OF MANNAR  The Gulf of Mannar is a large shallow bay forming part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean.  It lies between the west coast of Sri Lanka and the southeastern tip of India, in the Coromandel Coast region.  The chain of low islands and reefs known as Ramsethu, also called Adam's Bridge, which includes Mannar Island, separates the Gulf of Mannar

from Palk Bay, which lies to the north between Sri Lanka and India.  The Malvathu Oya (Malvathu River) of Sri Lanka and the estuaries of Thamirabarani River and Vaipar River of South India drain into the Gulf.  The dugong (sea cow) is found here.

Biopshere Reserve, Marine Sanctuary and National Park  Located on the southeastern tip of the subcontinent, the Gulf of Mannar is known to harbour over 3,600 species of flora and fauna, making it one of the richest coastal regions in Asia.  117 hard coral species have been recorded in the Gulf of Mannar.  Sea turtles are frequent visitors to the gulf as are sharks, dugongs, and dolphins.  Dugong, a vulnerable marine mammal is the flagship mammal of the park.  In 1986, a group of 21 islets lying off the Tamil Nadu coast between Thoothukudi and Dhanushkodi was declared the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park. The park and its 10 km buffer zone were declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1989.  The National park has a high diversity of plants and animals in its marine, intertidal and near shore habitats. Public access inside the Park is limited to glass bottom boat rides.  The park includes estuaries, mudflats, beaches and forests of the near shore environment. It also includes marine components such as coral reefs, seaweed communities, sea grasses, salt marshes and mangroves.  Flora – Mangroves dominate the intertidal zones of the park islands.  However, the combined effects of 47 villages, with a total population of around 50,000 has meant that overharvesting of marine species has become a problem. The decline of fish populations has been accompanied with reducing numbers of pearl oyster, gorgonian coral, and acorn worm.

Dugong IUCN Status – Vulnerable  Marine mammals.  It is the flagship animal of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.  The only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the sea including in India.  Dugongs graze on seagrass, especially young shoots and roots in shallow coastal waters.  They are protected in India under Schedule I of the Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972.  Dugongs are protected in India and occur in Gulf of Mannar, PalkBay, Gulf of Kutch and Andaman and Nicobar island.  Once abundant along the Odisha and Andhra coasts.

23. IRRAWADDY DOLPHINS

Atleastc146 Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted in Odisha’s Chilika lake during annual dolphin census conducted by the state’s Forest Department.

 Chilika Lake boasts of the highest single lagoon population of Irrawady dolphins in the world. It is home to the only known population of Irrawaddy Dolphins in India.  The Irrawady Dolphin (Orcaellabrevirostris) is the flagship species of the Chilika lake.  The total population of these aquatic mammals in the world is estimated to be less than 7,500.  Of these, more than 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins have been reported from Bangladesh, while dolphin distribution in Chilika is considered to be the highest single lagoon population.

Irrawady Dolphin Conservation status – Endangered  Irrawaddy dolphins are found in coastal areas in South and Southeast Asia, and in three rivers: the Ayeyarwady (Myanmar), the Mahakam (Indonesian Borneo) and the Mekong.  These dolphins have a bulging forehead, short beak, and 12-19 teeth on each side of both jaws.  Irrawaddy dolphins are primarily threatened by bycatch, the accidental capture of aquatic animals in fishing gear.  The protection of the Irrawaddy dolphin is crucial for the overall health of the Mekong River—home to an estimated 1,100 species of fish.  The Irrawaddy dolphin is also regarded as a sacred animal by both Khmer and Lao people, and is an important source of income and jobs for communities involved in dolphin-watching ecotourism.

24. BHAVANI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Why in news? The State government is set to declare the buffer zone of the Silent Valley National Park as Bhavani wildlife sanctuary. Encompassing parts of the Mannarkkad and Nilambur (South) forest divisions.  The region will become the 25th protected area in the State.  Around 560 families reside in the six tribal settlements in the region that comprises vested and reserved forests.

 The Forests and Wildlife Department maintains that the traditional rights of the tribal people will not be affected when it is made a wildlife sanctuary as the provisions of the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 are applicable to both reserved forests and wildlife sanctuary areas.

25. KARIMPUZHA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Why in news? Minister for Forest declared the formation of Karimpuzha as the 18th wildlife sanctuary in the State of Kerala at a function at Nedumkayam, near Nilambur.

