Environment & Geography Monthly Current Affairs – September 2023

Welcome to our monthly current affairs update for September 2023. In this ever-changing world, staying informed about the latest events, trends, and developments is crucial. This month, we’ll take you on a journey through the most significant and noteworthy happenings across the globe. From politics to technology, from culture to the environment, we’ll cover it all. Join us as we explore the stories shaping our world and the issues that demand our attention. Our goal is to provide you with a concise and insightful overview of the events that are shaping our times, enabling you to engage in informed conversations and make well-informed decisions. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the whirlwind of current affairs for this month.

Balsams 

In News: 

Recently, Balsams (genus Impatiens) have been in full bloom in Munnar, Kerala. 

About: 

• Balsams are sometimes referred to as ‘touch-me-not’ due to their tendency to burst and distribute mature seeds upon touch. 
• Balsams refer to plants belonging to the genus Impatiens. These are flowering plants known for their small pink flowers.  
• They are locally called as Kasithumba and Onappovu. 
• Balsams are considered significant indicator species for climate change, reflecting alterations in plant populations when climate change occurs. 
• Found in:  
  • Of the 220 balsam species in India, 135 are found in the southern Western Ghats. 
  • Anamudi, the highest mountain in the Western Ghats, and the surrounding high ranges are known for the diversity of wild balsams. 
  • Idukki district, where Munnar is located, is renowned for its diverse range of balsams, earning it the nickname of a “balsam paradise” among scientists.  
  • Around 46 species of balsams have been discovered in the altitude of Munnar. No other place in the world has such diversity. 

Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary 

In News:

Bihar is set to get a second tiger reserve in Kaimur district (Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary) by the end of 2023 or early 2024. 

About: 

• Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary, Bihar’s largest, covers Kaimur and Rohtas Districts.  
• It was established in 1979. 
• It is home to rare and endangered flora and fauna. Rohtasgarh Fort and Shergarh Fort are also located in these forests.  
• Kaimur district has a large forest cover and is home to tigers, leopards and chinkaras. 
• Vegetation: Tropical Dry Mixed Deciduous, Dry Sal Forests, Boswellia Forests and Dry Bamboo Brakes. 
• There are several waterfalls of which the finest are Karkat Waterfall, Manjhar Kund, Dhua Kund. 
• There are several Dams and lakes, including Anupam Lake, Karamchat dam and Kohira Dam. 

More Information: 

• 1^st tiger reserve of Bihar:  
  • The Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in West Champaran district, is currently the 1st and only tiger reserve of the state. 
• Need for the 2^nd tiger reserve: 
  • A report of the NTCA said that the tiger population in the Valmiki reserve has increased from 31 in 2018 to 54. 
  • The total tiger count in the State currently is 54. 
  • There is a need for the second tiger reserve in the state as Valmiki TR has reached its saturation point of 50 tigers. 

PET46 

In News:

A recent study involving scientists from Kiel University (Germany) has discovered a deep-sea enzyme, PET46, capable of continuously breaking down PET plastic, commonly found in plastic bottles. 

About: 

• PET46 has the ability to degrade both very long-chain PET molecules (polymers) and short-chain PET molecules (oligomers), which means that degradation can be continuous. 
• It uses a completely different mechanism for substrate binding than previously known PET-degrading enzymes. 
• A ‘lid’ of 45 amino acids above the enzyme’s active center is crucial for binding, whereas in other PET enzymes, aromatic amino acids close to the active site are typical. 
• This research is part of the PLASTISEA project and sheds light on the potential for plastic waste degradation in the sea and on land. 
• The discovery of PET46 has been made from deep-sea organisms belonging to the archaea domain. 
• Archaea is a domain of single-celled microbes lacking cell nuclei and are therefore prokaryotes. 

PET plastic 

• PET plastic, or polyethylene terephthalate, is a common type of plastic used to make bottles, containers, and synthetic fibres.  
• It is known for its transparency, lightweight nature, and recyclability.  
• PET is widely used for packaging beverages, food, and personal care products. 

Kole wetlands 

In News:

Kole wetlands of Kerala face the threat of alien plants 

About 

• The Kole wetlands in Kerala, a Ramsar site of international importance celebrated for its rich biodiversity, are confronting a fresh menace in the form of an invasive alien plant species known as ‘Cabomba furcuta’, commonly referred to as Pink Bloom.  
• This species, originally hailing from Central and South America, was initially introduced to Kerala as an aquarium plant but has now emerged as a serious threat to the Kole fields, exacerbating existing challenges posed by invasive species like water hyacinth and Salvinia molesta.  
• Despite its visually striking pink flowers, ‘Cabomba furcuta’ presents a substantial risk to the region’s biodiversity and agricultural productivity. 

Climate Change and the Indian Dairy Sector 

In News:

India, the world’s largest milk producer for over half a century, is struggling with runaway milk prices. Despite producing a quarter of global milk production, milk prices are at an all-time high. Average retail price of milk has increased by 18 % in the past two years. 

Causes of Inflation in prices of milk:  

• Infectious lumpy skin disease: The viral pox disease LSD is novel to the country and has infected 3.2 million cattle and buffaloes across the country in the past year and killed over 0.2 million animals. 
• Milk production of the surviving animals has dropped by 20 to 50%, 
• Rebound in consumer demand: During COVID the demand and production of milk took hit. However post COVID increased demand for milk and milk products were witnessed, leading to increase in price. . 
• Missing 17 million Cattles: According to an estimates the country has likely missed 16.84 million artificial inseminations and have led to stagnation in the number of high-yield dairy cattle and buffaloes between 2020 and 2022. 
• This led to double burden of milk loss and incurring additional maintenance cost till the animal enters the next oestrus cycle. 
• Fodder Inflation: Farmers faced an acute shortage of dry fodder (wheat straw, along with other items) in 2022, and have been facing a steady fodder inflation since then. The shortage was fuelled by fall in wheat stocks due to an unusually hot March 2022. 

What is Artificial Insemination? 

• In artificial insemination technology, semen is collected from a bull with proven superior genetic merits and is stored at ultra-low temperatures (known as cryopreservation) at the country’s more than 99,000 artificial insemination centres. 
• It is then introduced to the reproductive tract of the female cattle at a time when it is ready for conception (also known as oestrus period that coincides once in 21 days). 
• The Union government implements the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP), as part of the Rashtriya Gokul Mission scheme for genetic upgradation of all breeds of bovines and enhances their milk productivity using advanced technologies. 

Factors affecting the Indian Dairy Sector:  

Climate Impact:  

• Milk Productivity: Increasing temperatures could decrease milk production and reproductive success in cattle. Increasing temperatures could reduce milk production in India’s arid and semi-arid regions by 25% by the end of 2085. 
• Increased sensitivity to heat stress: Lactating dairy cows have an increased sensitivity to heat stress. Furthermore, higher yielding cows are more challenged by heat stress than lower yielding animals. 
• Reproductive success: Heat stress also decreases reproductive success. Elevated temperatures affect the cow’s ability to display natural mating behaviour, as it reduces both the duration and intensity of oestrus expression. 

• Exodus of Dairy Farmers: Dairy farmers find the sector is no longer lucrative and that they are incurring huge losses. This is leading to an exodus of farmers from the dairy sector.  
• Government Policies:  
  • Sex-sorted semen production: The policy aims to produce semen of only female calves up to “90% accuracy”. This has been done to enhance milk production and limit stray cattle population. However this policy overlooks the utility of male cattle and could eliminate them slowly. 
  • Anti-Slaughter rules: There is also the issue of the utility of female animals after they become unproductive, because it has become difficult to sell cows due to the anti-slaughter rules across many States. 

The State of the Rhino Report, 2023 

In News:

Recently, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) has released the “State of the Rhino, 2023” report, which provides population estimates and trends for the five remaining rhino species in Africa and Asia. 

About: 

• Every year, World Rhino Day is observed on 22nd September to spread awareness for all five species of rhino and the work being done to save them. 
• It was first announced by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – South Africa in 2010. 

