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Ambergris

Why in News Recently, the Mumbai Police has arrested five people and seized nearly 9 kg of Ambergris. Key Points About: Ambergris, French...

26 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Great Barrier Reef

Why in News Recently, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee has recommended that the Australia’s Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of...

23 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Black Softshell Turtle

Why in News Recently, the Assam forest department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) and...

21 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Children and Digital Dumpsites: WHO Report

Why in News The World Health Organization (WHO) in its recent report “Children and Digital Dumpsites” has underlined the risk that...

17 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought

Why in News Recently, the Prime Minister delivered a keynote address at the United Nations (UN) “High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land...

15 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Overlapping Hazards

This article is based on “Managing Risks From Overlapping Hazards” which was published in The Indian Express on 13/06/2021. It talks...

14 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Operation Olivia for Olive Ridley Turtles

Why in News Recently, the Indian Coast Guard has pressed into service an aircraft for 'Operation Olivia' to protect Olive Ridley turtles. Indian...

14 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Blue-Green Economic Model of Development

This article is based on “A greener urbanscape” which was published in The Hindu on 09/06/2021. It talks about the need to incorporate...

11 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Rescuing Gharials: Mahanadi River

Why in News Recently, Odisha announced a cash award of Rs. 1,000 to conserve gharials in Mahanadi River Basin. Key Points About...

11 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
India's Ethanol Roadmap

Why in News The central government has released an expert committee report on the Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India by 2025. The roadmap...

11 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Dehing Patkai and Raimona National Parks: Assam

Why in News Recently, the Assam government notified Dehing Patkai as the 7th National Park of the state. It was created shortly after Raimona...

10 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains

Why in News According to UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountain ranges could lose up to two-third of...

10 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
‘Sea Snot’ Outbreak in Turkey

Why in News Recently, Turkey’s Sea of Marmara, which connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, has witnessed the largest outbreak of...

08 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being

This article is based on “Saving biodiversity, securing earth’s future” which was published in The Hindu on 05/06/2021. It talks...

07 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve and Vaigai River: Tamil Nadu

Why in News The recently declared Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu will provide protection to Megamalai, the Vaigai’s...

07 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
World Environment Day 2021

Why in News The World Environment Day is observed on the 5th of June annually to encourage awareness and environmental protection. Key...

05 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Sustainably Developing Andaman & Nicobar

This article is based upon “Developing the sister islands of Indian Ocean” which was published in the Hindustan Times on 03/06/2021. It...

04 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
CEM-Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative

Why in News Recently, India and the UK have launched a new workstream to promote industrial energy efficiency under Clean Energy Ministerial's (CEM)...

04 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
State of Finance for Nature Report

Why in News The UN report, titled State of Finance for Nature, analyzes the investment flow in nature-based solutions (NbS) and identifies the...

02 Jun 2021 Biodiversity & Environment
Jayanti: New Species of Cricket

Why in News Recently, a new species of Cricket named 'Indimimus jayanti' was found in the Kurra caves of Chhattisgarh. The new species was named...

