In News:

According to the latest 2024 data by Global Forest Watch (GFW) and the University of Maryland, India lost 18,200 hectares of primary forest in 2024, a slight increase from 17,700 hectares in 2023.

Primary forests are mature, humid tropical forests that have not been entirely cleared or regrown in recent history.

Key Highlights:

Globally, 6.7 million hectares of tropical primary forest were lost in 2024—almost double the loss in 2023.

For the first time in over two decades, wildfires surpassed agriculture as the leading driver of tropical forest loss, accounting for nearly 50% of the global total. This spike is largely attributed to climate change and El Niño, which intensified heatwaves and droughts.

Major Global Trends (2024)

• Brazil: Accounted for 42% of global tropical forest loss.
• Bolivia: Recorded a 200% rise in forest loss, overtaking the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Fires: Emerged as the dominant cause of forest destruction globally.

India: Forest Cover Trends and Data (2001–2024)

• India lost 2.31 million hectares of tree cover since 2001—equivalent to a 7.1% decrease and 1.29 gigatonnes of CO? equivalent emissions.
• Humid primary forest loss between 2002 and 2024 stood at 3,48,000 hectares (5.4%), accounting for 15% of the total tree cover loss.
• Annual primary forest loss (in hectares):
  • 2024: 18,200
  • 2023: 17,700
  • 2022: 16,900
  • 2021: 18,300
  • 2020: 17,000
  • 2019: 14,500

2024 Indian Forest Loss Patterns

• Overall Tree Cover Loss: Decreased by 6.9% compared to 2023.
• Humid Primary Forest Loss: Rose by 5.9% in 2024.
• Fire-Induced Forest Loss: Increased to 950 hectares (a 158% rise from 2023).
• Regional Hotspots: Northeastern states such as Assam, Nagaland, and Mizoram, driven by shifting cultivation, logging, and agricultural expansion.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), India had the second-highest rate of deforestation globally from 2015 to 2020, with an annual forest loss of 6.68 lakh hectares.

India’s Forest Conservation Measures

Policy and Legal Framework

• Forest Conservation Act, 1980 (Amended 2023): Regulates diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes. Amendments aim to streamline processes while raising concerns about potential dilution of protections.
• National Forest Policy, 1988: Advocates maintaining 33% of geographical area under forest/tree cover.
• Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act (CAMPA), 2016: Ensures reforestation and eco-restoration using funds from forest land diversion.

Afforestation and Reforestation

• Green India Mission: Under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC); focuses on increasing forest cover and ecosystem resilience.
• State Initiatives: Example – Uttar Pradesh plans to plant 35 crore saplings in 2025.

Community Participation

• Joint Forest Management (JFM): Encourages community–forest department collaboration.
• Forest Rights Act, 2006: Legally empowers forest-dwelling communities to manage and conserve forests.

Technological Tools

• Satellite Monitoring: Real-time surveillance of forest cover and illegal activities.
• Mobile Apps: Tools like ‘My Plants’ facilitate public engagement in plantation efforts.

International Partnerships

• Forest-PLUS 3.0: A joint initiative with the United States, promoting sustainable forestry and climate resilience.

About Global Forest Watch (GFW)

• A project by the World Resources Institute (WRI), established in 1997.
• An open-access platform offering near real-time forest monitoring data.
• Users: Governments, NGOs, academia, journalists, and the public.
• Technology: Uses Landsat satellite imagery and region-specific algorithms to track forest change.

In News:

Recently, the Himachal Pradesh Government notified the Tsarap Chu Conservation Reserve, making it India’s largest conservation reserve, spanning 1,585 sq km. It is located in the Spiti Valley of Lahaul-Spiti district, a high-altitude, cold desert ecosystem.

Legal Status:

• Declared under Section 36A(1) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
• It is Himachal Pradesh’s fifth conservation reserve after Darlaghat, Naina Devi, Potter Hill, and Shilli

Geographical Significance:

• Boundaries:
  • North: Union Territory of Ladakh
  • East: Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary (up to Malang Nala and LungarLungpa)
  • South: KabjimaNala
  • West: Chandratal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Encompasses the confluence of Unam River and CharapNala
• Serves as the catchment area of Charap Nallah and a critical wildlife corridor linking Kibber and Chandratal sanctuaries

Ecological Importance:

• Identified as a high-density snow leopard habitat
• Other key species:
  • Tibetan wolf, bharal (blue sheep), Himalayan ibex
  • Kiang (Tibetan wild ass), Tibetan argali
• Rich in avian biodiversity: Rose Finch, Tibetan Raven, Yellow-billed Chough

Management and Community Involvement:

• To be managed by a Conservation Reserve Management Committee including local Panchayat representatives
• Emphasizes community-based conservation, balancing ecological goals with local livelihoods
• Promotes eco-tourism, wildlife research, and nature-based livelihood opportunities

In News:

Recently, over 150 false killer whales were found stranded on a remote beach near Arthur River on the northwest coast of Tasmania, Australia. The incident is one of several mass strandings reported in the region in recent years.

The event echoes earlier mass strandings:

• In 2022, 230 pilot whales stranded at Macquarie Harbor.
• In 2020, 470 long-finned pilot whales were stranded at the same site—the largest mass stranding in Australian history.

Possible Causes of Whale Strandings

Although the precise cause remains uncertain, potential factors include:

• Disorientation from loud underwater noises (e.g., naval exercises, seismic surveys)
• Illness, old age, injury
• Fleeing predators
• Severe weather events
• Geomagnetic anomalies

About False Killer Whales

• False killer whales (Pseudorca crassidens) are not true killer whales but belong to the Delphinidae family, which also includes dolphins and pilot whales.
• They are large, social cetaceans, often found in warm, deep oceanic waters.
• These whales are highly vocal and social, forming strong social bonds within pods.
• Like other cetaceans, they rely on echolocation (underwater sound) for communication, hunting, and navigation.

About Killer Whales (Orcas)

• Although not involved in the stranding, killer whales (Orcinus orca) are relevant as close relatives within the same family (Delphinidae).
• Known for their distinct black and white markings, orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family.
• They are globally distributed in both open oceans and coastal waters.
• Killer whales live in stable matrilineal pods and use complex vocalizations.

Conservation Status

• The IUCN Red List classifies false killer whales and killer whales as Data Deficient, indicating that there is insufficient information to assess their risk of extinction.

In News:

In a first, the Chhattisgarh state has introduced an innovative plan that connects the ecosystem services of its forests with the Green Gross Domestic Product (Green GDP).

Key Highlights:

Chhattisgarh's Green GDP Initiative:

• First State in India to link forest ecosystem services with Green GDP.
• Forests cover 44% of Chhattisgarh's land area, playing a vital role in climate change mitigation.
• Key forest products (tendu leaves, lac, honey, medicinal plants) contribute significantly to the rural economy.

Green GDP:

• Definition: An adjustment of traditional GDP that accounts for environmental costs like resource depletion and ecosystem degradation.
• Formula:
  • Green GDP = Net Domestic Product (NDP) − (Cost of Resource Depletion + Ecosystem Degradation)
  • NDP = GDP − Depreciation of Produced Assets.

Importance of Green GDP:

• Traditional GDP overlooks the environmental cost, treating activities like deforestation as economic gains.
• Green GDP adjusts for sustainability, ensuring long-term economic growth aligns with environmental preservation.

Global Context & Initiatives:

• SEEA (System of Environmental-Economic Accounting): Developed by the UN to track economic-environment relationships.
• WAVES: World Bank initiative integrating natural capital into national economic accounts.
• Bhutan’s GNH: Emphasizes ecological sustainability in development.

Benefits of Green GDP for Chhattisgarh:

• Promotes sustainable development by integrating economic and environmental goals.
• Climate Change Mitigation: Forests help absorb CO2, playing a key role in carbon sequestration.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Supports sustainable use of resources, preserving ecosystems.
• Cultural Integration: Acknowledges forests' cultural and spiritual importance to local tribal communities (e.g., sacred groves).

Key Features of the Initiative:

• Valuing Ecosystem Services: Includes clean air (CO? absorption), water conservation, and biodiversity.
• Eco-tourism Promotion: Developing jungle safaris and national parks, boosting local employment.
• Scientific Assessments: Employing experts to quantify forest contributions to the economy.

Challenges of Green GDP Framework:

• Valuation Complexity: Difficult to assign monetary value to non-market environmental benefits like biodiversity.
• Data Gaps: Lack of comprehensive data on environmental degradation and resource usage.
• Implementation: Requires significant changes in accounting systems and policymaking.
• Forest Definition: Plantations like oil palm may be counted as forests, misleading environmental assessments.
• Political Resistance: States may manipulate data to secure funding, prioritizing plantations over natural forests.
• Local Integration: Difficulties in involving local bodies like Panchayats due to literacy and awareness gaps.

Future of Green GDP:

• Sustainable Resource Use: Encourages responsible consumption and production, aligning with SDG 12.
• Climate Action: Contributes to the reduction of fossil fuel reliance and promotes renewable energy, aligning with SDG 13.
• Green Investments: Stimulates green technologies and industries, fostering sustainable economic growth (SDG 8).

In News:

A new study, "Female Moths Incorporate Plant Acoustic Emissions into Their Oviposition Decision-Making Process," published last month, explores how female moths use sounds emitted by plants to choose where to lay their eggs.

Key Highlights:

Significance of Plant Emitted Sounds:

• Background: Last year, it was discovered that plants emit ultrasonic clicks or pops when stressed (e.g., dehydration). These sounds, although inaudible to humans, can be detected by animals, including insects.
• Moths’ Sensitivity: Moths, particularly the Egyptian cotton leafworm, are shown to be sensitive to these plant sounds, which they use as cues for laying eggs on plants.

Methodology:

• Experimental Setup: Researchers placed a hydrated tomato plant in an experimental arena with another hydrated plant that emitted distress sounds. They observed the behavior of female Egyptian cotton leafworms to understand how these sounds influenced their oviposition choices.
• Initial Finding: Moths typically choose healthy, thriving plants to lay eggs, as they provide better food sources for the larvae.