About the sanctuary  The 227.97 sq km sanctuary will comprise the new Amarambalam reserve forest and Vadakkekotta vested forest.  However, the Manjeri colony of the primitive Cholanaikar tribes has been exempted from the sanctuary.  The declaration of the new wildlife sanctuary is all the

more significant as it will create a contiguous protective area stretch linking two national parks, the Mukurthi National Park in the south in Tamil Nadu and the Silent Valley National Park buffer zone in the northeast.  The landscape in the sanctuary ranges also has a huge altitudinal gradient ranging from 40m to 2,654m above sea level.  The sanctuary is the state’s only forest stretch where seven forest types found in the state are all present, including evergreen rainforest, semi-evergreen forest, moist deciduous forest, sub-tropical hill forest, sub-tropical savannah, montane wet temperate forest and montane wet grasslands.  Because of this amazing diversity, the sanctuary is home to almost all kinds of animals in the state.  While the Eravikulam National Park is famous for the Nilgiri tahr and Silent Valley National Park for the lion-tailed macaque, they are found in abundance in the Karimpuzha wildlife sanctuary.  Conservationists say that Karimpuha sanctuary houses almost all the mammals endemic to Western Ghats mountains in the state. The wildlife sanctuary is home to 226 bird and 213 butterfly species.

26. DEHING-PATKAI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Why in news? The Assam government on July 6th decided to upgrade Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary into a national park.  The announcement comes just months after the National Board of Wildlife’s (NBWL) conditional clearance to a coal mining project by Coal India Limited (CIL) in the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve sparked a spate of virtual protests in the state.  Subsequently, North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), the CIL subsidiary, temporarily suspended all mining operations in the region.  The 111.942 sq km Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is located within the larger Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve, which spreads

across the coal- and oil-rich districts of Upper Assam (Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Sivasagar) and is believed to be the last remaining contiguous patch of lowland rainforest area in Assam.  While wildlife sanctuaries are protected areas which permit some activities such as grazing, experts say national parks call for a complete protection status under The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.  Some human activities can be allowed inside a wildlife sanctuary, but no human activity is allowed in a national park.  Apart from the fact that is a contiguous patch of rainforest, it is also the place with the highest concentration of the rare endangered White Winged Wood Duck can be found.  Post upgradation, Dehing Patkai will be the sixth national park in Assam — the other five being Kaziranga, Nameri, Manas, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa.

26. LARGEST INDIAN BUTTERFLY

Why in news? A Himalayan butterfly named Golden Birdwing is India’s largest, a record an unknown specimen had held for 88 years.  The hitherto largest Indian butterfly that Brigadier Evans recorded in 1932 was an individual of the Southern Birdwing (Troides minos), which was then treated as a subspecies of the Common Birdwing.  While the female Golden Birdwing was recorded from Didihat in Uttarakhand, the largest male was from the Wankhar Butterfly Museum in Meghalaya capital Shillong.

27. RAFFLESIA TUAN MUNDAE

Why in news? Largest Specimen of World's biggest flower, Rafflesia-tuan-mundae found in Indonesia. The giant Rafflesia-tuan-mundae is a fleshy red flower with white spots on its petals and is found in Indonesia. It was named Rafflesia after British Colonialist Sir Stamford Raffles who spotted one in Indonesia in the early 19th Century.

OTHER NEWS

BON BIBI

Context How has a centuries-old folk theatre form and the worship of a forest goddess helped the islanders understand the power of nature and the limits to human need in this precarious tide country?

The Sundarbans is one of the most ecologically vulnerable terrains in the world. Spread between India and Bangladesh, the cluster of islands is picking up the pieces after Amphan, the worst cyclone to hit West Bengal in 100 years swept through it on May 20.

Who is bon bobi?  Shrines to Bon Bibi and her twin brother Shah Jongoli dot the landscape of the Sundarbans. The followers of Bon Bibi are fishermen, crab-collectors and honey-gatherers — a large chunk of the population of the islands, many of them impoverished — who go into the wild mangroves, teeming with wild animals such as tigers and crocodiles, to earn a livelihood. They believe that only Bon Bibi protects them when they enter the forest.  One of the important ways in which people express their belief in Bon Bibi is through Bon Bibi’r Palagaan, a dramatic

storytelling form that is enacted throughout the island. The Sundarbans boasts of almost 30 troupes, each performing the plays in various islands through the year and at tourist lodges during the peak September-March season.  The Bon Bibi faith is a check on human greed and acquisition. An unwritten code prohibits islanders from carrying guns or weapons into the forest. They must enter the forest only if they absolutely need to earn a livelihood and not take more -- honey or crabs, fish or prawns -- than they need.  They must not desecrate the forest in any way, by smoking, defecating or washing utensils. According to local lore, poachers, pirates and those who disobey Bon Bibi are attacked by tigers as punishment.  Hindus and Muslims worship Bon Bibi equally. Legend has it that Bon Bibi came to the Sundarbans with her twin, Shah Jongoli, from Saudi Arabia. The Bon Bibi’r Johuranama (Chronicles of Bon Bibi’s Greatness), a 19th-century text, is written in Bengali script, but with the book opening to the right, in Arabic style.