29 May 2021 Biodiversity & Environment

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		'article_id' => (int) 8703,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Ambergris',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Mumbai Police has arrested five people and seized nearly 9 kg of <strong>Ambergris.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624689484_pasted%20image 0 (2).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624689484_pasted image 0 (2).png" width="350" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ambergris, French for <strong>grey amber</strong>, is generally <strong>referred to as whale vomit.</strong></li>
<li>It is a solid waxy substance <strong>originating in the intestine of the sperm whale.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ambergris is produced only by an estimated <strong>1% of sperm whales.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Chemically, ambergris contains <strong>alkaloids, acids</strong>, and a specific compound called <strong>ambreine, which is similar to cholesterol.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>floats around the surface of the water body</strong> and at times settles on the coast.</li>
<li>Because of its high value it is <strong>referred to as floating gold. 1 kg of ambergris is worth Rs 1 crore</strong> in the international market.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is used in the perfume market, especially to <strong>create fragrances like musk.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is believed to be in <strong>high demand in countries like Dubai that have a large perfume market.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ancient Egyptians used it as incense.</strong> It is also believed to be used in <strong>some traditional medicines</strong> and as a <strong>spice.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Smuggling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to its high value it has been a target for smugglers especially in coastal areas. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There have been <strong>several cases where the coastline of Gujarat has been used for such smuggling.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Since the <strong>sperm whale is a protected species</strong>, hunting of the whale is not allowed. However, <strong>smugglers are known to have illegally targeted the fish</strong> in order to obtain the valuable Ambergris from its stomach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Sperm Whale</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624689677_pasted%20image 0 (3).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624689677_pasted image 0 (3).png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sperm whale, (Physeter catodon), also called <strong>cachalot</strong>, the <strong>largest of the toothed whales</strong>, easily recognized by its enormous square head and narrow lower jaw.</li>
<li>The sperm whale is <strong>dark blue-gray or brownish, with white patches on the belly.</strong> It is <strong>thickset and has small paddle-like flippers</strong> and a series of rounded humps on its back.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are found in<strong> temperate and tropical waters throughout the world.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The greatest threats to sperm whales are those of <strong>habitat impacts including noise pollution and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Other threats include <strong>entanglement</strong> in fishing gear, <strong>collisions with ships</strong>, and proposals to allow for a <strong>commercial hunt</strong> once again.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a>:</strong> Vulnerable</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>:</strong> Appendix I</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a>: schedule I</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-is-ambergris-whale-vomit-value-smuggling-7375391/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Great Barrier Reef ',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>UNESCO <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-committee-s-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Heritage Committee</a></strong> has recommended that the Australia&rsquo;s Great Barrier Reef should be added to a list of <strong>&ldquo;in danger&rdquo; <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-heritage-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Heritage Sites</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Placement on the <strong>&lsquo;&lsquo;in-danger list&rsquo;&rsquo;</strong> is<strong> not</strong> considered a <strong>sanction.</strong></li>
<li>Some nations have their sites added to <strong>gain international attention</strong> and <strong>help to save them.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624439607_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624439607_pasted image 0 (1).png" width="450" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Reason behind this Move:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was recommended to add to the list because of the<strong> impact of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/changing-climate-and-deglaciation-a-warning-call" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a>.</strong></li>
<li>Despite <strong>Reef 2050</strong>, the <strong>coral reef ecosystem</strong> has suffered three major <strong>bleaching</strong> events since 2015 due to <strong>severe marine heatwaves.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan</strong> is the <strong>Australian and Queensland Government&rsquo;s</strong> overarching framework for protecting and managing the Great Barrier Reef by 2050.</li>
<li>When corals face stress by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae zooxanthellae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white. This <strong>phenomenon</strong> is called <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tough-corals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">coral bleaching</a>.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Marine heatwave</strong> is an event of anomalous warm sea surface temperatures (SST) from several days to years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Repercussions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It prompted environmental groups to take aim at the Australian government's reluctance to take stronger climate action.</li>
<li>Australia, which is one of the <strong>world's largest carbon emitters per capita</strong>, has remained reluctant to commit to stronger climate action and has cited <strong>jobs as a major reason to back the country's fossil fuel industries.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>has not updated its climate goals since 2015.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Great Barrier Reef:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the <strong>world&rsquo;s most extensive</strong> and spectacular <strong>coral reef ecosystem</strong> composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands.</li>
<li>The reef is located in the<strong> Coral Sea (North-East Coast)</strong>, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.</li>
<li>It can be seen from outer space and is the world&rsquo;s biggest single structure made by living organisms.</li>
<li>This reef structure is composed of and built by billions of tiny organisms, known as <strong>coral polyps.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are made up of <strong>genetically identical organisms</strong> called<strong> polyps</strong>, which are tiny, soft-bodied organisms. At their base is a hard, protective limestone skeleton called a calicle, which forms the structure of coral reefs.</li>
<li>These polyps have <strong>microscopic algae called zooxanthellae</strong> living within their tissues. The corals and algae have a mutualistic (symbiotic) relationship.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It was selected as a <strong>World Heritage Site in 1981.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives to Protect Corals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A number of global initiatives are being taken to address the issues, like:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/3rd-international-year-of-reef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Coral Reef Initiative</strong></a></li>
<li>Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)</li>
<li>Global Coral Reef Alliance (GCRA)</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/initiatives-launched-on-g20-emm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Global Coral Reef R&amp;D Accelerator Platform</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Similarly, the <strong>Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC), India</strong> has included the studies on coral reefs under the <strong>Coastal Zone Studies (CZS).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/two-new-species-of-eels" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Zoological Survey of India</strong></a> (ZSI), with help from Gujarat&rsquo;s forest department, is attempting a process to restore coral reefs using <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coral-restoration-through-biorock" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;biorock&rdquo; or mineral accretion technology.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>National Coastal Mission Programme</strong>, to protect and sustain coral reefs in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Coral Reef</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Largest Coral Reef Area:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indonesia</strong> has the <strong>largest coral reef area in the world.</strong></li>
<li><strong>India, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Chagos</strong> have the <strong>maximum coral reefs in South Asia.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Great Barrier Reef of the Queensland coast of Australia</strong> is the <strong>largest aggregation of coral reefs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Coral Reef Areas in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India has four coral reef areas: <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-1st-june-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gulf of Mannar</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-to-be-maritime-and-startup-hub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Andaman and Nicobar Islands</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/draft-lakshadweep-development-authority-regulation-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lakshadweep islands</a></strong> and the Gulf of Kutch.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Benefits:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Protect humanity from natural calamities.</li>
<li>Provide revenue and employment through tourism and recreation.</li>
<li>Provide habitats for fishes, starfish and sea anemones.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Use:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are used in jewellery.</li>
<li>Coral blocks are used for buildings and road construction.</li>
<li>The lime supplied by corals is used in cement industries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Due to <strong>anthropogenic activities</strong> such as coastal development, destructive fishing methods and pollution from domestic and industrial sewage.</li>
<li>Due to <strong>increased sedimentation, over-exploitation</strong> and <strong>recurring cyclones. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Coral diseases</strong> such as black<strong> band and white band</strong> due to infectious microorganisms introduced by the human population that live on the coastal regions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of Mangroves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/printpdf/coringa-mangroves#:~:text=Mangrove%20forests%20perform%20multiple%20ecological,sediment%20to%20form%20new%20land." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mangrove forests</strong></a> play a crucial role in <strong>helping the coral reef system</strong> by acting as filters and providing protection from <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>cyclones</strong></a>, storms and tsunamis.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/world/great-barrier-reef-should-be-listed-as-in-danger-un-committee-recommends-7370264/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8652,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Black Softshell Turtle',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Assam forest department</strong> has signed a <strong>Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)</strong> with two <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/non-governmental-organizations-ngos" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Non-governmental Organizations</strong> </a>(NGOs) and adopted a <strong>Vision Document to raise at least 1,000 black softshell turtles by 2030.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624267560_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1624267560_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Black Softshell Turtle:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Scientific Name:</strong> Nilssonia nigricans</li>
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They look almost the same as the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/peacock-soft-shelled-turtle" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian peacock softshell turtle</strong></a> <em>(Nilssonia hurum)</em>, which is classified as <strong>Endangered</strong> in the <strong>IUCN Red List. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>freshwater species</strong> and there are 29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises found in India.</li>
<li>They are found in <strong>ponds of temples</strong> in <strong>northeastern India and Bangladesh.</strong> Its distribution range also includes the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>: Critically Endangered</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>CITES</strong></a>: Appendix I</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a>: No legal protection</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Consumption of turtle meat and eggs, silt mining, encroachment of wetlands and change in flooding pattern.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sea Turtles of Indian Waters:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are five species in Indian waters i.e. <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olive-ridley-turtles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olive Ridley</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/two-headed-green-turtle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green turtle</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cape-verde-turtles-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Loggerhead</a>, Hawksbill, Leatherback.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>Olive Ridley, Leatherback and Loggerhead</strong> are listed as <strong>'Vulnerable'</strong> on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.</li>
<li>The <strong>Hawksbill turtle</strong> is listed as <strong>'Critically Endangered'</strong> and <strong>Green Turtle</strong> is listed as <strong>'Endangered'</strong> on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are protected in <strong>Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, </strong>under<strong> Schedule I.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Turtle Conservation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Marine Turtle Action Plan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It contains ways and means to not only <strong>promote inter-sectoral action for conservation</strong> but also guide improved coordination amongst the government, civil society and all relevant stakeholders on the response to cases of stranding, entanglement, injury or mortality of marine mammals and also conservation of marine turtles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Ocean Sea Turtle Agreement (IOSEA):</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India is a signatory to the <strong>Indian Ocean Sea Turtle Agreement (IOSEA)</strong> of the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-conservation-of-migratory-species#:~:text=CMS%20is%20an%20environmental%20treaty,together%20we%20welcome%20them%20home'." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)</strong></a>, a <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> backed initiative.</strong></li>
<li>It puts in place a <strong>framework</strong> through which<strong> States of the Indian Ocean</strong> and <strong>South-East Asian region,</strong> as well as other concerned States, can work together to conserve and replenish depleted <strong>marine turtle populations</strong> for which they share responsibility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kurma-app" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KURMA App</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has a built-in digital field guide covering 29 species of freshwater turtles and tortoises of India.</li>
<li>It was developed by the <strong>Indian Turtle Conservation Action Network (ITCAN)</strong> in collaboration with the <strong>Turtle Survival Alliance-India </strong>and <strong>Wildlife Conservation Society-India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Turtle Day</strong> is observed every year on<strong> 23<sup>rd</sup> May.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/vision-document-for-conserving-assam-temple-turtles-launched/article34863208.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8627,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Children and Digital Dumpsites: WHO Report',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/world-health-organization-who" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Health Organization (WHO)</strong></a> in its recent report<strong> &ldquo;Children and Digital Dumpsites&rdquo;</strong> has underlined the risk that children working in informal processing are facing due to discarded <strong>electronic devices or e-waste.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>There are as many as <strong>18 million children</strong> (as young as five years) and about <strong>12.9 million women</strong> work at these e-waste dumpsites every year.</li>
<li>The e-waste from high-income countries is dumped in the middle- or low-income countries for processing every year.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the E-waste:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>E-Waste</strong> is short for <strong>Electronic-Waste.</strong> It is the term used to describe old, end-of-life or discarded electronic appliances.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It majorly includes electronic equipment, completely or in part discarded as waste by the consumer or bulk consumer as well as rejects from manufacturing, refurbishment and repair processes.</li>
