Biodiversity Coverage from Jan 2019 to December 2019 Abhimanu IAS UDAAN 2020 Biodiversity | Abhimanu IAS Contents Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................ 5 No uranium mining in Nallamala forest ................................................................................. 5 Context-Recently Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted in-principle approval to the Department of Atomic Energy to survey and explore for uranium in 83 sq km of the Nallamala Forest Reserve. .................................. 5 Global Ecosystem Assessment ............................................................................................... 6 Context: The first-ever Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has been released. ................................................................................... 6 Global Deal for Nature (GDN) ................................................................................................ 6 Sixth National Report on Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) ..................................... 7 Context-India recently submitted its Sixth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). .................................................................................................. 7 River Dolphins go missing in Sunderbans .............................................................................. 8 Context-Recently a study concluded that rise in salinity in the water system that makes the Indian Sunderbans has resulted in the decrease of population of the Ganges River Dolphins in the region. ....................................................................................................... 8 Migratory birds found dead at Sambhar lake ........................................................................ 8 Context-Over the last 10 days, thousands of migratory birds have been found dead at Sambhar Lake, about 80 km southwest of Jaipur city. Officials have buried over 18,000 carcasses so far. ................................................................................................................. 8 Dudhwa National park ......................................................................................................... 11 Context-Tourists visiting the Dudhwa National Park will not be able to enjoy elephant safari this season as most trained jumbos have been deployed in patrolling duties. .... 11 Butterfly survey .................................................................................................................... 12 Context- Recently a three-day survey in western ghat finds 191 species of the insect, 12 of which are endemic to the biodiversity-rich region. .................................................... 12 First snow leopard survey .................................................................................................... 13 Context- Recently Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Shri Prakash Javadekar launched the First National Protocol on Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India, on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day. .................................................................................................................... 13 Ganges river dolphin census ................................................................................................ 15 Context-The annual Ganges river dolphin census, undertaken by World Wide Fund for Nature-India in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department along about Corporate office: Dainik Bhaskar Building, 2nd Floor, Sector 25-D, Chandigarh Biodiversity | Abhimanu IAS 250-km-long riverine stretch of Upper Ganga between Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary and Narora Ramsar site began in Bijnor on Wednesday ................................................. 15 Nilgiritahr’s population up 27% in three years in TN........................................................... 17 Context- According officials Nilgiritahr's Numbers in Mukurthi National Park have risen from 568 in 2018 to 612 this year. .................................................................................. 17 Understanding clouded leopards and their habitats ........................................................... 18 Context-Recently a research paper published by over 20 researchers from across the globe has helped understand Clouded leopards habitats, migration corridors and laid out the conservation strategies ....................................................................................... 18 CITES — Washington Convention ........................................................................................ 20 Context: India has submitted proposals regarding changes to the listing of various wildlife species in the CITES secretariat meeting, scheduled later this month in Geneva, Switzerland. ...................................................................................................................... 20 Wildlife sanctuary set to have new contours ...................................................................... 20 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species ................................................................................... 21 Context: The latest update to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species shows that more and more species assessed are being threatened with extinction. ................................................................................... 21 World Wildlife Fund (WWF) ................................................................................................. 21 Context: Six mammal, bird and fish species are facing the spectre of extinction in Russia according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF). ....................................................................... 21 These include the Saiga antelope, the gyrfalcon, the Persian leopard, the spoon-billed sandpiper, the Sakhalin sturgeon and the kaluga, also a type of sturgeon. ................... 21 Not all animals migrate by choice campaign launched. ...................................................... 22 Context: UN Environment India and Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) of India have launched an awareness campaign ‘Not all animals migrate by choice’. ................ 22 Herbivore Census in Gir forest ............................................................................................. 22 Lakshadweep recruits Barn Owls to fight rodent menace .................................................. 23 News................................................................................................................................. 23 With a thriving rat population playing havoc with its coconut yield, the UT of Lakshadweep hires barn owls for help. ........................................................................... 23 Grizzled Giant Squirrel ......................................................................................................... 24 Bengal tigers may not survive climate change .................................................................... 24 Context: The survival of around five lakh land species is in question because of threats to their natural habitat, finds a UN report. ..................................................................... 24 Emperor Penguin colony in Antarctica vanishes ................................................................. 25 Corporate office: Dainik Bhaskar Building, 2nd Floor, Sector 25-D, Chandigarh Biodiversity | Abhimanu IAS News................................................................................................................................. 25 The Antarctic’s second-largest colony of emperor penguins collapsed in 2016, with more than 10,000 chicks lost, and the population has not recovered, according to a new study. ........................................................................................................................ 25 Still, the population in Halley Bay represents only about 8% of the world’s population of emperor penguins. ........................................................................................................... 25 Indian bullfrogs .................................................................................................................... 26 Context: A study has found that the Indian bullfrogs introduced in the Andaman Islands are invasive, and eat native wildlife including fish and lizards. ....................................... 26 Olive Ridley Turtle ................................................................................................................ 26 Olive Ridley hatchlings make their way into sea ................................................................. 27 Island protection zone (IPZ) 2019 ........................................................................................ 27 Hump-backed Mahseer........................................................................................................ 28 Protecting the Sundarbans wetlands ................................................................................... 28 The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019 .............................................................. 29 Context: ...........................................................................................................................