Study Findings:

• Moths’ Response to Sounds: The moths preferred to lay eggs on the “silent” plant rather than the one emitting distress sounds. This indicates that moths can not only detect the presence of a plant but also interpret acoustic signals to inform their egg-laying decisions.
• Implications: This behavior suggests that moths use a complex set of sensory inputs, including plant-emitted sounds, to select the most suitable plant for offspring development.

Broader Ecological Context:

• Moths as Insects: Moths belong to the order Lepidoptera and are found in diverse environments globally, except polar regions. With around 160,000 species, they are highly adapted and often nocturnal, though some species are diurnal.
• Impact on Agriculture: Certain moth species, especially during their caterpillar stage, are major agricultural pests (e.g., corn borers, bollworms), making understanding their behavior crucial for pest management strategies.
• Climate Change Considerations: Moths, like other species, are impacted by climate change, which can alter the timing and growth of plants they depend on, potentially influencing their reproductive strategies.

Conclusion:

• Innovative Findings: The study reveals a previously unknown aspect of moth behavior, showing that they incorporate plant acoustic emissions into their oviposition decisions.
• Future Implications: This discovery opens avenues for further studies on how environmental signals, like sound, affect the behavior of insects, and how these behaviors could be impacted by changing environmental conditions.

In News:

• Chile and the United Kingdom have prepared a proposal to recognize fungi as an independent kingdom, termed "Funga", alongside flora (plants) and fauna (animals).
• This will be presented at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to be held in Cali, Colombia in October 2024.
• Why Funga?
• Fungi (e.g., mushrooms, moulds, yeast, lichen) play crucial ecological roles, but have historically been overlooked in conservation strategies.
• Fungi contribute significantly to decomposition, forest regeneration, carbon sequestration, and the global nutrient cycle.
• The recognition aims to strengthen fungal conservation by integrating fungi into global legislation and policies.
• Ecological Importance of Fungi:
• Decomposition: Fungi break down organic matter, facilitating nutrient recycling in ecosystems.
• Symbiotic Relationships: Many fungi form crucial symbiotic relationships with plants (e.g., mycorrhizal associations) and animals.
• Climate Mitigation: Boreal forest fungi absorb large amounts of carbon through symbiosis with plants, playing a role in mitigating climate change.
• Pollution Remediation: Fungi can help clean polluted soils by breaking down toxins.
• Food Production: Fungi are essential for producing common foods like bread, cheese, wine, beer, and chocolate.
• Health: Fungi produce antibiotics (e.g., penicillin) and aid in mammalian digestion.
• Scientific Recognition:
• In August 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognized fungi as one of the three kingdoms of life, alongside plants and animals.
• The 3F initiative (Flora, Fauna, and Funga), led by Giuliana Furci, aims to promote the international recognition and protection of fungi.
• Diversity and Research Gaps:
• Only 8% of the estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million fungal species have been formally described.
• Approximately 2,000 new fungal species are discovered annually, indicating the vast underexplored diversity of fungi.
• Threats to Fungi:
• Fungi face significant threats from deforestation, climate change, pollution, overharvesting, and fungicide use.
• These threats disrupt the symbiotic relationships fungi share with plants and animals, leading to ecosystem instability.
• Nitrogen enrichment in soils and habitat loss further exacerbate these risks.

Key Facts About Fungi

• Biological Characteristics:
• Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with rigid cell walls made of chitin (distinct from the cellulose found in plant cell walls).
• They are heterotrophic, meaning they absorb nutrients from their environment through external digestion (secreting enzymes to break down organic material before absorption).
• Reproductive Strategies:
• Fungi reproduce both asexually (via spores) and sexually, ensuring their proliferation across ecosystems.
• Growth Form:
• Fungi grow primarily as mycelium, a network of hyphae (filamentous structures) that helps in nutrient absorption and environmental interaction.
• Symbiotic Relationships:
• Fungi form mycorrhizal relationships with plants, enhancing nutrient exchange, and lichen associations with algae, providing mutual benefits in extreme environments.

In News:

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will take place in Cali, Colombia, from October 21, 2024. This marks the first gathering since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in 2022.

About Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• Adopted in 1992, the CBD is the most comprehensive international treaty focused on biodiversity conservation, the sustainable use of natural resources, and the fair sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources. It has been ratified by 196 countries, making it a key global instrument for biodiversity governance.

Key Objectives of the CBD

• Conservation of Biodiversity: Protecting genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
• Sustainable Use of Resources: Ensuring resources are used in a way that does not deplete or degrade biodiversity.
• Fair Sharing of Benefits: Ensuring that benefits from genetic resources are shared equitably with countries of origin.

Notable Frameworks within CBD

• Nagoya Protocol (2010): Establishes a framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of genetic resources.
• Cartagena Protocol (2000): Regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)

• Adoption: The KMGBF was adopted at COP15 in 2022, following the Kunming Declaration.
• Targets: The framework includes 23 targets for 2030 and 4 global goals for 2050, aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and promoting sustainability.
  • Notably, the 30x30 Target aims for 30% of the world’s land and oceans to be conserved by 2030. This is a key agenda item at COP16.
  • The framework also emphasizes equitable access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits from their use (Target 13).

Challenges and Issues at COP16

• Benefit-Sharing from Digital Sequence Information (DSI):
  • A key issue is the fair sharing of benefits from digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. The adoption of a global mechanism for this issue is still pending, as negotiations between developed and developing countries remain unresolved.
    • Developed nations advocate for unrestricted access to genetic materials in exchange for voluntary contributions to a global fund.
    • Developing nations seek a more equitable system, aligned with the CBD's principles of fair benefit-sharing.
• 30x30 Target Progress:
  • The 30x30 target, which aims to conserve 30% of land and oceans by 2030, is far from being met:
    • 17.5% of land and 8.4% of oceans are currently under protection.
    • Concerns persist about the effectiveness of these protected areas, as studies suggest they may not be sufficient for long-term biodiversity conservation.
• Financial Commitments (Target 19):
  • Developed countries have pledged $20 billion annually for biodiversity financing by 2025. However, progress is slow:
    • By September 2024, only $8.2 billion (41% of the target) had been committed.
    • COP16 will assess whether this target can be met, with further announcements expected.
• Implementation Gaps:
  • Countries are required to set national targets aligned with the KMGBF. As of COP16, only 100 parties have submitted their targets, and 30 countries have updated their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
  • A significant implementation gap remains in translating these targets into concrete actions.

Focus Areas for COP16

• Strengthening the 30x30 Target:
  • COP16 will push for enhanced efforts to meet the 30x30 conservation goal. There is a need for better management and monitoring of protected areas to ensure they contribute to biodiversity preservation.
• Finalizing Benefit-Sharing Mechanism:
  • Countries will focus on finalizing the multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism for genetic resources and DSI. The goal is to ensure that countries benefiting from genetic resources share those benefits with the countries of origin, addressing the issue of biopiracy and ensuring equitable access.
• Financial Commitment and Tracking:
  • The financial shortfall for biodiversity conservation will be a critical discussion point. Effective monitoring of the biodiversity finance tracker will be needed to ensure that developed countries meet their $20 billion/year commitment.
• Addressing Implementation Gaps:
  • There is a need to enhance monitoring and reporting mechanisms, improve national strategies, and align financial support with on-ground conservation efforts.

In News:

• The Union Government has sanctioned three pilot projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to explore the use of green hydrogen in steel production.
  • The initiative aims to demonstrate safe and efficient hydrogen-based steelmaking processes, validate their technical feasibility, and evaluate economic viability for low-carbon steel production.
• Objectives of the Scheme:
  • Identify and test advanced technologies for utilizing green hydrogen in the steel sector.
  • Demonstrate safe and secure operation of hydrogen-based steel production.
  • Validate technical and economic feasibility, contributing to decarbonization of iron and steel manufacturing.
• Pilot Project Components:
  • • 100% Hydrogen-based Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) using vertical shaft furnaces.
    • Hydrogen use in Blast Furnace to reduce coal/coke consumption.
    • Hydrogen injection in vertical shaft-based DRI units.
• Sanctioned Pilot Projects:

• Matrix Gas and Renewables Ltd
  • Capacity: 50 tons per day (TPD).
  • Consortium Partners: Gensol Engineering Ltd, IIT Bhubaneswar, Metsol AB (Sweden).
• Simplex Castings Ltd
  • Capacity: 40 TPD.
  • Consortium Partners: BSBK Pvt. Ltd., Ten Eight Investment, IIT Bhilai.
• Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL)
  • Capacity: 3,200 TPD (Ranchi).

• Financial Support:
  • Total Government Funding: ?347 crore for the three projects.
  • These pilot projects are expected to be commissioned within the next three years and may serve as a blueprint for scaling up such technologies in India.
• About the National Green Hydrogen Mission:
  • Launched: January 4, 2023.
  • Total Budget: ?19,744 crore (up to FY 2029-30).
  • Primary Goal: Establish India as a global hub for green hydrogen production and export while fostering decarbonization in sectors like steel, mobility, and energy.
• Key Features of the Mission:
  • SIGHT (Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition):
    • Supports domestic manufacturing of electrolysers and promotes the production and use of green hydrogen.
  • Expected Outcomes by 2030:
    • Green Hydrogen Production: At least 5 million metric tons (MMT) annually.
    • Renewable Energy: Addition of 125 GW in renewable energy capacity.
    • Investment: Over ?8 lakh crore in green hydrogen technologies.
    • Employment: Creation of 6 lakh jobs.
    • Reduction in Fossil Fuel Imports: Savings of over ?1 lakh crore.
    • GHG Emissions Reduction: Avoidance of nearly 50 MMT of annual greenhouse gas emissions.
• Phase-wise Implementation:
  • Phase I (2022-26): Focus on demand creation and initial deployment in existing hydrogen-using sectors (like steel and mobility).
  • Phase II (2026-30): Expansion to new sectors with a push toward commercialization of green hydrogen.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission aims to significantly decarbonize India’s steel sector and other industries by leveraging hydrogen technology. With ?347 crore allocated for pilot projects in steelmaking, the initiative sets the stage for scalable, low-carbon steel production, contributing to India's clean energy transition and supporting its goal to become a global leader in green hydrogen.