Key Findings of the Report: 

• According to the report, the two most significant factors causing rhino populations to decline are poaching and habitat loss, but climate change is also increasingly impacting many facets of their survival. 
• Poaching still threatens all five rhino species — black, white, greater one-horned, Sumatran, and Javan — and has increased in several regions that had not previously been targeted. 
• The collaboration among India, Bhutan, and Nepal, along with strict government protection and management, has led to a 20 percent increase in their population over the past decade. India is estimated to be home to 3,262 rhinos. 
• Black rhino populations are increasing despite poaching pressure. However, South Africa is grappling with devastating poaching losses of its white rhinos, particularly in certain reserves. 
• One concerning aspect highlighted in the report is that the status and whereabouts of 12 of the approximately 76 remaining Javan rhinos are unknown. Sumatran rhinos are also increasingly difficult to find, raising uncertainty about their population in the wild. 
• The report underscores the need for continued efforts to protect and conserve rhinos and their habitats, address poaching, and mitigate the effects of climate change to ensure the survival of these iconic species. 

Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve 

In News: 

Recently, Madhya Pradesh, which is home to the most number of tigers in the country, has got a new protected area for the big cats named ‘Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve’, the seventh in the state. 

About: 

• Veerangana Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary is spread across Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur districts of Madhya Pradesh. 
• It is the seventh tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. 
• Area: 2,339 square kilometers. 
• Naming: It is named after Rani Durgavati, a queen of the Gondi people. 
• Culture: The Singorgarh Fort can be found inside the reserve. 
• It will encompass areas within the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary and Durgavati Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• A green corridor linking Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR) with Durgavati will be developed for the natural movement of the tiger to the new reserve. 
• Rivers: Some areas of the reserve are situated in the Narmada and Yamuna River basins. 
• Vegetation: Dry deciduous type 
• Flora: The chief floral elements include Teak, Saja, Dhaora, Ber, Amla, etc. 
• Fauna: Tiger, leopard, wolf, jackal, Indian fox, striped hyena, Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar, Black Buck, Barking deer, Common Langur Rhesus Macaque, etc. 

More Information: 

• Madhya Pradesh has consistently held the title of the “tiger state,” with its tiger population increasing from 526 in 2018 to 785 in the 2022 census. 

Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary 

In News:

The Surya Regional Water Supply Project has achieved a milestone by completing the tunneling work of the Tungareshwar tunnel recently. 

About: 

• Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary also known as Tungareshwar National Park is located in the Palghar district of Maharashtra, 75 km away from Mumbai. 
• The sanctuary forms a corridor between Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. 
• It is characterized by hilly terrain, dense forests, and small rivers or streams. 
• Vegetation: 
  • There are three different types of forests – Dry Deciduous, Moist Deciduous and Semi Evergreen. 
• Flora and Fauna: 
  • It is home to several species of trees, including teak, bamboo, and mango. 
  • Some commonly spotted animals in the sanctuary include Leopard, Wild Boar, Barking Deer, Langur, Bonnet and Rhesus Macaque, and Black-naped Hare. 
  • A multitude of birds, including the Crested Serpent-eagle, Jungle Owlet, White-eyed Buzzard, Oriental Honey-buzzard, Emerald Dove and Heart-spotted Woodpecker, can be found here. 
• Temple: 
  • Several ancient temples are within its boundaries. The most famous of these temples is the Tungareshwar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

Mithun (‘Food Animal’) 

In News:

Recently, Northeast’s Mithun got a ‘food animal’ tag from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). 

About: 

• Mithun is a ruminant species of the Bovidae family found in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. 
• It is also the state animal of both Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. 
• The Mithun or gayal (Bos frontalis) is considered a descendant of the Indian Gaur or bison. 
• It is known as the ‘cattle of the mountain’. 
• Characteristics: 
  • The mithun is semi-domesticated and is reared in a free-range forest ecosystem. 
  • Since the soil in these parts is acidic and low in salt content, mithuns have an affinity for salt. 
• Conservation status 
  • IUCN: Vulnerable 
  • CITES: Appendix I. 
• Initiatives: 
  • Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has launched the M-ANITRA app to register mithun farmers as “buyers” and “sellers” with the aim to help them do business at competitive prices.  
• Objective of recognition 
  • To help farmers and tribal village communities benefit commercially from the sale and processing of mithun meat. 
• Other animals having food animal tag: Himalayan yak. 

World Ozone Day 

In News:

Recently, The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has celebrated the 29th World Ozone Day. 

About: 

• World Ozone Day is celebrated on 16th September each year to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol. 
• Montreal Protocol an international environmental treaty for phasing out of production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances, that came into force on 16th September in 1987.  
• World Ozone Day is celebrated to spread awareness among people about the depletion of Ozone Layer and the measures taken/ to be taken to preserve it.  
• The theme for World Ozone Day 2023 is “Montreal Protocol: fixing the ozone layer and reducing climate change”. 

Ozone layer  

• It is located in the stratosphere between 10 and 40 kilometers above Earth’s surface, shields us from harmful UV radiation. 
• This protective layer, known as stratospheric ozone or good ozone, prevents adverse health effects like cataracts and skin cancer and safeguards agriculture, forestry, and marine life. 
• However, man-made Ozone Depleting Substances have caused ozone depletion in the stratosphere. 
• The international community recognized the need for action, leading to the Vienna Convention in 1985 and the subsequent Montreal Protocol in 1987. 

Vienna Convention  

• Vienna Convention is an international treaty on the protection of the Ozone Layer. 
• It came into force in 1985.  
• Under this convention, the Montreal Protocol came into force in 1987 to repair the ozone layer to protect the earth’s Ozone Layer by phasing out production and consumption of Ozone Depleting Substances for end applications. 

India’s achievements in the implementation of the Montreal Protocol 

• India, a signatory since June 1992, has made significant strides in implementing the Montreal Protocol: 
• India successfully phased out ODS like Chlorofluorocarbons, Carbon Tetrachloride, Halons, Methyl Bromide, and Methyl Chloroform for controlled uses by 1st January 2010. 
• Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are currently being phased out, with Stage I completed from 2012 to 2016 and Stage II in progress until the end of 2024. 
• India exceeded its target, achieving a 44% reduction in HCFCs by 1st January 2020, compared to the baseline’s 35%. 
• India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) launched in March 2019, focuses on reducing cooling demand, transitioning to alternative refrigerants, enhancing energy efficiency, and technological advancement.  
• It aims to maximize socio-economic and environmental benefits through synergies with existing government programs. 
• India has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.  
• As per the Kigali Amendment, India will complete its phase down of production and consumption of HFCs for controlled uses in 4 steps from 2032 onwards with cumulative reduction of 10% in 2032, 20% in 2037, 30% in 2042, and 85% in 2047. 
• The Ozone Cell collaborates with the Indian Institutes of Technology to promote research and development of low global warming potential chemicals.  

Gender Impact of Climate Change 

In News:

Climate change has impacted population groups unevenly and women face unique challenges due to the weather disruptions in Jharkhand. 

Impact on Women and Girls: 

• Due to male migration for work because of poor productivity in agriculture, women have to take on extra chores traditionally carried out by men such as roof repair. 
• In case of health emergency, they are not willing to seek emergency medical services at night in male absence. This results in increased health risks due to limited access to healthcare. 
• Due to scarcity of resources like water and firewood, burden on girls have increased with more responsibilities leading to school dropouts and early marriages. 
• Due to limited awareness of migration safeguards, there have been cases of safety concerns, abuse and harassment during migration. 
• Women working in factories endure poor conditions, lower wages and health hazards which make them vulnerable to health hazards, skin reactions, etc. 
• Water and firewood scarcity increase the time spent collecting them by women, and cattle must graze in distant areas due to a lack of available grass (creating issues about the safety of girls). 
• When women migrate for work and leave their children in the care of their father or grandparents, caregiving gets disrupted in their absence. 
• Many times, the men use the money they send back for alcohol, which makes the children more vulnerable. 
• Due to scarcity of water, they are unable to maintain proper hygiene which makes them vulnerable to several diseases. 

