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Gross Environment Product (GEP)

Why in News Recently, the Uttarakhand government has announced that it will initiate valuation of its natural resources in the form of ‘Gross...

26 Jul 2021 Conservation
G20 Energy and Climate Meet

Why in News At the recent G20 Climate Meet, India urged the group of 20 nations (G20) having per capita greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions above the...

26 Jul 2021 Conservation
Genome of Salt-secreting Mangrove Species Decoded

Why in News Recently, the scientists for the first time have decoded the reference-grade whole genome sequence of a highly salt-tolerant and...

23 Jul 2021 Conservation
Polluted River Stretches

Why in News The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2018 identified 351 polluted river stretches in India. CPCB study reveals that...

22 Jul 2021 Conservation
New Initiatives in Building Energy Efficiency

Why in News Recently, “Aiming for Sustainable Habitat: New Initiatives in Building Energy Efficiency 2021” was launched by the Bureau of...

22 Jul 2021 Conservation
New Gecko Species: Odisha

Why in News Recently, Odisha's forest officials have announced measures to preserve the newly discovered tiny gecko species of the genus...

17 Jul 2021 Conservation
Fit for 55 Package: EU

Why in News Recently, the European Union (EU) released a new climate proposal, the Fit for 55 package. The EU in December 2020 submitted a...

17 Jul 2021 Conservation
Amazon Forests: No Longer Carbon Sinks

Why in News According to a recent study, Amazon Forests have started emitting Carbon dioxide (CO2) instead of absorbing it. Growing trees and...

16 Jul 2021 Conservation
New Solar Projects: NTPC

Why in News Recently, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) Renewable Energy Ltd (REL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the...

15 Jul 2021 Conservation
Tiger Corridor in Rajasthan

Why in News The Rajasthan government will develop a tiger corridor connecting the newly proposed ‘Ramgarh Tiger Reserve’, Ranthambore...

13 Jul 2021 Conservation
India’s First Cryptogamic Garden

Why in News Recently, India’s first cryptogamic garden was inaugurated in the Chakrata town of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The garden will be...

13 Jul 2021 Conservation
Lemru Elephant Reserve: Chhattisgarh

Why in News Recently, the Chhattisgarh government has proposed to reduce the area of Lemru Elephant Reserve from 1,995 sq km to 450 sq km. The...

12 Jul 2021 Conservation
High-Altitude Yak

Why in News Recently, the National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY) at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh’s West Kameng district has tied up with the...

10 Jul 2021 Conservation
Human-Wildlife Conflict

Why in News A report ‘A Future for All – A Need for Human-Wildlife Coexistence’ was recently released by World Wildlife Fund for...

10 Jul 2021 Conservation
Black Panther Spotted in Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve

Why in News Recently, a rare Melanistic Leopard (commonly known as Black Panther) has been recorded in Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) of...

07 Jul 2021 Conservation
Marine Plastic: Problem, And Solution

Why in News According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Annual Report on Implementing the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016,...

07 Jul 2021 Conservation
King Cobra in Tillari Reserve

Why in News Recently, a king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), was sighted in the recently declared conservation reserve, Tillari, in Sindhudurg district,...

06 Jul 2021 Conservation
Melting of Arctic’s ‘Last Ice Area’

Why in News The ‘Last Ice Area’ (LIA), located in the Arctic’s Ice north of Greenland, has started melting earlier than what the...

05 Jul 2021 Conservation
Conservation of Vultures

Why in News Recently, 150 vultures were seen in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Bihar, which has prompted a vulture conservation plan in the...

03 Jul 2021 Conservation
LEAF Coalition

Why in News LEAF (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance) Coalition was announced at the Leaders Summit on Climate, 2021. LEAF...