In News:

The Haber-Bosch process has fundamentally transformed agricultural practices and global food production, enabling the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia, which is essential for fertilizers.

The Nitrogen Molecule

• Composition: Nitrogen primarily exists as molecular nitrogen (N?) in the atmosphere, where two nitrogen atoms are bonded with a strong triple bond. This bond is very stable and requires significant energy (946 kJ/mol) to break, rendering N? largely inert and unavailable for direct use by plants.

Nitrogen in Nature

• Natural Fixation: In nature, the energy required to break the N? bond is typically provided by phenomena like lightning, which converts nitrogen to reactive forms such as nitrogen oxides (NO and NO?). These can subsequently form nitric acid when they react with water, depositing reactive nitrogen through rainfall.
• Microbial Processes: Certain bacteria, including Azotobacter and Rhizobia, can fix atmospheric nitrogen into reactive forms, supporting plant growth. Azolla, a fern with a symbiotic cyanobacterium, also helps in nitrogen fixation.

The Nitrogen Cycle

• Plant Uptake: Plants absorb reactive nitrogen in the form of ammonium (NH??) and nitrate (NO??) from the soil, essential for synthesizing proteins and other vital compounds. Humans and animals rely on plants for their nitrogen intake.
• Cycle Completeness: While nitrogen is returned to the soil through excretion and decomposition, some is lost back to the atmosphere as N?. This loss contributes to the depletion of soil nitrogen, especially in crops that do not fix their own nitrogen.

Ammonia Production

• Haber-Bosch Process: This process synthesizes ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen under high pressure and temperature, using a catalyst to enhance efficiency. Initially developed by Fritz Haber and scaled by Carl Bosch, this method became the backbone of modern fertilizer production.

Benefits and Downsides of Fertilizers

• Food Security: The Haber-Bosch process has significantly increased food production, contributing to a remarkable rise in global food supply and preventing widespread hunger. It is estimated that one-third of the world’s population relies on fertilizers produced via this process for their food.
• Environmental Impact: The widespread use of nitrogen fertilizers can lead to environmental issues:
  • Excess Nutrients: Over-application can result in nutrient runoff into water bodies, causing eutrophication, which depletes oxygen and harms aquatic life.
  • Acid Rain: Reactive nitrogen can contribute to acid rain, affecting soil health and biodiversity.
  • Soil Degradation: Continuous fertilizer use without adequate replenishment of nutrients can degrade soil quality over time.

While the Haber-Bosch process is crucial for modern agriculture and food security, it also presents significant environmental challenges. The balance between using fertilizers effectively and sustainably is essential to ensure that technological advancements do not come at the cost of ecological health. As such, addressing food security requires not just technological innovation, but also thoughtful political and social engagement to manage resources responsibly.

In News:

The Sahara Desert, one of the driest regions globally, is undergoing a surprising transformation due to an extratropical cyclone that impacted northwestern Africa on September 7-8, leading to patches of green across Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.

Key Details:

• Satellite Observations: NASA's satellite images reveal extensive greenery sprouting in areas typically known for drought conditions, as reported by NASA’s Earth Observatory.
• Flourishing Vegetation: Climate researcher Sylwia Trzaska noted that shrubs and trees are thriving in low-lying regions like riverbeds. Peter de Menocal, president of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, highlighted that plant life can quickly respond to significant rainfall, transforming dunes into vibrant landscapes.
• Historical Context: Research indicates that the Sahara was once a lush environment with lakes and vegetation between 11,000 and 5,000 years ago. Recent heavy rains have replenished normally dry lakes.
• Rainfall Dynamics: The unusual rainfall event is attributed to the northward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which has moved further north than usual, resulting in equatorial-like downpours in the Sahara. Some areas experienced over half a foot of rain, surpassing typical annual precipitation levels.
• Impact of Rain Patterns: While the rains primarily affected less populated regions, severe flooding has resulted in over 1,000 fatalities and impacted around four million people across 14 African nations, according to reports from the World Food Programme and Associated Press.
• Climate Change Factors: Experts suggest that the repositioning of the ITCZ may be connected to record-high ocean temperatures and climate change, potentially altering rainfall patterns across Africa.
• Future Projections: As global ocean temperatures stabilize, de Menocal predicts that the rain belt may revert to a more southerly position, potentially crossing the equator.
• Sahara Desert Facts:

o   The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert, spanning approximately 4,800 km in length and 1,800 km in width.

o   It covers about 31% of the African continent, extending across 11 North African nations, including Algeria, Egypt, Mali, Morocco, Western Sahara, Tunisia, Chad, Libya, Mauritania, Niger, and Sudan

In News:

The Gujarat government has recently announced plans to establish a Caracal Breeding and Conservation Center in the Chadva Rakhal area of Kutch, with a budget of ?10 crore.

About the Caracal

• The caracal, known locally as "siya gosh" (meaning "black ear" in Persian), is a reclusive and primarily nocturnal feline celebrated for its agility and remarkable skill in catching birds mid-flight.
• In terms of nesting, caracals typically utilize abandoned porcupine burrows or rock crevices for denning and are often found with their young hidden among dense vegetation. They tend to live in small groups, and their elusive behavior makes them hard to spot in the wild.

Habitat and Distribution

Caracals inhabit various environments, including woodlands, savannahs, and scrub forests. In India, suitable habitats are found in regions such as Kutch, the Malwa Plateau, the Aravalli hills, and Bundelkhand. This species is also present in numerous countries across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.

Threats to Survival

The caracal faces significant threats from extensive hunting, illegal wildlife trade, and the destruction of its natural habitats.

Conservation Status

According to the IUCN, the caracal is classified as "Least Concern." In India, it is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

In News:

Overview of Typhoons

• Definition: A typhoon is a type of cyclone with wind speeds of 119 km/h or more, forming over warm ocean waters near the equator.
• Mechanism: As warm, moist air rises from the ocean, it creates a low-pressure system, leading to the characteristic circular wind patterns: anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Recent Typhoon Events

• Typhoon Yagi: The most powerful tropical cyclone in Asia in 2024, with peak winds of 260 km/h. It caused significant destruction across Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, displacing around 631,000 people and resulting in over 500 fatalities.
• Typhoon Bebinca: Reached wind speeds of 151 km/h, classified as a Category 1 storm, impacting eastern China with heavy rainfall and forcing evacuations for over 414,000 residents.
• Typhoon Shanshan: Affected Japan, bringing severe weather conditions.

Why are Typhoons more frequent?

1. Rising Sea Surface Temperatures:
   • Global warming has raised ocean temperatures, providing more energy for typhoon formation and intensification.
2. Atmospheric Circulation Changes:
   • Alterations in patterns, such as the weakening of the Walker Circulation, affect the frequency and paths of typhoons.
3. El Niño and La Niña Effects:
   • The El Niño-Southern Oscillation significantly influences typhoon activity. El Niño years often lead to increased typhoon occurrences in Southeast Asia, while La Niña can enhance cyclone activity in the Western Pacific.
4. Increased Atmospheric Moisture:
   • Higher global temperatures result in more evaporation, adding moisture to the atmosphere, which fuels stronger storms and increases rainfall intensity.
5. Geographical Vulnerability:
   • Southeast Asia’s location near warm ocean currents makes it a hotspot for typhoon activity, particularly along its extensive coastlines.
6. Marine Heat Waves:
   • Climate change has led to more frequent marine heat waves, causing extreme ocean warming, which contributes to intensified storms.
7. Weaker Land-Sea Temperature Gradients:
   • Changes in temperature differences between land and sea can prolong storm duration and severity.
8. Urbanization and Environmental Degradation:
   • Rapid urban development and the destruction of coastal ecosystems, like mangroves, diminish natural barriers against storm impacts.

Humanitarian Impact and Response

• The increasing intensity and frequency of typhoons have precipitated severe humanitarian crises in affected regions. The need for international cooperation in disaster response has become critical, involving collaboration among governments, civil societies, and humanitarian organizations to provide aid and support for those affected.
• Understanding the multifaceted reasons behind the rising frequency of typhoons is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate their impacts and enhance community resilience in Southeast Asia.

In News:

A team of marine biologists led by a Florida International University researcher has described a new species of the shark genus Sphyrna from the Caribbean and the Southwest Atlantic.

• New Species: Named Sphyrna alleni (common name: shovelbill shark).
• Habitat: Found in coastal waters, estuaries, coral reefs, and seagrass beds from Belize to Brazil, with confirmed presence in:
  • Caribbean: Belize, Panama, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago.
  • Southwestern Atlantic: Brazil.
• Characteristics:
  • Small species, less than 1.5 m in length.
  • Distinctive flat, shovel-shaped head lacking indentations on the anterior edge.
  • Different from Sphyrna tiburo:
    • More rounded anterior margin.
    • Absence of lobules on the posterior margin.
    • Higher precaudal vertebral count (80-83 vs. ~73 in Sphyrna tiburo).
• Evolutionary Insight: Possible sister lineage to Sphyrna vespertina, suggesting Sphyrna tiburo diverged later.
• Conservation Status:
  • Hammerhead sharks are highly threatened, primarily due to overfishing.
  • Most species, except Sphyrna gilberti, are listed as Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
  • Current IUCN assessment of Sphyrna tiburo as Globally Endangered may need reevaluation considering the new findings.
• Management Recommendations:
  • Increased management efforts needed for Sphyrna alleni, particularly restrictions on gillnets and trawls, which significantly impact this species.
• Publication: Findings reported in the journal Zootaxa.

