Note: First few volume of target shots are bigger because we are covering news in detail with static linkages considering fresher's preparation also. Next coming volumes will be more concise. Environment. Schistura Hiranyakeshi ● It is a rare sub-species of Schistura. ● The fish was named after the Hiranyakeshi river near Amboli village. ● Schistura is a small and colourful fish that lives in water and streams in an abundance of oxygen. ● The Indian State Government can notify the Biodiversity Heritage Sites in consultation with local governing bodies under Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act of 2002. Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary ● The dam was created in 1975 and was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1983. ● Location: Pong Dam Wildlife Sanctuary or Pong Dam Reservoir or Pong Dam Lake is in Himachal Pradesh. ● Rivers: The lake is fed by the Beas River. ● Ramsar Site: In 1994, Government of India declared Pong Dam Lake as a “Wetland of National Importance”. ○ In 2002, it became a Ramsar Site in November 2002 by government notification. ● Vegetation: The sanctuary area is covered with tropical and subtropical forests. Thus, it shelters a great number of Indian Wildlife animals. ● Fauna: The sanctuary is a host to around 220 species of birds belonging to 54 families. Migratory birds from all over Hindukush Himalayas and also as far as Siberia come here during winter. Godavari River (Dakshin Ganga) ● Largest Peninsular river system. ● Source: Trimbakeshwar near Nasik in Maharashtra and outfalling into the Bay of Bengal ● Length: 1465 km. ● Drainage Basin: Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha in addition to smaller parts in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Union territory of Puducherry. ● Tributaries: Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita (combined flow of Wainganga, Penganga, Wardha), Indravati, Maner and the Sabri. ● Cultural Significance: Kumbh Mela also takes place on the banks of the Godavari river in Nashik. ● Important Projects on Godavari: ○ Polavaram Irrigation Project. ○ Kaleshwaram. JOIN Us : https://targetupsc.in/ 8830115524 ○ Sadarmatt Anicut across river Godavari is one among the two irrigation projects in the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) Register of Heritage Irrigation Structures. ○ Inchampalli: The Inchampalli project is proposed on the Godavari River about 12 km downstream of the confluence of Indravati with the Godavari River in Andhra Pradesh. ■ It is a joint project among the States of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. ○ Sriram Sagar Project (SRSP): The Sriram Sagar Project is a multipurpose project, located across the Godavari River near Pochampad of Nizamabad District in Telangana. Cofferdam ● A cofferdam is defined as a temporary barrier in or around a body of water which allows the process of de-watering, diversion, or damming of water within an enclosed area. ● The major purpose of any cofferdam type is to hold back overwhelming or inconvenient waters and create a dry work environment. ● This allows a project to proceed with as little resistance and as much safety as possible. Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary ● The Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary is located at Uttara Kannada District in Karnataka. ● It is also the only known tiger reserve in India to report frequent sightings of the elusive black panther. ● It is also known to house the Indian sloth bear, the Indian pangolin, the giant Malabar squirrel, dhole, the Indian jackal and the muntjac (barking deer). ● The king cobra and the mugger crocodile (Indian crocodile) are the prime reptilians in the sanctuary. Net-zero ● Net-zero, which is also referred to as carbon-neutrality, does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero. ● Rather, net-zero is a state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. A call for net-zero: ● A very active campaign has been going on for the last two years to get every country to sign on to a net-zero goal for 2050. ● It is being argued that global carbon neutrality by 2050 is the only way to achieve the Paris Agreement target of keeping the planet’s temperature from rising beyond 2°C compared to pre-industrial times. ● The net-zero formulation does not assign any emission reduction targets on any country. JOIN Us : https://targetupsc.in/ 8830115524 Net Zero Producers’ Forum ● Qatar, the US, Saudi Arabia, Canada and Norway have come together to form a cooperative forum that will develop pragmatic net zero emission strategies. ● These countries are collectively responsible for 40% of global oil and gas production. Roles and functions of the Net Zero Producers’ Forum: ● Net-zero, which is also referred to as carbon-neutrality, does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero. Rather, net-zero is a state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. ● Absorption of the emissions can be increased by creating more carbon sinks such as forests, while removal of gases from the atmosphere requires futuristic technologies such as carbon capture and storage. ● The Net Zero Producers’ Forum will consider strategies and technologies which include “methane abatement, advancing the circular carbon economy approach, development and deployment of clean-energy and carbon capture and storage technologies, diversification from reliance on hydrocarbon revenues, and other measures in line with each country’s national circumstances.” #Target_shots Addition What is net-zero? ● Net-zero, which is also referred to as carbon-neutrality, does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero. Rather, net-zero is a state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Madhu Kranti portal: ● Madhu Kranti portal is an initiative of the National Bee Board (NBB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare under the National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM). ● This portal is being developed for online registration to achieve traceability source of honey and other beehive products on a digital platform. ● Also, the platform will help in checking the quality and source of adulteration of honey. Significance of Madhukranti Portal ● The portal will help in increasing income of the farmers, boost exports and increase employment generation. The portal will hold the database of all the stakeholders involved in honey production, marketing chains, hive production and sales. This will increase the reach of honey to international markets. By this, the stakeholders can easily be contacted. #Target_shots Addition Honey Corners JOIN Us : https://targetupsc.in/ 8830115524 ● The Honey Corners are special spaces for the sale of honey. ● Operated by NAFED. ○ NAFED is National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation. NAFED has developed 14-15 honey corners. ● More honey corners are to be developed in most of the upcoming major 200 NAFED stores. This will promote market support for honey. National Beekeeping and Honey Mission ● It is a central sector scheme that was approved by the Government of India for Rs 500 crores. ● It aims at scientific bee keeping and production of honey. ● The main objective of the mission is to achieve the goal of “Sweet Revolution”. ● The Government of India has been establishing quality testing labs to address the issues related to quality of honeybees under the mission. Project RE-HAB ● Project RE-HAB is Reducing Elephant Human Attacks using Bees. ● It was launched at four spots in the Nagarhole National Park of Karnataka. ● The project aims to prevent elephant human conflicts without creating harm to either of them. The project is highly cost effective. ● The project uses bee boxes as fence to prevent elephants from entering human habitation. The buzz of the bees irritates elephants. Also, elephants fear that the bees might sting them in the inner side of the trunk and in their eyes. ● The bee boxes were provided as a part of Honey Mission. Three-banded Rosefinch ● A team of scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society recorded a new species of bird. ● The new bird species was identified while exploring the high-altitude coniferous forests of Arunachal Pradesh. ● The three branded Rosefinch is a resident of southern China and a vagrant in Bhutan. Vagrant is a person with no home. ● The Three Branded Rosefinch belongs to the finch species of birds. ● Finch birds have world wide distribution except for Australia and polar regions. Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve: Maharashtra ● It is situated in Gondia and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra ● 46th Tiger Reserve of India in December 2013. ● NNTR comprised of the notified area of Nawegaon National Park, Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary. ● Flora: The major forest type is "Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest". ○ Few thorny plants are also found. ○ Bamboo occurs in abundance. JOIN Us : https://targetupsc.in/ 8830115524 ● Fauna: ○ Carnivores: Leopards and smaller carnivores like wild dogs, wolf jackals, jungle cats and also the good population of sloth bears are seen. ○ Herbivore includes Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Chousingha, Barking deer, Wild pig and Indian gaur. Mouse deer has also been recorded from the area. ○ More than 300 species of birds have been reported from the area. ● Other Protected Areas in Maharashtra: ○ Sahyadri Tiger Reserve. ○ Melghat Tiger