<li>It <strong>contains over 1,000 precious metals and other substances</strong> like gold, copper, lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, polybrominated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Volume of E-waste: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Scenario:</strong> According to the<strong> Global E-waste Statistics Partnership,</strong> the volume of e-waste generated is surging rapidly across the globe. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>About<strong> 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste</strong> was generated<strong> in 2019.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Only 17.4%</strong> of this e-waste<strong> was processed</strong> in formal recycling facilities. The <strong>rest of it was dumped in low- or middle-income countries</strong> for illegal processing by informal workers.</li>
<li>This is because of the<strong> rise in the number of smartphones and computers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Indian Scenario:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</strong></a>, India generated<strong> more than 10 lakh tonnes of e-waste in 2019-20,</strong> an increase from 7 lakh tonnes in 2017-18. Against this, the e-waste <strong>dismantling capacity has not been increased from 7.82 lakh tonnes</strong> since 2017-18.</li>
<li>In 2018, the Ministry of Environment had told the tribunal that <strong>95% of e-waste in India is recycled by the informal sector</strong> and scrap dealers unscientifically dispose of it by burning or dissolving it in acids.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Working at Digital Dumpsites: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>On Children:</strong> The children working at these &lsquo;digital dumpsites&rsquo; are more prone to <strong>improper lung function, deoxyribonucleic acid damage and increased risk of chronic diseases</strong> like cancer and cardiovascular disease.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are less likely to metabolise or eradicate pollutants absorbed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Women:</strong> Several women, including expectant mothers, also work there. Processing e-waste exposes them as well as their children to these toxins, which can lead to <strong>premature births and stillbirth.</strong></li>
<li><strong>On Others:</strong> The hazardous impact of working at such sites is also<strong> experienced by families and communities</strong> that reside in the vicinity of these e-waste dumpsites.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Management of E-waste (International Convention):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Basel Convention on the Control of the Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste, 1992.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Originally the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-waste-dumping-proposal-stands-defeated" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Basel Convention</strong></a> did not mention e-waste but later it addressed the issues of e-waste in 2006 (COP8).</li>
<li>The convention seeks to ensure environmentally sound management; prevention of illegal traffic to developing countries and; building capacity to better manage e-waste.</li>
<li>The<strong> Nairobi Declaration</strong> was adopted at COP9 of the Basel Convention. It aimed at creating innovative solutions for the environmentally sound management of electronic wastes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Management of E-waste in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Producers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The government has implemented the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ineffective-ewaste-recycle-firms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>E-waste (Management) Rules (2016)</strong></a> which enforces the <strong>Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Under EPR principle the producers have been made responsible to collect a certain percentage of E-waste generated from their goods once they have reached their &ldquo;end-of-life&rdquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State Governments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They have been entrusted with the responsibility for maintaining industrial space for e-waste dismantling and recycling facilities.</li>
<li>They are also expected to establish measures for protecting the health and safety of workers engaged in the dismantling and recycling facilities for e-waste.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recycling of E-waste:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-first-e-waste-clinic" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s first e-waste clinic</strong> </a>for segregating, processing and disposal of waste from household and commercial units has been set-up in <strong>Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Most of the e-waste is recycled in India in unorganized units, which <strong>engage a significant number of manpower.</strong> Recovery of metals from Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) by primitive means is a most hazardous act.</li>
<li><strong>Proper education, awareness and most importantly alternative cost effective technology</strong> need to be provided so that better means can be provided to those who earn their livelihood from this.</li>
<li>A holistic approach is needed to address the challenges faced by India in e-waste management.<strong> One approach could be</strong> for units in the unorganized sector to concentrate on collection, dismantling, segregation, whereas, the metal extraction, recycling and disposal could be done by the organized sector.</li>
<li>A <strong>suitable mechanism</strong> needs to be evolved to include small units in the unorganized sector and large units in the organized sector into a single value chain.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/over-18-million-kids-at-e-waste-dumpsites-face-threat-of-health-hazards-who-77504" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8604,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Prime Minister delivered a keynote address</strong> at the <strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations (UN)</a> &ldquo;High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought&rdquo;</strong> via video conference.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>He spoke as the President of the <strong>14<sup>th</sup> Session</strong> of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conference of Parties</a> (CoP) of <a href="/printpdf/un-convention-to-combat-desertification-cop-14#:~:text=The%2014th%20edition%20of,Restore%20land%2C%20Sustain%20future%27." target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>The Dialogue will encourage all member states to <strong>adopt and implement Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets and National Drought Plans.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Highlighted Steps Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is on track to achieve its national commitment on <strong>Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)</strong> <strong>(<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sustainable Development Goal</a> target 15.3).</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>LDN</strong> is a <strong>state</strong> whereby the <strong>amount and quality of land resources</strong>, necessary to support ecosystem functions and services and enhance food security, <strong>remains stable or increases</strong> within specified temporal and spatial scales and <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ecosystems</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Working to<strong> restore 26 million hectares</strong> of degraded land by <strong>2030.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This would contribute to India&rsquo;s commitment to achieving <strong>an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes</strong> of carbon dioxide equivalent (a part of the <strong>Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)</strong> target under the 2015 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement</strong></a>).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Over the last 10 years</strong>, around 3 <strong>million hectares of forest cover</strong> has been <strong>added.</strong></li>
<li><strong>For Example:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ngt-upholds-rights-of-pastoralists-in-banni-grasslands" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Banni region</strong></a> <strong>in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kutch-desert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rann of Kutch</a> in Gujarat</strong> suffers from highly degraded land and receives very little rainfall.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In that region, <strong>land restoration is done by developing grasslands</strong>, which helps in achieving land degradation neutrality.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>On Challenges Faced by Developing World:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Today, <strong>land degradation</strong> affects over <strong>two-thirds of the world.</strong></li>
<li>India is assisting fellow <strong>developing countries</strong> to develop land restoration strategies.</li>
<li>A <strong>Centre of Excellence</strong> is being set up in India to promote a scientific approach towards land degradation issues. It is at <strong>Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>ICFRE, based in <strong>Dehradun</strong>, is an <strong>autonomous body</strong> of the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-environment-forest-and-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Land Degradation</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Land degradation is caused by <strong>multiple forces</strong>, including <strong>extreme weather conditions</strong>, particularly drought.</li>
<li>It is also caused by <strong>human activities</strong> that pollute or degrade the quality of soils and land utility.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Desertification</strong></a> is a consequence of <strong>severe land degradation</strong> and is defined as a process that creates arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.</li>
<li>It <strong>accelerates</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>climate change</strong></a> and <strong>biodiversity loss</strong>, and <strong>contributes to droughts, wildfires, involuntary migration</strong> and the <strong>emergence of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/zoonotic-diseases" target="_blank" rel="noopener">zoonotic infectious diseases</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Global Efforts to Check Land Degradation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD):</strong> It was established in 1994, the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/un-convention-to-combat-desertification-cop-14" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Delhi Declaration of 2019</strong></a>, signed by 14<sup>th</sup> CoP of the UNCCD, called for <strong>better access and stewardship over land</strong>, and emphasised gender-sensitive transformative projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>The Bonn Challenge:</strong> To bring 150 million hectares of the world&rsquo;s deforested and degraded land into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Great Green Wall:</strong> Initiative by Global Environment Facility (GEF), where eleven countries in Sahel-Saharan Africa have focused efforts to fight against land degradation and revive native plant life to the landscape.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Efforts to Check Land Degradation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India is focusing on <strong>sustainable land and resource management</strong> for livelihood generation at community level for making the local lands healthier and productive for providing a better homeland and a better future for its inhabitants.</li>
<li>The <strong>National Action Programme for combating <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">desertification</a> was prepared in 2001</strong> to take appropriate action in addressing the problems of desertification.</li>
<li>Some of the <strong>major programmes</strong> which address issues related to land degradation and desertification, being implemented currently are as follows:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-krishi-sinchayee-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)</a> (Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana)</strong></li>
<li>National Afforestation Programme (NAP),</li>
<li>National Mission for Green India (GIM),</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-group-of-chief-ministers-on-coordination-between-mgnrega-and-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)</strong></a>,</li>
<li>Soil Conservation in the Catchment of River Valley Project,</li>
<li>National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA),</li>
<li><strong>Fodder and Feed Development Scheme</strong>-component of Grassland Development including Grass Reserves.</li>
<li>Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) programme,</li>
<li><a href="/mind-map/gs-paper3/mind-map-paper-3-soil-health-card-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Soil Health Card Scheme</strong></a>, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-working-towards-restoring-2-6-crore-hectares-of-degraded-land-by-2030-pm-7359043/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8603,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Overlapping Hazards',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on<a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/managing-risks-from-overlapping-hazards/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> &ldquo;Managing Risks From Overlapping Hazards&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Indian Express on 13/06/2021. It talks about the frequent occurrence of overlapping hazards and remedies to address the problem.</p>
</div>
<p>Recently, India has been hit by two cyclones, first the Western Coast (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-tauktae" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyclone Tauktae</strong></a>) and then the eastern coast (<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cyclone-yaas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cyclone Yass</strong></a>). The increasing frequency of environmental hazards indicate the vulnerability owing to climate change.</p>
<p>However, the more concerning matter is the occurrence of overlapping hazards. For example, while the Yaas cyclone caused immediate damage, the flooding it induced took the adversity to a different scale altogether.</p>
<p>Further, these environmental hazards happened in the middle of another mega hazard &ndash; the Covid-19 pandemic.</p>
<p>There is an urgent requirement on the part of the state - along with the non-state actors - to take immediate measures towards acknowledging the multiple risks that emanate from these overlapping hazards and reducing the same.</p>
<h3>Examples of Overlapping Hazards</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Floods In Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains:</strong> Flood months bring with themselves a typology of hazards associated with the geographical location of habitation and have differential effects. The typologies include: <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Waterlogged regions,</li>
<li>Areas which are in the riverside and prone to bank erosion,</li>
<li>Riverine floods in areas with no embankment,</li>
<li>Riverine floods in the countryside after the breach of the embankment,</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uttarakhand-flash-flood" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Flash floods,</strong></a></li>
<li>River bank erosion.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cyclone Induced Flooding:</strong> As an outcome of the cyclone Yass and the Yaas-induced flooding, the affected witnessed many overlapping hazards. For example:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Disruptions in the form of salinity intrusion,</li>
<li>Loss of agriculture and capture fisheries,</li>
<li>Decimation of the marine capture fishery supply chain</li>
<li>Rotting fish, plants and animals are resulting in severe stench and pollution are enhancing the possibility of water borne disease.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Vulnerability:</strong> Vulnerability owing to overlapping hazards also emerges from underlying socio-economic-political conditions. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Often the (socially, economically and politically) marginalised population have to reside in such precarious areas.</li>
<li>They often lack access to various resources &ndash; land (due to salinity intrusion or erosion), safe housing, water and sanitation, stable livelihoods and markets.</li>
<li>All this is both a cause and outcome of their social vulnerability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Identifying Risk Drivers:</strong> When overlapping hazards take place, with each hazard having their own character, the final shape of the hazard is often a product of these individual characters. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Accordingly, the disaster risk reduction activities need to be geared towards first an interdisciplinary diagnosis of various risk drivers.</li>
<li>The government needs to develop a disaster atlas of India for better preparedness and mitigation measures.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focusing on Disaster Risk Reduction:</strong> Rather than focusing on knee-jerk ex-post set of actions, there is a need to build resilience at the individual and community level. This can be achieved through following interventions:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Reducing the probability of the occurrence of the hazards in the first instance.</li>
<li>Preparation strategies like early warning systems.</li>
<li>Arrangement of adequate spaces for evacuation and prompt rescue and evacuation.</li>
<li>Disaster Impact Assessment must be made a mandatory part of Environment Impact Assessment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disaster risk insurance:</strong> It covers hazards arising from geological, meteorological, hydrological, climatological, oceanic, biological, and technological/man-made events, or a combination of them.</li>