In News:

• Shelved Census Report: The Environment Ministry has delayed the release of the elephant census report, “Status of Elephant in India 2022-23,” due to a lag in the Northeast census, with publication on hold until at least June 2025.
• Population Decline: Preliminary data from the report indicates significant drops in elephant populations across several regions:
  • Southern West Bengal: 84% decline
  • Jharkhand: 64% decline
  • Odisha: 54% decline
  • Kerala: 51% decline
• Developmental Threats: The report cites “mushrooming developmental projects,” including unregulated mining and infrastructure development, as major threats to elephant populations.
• Methodological Concerns: The Environment Ministry noted that refined counting methods could explain some discrepancies, suggesting new data may not be directly comparable to previous censuses conducted every five years since the 1990s.
• Old Counting Methods:
  • Pre-2002: Elephants were counted using the “total direct count” method, which involved simple head counts but lacked scientific rigor for larger populations.
  • 2002: Introduction of the “indirect dung count” method, where dung samples were used to estimate density based on decay rates.
  • Sample Block Counts: Modified methods involved surveying limited areas (5 sq km) to improve detection accuracy.
• Elephants vs. Tigers: In 2021, a harmonized approach for estimating elephant and tiger populations was proposed, utilizing a similar block and co-variate methodology for both species.
• Genetic Mark-Recapture: The 2022-23 elephant census employed a genetic mark-recapture model using dung samples to identify individual elephants.
• Impact of Delay: Experts argue that withholding the available data hinders conservation efforts and governance. Delays could exacerbate the plight of elephant populations, particularly in regions facing specific threats, such as mining in Odisha.

Key Findings of the Unreleased Report:

• Overall Decline: The overall elephant population has decreased by 20% since 2017, with some areas reporting reductions of up to 41%.
• Regional Impact:
  • Southern West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha have seen losses of nearly 1,700 elephants.
  • The Western Ghats region indicates an 18% decline.
• Northeast Region: The census for this area relies on extrapolated data from 2017, with approximately one-third of India's elephants located there.
• Contributing Factors: Habitat fragmentation, poaching, and human-elephant conflicts due to developmental activities are major threats.
• Conservation Recommendations: Strategies to strengthen elephant corridors, restore habitats, and enhance community involvement in conservation are vital.
• Challenges in the Northeast: Urban development, mining, and agriculture significantly threaten elephant movement and survival, underscoring the need for targeted conservation strategies.
• Conservation Status of Elephants in India:
  • Leading States: Karnataka, Assam, and Kerala have the highest elephant populations.
  • Conservation Status: Elephants are classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and are protected under multiple international conventions.
• Threats to Elephants:
  • Habitat Loss: Rapid human population growth is diminishing elephant habitats.
  • Fragmentation: Habitat disruption from construction and development projects is prevalent.
  • Unlawful Killing: Human-elephant conflict often leads to retaliatory killings.
  • Poaching: Targeting of male elephants for tusks continues to threaten genetic diversity.
• Conservation Measures:
  • Financial support under various government schemes for habitat conservation and human-elephant conflict resolution.
  • Establishment of 33 Elephant Reserves across 14 states.
  • Collaborative efforts with railways and power departments to mitigate risks.
  • Regular elephant census every five years by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for monitoring populations.

In News:

A rare collision of two cyclones has led to significant environmental impact, including the flattening of thousands of trees within the sanctuary.

Key Details:

• Location: Situated in the Mulugu district of Telangana, near the borders of Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Approximately 100 km from Warangal and 250 km from Hyderabad.
• Establishment: Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1952 by the Nizam government of Hyderabad.
• Area: Covers around 806 square kilometers.

Geographic Features

Rivers:

• Dayyam Vagu: A significant water source that divides the sanctuary into two parts.
• Godavari River: Flows through the sanctuary, contributing to its rich biodiversity.

Flora

• Vegetation: Dense tropical dry deciduous forest.
• Key Species: Includes teak, bamboo, madhuca, and terminalia trees, creating a lush habitat.

Fauna

• Wildlife: Home to diverse species such as:
  • Mammals: Tiger, leopard, panther, wolf, wild dogs, jackals, sloth bear, chousingha, blackbuck, nilgai, sambar, spotted deer, and four-horned antelope.
  • Reptiles: Notable for its population of mugger crocodiles and snakes, including cobras, pythons, and kraits.

Cultural Significance

• Temple: The famous Sammakka-Saralamma Temple is located within the sanctuary.

In News:

A new report from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) indicates that the world's oceans are nearing critical acidity levels.

• Key Findings:
  • Nine Crucial Factors: The report identifies nine essential elements for sustaining life on Earth.
  • Exceeded Limits: Six of these factors have already surpassed safe limits due to human activities.
  • Ocean Acidification: This is poised to become the seventh boundary breached.
• Crossed Boundaries:
  • Factors Affected:
    • Climate change
    • Loss of natural species and habitats
    • Depletion of freshwater resources
    • Increase in pollutants, including plastics and agricultural chemicals
• Causes of Ocean Acidification:
  • Primarily driven by rising carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas).
• Implications of Acidification:
  • Damage to corals, shellfish, and phytoplankton, disrupting marine ecosystems.
  • Threats to food supplies for billions of people.
  • Reduced capacity of oceans to absorb CO2, exacerbating global warming.
• Ozone Layer Status:
  • Currently not close to being breached; showing recovery since the banning of harmful chemicals in 1987.
• Air Quality Concerns:
  • A ninth boundary related to particulate matter is near danger limits.
  • Improvements in air quality are noted, but industrializing nations still face pollution risks.
• Tipping Points:
  • Crossing these boundaries could lead to irreversible and catastrophic consequences for humanity and future generations.
  • All boundaries are interconnected; breaching one can destabilize the entire system.
• Opportunities for Solutions:
  • Addressing critical issues, such as limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, can have widespread benefits across multiple environmental challenges.

Planetary boundaries

• The planetary boundaries were introduced in 2009 to define the global environmental limits within which humans can safely live.
• Johan Rockström, former director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, led a group of 28 renowned scientists to identify the nine processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth system.
  • Climate Change: Greenhouse gas concentrations, primarily CO2, are the primary metric here. Exceeding the recommended levels risks amplifying global warming.
  • Ocean Acidification: Oceans absorb CO2, leading to decreased pH levels. This boundary measures the carbonate ion concentration, vital for marine life like corals.
  • Stratospheric Ozone Depletion: The ozone layer protects life from harmful ultraviolet radiation. This boundary emphasizes the ozone concentration in the stratosphere.
  • Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycles: Excess nitrogen and phosphorus, often from fertilizers, can disrupt ecosystems. Here, the focus is on their flow into the environment.
  • Freshwater Use: Freshwater is vital for life. This boundary pinpoints the annual consumption of freshwater resources.
  • Land-System Change: As we modify landscapes, particularly through deforestation, we alter habitats and carbon storage capabilities. This threshold concerns the amount of forested land remaining.
  • Biodiversity Loss: Biodiversity underpins ecosystem resilience. This metric observes the extinction rate of species.
  • Atmospheric Aerosol Loading: Aerosols influence climate and human health. This boundary examines their density in the atmosphere.
  • Chemical Pollution: Synthetic chemicals can harm ecosystems and human health. This boundary reviews their concentration and spread.

In News:

Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India achieved a 100-Day Target of 100 Nagar Vans under Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) with the objective to Enhance Urban Greenery.

Key Details:

• Launch: Initiated in 2020 to enhance urban greenery, improve quality of life, and foster social cohesion.
• Financial Support: Offers ?4 lakh per hectare for creation and maintenance of urban forests.
• Area Specification: Nagar Van areas range from 10 to 50 hectares.
• Coverage: Applicable to all cities with Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

Achievements

• 100-Day Target: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change achieved a target of 100 Nagar Vans, surpassing it with the approval of 111 Nagar Vans in just 100 days.
• Geographic Spread: These 111 Nagar Vans are distributed across six states and one Union Territory.

Features of Nagar Vans

• Biodiversity Focus: Emphasis on planting fruit-bearing, medicinal, and native species to attract wildlife and maintain ecological balance.
• Community Involvement: Engages citizens, students, and stakeholders through tree planting, educational programs, and sustainable management.
• Design Elements: Each Nagar Van includes two-thirds tree cover and features components like Biodiversity Parks, Smriti Vans, Butterfly Conservatories, Herbal Gardens, and Matri Vans.

Future Goals

• Expansion Plans: Target to develop 1,000 Nagar Vans by 2027, supported by the National Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (National CAMPA).
• Environmental Impact: Aims to protect forest land from degradation and address urban environmental issues such as air pollution and habitat loss.

Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Campaign

• Launch Date: Introduced on June 5, 2024, during World Environment Day.
• Purpose: Encourages tree planting as a tribute to mothers, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship.
• Tree Planting Goals: Aims to plant 80 crore trees by September 2024 and 140 crore by March 2025.
• Tracking Efforts: Participants can document their planting through the MeriLiFE portal, where over 75 crore saplings have been recorded.

Recent Initiatives

• Tree Plantation Drive: A recent drive on September 17, 2024, aimed at creating Matri Vans in newly approved Nagar Vans, highlighting community and governmental collaboration for sustainable urban development.

In News:

The Ideas4LiFE portal was launched by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, at IIT Delhi.

• Purpose: Designed to invite innovative ideas related to products and services that promote environmentally friendly lifestyles.
• Development Partner: Created in collaboration with UNICEF YuWaah.

Key Features of the Ideas4LiFE Portal

• Themes: Aligned with Mission LiFE, focusing on:
  • Water Conservation
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Waste Reduction
  • E-Waste Management
  • Minimizing Single-Use Plastics
  • Embracing Sustainable Food Practices
  • Fostering Healthy Lifestyles
• Recognition: Winning ideas will be awarded attractive prizes for both individuals and institutions.

Engagement and Outreach

• Submissions: As of now, the portal has received approximately 3,300 registrations and over 1,000 ideas.
• Social Media Impact: The initiative has garnered 46.5 million impressions and a reach of 13.5 million through social media under the hashtag #Ideas4LiFE.

Collaboration with Educational Institutions

• Partnerships: Collaborations with the University Grants Commission (UGC), All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and various educational institutions to promote the Ideathon among students and researchers.
• Objective: Encourage the academic community to contribute innovative, citizen-focused ideas that support sustainable living.

Future Plans

• Evaluation Process: Submitted ideas will be evaluated by a jury, leading to the announcement of shortlisted and winning ideas.
• Implementation: Winning ideas will be included in a national repository, allowing stakeholders, including government bodies and private entities, to nurture and scale these innovations.