Solutions to tackle the problems due to climate change: 

• Rainwater harvesting systems 
• Reviving traditional eating habits 
• Promoting the cultivation of millets and local nutritious foods 
• Awareness and preparedness for climate change impacts 
• Awareness regarding legal safeguards regarding migration and harassment. 

Deoxygenation in riverine ecosystems 

In News:

The findings of a study led by the Pennsylvania State University showed that of nearly 800 rivers across the United States and Central Europe, warming occurred in 87 percent and oxygen loss in 70 percent. 

About the study:  

• The study found that the rivers are warming and losing oxygen faster than oceans, and deoxygenation could “induce acute death” for certain aquatic species. 
• Of nearly 800 rivers across the United States and Central Europe, warming occurred in 87 percent and oxygen loss in 70 percent. 
• While urban rivers showed the most rapid warming, rural rivers witnessed the slowest warming but the fastest deoxygenation. 
• The researchers also forecast future rates.  
• Across all the rivers they studied, future deoxygenation rates were between 1.6 and 2.5 times higher than historical rates. 

Why is this study significant? 

• The implications of deoxygenation on riverine ecosystems have historically been overlooked. 
• And there are significant implications for water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems worldwide. 
• Though riverine water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels are essential measures of water quality and ecosystem health, they are poorly understood as they are hard to quantify. 
• Lack of consistent data across different rivers and the myriad of variables involved that can change oxygen levels in each watershed are the reasons for flawed assessments. 

What are the implications of deoxygenation on riverine ecosystems? 

• Deoxygenation drives greenhouse gas emissions. 
• It leads to the release of toxic metals. 
• If the oxygen levels get low enough, it becomes dangerous for aquatic life. 
• Within the next 70 years, certain species of fish could die out completely due to longer periods of low oxygen levels, according to the study. 
• Coastal areas, like the Gulf of Mexico, often have dead zones in the summer. 
• It is reducing the quality and quantity of suitable habitat, also known as habitat compression, reducing growth rate, changing visual function, interfering with reproduction, and increasing disease susceptibility. 

Collaborative Partnership on Forests 

In News: 

Recently, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF) has issued a joint call to action looking ahead to 2030, stressing the immediate requirement for global efforts to unlock the potential of forests for the betterment of both people and the planet. 

Key highlights 

Significance of Forests: The CPF underscores the increasing recognition of the pivotal role forests play in attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This involves their support for sustainable agricultural and food systems, their role in combatting climate change, reversing biodiversity decline, addressing desertification, and providing essential goods and services. 

Progress and Obstacles: Swift action is essential to meet international goals and targets. This includes the imperative of expanding global forest cover by 3 percent by 2030. This expansion contributes to the preservation of carbon stocks, landscape restoration, and the creation of resilient ecosystems. 

Four Key Focus Areas: The CPF outlines four primary areas of focus to tackle the challenges related to the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of forests.  

a. Strengthening Policies and Governance 

b. Enhancing Accessibility to Data and Decision-Making Tools 

c. Increasing Finance and Investment 

d. Boosting Communication and Awareness 

Persuasion: Green Nudge 

In News:

According to a Chinese research, awarding customers with “green points” and altering the default choice for no single-use cutlery in online food purchases resulted in a 648% rise in such orders. 

Nudge Theory: 

• Richard Thaler, an economist, devised the nudge theory, which underpins the idea of using minor stimuli to promote actions that are in the best interests of an individual over the long run. 
• He won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2017. 
• Nudge policies are gaining popularity in India as decision-makers explore for alternatives to typical command-and-control legislation to encourage constructive social and economic development. 
• Nudge policies used in programs such as Swachh Bharat Mission, GiveItUp campaign and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), etc. 

Persuasion: 

• Influencing someone’s views, attitudes, or actions via argument and communication is the act of persuasion. 
• It entails persuading or inspiring others to embrace a specific viewpoint by presenting facts in a convincing way. 
• To accomplish its goals, it frequently relies on strong communication, empathy, trustworthiness, and the application of persuasive strategies. 
• To persuade people to make ecologically responsible decisions, Green Nudges employ persuasive strategies include public awareness campaigns, social norms marketing, and community-based projects. 

Green Nudge: 

• A Green Nudge is a subtle intervention or persuasion technique designed to influence individuals to make environmentally friendly choices without limiting their options. 
• These nudges encourage eco-conscious behaviour and have been effective in addressing environmental issues by guiding people toward sustainable decisions. 
• Green Nudge Examples: 
  • India: Zomato’s “no-cutlery” option; Government’s LiFE movement, promoting environmentally conscious living, etc. 
  • UK: “The Big Switch Off” campaign to save energy by encouraging people to turn off lights and appliances when not in use. 
  • Netherland: “Pay as you throw” policy for garbage collection, where residents pay based on the amount of waste they produce, incentivizing reduced waste generation. 
  • USA: San Francisco’s ban on plastic bags discourages their use and promotes reusable alternatives. 

Segur elephant corridor 

Tag: GS-3 Environment 

In News:

Recently, a Supreme Court-appointed committee has declared 12 private resorts along the Segur elephant corridor illegal. 

About 

• Segur elephant corridor is vital for the movement of elephants and other wildlife between habitats in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. 
• The Sigur Elephant Corridor, the only one of its kind connecting Western and the Eastern Ghats and facilitating easy movement of about 6,300 Asiatic elephants from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. 
• Corridor causes displacement of over 12,000 people is facing stiff resistance from rights activists and agencies supporting indigenous communities as the project lack provisions for co-existence and community-based forest management. 
• The corridor will connect Nagarhole, Bandipur, Wayanad, Mudumalai, Nilgiri North, B.R. Hills, and Sathyamangalam forest areas spread in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. 

Anamudi Shola national park 

In News:

The Munnar Wildlife Division in Idukki, India, has achieved a remarkable transformation of the Pazhathottam area within the Anamudi Shola National Park.  

About 

• Pazhathottam area was once a scorched landscape, dominated by exotic tree species, has been rejuvenated into a lush 50-hectare forest through a successful eco-restoration project. 
• It is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), involved the removal of invasive exotic species and the planting of natural grass. 
• Project has contributed to the revival of natural streams, ensuring water security downstream. 
• To enhance community involvement, an eco-development committee named “Haritha Vasantham” was established for the project, engaging local residents in its implementation and fostering a sense of ownership in the restoration efforts. 

About Anamudi Shola National Park 

• The Anamudi shola National Park is located in the western Ghats. It lies just east of Eravikulam National parak.  
• Anamudi shola National Park consists of three Shola Reserve Forests namely  
  • Pannavan shola 
  • Pullaradi shola 
  • Indivara shola  
• This together occupying an area of 42068 Sq.Km. This forest patch is situated in Devikulam Taluk in Idukki District. 
• The Anamudi Shola National Park is home to a plant called Neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana). This plant only blooms once every 12 years. 

Paris agenda for the people and the planet 

In News:

After the G20 meet, it is clear that world leaders are serious about delivering on the Paris Agenda and “One Earth, One Family, One Future.” 

About the Paris agenda for the people and the planet: 

• At the end of June, a historic summit on international solidarity concluded the Paris Agenda for People and the Planet.  

• African leaders amplified this dynamic by adopting the Nairobi Declaration during the first Africa Climate Summit in Kenya.  
• The G20 summit in New Delhi, pushed this agenda forward with the New Delhi Declaration. 

What are the principles that must guide the actions to fulfil the Paris agenda? 

• No country should have to choose between fighting poverty and fighting to protect and preserve the planet. 
• Facing different needs, countries may need to pursue diverse transition paths while coming together to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement.  
• This is why the Just Energy Transition Partnerships and Country Packages for Forest, Climate and Nature is being accelerated. 
• More financial resources are needed to support vulnerable economies, lifting their populations out of poverty while protecting the planet. 
• Meeting today’s global challenges will depend on scaling up the use of private capital flows to emerging and developing economies. 
• The target of $100 billion worth of special drawing rights or equivalent contributions has already been achieved, to be channelled to the world’s most vulnerable countries, especially in Africa.  
• Each dollar of lending by multilateral development banks (MDBs) should be complemented by at least one dollar of private finance.  
• An overall increase of $200 billion in MDBs’ lending capacity over the next ten years is possible by optimising their balance sheets and enabling them to take more risks.  
• There is a need for more efficiency in using this capital.  