PANTANAL WETLANDS

In Brazil’s Pantanal, the world's largest wetland, the vegetation compacted under the marshy flood water during the wet season dries out as ponds and lagoons evaporate, leaving flammable deposits underground that can continue to smolder long after visible flames die down.  Firefighters across Brazil are battling raging towers of flames from the Amazon rainforest to the Cerrado savannah, but the fires beneath their feet are a particular challenge in the Pantanal. The only way to combat an underground fires is to dig a trench around it, said state firefighter

 The Pantanal, whose name derives from the Portuguese word for “swamp,” sprawls over more than 150,000 sq km in Brazil and also extends into Bolivia and Paraguay.

WORLD BANK APPROVES FRESH FUNDS FOR GANGA CLEAN MISSION

Why in news? The World Bank has approved a five-year loan to the Namami Gange project worth ₹3,000 crore ($400 million) to develop and improve infrastructure projects to abate pollution in the river basin.  The Namami Ganga or the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) has already received ₹4,535 crore ($600 million) from the World Bank (valid until December 2021) as part of the first phase of the National Ganga River Basin project.  Some of the projects to be undertaken under the second phase of the mission include spillover projects from the first phase of the mission as well cleaning projects in tributaries such as the Yamuna and Kali rivers.  In the second phase, the loan would fund ₹1,134 crore ($150 million) for three new ‘Hybrid Annuity Projects’ in Agra, Meerut and Saharanpur for the tributaries of the Ganga.  ₹1,209 crore ($160 million) is provided for the ongoing DBOT (Design, Build, Operate and Transfer) projects in Buxar, Munger, Begusarai.  Other heads of distribution would include ‘Institutional Development’ ($20 million or ₹151 crore); ‘Improving Investments Resilience to COVID-19 Like Emergency Situations’ ($5 million or ₹38 crore); Performance Based Incentive for Urban Local Bodies ($30 million or ₹226 crore) and Programme Communication and Management ($16 million or ₹121 crore).

Namami Gange Programme . Namami Gange Programme is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as a ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 to accomplish the twin objectives of

effective abatement of pollution and conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga. . It is being operated under the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti. . The program is being implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program ManagementGroups (SPMGs).

NMCG is the implementation wing of National Ganga Council (set in 2016; which replaced the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NRGBA). It has a Rs. 20,000-crore, centrally-funded, non-lapsable corpus and consists of nearly 288 projects. The main pillars of the programme are:  Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure & Industrial Effluent Monitoring,  River-Front Development & River-Surface Cleaning,  Bio-Diversity & Afforestation,  Public Awareness

CORAL RESTORATION IN GULF OF KACHCHH

Why in news? The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with help from Gujarat’s Forest Department, is attempting for the first time a process to restore coral reefs using biorock or mineral accretion technology.

 Biorock is the name given to the substance formed by electro accumulation of minerals dissolved in seawater on steel structures that are lowered onto the sea bed and are connected to a power source.  When a positively charged anode and negatively charged cathode are placed on the sea floor, with an electric current flowing between them, calcium ions combine with carbonate ions and adhere to the structure (cathode). This results in calcium

carbonate formation. Coral larvae adhere to the CaCO3 and grow quickly.

o Coral reefs are the most diverse ecosystem on the earth. o India has four major coral reefs areas: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar and the Gulf of Kachchh. Ongoing initiative of coral restoration using biorock technology helps corals, including the highly sensitive branching corals, to counter the threats posed by global warming.

SONNERATIA ALBA

Why in news? Maharashtra became the first Indian state to declare a state mangrove tree.  Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) cleared a proposal to declare Sonneratia alba as the State mangrove tree and approved a recovery programme for the Arabian Sea Humpback Whale.

About Sonneratia alba  Sonneratia alba or mangrove apple is an evergreen mangrove species found along the Maharashtra’s coastline.  Sonneratia alba grow up to five feet and bear white flowers with a pink base as well as green fruits, that resemble apple and are used to make pickles.  The flowers, which bloom at night, are pollinated by nocturnal creatures like bats.  The species was introduced in Maharashtra and is native to Andaman Islands.

Distribution  They often grow on newly-formed mudflats and play an important role in combating land erosion.  They are confined to the west coast and some parts of Orissa.  It is found along wetlands in Thane creek, Bhandup, Vasai and Dombivli along major mudflats.  Sonneratia alba grows naturally in many tropical and subtropical areas from East Africa to the Indian subcontinent, southern China, the Ryukyu Islands, Indochina, Malesia, Papuasia, Australia and the Western Pacific region.

Miscellaneous Ambarnaya river- Russia (oil spill) Amery ice shelf – Antarctica Baghjan 5 well gas leak in Assam

MB Lal Committee for Emergency Resepose services (Handling fires)