Mission LiFE Context

• Definition: Mission LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment) is a campaign initiated at UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in 2021.
• Goals:
  • Mobilize at least one billion people for environmental protection.
  • Make 80% of villages and urban local bodies environment-friendly by 2028.
  • Promote small, everyday actions to combat climate change.
• Philosophy: Emphasizes the P3 model—Pro Planet People—uniting individuals in the commitment to environmental stewardship.

In News:

Massive Greenland landslide sent seismic waves around earth for 9 days. One year ago, roughly 25 million cubic metres of ice and rock splashed into the Dickson Fjord in Greenland and displaced the water enough to give rise to a 200-metre high mega-tsunami; in this way, a melting glacier led to a planet-wide tremor, and researchers warn that it may not be the last

Seismic Observations

• Detection: Unusual seismic signals recorded by stations worldwide, characterized by a single frequency, unlike typical earthquake vibrations.
• Classification: Initially termed a "USO" (unidentified seismic object) due to its atypical properties.
• Duration: Waves persisted for nine days, unlike typical aftershock patterns.

Investigation Efforts

• Collaboration: Involved over 68 researchers from 40 universities across 15 countries.
• Data Sources: Combined seismic data, satellite imagery, water level monitors, and a classified bathymetric map from the Danish Navy.
• Conclusion: The seismic waves resulted from a massive landslide caused by the collapse of Hvide Støvhorn peak, which triggered a series of events leading to the tsunami.

Mega-Tsunami and Seiche

• Tsunami Details:
  • Created by the avalanche crashing into the fjord, displacing water significantly.
  • Resulted in waves that reflected off fjord walls, reaching heights of nearly 110 meters due to the fjord's unique shape.
• Seiche Phenomenon:
  • Oscillations in the fjord persisted for over nine days, reflecting the energy from the landslide.
  • Maximum amplitude of the seiche recorded at 7.4 meters, with a frequency of 11.45 MHz.

Climate Context

• Global Warming Impact: Thinning glaciers contributed to instability in the region, making such landslides more likely.
• Future Predictions: Researchers warn of increased frequency and scale of similar events as climate change continues to affect Arctic and subarctic regions.

Key Takeaways

• The Greenland landslide serves as a reminder of the unpredictable consequences of climate change, including massive geological events.
• The incident highlights the interconnectedness of natural systems and the potential for localized events to have global repercussions.

In News:

Azerbaijan is making a significant move in the global climate finance landscape by proposing the Climate Finance Action Fund (CFAF) at the upcoming COP29 conference. This fund aims to gather voluntary contributions from fossil-fuel-producing nations and companies, with Azerbaijan itself making the initial investment. The fund’s goal is to support climate action in developing countries, which often struggle to finance their environmental initiatives.

Key Aspects of the CFAF:

• Voluntary Contributions: The fund seeks donations from fossil fuel entities, allowing them to contribute based on a fixed amount or production volumes.
• Bipartite Allocation: Proposed funds will be split equally—half for climate projects in developing nations and half for supporting those countries in executing their national climate action plans.
• Operational Threshold: The CFAF will only commence operations once it secures a minimum of $1 billion and commitments from at least ten countries to participate.

Context of COP29:

COP29, hosted in Baku from November 11 to 22, centers on finalizing a climate finance agreement, particularly the obligations of developed nations post-2025. This follows the ongoing struggle to meet the $100 billion annual financing target established in the Paris Agreement.

Additional Proposals:

Azerbaijan has also introduced several other initiatives as part of its agenda, including:

• Expanding Global Energy Storage: Aiming to increase capacity sixfold by 2030.
• Green Hydrogen Market: Fostering a global marketplace for green hydrogen.
• Minimizing Emissions from Digital Growth: Ensuring that the environmental impact of increasing digitalization and data centers is mitigated.

Challenges Ahead:

Despite the ambitious plans, there are significant hurdles to overcome, including establishing a robust framework for the CFAF, garnering international support, and ensuring compliance from contributors. As the conference approaches, ongoing negotiations will be crucial to achieving substantial agreements on climate finance that can lead to meaningful progress in combating climate change.

In News:

An order issued by the District Magistrate directed the owners of air guns to deposit their hunting weapons at the offices of respective village authorities.

Amur Falcons: An Overview

Scientific Classification:

• Common Name: Amur Falcon
• Scientific Name: Falco amurensis
• Family: Falconidae

Physical Characteristics:

• Size: Small raptors, approximately 28-30 cm in length.
• Distinctive Features: Dark plumage with white wing linings; reddish-orange eyes and feet.

Migration Patterns:

• Breeding Grounds: Southeastern Russia and northern China.
• Migratory Route: They leave their breeding areas in autumn, traveling south to round the Himalayas, stopping in Nagaland, and then heading towards the Western Ghats before crossing the Indian Ocean to reach South Africa.
• Distance: These falcons undertake an incredible journey of around 22,000 kilometers annually, making them one of the most remarkable long-distance migrants among raptors.

Diet:

• Primarily insectivorous, they also consume small vertebrates when available.

Conservation Status:

• IUCN Status: Least Concern
• Legal Protection:
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule IV
  • Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix II

Recent Conservation Efforts:

• Ban in Manipur: The Tamenglong district administration has imposed a ban on hunting, catching, killing, and selling Amur falcons in preparation for their migratory arrival.
• Tagging Program: In 2016, radio transmitters were used to monitor their migration routes.
• Awareness Initiatives: An annual ‘Amur Falcon Festival’ in Tamenglong district promotes awareness and celebrates these migratory birds.

Threats:

• Amur falcons face various threats including habitat loss, hunting, and illegal trapping.

Cultural Significance:

• Locally known as ‘Kahuaipuina’ in Manipur and ‘Molulem’ in Nagaland, these birds hold ecological and cultural significance, particularly in regions that serve as critical stopover points during migration.

Summary

The Amur falcon is a small but remarkable migratory raptor known for its long-distance travels from its breeding grounds in Asia to Africa. Conservation efforts in India, particularly in the Tamenglong district of Manipur, aim to protect these birds from hunting and habitat loss, ensuring their continued survival and highlighting their importance in the ecosystem.

In News:

Celebrated annually on September 22, World Rhino Day raises awareness about the critical conservation status of rhinoceroses and the myriad threats they face, such as poaching and habitat loss. This day, first initiated by the World Wildlife Fund South Africa in 2010, aims to highlight the need for the conservation of all five species of rhinos: the Javan, Sumatran, Black, Greater One-Horned, and White rhinos.

The Current Status of Rhino Species

• Among the five rhino species, three are classified as
• Critically Endangered: the Black, Javan, and Sumatran rhinos.
• The White Rhino is considered Near Threatened, with the Northern White Rhino itself critically endangered.
• The Greater One-Horned Rhino, primarily found in India, is listed as Vulnerable.

Notably, Kaziranga National Park in Assam is home to the largest population of Greater One-Horned Rhinos, boasting approximately 3,700 individuals.

Conservation Efforts

In India, initiatives like Project Rhino play a crucial role in safeguarding rhino populations. This project focuses on preventing poaching, enhancing habitat management, and increasing public awareness. It collaborates with various conservation groups and government agencies to strengthen law enforcement against poaching and to relocate rhinos to safer areas.

Another significant program is the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020), aimed at boosting the population of Greater One-Horned Rhinos in Assam, particularly in regions where they had previously become extinct.

Surprising Facts About Rhinos

1. Despite their thick skin, rhinos can get sunburned.
2. Rhinos are related to zebras, horses, and tapirs.
3. All five species are considered endangered.
4. A group of rhinos is called a "crash."
5. Rhinos' horns are made of keratin, the same protein found in human hair and nails.
6. The term "rhinoceros" comes from two Greek words meaning "nose" and "horn."
7. Rhinos and elephants are not natural enemies.
8. One of the most famous depictions of a rhino is Albrecht Dürer's woodcut from 1515.
9. The gestation period for rhinos can last up to 16 months.
10. Rhinos have historically been used in traditional Asian medicine.

In News:

India formally joined the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 9, 2023, during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger.

• Objective: The IBCA aims to conserve the world's seven big cat species: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma, focusing on their protection and natural habitats.
• Founding Members: India joins Nicaragua, Eswatini, and Somalia as founding members of the IBCA, which will collaborate with 24 countries and nine organizations.
• Headquarters: The IBCA will be headquartered in India, facilitating efforts to protect big cats and their ecosystems.

Purpose and Goals of IBCA

• Conservation Focus: The alliance addresses common challenges in the protection of the seven big cats, promoting sustainable resource use and tackling climate change.
• Collaboration and Support: The IBCA will provide a platform for member nations to share knowledge, expertise, and support recovery efforts in potential habitats.
• Mobilization of Resources: The alliance aims to mobilize financial and technical resources for effective conservation strategies based on global experiences.

Background and Evolution

• Inception: PM Modi proposed an international initiative against poaching and illegal wildlife trade in 2019, advocating for collaboration among tiger range countries.
• Extension of Project Tiger: The IBCA serves as an extension of India's long-standing commitment to wildlife protection, initially exemplified by the launch of Project Tiger in 1973.

Big Cat Species Overview

1. Tiger (Endangered)
   • Population: Approx. 3,167 in India, accounting for over 75% of the global population.
   • Threats: Habitat loss, poaching, and climate change impacting their territory.
2. Lion (Vulnerable)
   • Population: Estimated 700 in India.
   • Threats: Habitat reduction and targeted poaching.
3. Leopard (Near Threatened)
   • Population: Around 13,000 in India, with approximately 250,000 globally.
   • Threats: Habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.
4. Snow Leopard (Vulnerable)
   • Population: 400-700 in India, with global estimates of 4,000-6,500.
   • Threats: Poaching, habitat loss, and human disturbances.
5. Cheetah (Vulnerable)
   • Population: Declined to less than 7,000 globally; declared extinct in India in 1952.
   • Threats: Habitat loss, climate change, and illegal trafficking.
6. Jaguar (Near Threatened)
   • Population: Approximately 173,000 globally, primarily in South America.
   • Threats: Deforestation, illegal hunting, and habitat fragmentation.
7. Puma (Near Threatened)
   • Population: Estimated 50,000, experiencing a decline.
   • Threats: Habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict.