What is the way forward to achieve the Paris agenda? 

• Improving the timeliness and predictability of the debt restructuring coordination mechanism for low-income countries (the G20’s Common Framework for Debt Treatments) and extending it to lower-middle-income countries.  
• Accelerating debt suspension when needed, including to increase fiscal space for countries that are in debt distress. 
• The Common Framework has already been delivered for Chad and Zambia and it can and must be used on a larger scale.  
• Countries must support each other when one is hit by a disaster.  
• That calls for specific tools to strengthen their resilience, including a climate-crisis clause in debt contracts. 
• All financial institutions and actors will need to work together to fulfil it.  
• Part of this cooperative effort must involve coordinating the MDBs and public development banks in the ‘Finance in Common’ global network of development banks. 
• Cooperation on the energy transition can be achieved through the Climate Club, which the G7 established in order to fulfil the Paris climate agreement. 
• New avenues for international taxation will also need to be found in order to meet our climate commitments.  
• Governments will need to clamp down on financial flows that escape legitimate tax systems. 
• Developing countries will need fair partnerships that enable them to generate added value by processing raw materials and critical minerals locally, and that reinforce the commitment to strengthen health-care and food infrastructure. 
• An ambitious financial replenishment of the International Development Association, a deepening of the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, and increased funding for the World Bank and IMF’s other concessional facilities could also play a big part in helping the world’s poorest countries.  
• Including climate vulnerability in the World Bank and IMF’s mission will enable more investment in projects that assist poor countries in combating climate change.  

Banning Glue pads for rodent control 

In News:

Recently, Delhi has joined several Indian states in banning glue pads for rodent control. 

About 

• Glue pads are widely criticized as a cruel method of rodent control because they subject trapped animals to prolonged suffering, as they slowly die from starvation and extreme pain while stuck in the strong adhesive. 
• Rat poison, often used as an alternative to glue pads, is similarly considered inhumane. It poses risks not only to the targeted rodents but also to the wider ecosystem. Animals that consume poisoned rats, such as cats, snakes, mongooses, and predatory birds, can be harmed by the toxins, leading to unintended consequences and harm to non-target species. 
• The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) took a stand against the use of glue pads for rodent control by releasing advisory notices in both 2011 and 2021, effectively banning their use.  

Climate change causing deluge across the world 

In News:

Recently, more than 11,000 people were killed and 30,000 were displaced in Libya after torrential rains caused once-in-a-century floods that burst dams and swept away buildings. 

Floods due to the Mediterranean storm Daniel: 

• More than 11,000 people were killed and 30,000 were displaced in Libya. 
• Severe rainfall inundated parts of central Greece, north-western Turkey, southern Brazil, central and coastal Spain, southern China, Hong Kong and the southwestern US. 
• While a Mediterranean storm called Daniel led to floods in Libya, Greece and Turkey, a cyclone wreaked havoc in Brazil and another storm known as Typhoon Haikui caused flooding in Hong Kong and China. 
• These extreme weather events took place against the backdrop of soaring global temperatures. 

Relation between flood and climate change: 

• Although it is unclear if climate change is directly causing floods, experts say that it is undoubtedly making many of the elements that do so. 
• Heavier Precipitation: Since more water vapour is evaporated from land, the oceans, and other bodies of water at higher temperatures, a warmer atmosphere may contain more moisture. The atmosphere can store around 7% extra moisture, according to experts, for every 1-degree Celsius increase in average temperature. As a result, precipitation becomes more intense, persistent, and/or frequent during storms, increasing the risk of catastrophic floods. 
• Amplification of Drought: The earth has gotten both drier and wetter as a result of rising average temperature. Droughts can be made worse by warmer air sucking moisture from the soil. On the other hand, warm air can store more moisture, which allows it to carry more water into a wet area. 
• Rising Sea Levels: The melting of glaciers and ice sheets brought on by higher global temperatures has raised sea levels, increasing the danger of flooding in coastal areas. According to a 2022 report by NOAA Climate, the global mean sea level has risen about 21–24 centimetres since 1880. 

Hard to attribute floods to climate change: 

• Particularly for the most devastating floods, which occur less frequently, there are few historical records. 
• There are too many variables involved to point out one to be held responsible for flooding in a location (such as regional weather patterns, soil characteristics, and geography of the affected area). 
• In the same way, researchers are still trying to determine how climate change and tornadoes are related. However, not all severe weather events are like this. 
• There is enough evidence to show that global warming has increased the number of hot days. 

Other factors that affect flooding: 

• Local conditions like topography and how wet the soil is contributing to the flood development. E.g., drier soils are more capable of absorbing most of the rainfall in comparison to wetter soils — however, both really dry and really wet soils can’t absorb much water. 
• Weather patterns: In the 2022 Australian floods much of the eastern coast of the country was inundated due to persistent heavy rainfall. 
• Deforestation: A 2007 study done by researchers from Australia’s Charles Darwin University and the National University of Singapore found that with every 10% increase in trees being cut down, the flood risk increases by up to 28%. 
• Inadequate maintenance of infrastructure: In Libya’s port city of Derna, the severity of floods was so huge because heavy rainfall caused two of the city’s dams to burst — they collapsed under the pressure of water gathered behind them during the storm. 
• Human encroachment into floodplains: In July, Delhi witnessed its worst floods in history. The Yamuna River rose to 208.66 meters, submerging the Ring Road and leaving Kashmere Gate, Civil Lines, ITO, and Rajghat waterlogged. The main reason behind the deluge was excessive encroachment. 

2nd Berlin Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability 

In News:

Recently, the environment minister participated in ‘High-Level Dialogue on Human Health and Environment convened under the 2nd Berlin Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability 

About 

• The 2nd Berlin Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability is a prestigious event focused on offering strategic direction and impetus for addressing critical global concerns related to the responsible handling of chemicals and waste. 
• Hosted by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMU). 
• This forum seeks to galvanize political support and enhance the level of ambition for the ‘ Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) Beyond 2020 agenda during the forthcoming 5th meeting of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5). 
• The inaugural Berlin Forum on Chemicals and Sustainability underscored the imperative of establishing a science-policy interface (SPI) for the management of chemicals and waste. 

United Nations Global Stocktake Report 

In News:

Recently, United Nations released Global Stocktake report. 

About 

The Global Stocktake report from the United Nations serves as a guiding framework for deliberations during the Conference of Parties (COP), with its primary objective being the evaluation of countries’ advancements in reducing greenhouse gas emissions since 2015. 

Positive Findings: 

1. Impact of the Paris Agreement: The report underscores that the Paris Agreement has played a pivotal role in inspiring widespread climate action across the globe. 
2. Improved Temperature Projections: Notably, the report presents an improved outlook for global temperature rise, estimating it to be in the range of 2.4-2.6°C. This represents a significant improvement from the earlier, more alarming projection of 3.7-4.8°C in 2010. 

Negative Findings: 

1. Excessive Emissions: Despite some progress, the report raises concerns about global emissions exceeding the limits established in the Paris Agreement. This underscores the urgency of further action. 
2. Ambitious Emission Reductions Needed: The report emphasizes the need for ambitious actions to achieve net-zero CO2 emissions. Specifically, an 84% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions below 2019 levels by 2050 is deemed necessary. 
3. Deficits in Climate Action: The report identifies shortfalls in various aspects of climate action, including mitigation (reducing emissions), adaptation (adjusting to climate impacts), and finance. These deficits highlight the necessity for more comprehensive and robust efforts in addressing climate change. 

Recommendations from the Report: 

• Mitigation: The report advocates for an inclusive and equitable transformation of energy systems, moving away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. This transition is seen as vital for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. 
• Adaptation: To enhance resilience to climate change, the report suggests integrating climate change risks into all aspects of planning and implementation. It also emphasizes the importance of transparent reporting on adaptation efforts to track progress effectively. 

• Climate Finance: Recognizing the financial challenges faced by developing countries, the report recommends improving access to climate finance. Ensuring that developing nations have adequate resources to combat climate change is essential for achieving global climate goals. 

Stocktaking the calamity: The Hindu Editorial on climate crisis and the U.N. Global Stocktake report 

Fujianvenator 

In News:

Recently, Scientists in China have uncovered fossils of a peculiar, bird-like dinosaur named Fujianvenator prodigiosus, which lived around 148 to 150 million years ago in southeast China. 

About: 

• The dinosaur had elongated legs and arms built much like wings, suggesting it either was a fast runner or lived a lifestyle like a modern wading bird. 
• Fujianvenator is a member of a grouping called avialans. 
• This group includes all birds and their closest non-avian dinosaur. 

Features: 

• Its forelimb is generally built like a bird’s wing, but with three claws on the fingers, which are absent from modern birds. 
• Its lower leg bone – the tibia – was twice as long as its thigh bone – the femur. 
• It also had a long bony tail. 
• It cannot be determined whether it could fly or not. 
• Fujianvenator’s discovery contributes to our understanding of the evolutionary history of birds, which evolved from two-legged, feathered dinosaurs known as theropods during the late Jurassic period. 

White sambar deer 

In News:

Recently, A rare white sambar deer (leucistic sambar deer) was spotted in a camera trap at Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary limits, in Chamarajanagar district. 

About: 

• This is the first time a leucistic sambar deer has been spotted in this forest area. A White Sambar Deer was previously recorded in Bandipur Tiger Reserve in 2014. 
• Leucism is a genetic condition that affects the pigmentation of an animal’s skin, feathers, scales, or fur.  
• Unlike albinism, which causes a complete absence of pigment, leucism results in a partial loss of pigment, leading to white or pale colouration in affected areas. 

Sambar deer: 

• The Sambar (Rusa unicolour) is a large deer native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. 
• They are quite elusive and are most active at dusk and at night. 
• They are found in a broad range of forest habitats like dry deciduous forests, rainforests and mixed forests. 
• Distribution: Their range is distributed from the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains across southern Asia and reaching the islands of Taiwan, Sumatra and Borneo. 
• Conservation status 
  • IUCN: Vulnerable 
  • The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule-III 

Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary:

It is extended over three districts, namely, Chamarajanagar, Mandya and Ramanagara in Karnataka. The sanctuary provides a vital link between Bannerghatta National Park in the north and Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve and Male Mahadev Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in the south. The area is drained by three rivers, namely, Cauvery, Arkavathi and Shimsha.

Management of e-waste  in India 

In News:

Recently, the Indian Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) released a report on ‘Pathways to Circular Economy in Indian Electronics Sector’ in collaboration with NITI Aayog, aiming to explore opportunities for managing electronic waste (e-waste) more effectively. 

Key Highlights of the ICEA Report: 

• According to the report, e-waste management in India is predominantly informal, with approximately 90% of e-waste collection and 70% of recycling being managed by a competitive informal sector. 
• The report emphasizes the need to shift the outlook on e-waste management towards establishing a circular economy. For example, China targets 5% of secondary raw material in new products by 2019 and aims for 35% by 2030. 
• The report suggested the following initiatives: 
  • Establish public-private partnerships for a reverse supply chain 
  • Create an auditable database of collected materials 
  • Develop geographical clusters for processing devices 
  • Incentivize high-yield recycling centres 
  • Support the right to repair by users 

E-wastes in India: 

• E-waste refers to all items of electronic and electrical equipment (EEE) and its parts that have been discarded by their owner as waste without the intent of re-use. 
• According to the Global E-waste Monitor 2020, India is the third-largest e-waste generator in the world after China and the USA. 
• The volume of e-waste in India has witnessed a significant surge to 1.6 million tonnes in 2021-22. 

E-waste Management in India: 

• At present the management of e-waste is addressed within the framework of the E-Waste (Management) Rules 2022. The key provisions are mentioned below: 
• It has increased the range of electronic goods covered e.g., laptops, mobile, cameras etc. 
• It has restricted the use of hazardous substances (such as lead, mercury, and cadmium) in manufacturing electrical and electronic equipment that have an adverse impact on human health and the environment. 
• Producers of electronic goods have to ensure at least 60% of their electronic waste is collected and recycled by 2023 with targets to increase them to 70% and 80% in 2024 and 2025, respectively. 
• ‘Environmental compensation’ to be provided by the companies that don’t meet their target. 
• Extended Producer Responsibility Certificates (similar to carbon credit mechanism) will allow the offsetting of e-waste responsibility to a third party. 
• The Central Pollution Control Board shall conduct random sampling of electrical and electronic equipment placed on the market to monitor and verify the compliance of reduction of hazardous substances provisions. 

Current Initiatives: 

• The Bhopal e-waste clinic is a pilot project in this field. It enables door-to-door collection or direct deposit at the clinic, offering a fee-based exchange. 
• ‘Karo Sambhav’, a Delhi-based initiative has integrated informal aggregators in its collection mechanism. 

Siang River 

In News:

Recently, The Centre has proposed to construct a large barrage on the Siang River to protect it from potential hazards posed by the massive Chinese dam being built on river Tsangpo in Tibet. 

About: 

• The Tsangpo flows through Tibet before entering Arunachal Pradesh as the Dihang or Siang. It becomes the Brahmaputra in Assam and the Jamuna in Bangladesh before it empties into the Bay of Bengal. 
• It originates at Angsi Glacier in western Tibet, southeast of Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. 
• It is the longest river in Tibet and the fifth longest in China. 
• The river forms the world’s largest and deepest canyon, YarlungTsangpo Grand Canyon. 
• The YarlungTsangpo River is the highest major river in the world. 
• Its longest tributary is the Nyang River. 

In India, its main tributaries are: 

• Main tributaries on the North are: namely Subansiri, Ronganadi, Dikrong, Buroi, Borgong, Jiabharali, Dhansiri (North) Puthimari, Manas, Beki, Aie, Sonkoshare. 
• Main tributaries on the south are: Noadehing, Buridehing, Desang, Dikhow, Bhogdoi, Dhansiri (South), Kopilli, Kulsi, Krishnai, Dhdhnoi, Jinjiran. 

More Information: 

• The Chinese government is planning to build a dam over the Siang River with a capacity of around 60,000 MW on the Tibet side. 
• It is expected to produce triple the electricity produced by the Three Gorges – the world’s largest power station. 

‘Atlantification’ of the Arctic Ocean 

In News:

Recently, Researchers have discovered the cause of the Arctic Ocean Sea ice decrease since 2007. 

About: 

• The study, published in the journal Science, explores the ecosystem responses to the Arctic dipole and its impact on the Arctic Ocean climate, a phenomenon referred to as Atlantification. 
• Atlantification is the increasing influence of Atlantic water in the Arctic. Warmer and saltier Atlantic water is extending its reach northward into the Arctic Ocean. 

Key highlights of the Study 

• Researchers found that the periodic reversal of an atmospheric phenomenon known as the Arctic dipole plays a significant role in driving drops in sea ice. 
• The Arctic dipole follows a roughly 15-year cycle, and data spanning several decades suggest that it is approaching the end of its current regime. 
• In the Arctic dipole’s present “positive” regime, which has been in place since 2007, high pressure is centered over the Canadian sector of the Arctic and produces clockwise winds. 
• Low pressure is centered over the Siberian Arctic and features counterclockwise winds. This wind pattern drives upper ocean currents, with year-round effects on: 
  • regional air temperatures, 
  • atmosphere-ice-ocean heat exchanges, 
  • sea-ice drift and exports, and 
  • ecological consequences. 
• The study highlights the importance of water exchanges between the Nordic seas and the Arctic Ocean for the Arctic climate system, with sea ice decline serving as a significant indicator of climate change. 
• Researchers observed changes in Atlantic water flow into the Arctic Ocean, including decreased flow through the Fram Strait and increased flow into the Barents Sea, which they referred to as a “switchgear mechanism” driven by the Arctic dipole. 
• This change in water flow has had a significant impact on sea ice loss, slowing it down from 2007 to 2021. 
• The study also notes that these changes in water inflow have profound effects on marine life, creating more favourable conditions for sub-Arctic boreal species in certain areas. 