<li><strong>Decentralised-Integrated Framework:</strong> <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/disaster-management-i" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Disaster management</strong></a> approach needs to be more decentralised as suggested by the <a href="/summary-of-important-reports/sendai-framework-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sendai Framework</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increased-funding-for-panchayats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>14<sup>th</sup> Finance Commission.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The key action points that need to be taken include a ward-level disaster management plan, large-scale construction of elevated platforms through MGNREGA, universal access to safe water and sanitation facilities, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Tackling overlapping hazards would require a multidisciplinary approach to risk reduction, where each of the risk drivers is subject to interdisciplinary deliberation, followed by a preparation of a plethora of thematic interventions planned round-the-year which would reduce the intensity of the risk drivers.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f7fff7;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Cyclones along the Western and Eastern coasts amidst the pandemic alert us to the need for year-long preparedness, approaching a multi-disciplinary approach to averting disasters, reducing vulnerabilities. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8597,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Operation Olivia for Olive Ridley Turtles',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/opv-sajag" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Coast Guard</strong> </a>has pressed into service an aircraft for<strong> 'Operation Olivia'</strong> to protect <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olive-ridley-turtles-hatching" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Olive Ridley turtles</a>.</strong></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Indian Coast Guard</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is an <strong>Armed Force, Search and Rescue and Maritime Law Enforcement agency</strong> under the Ministry of Defence. It was established in 1978.</li>
<li>It has a w<strong>ide range of task capabilities for both surface and air operations.</strong> It is one of the <strong>largest coast guards in the world.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Operation Olivia:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Every year, the Indian Coast Guard&rsquo;s &ldquo;Operation Olivia&rdquo;, <strong>initiated in the early 1980s</strong>, helps <strong>protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast</strong> for breeding and nesting from November to December.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It also <strong>intercepts unlawful trawling activities.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Round-the-clock surveillance is conducted from <strong>November till May</strong> utilising Coast Guard assets such as <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/10-04-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>fast patrol vessels</strong></a>, air cushion vessels, interceptor craft and Dornier aircraft to enforce laws near the rookeries (colony of breeding animals).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>From November <strong>2020 to May 2021,</strong> the <strong>Coast Guard devoted 225 ship days and 388 aircraft hours to protect 3.49 lakh turtles</strong> that laid eggs along the Odisha coast.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Olive Ridley Turtles:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Features:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Olive ridley turtles are the <strong>smallest and most abundant of all sea</strong> <strong>turtles found in the world.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623656220_pasted%20image 0 (2).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623656220_pasted image 0 (2).png" style="float: right;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>These turtles are <strong>carnivores</strong> and get their name from their olive colored carapace.</li>
<li>They <strong>migrate thousands of kilometers</strong> between feeding and mating grounds in the course of a year.</li>
<li>They are best known for their unique <strong>mass nesting called Arribada</strong>, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are <strong>found in warm waters</strong> of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.</li>
<li>The Odisha&rsquo;s <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/olive-ridley-turtles-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary</strong></a> is known as the world&rsquo;s largest rookery of sea turtles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a>:</strong> Vulnerable</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>:</strong> Appendix I</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</strong></a>: Schedule I</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are <strong>extensively poached for their meat, shell and leather,</strong> and their eggs.</li>
<li>However, the most severe threat they face is the <strong>accidental killing through entanglement in trawl nets and gill nets</strong> due to uncontrolled fishing during their mating season around nesting beaches.</li>
<li>An ever-increasing<strong> debris of plastics, fishing nets, discarded nets, polythene and other garbage</strong> dumped by tourists and fishing workers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To reduce accidental killing in India, the Odisha government has made it mandatory for trawls to use <strong>Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs)</strong>, a net specially designed with an exit cover which allows the turtles to escape while retaining the catch.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/operation-olivia-to-the-rescue-of-olive-ridleys/article34799480.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8587,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Blue-Green Economic Model of Development',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/world-environment-day-climate-change-urban-development-sustainability-disaster-risk-management-7350023/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;A greener urbanscape&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 09/06/2021. It talks about the need to incorporate Blue-Green Economic Framework as a counter to conventional infrastructure practices.</p>
</div>
<p>The motto of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SDG 2030 agenda</strong></a> &mdash; &ldquo;Leave no one behind&rdquo; &mdash; very much embodies the essence of Gandhiji&rsquo;s philosophy of sarvodaya through antyodaya, reaching the most marginalised first.</p>
<p>This guiding principle has long been a part of Indian thought and policy and is a fundamental virtue for the execution of the national programmes and missions</p>
<p>However, as the threat from climate hazards rise, the government of India should alter their urban planning and design approaches to incorporate Blue-Green Economic Framework as a counter to conventional infrastructure practices by harnessing blue elements (for instance, seas, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and water utilities) alongside the green (such as trees, parks, gardens, playgrounds and forests).</p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Blue-Green Economic Framework</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The blue economy originates in the green economy concept of incorporating strategies to mitigate climate change and adaptation to result in &ldquo;improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Green Urbanisation &amp; Policy Making India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/Swachh%20Bharat%20Mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Swachh Bharat Mission</strong></a> (Urban) focuses on achieving an open-defecation-free India, building solid waste management capacity and bringing about behavioural change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Swachhata movement, in effect, has become the harbinger of a total transformation of our urban landscape.</li>
<li>It is estimated that the various initiatives under SBM-U can mitigate 17.42 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Smart Cities Mission:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-smart-cities-assessment-framework#:~:text=assistance%20from%20experts.-,Smart%20Cities%20Mission,create%20smart%20outcomes%20for%20citizens." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Smart Cities Mission</strong></a> (SCM) envisages technological advancements of our cities to improve governance, sustainability and disaster risk resilience.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It sought to improve energy efficiency and non-motorised transport capacity in urban centres.</li>
<li>The overall reduction in GHG emissions from projects implemented under SCM is expected to reach 4.93 million tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub> by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-smart-cities-assessment-framework" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework:</strong></a> It has been adopted which aims to help cities adapt, collaborate and exchange best practices to achieve international standards for green, sustainable and resilient urban habitats.</li>
<li><strong>AMRUT:</strong> Under<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/amrut-mission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> AMRUT</strong></a>, water supply and management, energy efficiency and increased green spaces have been part of the goal in 500 target cities. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mission is likely to result in the mitigation of 48.52 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent to GHG emissions by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana:</strong> With 1.12 crore houses sanctioned, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-awaas-yojana-gramin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana</strong></a> (Urban) has focused on new construction technologies (for eg. using fly ash bricks) that are innovative, environmentally friendly and disaster-resilient. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Overall, the mission has the potential to mitigate around 12 million tonnes CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent of GHG emissions by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Metro Rails:</strong> These are an energy-efficient mass rapid transit system and Government of India plans to make them operational in 18 cities, in the near future.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Institutionalising a Blue-Green Urban Framework:</strong> To streamline and ensure the integrity of the original blue-green canvas, governments must maintain uniform statutory terminologies and definitions, and undertake a comprehensive integration of all urban plans and records that highlight environmental features.</li>
<li><strong>Blue-Green Economic Agenda:</strong> India must club its ongoing green efforts with the &lsquo;blue economy&rsquo; to create a blue-green economic agenda. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A typical blue-green infrastructure project may have several economic benefits, such as health improvement, lesser pollution, better amenities and quality of life, and social cohesion. At the same time, it could also cause a loss of trees or green spaces.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fast-Tracking SDGs:</strong> Blue-green infrastructure has the potential to fulfil multiple targets outlined in the SDGs, such as:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Those related to water (SDG 6 and SDG 14), land (SDG 15) and climate change (SDG 13).</li>
<li>Blue-green infrastructure can also accelerate progress on green employment prospects (SDG 1), food security (SDG 2), offsetting medical infrastructure load (SDG 3) and improving air and habitation quality in cities (SDG 11).</li>
<li>It will also have implications for SDGs related to returns on investment and startups increasing employment prospects (SDG 8), assured resilience (SDG 9), and social inclusion through greater and more equitable access to natural spaces (SDG 10).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Outcome-Based Policies:</strong> The blue-green concept could transform India&rsquo;s urban planning approach from input to output based by focusing on the outcomes of projects and processes. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This means that required environmental outcomes or specific levels of performance are specified in the framework and the method to achieve the outcome is flexible.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sustainable Land Management:</strong> Climate change cannot be mitigated only through greening and reversing land degradation. This will have to be coupled with sustainable land management strategies.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sustainable land management is the use of land to meet changing human needs (agriculture, forestry, conservation), while ensuring the land&rsquo;s socioeconomic and ecological functions over the long term.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>The concept of blue-green infrastructure is relatively new, but many global cities have already begun the transition, driven by exacerbating climate impacts and events. While the green infrastructure concept has found some acceptance in India, the country must also consider including blue infrastructure in its sustainability transition.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #fbfff0;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>Explain the term Blue-green economic development framework and need to incorporate it in India&rsquo;s development model.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8584,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Rescuing Gharials: Mahanadi River',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Odisha announced a cash award of Rs. 1,000 to conserve gharials in Mahanadi River Basin.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623407680_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623407680_image7.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Gharials:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Gharials, sometimes <strong>called gavials,</strong> are <strong>a type of Asian crocodilian distinguished by their long, thin snouts. Crocodilians are a group of reptiles</strong> that includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, and more.</li>
<li><strong>India has three species of Crocodilians namely:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Gharial</strong> (Gavialis gangeticus): <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>IUCN Red List</strong></a>- <strong>Critically Endangered</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ghodahada-reservoir" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mugger crocodile</strong></a> (Crocodylus palustris): <strong>IUCN- Vulnerable.</strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-26th-november-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Saltwater crocodile</strong></a> (Crocodylus porosus): <strong>IUCN- Least Concern.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All the three are listed on <strong>Appendix I</strong> of<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> CITES</strong> </a>and<strong> Schedule I</strong> of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Exception: Saltwater Crocodile populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea </strong>are<strong> included in Appendix II of CITES.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat of Gharials:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Natural Habitat:</strong> Fresh waters of the northern part of India.</li>
<li><strong>Primary Habitat:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ramgarh-dam#:~:text=1982%20Asian%20Games.-,Chambal%20River,(Indore%2C%20Madhya%20Pradesh)." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chambal river</strong></a> (a tributary of Yamuna).</li>
<li><strong>Secondary Habitat:</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/release-of-gharials" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ghagra</strong></a>, Gandak river, Girwa river (Uttar Pradesh), the Ramganga river (Uttarakhand) and the Sone river (Bihar).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong> Population of Gharials are <strong>a good indicator of clean river water.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Breeding Centres of <strong>Kukrail Gharial Rehabilitation Centre in Lucknow,</strong> Uttar Pradesh, <strong>National Chambal Sanctuary (Gharial Eco Park, Madhya Pradesh).</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Increased river pollution, dam construction, massive-scale fishing operations and floods.</li>
<li>Illegal sand mining and poaching.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mahanadi River:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Mahanadi River system is the <strong>third largest of peninsular India after Godavari and Krishna,</strong> and the <strong>largest river of Odisha state.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> catchment area</strong> of the river extends to<strong> Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand and Maharashtra.</strong></li>
<li>Its <strong>basin is bounded by</strong> the Central India hills on the north, by the Eastern Ghats on the south and east and by the Maikala range on the west.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Source:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>rises from a place near Sihawa in Bastar hills in the state of Chhattisgarh</strong> to the south of Amarkantak.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Tributaries:</strong> Seonath River, Hasdeo river, Mand river, Ib river, Jonking river, Tel river</li>
<li><strong>Mahanadi River Dispute:</strong> The Central Government constituted <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/inter-state-river-water-sharing-disputes" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahanadi Water Disputes Tribunal</strong></a> in 2018.</li>
<li><strong>Major Dams/Projects on Mahanadi:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nhrc-issues-notice-in-hirakud-displacement-case" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Hirakud Dam</strong></a>: This is the longest dam of India.</li>