Future Initiatives

• Translocation Efforts: Following successful cheetah translocations from Namibia and South Africa, India plans to explore similar initiatives for other big cats.
• Global Cooperation: The IBCA will strengthen conservation efforts by working with a broader network of range countries to combat poaching and promote habitat preservation.

In News:

Project Cheetah has encountered significant setbacks, including prolonged captivity and cheetah fatalities; with long-term success hinging on finding sufficient habitat, scientific management, and community support, the project’s future depends on overcoming these enormous challenges.

Overview of Project Cheetah:

• Cheetah Action Plan (CAP): India’s initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs, aimed at species conservation and ecosystem restoration.
• Long-term Commitment: Requires a minimum of 25 years of financial, technical, and administrative support from various governmental bodies.

Challenges Faced:

1. Extended Captivity:
   • Cheetahs have been held in captivity longer than planned, with only 12 of the original 20 surviving.
   • Delays in the release process raise concerns about the cheetahs' fitness for survival in the wild.
2. Health Issues and Fatalities:
   • Several cheetahs have died due to pre-existing health conditions or management failures before being released.
   • Captivity duration exceeds guidelines set by Namibian policy, rendering the cheetahs unfit for release.
3. Environmental Adaptation Problems:
   • Some deaths attributed to environmental stressors, such as heat stroke and improper management of conditions leading to health complications.

Location for Introduction:

• Kuno National Park: Chosen for its suitable habitat and prey base. However, many cheetahs remain confined, with release dates now pushed to late 2024 or early 2025.
• Additional Sites: Plans for a captive breeding facility in Gujarat and potential releases in Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary.

Management and Oversight:

• An expert committee, led by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), oversees the project. Responsibilities include negotiating with African countries for cheetah procurement and implementing field activities.

Goals and Measurable Outcomes:

• Short-term Objectives: Achieve a 50% survival rate in the first year, establish home ranges, and generate eco-tourism revenue.
• Long-term Success: Establish a stable cheetah population, improve habitat quality, and support local economies.

Future Considerations:

• The project lacks a definitive sunset clause but will require ongoing management for decades.
• The key question remains whether India has sufficient habitat (4,000 to 8,000 sq. km) to support a viable population of free-ranging cheetahs.

Conclusion: Project Cheetah faces significant challenges in achieving its ambitious conservation goals, raising questions about its long-term viability and management practices.

In News:

A new study finds that a trilobite species with exceptionally well-preserved fossils from upstate New York has an additional set of legs underneath its head.

Key details:

• The research, led by the American Museum of Natural History and Nanjing University in China, suggests that having a fifth pair of head appendages might be more widespread among trilobites than once thought.
• Published in the journal Palaeontology, the study helps researchers better understand how trilobite heads are segmented.

Trilobites

• Trilobites are a group of extinct arthropods whose living relatives include lobsters and spiders.
• Like other arthropods, the bodies of trilobites are made up of many segments, with the head region comprised of several fused segments.
• As with other parts of the trilobite body (the thorax and tail), these segments were associated with appendages, which ranged in function from sensing to feeding to locomotion.
• Trilobites are a group of extinct marine arthropods that first appeared around 521 million years ago, shortly after the beginning of the Cambrian period, living through the majority of the Palaeozoic Era, for nearly 300 million years. They died out at the end of the Permian, 251 million years ago, killed by the end Permian mass extinction event that removed over 90% of all species on Earth. They were very diverse for much of the Palaeozoic, and today trilobite fossils are found all over the world.
• The name 'trilobite' comes from the distinctive three-fold longitudinal division of the dorsal exoskeleton into a central axis, flanked on either side by lateral (pleural) areas.

Two ways

The segments in the trilobite head can be counted in two different ways: by looking at the grooves (called furrows) on the upper side of the trilobite fossil’s hard exoskeleton, or by counting the pairs of preserved antennae and legs on the underside of the fossil. The soft appendages of trilobites are rarely preserved, though, and when looking at the segments in the trilobite head, researchers regularly find a mismatch between these two methods.

In the new study, researchers examined newly recovered specimens of the exceptionally preserved trilobite Triarthrus eatoni from upstate New York. These fossils, known for the gold shine of the pyrite replacement preserving them, show an additional, previously undescribed leg underneath the head.

Resolving mismatch

By making comparisons with another trilobite species, the exceptionally preserved Olenoides serratusfrom the Burgess Shale in British Columbia, the researchers propose a model for how appendages were attached to the head in relation to the grooves in the exoskeleton.

This model resolves the apparent mismatch and indicates that the trilobite head included six segments: an anterior segment associated with the developmental origin of the eyes and five additional segments, associated with one pair of antennae and four pairs of walking legs, respectively.

In News

• Scientists agree that preserving the Amazon rainforest is critical to combating global warming, but new data published recently, indicate huge swathes of the jungles that are vital to the world’s climate remain unprotected.
• Nearly 40% of the areas of the Amazon rainforest most critical to curbing climate change have not been granted special government protection, as either nature or indigenous reserves, according to an analysis by nonprofit Amazon Conservation.
• The areas lie in the far southwest of the Amazon in Peru and the far northeast in Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname, the data show.
• Those parts of the Amazon have the biggest, densest trees and the most continuous canopy cover. That means these areas hold the most carbon, which would be released into the atmosphere as climate-warming greenhouse gas if the jungle is destroyed by fire or logging.

What satellite data show

• Amazon Conservation analysed new data from the satellite imaging company Planet that used lasers to get a three-dimensional picture of the forest and combined it with machine-learning models.
• Only aboveground vegetation was considered, and not underground carbon in roots and soils.
• Amazon Conservation’s Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project (MAAP)’s analysis shows that 61% of the peak carbon areas in the Amazon are protected as indigenous reserves or other protected lands, but the rest generally has no official designation.
• In Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana, only 51% of peak carbon areas are labeled for preservation. Peru protects a higher proportion of its critical areas, but some of the areas that have been left unprotected have been earmarked for logging.

Why the Amazon matters

• MAAP published an analysis last month showing that the Amazon contained 71.5 billion tonnes of carbon, roughly double the global carbon dioxide emissions for 2022. That analysis showed that the Amazon just barely absorbed more carbon than it released in the decade leading up to 2022, a positive signal for the world’s climate.
• But that remains an area of intense debate, with other studies showing the Amazon has flipped to become an emissions source.
• As the effects of anthropogenic climate change become more stark with each passing day, the Amazon becomes one of the most valuable assets for the planet’s health. Scientists say that if the Amazon becomes an emission source instead of a carbon sink — which absorbs carbon from the atmosphere — the impact on the planet may be cataclysmic.

In News:

Earlier this month, the Centre approved the transfer of 256 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between Adani Realty Group and the Maharashtra government, for building rental housing for slum dwellers.

What are salt pan lands?

• They comprise parcels of low-lying lands where seawater flows in at certain times, and leaves behind salt and other minerals. Along with Mumbai’s mangroves (also at risk due to development), this ecosystem is instrumental in protecting the city from flooding.
• According to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011, the ecologically sensitive salt pans fall under CRZ-1B category, where no economic activity is allowed with the exception of salt extraction and natural gas exploration.
• In all, 5,378 acres of land in Mumbai have been designated as salt pan lands, approximately nine times the size of the Dharavi slum. About 31% of this land is located in residential and commercial belts, and roughly 480 acres are encroached upon, a 2014 study by the state government found. The same study found that about 1,672 acres of Mumbai’s more than 5,000 acres of salt pan lands are “developable”.
• Nationally, some 60,000 acres have been demarcated as salt pan lands, spread across Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh (20,716 acres) boasts the largest expanse of such land, followed by Tamil Nadu (17,095 acres) and Maharashtra (12,662 acres).

Why are Mumbai’s salt pan lands at risk?

Development Pressure

• Land Scarcity: Mumbai faces severe land scarcity, with its burgeoning population and high demand for space. Salt pans, being some of the last undeveloped areas, are increasingly targeted for various projects.
• Development Plans: Multiple state governments have eyed salt pan lands for different uses.

Environmental Significance

• Flood Prevention: Salt pans are situated in low-lying areas that naturally collect rainwater and tidal flows, helping to mitigate flooding in Mumbai’s eastern suburbs. They act as natural buffers, absorbing excess water during heavy rains and high tides.
• Historical Context: During the July 2005 deluge, salt pans helped reduce the impact of flooding compared to other areas of Mumbai, highlighting their role in flood management.
• Ecosystems: Salt pans are home to various species of birds and insects and contribute to local biodiversity. The destruction of these lands could lead to loss of habitat and disruption of local ecosystems.

Risks of Development

• Flooding Concerns: Environmentalists argue that constructing on these low-lying areas will lead to increased flooding in areas like Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, and Bhandup. This is because the land’s natural ability to absorb and manage water will be compromised.
• Quality of Life Issues: Relocating slum-dwellers to these areas raises concerns about their living conditions. Salt pans are prone to flooding, which could undermine the quality of life for new residents. The cost of making these lands habitable, including extensive land filling and waterproofing measures, could negate the benefits of affordable housing.
• Conflict with Climate Goals: There is a contradiction between Mumbai’s Climate Action Plan, which recognizes climate threats, and the push to develop areas critical for flood management.

In News:

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi recently launched the ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative via video conferencing from Surat, Gujarat.