Arctic Dipole

The Arctic Dipole, also known as the Dipole Anomaly, is a climatic pattern characterized by variations in atmospheric pressure in the Arctic region. The positive phase of the Arctic Dipole is characterized by high pressure centered over the Canadian sector of the Arctic producing clockwise winds, and low pressure over the Siberian Arctic, with counterclockwise winds. The negative phase of the Arctic Dipole is characterized by low atmospheric pressure over the Canadian Arctic and high atmospheric pressure over the Siberian Arctic.

India’s Falling Cotton Production 

In News:

While Bt-Cotton gave a huge impetus to production during the first decade-and-a-half of this century, the yield gains from it have been somewhat eroded by the emergence of new dominant pests, especially Pink Bollworm (PBW). 

Significance of Cotton in India: 

• Cotton, like coconut, is a source of all the three Fs: Food, Feed and Fibre. 
• It constitutes only about 36% of kapas (raw cotton), the rest is seed (62%) and wastes (2%) separated from the lint during ginning. 
• Cotton seed contains 13% oil used for cooking and frying. The 85% residual cake, after extraction of oil from the seed and 2% processing losses, is a protein-rich feed ingredient for livestock and poultry. 
• Cotton has a roughly two-thirds share in India’s total textile fibre consumption. 
• The cottonseed is the country’s third largest domestically-produced vegetable oil (after mustard and soya bean) and its second biggest feed cake/meal (after soya bean). 

Bt – Cotton Production: 

• From 2002, Indian farmers began planting genetically-modified (GM) cotton hybrids incorporating genes isolated from a soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt. 
• The Bt genes coded for proteins toxic to the deadly Helicoverpa armigera or American bollworm insect pest. 
• As the share of Bt hybrids in the country’s area sown under cotton touched 95%, average per-hectare lint yields more than doubled from 278 kg in 2000-01 to 566 kg in 2013-14. 
• However, the gains didn’t last. The production and yields falling after 2013-14, to 343.5 lakh bales and 447 kg/hectare in 2022-23. 

Reasons for fall in Production and yield: 

• The Bt toxins were originally supposed to provide protection against both the Helicoverpa and PBW caterpillars that burrow into the bolls or fruits of the cotton plant in which the lint and seeds grow. 
• Helicoverpa that is polyphagous, with alternative hosts from arhar (pigeon pea), jowar (sorghum) and maize to tomato, chana (chickpea) and lobiya (cowpea). 
• Pectinophora gossypiella or Pink Bollworm (PBW) is a monophagous pest that feeds mainly on cotton. 
• Being monophagous enabled the PBW larvae to develop resistance to Bt proteins over time. 
• The PBW population that became resistant from continuously feeding on Bt hybrids, therefore, gradually overtook and replaced the ones that were susceptible. 
• Bt cotton has retained its effectiveness against the American bollworm. 
• But in 2014, an unusually large survival of PBW larvae was detected on cotton flowers at 60-70 days after sowing in Gujarat. 
• In the 2015 season thereafter every 25-30 days – PBW survivals were reported from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra too. 
• In 2021, even Punjab, Haryana and northern Rajasthan saw heavy infestation of the pest for the first time. 

Controlling the Pest: 

• The conventional route of spraying insecticides has had limited efficacy against the PBW larvae. These feed on the cotton bolls as well as the squares (buds) and tender flowers, affecting lint quality and yields. 
• Mating Disruption: 
  • It involves deploying Gossyplure, a pheromone signaling chemical that is secreted by female PBW moths to attract male adults. 
  • The pheromone is artificially synthesised and filled into pipes or lures. The male adult moths are, then, attracted towards the lures and do not mate with females during their 7-10 days’ time. 
  • In the event, eggs aren’t laid and they don’t grow into larvae (which feed on the cotton plant parts). 
  • The Central Insecticides Board & Registration Committee under the Agriculture Ministry has approved two mating disruption products – PBKnot and SPLAT for controlling PBW. 
• PBKnot: 
  • PBKnot is a dispenser having a 20-cm hollow polyethylene pipe, into which 140-160 mg of Gossyplure is impregnated. 
  • Each such “rope” that is tied to a cotton plant can release the pheromone over a 25 square-metre area. It translates into roughly 165 PBKnot-tagged plants every acre. 
  • South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC) has been conducting field experiments of PBKnot technology – sourced by the Gurugram-based PI Industries Ltd from Japan’s Shin-Etsu Chemical Company – during the last three seasons from 2021. 
• SPLAT: 
  • SPLAT-PBW, a flowable emulsion formulation technology for delivering Gossyplure, has been developed by ISCA Technologies in Riverside (California) and introduced in India by ATGC Biotech Pvt. Ltd, Hyderabad. 

Amended Forest (Conservation) Act imperils the Northeast 

In News:

Recently, the Mizoram Assembly has passed a resolution opposing the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act (FCA), 2023, highlighting the ongoing challenges in forest conservation and tribal rights in Northeast India. 

Key Provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act (FCA), 2023: 

• It amends the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. 
• It allows for the diversion of forest land for various projects, including roads, railways, and strategic national security projects, within 100 km of India’s international borders. 
• It expanded to include check posts, fencing, bridges, zoos and safaris under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; eco-tourism facilities; and silvicultural operations (enhancing forest growth), etc. 

Provisions for the Protection of forests in North-Eastern India: 

Article 371A and 371G: 

• Special Constitutional protections in Article 371A (Nagaland) and 371G (Mizoram) prohibit the application of laws that impinge on tribal customary law, land ownership, and transfer without the State Legislative Assemblies’ resolutions. 
• Mizoram, unlike Nagaland, falls under the purview of FCA due to its status as a State. The amendment affects 84.53% of its forest areas.

Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act (FRA) 2006: 

• Forest Land includes unclassified forests, un-demarcated forests, existing or deemed forests, protected forests, reserved forests, Sanctuaries, and National Parks. 
• This complied with the 1996 Supreme Court redefinition. 

Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006: 

• It recognizes traditional forest rights in various forest types, including unclassed forests, providing an additional layer of protection for tribal communities. 
• The potential benefits, most North-eastern states, except Assam and Tripura, have not implemented FRA, citing reasons such as land ownership patterns and lack of forest-dependent communities. 

Concerns raised by the North-Eastern States: 

• FCA allows for forest land diversion for projects located within 100 km of India’s international borders without requiring forest clearance. Most of Northeast India falls within the 100 km range, raising concerns about the environmental impact and infringement on tribal rights. 
• Areas not officially classified as forests in government records, even if they are standing forests, won’t be protected from commercial exploitation or diversion. A substantial portion of North-eastern forests is privately owned, including unclassed forests, which may not be covered by the Act unless included in government records. 
• More than 50% of the Recorded Forest Areas (RFA) in the North East falls under “unclassed forests” – forests which are not notified under any law. 97.3% of RFA in Nagaland, 88.2% in Meghalaya, 76% in Manipur, 53% in Arunachal Pradesh, 43% in Tripura, 33% in Assam, and 15.5% of Mizoram fall under unclassed forests category. 
• Mizoram and Tripura have passed resolutions opposing the amendment, expressing their commitment to protecting the rights and interests of their people. 
• Nagaland faces demands to follow suit, and Sikkim has also opposed the 100 km exemption clause. 

Forest Restoration 

In News:

For more than 200 years India has experimented with tree plantations, offering important lessons about the consequences different approaches to restoring forests. 

Deforestation: 

• It is a process of removing or clearing a large forest area or trees mainly due to human activities such as logging, agriculture, urban development, or infrastructure expansion. 

Major Factors of Deforestation: 

• Economic Factors: Logging, mining, and agriculture due to economic incentives. 
• Infrastructures: Highways and other facilitated access to remote areas, leading to deforestation. 
• Demand of a particular crop or agricultural product such as palm oil, rubber, etc. 
• Climate change: Due to climate change, that phenomenon like dieback of forests is peaking up. 
• Government laws: In order to give preference to the industries and manufacturing, now governments are loosening the forest laws and restrictions. 

Forest Restoration: 

• It is the planned process of restoring and regenerating forests that have been degraded, damaged, or lost due to various human activities or natural causes. 
• It involves tree planting, habitat restoration, and sustainable management practices to improve biodiversity, ecosystem services, and overall forest health. 
• India aims to restore 21 million hectares of forest and create a carbon sink of 2.5-3 billion tonnes by 2030 through the Bonn Challenge. 
• India’s national forest policy targets 33% tree coverage. 

Status of Forest Restoration: 

• In 2018, a report by the government and the IUCN indicated 10 million hectares were under restoration. 
• The current global focus on tree planting has often led to the rapid establishment of fast-growing tree plantations of single species like eucalyptus or bamboo to quickly increase tree cover. 
• This approach can yield quick results but also poses risks, including invasive species and land dispossession. 
• The Forest Rights Act of 2006 empowered village assemblies (Gram Sabhas) in central India’s Gadchiroli district to restore degraded forests, sustainably utilizing tendu leaves for bidi (Indian tobacco). 
• In western India’s Kachchh grasslands, communities successfully restored the ecosystem by removing the invasive “gando bawal” tree, introduced by British foresters in the late 19th century. 
• The introduction of non-native species like wattle, pine, and acacia disrupted ecosystems, leading to resource loss and community hardships. 

Way Forward: 

• Prioritize planting diverse native tree species in reforestation efforts. Natural forests with varied species are more effective at carbon sequestration than monoculture plantations. 
• Encourage sustainable forest crops through agroforestry, which enhances food security, empowers women, and boosts household income, reducing rural-to-urban migration. 

Missing green growth 

In News:

A new study shows that It could take 11 high-income countries over 200 years to reduce their 2022 greenhouse gas emissions by 95 per cent. 

Key Highlights about the Study: 

• The 11 high-income countries include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. 
• If current trends continue, these countries would emit 27 times their fair share of the 1.5 degrees Celsius carbon budget. 
• Fair share in carbon budgets are the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that can still be emitted for a 50 per cent chance of warming staying below 1.5°C. 
• The “green growth” is unattainable for these high-income countries, and their pursuit of economic growth contradicts the climate and equity goals of the Paris Agreement. 
• The green growth can only occur if reduction in CO2 emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) is fast enough to reduce emissions consistent with the Paris Agreement. 
• The study emphasizes that there is nothing environmentally friendly about the economic growth in these countries, and the term “green growth” is misleading, akin to greenwashing. 
• These 11 countries are likely to take between 73 years and 369 years (223 years, on average) to reduce their respective 2022 emissions by 95 per cent. 
• They would use up to five times and 162 times (on average, 27 times) of their respective remaining post-2022 fair shares of the 1·5°C global carbon budget. 
• These developed countries achieved emission reductions of an average of 1.6 per cent per year between 2013 and 2019, against a required reduction rate of 30 per cent per year by 2025 to not overshoot their fair share of the 1.5°C global carbon budget. 

Measures suggested by the researchers: 

• These rich countries should follow a “post-growth” approach to meet their climate targets and fairness principles of the Paris Agreement. 
• These countries should focus on equitable reductions in carbon-intensive production and consumption while enhancing livelihoods and well-being through policies like public job guarantees, reduced work hours, living wages, minimum income guarantees, and universal access to affordable housing and quality public services. 

Ecocide 

In News:

Recently, Mexico’s ‘Maya train’ project has been criticised as a “megaproject of death” causing an ecological disaster in the region. 

About: 

• Ecocide is defined as “extensive loss, damage or destruction of ecosystems such that the peaceful enjoyment by the inhabitants has been or will be severely diminished.” Here, “inhabitants” applies to all living creatures. 
• Ecocide, derived from Greek and Latin, translates to “killing one’s home” or “environment”.  
• Such ‘killing’ could include port expansion projects that  
  • destroy fragile marine life and local livelihoods;  
  • deforestation;  
  • illegal sandmining; and  
  • polluting rivers with untreated sewage.  
• Mexico is pushing to elevate ecocide to the ranks of an international crime, warranting similar legal scrutiny as genocide. 
• There is no accepted legal definition of ecocide, but a panel of lawyers in June 2021 for the Stop Ecocide Foundation prepared a 165-word articulation. 
• The biologist Arthur Galston in 1970 is credited with first linking environmental destruction with genocide, which is recognised as an international crime. 
• In 2010, British lawyer Polly Higgins urged the United Nations’ International Criminal Court (ICC) to recognise ecocide as an international crime. 
• At present Rome Statute of the ICC deals with 4 atrocities. 
  • genocide 
  • crimes against humanity 
  • war crimes 
  • the crime of aggression. 
• The provision on war crimes is the only statute that can hold a perpetrator responsible for environmental damage, but only if it is intentional and in wartime. 

More Information: 

• Ecocide is a crime in 11 countries, with 27 others considering laws to criminalise environmental damage that is wilfully caused and harms humans, animals, and plants. 

PM-DAKSH 

In News:

Recently, The Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalata Sampanna Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana, was in News.  

About: 

• The Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalata Sampanna Hitgrahi (PM-DAKSH) Yojana, a Central Sector Scheme, was launched during 2020-21.  
• The main objective of the Scheme is to enhance competency level of the target groups to make them employable both in self- employment and wage-employment for their socio-economic development.  

The scheme primarily focuses on the following target groups: 

• Scheduled Castes (SCs) 
• Other Backward Classes (OBCs) 
• Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) 
• Denotified Tribes (DNTs) 
• Safai Karamcharis, including waste pickers 

Eligibility criteria  

• Age Criteria: Between 18 to 45 years. 
• Income Criteria: 
• No income limit for SCs, Safai Karamcharis (including waste pickers), and DNTs. 
• Annual family income below Rs. 3 lakh for OBCs. 
• Annual family income below Rs. 1 lakh for EBCs.  
• The scheme offers various types of training programs with different durations and costs per candidate: 
  • Up-skilling/Reskilling 
  • Short Term Training 
  • Entrepreneurship Development Programme 
  • Long Term Training 
• The cost of training is as per common norms issued by Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship; Government of India and it varies as per duration of the course. 

Sand Mining: Irreversible damage to Ocean benthic life 

In News:

According to Marine Sand Watch (a new global data platform), approximately six billion tonnes of sand are extracted annually from the world’s oceans, causing irreversible damage to benthic life. 

Benthic Life: 

• The term “benthic life” describes organisms that dwell on or very close to the ocean floor as well as in lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. 
• Such organisms, which have evolved to live on river or ocean bottoms, are essential to the ecology because they break down organic matter and feed other aquatic species. 

Impact of Sand Extraction on Benthic Life: 

• It disturbs the seabed, destroying the habitat and shelter of benthic organisms such as worms, crustaceans, and small fish. 
• Dredging activities stir up sediment, increasing water turbidity. This reduces light penetration, affecting photosynthetic organisms and altering the benthic environment. 
• Changes in sediment composition and nutrient availability can disrupt the food web and nutrient cycling, affecting benthic communities’ survival and reproduction. 
• The machinery and vessels used in sand extraction generate underwater noise, which can disturb and stress benthic organisms, impacting their behaviour and health. 
• Benthic organisms may need to migrate or are forcibly displaced due to sand extraction, disrupting their natural life cycles and behaviours. 
• Coastal or near-shore extraction can also affect the salinization of aquifers and future tourist development. 

Measures taken by the Countries: 

• Some countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Cambodia have banned marine sand export in the last 20 years, while others lack any legislation and /or effective monitoring programmes. 