02 Jul 2021 Conservation

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		'article_id' => (int) 8975,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Gross Environment Product (GEP)',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>Uttarakhand government</strong> has announced that it will<strong> initiate valuation of its natural resources</strong> in the form of<strong> &lsquo;Gross Environment Product&rsquo; (GEP).</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is along the lines of <strong><a href="/printpdf/base-year-for-gdp-calculations#:~:text=Gross%20Domestic%20Product%20(GDP)%20gives,difference%20between%20exports%20and%20imports)." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gross Domestic Product (GDP)</a>.</strong> GDP<strong> gives the economic output</strong> from the consumers&rsquo; side. It is the <strong>sum of private consumption, gross investment in the economy, government investment, government spending and net foreign trade</strong> (the difference between exports and imports).</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About GEP:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was established back in <strong>1997</strong> by ecological economists like<strong> Robert Costanza at the global level.</strong></li>
<li>It is an<strong> assessment system to measure ecological status.</strong></li>
<li>It is considered as the<strong> product and service value that the ecosystem provides for human welfare and economic and social sustainable development, including provisioning,</strong> regulating and cultural ecosystem services.</li>
<li>Overall, GEP accounts for the economic value of the ecosystem in providing products and services, and it is one of the <strong>components of green GDP.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Green GDP is an<strong> indicator of economic growth with environmental factors taken into consideration</strong> along with the standard GDP of a country. It factors <strong>biodiversity losses</strong> and<strong> costs attributed to climate change.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The term <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/natural-capital-accounting-and-valuation-of-the-ecosystem-services-project" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&ldquo;ecosystem services&rdquo;</strong></a> was coined in 1981 to attract academics towards this aspect, its definition is still in the process of evolution.</li>
<li>Ecosystems that can be measured include <strong>natural ecosystems</strong> such as forests, grassland, wetland, desert, freshwater and ocean, and <strong>artificial systems</strong> that are based on natural processes like farmland, pastures, aquaculture farms and urban green land, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627292034_image4.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627292034_image4.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="600" height="320" /></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Need:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Uttarakhand, through its biodiversity, gives services to the tune of<strong> Rs 95,112 crore per year</strong> to the nation.</li>
<li>The state has over <strong>71% area under forests.</strong></li>
<li>It is also<strong> home to the Himalayas</strong> and also is the origin point of rivers like <strong>Ganga, Yamuna and Sharada</strong> as well as home to wildlife reserves like <strong>Corbett and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rajaji-national-park" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rajaji Tiger Reserves.</a></strong></li>
<li>Uttarakhand is a state which provides a lot of <strong>environment services</strong> and in continuity as a result of which, there is a<strong> natural degradation in those services. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The value of ecosystem services is about <strong>twice as much as the global GDP.</strong> Therefore, it would<strong> help in the conservation of the environment</strong> and also help save us from the <strong>effects of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/changing-climate-and-deglaciation-a-warning-call" target="_blank" rel="noopener">climate change.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Issues:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The decision <strong>appears to be a welcome step,</strong> but going ahead with the jargon raises serious doubts on the intent of the government. It may <strong>confuse policy makers and negate the past efforts.</strong></li>
<li>The purpose of introducing GEP is <strong>not transparent.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Is it a process of simple valuation of a state's ecological wealth, or to assess what part of the GDP it contributes.</li>
<li>Is it an attempt to claim a budget from the centre against ecosystem services the state provides to the rest of the country and / or a process of providing benefits to its own residents.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Instead of introducing a <strong>well-defined concept of ecosystem services,</strong> planting a new term with no clear-cut narrative invites serious doubts on the intention of the government.</li>
<li>So, it is important that the<strong> state should be steady in approach, focussing on Ecosystem Services,</strong> which has global acceptance and a strong knowledge base.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/environment/introducing-gross-environment-product-in-uttarakhand-a-jargon-or-reality--78088" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8974,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'G20 Energy and Climate Meet',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>At the recent<a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/important-institution-upsc-ias-g20-significance-global-groupings-member-challenges-buenos-aires-gs-mains-paper-ii-2-international-relations" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> G20</strong></a> Climate Meet, India<strong> urged the group of 20 nations (G20)</strong> having per capita <strong>greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions</strong> above the global average<strong> to bring it down to the world average,</strong> thereby<strong> vacating &lsquo;some' carbon space for developing nations.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This will support the developmental aspirations of the developing nations.</li>
<li>Presently,<strong> Italy holds the G20 Presidency</strong> and the Climate Meet is being seen as a <strong>prelude to the UN Climate Change <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cop-28" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conference of Parties (COP 26)</a> meeting in Glasgow, Scotland in November 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>G20</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The G20 is<strong> an informal group of 19 countries and the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a>,</strong> with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.</li>
<li>The G20 membership comprises a mix of the world&rsquo;s largest advanced and emerging economies, representing about two-thirds of the world&rsquo;s population, 85% of global gross domestic product, 80% of global investment and over 75% of global trade.</li>
<li>The<strong> members of the G20</strong> are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.</li>
<li>It <strong>does not have any permanent secretariat or headquarters.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India's Stand:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is <strong>a need to cut absolute emissions rapidly while taking into account the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paris Agreement</a></strong> which emphasized on:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Respective historical responsibilities,</li>
<li>Delivery of promised climate finance and technologies at low cost keeping in perspective per capita emissions,</li>
<li>Differences in per capita<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gdp-growth" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> GDP (Gross Domestic Product)</strong> </a>and</li>
<li>The unfinished agenda for <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sustainable development.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India noted the <strong>pledges made by some countries to achieve <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-transforming-to-a-net-zero-emissions-energy-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Net Zero GHG emissions or carbon Neutrality</a></strong> by or around mid century. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, this <strong>may not be adequate</strong> in view of fast depleting available carbon space.</li>
<li><strong>Keeping in view the legitimate need of developing countries to grow,</strong> it urged G20 countries to commit <strong>to bringing down per capita emissions to Global average by 2030.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Carbon neutrality</strong> means having a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere in carbon sinks.</li>
<li><strong>Carbon space</strong> is the amount of carbon (or CO2) that can be put into the atmosphere without this leading to a level of warming&mdash;or underlying concentrations of CO2&mdash;that can be considered dangerous or otherwise undesirable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Stressed on Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) to combat climate change.</strong></li>
<li>Mentioned its plans of installing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/second-assembly-of-isa#:~:text=The%20second%20assembly%20of%20the,financial%20and%20programme%20related%20issues." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>450 GW (Giga Watt) of RE (Renewable Energy)</strong></a> by 2030, enhanced ambitions in<strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biofuels-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> bio-fuels</a></strong>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ndc-synthesis-report-unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions)</strong></a> and various other initiatives taken by India on Urban Climate Action.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)</strong> is a principle within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).</li>
<li>It acknowledges different capabilities and differing responsibilities of individual countries in addressing climate change.</li>
<li>The principle of &lsquo;common but differentiated responsibility&rsquo; evolved from the notion of the <strong>&lsquo;common heritage of mankind&rsquo;.</strong></li>
<li>The principle of CBDR is enshrined in<strong> Earth Summit 1992, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.</strong></li>
<li>CBDR is based on <strong>two elements of responsibilities:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>One is the <strong>common responsibility</strong> of all the states to cater to the<strong> concerns of environmental protection and sustainable development.</strong></li>
<li>Another is of <strong>differentiated responsibility enabling the states to act, for environment protection,</strong> in their national capacity and as per their national priority.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The principle recognizes <strong>historical differences in the contributions of developed and developing States</strong> to global environmental problems and differences in their respective economic and technical capacity to tackle these problems.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s initiatives under Urban Climate Action:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Climate Smart Cities Assessment Framework (CSCAF):<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/climate-smart-cities-assessment-framework" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> CSCAF initiative</a></strong> intends to inculcate a climate-sensitive approach to urban planning and development in India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To provide a clear roadmap for cities towards combating Climate Change while planning and implementing their actions, including investments.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>National Mission on Sustainable Habitat</strong> is one of the eight missions under <strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national climate change action plan</a> </strong>and aims to make cities sustainable through improvements in energy efficiency in buildings, management of solid waste &amp; shift to public transport.</li>
<li><strong>Climate Practitioners India Network (CPIN):</strong> It is first-of-its-kind network developed by <strong>Climate Centre for Cities</strong> (C-Cube) to support Cities and Practitioners across India. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>C-Cube wants to create a platform for Climate Practitioners across all cities in India to collaborate and contribute towards implementing Climate Actions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Urban Forestry:</strong> The government of India in 2020 launched the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nagar-van-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagar Van Scheme</strong></a>. The Nagar Van (Urban Forests) aims to develop 200 Urban Forests across the country in the next five years.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Urban forestry is defined as the planting, maintenance, care and protection of tree populations in urban settings.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India led Global Collaborations to Fight Climate Change:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance </strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Resolving Development-Climate Change Dilemma:</strong> The present dilemma is to decarbonise while meeting development goals of a developing country like India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Therefore, what is important is that the new investments go in the direction of decarbonising, but only after taking into account possible synergies and trade-offs with other development objectives.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Climate Change, a Global Collective Action Problem:</strong> Global community should not be shifting goalposts and setting new benchmarks for global climate ambition.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>There is a need to recognise climate change as a global collective action problem and must be combated &lsquo;as per respective capabilities and national circumstances&rsquo;.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disaster Preparedness:</strong> Disasters can not be stopped but well-preparedness and strong climate change mitigation policies can definitely help prevent a huge amount of loss.</li>
<li><strong>Convergent Approach:</strong> Sustainable growth depends on timely climate action and for that to happen, policymaking needs to have a convergent approach regarding carbon emissions, atmospheric warming, melting glaciers, extreme floods and storms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-committed-to-ambitious-climate-action-plan/article35498316.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8952,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Genome of Salt-secreting Mangrove Species Decoded',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the scientists for the first time have decoded the reference-grade whole<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/genome-sequencing-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> genome sequence</strong></a> of a highly salt-tolerant and salt-secreting mangrove species, <em><strong>Avicennia marina.</strong></em></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>This study was <strong>led by the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/year-end-review-department-of-biotechnology-dbt" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Biotechnology (DBT)</a>-Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Avicennia Marina:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>one of the most prominent mangroves species</strong> found in all mangrove formations in India.</li>
<li>It is a<strong> salt-secreting and extraordinarily salt-tolerant mangrove</strong> species that grows optimally in 75% seawater and tolerates &gt;250% seawater.</li>
<li>It is<strong> among the rare plant species, which can excrete 40% of the salt</strong> through the salt glands in the leaves, besides its extraordinary capacity to exclude salt entry to the roots.</li>
<li>It is also <strong>referred to as grey mangrove or white mangrove.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Study:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This study assumes significance as <strong>agriculture productivity globally is affected due to abiotic stress factors</strong> such as limited water availability and salinization of soil and water. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Availability of water is a signiﬁcant challenge to crop production in dryland areas, accounting for 40% of the world&rsquo;s total land area.</li>
<li>Salinity is prevalent in 900 million hectares globally (with an estimated 6.73 million ha in India), and it is estimated to cause an annual loss of 27 billion USD.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The genomic resources generated in the study <strong>will pave the way for researchers to study the potential of the identified genes for developing drought and salinity tolerant varieties</strong> of important crop species of the coastal region that is significant for India with 7,500m of coastline and two major island systems.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Mangrove</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A mangrove is<strong> a small tree or shrub that grows along coastlines,</strong> taking root in salty sediments, often underwater.</li>
<li>The word &lsquo;mangrove&rsquo; <strong>may refer to the habitat as a whole or to the trees and shrubs</strong> in the mangrove swamp.</li>
<li>Mangroves are <strong>flowering trees, belonging to the families</strong> Rhizophoraceae, Acanthaceae, Lythraceae, Combretaceae, and Arecaceae.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Features of Mangroves:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Saline environment:</strong> They can survive under extreme hostile environments such as high salt and low oxygen conditions.</li>
<li><strong>Low oxygen:</strong> Underground tissue of any plant needs oxygen for respiration. But in a mangrove environment, the oxygen in soil is limited or nil. Hence the mangrove root system absorbs oxygen from the atmosphere. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mangroves have special roots for this purpose called<strong> breathing roots or pneumatophores.</strong></li>
<li>These roots have numerous pores through which oxygen enters the underground tissues.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Succulent leaves:</strong> Mangroves, like desert plants, store fresh water in thick succulent leaves. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>A waxy coating on the leaves seals in water and minimises evaporation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Viviparous:</strong> Their seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree. Once germinated, the seedling grows into a propagule. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The mature propagule then drops into the water and gets transported to a different spot, eventually taking root in a solid ground.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threat: </strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Constructions:</strong> At least one third of all mangrove forests has been lost during the last few decades. Coastal development, including construction of shrimp farms, hotels, and other structures, is the primary threat to mangroves.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mangrove forests are cleared to make room for agricultural land and human settlements.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Overharvesting:</strong> Mangrove trees are used for firewood, construction wood, charcoal production, and animal fodder. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In some parts of the world, there has been overharvesting which is no longer sustainable.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Others:</strong> Overfishing, pollution, and rising sea levels are the other threats to mangrove forests and their ecosystem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Area Covered:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global:</strong> Mangroves can be found in over 118 countries and territories in the <strong>tropical and subtropical regions</strong> of the world. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Asia</strong> has the <strong>largest coverage of the world&rsquo;s mangroves,</strong> followed by Africa, North and Central America, Oceania and South America.</li>