Key Points:

• Campaign and Objectives:
  • Objective: The initiative seeks to bolster water conservation through extensive public and governmental collaboration.
  • Scope: About 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures will be constructed across Gujarat.
  • Approach: Emphasizes a Whole-of-Society and Whole-of-Government approach to water management.
• Significance:
  • Cultural Significance: PM Modi highlighted that water conservation is deeply embedded in Indian culture, with water revered as a divine entity and rivers considered Goddesses.
  • Policy and Virtue: He stated that water conservation transcends policy and is both an effort and a virtue, reflecting social commitment and cultural consciousness.
  • Future Challenges: The Prime Minister acknowledged the exacerbating impact of water scarcity due to climate change, urging a shift to the ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recharge, and Recycle’ mantra for sustainable water management.
• Impact of Drought and Water Scarcity:
  • Recent Challenges: The drought affecting the Amazon region and other parts of India has highlighted the urgent need for effective water conservation strategies.
  • Water Table Decline: Significant declines in river levels, such as the Rio Negro reaching its lowest minimum (12.7 meters) on record, and the death of endangered species due to low water levels underscore the crisis.
• Government Initiatives:
  • Jal Jeevan Mission: Aims to provide piped water to every home, with significant progress noted from 3 crore households to over 15 crore.
  • Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Focuses on renovation and construction of water sources with widespread public participation.
  • Amrit Sarovar: Over 60,000 Amrit Sarovars have been constructed under this campaign, which began during the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.
• Innovative Solutions and Technological Integration:
  • Drip Irrigation: Promotion of water-efficient farming techniques like drip irrigation to ensure sustainable agriculture.
  • Support for Farmers: Encouragement for cultivating less water-intensive crops such as pulses and millets.
• Role of Industries:
  • CSR Contributions: Industries have played a significant role in water conservation through initiatives like Net Zero Liquid Discharge Standards and the completion of 10,000 borewell recharge structures in Gujarat.
  • Future Plans: The ‘Jal Sanchay-Jan Bhagidari Abhiyan’ aims to create an additional 24,000 recharge structures.
• Conclusion and Vision:
  • Global Leadership: PM Modi expressed his belief that India can become a global leader in water conservation.
  • Public Movement: Stressed the importance of continuing public participation in water conservation to make India a model for global sustainability.

Background: The ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari’ initiative builds on the success of the earlier Jal Sanchay program by involving citizens, local bodies, and industries in water conservation efforts. The initiative aligns with the vision of water security and aims to mobilize collective action for long-term sustainability.

Key Data:

• Construction of 24,800 rainwater harvesting structures.
• Significant increase in tap water connections from 3 crore to over 15 crore households.
• Creation of more than 60,000 Amrit Sarovars across the country.
• Completion of 10,000 borewell recharge structures in Gujarat.

In News:

The drought that hit all nine Amazon rainforest countries - including Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru - is expected to worsen in 2024

Role of Climate Change:

• Likelihood Increase: Climate change made the drought 30 times more likely.
• Temperature and Rainfall: It drove extreme high temperatures and contributed to lower rainfall.

Future Projections:

• Expected Worsening: The drought is predicted to worsen in 2024, with the rainy season expected to recede in May.

Impact on Ecosystems:

• River Levels: Rivers have reached their lowest levels on record, with the Rio Negro river falling to its lowest minimum (12.7 meters) since records began in 1902.
• Dolphin Deaths: At least 178 endangered pink and gray Amazon river dolphins died due to low water levels and high temperatures.
• Fish Deaths: Thousands of fish died from low oxygen levels in Amazon tributaries.

Impact on Human Life:

• Disruptions: Waterways dried up rapidly, forcing people to undertake long journeys across dried river sections to access essential goods like food and medicine.

Contributing Factors:

• El Niño Influence: Periodic warming in the Eastern Pacific Ocean (El Niño) contributed to decreased rainfall but not to higher temperatures.

Potential Consequences:

• Forest Fires and Biome Health: The drought could exacerbate forest fires, combined with climate change and deforestation, potentially pushing the Amazon toward a point of no return where it ceases to be a lush rainforest.
• Previous Droughts: While the region has experienced at least three intense droughts in the past 20 years, this one’s impact on the entire Amazon basin is unprecedented.

In News:

• A critically endangered species, the elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), was spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area during a research survey in the Aravallis.

Key Features:

• The tortoise is medium-sized with a yellowish brown or olive shell and distinct black blotches at the centre of each scute.
• The tortoise has on its nostril a pink ring, which appears in the breeding season.
• Mature individuals of both sexes develop a distinct pinkish colouration surrounding the nostrils and eyes during the season.
• Habitat:
  • The tortoise, found in the Sal deciduous and hilly evergreen forests, is distributed across Southeast Asia from northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh in the west, eastward through Myanmar, Thailand, and all of Indochina, north to Guangxi Province of China and south to Peninsular Malaysia.
  • A disjunct tortoise population exists in the Chota Nagpur plateau in eastern India. It also inhabits lowlands and foothills of up to 1,000 m above sea level.
  • There have not been enough surveys to ascertain its presence in Aravallis, but the tortoise is found in the foothills of the Himalayas.
  • It inhabits wetter areas and discovering it here is an aberration than a norm, adding it cannot be ruled out that the tortoise was brought by trade.

Conservation Status:

• International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Status: Critically Endangered, under criteria A2cd.

Threats:

• Currently, I. elongata is heavily exploited for food and traditional medicine throughout its range.
• Local people often opportunistically capture tortoises while farming or extracting other forest resources. However, deliberate hunting also occurs and dogs continue to be widely used for finding tortoises.

Why is it in the News?

In response to the escalating biodiversity crisis, the Global Species Action Plan (GSAP) is designed to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

About GSAP SKILLS Platform:

• The Global Species Action Plan (GSAP) SKILLS platform, standing for (Species Conservation Knowledge, Information, Learning, Leverage, and Sharing), brings the GSAP’s content online and enables real-time updates of technical tools and resources.
• This platform aims to facilitate global collaboration and partnership by connecting decision-makers, species conservation practitioners, and experts at all levels.
• It ensures accessibility and relevance by providing real-time updates on technical tools and resources.
• Each target within the Global Biodiversity Framework is accompanied by a summary and rationale for species conservation interventions, actions, and sub-actions, along with the actors involved and the technical tools and resources required, facilitating the scaling-up of implementation efforts.
• Managed proactively by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the platform meets the needs of governments and stakeholders to take decisive action for species conservation.
• The development of the GSAP SKILLS platform has been principally supported by the Ministry of Environment, Republic of Korea, with additional resources from the Tech4Nature Initiative, launched by IUCN and Huawei in 2020.

What is the Global Species Action Plan?

• It has been developed to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and to address the increasing biodiversity loss worldwide.
• It outlines strategic interventions and actions to conserve and sustainably manage species while ensuring equitable benefits.

About Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:

• The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is an outcome of the 2022 United Nations Biodiversity Conference.
  • Its tentative title had been the "Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework".
• The GBF was adopted by the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on 19 December 2022.
  • It has been promoted as a "Paris Agreement for Nature".
• It is one of a handful of agreements under the auspices of the CBD, and it is the most significant to date.
• It has been hailed as a "huge, historic moment" and a "major win for our planet and for all of humanity."
• UN Secretary-General António Guterres speaking at the 2022 biodiversity conference in Montreal which led to this treaty
• The Framework is named after two cities, Kunming, which was scheduled to be the host city for COP15 in October 2020 but postponed and subsequently relinquished the hosting duties due to China's COVID policy, and Montreal, which is the seat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat and stepped in to host COP15 after Kunming's cancellation.

Why is it in the News?

A new study has uncovered the origins of baobabs, the tall and uniquely shaped deciduous trees that are famously spotted on the island of Madagascar.

What are Baobab Trees?

• Baobabs are known for their great heights, with some extending up to 50 metres, and exceptionally long lifespans going up to 2,000 years.
• In India too, a few baobab trees exist, including one near the Golconda Fort in Andhra Pradesh that is believed to be more than 400 years old.
• The trees have trunks with large circumferences and thin, spindly branches.
• In local cultures, the trees are also revered because of the multiple uses their parts have, with the fruits and seeds being edible, the seed oil used for cooking and the bark fibre for clothing.
• They are also called “upside down” trees because of their tops resembling an uprooted plant turned upside down.

Essential for the ecosystem:

• Baobab trees are fundamental to the entire dry African savanna ecosystem.
• They help keep soil conditions humid, aid nutrient recycling, and slow soil erosion with their massive root systems.
• As a succulent, the tree absorbs and stores water from the rainy season in its massive trunk, producing a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season, which can grow up to a foot long.
  • The fruit contains tartaric acid and Vitamin C, serving as a vital nutrient and food source for many species.
• They are also an essential source of water and shelter for hundreds of animals, including birds, lizards, monkeys, and even elephants – which can eat their bark for moisture when there is no water nearby.

In human culture:

• For humans, the baobab’s fruit pulp can be eaten, soaked in water to make a refreshing drink, preserved into a jam, or roasted and ground to make a coffee-like substance.
• The bark can be pounded to make everything from rope, mats, and baskets to paper and cloth.
• Leaves are also used, they can be boiled and eaten, or glue can be made from their flower’s pollen.

What Did the Study Find?

• The study highlighted the threats facing baobab trees and examined their genetic makeup.
  • It reported that three Madagascar species of baobab trees are threatened with extinction, according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• The study identified various threats, including residential and commercial development and livestock farming, which require land clearing.
  • However, even species not currently endangered show declining populations, suggesting that more rigorous conservation strategies are needed to ensure their long-term survival.
  • This necessitates a detailed understanding of the baobabs' genetics.
• Genomic sequencing revealed a consensus on the monophyly of the Malagasy lineage from Madagascar.
  • According to DNA studies, baobab trees first arose in Madagascar 21 million years ago, with their seeds later carried by ocean currents to Australia and mainland Africa, where they evolved into distinct species.
• The study also warned that climate change poses severe threats to Adansonia suarezensis from Madagascar, predicting its possible extinction by 2080.
  • Due to their unique ecological roles and low genetic diversity, these species are likely to have reduced resilience to environmental changes and habitat fragmentation.

Why is it in the News?

The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a small wild cat native to South, Southeast and East Asia, was recently spotted in Maharashtra’s Pench, in what is being billed as Central India’s first sighting of the species.

About Leopard Cat:

• The Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat native to continental South, Southeast, and East Asia.
• With its distinctive leopard-like colouring, this small wildcat is known for its remarkable adaptability and extensive distribution across Asia.

Habitat and Distribution:

• Leopard cats can be found in a variety of environments, ranging from the Amur region in Russia to the Korean Peninsula, China, Indochina, the Indian Subcontinent, northern Pakistan, and as far south as the Philippines and the Sunda Islands of Indonesia.
• Although they can inhabit agriculturally used areas, leopard cats prefer forested habitats, including tropical evergreen rainforests, subtropical deciduous and coniferous forests, and plantations at various altitudes.