<li>Ravishankar Sagar, Dudhawa Reservoir, Sondur Reservoir, Hasdeo Bango and Tandula are other major projects.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623407885_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623407885_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/odisha-forest-department-announces-cash-reward-for-rescuing-gharials-77386" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8580,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India's Ethanol Roadmap',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The central government has released an expert committee report on the <strong>Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India by 2025.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The roadmap proposes <strong>a gradual rollout of ethanol-blended fuel</strong> to achieve E10 fuel supply by April 2022 and phased rollout of E20 from April 2023 to April 2025.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>Ministry of Petroleum &amp; Natural Gas (MoP&amp;NG)</strong> had instituted an Expert Group to study the issues such as pricing of ethanol, matching pace of the automobile industry to manufacture vehicles with new engines with the supply of ethanol, pricing of such vehicles, fuel efficiency of different engines etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ethanol Blending:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About Ethanol:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is one of the principal <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biofuels</strong></a>, which is naturally produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Blending Target:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Government of India has <strong>advanced the target for 20% ethanol blending in petrol (also called E20) to 2025</strong> from 2030.</li>
<li><strong>Currently, 8.5% of ethanol is blended with petrol</strong> in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Objectives of Ethanol Blending:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Energy Security:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Increased use of ethanol can help <strong>reduce the oil import bill.</strong> India&rsquo;s net import cost stands at USD 551 billion in 2020-21.</li>
<li>The E20 program <strong>can save the country USD 4 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) per annum.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Incentives for Farmers:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The oil companies procure ethanol from farmers that <strong>benefits the sugarcane farmers.</strong></li>
<li>Further, the government plans to <strong>encourage use of water-saving crops, such as maize</strong>, to produce ethanol, and <strong>production of ethanol from non-food feedstock.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Emission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Use of ethanol-blended petrol <strong>decreases emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>unregulated carbonyl emissions</strong>, such as acetaldehyde emission <strong>were, however, higher with E10 and E20</strong> compared to normal petrol. However, these emissions were relatively lower.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Notifying Ethanol Blending Roadmap:</strong> MoP&amp;NG should immediately notify the plan for pan-India availability of E10 fuel by April, 2022 and its continued availability thereafter until 2025 for older vehicles, and launch of E20 in the country in phases from April, 2023 onwards so as to make E20 available by April, 2025.</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting Infrastructure for Oil Marketing Companies:</strong> OMCs will need to prepare for the projected requirement of ethanol storage, handling, blending and dispensing infrastructure.</li>
<li><strong>Expediting Regulatory Clearances:</strong> Currently, ethanol production plants/distilleries fall under the &ldquo;Red category&rdquo; and require environmental clearance under the Air and Water Acts for new and expansion projects. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This often takes a long time leading to delays.</li>
<li>While several steps have been taken to expedite Environment Clearances (EC) under <strong>the Environment Protection Act</strong> there are few areas of concern which if addressed, will facilitate early setting up of ethanol distillation capacities in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Incentivising Ethanol Blended Vehicle:</strong> Globally, vehicles compliant with higher ethanol blends are provided with tax benefits. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A similar approach may be followed so that the cost increase due to E20 compatible design may be absorbed to a certain extent, as is being done in some states for promoting <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/electric-vehicles-evs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Electric Vehicles</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pricing of Ethanol Blended Gasoline:</strong> For better acceptability of higher ethanol blends in the country, retail price of such fuels <strong>should be lower than normal petrol</strong> to compensate for the reduction in calorific value and incentivize switching to the blended fuel. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Tax breaks on ethanol as a fuel may be considered by the government.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Initiatives Already Taken</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Policy on Biofuels&ndash;2018</strong></a>, provides an indicative target of 20% ethanol blending under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme by 2030.</li>
<li>The <strong>Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways</strong> has <strong>mandated stickers on vehicles mentioning their E20, E85 or E100 compatibility.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will pave the way for flex fuel vehicles.</li>
<li>Flex fuel engines can run any ratio of blended petrol from E20 to E100.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">E100 pilot project</a>:</strong> It has been inaugurated in Pune.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>TVS Apache two-wheelers are designed to run on E80 or pure ethanol (E100).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-ji-van-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana, 2019</a>:</strong> The scheme aims to create an ecosystem for setting up commercial projects and boost Research and Development in the 2G Ethanol sector.</li>
<li><strong>GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources) DHAN Scheme, 2018:</strong> The scheme aims to positively impact village cleanliness and <strong>generate wealth and energy</strong> from cattle and organic waste. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It also aims at creating new rural livelihood opportunities and enhancing income for farmers and other rural people.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/scheme-for-used-cooking-oil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Repurpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO)</a>:</strong> The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched this initiative that will enable collection and conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/energy/amp/india-s-ethanol-roadmap-the-targets-and-challenges-77360" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8575,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Dehing Patkai and Raimona National Parks: Assam',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Assam government notified <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/dehing-patkai-wildlife-sanctuary-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Dehing Patkai</strong> </a>as the<strong> 7<sup>th</sup> National Park</strong> of the state.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was <strong>created shortly after Raimona reserve forest in western Assam&rsquo;s Kokrajhar district was upgraded to a national park (6<sup>th</sup>)</strong> on the occasion of<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Environment Day</a> (5<sup>th</sup> June).</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Park</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>An area, whether within a sanctuary or not, can be notified by the state government to be constituted as a National Park, by reason of its ecological, faunal, floral, or zoological association or importance, needed to for the purpose of protecting &amp; propagating or developing wildlife therein or its environment.</li>
<li>No human activity is permitted inside the national park except for the ones permitted by the Chief Wildlife Warden of the state under the conditions given in<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wildlife-protection-act-wpa-1972" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> WPA (Wildlife Protection Act) 1972.</strong></a></li>
<li>Some human activities can be allowed inside a wildlife sanctuary, but no human activity is allowed in a national park.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Dehing Patkai National Park:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is located within the larger <strong>Dehing Patkai<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Elephant Reserve</a>,</strong> which spreads across the <strong>coal- and oil-rich</strong> districts of <strong>Upper Assam</strong> (Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts).</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/crude-spillage-in-burhi-dihing-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>oldest refinery of Asia in Digboi</strong> </a>and <strong>&lsquo;open cast&rsquo; coal mining at Lido</strong> are located near the sanctuary.</li>
<li>The Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is <strong>also known as the Jeypore Rainforest.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Naming:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Dehing</strong> is the name of the <strong>river that flows through this forest</strong> and <strong>Patkai is the hill at</strong> the foot of which the sanctuary lies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flora:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is <strong>believed to be the last remaining contiguous patch of lowland rainforest area</strong> in Assam.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fauna:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Rare fauna found in the region include <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-pangolin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Chinese pangolin</strong></a>, flying fox, wild pig, sambar, barking deer, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-bison-gaur" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gaur</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/himalayan-serow" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>serow</strong></a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/malayan-giant-squirrel" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Malayan giant squirrels.</strong></a></li>
<li>It is the <strong>only sanctuary in India which is home to seven different species of wild cats -</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-2018-guinness-book-of-world-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>tiger</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/increase-in-human-leopard-conflict-study" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>leopard</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/clouded-leopards-and-their-habitats" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>clouded leopard</strong></a>, leopard cat, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/color-morphs-of-wild-cat" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>golden cat</strong></a>, jungle cat and marbled cat.</li>
<li><strong>Assamese macaque</strong>, a primate found in the forest, is in the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> red list of Near Threatened species.</strong></a></li>
<li>It has the<strong> highest concentration of the rare endangered White Winged Wood Duck.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Raimona National Park:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Raimona National Park is <strong>within the Bodoland Territorial Region.</strong></li>
<li>The area of the park<strong> includes the northern part of the notified Ripu Reserve Forest,</strong> which forms the <strong>western-most buffer to the Manas National Park</strong> that straddles the India-Bhutan border.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Borders and Boundary:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is <strong>bounded on the west by the Sonkosh river</strong> and the <strong>Saralbhanga river on the east.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Both the rivers are <strong>tributaries of Brahmaputra.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Pekua river</strong> defines Raimona&rsquo;s <strong>southern boundary.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transboundary Conservation Landscape:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It shares contiguous forest patches of<strong> Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park of Bhutan</strong> creating a transboundary conservation landscape of more than 2,400 sq km.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flora and Fauna:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is <strong>famous for Golden Langur,</strong> an endemic species which has been named as the mascot of Bodoland region.</li>
<li>It also has Asian elephant, Royal Bengal tiger, Clouded leopard, Indian gaur, Wild water buffalo, Spotted deer, Hornbill, more than 150 species of butterflies, 170 species of birds, 380 varieties of plants and orchids.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Parks in Assam:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Assam</strong> now has the <strong>third most</strong> National Parks after the <strong>12 in Madhya Pradesh </strong>and<strong> nine in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>seven National Parks</strong> in the State are <strong>Dehing Patkai, Raimona, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kaziranga-national-park-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kaziranga</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-29th-october-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manas</a>, Nameri, Orang, and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/assam-gas-leak#:~:text=Dibru%2DSaikhowa%20is%20a%20National,biodiversity%20hotspots%20in%20the%20world." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dibru-Saikhowa.</a></strong></li>
<li><strong>Kaziranga and Manas</strong> are <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage Sites.</strong></a> They are also tiger reserves along with Nameri and Orang.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623327525_image7.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623327525_image7.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/dihing-patkai-is-assams-7th-national-park/article34770343.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8574,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Hindu Kush Himalayan Mountains',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/undps-accelerator-lab" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)</strong></a>, the <strong>Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) mountain ranges could lose up to two-third of its ice by 2100.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>About <strong>2 billion people may face food, water shortages by 2100.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About HKH Region:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is often referred to as the<strong> &lsquo;Third Pole&rsquo;,</strong> on earth, is spread over<strong> 3,500 square kms</strong> across <strong>eight countries</strong> including India, Nepal and China.</li>
<li>It contains the world&rsquo;s<strong> third-largest storage</strong> of frozen water after Antarctica and the Arctic.</li>
<li>Over <strong>240 million people live in the region&rsquo;s mountains. 1.7 billion live in the river basins downstream,</strong> while food grown in these basins reaches three billion people.</li>
<li>The glaciers <strong>feed at least 10 major river systems,</strong> which have bearings on agricultural activities, drinking water and hydroelectricity production in the region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623325663_image4.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623325663_image4.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Challenges:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>According to <strong>ICIMOD&rsquo;s (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) 2019 assessment,</strong> the HKH region will<strong> continue to warm through the 21<sup>st</sup> century</strong> even if the world is able to limit global warming at the agreed 1.5 degrees Celsius.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris agreement</strong></a> aims to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels, while pursuing the means to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In the future, even if global warming is kept to 1.5 degrees C above the pre-industrialisation levels, <strong>warming in the HKH region is likely to be at least 0.3 degrees C higher, </strong>and<strong> in the northwest Himalaya and Karakoram at least 0.7 degrees C higher.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>High Mountain Asia (the Asian mountain ranges surrounding the Tibetan Plateau) <strong>will lose a substantial part of its cryosphere</strong> in the next decades and thus a substantial part of its water storage abilities. This will lead to <strong>increased water stress</strong> in high mountain areas.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A <strong>cryosphere</strong> comprises portions of Earth&rsquo;s surface where <strong>water is in solid form,</strong> including sea ice, lake ice, river ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes for the Melting of Glaciers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The melting is driven by larger <strong>anthropogenic modifications</strong> (i.e. influenced by humans) of the atmosphere.</li>
<li>The HKH region lies <strong>downwind</strong> from some of the most<strong> heavily polluted places</strong> on Earth. This threatens agriculture, climate as well as monsoon patterns.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is recommended to<strong> shift away from</strong> fossil fuel use in energy, transport, and other sectors, while changing diets and agricultural practices to move to net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases.</li>
<li>The countries in the region<strong> need to reduce emissions</strong> of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/black-carbon-and-glacier-melting" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>black carbon</strong> </a>and other air pollutants as well.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Suggested Policies and Actions to Mitigate the Problem:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Farmers will need support <strong>to design and invest in locally-appropriate water storage solutions,</strong> or to shift to agricultural practices that consume less water.</li>
<li><strong>Designs of new hydropower plants and grids</strong> will need to take into account the changing climate and water availability.</li>
<li><strong>Data and information, capacity-building and early warning systems and infrastructure design</strong> will need to be improved. This calls for sufficient funding and large-scale coordination.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Related Initiative Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE)</strong> is one of the eight missions under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).</strong></a></li>
<li>The mandate is to evolve measures to sustain and safeguard the Himalayan glaciers, mountain ecosystems, biodiversity and wildlife conservation &amp; protection.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>ICIMOD is<strong> an intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre</strong> working for the people of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH).</li>
<li>It is<strong> based in Kathmandu, Nepal</strong> and works in and for <strong>eight regional member countries &ndash;</strong> Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/glacier-melting-in-hindu-kush-2-billion-people-may-face-food-water-shortage-by-2100-77356" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8550,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => '‘Sea Snot’ Outbreak in Turkey',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>Turkey&rsquo;s Sea of Marmara</strong>, which <strong>connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea,</strong> has witnessed the <strong>largest outbreak of &lsquo;sea snot&rsquo;.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>A &lsquo;sea snot&rsquo; outbreak was <strong>first recorded in the country in 2007.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623141072_map.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623141072_map.png" width="450" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></h3>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Sea Snot and its Formation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>marine mucilage</strong> that is formed when <strong>algae are overloaded with nutrients</strong> as a result of <strong>water pollution</strong> combined with the effects of <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/changing-climate-and-deglaciation-a-warning-call" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>nutrient overload</strong> occurs when <strong>algae feast on warm weather</strong> caused by <strong>global warming.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It looks like a <strong>viscous, brown and foamy substance.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Threat to the Marine Ecosystem:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has caused <strong>mass deaths among the fish population</strong>, and also killed other aquatic organisms such as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tough-corals#:~:text=Corals%20are%20made%20up%20of,the%20compounds%20necessary%20for%20photosynthesis." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>corals</strong></a> and sponges.</li>
<li>It is now <strong>covering the surface of the sea</strong> and has also <strong>spread to 80-100 feet</strong> below the surface which eventually can collapse to the bottom and cover the sea floor.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Livelihoods of Fishermen Affected:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As the sludge is getting collected in their nets, making them so heavy that they break or get lost.</li>
<li>Moreover, the mucilage coating the strings makes the nets visible to fish and keeps them away.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Water-borne Diseases:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It can cause an outbreak of water-borne diseases such as <strong>cholera</strong> in cities like Istanbul.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps that are being Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The entire <strong>Sea of Marmara</strong> will be turned into a <strong>protected area.</strong></li>
<li>Moreover, steps are being taken to <strong>reduce pollution and improve treatment of waste water</strong> from coastal cities and ships.</li>
<li>Turkey&rsquo;s biggest <strong>maritime clean-up operation</strong> is being launched and called on local residents, artists and NGOs to join hands to extend assistance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Nutrient Pollution</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is the process where too <strong>many nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus</strong>, are added to bodies of water and can act like fertilizer, <strong>causing excessive growth of algae.</strong></li>
<li>This process is also known as <strong>eutrophication.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sources of Nutrients:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They can <strong>occur naturally</strong> as a result of <strong>weathering of rocks</strong> and soil in the watershed and they can also <strong>come from the ocean due to mixing of water currents.</strong></li>
<li>There are more nutrients entering our coastal waters from <strong>wastewater treatment facilities, runoff from land in urban areas</strong> during rains, and <strong>from farming.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Severe algal growth blocks light that is needed for plants</strong>, such as seagrasses, to grow.</li>
<li>When the <strong>algae and seagrass die</strong>, they decay and in this process the oxygen in the water is used up and this leads to <strong>low levels of dissolved oxygen in the water.</strong> This, in turn, <strong>can kill fish, crabs, oysters, and other aquatic animals.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>World Oceans Day</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The World Oceans Day is celebrated every year on <strong>8<sup>th</sup> June</strong> to create awareness about the benefits that mankind gets from the ocean.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2008.</li>
<li>Oceans are considered to be the <strong>lungs of the planet</strong>, a critical <strong>part of the biosphere</strong> and are a major <strong>source of food and medicine.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>theme</strong> of the World Oceans Day 2021 is <strong>'The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods'.</strong></li>
<li>It is especially relevant in the lead-up to the <strong>UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development</strong>, which will run from 2021 to 2030.</li>
<li>The decade is aimed at strengthening international cooperation to develop scientific research and innovative technologies that are capable of connecting ocean science with the needs of modern society.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-sea-snot-outbreak-in-turkey-7347989/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8547,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based on <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/saving-biodiversity-securing-earths-future/article34731266.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Saving biodiversity, securing earth&rsquo;s future&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in The Hindu on 05/06/2021. It talks about the positive impact of the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being.</p>
</div>
<p>Globally, there has been a 7% loss of intact forests since 2000, and recent assessments indicate that over a million species might be lost forever during the next several decades. Further, climate change and the ongoing pandemic will put additional stresses on our natural ecosystems. India is not an exception to these trends.</p>
<p>Today, it is becoming clear that repairing our dysfunctional relationship with nature is one of the ways to mitigate climate change and curtail future outbreaks of infectious diseases that can bring unimaginable misery. Thus, preserving biodiversity is directly relevant to the social, economic, and environmental well-being.</p>
<p>In this context, the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being (NMBHWB) is a step in the right direction.</p>
<h3>Significance of India&rsquo;s Biodiversity</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Biodiversity Hotspot:</strong> India is home to nearly 8% of global biodiversity on just 2.3% of global land area, and contains sections of four of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots.</li>
<li><strong>Staggering Economic Value:</strong> While the precise economic value of all ecosystem services provided by biodiversity may not be known, estimates suggest that India&rsquo;s forests alone may yield services worth more than a trillion rupees per year.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, it can be imagined how much greater this value will be with grasslands, wetlands, freshwater, and marine can add.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection From Natural Disasters:</strong> The varied ecosystems across land, rivers, and oceans, feed our people, enhance public health security, and shield us from environmental disasters.</li>
<li><strong>Spiritual Enrichment:</strong> Our biodiversity also serves as a perpetual source of spiritual enrichment, intimately linked to our physical and mental well-being.</li>
</ul>
<h3>NMBHWB: Vision</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>In 2018, the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Science, Technology and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in consultation with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and other Ministries approved an ambitious National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being.</li>
<li>The Mission proposes a national effort that aims to transform biodiversity science by linking it to the peoples&rsquo; economic prosperity.</li>
<li>It further aims to help India realize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by using India&rsquo;s rich biodiversity to create solutions for challenges in agriculture, health, and climate change.</li>
<li>Under this Mission, research institutions, government, and non-government organizations will work together to catalogue, map, assess, monitor, and use our vast but declining natural assets sustainably.</li>
<li>The Mission will also help create a cadre of biodiversity science professionals to sustain and secure Indian biodiversity.</li>
<li>Finally, the Mission hopes to initiate a mass movement to engage India&rsquo;s massive population to feel pride in our natural heritage, and help in restoring and conserving nature.</li>
</ul>
<h3>NMBHWB: Impact</h3>
<p>The pandemic has exposed the dysfunctional relationship between humanity and nature, and wants us to focus on challenges like: the emergence of infectious diseases; lack of food and nutritional security; rural unemployment; and climate change, etc. In this context, the mission can help in following ways:</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Boosting Rural Economy:</strong> The mission can rejuvenate agricultural production systems and increase rural incomes from biodiversity-based agriculture while also creating millions of green jobs in restoration and nature tourism.</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting International Commitment:</strong> The Mission can help India meet its commitments under the new framework for the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sixth-national-report-to-the-convention-of-biological-diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Convention on Biological Diversity</strong></a> (CBD), and<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> UN SDGs</strong></a> related to pressing social issues including poverty alleviation, justice and equity, and protection of life.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, the mission can help India to emerge as a leader in demonstrating linkage between conservation of natural assets and societal well-being.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Economic Advantage:</strong> The Mission&rsquo;s comprehensive efforts will empower India to restore, and even increase, our natural assets by millions of crores of rupees. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Further, restoration activities across India&rsquo;s degraded lands, which amount to almost a third of our land area, alone could generate several million jobs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Developing National Commitment:</strong> It will generate a strong national community committed to sustaining biodiversity, promoting social cohesion and uniting the public behind an important goal.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Envisaging One Health Concept:</strong> There is a need to rethink and reimagine the concept of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-health-concept" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>One Health</strong></a> for all living organisms, including the invisible biota in soils that sustain our agricultural systems.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Implementing One Health concept has both the preventive potential to curtail future pandemics along with the interventional capability for unexpected public health challenges.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Dedicated Cadre:</strong> There is a need for a strong and extensive cadre of human resources required to meet the enormous and complex environmental challenges of the 21st century. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This will require training professionals of the highest calibre in sustainability and biodiversity science, along with an investment in civil society outreach.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enabling Cultural Change:</strong> The gains of environmental change will be upheld and carried forward by the cultural change from environmental education for millions of students, from kindergarten to postgraduate levels.</li>
<li><strong>Promoting Nature-based Solutions:</strong> There is a need to promote nature-based solutions to numerous environmental challenges, including degradation of rivers, forests, and soils, and ongoing threats from climate change, with the goal of creating climate-resilient communities.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>On this World Environment Day (June 5), with the novel coronavirus pandemic raging across our vast country, we must reflect on the ways to rebuild our relationship with nature. In this context, the National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-Being Mission can offer a holistic framework, integrated approaches, and widespread societal participation.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #edffeb;">
<p><span style="color: #333399;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>The National Biodiversity Mission can help mend the dysfunctional relationship between humanity and nature. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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		'article_id' => (int) 8539,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve and Vaigai River: Tamil Nadu',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The recently declared <strong>Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve</strong> in <strong>Tamil Nadu</strong> will provide protection to <strong>Megamalai</strong>, the <strong>Vaigai&rsquo;s primary catchment</strong>, in turn helping water levels to rise in the river.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623047043_SVG_Map_River_Vaigai_EN.svg.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1623047043_SVG_Map_River_Vaigai_EN.svg.png" width="400" caption="false" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Vaigai River:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Origin and Tributaries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>originates in the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Western Ghats</a></strong> (Varushanad Hills).</li>
<li>It travels through the <strong>Pandya Nadu region</strong> of Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>Its <strong>main tributaries</strong> are Suruliyaru, Mullaiyaru, Varaganadhi, Manjalaru, Kottagudi, Kridhumaal and Upparu.</li>
<li>The Vaigai is <strong>258 kms long</strong> and finally <strong>empties into the Palk Strait</strong> near the <strong>Pamban Bridge </strong>in<strong> Ramanathapuram district.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Heritage River:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Vaigai was the river that <strong>flowed through the noted city of Madurai</strong>, the <strong>capital</strong> (4<sup>th</sup>-11<sup>th</sup> century CE) <strong>of the ancient and prosperous Pandya kingdom</strong> located in southern Tamil Nadu.</li>
<li>The river finds a mention in <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper1/sangam-age-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sangam</a> literature</strong> dated to 3<strong>00 before the Common Era.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The river fulfils the <strong>drinking water requirement of five districts of Tamil Nadu</strong> namely Theni, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Dindigul.</li>
<li>It also provides <strong>irrigation to 2,00,000 hectares</strong> of agricultural land.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Rejuvenation of Vaigai:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Its <strong>deterioration happened at the end of the 18<sup>th</sup> century</strong> when the British started <strong>deforesting the Megamalai region</strong> which acts as a major catchment for Vaigai. Consequently, the <strong>water flow in the river reduced gradually.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Some <strong>2,00,000 people died</strong> in this region during the <strong>Great Famine of 1876-77.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Following the famine, the British Crown <strong>proposed diverting water from the Periyar river (Kerala)</strong> and feeding it to the Vaigai through a tunnel.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The Vaigai presently <strong>gets about 80% of its water from the Periyar dam.</strong> The <strong>balance 20%</strong> is obtained from the <strong>major watershed of the Megamalai region</strong> during the northeast monsoon season.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <strong>Srivilliputhur-Megamalai</strong> <strong>Tiger Reserve</strong> will <strong>protect wild animals and the natural forests, their habitats</strong> which <strong>act as watersheds.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was established <strong>in February 2021.</strong> It was jointly declared by the Centre and Tamil Nadu governments.</li>
<li>For this, the <strong>Megamalai WLS</strong> and the adjoining <strong>Srivilliputhur WLS</strong> were clubbed together.</li>
<li>Srivilliputhur-Megamalai Tiger Reserve is the <strong>fifth Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu</strong>, and <strong>51<sup>th</sup> tiger reserve of India.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecological Diversity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Animals seen here are <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-2018-guinness-book-of-world-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bengal tiger</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">elephants</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-bison-gaur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gaur</a></strong>, Indian giant squirrel, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-leopard-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leopard</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nilgiri-tahr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nilgiri Tahrs</a>,</strong> etc.</li>
<li>It has a mix of tropical evergreen forests and semi-evergreen forests, dry deciduous forests and moist mixed deciduous forests, grassland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other four Tiger reserves of Tamil Nadu:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pulayar-community-and-anamalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Anamalai tiger reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudumalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kalakkad - Mundanthurai tiger reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudumalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mudumalai tiger reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mudumalai-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sathyamangalam tiger reserve</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/environment/a-tiger-reserve-declared-this-year-can-rejuvenate-vaigai-india-s-heritage-river-77165" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 15 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8536,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'World Environment Day 2021',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-environment-day-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> World Environment Day</strong></a> is observed on the <strong>5<sup>th</sup> of June annually</strong> to encourage awareness and environmental protection.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>World Environment Day:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>History:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>United Nations Assembly</strong> established World Environment Day in 1972, which was the first day of the<strong> Stockholm Conference</strong> on the human environment.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Theme for 2021:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>'Ecosystem Restoration'.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will kick off the<strong> UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) -</strong> a global mission to revive billions of hectares, from forests to farmlands, from the top of mountains to the depth of the sea.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The theme for this year&rsquo;s in India is<strong> &lsquo;promotion of <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">biofuels</a> for a better environment&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Host Nation:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Pakistan will be the global host for 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Initiatives Taken by India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>E-100 pilot project</strong> has been launched in Pune for the production and distribution of ethanol across the country.</li>
<li>The government is<strong> releasing the E-20 notification</strong> that will allow oil companies to sell 20% ethanol blended petrol from 1<sup>st</sup> April, 2023, and BIS specifications for ethanol blends E12 and E15.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Ecosystem Restoration</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Ecosystem:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a community of plants and animals interacting with each other in a given area,</strong> and also with their <strong>non-living environments.</strong> The non-living environments include weather, earth, sun, soil, climate and atmosphere.</li>
<li>The ecosystem <strong>relates to the way</strong> that all these different organisms live in close proximity to each other and how they interact with each other.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Ecosystem Restoration:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ecosystem restoration means <strong>assisting in the recovery of ecosystems</strong> that have been degraded or destroyed, as well as <strong>conserving the ecosystems</strong> that are still intact.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It involves reviving old water bodies, building natural forests, providing space to wildlife and reducing water pollution to restore aquatic life.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Healthier ecosystems, with richer biodiversity,<strong> yield greater benefits</strong> such as more fertile soil, bigger yields of timber and fish, and larger stores of greenhouse gases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Need of Restoration:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Ecosystem loss is <strong>depriving the world of carbon sinks,</strong> like forests and wetlands, at a time when humanity can least afford it.</li>
<li><strong>Global greenhouse gas emissions</strong> have grown for three consecutive years and the planet is one place for potentially catastrophic climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India's Restoration Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/desertification-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Afforestation Programme (NAP)</strong></a>: It focuses on the rehabilitation of degraded forests and afforestation around forests.</li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Mission for a Green India (GIM)</strong></a>: It is under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)</strong></a> and aimed at improving and increasing tree cover as a climate adaptation and mitigation strategy.</li>
<li><a href="/summary-of-important-reports/6th-national-report-to-cbd" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Biodiversity Action Plan</strong></a>: It has been launched to implement strategies for the reduction in rates of degradation, fragmentation and loss of natural habitats.</li>
<li><strong>Rural Livelihood Schemes:</strong> Recognition of natural resources intrinsically linked to rural livelihoods is also reflected in flagship schemes like the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sub-group-of-chief-ministers-on-coordination-between-mgnrega-and-agriculture" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-rural-economic-transformation-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Potential for restoration through MGNREGA lies in its plantation and rejuvenation of water bodies subcomponents, through which provisions for livelihoods in afforestation, tree plantation, horticulture, and construction of new ponds have been made.</li>
<li>Similarly, schemes under NRLM, bifurcated into farm and non-farm livelihoods, focus on interventions to enhance natural capital and present opportunities for ecosystem restoration.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/world-environment-day-2021-theme-images-importance-of-ecosystem-restoration-june-5-environment-crisis-121060500082_1.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: BS</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8529,
		'category_id' => (int) 22,
		'title' => 'Sustainably Developing Andaman & Nicobar',
		'description' => '<div class="border">
<p>This article is based upon <a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/opinion/developing-the-sister-islands-of-indian-ocean-101622720051095.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;Developing the sister islands of Indian Ocean&rdquo;</strong></a> which was published in the Hindustan Times on 03/06/2021. It talks about the significance of Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands, its sustainable development and how India&rsquo;s maritime partner France can assist in the developmental projects in the Archipelago.</p>
</div>
<p>The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI), popularly known as <strong>&lsquo;Bay Islands&rsquo;,</strong> hold great significance for India from maritime as well as ecological point of view. ANI provides for nearly 30% of India&rsquo;s Exclusive Economic Zone.</p>
<p>ANI, besides being a home to a rich floral and faunal diversity, is also home to a number of tribal and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/particularly-vulnerable-tribal-groups" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups</strong></a>, a few of which are on the verge of extinction.</p>
<p>In the immediate past, there have been quite a few projects proposed for these island groups for economic purposes as well as for <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/militarising-andaman-and-nicobar-islands" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>militarising Andaman and Nicobar Islands.</strong></a></p>
<p>As much potential these islands can prove to have for making India a maritime power, this ecological significance can and must not be undermined. A balanced development plan is the ultimate solution.</p>
<h3>Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI)</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Indigenous People of ANI:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indigenous-people-of-andaman-and-nicobar" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Andaman and Nicobar Islands</strong> </a>are home to five PVTGs: <strong>Great Andamanese, Jarwas, Onges, Shompens and North Sentinelese.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> Great Nicobarese</strong> are a Scheduled Tribe.</li>
<li>The population of Andaman and Nicobar Islands&rsquo; primitive tribes has rapidly declined over the years.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of ANI:</strong> India's key maritime partners such as the US, Japan, Australia and France acknowledge and recognise the strategic location of the Andaman and Nicobar. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These islands not only provide Delhi with a <strong>key maritime space</strong> but also<strong> carry significant potential in shaping the strategic and military dynamics</strong> of the Indian Ocean region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Island Territories Similar to ANI:</strong> France&rsquo;s <strong>La Reunion</strong> island is similar to ANI and lies in the Southwest Indian Ocean near strategic waters. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Australia and the US too have similar island territories in the Indian Ocean with<strong> Cocos (Keeling) islands and Diego Garcia</strong> respectively. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, Diego Garcia&rsquo;s sovereignty is disputed by Mauritius, which has garnered support through a United Nations (UN) resolution.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The ANI and Reunion islands are part of a series of island territories under<strong> key maritime players in the Indian Ocean.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Recent Developmental Plans for ANI</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Japan&rsquo;s Overseas Development Assistance :</strong> In March 2021, for the first time, Japan&rsquo;s government approved a grant aid of approximately ₹265 crore toward developmental projects in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/japan-to-fund-projects-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Japan&rsquo;s first Overseas Development Assistance (ODA)</strong></a> initiative toward the islands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>ANI as a Maritime and Startup Hub:</strong> In August, 2020 the Prime Minister had declared that the Andaman and Nicobar islands will be developed as a "<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/andaman-and-nicobar-islands-to-be-maritime-and-startup-hub" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>maritime and startup hub</strong></a>"<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>12 islands of the archipelago have been <strong>selected for high-impact projects</strong> with an <strong>emphasis on boosting trade of sea-based, organic and coconut-based products</strong> of the region</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NITI Aayog&rsquo;s Project for Great Nicobar:</strong> Great Nicobar is the southernmost island of the Nicobar Islands Archipelago. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/niti-aayog-s-project-for-great-nicobar-island" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>proposal</strong> </a>includes an international container trans-shipment terminal, a greenfield international airport, a power plant and a township complex spread over 166 sq. km. (mainly pristine coastal systems and tropical forests).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NITI Aayog&rsquo;s Proposal for Little Andaman:</strong> The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/niti-aayog-s-proposal-for-little-andaman" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>plan</strong></a> involves building a new greenfield coastal city that will be developed as a free trade zone and will compete with Singapore and Hong Kong.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Issues Faced by ANI</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Lack of Connectivity:</strong> The island groups, specially the Little Andaman Island, have <strong>little connectivity with the Indian mainland</strong> and global cities.</li>
<li><strong>Geological Volatility:</strong> The island's groups lie in a <strong>seismically highly active zone.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The 2004 earthquake and accompanying<strong> tsunami devastated large parts of the island chain.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Nicobar and Car Nicobar (northernmost Nicobar island) lost almost one-fifth of its population and close to 90% of its mangroves.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Declining Population:</strong> The population of native communities like the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and North Sentinelese has <strong>plummeted from 1,999 to 550 since 1901 to 2011.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Massive projects, epidemics and crippling health crises in the ecologically fragile Little Andaman Island have led to near-extinction of the Onge tribe.</li>
<li>The developmental project proposed by NITI Aayog for Little Andaman includes<strong> de-reserving 32% of the reserved forest</strong> and <strong>denotifying 31% of the tribal reserve</strong> thus rendering the habitations of the tribal groups at risk.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Aspects of Blue Economy:</strong> The primary issues facing island nations in the Indian Ocean are related to the key aspects of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/blue-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Blue Economy</strong></a>. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Sustainable development, illegal fishing, disaster management, the climate crisis, renewable energy and issues of waste management impacts both tourism as well as ecosystems specific to islands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Development and Biodiversity:</strong> A slew of infrastructure projects have been proposed in ANI to give a major boost to tourism and business. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>While this may transform the islands substantially, it would also cause loss of biodiversity and have a negative impact on the indigenous people.</li>
<li>The <strong>Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Committee,</strong> granted the clearance for the infrastructural projects on the condition that all large, medium, and small trees will be counted and geo-referenced and not felled. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, <strong>Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO)</strong> is seeking an amendment to this clause so that trees may be felled if required</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Balanced Development:</strong> Militarising ANI and infrastructure and developmental projects will not doubt aid India&rsquo;s strategic and maritime capabilities, but such development should not come at the cost of the ruthless exploitation of Biodiversity hotspot i.e ANI.</li>
<li><strong>Sustainably Developing ANI:</strong> Given its economic, ecological &amp; environmental constraints and the laws to protect the indigenous tribes, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will have to be first <strong>developed sustainably in order to maximise its economic and military potential.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A sustainable island development framework is not only important for the ANI but will also be applicable and of interest to other island nations across the Indian Ocean.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sister Islands:</strong> Reunion is the <strong>most developed island territory</strong> among the above-mentioned four island territories, with a framework that supports both the island&rsquo;s economic needs as well as France&rsquo;s military priorities in the Indian Ocean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Taking from the idea of &ldquo;sister cities&rdquo;, the framework of<strong> &ldquo;sister islands&rdquo;</strong> can be formed.</li>
<li>India and France should lead an effort, utilising their island territories of Andaman and Reunion in developing a concept of sister islands aimed at <strong>creating a foundation for a sustainable model for island development across the Indian Ocean.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Similar to sister cities, a sister island concept would allow India and France to co-develop a sustainable framework for island development.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Development Plans in Indo-Pacific:</strong> If India is to invest in capacity building initiatives and maritime projects in the Indian Ocean, there is a need to research and create an island model for development. Such an approach also creates a new avenue for Indian-led initiatives in the Indo-Pacific.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>As India and its partners compete for access and influence across the Indo-Pacific toward achieving common interests, there is a need to engage with and address regional concerns and challenges of strategically located island nations.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Role of IOC:</strong> Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) is the only island driven organisation in the Indian Ocean. It plays an important role in voicing the concerns and challenges of the islands of the western Indian Ocean. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>France recently took over as the Chair of the IOC. India in 2020, formally joined the group as an Observer.</li>
<li>It provides an opportunity for both the countries to lead an island-focused development model.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India could also borrow lessons from France&rsquo;s island experiences in both the Indian Ocean as well as in the Pacific.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>As India looks to maintain and strengthen its advantages in the Indian Ocean, it should look to leveraging its island territories and non-traditional security issues in offering solutions and addressing regional concerns and challenges. The Andaman and Reunion provide an excellent starting point to do so.</p>
<table border="1" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="width: 100%; border-style: dotted; border-color: #ff0000; background-color: #f2f0ff;">
<p><span style="color: #000080;"><em><strong>Drishti Mains Question</strong></em></span></p>
<p>&ldquo;Taking into account the significance that Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands have for India in various aspects, a balanced approach towards its ecological fragility and economic significance is the need of the hour. India&rsquo;s key maritime partners with similar interests can be approached for mutual assistance and benefits&rdquo;. Discuss.</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8526,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'CEM-Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, India and the UK have launched a new workstream to promote <strong>industrial energy efficiency</strong> under <strong>Clean Energy Ministerial's (CEM) Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI)</strong> coordinated by UNIDO (United Nations Development Industrial organisation).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It was launched in the <strong>ongoing 12<sup>th</sup> CEM</strong> (CEM12) <strong>Meeting,</strong> which is <strong>virtually hosted by Chile.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About 12<sup>th</sup> CEM Meeting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The objective is <strong>to infuse green technologies </strong>and<strong> stimulate demand for low-carbon industrial material.</strong></li>
<li>India is<strong> committed to cut emissions intensity per unit of GDP by 33 to 35% by 2030</strong> (stated in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ndc-synthesis-report-unfccc#:~:text=The%20UNFCCC%2C%20in%20its%20Nationally,the%20end%20of%20the%20century." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nationally Determined Contributions</strong></a>).</li>
<li>The commitment hinges on<strong> effective deployment of low carbon technologies in Energy Intensive Sectors</strong> like Iron &amp; Steel, Cement and Petrochemicals.</li>
<li>Government policies have resulted in <strong>substantial savings in energy at the demand side</strong> such as <strong>AgDSM</strong> (Agriculture Demand Side Management programme), <strong>MuDSM</strong> (Municipal Demand Side Management) etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM):</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was established <strong>in December 2009 at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UN&rsquo;s Framework Convention on Climate Change conference of parties</a></strong> in<strong> Copenhagen.</strong></li>
<li>The <strong>Framework for the Clean Energy Ministerial,</strong> adopted at the <strong>seventh Clean Energy Ministerial in 2016,</strong> defines the CEM governance structure and outlines the mission statement, objectives, membership, and guiding principles.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Purpose:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>CEM is <strong>a high-level global forum to promote policies and programs that advance clean energy technology,</strong> to share lessons learned and best practices, and to encourage the transition to a global clean energy economy.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Focus Areas:</strong> The CEM is focused on <strong>three global climate and energy policy goals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Improve energy efficiency worldwide.</li>
<li>Enhance clean energy supply.</li>
<li>Expand clean energy access.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>29 countries are part of CEM.</li>
<li><strong>India is also a member</strong> country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>11<sup>th</sup> Clean Energy Ministerial:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The CEM11 was <strong>hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2020</strong> that was convened at a critical moment to consider the role of clean energy in supporting a rapid, sustainable recovery, and the role of the CEM community in shaping the next clean energy decade.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Industrial Deep Decarbonization Initiative (IDDI):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IDDI is an <strong>initiative of CEM.</strong></li>
<li>It is a global <strong>coalition of public and private organisations</strong> who are working to stimulate demand for low carbon industrial materials.</li>
<li>In collaboration with <strong>national governments,</strong> IDDI works to standardise carbon assessments, establish ambitious public and private sector procurement targets, incentivise investment into low-carbon product development and design industry guidelines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Supporting Countries:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Coordinated by UNIDO, the IDDI is <strong>co-led by the UK and India</strong> and current members include Germany and Canada.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Goals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Encouraging governments and the private sector to buy low carbon steel and cement.</li>
<li>Sourcing and sharing data for common standards and targets.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>United Nations Development Industrial Organisation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNIDO is the <strong>specialized agency of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a></strong> that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Members:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There are 170 Member countries as of 1<sup>st</sup> April 2019.</li>
<li><strong>India is also a member</strong> country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Discussion:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Members regularly discuss and decide UNIDO&rsquo;s guiding principles and policies in the sessions of the Policy Making Organs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mission:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The mission of UNIDO, as described in the <strong>Lima Declaration adopted</strong> at the fifteenth session of the <strong>UNIDO General Conference in 2013,</strong> is to promote and accelerate <strong>inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID)</strong> in Member States.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Mandate:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>UNIDO&rsquo;s mandate is fully recognized in <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SDG-9</strong></a>, which calls to <strong>&ldquo;Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation&rdquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Headquarters:</strong> Vienna, Austria.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1723981" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source: PIB</a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8508,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'State of Finance for Nature Report',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The UN report, titled <strong>State of Finance for Nature,</strong> analyzes the investment flow in <strong>nature-based solutions (NbS)</strong> and identifies the <strong>future investment needed to meet the climate change, biodiversity and land degradation targets</strong> (set in three <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-28" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Rio Conventions</strong></a>).</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The report was jointly produced by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/making-peace-with-nature-unep-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Environment Programme</strong></a> (UNEP), the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Economic Forum</strong></a> and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/land-degradation" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Economics of Land Degradation.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the 'Nature-based solutions (NbS)':</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/nature-based-solutions" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> NbS</strong></a> refers to <strong>sustainable management and use of nature</strong> to tackle socio-environmental challenges, which range from disaster risk reduction, climate change and biodiversity loss to food and water security as well as human health.</li>
<li>NbS creates<strong> harmony between people and nature, enables ecological development</strong> and represents a holistic, <strong>people-centred response</strong> to climate change.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Thus, NbS underpin the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sustainable Development Goals</strong></a>, as they support vital ecosystem services, biodiversity, and access to fresh water, improved livelihoods, healthy diets and food security (organic agriculture) from sustainable food systems.</li>
<li>Also, NbS are an essential component of the overall global effort to achieve the goals of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement on Climate Change</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1622632740_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1622632740_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="800" caption="false" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Key Findings of Report:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Current Investments:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Approximately <strong>USD 133 billion</strong> currently flows into nature-based solutions<strong> annually</strong> (using 2020 as base year). It <strong>comprises about 0.10% of global gross domestic product.</strong></li>
<li>The funds flow<strong> to protect biodiversity and landscapes,</strong> mixed with activities such as sustainable forestry.</li>
<li>NbS finance is <strong>much smaller in scale than <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-finance-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate finance</a></strong> and relies more heavily on public finance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Public vs Private Funds:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Public funds make up 86% and private finance 14% of these investments.</li>
<li>The <strong>public financial services providers</strong> included the government, development finance institutions (DFIs), environmental/climate funds.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Top Spenders:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Public sector spending for the same is <strong>dominated by the United States and China,</strong> followed by Japan, Germany and Australia.</li>
<li>Countries such as<strong> Brazil, India and Saudi Arabia are likely spending large amounts</strong> of money too, but they do not report internationally comparable data.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Recommendations:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>More Investments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Public and private actors will need to scale up their annual investments</strong> by at least four times to meet future climate, biodiversity and land degradation targets.</li>
<li><strong>Annual investment should reach USD 536 billion</strong> by 2050.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enhancing Cash Flows for Investment:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Reforming taxes, repurposing agricultural policies and trade-related tariffs and harnessing the potential of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/carbon-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>carbon markets.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Smart Investments:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Restoration of <strong>natural vegetation and afforestation</strong> are essential to meet international targets.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The most important component of annual investment needs is the <strong>cost of establishing new forests,</strong> as it accounts for 80% of total costs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Making Nature-based Solution a part of Government Policies:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Supporting <strong>inclusion of nature-based solutions in current <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ndc-synthesis-report-unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nationally determined contribution</a> revisions,</strong> national adaptation plans and domestic sectoral legislation.</li>
<li><strong>Aligning private finance with public policy</strong> for scaling up capital flows to nature to a level that can meet the targets of the three Rio Conventions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>System to Track Finances:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>There is a need for a comprehensive system and framework for labelling, tracking, reporting and verifying the state of finance for NbS.</li>
<li>This would improve data comparability and quality as an input to future decision-making.</li>
<li>Further, there is a need to increase positive financial flows by de-risking &amp; incentivizing and reducing harmful financial flows.</li>
</ul>
</li>
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<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/nature-to-tackle-environment-challenges-triple-investments-by-2030-says-un-report-77196" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8482,
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		'title' => 'Jayanti: New Species of Cricket',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a new species of Cricket named <strong>'Indimimus jayanti'</strong> was found in the<strong> Kurra caves of Chhattisgarh.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The new species was <strong>named after Professor Jayant Biswas,</strong> one of the leading cave explorers in the country.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1622285236_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1622285236_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the New Spider Cricket:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new species of cricket has been identified under the <strong>genus Arachnomimus Saussure, 1897.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Jayanti</strong> has led to the <strong>new subgenus 'Indimimus'.</strong></li>
<li>Males of the new Jayanti subgenus <strong>cannot produce sound</strong> and their <strong>females don&rsquo;t have ears.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About the New Subgenus:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The newly discovered subgenus, Indimimus, is different from the two subgenera, <strong>Arachnomimus and Euarachnomimus,</strong> because of the <strong>male genitalia structure.</strong></li>
<li>Insects have <strong>a lock-and-key model genitalia structure</strong> which is unique to each subgenus.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Arachnomimus Saussure, 1897:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Arachnomimus is the <strong>genus name given by Swiss Entomologist Henri Louis Fr&eacute;d&eacute;ric de Saussure in 1878</strong> to crickets that resembled spiders.</li>
<li>Crickets of this group are <strong>commonly called spider crickets</strong> because of their smaller body size and long legs.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of the Discovery:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It can <strong>help in designing hearing aids for humans.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The new species<strong> may be communicating by beating their abdomen or any other body part on the cave walls. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Vibrational communication</strong> is one of the softest but fastest modes of signal transmission.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Vibrational communication can be regarded as an interaction between the physical properties of the environment and insect's anatomy and physiology and resulting behavior.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Further studies on their skills of vibrational communication may help in designing hearing aids for humans which can capture quietest signals and amplify to an audible hearing range.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>With the discovery of Jayanti from India, the <strong>genus Arachnomimus is now known from 12 species.</strong> Distribution of these species is very wide, ranging from Brazil to Malaysia.</li>
<li>In India, the diversity of spider crickets is still unexplored. Given India is home to four <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/26-11-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biodiversity hotspots</strong></a>, and all the hotspots have unexplored caves, there is <strong>significant scope for many more discoveries.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Crickets:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Cricket, any of approximately 2,400 species of leaping insects that are worldwide in distribution and known for the musical chirping of the male.</li>
<li>They have mainly cylindrical bodies, round heads, and long antennae. Behind the head is a smooth, robust pronotum.</li>
<li>Crickets are noticeable for their loud calls, especially at night. Male crickets produce this sound by rubbing their wings against each other to attract females.</li>
<li>The females listen to these calls using ears located on their legs and approach the males for mating and reproduction.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/spider-cricket-jayanti-discovery-chhattisgarh-explained-7334078/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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