<li>Approximately 75% of the world&rsquo;s mangrove forests are found in just 15 countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to the<strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-state-of-forest-report-isfr-2019" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> State of Forest Report 2019</a>, mangrove cover</strong> in the country is 4,975 sq km, which <strong>is 0.15%</strong> of the country&rsquo;s total geographical area.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Mangrove cover in the country <strong>has increased by 54 sq km (1.10%)</strong> as compared to the previous assessment (2017).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The deltas of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/namami-gange-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ganges</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rescuing-gharials-mahanadi-river" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mahanadi</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/refer-krishna-dispute-to-tribunal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Krishna</strong></a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/godavari-river-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Godavari</strong></a>, and the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mekedatu-project-river-cauvery" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Cauvery</strong></a> rivers contain mangrove forests.</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/vembanad-lake-kerala#:~:text=Vembanad%20Lake%20is%20also%20known,more%20than%202033.02%20km2.&amp;text=It%20is%20separated%20from%20the,popular%20backwater%20stretch%20in%20Kerala." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>backwaters in Kerala</strong> </a>have a high density of mangrove forest.</li>
<li>The<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sundarbans-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Sundarbans</strong></a> in West Bengal is the largest mangrove region in the world and a <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/world-heritage-sites-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNESCO World Heritage Site</strong></a>.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It spans from the <strong>Hooghly River</strong> in West Bengal to the <strong>Baleswar River</strong> in Bangladesh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/migratory-birds-and-chilika-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bhitarkanika mangrove system</strong></a> in Odisha is India&rsquo;s second largest mangrove forest.</li>
<li><strong>Pichavaram in Tamil Nadu</strong> has a vast expanse of water covered with mangrove forests. It is home to many aquatic bird species.</li>
<li><strong>West Bengal</strong> has <strong>42.45%</strong> of<strong> India&rsquo;s mangrove cover,</strong> followed by Gujarat 23.66% and A&amp;N Islands 12.39%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627028236_image5.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1627028236_image5.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="700" height="461" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1734363" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 3 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8944,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Polluted River Stretches',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)</a> in 2018 identified 351 polluted river stretches</strong> in India.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CPCB study reveals that<strong> discharge of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/wastewater-management-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> untreated wastewater</a> is one of the main causes</strong> of river pollution.</li>
<li>The assessment of water quality for identification of polluted river stretches found that <strong>31 states and Union territories (UT) had rivers and streams that did not meet the water quality criteria.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings of CPCB:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Concentration of Polluted River Stretches:</strong> Almost 60% of polluted river stretches <strong>exist in eight states:</strong> Maharashtra, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal and Karnataka.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Maharashtra has the maximum number of polluted river stretches in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Disproportionate Sewage Treatment:</strong> The <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-national-institutions/national-green-tribunal-ngt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Green Tribunal (NGT)</strong></a> in 2019 directed that 100% treatment of sewage needed to be ensured before 31<sup>st</sup> March, 2020.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>However, these states have sewage treatment capacity disproportionate to the sewage generated.</li>
<li>According to the CPCB report National inventory of sewage treatment plants 2021, about 72,368 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage was generated against which operational treatment capacity was only 26,869 MLD in 2021.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Biological Oxygen Demand:</strong> This huge amount of sewage is left untreated/partially treated and discharged directly into rivers and <strong>pollutes rivers by increasing the biological oxygen demand.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Biological Oxygen Demand</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Biological Oxygen Demand is the<strong> amount of dissolved oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose organic matter</strong> (waste or pollutants) under aerobic reaction (in the presence of oxygen).</li>
<li>The <strong>more organic matter there is</strong> (e.g., in sewage and polluted bodies of water), the <strong>greater is the BOD.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Greater BOD, the lower the amount of dissolved oxygen available for higher animals</strong> such as fishes.</li>
<li>The BOD is therefore <strong>a reliable gauge of the organic pollution of a water body.</strong></li>
<li><strong>One of the main reasons for treating wastewater prior to its discharge into a water resource is to lower its BOD</strong> i.e. to reduce its need of oxygen and thereby lessen its demand from the streams, lakes, rivers, or estuaries into which it is released.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Dissolved Oxygen</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water which is needed for aquatic life to survive. The<strong> quality of water increases with an increase in DO levels.</strong></li>
<li>A DO level of 5 mg/l or above is the recommended level for bathing in a river.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Other Reasons for Polluted Rivers:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Urbanization:</strong> Rapid urbanization in India during the recent decades has given rise to a number of environmental problems such as water supply, wastewater generation and its collection, treatment, and disposal. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Many towns and cities which came upon the banks of rivers have not given proper thought to the problem of wastewater, sewerage, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Industries:</strong> Unrestricted flow of sewage and industrial effluents into the rivers has adversely affected their purity. All these industrial wastes are toxic to life forms that consume this water.</li>
<li><strong>Agricultural Runoff and Improper Agricultural Practices:</strong> Traces of fertilizers and pesticides are washed into the nearest water-bodies at the onset of the monsoons or whenever there are heavy rains.</li>
<li><strong>Amount of Flow of Rivers:</strong> Impact on river water quality resulting from discharges of treated or untreated wastewater into the river will depend on the dilution offered by the quantum of flows in the river. </li>
<li><strong>Religious and Social Practices:</strong> Religious faith and social practices also add to the pollution of the rivers, especially Ganga.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Dead bodies are cremated on the river banks. Partially burnt bodies are also flung into the river.</li>
<li>Mass bathing in a river during religious festivals is another environmentally harmful practice.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Government Initiatives to Tackle Water Pollution:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the Ministry of Jal Shakti to devise an appropriate <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ngt-suggests-national-river-rejuvenation-mechanism" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National River Rejuvenation Mechanism</strong></a> for effective monitoring of steps to curb pollution and for rejuvenation of all polluted river stretches across the country.</li>
<li><strong>National Water Policy (2012):</strong> It aims to take cognizance of the existing situation, to propose a framework for creation of a system of laws and institutions and for a plan of action with a unified national perspective.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Started by the Ministry of Water Resources, it highlights the importance of water for human existence as well as for economic development related activities.</li>
<li>It suggests frameworks to conserve water resources through optimal, economical, sustainable and equitable means.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Water Mission (2010)</a>:</strong> It ensures integrated water resource management leading to water conservation, less wastage, equitable distribution forming better policies.</li>
<li><strong><a href="https://nmcg.nic.in/about_nmcg.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG)</a>:</strong> It envisages a five-tier structure at national, state and district level to take measures for prevention, control, and abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It aims to ensure continuous adequate flow of water so as to rejuvenate the river Ganga.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="https://nmcg.nic.in/NamamiGanga.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Namami Gange Project</strong></a>: It integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga River in a comprehensive manner.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Maintaining Minimum Flow of the River:</strong> To maintain and restore the wholesomeness of the river (Aquatic ecosystem), there is a need to maintain the minimum flow. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Minimum flow of the river is also important to discharge treated sewage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Comprehensive Waste Management Policy:</strong> There is a need for a comprehensive waste management policy that stresses the need for decentralised garbage disposal practices as this will incentivise private players to participate.</li>
<li><strong>Bioremediation:</strong> It is important that <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bioremediation-mechanism-for-oil-spills#:~:text=Bioremediation%3A%20It%20can%20be%20defined,environment%20to%20their%20original%20condition." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bioremediation</strong></a> (i.e. use of microbes to clean up contaminated soil and water) is made compulsory for areas wherever they can be applied.</li>
<li><strong>Behavioural Change:</strong> To overhaul the waste management sector and induce the necessary behavioural change, citizen participation and engagement is the key.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/pollution/behind-polluted-indian-river-stretches-inadequate-sewage-treatment-77957" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8936,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'New Initiatives in Building Energy Efficiency',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>&ldquo;Aiming for Sustainable Habitat: New Initiatives in Building Energy Efficiency 2021&rdquo;</strong> was launched by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bee-star-rating-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These initiatives <strong>seek to enhance energy efficiency in the building sector</strong> and were launched as part of <strong>'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav'.</strong></li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Bureau of Energy Efficiency</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The BEE is a <strong>statutory body</strong> established through the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-energy-conservation-day-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Energy Conservation Act, 2001</a> under the Union Ministry of Power.</strong></li>
<li>It <strong>assists in developing policies and strategies</strong> with the primary objective of reducing the energy intensity of the Indian economy.</li>
<li>BEE<strong> coordinates</strong> with designated consumers, designated agencies, and other organizations <strong>to identify and utilize the existing resources and infrastructure, in performing its functions.</strong></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Initiatives Launched:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Eco Niwas Samhita 2021:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is an <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-energy-conservation-day-2020#:~:text=Energy%20Conservation%20Building%20Code%20(ECBC)%3A" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Energy Conservation Building Code</a> for Residential Buildings (ECBC-R)</strong> to give a further fillip to India&rsquo;s energy conservation efforts.</li>
<li>It specifies code compliance approaches and minimum energy performance requirements for building services, and verification framework with <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eco-niwas-samhita-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Eco Niwas Samhita</a> 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Hand Book for Learning:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The web-based platform <strong>&lsquo;The Handbook of Replicable Designs for Energy Efficient Residential Buildings&rsquo;</strong> as a learning tool, which can be used to create a pool of ready-to-use resources of replicable designs to construct energy-efficient homes in India.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Online Directory of Building Materials:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Creating an Online Directory of Building Materials that <strong>would envisage the process of establishing standards for energy efficient building materials.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>NEERMAN Awards:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>NEERMAN Awards,</strong> (National Energy Efficiency Roadmap for Movement towards Affordable &amp; Natural Habitat) were announced, with the<strong> goal of encouraging exceptionally efficient building designs</strong> complying with BEE&rsquo;s Energy Conservation Building Codes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Online Star Rating Tool:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>provides performance analysis to help professionals</strong> decide the best options to pick for energy-efficiency of their homes.</li>
<li>It was launched for <strong>Energy Efficient Homes,</strong> created to improve energy-efficiency and reduce energy consumption in individual homes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Training:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Training of over 15,000 Architects, Engineers and Government officials on <strong>Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) 2017</strong> and <strong>Eco Niwas Samhita 2021.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The<strong> building sector is the second largest consumer of electricity</strong> after industry but it is expected to become the <strong>largest energy consuming sector by 2030.</strong></li>
<li>These initiatives will <strong>help enhance the energy-efficiency levels in residential buildings across the country,</strong> thereby leading to sustainable habitation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The initiatives will go a long way to <strong>make India more energy-efficient.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Energy Efficiency in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Energy Efficiency:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Energy efficiency means<strong> using less energy to perform the same task &ndash;</strong> that is, <strong>eliminating energy waste.</strong></li>
<li>Energy efficiency<strong> brings a variety of benefits:</strong> reducing <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>GreenHouse Gas (GHG)</strong></a> emissions, reducing demand for energy imports, and lowering our costs on a household and economy-wide level.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Transition:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India&rsquo;s energy sector is set for a transition with recent developmental ambitions of the government e.g. <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-budget-2021-for-green-energy#:~:text=Renewable%20energy%3A%20The%20Government%20of,GW%20from%20small%20hydro%20power." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>175 GW of installed capacity of renewable energy by 2022</strong></a>, 24X7 Power for all,<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pradhan-mantri-awaas-yojana-gramin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Housing for all by 2022</strong></a>, 100 <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/smart-cities-command-centres" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>smart cities mission</strong></a>, promotion of e- mobility, electrification of railway sector, 100% electrification of households, Solarization of agricultural pump sets, and promotion of clean cooking.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Potential of Energy Efficiency:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Energy Efficiency <strong>has the maximum GHG abatement potential</strong> of around 51% followed by renewables (32%), biofuels (1%), nuclear (8%), carbon capture and storage (8%) as per the <strong>World Energy Outlook</strong> (WEO 2010). <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>World Energy Outlook (WEO) is the flagship publication of the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-energy-outlook-2021-iea" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Energy Agency.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India can <strong>avoid building 300 GW of new power generation up to 2040</strong> with implementation of ambitious energy efficiency policies.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Positives:</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Successful implementation of Energy Efficiency Measures contributed to electricity <strong>savings of 7.14% of total electricity consumption of the country</strong> and emission <strong>reduction of 108.28 million tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub> during 2017-18.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other initiatives to Promote Energy Conservation and Energy Efficiency:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>PAT Scheme:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-energy-conservation-awards" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Perform Achieve and Trade Scheme (PAT)</strong></a> is a market based mechanism to enhance the cost effectiveness in improving the Energy Efficiency in Energy Intensive industries through certification of energy saving which can be traded.</li>
<li>It is a part of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), which is one of the eight missions under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change#:~:text=It%20was%20launched%20in%202010,energy%20in%20India%27s%20energy%20mix.&amp;text=Emphasis%20on%20manufacturing%20solar%20panels,local%20research%20with%20international%20efforts." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Standards and Labeling:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The scheme was <strong>launched in 2006</strong> and is currently invoked for equipments/appliances Room Air Conditioner (Fixed/VariableSpeed), Ceiling Fan, Colour Television, Computer, Direct Cool Refrigerator, Distribution Transformer, Domestic Gas Stove, General Purpose Industrial Motor, LED Lamps, Agricultural Pumpset, etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC):</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was developed for<strong> new commercial buildings in 2007.</strong></li>
<li>It sets<strong> minimum energy standards for new commercial buildings</strong> having a connected load of 100kW (kilowatt) or contract demand of 120 KVA (kilovolt-ampere) and above.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Demand Side Management:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>DSM is the<strong> selection, planning, and implementation of measures</strong> intended to have an influence on the demand or customer-side of<strong> the electric meter.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1736246" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8895,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'New Gecko Species: Odisha',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, Odisha's forest officials have announced measures to preserve the <strong>newly discovered tiny gecko species</strong> of the <strong>genus Hemiphyllodactylus.</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626509473_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626509473_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></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>This was<strong> first spotted in Ganjam district, Odisha in 2014.</strong> The new species of Hemiphyllodactylus minimus is the <strong>smallest member of the genus</strong> with a maximum body size of little over six cm.</li>
<li>It is called<strong> Ganjam Slender Gecko.</strong></li>
<li>The new species is the<strong> seventh Indian species</strong> of the genus, the<strong> second from the northern Eastern Ghats</strong> and 41<sup>st</sup> globally. It is the<strong> first non-island species</strong> of the genus which is distributed in lowland habitats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Geckos:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Geckos are reptiles and are<strong> found on all the continents except Antarctica.</strong> These colorful lizards have <strong>adapted to habitats from rainforests, to deserts, to cold mountain slopes.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Most geckos are nocturnal,</strong> which means they are active at night, but day geckos are active during the day and <strong>depend on insects, fruits, and flower nectar.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Geckos are spread across six families:</strong> Carphodactylidae, Diplodactylidae, Eublepharidae, Gekkonidae, Phyllodactylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Species of Gecko in India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Golden Gecko</strong> (family Gekkonidae) is native to India (Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh). It is <strong>listed in Schedule 1 of<a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wildlife-protection-act-wpa-1972" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> WPA (Wildlife Protection Act)</a>.</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>: Least Concern (LC)</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tokay Gecko</strong> (family Gekkonidae) is widespread in the Indo-Malayan region <strong>Protection Status:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Schedule 4</strong> of WPA.</li>
<li><strong>IUCN Red List:</strong> Least Concern (LC).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/odisha-s-forest-department-rolls-out-conservation-plan-for-new-gecko-species-discovered-in-ganjam-77955" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 6 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8892,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Fit for 55 Package: EU',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>European Union (EU)</strong></a> released a new climate proposal, <strong>the Fit for 55 package.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The EU in <strong>December 2020</strong> submitted a <strong>revised <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-climate-change-act-now" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)</a></strong> under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/five-years-of-paris-climate-accord" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Paris Agreement.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626504650_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626504650_image3.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="650" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Aim:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The new package<strong> attempts to deliver the NDC and carbon neutrality goal through proposed changes</strong> that would impact the economy, society and industry, as well as ensure a <strong>fair, competitive and green transition by 2030 and beyond.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Climate neutrality</strong> is achieved when a country&rsquo;s emissions are balanced by absorptions and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. It is also expressed as a state of net-zero emissions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It claims to achieve a<strong> balance between &ldquo;regulatory policies&rdquo; and market-based carbon pricing</strong> to avoid the pitfalls of each.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Major Proposals:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Renewable Sources:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It proposes to <strong>increase the binding target of renewable sources in the EU&rsquo;s energy mix to 40%</strong> (from 32% earlier) and<strong> improve energy efficiency by 36%</strong> (from 32.5% earlier) <strong>by 2030.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Vehicular Carbon Emissions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It must be cut by <strong>55% by 2030 and by 100% by 2035,</strong> which means a phaseout of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035.</li>
<li>It also includes some <strong>provisions that benefit the auto industry.</strong> Public funds will be used to help build<strong> charging stations every 60 kilometers, on major highways,</strong> a move that will encourage sales of electric cars.</li>
<li>It will also help finance a network of<strong> hydrogen fueling stations.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Emissions Trading System:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It calls for the creation of an <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indias-first-emissions-trading-system-for-particulate-pollution-pm" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Emissions Trading System (ETS)</strong> </a>for <strong>buildings and road transport,</strong> separate from the EU&rsquo;s current ETS, to become operational from 2026.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>ETS</strong> are market-based instruments that create<strong> incentives to reduce emissions</strong> where these are most cost-effective.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Social Climate Fund:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>To help low-income citizens and small businesses adjust to the new ETS, the EU proposes the creation of a Social Climate Fund, which<strong> will take various forms ranging from funding for renovation of buildings, and access to low carbon transport, to direct income support.</strong></li>
<li>They expect to build up this fund using <strong>25% of revenues from the new ETS.</strong> The current ETS is proposed to extend to the maritime sector between 2023 and 2025.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Carbon-Border Adjustment Mechanism:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Among other market-based mechanisms, the EU is proposing a carbon-border adjustment mechanism, which will <strong>put a price on imports from places that have carbon-intensive production processes.</strong></li>
<li>This instrument has been deemed to have a small impact on global carbon dioxide emissions by the <strong>United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,</strong> and could instead have negative impacts on developing countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enhance Sink Capacity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It has set a target to<strong> enhance the EU&rsquo;s sink capacity to 310 million tonnes of CO<sub>2</sub> equivalent,</strong> which it hopes will be achieved through specific national targets by member countries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Analysis:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The EU's NDC target is to reduce <a href="/infographics/info-paper3/greenhouse-gas-emission" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>greenhouse gas</strong> </a>emissions by 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. It has also set a long-term goal of achieving <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/eu-green-deal" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>carbon neutrality by 2050.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The EU&rsquo;s target is <strong>more aggressive than that of the US,</strong> which committed to reduce emissions by 40% to 43% over the same period, but <strong>behind Britain,</strong> which pledged a 68% reduction.</li>
<li>China, the<strong> world&rsquo;s largest emitter,</strong> has only said it aims for emissions to peak by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Fit for 55 Package <strong>could put Europe at the forefront of new technologies</strong> like electric car batteries, offshore wind generation or aircraft engines that run on hydrogen.</li>
<li>But the transition<strong> will also be painful for some consumers and companies,</strong> raising the cost of a wide variety of goods and services, like video monitors imported from China, for example, or a vacation flight to a Greek island or even a full tank of gasoline. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Companies that make products destined for obsolescence, like parts for internal combustion engines, <strong>must adapt or go out of business.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The proposals <strong>could reshape polluting industries</strong> like steelmaking, which directly employs 330,000 people in the EU.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>India's INDC, to be achieved primarily, by 2030</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>To <strong>reduce the emissions intensity of the Gross Domestic Product</strong> by about a third.</li>
<li>A total of <strong>40% of the installed capacity for electricity will be from non-fossil fuel sources.</strong></li>
<li>India also promised an<strong> additional carbon sink</strong> (a means to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere) of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through <strong>additional forest and tree cover by the year 2030.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Indian Initiatives to Fight Climate Change:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-clean-air-programme" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/policy-watch-india-will-shift-to-bs-vi-norms" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/report-on-energy-efficiency-measures" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UJALA scheme</strong></a></li>
<li><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><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/coalition-for-disaster-resilient-infrastructure-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-solar-technology-summit-isa" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The<strong> principle of climate justice should guide the negotiations</strong> over the package.</li>
<li>Fit for 55 <strong>pushes EU decarbonization into higher gear,</strong> marking the visible entry of climate policy into the daily life of all European citizens and companies, and also starting to impact global trade partners.</li>
<li><strong>Ensuring that the transition is socially fair, both domestically and internationally,</strong> is the most important element to make it successful in the long-run.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/climate-change/eu-s-new-climate-proposal-is-vast-but-is-it-transformational--77970" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 7 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8884,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Amazon Forests: No Longer Carbon Sinks',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to a recent study, <strong>Amazon Forests have started emitting Carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) instead of absorbing it.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Growing trees and plants have taken up about a quarter of all fossil fuel emissions</strong> since 1960, with the Amazon playing a major role as the<strong> largest tropical forest.</strong></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Findings:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A <strong>significant amount of deforestation (over the course of 40 years) in eastern and southeastern Brazil</strong> has turned the forest into a source of CO<sub>2</sub> that has the ability to warm the planet.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It might have also <strong>affected a long-term decrease in rainfall and increase in temperatures</strong> during the dry season.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Not only the Amazon rainforests, <strong>some forests in Southeast Asia have also turned into carbon sources</strong> in the last few years as a result of<strong> formation of plantations and fires.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Forest fires have doubled since 2013.</strong> One reason that they happen is when farmers burn their land to clear it for the next crop.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Most of the emissions are caused by fires.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>A <strong>part of the Amazon emitting carbon even without fires</strong> was particularly worrying. This was most likely the <strong>result of each year&rsquo;s deforestation and fires making adjacent forests more susceptible</strong> the next year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Deforestation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>State policies that encourage economic development, such as railway and road expansion projects <strong>have led to &ldquo;unintentional deforestation&rdquo;</strong> in the <strong>Amazon and Central America.</strong></li>
<li>Deforestation started <strong>in the 1970s and 1980s</strong> when large-scale <strong>forest conversion for cattle ranching and soy cultivation began.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Amazon Rainforests</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>These are<strong> large tropical rainforests</strong> occupying the drainage basin of the <strong>Amazon River</strong> and its tributaries in <strong>northern South America.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tropical forests are <strong>closed-canopy forests</strong> growing within 28 degrees north or south of the equator.</li>
<li>They are<strong> very wet places,</strong> receiving <strong>more than 200 cm rainfall per year,</strong> either seasonally or throughout the year.</li>
<li>Temperatures are uniformly high - <strong>between 20&deg;C and 35&deg;C.</strong></li>
<li>Such forests are found in Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico and on many of the Pacific Islands.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The Amazon rainforests<strong> cover about 80% of the Amazon basin and they are home to nearly a fifth of the world&rsquo;s land species</strong> and is also <strong>home to about 30 million people</strong> including hundreds of indigenous groups and several isolated tribes.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Amazon basin is huge with an area covering over <strong>6 million square kilometres, </strong>it is<strong> nearly twice the size of India.</strong></li>
<li>The<strong> basin produces about 20% of the world&rsquo;s flow of freshwater</strong> into the oceans.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Comprising about <strong>40% of Brazil&rsquo;s total area,</strong> it is bounded by the <strong>Guiana Highlands to the north,</strong> the<strong> Andes Mountains to the west,</strong> the<strong> Brazilian central plateau</strong> to the south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626420455_image1.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626420455_image1.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="500" height="551" /></a></p>
</div>
<h3>Way Forward</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>If the ability of tropical forests to act as carbon sinks is to be maintained, <strong>fossil fuel emissions need to be reduced and temperature increases need to be limited</strong> as well.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/amazon-forests-carbon-dioxide-emission-explained-7406562/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 8 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8873,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'New Solar Projects: NTPC',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-thermal-power-corporation-limited" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)</a> Renewable Energy Ltd (REL)</strong> signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the <strong>Union Territory of Ladakh</strong> to set up the country&rsquo;s first <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/green-hydrogen-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Green Hydrogen</a> Mobility project.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NTPC REL will also set up <strong>a solar park</strong> at <strong>Rann of Kutch in Gujarat</strong> from where it will also generate <strong>green hydrogen</strong> on a commercial scale under the <a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/year-end-review-2019-ministry-of-new-and-renewable-energy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ultra-Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) scheme.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Hydrogen produced from renewable sources is called green hydrogen.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Ultra-Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPP) scheme</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a scheme to develop<strong> Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Parks (UMREPPs)</strong> under the existing<strong> Solar Park Scheme.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The scheme was rolled out by the <strong>Ministry of New &amp; Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2014.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solar Park Scheme</strong> is also a scheme of MNRE to set up a number of solar parks across various states in the country. It proposes to provide financial support by the Government of India to establish solar parks.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The objective of the UMREPP is <strong>to provide land upfront to the project developer and facilitate transmission infrastructure for developing Renewable Energy (RE)</strong> based Power Parks with solar/wind/hybrid and also with storage systems.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Green Hydrogen Mobility Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NTPC REL has planned to <strong>ply 5 hydrogen buses,</strong> to start with, in the region and the company will be <strong>setting up a solar plant and a green hydrogen generation unit</strong> in Leh towards this end.</li>
<li>This will put <strong>Leh as the first city in the country</strong> to implement a green hydrogen based mobility project. This would be <strong>zero emission mobility in true sense.</strong></li>
<li>This is also <strong>in line with the Prime Minister&rsquo;s vision of a &lsquo;carbon neutral&rsquo; Ladakh.</strong></li>
<li>It will <strong>help Ladakh develop a carbon free economy</strong> based on renewable sources and green hydrogen.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Largest Solar Park:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NTPC REL will set up a <strong>4.75 gigawatt (GW) renewable energy park at Rann of Kutch</strong> in Khavada, Gujarat. This will be <strong>India&rsquo;s largest solar park</strong> to be built by the largest power producer of the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Kutch region in Gujarat, the <strong>largest salt desert in the country</strong> and host to two of India&rsquo;s largest coal-fired power plants, will now add another feather to its cap.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Major Projects of NTPC:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, NTPC has also commissioned <strong>India&rsquo;s largest Floating Solar of 10 MW (ac)</strong> on the reservoir of Simhadri Thermal Power Plant, Andhra Pradesh. An additional <strong>15 MW (ac) would be commissioned by August 2021.</strong></li>
<li>Further, a <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-biggest-floating-solar-power-plant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">100 MW Floating Solar Project</a> on the reservoir of Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant, Telangana</strong> is in the advanced stage of implementation.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Solar Energy Initiatives:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>National Solar Mission :</strong> Solar energy has taken a central place in India's <a href="/mind-map/gs-paper2/national-action-plan-on-climate-change-mind-map" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Action Plan on Climate Change</strong></a> with the National Solar Mission as one of the key Missions.</li>
<li><strong>INDC&rsquo;s target:</strong> It targets installing 100 GW grid-connected solar power plants by the year 2022.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>This is in line with <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/virtual-climate-action-ministerial" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>India&rsquo;s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs)</strong> </a>target to achieve about 40% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel based energy resources and to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35% from 2005 level by 2030.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Launch of ISA:</strong> The launch of the <a href="/current-affairs-news-analysis-editorials/news-analysis/18-08-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Solar Alliance (ISA)</strong></a> was announced by the Prime Minister of India and the President of France in 2015, at the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>21<sup>st</sup> session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Government Schemes:</strong> Such as Solar Park Scheme, Canal bank &amp; Canal top Scheme, Bundling Scheme, <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Grid Connected Solar Rooftop Scheme</strong></a> etc.</li>
<li><strong>One Sun One World One Grid:</strong> India has an ambitious cross-border power grid plan <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/one-sun-one-world-one-grid-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>&lsquo;One Sun One World One Grid&rsquo;</strong> </a>that seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of others.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>National Thermal Power Corporation Limited</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>NTPC Ltd. is a central <strong>Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) under the Ministry of Power.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>NTPC REL is a 100% subsidiary of NTPC.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is <strong>India&rsquo;s largest energy conglomerate</strong> with roots planted way back in 1975 to accelerate power development in India.</li>
<li>It aims to <strong>provide reliable power and related solutions in an economical, efficient and environment-friendly manner,</strong> driven by innovation and agility.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>NTPC has also been <strong>promoting usage of green hydrogen based solutions</strong> in sectors like mobility, energy, chemical, fertilizer, steel etc.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It became a <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sectors-of-indian-economy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Maharatna company</strong></a> in May 2010.</li>
<li>It is located in New Delhi.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1735085#:~:text=NTPC%20Renewable%20Energy%20Ltd%20%2C%20a,power%20producer%20of%20the%20country." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: PIB</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 9 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8857,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Tiger Corridor in Rajasthan',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The Rajasthan government will develop a <strong>tiger corridor connecting</strong> the newly proposed <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/4th-tiger-reserve-in-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&lsquo;Ramgarh Tiger Reserve&rsquo;</a>, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ranthambore-tiger-sanctuary-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ranthambore Tiger Reserve</a> and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mukundara-hills-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve</a>.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sariska-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sariska Tiger Reserve</strong></a> is another Tiger reserve in Rajasthan.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626166938_pasted%20image 0 (7).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626166938_pasted image 0 (7).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="450" caption="false" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About the Animal Corridor:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Wildlife or animal corridors</strong> are meant to ensure safe passage for animals between two isolated habitats.</li>
<li>In wildlife parlance, corridors are mainly of two types: <strong>functional and structural.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Functional corridors</strong> are defined in terms of functionality from the perspective of the animal (basically areas where there has been recorded movement of wildlife).</li>
<li><strong>Structural corridors</strong> are contiguous strips of forested areas and structurally connect the otherwise fragmented blocks of the landscape.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>When structural corridors are affected by human anthropogenic activities, functional corridors automatically widen because of animal use.</li>
<li>In 2019, the <strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority</strong> in collaboration with the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-leopard-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Institute of India</strong></a> published a document, mapping out <strong>32 major corridors across the country</strong>, management interventions for which are operationalised through a Tiger Conservation Plan.</li>
<li>The states are required to <strong>submit a Tiger Conservation Plan</strong> under section <strong>38V of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Protected Areas in Rajasthan:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/important-facts-for-prelims-15th-september-2018" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Desert National Park</strong></a>, Jaisalmer</li>
<li>Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/campaign-to-remove-lantana-rajasthan" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary</strong></a>, Udaipur</li>
<li>National Chambal Sanctuary (on tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status of Tiger:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</a>:</strong> Schedule I</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a> Red List: Endangered.</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)</a>:</strong> Appendix I.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Project Tiger</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Project Tiger is <strong>a <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/reforming-centrally-sponsored-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Centrally Sponsored Scheme</a></strong> of the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change</strong> launched in 1973 to provide central assistance to the tiger States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves in India.</li>
<li>The project is administered by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It is a statutory body under the <strong>Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.</strong></li>
<li>It was established in 2005 following the recommendations of the Tiger Task Force.</li>
<li>It was constituted under enabling provisions of the <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>, as amended in 2006, for strengthening tiger conservation, as per powers and functions assigned to it.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-to-develop-corridor-connecting-3-tiger-reserves-7392478/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 10 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8852,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'India’s First Cryptogamic Garden',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>India&rsquo;s first cryptogamic garden</strong> was<strong> inaugurated in the Chakrata town of Dehradun, Uttarakhand.</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The garden will be housing nearly 50 species of lichens, ferns and fungi (<em>collectively known as Cryptogamae</em>).</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Note:</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Plant kingdom</strong> can be divided into two sub-kingdoms viz. <strong>Cryptogams and phanerogams.</strong></li>
<li>Cryptogams consist of seedless plants and plant-like organisms whereas phanerogams consist of seed-bearing plants.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Phanerogams are further divided into two classes i.e. <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/african-baobab-tree" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>gymnosperms and angiosperms</strong></a>.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Factors Responsible for Location of this Garden:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This garden is at Deoban in Chakrata at a height of 9,000 ft.</li>
<li>This site is chosen <strong>because of its low pollution levels and moist conditions</strong> which are conducive for the growth of these species.</li>
<li>Further, Deoban <strong>has pristine majestic forests of Deodar and Oak</strong> which create a natural habitat for cryptogamic species.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Cryptogams:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>A cryptogam is a <strong>plant that reproduces with the help of spores.</strong></li>
<li>The word <strong>"Cryptogamae" implies &lsquo;hidden reproduction'</strong>, referring to the fact that they do not produce any reproductive structure, seed, or flower.</li>
<li>Due to this, they are called <strong>"flowerless"</strong> or <strong>"seedless plants"</strong> or <strong>&lsquo;lower plants'.</strong></li>
<li>They <strong>need a moist environment</strong> to survive.</li>
<li>These are <strong>present in aquatic and terrestrial places.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Algae, bryophytes, lichens, ferns and fungi are the best-known groups</strong> of cryptogams.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Classification of Cryptogams:</strong> Cryptogams are classified into 3 groups based on the various structural and functional criteria of the plant.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Thallophyta:</strong> Thallophyta is a division of the plant kingdom including primitive forms of plant life showing a simple plant body. They <strong>lack roots, stems, or leaves.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It <strong>includes algae-</strong>like Spirogyra, Sargassum, etc.</li>
<li>They are predominantly aquatic and found both in marine as well as freshwater habitats.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Bryophyta:</strong> Bryophytes comprise a limited variety of <strong>non-vascular land plants.</strong> They prefer moist habitats but they can survive in dry environments too. Example- hornworts, liverworts, mosses, etc.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They occupy an intermediate position between algae and pteridophytes.</li>
<li>Since bryophytes can survive in both water and land, they are considered as the <strong>'amphibians of the plant kingdom'.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pteridophyta:</strong> A pteridophyte is a vascular plant that disperses spores. It is the first plant to <strong>have xylem and phloem.</strong> <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Ferns are the largest living group of primitive vascular plants.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Types of Cryptogams:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Liches:</strong> Lichens are a complex life form that is a <strong>symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an algae.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Fungi:</strong> It is a kingdom of usually <strong>multicellular eukaryotic organisms</strong> that are <strong>heterotrophs.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626157621_pasted%20image 0 (5).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626157621_pasted image 0 (5).png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="350" caption="false" /></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/dehradun-cryptogamic-garden-uttarakhand-indias-first-7399416/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 11 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8847,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Lemru Elephant Reserve: Chhattisgarh',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the Chhattisgarh government has<strong> proposed to reduce the area of Lemru Elephant Reserve</strong> from 1,995 sq km to 450 sq km.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>The Centre gave its approval in 2007 for the creation of the 450 sq km Lemru Elephant Reserve and in 2019, the state government decided to increase the area to 1,995 sq km.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The reserve is located in the <strong>Korba&nbsp;district</strong> of Chhattisgarh.</li>
<li>The reserve is<strong> aiming at reducing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/man-animal-conflict-mac" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human-animal conflict</a></strong> and destruction of property in addition to providing a permanent habitat to the elephants.</li>
<li>Earlier, the state government notified the reserve (Conservation Reserve) in October 2020 under Section <strong>36A of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wildlife-protection-act-wpa-1972" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972</a></strong> (WLPA).
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Section 36A has a special provision that gives the Union government a say in the process of notification in case the land to be notified as <strong>conservation reserve</strong> has areas belonging to the Centre.</li>
<li>Elephant reserves are not recognised under the WLPA.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reason for Reducing Size:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The area proposed under the reserve is<strong> part of the Hasdeo Aranya forests,</strong> a very diverse biozone that is also rich in coal deposits.</li>
<li>Of 22 coal blocks in the area, 7 have already been allotted with mines running in three, and in the process of being established in the other four.</li>
<li>The biggest challenge in increasing the reserve area was that <strong>several coal mines would become unusable.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance of Reserve:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>North Chhattisgarh alone is home to over 240 elephants. <strong>More than 150 elephants have died in the state over the last 20 years,</strong> including 16 between June and October 2020.</li>
<li>Elephants in Chhattisgarh are relatively new; they started moving into undivided Madhya Pradesh (MP) in 1990.</li>
<li>While MP had a policy of pushing back the animals coming from Jharkhand, after Chhattisgarh was formed, the lack of a formal policy allowed elephants to use as a corridor a route in the north and central parts of the state.</li>
<li>Since these animals were relatively new, human-animal conflict started once elephants started straying into inhabited areas, looking for food.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Protected Areas in Chhattisgarh:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/biosphere-reserves-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Achanakmar Tiger Reserve.</strong></a></li>
<li>Indravati Tiger Reserve.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/sitanadi-udanti-tiger-reserve-chhattisgarh" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Sitanadi-Udanti Tiger Reserve</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ophiocordyceps-nutans-fungi" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kanger Valley National Park</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Badalkhol Tamor Pingla Elephant Reserve.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626091368_image.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1626091368_image.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="640" height="468" /></strong></a></p>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Elephants</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Elephants are<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/preservation-of-sundarban#:~:text=A%20keystone%20species%20is%20an,species%20have%20low%20functional%20redundancy." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> keystone species.</strong></a></li>
<li>There are three <strong>subspecies of Asian elephant &ndash;</strong> the Indian, Sumatran, and Sri Lankan.</li>
<li>The Indian elephant has the <strong>widest range and accounts</strong> for the majority of the remaining elephants on the continent.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Status of Indian Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife Protection Act, 1972</a>:</strong> Schedule I</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list#:~:text=The%20IUCN%20Red%20List%20of,of%20plant%20and%20animal%20species.&amp;text=Critically%20Endangered%20(CR)%2C%20Endangered,to%20be%20threatened%20with%20extinction." target="_blank" rel="noopener">IUCN Red List</a>:</strong> Endangered</li>
<li><strong><a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/cites" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>:</strong> Appendix I</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s Initiatives for Conservation of Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/printpdf/electrocution-of-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gaj Yatra</strong></a>: A nationwide campaign to protect elephants, was launched on the occasion of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Elephant Day</strong></a> in 2017.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/world-elephant-day-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Project Elephant</strong></a>: It is a centrally sponsored scheme which was launched in 1992.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seed-bombs-solution-to-man-animal-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Seed Bombs</strong></a>: Recently Odisha&rsquo;s Athagarh Forest Division has started casting seed balls (or bombs) inside different reserve forest areas to enrich food stock for wild elephants to prevent <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/daily-updates-news-editorials-the-high-cost-of-man-animal-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>man-elephant conflict.</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/right-of-passage-of-the-animals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Right of Passage of the Animals</strong></a>: Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) upheld the 2011 order of the Madras High Court (HC) on the Nilgiris elephant corridor, affirming the right of passage of the animals and the closure of resorts in the area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>International initiatives to conserve Elephants:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/electrocution-of-elephants" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme</strong></a>, launched in 2003, is an international collaboration that tracks trends in information related to the illegal killing of elephants from across Africa and Asia, to monitor effectiveness of field conservation efforts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-a-proposed-elephant-reserve-in-chhattisgarh-and-its-reduced-area-7400025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 12 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8832,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'High-Altitude Yak',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, the <strong>National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY)</strong> at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh&rsquo;s West Kameng district has tied up with the <strong>National Insurance Company Ltd.</strong> for insuring the high-altitude yak.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>NRCY</strong> is a <strong>premier research institute exclusively engaged in research and development of yak in India.</strong> It was <strong>established in 1989</strong> by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-council-of-agricultural-research" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian Council of Agricultural Research.</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Yak <strong>belong to the Bovini tribe,</strong> which also includes <strong>bison, buffaloes, and cattle. </strong>It can<strong> tolerate temperatures as low as-40 degrees Celsius.