Physical Characteristics:

• Size and appearance vary considerably across their range, with a length of 45 to 75 cm (18 to 30 inches), excluding their 23-35 cm (9-13.8 inches) tail.
• Their colouration ranges from pale tawny to yellow, red, or grey, with white underparts and distinctive spots.
• Most leopard cats have four black stripes running from their forehead to the nape, breaking into short bands and elongated spots on their shoulders.

Behaviour and Diet:

• As solitary and nocturnal carnivores, leopard cats primarily feed on rodents, tree shrews, and hares, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems.

Conservation Status:

• Listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List, leopard cats face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Continued monitoring and conservation efforts are essential to protect this species and its vital role in Asia's diverse ecosystems.

Facts about Pench Tiger Reserve:

• Location: Situated in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills, the Pench Tiger Reserve spans Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and extends into Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary.
  • It derives its name from the Pench River, which flows from north to south through the Reserve.
• The reserve encompasses the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer zone.
• The area served as the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's renowned work, "The Jungle Book."
• Vegetation: The undulating topography supports a diverse range of vegetation, from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forests.
• Flora: Pench Tiger Reserve boasts a rich variety of flora, including teak, saag, mahua, and various grasses and shrubs.
• Fauna: Renowned for its wildlife diversity, the reserve is home to large herds of Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur (Indian Bison), and wild boar.
  • Key predators include the tiger, leopard, wild dogs, and wolf. Additionally, the reserve supports over 325 species of resident and migratory birds, including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey Headed Fishing Eagle, and White Eyed Buzzard.

Why is it in the News?

Recently, Japan announced that its experts have engaged in discussions with their Chinese counterparts to address Beijing's concerns regarding the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the sea.

What is the Fukushima Water Issue?

• In 2021, the Japanese government unveiled plans to gradually discharge over one million tonnes of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean over the next three decades.
• The contaminated water is a residual product of the devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami that incapacitated the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, resulting in the release of radioactive materials.
• After more than ten years of storing this wastewater, Japan asserts that they are facing storage space limitations and contends that the treated water is now safe for release.

Concerns Surrounding the Fukushima Water Discharge:

• Tritium and Carbon-14: The water from Fukushima undergoes filtration via the Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), effectively reducing most radioactive contaminants to acceptable safety levels, except tritium and carbon-14.
  • While both emit low levels of radiation, consumption in large quantities could potentially pose risks.
• Insufficient Research: Scientists emphasize the need for further investigation into the potential impact of the water discharge on the ocean bed and marine ecosystems.
• The Pacific Islands Forum regional group has labeled the proposed plan as "another significant nuclear contamination disaster," citing ongoing challenges faced by its member nations due to past US nuclear testing.

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF):

• The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is an inter-governmental organization that aims to enhance cooperation among countries and territories of Oceania, including the formation of a trade bloc and regional peacekeeping operations.
• It was founded in 1971 as the South Pacific Forum (SPF), and changed its name in 1999 to "Pacific Islands Forum", to be more inclusive of the Forum's Oceania-spanning membership of both north and south Pacific island countries, including Australia.
• It is a United Nations General Assembly observer.
• The PIF secretariat is located in Suva, the capital of Fiji.

Nuclear Incidents:

• A nuclear and radiation incident denotes an occurrence that has resulted in significant repercussions for individuals, the environment, or the facility involved.
• These may entail fatal consequences for individuals, substantial releases of radioactivity into the environment, or reactor core meltdowns.
• Globally, there have been a total of 99 incidents at nuclear power plants.
• Fifty-seven of these incidents have transpired since the Chornobyl disaster, with the United States accounting for 57% of all nuclear-related incidents.
• Noteworthy nuclear power plant mishaps encompass:
  • Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster (2011)
  • Chernobyl disaster (1986)
  • Three Mile Island accident (1979), and
  • The SL-1 accident (1961).

Why is it in the News?

As per a study, the residential sector is responsible for 47% of India's overall black carbon emissions.

What is Black Carbon?

• Black carbon is the dark, sooty material emitted alongside other pollutants when biomass and fossil fuels are not fully combusted.
• It contributes to global warming and poses severe risks.
• Studies have found a direct link between exposure to black carbon and a higher risk of heart disease, birth complications, and premature death.
• Most black carbon emissions in India arise from burning biomass, such as cow dung or straw, in traditional cookstoves.
• According to a 2016 study, the residential sector contributes 47% of India’s total black carbon emissions.
• Industries contribute a further 22%, diesel vehicles 17%, open burning 12%, and other sources 2%.
• Decarbonization efforts in the industry and transport sectors in the past decade have yielded reductions in black carbon emissions, but the residential sector remains a challenge.
• Black carbon is a potent contributor to global warming due to its efficient absorption of light and subsequent heating of its surroundings.
  • This process leads to the conversion of incoming solar radiation into heat.
• Moreover, black carbon influences cloud formation and affects regional circulation and precipitation patterns.
  • When deposited on ice and snow, it diminishes surface albedo, reducing their ability to reflect sunlight and causing surface warming.

Impacts:

• Black carbon significantly contributes to global warming and poses substantial risks to human health.
  • Exposure to black carbon has been linked to increased incidences of heart disease, birth complications, and premature mortality.
• Its warming effect on climate is estimated to be 460-1,500 times more potent than that of CO2.

Why is it in the News?

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has initiated action on the Netravati Waterfront Promenade Development Project in Mangaluru.

About the Netravati River:

• The Netravati River, also known as Netravathi Nadi, originates from the Bangrabalige valley, Yelaneeru Ghat in Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, India.
• It passes through the revered pilgrimage site Dharmasthala, earning recognition as one of India's sacred rivers.
• Converging with the Kumaradhara River at Uppinangadi, it eventually flows into the Arabian Sea, south of Mangalore city, serving as the primary water source for Bantwal and Mangalore.
• The Netravati railway bridge, a prominent structure, acts as the gateway to Mangalore.
• Historically known as the Bantwal River, it was documented as unfordable during the South-West Monsoon in the 1855 Gazetteer of Southern India.
• The river's navigability by small country craft and its influence on local geography and transport, including the naming of the Netravati Express train, underscores its significance in the region's history.
• Instances of flooding, notably in 1928 and 1974, have shaped the lives of residents, prompting relocations and resilience

About the National Green Tribunal:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010.
• While its principal seat is located in New Delhi, it also holds sessions in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
• The NGT is entrusted with the responsibility of adjudicating applications or appeals, ensuring their final disposition within six months of filing.

Composition:

• The tribunal comprises a Chairperson, Judicial Members, and Expert Members, each serving a non-renewable term of five years.
• The appointment of the Chairperson is made by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• A Selection Committee, constituted by the Central Government, is responsible for appointing both Judicial and Expert Members.
• The tribunal can accommodate a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial and Expert Members.

Powers & Jurisdiction:

• Established to efficiently handle cases concerning environmental protection and conservation of natural resources, including forests.
• It possesses appellate jurisdiction akin to a court.
• While not bound by the procedural formalities outlined in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the NGT operates based on the principles of natural justice.

Why is it in the News?

Even as basmati rice exports from the country are poised to scale a new high, scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) have red-flagged the “illegal” cultivation of its blockbuster varieties in Pakistan.

Unauthorized Cultivation and Export of Pusa Basmati Rice Varieties in Pakistan:

• Despite being officially registered and protected Indian varieties, several IARI-bred Basmati rice varieties, such as Pusa Basmati 1121, Pusa Basmati-6, and Pusa Basmati 1509, are being illegally cultivated and marketed in Pakistan.
  • Recent YouTube videos even feature newer IARI varieties like Pusa Basmati-1847, PB-1885, and PB-1886, released in late 2021.
• Pakistan's unauthorized Basmati exports have been substantial, with 7.58 lt ($694.55 million) in 2021-22 and 5.95 lt ($650.42 million) in 2022-23 (July-June).
  • This growth is partly due to the depreciation of the Pakistani rupee, allowing the country to offer lower export prices than India.
• The proliferation of these protected varieties in Pakistan can be attributed to the ease of seed multiplication.
  • With just a small quantity of seeds, large-scale cultivation can be established within two years of the variety's release in India.
  • This unauthorized cultivation not only undermines India's intellectual property rights but also impacts the competitiveness of India's Basmati rice exports in the global market.

What is the Basmati Crop Improvement Program?

• The Basmati Crop Improvement Program focuses on refining the unique qualities of Basmati rice, such as its distinct grain characteristics, cooking properties, and pleasing aroma.
• IARI has played a crucial role in the genetic enhancement, leading to the development of high-yielding, semi-dwarf, and photo-insensitive Basmati varieties like Pusa Basmati 1.
• These improvements have significantly reduced the crop duration from 160 to 120 days and increased productivity from 2.5 to 6-8 tons per hectare.
• As a result, these advanced Basmati varieties account for approximately 90% of India's projected $5.5 billion exports in 2023-24.
  • This achievement contributes to substantial foreign exchange earnings and economic growth for the country.

Key Features of IARI-Developed Basmati Rice Varieties:

• IARI has cultivated various Basmati rice varieties with distinct characteristics, including:
• Pusa Basmati 1121: Known as the world's longest Basmati rice, it matures in 145 days with an average yield of 45 q/ha.
• Pusa Basmati 1509: Derived from Pusa 1121 x Pusa 1301, this variety addresses Pusa Basmati 1121's weaknesses, matures in 115 days, and yields 5 tons/ha.
• Improved Pusa Basmati 1 (Pusa 1460): This variety, the first product of molecular breeding in Indian rice, is an enhanced Pusa Basmati 1 with bacterial leaf blight resistance.
• Pusa Basmati 6 (Pusa 1401): Offering superior grain quality, this variety improves upon Pusa 1121's yielding ability, agronomy, and cooking quality.
• Pusa RH10: The world's first superfine grain aromatic rice hybrid, it was released in 2001 for commercial cultivation in specific irrigated ecosystems.

Registration and Cultivation Areas of Pusa Basmati Rice in India: