Ecology & Environment – General Studies

The Coastal Regulation Zone encompasses the coastal area extending up to 500m from the High Tide Line (HTL) and a stretch of 100m along the shores of creeks, estuaries, backwaters, and rivers subject to tidal fluctuations, as specified in the announcement. 

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) is a specialized institution created under the National Green Tribunal Act (2010) to ensure the effective and prompt resolution of cases about environmental protection and the conservation of forests and other natural resources.

The genesis of the Biological Diversity Act of 2002 can be traced back to India’s commitment to realize the objectives outlined in the 1992 United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). 

In this legislation, Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWH) are delineated as “areas within national parks and sanctuaries where, through a case-by-case assessment using scientific and objective criteria, it has been explicitly determined that these areas must remain inviolate for the purpose of wildlife conservation.”

Enacted in 2006, the Forest Rights Act (FRA) acknowledges and affirms the rights of tribal communities residing in forests, along with other traditional forest dwellers, to access essential forest resources crucial for fulfilling various needs such as subsistence, habitation, and sociocultural requirements. 

Concerned about the rapid deforestation and consequent environmental degradation in India, the Central Government introduced the Forest (Conservation) Act in 1980.

The primary objective of the Indian Forest Act of 1927 was to oversee the control of the transportation and duty imposition on forest produce. 

The Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Bill of 2022 marks a significant stride in the ongoing endeavor to safeguard our planet’s biodiversity

The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 stands as a landmark legislation in India, aimed at safeguarding the diverse flora and fauna of the nation.

Consequently, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) mechanism was introduced to evaluate potential environmental consequences.
EIA serves as a tool to foresee the probable environmental impacts stemming from proposed developmental activities, offering recommendations for mitigation measures and strategies