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625910114_image6.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625910114_image6.jpg" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Adapted for <strong>living at high altitudes, they have long hair that hangs off their sides like a curtain,</strong> sometimes touching the ground.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Yaks are <strong>highly valued by Himalayan peoples.</strong> According to Tibetan legend, the <strong>first yaks were domesticated by Tibetan <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/buddhism-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buddhism</a> founder Guru Rinpoche.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are also known as the <strong>lifeline of pastoral nomads in high altitudes of the Indian <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/hindu-kush-himalayan-region" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Himalayan region.</a></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>They are<strong> endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and the adjacent high-altitude regions.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Yaks are most <strong>comfortable above 14,000 feet.</strong> They climb to an elevation of 20,000 when foraging and usually don't descend any lower than 12,000 feet.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The yak-rearing states of India are<strong> Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu &amp; Kashmir.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The countrywide population trend shows that the<strong> yak population has been decreasing at an alarming rate.</strong> The total <strong>yak population in India is about 58,000. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/climate-change-and-development-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Climate Change</strong></a>:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The <strong>increasing trend of environmental temperature at high altitudes is resulting in heat stress in yak</strong> during warmer months of the year. This, in turn, is affecting the rhythms of physiological responses of the animal.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Inbreeding:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>As wars and conflicts have led to the closing of borders, the yaks outside borders are thought to be <strong>suffering from inbreeding due to the lack of availability of new yak germplasm</strong> from the original yak area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Protection Status of Wild Yak <em>(Bos mutus)</em>:</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 status</a>: Vulnerable</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>IUCN considers the <strong>wild species of yak under <em>Bos mutus</em>,</strong> while the <strong>domestic form is considered under <em>Bos grunniens.</em></strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>: Appendix I</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian WildLife (Protection) Act of 1972</a>: Schedule I</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/in-a-first-himalayan-yaks-to-be-insured/article35231749.ece" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: TH</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 13 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8829,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Human-Wildlife Conflict',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>A report <strong>&lsquo;A Future for All &ndash; A Need for Human-Wildlife Coexistence&rsquo;</strong> was recently released by <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/living-planet-report-wwf" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/making-peace-with-nature-unep-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>UNEP</strong></a>.</p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>It examined<strong> increasing <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/advisory-for-management-of-human-wildlife-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human-wildlife conflict (HWC)</a>.</strong></li>
<li>HWC-related killing affects more than <strong>75% of the world&rsquo;s wild cat species,</strong> as well as many other <strong>terrestrial and marine carnivore species</strong> such as polar bears and Mediterranean monk seals, and <strong>large herbivores</strong> such as elephants.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) refers to struggles that arise when the presence or behaviour of <strong>wildlife poses actual or perceived direct,</strong> recurring<strong> threats to human interests or needs,</strong> often leading to disagreements between groups of people and negative impacts on people and/or wildlife.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Causes of Human-wildlife Conflict:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Lack of Protected Area:</strong> Marine and terrestrial <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/management-effectiveness-evaluation-of-protected-areas" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>protected areas</strong> </a>only cover <strong>9.67% globally.</strong> About 40% of the African lion range and 70% of the African and Asian elephant ranges fall outside protected areas.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In India, 35%<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tiger-census-2018-guinness-book-of-world-records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> tiger</strong></a> ranges currently lie outside protected areas.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Wildlife-borne Infections:</strong> <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/reasons-for-rising-covid-19-infections-second-wave" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covid-19</a> pandemic</strong> &ndash; sparked by a zoonotic disease is driven by the close <strong>association of people, their livestock, and wildlife</strong> and by the unregulated consumption of wild animals.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>With closer and more frequent and diverse contact between animals and people, the probability of animal microbes being transferred to people increases.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Reasons:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Urbanization:</strong> In modern times rapid urbanization and industrialisation have led to the diversion of forest land to non-forest purposes, as a result, the wildlife habitat is shrinking.</li>
<li><strong>Transport Network:</strong> The expansion of road and rail network through forest ranges has resulted in animals getting killed or injured in accidents on roads or railway tracks.</li>
<li><strong>Increasing Human Population:</strong> Many human settlements coming up near the peripheries of protected areas and encroachment in the forest lands by local people for cultivation and collection of food and fodder etc. therefore <strong>increasing pressure on limited natural resources</strong> in the forests.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impacts:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Impact on Wildlife And Ecosystems:</strong> HWC can have detrimental and permanent impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. People might kill animals in self-defence, or as pre-emptive or retaliatory killings, which can drive species involved in<strong> conflict to extinction.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Impact on Local Communities:&nbsp;</strong>The most evident and direct negative impacts to people from wildlife are injuries and the loss of lives and of livestock, crops, or other property.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Equity:</strong> The economic and psychological costs of living with wildlife disproportionately<strong> fall to those who live near that wildlife,</strong> while the benefits of a species&rsquo; survival are distributed to other communities as well.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Social Dynamics:</strong> When a HWC event affects a farmer, that farmer may blame the government for protecting the perpetrator that damages crops, while a conservation practitioner may blame industry and farmers for clearing wild habitats and creating the HWC in the first place.</li>
<li><strong>Impact on Sustainable Development:</strong> HWC is the theme in conservation that is strongly linked to the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>SDGs</strong> </a>as biodiversity is primary to sustain the developments, even though it is not explicitly mentioned as one.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solution:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Moving From Conflict To Coexistence:</strong> The goal of HWC management should be to enhance the <strong>safety of people and wildlife</strong> and to create mutual <strong>benefits of coexistence.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Integrated and Holistic Practices:</strong> Holistic HWC management approaches allow species to survive in areas where they otherwise would have declined or become extinct.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>All species on our planet also are essential for maintaining ecosystem health and functions.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Participation:</strong> The full participation of local communities can help reduce HWC and lead to coexistence between humans and wildlife.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625903982_image2.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625903982_image2.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="305" height="450" /></a></p>
<h3>Indian Scenario</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India faces an increasing challenge of human wildlife conflict, which is driven by <strong>development pressures</strong> and an<strong> increasing population, high demand for land and natural resources,</strong> resulting in loss, fragmentation, and <strong>degradation of wildlife habitats.</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>These pressures intensify the interactions between people and wildlife because they often share living space without a clear demarcation of boundaries.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In India, data from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change shows that <strong>over 500 elephants were killed between 2014-15 </strong>and <strong>2018-19,</strong> most related to human-elephant conflict.</li>
<li>During the same period,<strong> 2,361 people were killed as a result of conflict</strong> with elephants.</li>
<li><strong>Some Initiatives:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Advisory for Management of HWC:</strong> This has been issued by the Standing Committee of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wildlife-panel-holds-virtual-conference" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Board of Wildlife</strong></a> (SC-NBWL).
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Empower Gram Panchayats:</strong> The advisory envisages empowering gram panchayats in dealing with the problematic wild animals as per the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/in-depth-conservation-of-migratory-species" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972.</strong></a></li>
<li><strong>Provide Insurance:</strong> Utilising add-on coverage under the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/revamping-of-pradhan-mantri-fasal-bima-yojana" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna</strong></a> for crop compensation against crop damage due to HWC.</li>
<li><strong>Augmenting Fodder:</strong> Envisages augmenting fodder and water sources within the forest areas.</li>
<li><strong>Take Proactive Measures:</strong> Prescribes <strong>inter-departmental committees</strong> at local/state level, adoption of <strong>early warning systems, creation of barriers, dedicated circle wise Control Rooms</strong> with toll free hotline numbers, Identification of hotspots etc.</li>
<li><strong>Provide Instant Relief:</strong> Payment of a portion of ex-gratia as interim relief within 24 hours of the incident to the victim/family.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>State-Specific:</strong>
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In 2018, the Uttar Pradesh government had given its in-principle approval to bring<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/man-animal-conflict-to-be-listed-as-disaster-by-up-govt" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> man-animal conflict under listed disasters</strong></a> in the State Disaster Response Fund</li>
<li>The Uttarakhand government (2019) carried out <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/bio-fences-to-curb-man-animal-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>bio-fencing</strong> </a>by growing various species of plants in the areas.</li>
<li>The Supreme Court (2020) affirmed the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/right-of-passage-of-the-animals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> right of passage of the Elephants</strong></a> and the closure of resorts in the Nilgiris elephant corridor.</li>
<li>Odisha&rsquo;s Athagarh Forest Division has started casting <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/seed-bombs-solution-to-man-animal-conflict" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>seed balls (or bombs)</strong></a> inside different reserve forest areas to enrich food stock for wild elephants to prevent man-elephant conflict.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/india/wwf-unep-report-35-of-tiger-ranges-outside-protected-areas-7397473/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 14 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8801,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Black Panther Spotted in Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a rare <strong>Melanistic Leopard</strong> (commonly known as <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/black-panther-in-netravali-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Black Panther</strong></a>) has been recorded in <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/navegaon-nagzira-tiger-reserve-maharashtra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve</strong></a> (NNTR) of <strong>Maharashtra.</strong></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Melanistic Leopard/Black Panther:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625649514_image3.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625649514_image3.jpg" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-leopard-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Leopards</strong> </a><strong><em>(Panthera Pardus)</em> </strong>are either light colored (pale yellow to deep gold or tawny) with black rosettes or with black fur.</li>
<li>The <strong>melanistic leopards, which are either all-black or very dark in coloration,</strong> are known as black panthers. It is a <strong>color variant of spotted Indian leopards,</strong> reported from densely <strong>forested areas of south India.</strong></li>
<li>Black coat coloration is <strong>attributed to the expression of recessive alleles</strong> in leopards and dominant alleles in jaguars. In each species, a certain combination of alleles stimulates the <strong>production of large amounts of the dark pigment melanin (Melanism) in the animal&rsquo;s fur and skin.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The appearance of a black coat <strong>may be influenced by other factors, such as the angle of incident light</strong> and the animal&rsquo;s life stage.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is as shy as a normal leopard and very <strong>difficult to detect. </strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are mainly in <strong>Southwestern China, Burma, Nepal, Southern India, Indonesia,</strong> and the southern part of <strong>Malaysia.</strong></li>
<li>In India they can be spotted in the states of <strong>Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra etc.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Habitat loss.</li>
<li>Collision with vehicles.</li>
<li>Diseases.</li>
<li>Human encroachment.</li>
<li>Poaching.</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>: Vulnerable.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>: Appendix I.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</a>: Schedule I.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Navegaon-Nagzira Tiger Reserve:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625649542_image7.png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625649542_image7.png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is situated in <strong>Gondia and Bhandara districts of Maharashtra.</strong></li>
<li>Strategically, the <strong>Tiger Reserve is located in the heart of central Indian Tiger landscape</strong> which contributes almost one sixth of the total tiger population of the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Formation:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It was designated as the<strong> 46<sup>th</sup> <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-importance-of-tiger-conservation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tiger Reserve</a> of India</strong> in December 2013.</li>
<li>It comprises the notified area of Navegaon National Park, Navegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Connectivity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>NNTR has connectivity with the major tiger reserves in Central India like,<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kanha-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Kanha</strong></a> and<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/pench-tiger-reserve-maharashtra" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Pench</strong></a> tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh,</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tadoba-andhari-tiger-reserve-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tadoba-Andhari Tiger reserve</strong></a> in Maharashtra,</li>
<li>Indravati Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh,</li>
<li>Indirectly with the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/kawal-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Kawal</strong> </a>and <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/nagarjunasagar-srisailam-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Nagarjuna Sagar</strong></a> in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and, Achanakmar Tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>It is also connected to important tiger bearing areas like <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/umed-paoni-karhandla-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Umred-Karhandla sanctuary</strong></a> and Brahampuri Division (Maharashtra).</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Flora:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The major forest type is <strong>"Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest".</strong></li>
<li>Few thorny plants are also found and Bamboo occurs in abundance.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Fauna:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Carnivores</strong> such as leopards and smaller carnivores like wild dogs, wolf jackals, jungle cats and also the good population of <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/rise-in-leopard-population" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>sloth bears</strong></a> are seen.</li>
<li><strong>Herbivore</strong> includes Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Chousingha, Barking deer, Wild pig, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/indian-bison-gaur" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Indian gaur</strong></a> and Mouse deer.</li>
<li>More than <strong>300 species of birds</strong> have been reported from the area.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Other Protected Areas in Maharashtra:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Sahyadri Tiger Reserve.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/melghat-tiger-reserve" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Melghat Tiger reserve.</strong></a></li>
<li>Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary.</li>
<li>Karnala Bird Sanctuary.</li>
<li>Sanjay Gandhi National Park.</li>
<li>Pench National Park.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/black-leopard-sighted-in-navegaon-nagzira-reserve-7392459/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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		'article_id' => (int) 8799,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Marine Plastic: Problem, And Solution ',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>According to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/cpcb-notifies-contaminated-sites" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Central Pollution Control Board&rsquo;s (CPCB)</strong></a> Annual Report on Implementing the <a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-world-environment-day-identify-the-dangers-of-the-plastic-era" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016</strong></a>, the plastic waste generated in 2018-19 was 3.3 million tonnes per year (roughly <strong>9,200 tonnes per day</strong>).</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Plastic is a <strong>synthetic organic polymer</strong> made from petroleum with properties ideally suited for a wide variety of applications, including packaging, building and construction, household and sports equipment, vehicles, electronics and agriculture. Plastic is cheap, lightweight, strong and malleable.</li>
<li>Over <strong>300 million tons of plastic</strong> are produced every year, half of which is used to design <strong>single-use items</strong> such as shopping bags, cups and straws.</li>
<li>Only <strong>9% of plastic waste is recycled.</strong> Approximately 12% is burnt, while 79% has accumulated in landfills.</li>
<li>According to the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/iucn-red-list" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</strong></a>, at least<strong> 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans every year.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Sources of Marine Plastic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The main sources of marine plastic are <strong>land-based</strong>, from urban and storm runoff, sewer overflows, beach visitors, inadequate waste disposal and management, industrial activities, construction and illegal dumping.</li>
<li><strong>Ocean-based plastic</strong> originates mainly from the <strong>fishing industry, nautical activities and aquaculture.</strong></li>
<li>Under the influence of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ultraviolet-light-and-viruses" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> solar UV radiation</strong></a>, wind, currents and other natural factors, plastic fragments into small particles, termed <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/microplastics-in-deep-oceans" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>microplastics</strong> </a>(particles smaller than 5 mm) or nanoplastics (particles smaller than 100 nm).<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>In addition, <strong>microbeads</strong>, a type of microplastic, are very tiny pieces of manufactured polyethylene plastic that are added as exfoliants in health and beauty products, such as cleansers and toothpastes. These tiny particles easily pass through water filtration systems and end up in the ocean and lakes.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Concerns of Marine Plastic Waste:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Plastic waste <strong>blocks our sewers, threatening marine life</strong> and generating health risks for residents in landfills or the natural environment.</li>
<li>The <strong>financial costs of marine plastic</strong> pollution are significant as well. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>According to a forecast made in March 2020, the <strong>direct harm to the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/importance-of-blue-economy#:~:text=The%20%27Blue%20Economy%27%20is%20an,environmental%20risks%20and%20ecological%20scarcities." target="_blank" rel="noopener">blue economy</a></strong> of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/asean#:~:text=The%20Association%20of%20Southeast%20Asian,is%20observed%20as%20ASEAN%20Day." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Association of Southeast Asian Nations</strong> </a>will be USD 2.1 billion per year.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Enormous social costs</strong> accompany these economic costs. Residents of coastal regions suffer from the<strong> harmful health impacts of plastic pollution</strong> and waste brought in by the tides.</li>
<li>Boats may become entangled in abandoned or discarded fishing nets or their engines may become blocked with plastic debris.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It can create problems for industries such as <strong>Shipping, fisheries and aquaculture and maritime tourism</strong> which affect livelihood of the coastal community.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Steps Taken So Far:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>GloLitter Partnerships Project:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It is launched by the <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/international-maritime-organization-and-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>International Maritime Organization (IMO)</strong></a> and the <strong>Food and Agriculture Organization of the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/united-nations-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations</a> (FAO)</strong> and . initial funding from the <strong>Government of Norway.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aim:</strong> To prevent and<strong> reduce marine plastic litter</strong> from shipping and fisheries. <br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will also <strong>assist developing countries in reducing marine</strong> litter, including plastic litter, from within the maritime transport and fisheries sectors, and to decrease the use of plastics in these industries.</li>
<li>Also assist in identifying opportunities to <strong>reuse and recycle plastics.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>30 countries including India</strong> have joined this global initiative to tackle marine litter.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>World Environment Day, 2018</strong> hosted in India, the world leaders vowed to <strong>&ldquo;Beat Plastic Pollution&rdquo; &amp; eliminate its use completely.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Specific to India:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016</strong> state that every local body has to be responsible for setting up infrastructure for segregation, collection, processing, and disposal of plastic waste.</li>
<li><strong>Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules 2018</strong> introduced the concept of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ban-on-single-use-plastics" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Ban on Single-Use Plastics</strong></a> in a bid to free India of single-use plastics by 2022.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Solutions:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Designing a product:</strong> Identifying plastic items that can be replaced with non-plastic, recyclable, or biodegradable materials is the first step.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Countries must embrace <strong><a href="/loksabha-rajyasabha-discussions/the-big-picture-productivity-and-sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">circular and sustainable economic</a> practices</strong> throughout the plastics value chain to accomplish this.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Pricing:</strong> Plastics are inexpensive which provide <strong>fewer economic incentives to</strong> employ recycled plastics. Balancing price structure with environmental health should be a priority.</li>
<li><strong>Technologies and Innovation:</strong> Developing tools and technology to assist governments in measuring and monitoring plastic garbage in cities.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>India should start projects like the <strong>&lsquo;Closing the loop&rsquo;</strong> project of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/economic-and-social-survey-of-asia-and-the-pacific-2021-unescap#:~:text=and%20the%20Pacific-,The%20United%20Nations%20Economic%20and%20Social%20Commission%20for%20Asia%20and,Asia%2DPacific%20Region%20including%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific</a> which</strong> assists cities in developing more inventive policy solutions to tackle the problem.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Promoting a plastic-free workplace:</strong> All single-use goods can be replaced with reusable items or more sustainable single-use alternatives.</li>
<li><strong>Producer responsibility: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/e-retailers-to-collect-plastic-waste" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Extended responsibility</a></strong> can be applied in the retail (packaging) sector, where producers are responsible for collecting and recycling products that they launch into the market.</li>
<li><strong>Municipal and community actions:</strong> Beach and river clean-ups, public awareness campaigns and disposable plastic bag bans and levies.</li>
<li><strong>Multi-stakeholder collaboration:</strong> Government ministries at the national and local levels must collaborate in the development, implementation and oversight of policies related to plastic waste management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Central Pollution Control Board</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>CPCB is a statutory organisation which was constituted in September, 1974 under <strong>the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.</strong></li>
<li>It was entrusted with the powers and functions under the <strong>Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.</strong></li>
<li>It also provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change of the provisions of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/environment-protection-act-1986" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Environment (Protection) Act, 1986</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981:<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution.</li>
<li>to improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/pollution/how-india-can-face-the-tidal-wave-of-marine-plastic-77819" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 16 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8788,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'King Cobra in Tillari Reserve',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, a<strong> king cobra <em>(Ophiophagus hannah)</em></strong>, was sighted in the <strong>recently declared</strong> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tillari-conservation-reserve-notified" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>conservation reserve, Tillari</strong></a>, in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>King Cobra:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>About:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They are <strong>one of the most venomous snakes on the planet and the longest of all venomous snakes.<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625557848_pasted%20image 0 (1).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625557848_pasted image 0 (1).png" style="float: right;" width="350" caption="false" /></a></strong></li>
<li>Their venom is not the most potent among venomous snakes, but <strong>the amount of neurotoxin they can deliver in a single bite</strong>&mdash;up to two-tenths of a fluid ounce&mdash;is <strong>enough to kill 20 people, or even an elephant.</strong></li>
<li>They are <strong>the only snakes in the world that build nests</strong> for their eggs, which they guard ferociously until the hatchlings emerge.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Habitat:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They live mainly in the<strong> rain forests and plains of India, southern China, and Southeast Asia.</strong></li>
<li>They are comfortable in a variety of habitats, including<strong> forests, bamboo thickets, mangrove swamps, high-altitude grasslands, and in rivers.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>They face a variety of <strong>threats stemming from human activities such as:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong>Deforestation.</strong></li>
<li><strong>International pet trade. </strong></li>
<li><strong>Persecution by humans.</strong></li>
<li>Used for <strong>skin, food, and medicinal purposes.</strong></li>
</ul>
</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>: Vulnerable.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CITES</a>: Appendix II.</strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972</a>: Schedule II.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Tillari Conservation Reserve:<a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625557819_pasted%20image 0 (2).png" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625557819_pasted image 0 (2).png" style="float: right;" width="300" caption="false" /></a></strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Tillari is the <strong>seventh wildlife corridor in the state to be declared as a &lsquo;conservation reserve&rsquo;.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Tillari is a reserve in <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/ecologically-sensitive-areas-in-western-ghats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">western ghats</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The area <strong>covering nine villages in the forest range</strong> is known to serve as a corridor and even as a <strong>habitat for the population of tigers and elephants</strong> moving between the three states of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.</li>
<li>It connects <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/mhadei-wildlife-sanctuary" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Mhadei sanctuary in Goa</strong> </a>and Bhimgad in Karnataka.</li>
<li>It has <strong>semi-evergreen forest, tropical moist deciduous forests</strong>, and a number of unique trees, butterflies, and flowers.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Conservation Reserves in India</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Conservation reserves and community reserves are terms denoting <strong>protected areas of the country which typically act as buffer zones</strong> to or<strong> connectors and migration corridors</strong> between established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests.</li>
<li>Such areas are designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and completely owned by the Government of India but <strong>used for subsistence by communities and community areas if part of the lands are privately owned.</strong></li>
<li>These protected area categories were first introduced in the <strong>Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act of 2002 &minus; the amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.</strong></li>
<li>These categories were <strong>added because of reduced protection in and around existing or proposed protected areas</strong> due to private ownership of land and land use.</li>
<li>There are <strong>97 existing Conservation Reserves in India</strong> covering an area of <strong>44483 km<sup>2</sup>, which is 0.14% of the geographical area of the country</strong> (National Wildlife Database, Dec. 2020).</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-king-cobra-spotted-in-tillari-reserve-7390823/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 17 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8776,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Melting of Arctic’s ‘Last Ice Area’',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>The<strong> &lsquo;Last Ice Area&rsquo; (LIA),</strong> located in the <strong>Arctic&rsquo;s Ice north of Greenland,</strong> has started melting earlier than what the scientists had expected.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625475828_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625475828_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="500" height="375" /></a></p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Last Ice Area:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This region is located <strong>north of Greenland and Ellesmere Island</strong> in the Canadian territory of Nunavut.</li>
<li>This area was believed to be <strong>strong enough </strong>to<strong> withstand <a href="/printpdf/global-warming-of-1-5-c-ipcc-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">global warming</a>.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> total disappearance of summer ice</strong> in the Arctic was estimated by the <strong>year 2040,</strong> however the <strong>'Last Ice Area&rsquo;</strong> was the exception.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/living-planet-report-wwf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World Wildlife Fund</a> (WWF)-Canada</strong> was believed to be the<strong> first</strong> to call this area the <strong>'Last Ice Area&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Importance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It was thought to be able to <strong>help ice-dependent species</strong> as ice in the surrounding areas melted away.</li>
<li>It is used by <strong>polar bears to hunt for seals</strong> who use ice to build dens for their offspring. <strong>Walruses</strong> too, use the surface of the ice for <strong>foraging</strong> (to search for food).</li>
<li>Sea ice is a <strong>highway for inuit,</strong> who use it to travel and hunt.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The<strong> term Inuit</strong> refers broadly to the <strong>Arctic indigenous population of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Reasons for Melting:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>About<strong> 80% of thinning</strong> can be attributed to <strong>weather-related factors</strong> such as winds that break up and move the ice around.</li>
<li>The remaining <strong>20%</strong> can be attributed to <strong>longer-term thinning of the ice</strong> due to <strong>global warming.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>About Arctic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The Arctic is a <strong>polar region</strong> located at the<strong> northernmost part of Earth.</strong></li>
<li>The Arctic <strong>consists of</strong> the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Alaska (United States), Canada, Finland, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden.</li>
<li>Land within the Arctic region has seasonally varying snow and ice cover.</li>
<li>Since 2013,<strong> India has had observer status in the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/arctic-council" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arctic Council</a></strong>, which is the predominant inter-governmental forum for cooperation on the environmental and development aspects of the Arctic.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Impact of Melting Arctic Ice:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Global Climate:</strong> The <strong>Arctic and Antarctic</strong> act like the world&rsquo;s refrigerator. Since they are covered in white snow and ice that reflect heat back into space <strong>(Albedo effect),</strong> they balance out other parts of the world that absorb heat.</li>
<li><strong>Coastal Communities:</strong> Global average sea level has risen by about <strong>7-8 inches since 1900,</strong> and it&rsquo;s getting worse. <strong>Rising seas endanger coastal cities and small island nations</strong> by exacerbating coastal flooding and storm surge.</li>
<li><strong>Food Security: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/polar-vortex" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Polar vortexes</a>, increased<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/heat-waves" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> heat waves</a>, and unpredictability of weather</strong> caused by ice loss are already causing significant damage to crops on which global food systems depend.</li>
<li><strong>Permafrost &amp; Global Warming: <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/oil-spill-in-siberia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Permafrost</a> in the Arctic region</strong> (ground that is permanently frozen) stores large amounts of<strong> methane, which is a greenhouse gas</strong> that contributes to <strong>climate change.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Biodiversity Threat:</strong> Melting of the Arctic ice puts the Arctic region&rsquo;s vibrant<strong> biodiversity</strong> under serious threat.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>India&rsquo;s interests in Arctic:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, <strong>India participated in the 3<sup>rd</sup> <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/third-arctic-science-ministerial" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arctic Science Ministerial (ASM)</a></strong> and shared plans for research and long-term cooperation in the Arctic Region.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-what-is-the-arctics-last-ice-area-that-is-now-showing-signs-of-melting-earlier-than-scientists-expected-7387570/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: IE</strong></a></p>',
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	(int) 18 => object(Cake\ORM\Entity) {

		'article_id' => (int) 8772,
		'category_id' => (int) 21,
		'title' => 'Conservation of Vultures',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p>Recently, <strong>150 vultures were seen in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Bihar,</strong> which has prompted a vulture conservation plan in the protected region of VTR.</p>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About Vultures:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>one of the 22 species of large carrion-eating birds</strong> that live predominantly in the<strong> tropics and subtropics.</strong></li>
<li>They act an important function as<strong> nature&rsquo;s garbage collectors</strong> and help to keep the environment clean of waste.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Vultures<strong> also play a valuable role in keeping wildlife diseases in check.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>India is home to<strong> 9 species of Vulture</strong> namely the <strong>Oriental white-backed, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Himalayan, Red-headed, Egyptian, Bearded, Cinereous and the Eurasian Griffon.</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Most of these 9 species face danger of extinction.</li>
<li>Bearded, Long-billed, Slender-billed, Oriental white-backed are protected in the <strong>Schedule-1 of the <a href="/to-the-points/paper3/wildlife-protection-act-wpa-1972#:~:text=Wildlife%20(Protection)%20Act%2C%201972,101%20National%20Parks%20in%20India." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wildlife Protection Act</a> 1972.</strong> Rest are protected under <strong>&lsquo;Schedule IV&rsquo;.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>IUCN status:</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625307920_image1.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625307920_image1.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="576" height="1115" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Threats:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Poisoning from diclofenac that is used as a medicine for livestock.</li>
<li>Loss of Natural Habitats due to anthropogenic activities.</li>
<li>Food Dearth and Contaminated Food.</li>
<li>Electrocution by Power lines.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Efforts:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Recently, the Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change launched a<strong> Vulture Action Plan 2020-25</strong> for the conservation of vultures in the country.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will ensure minimum use of Diclofenac and prevent the poisoning of the principal food of vultures, the cattle carcasses.</li>
<li>The Vulture Safe Zone programme is being implemented at eight different places in the country where there were extant populations of vultures, including two in Uttar Pradesh.</li>
<li>To upscaling conservation <strong>four rescue centres will be opened</strong> like Pinjore in the north, Bhopal in central India, Guwahati in Northeast and Hyderabad in South India.</li>
<li>The ministry has now also launched <strong>conservation plans for the red-headed and Egyptian vultures,</strong> with breeding programmes for both.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>To study the cause of deaths of vultures in India, a <strong>Vulture Care Centre (VCC)</strong> was set up at Pinjore, Haryana in 2001.</li>
<li>Later in 2004, the VCC was upgraded to being the first <strong>Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre (VCBC)</strong> in India.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>At present, there are nine Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centres (VCBC) in India, of which three are directly administered by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS).</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Valmiki Tiger Reserve</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Location:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>located at the<strong> India-Nepal border</strong> in the<strong> West Champaran district of Bihar.</strong></li>
<li>It<strong> forms the easternmost limits of the Himalayan Terai forests</strong> in India.</li>
<li>Situated in the <strong>Gangetic Plains bio-geographic zone</strong> of the country, the forest has a combination of bhabar and terai tracts.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Establishment:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>This was established in March 1994 under <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/national-tiger-conservation-authority" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Project Tiger</a>.</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Biodiversity:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The wildlife found in the forest of National Park are the Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, black bear, Indian sloth bear, otter, Indian leopard, wild dog, buffalo, and boar.</li>
<li>Also Indian flying foxes can be sighted here.</li>
<li>The Reserve has rich avifauna diversity. Over 250 species of birds have been reported.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/tharu-tribals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Tharu&rsquo;, a scheduled tribe</strong></a>, is the dominant community in the landscape of the Valmiki National Park.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625308136_image2.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><img class="content-img" src="http://www.drishtiias.com/images/uploads/1625308136_image2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" caption="false" width="507" height="300" /></strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>Other Protected Areas in Bihar:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Bhimbandh Sanctuary.</li>
<li>Rajgir Sanctuary.</li>
<li>Kaimur Sanctuary.</li>
<li>Kanwar Jheel Bird Sanctuary.</li>
<li>Vikramshila <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/gangetic-dolphin-annual-census" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Gangetic Dolphin</strong></a>.</li>
<li>Gautambudha Sanctuary.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/conservation-plan-chalked-out-after-150-vultures-spotted-in-bihar-s-valmiki-tiger-reserve-77758" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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		'title' => 'LEAF Coalition',
		'description' => '<h3>Why in News</h3>
<p><strong>LEAF (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance) Coalition</strong> was announced at the<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/leaders-summit-on-climate" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> Leaders Summit on Climate, 2021.</strong></a></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>LEAF coalition will be one of the largest ever <strong>public-private efforts to protect <a href="/to-the-points/paper1/types-of-forests-in-india" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tropical forests </a></strong>and<strong> intend to mobilize at least USD 1 billion in financing</strong> to countries committed to protecting their tropical forests.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Points</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li><strong>About LEAF Coalition:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It is <strong>a collective of the governments of the USA, United Kingdom and Norway.</strong></li>
<li>As it is a public-private effort, thus <strong>also supported by transnational corporations (TNCs)</strong> like Unilever plc, Amazon.com, Nestle, Airbnb etc.</li>
<li>A country willing to participate would need to fulfil certain predetermined conditions laid down by the Coalition.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Financial Support:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>The <strong>results-based financing model</strong> will be used in LEAF.</li>
<li>The model <strong>weighs on work by the Environmental Defense Fund</strong> over two decades, in collaboration with Indigenous communities, forest peoples, Brazilian and US NGOs, and other partners, to protect the Amazon and tropical forests globally.</li>
<li>Performance will be measured against the<strong> TREES Standard (The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard)</strong></li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Significance:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Platform for Private Leadership:</strong> The goal of<a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-transforming-to-a-net-zero-emissions-energy-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong> net zero emissions</strong></a> cannot be reached without bold leadership from the private sector and commitment to leverage its scale, investment capacity and political power to build a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future.</li>
<li><strong>Increases Carbon Sink:</strong> Tropical forests are massive carbon sinks and by investing in their protection, public and private players are likely to stock up on their <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/carbon-market" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>carbon credits.</strong></a><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>It will help in achieving <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 (NDCs)</strong></a> under the <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>Achieve REDD+ Objectives:</strong> It is a step towards concretising the aims and objectives of the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/uganda-submitted-redd-results" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)</a> mechanism.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Solve Development versus Ecological Commitment:</strong> Such a financial impetus is crucial as it incentivises developing countries <strong>to capture extensive deforestation and provide livelihood opportunities</strong> to forest-dependent populations.</li>
<li><strong>Complements Other Global Goals:</strong> Ending tropical and subtropical forest loss by 2030 is vital to achieving global climate, <a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/national-mission-on-biodiversity-and-human-well-being#:~:text=National%20Mission%20on%20Biodiversity%20and%20Human%20Well%2DBeing,-07%20Jun%202021&amp;text=This%20article%20is%20based%20on,Biodiversity%20and%20Human%20Well%2DBeing." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>biodiversity</strong></a> and <strong><a href="/to-the-points/paper3/sustainable-development-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainable development goals</a></strong> as well as sustaining the well-being and cultures of Indigenous peoples and other forest communities.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="border-bg">
<p><strong>Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>REDD+ aims to achieve climate change mitigation by incentivizing forest conservation.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>It monetises the value of carbon locked up in the tropical forests of most developing countries, thereby propelling these countries to help mitigate climate change.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>REDD+ was created by the <a href="/important-institutions/drishti-specials-important-institutions-international-institution/unfccc" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Tropical Forest</strong></p>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>Tropical forests are <strong>closed canopy forests growing within 28 degrees north or south of the equator.</strong></li>
<li>They are <strong>very wet places,</strong> receiving <strong>more than 200 cm rainfall</strong> per year, either seasonally or throughout the year.</li>
<li><strong>Temperatures are uniformly high -</strong> between 20&deg;C and 35&deg;C.</li>
<li>Such forests are <strong>found in Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, Central America, Mexico</strong> and on many of the Pacific Islands.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Scenario in India</h3>
<ul style="list-style-type: square;">
<li>India&rsquo;s<strong> total forests is 24.56% of the geographical</strong> area of the country.</li>
<li>Observations made by the <strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/global-forest-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Forest Watch</a>:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>India <strong>lost nearly 38.5 thousand hectares (Kha) of tropical forest between 2019 and 2020</strong> making up nearly 14% loss of its tree cover.<br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>Meanwhile, the total tropical forest area in India fell by 0.38%.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Also, <strong>a 0.67% decrease in tree cover</strong> has also been recorded across the country in the same period.</li>
<li><strong>Mizoram has witnessed the biggest decline</strong> in forest area with a loss of 47.2 Kha , followed by Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><strong>Conservation Steps Taken:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li><strong>Indian Forest Policy, 1952:</strong> It became conscious about the need to increase the forest cover to one-third of the total land area.</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/review-of-national-forest-policy-1988#:~:text=Substantially%20increasing%20Forest%2FTree%20Cover%20through%20Afforestation%20and%20Social%20Forestry.&amp;text=Increasing%20the%20productivity%20of%20Forests,Opportunities%2C%20the%20involvement%20of%20Women." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>National Forest Policy, 1988</strong></a>: The ultimate objective of the National Forest policy was to maintain environmental stability and ecological balance through conservation of forests as a natural heritage.
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li>The National Forest Policy in 1988 made a very significant and categorical shift from commercial concerns to focus on the ecological role of the forests and participatory management.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/compensatory-afforestation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority, (CAMPA Funds)</strong></a>: For every time forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes such as mining or industry, the user agency pays for planting forests over an equal area of non-forest land, or when such land is not available, twice the area of degraded forest land.</li>
<li><strong>Some Legislations that Govern Indian Forests:</strong><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: disc;">
<li><strong><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/indian-forest-act-1927" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Indian Forest Act 1927</a></strong></li>
<li><strong><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/compensatory-afforestation-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act 2016</a></strong></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/panel-approves-scheme-to-trade-in-forests" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Conservation Act 1980</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/to-the-points/Paper2/forest-rights-act-2006" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Forest Rights Act 2006</strong></a></li>
<li><a href="/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/wild-life-protection-act-implementation-and-failure#:~:text=Section%2011(2)%20of%20the,in%20good%20faith%20is%20exploited.&amp;text=Many%20exotic%20species%20are%20not,that%20regulates%20all%20commercial%20trade." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Wildlife Protection Act 1972</strong></a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/forests/leaf-coalition-s-proposal-is-a-step-forward-in-saving-forests-indigenous-peoples-77745" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Source: DTE</strong></a></p>',
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