10 Recommendations by UNEP to monitor sand extraction: 

• Recognise sand as a strategic resource. 
• Include place-based perspectives for just sand transitions. 
• Enable a paradigm shift to a regenerative and circular future. 
• Integrate policy & legal frameworks strategically. 
• Establish ownership and access to sand resources through mineral rights and consenting. 
• Map, monitor and report sand resources. 
• Establish best practices, national standards, and a coherent international framework. 
• Promote resource efficiency & circularity. 
• Source responsibly. 
• Restore ecosystems and compensate remaining losses. 

Wastewater – Turning Problem into Solution 

In News:

Recently, the Global Wastewater Initiative (GWWI) released a report to tackle wastewater pollution titled “Wastewater – Turning Problem to Solution”. It aims to address the urgent need for sustainable water and wastewater management. 

Key Highlights of the Report: 

• Wastewater reuse could supply more than ten times the current global desalination. To unlock this potential, public perceptions and concerns about wastewater resource recovery and reuse must change. 
• Elevating wastewater reuse in international policy is crucial to addressing climate, nature, and pollution crises. 
• Wastewater could serve as an alternative energy source for up to half a billion people, reduce global fertilizer use by over 10%, and irrigate around 40 million hectares of land. 
• Wastewater can be a source of raw materials for various industries, including paper, polymers, pesticides, rubber, paint, biodiesel, food additives, and more, contributing to economic and environmental sustainability. 

Wastewater and its Challenges: 

• Wastewater refers to water that has been used and contaminated through various human activities, such as domestic, industrial, or agricultural processes. 
• Globally, the Improper management of wastewater is a challenge. This has been exacerbated by population growth, urbanization, and climate change. 
• The domestic and municipal wastewater is projected to increase by 24–38% by 2030. 
• Only 11% of domestic and industrial wastewater is currently being reused, indicating untapped potential. 
• With 50% of untreated wastewater entering the environment, this problem is still quite serious. 
• Poor wastewater management disproportionately affects vulnerable groups, particularly women and children. 

Suggested Solutions in the Report: 

• The Report suggested three Key Action Areas: 
  • Reduce the volume of wastewater produced 
  • Prevent and reduce contamination in wastewater flows 
  • Sustainably managing wastewater for resource recovery and reuse 
• Building blocks required for these action areas: 
  • Effective and coherent legislation and governance 
  • Mobilize adequate and sustained investment 
  • Enhancing human, technical and institutional capacity at all levels (local to global) 
  • Technical and social innovation 
  • Stronger data and information 
  • Increase communications, awareness and accountability 

The impact of food on climate 

In News:

Agriculture and the food we consume have a significant impact on climate change. 

About 

The impact of food on climate is significant and multifaceted. Here are key aspects of this impact: 

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: 

• Agriculture contributed to approximately 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2018. 
• Methane emissions from livestock digestion account for about 10% of agricultural emissions. India, with its substantial livestock population, generates 8% of its total greenhouse gases from methane emissions. 
• Emissions are also attributed to the use of synthetic fertilizers and rice cultivation. 
• Land use change and deforestation for agricultural purposes release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. 

Food Production: 

• Energy-intensive processes in food production, including manufacturing and processing, contribute to CO2 emissions. 
• The transportation of food over long distances results in the consumption of fossil fuels and associated emissions. 

Food Waste: 

• Decomposing food waste in landfills produces methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas. 
• The resources used to produce food that ultimately goes to waste, such as water, energy, and land, also contribute to emissions. 

Packaging: 

• The production and disposal of food packaging materials generate CO2 emissions. 
• Plastic packaging, in particular, contributes to plastic pollution and has adverse effects on ecosystems. 

Food Choices: 

• The choices individuals make regarding their diets have a direct impact on emissions. For example, the consumption of high-impact foods like red meat generates more emissions compared to plant-based diets. 
• Food choices also influence land use and deforestation patterns, as certain types of agriculture require more land and can lead to habitat destruction. 

Climate change has impacts on food systems 

Climate change has profound impacts on food systems across the globe, affecting various aspects of crop production, food availability, food quality and safety, food security, distribution, waste, and ecosystems. 

Crop Production: 

• Climate change alters growing conditions, which can lead to changes in crop yields and quality. 
• Increased temperatures can result in heat stress for crops. 
• Shifts in precipitation patterns can lead to droughts or floods, harming crop growth. 

• Altered pest and disease dynamics can affect the overall health of crops. 

Food Availability: 

• Climate change-induced alterations in growing conditions can affect the availability of food. 
• Rising temperatures can lead to heat stress in crops, reducing their availability. 
• Changes in precipitation patterns, such as prolonged droughts or intense floods, can impact food production. 
• Altered pest and disease dynamics can reduce the quantity and quality of available food. 

Food Quality and Safety: 

• Changing climate conditions can influence the nutritional content of crops, potentially affecting the quality of food. 
• Increased temperatures can lead to spoilage and food safety concerns. 
• Variations in water availability can impact food processing and safety. 

Food Security: 

• Climate-induced crop failures can lead to food insecurity, particularly in regions heavily reliant on agriculture. 
• Vulnerable populations, including low-income communities, are disproportionately affected by food shortages. 
• Migration and conflict can result from food-related stressors exacerbated by climate change. 

Food Distribution: 

• Extreme weather events can disrupt transportation routes, impacting the distribution of food. 
• Increased energy costs for transportation can lead to higher food prices. 
• Changes in trade patterns may affect global food distribution. 

Food Waste: 

• Climate change can exacerbate food waste due to spoilage caused by temperature fluctuations. 
• Resource-intensive food production contributes to food waste, as well as environmental degradation. 

Ecosystem Disruption: 

• Climate change alters ecosystems and biodiversity, affecting important elements such as pollinators and natural pest control. 
• Loss of biodiversity can disrupt food production and the overall ecosystem, impacting food systems. 

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has not sufficiently addressed the impact of food production on climate change. Efforts to curb emissions in this sector, like the Netherlands’ attempt to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, have encountered resistance and protests. Similarly, New Zealand’s proposal for a “burp” tax faced opposition. The influence of the meat industry on emissions remains a challenging issue, akin to the challenges posed by the fossil fuel sector. 

Proposed Solutions: 

1. Importance of Adaptation: There is an urgent need to scale up support, including financial aid, capacity-building, and technology transfer, to enhance adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts. 
2. Crop Diversification: Promoting diversified cropping patterns, particularly focusing on millets, pulses, and horticulture, can contribute to more sustainable agriculture. 
3. Adaptation Finance: Multilateral banks, financial institutions, and the private sector should mobilize additional resources to support adaptation efforts in the agricultural sector. 
4. Multi-Pronged Approach: Addressing the climate-hunger crisis requires a multifaceted strategy. This includes creating resilient livelihoods, promoting climate-resilient food crops, empowering women in agriculture, supporting smallholder farmers, and increasing knowledge about vulnerability and food security. 
5. Sustainable Food Systems: Sustainability should be integrated into all aspects of food production, value chains, and consumption. Additionally, cash transfers for sustainable agriculture may prove more effective than traditional input subsidies. 
6. Non-Agriculture Sector: Reducing the pressure on agriculture, especially for smallholders and informal workers, can be achieved through labour-intensive manufacturing and services. Strengthening rural Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and the food processing sector is a crucial part of this solution. 

These solutions aim to address the complex interplay between food production and climate change while promoting sustainability, adaptation, and resilience in the agriculture sector. 

Protect world heritage sites to conserve biodiversity: United Nation 

In News:

According to the UNESCO and IUCN, protecting world heritage sites can help conserve biodiversity and meet the targets set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). 

World Heritage Sites (WHS): 

• These are landmarks or areas of cultural, historical, scientific, or natural significance that are recognized and designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 
• These sites are considered to be of outstanding value to humanity, and their preservation is of global importance. 
• There are two main types of World Heritage sites: 
  • Cultural Heritage Sites: These include historical buildings, cities, monuments, archaeological sites, and cultural landscapes that hold cultural and historical significance. E.g., Pyramids of Egypt, the Historic Centre of Rome, and the Great Wall of China, etc. 
  • Natural Heritage Sites: These encompass natural areas, ecosystems, and geological formations that are of exceptional natural beauty or scientific importance. E.g., the Galápagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and Yellowstone National Park in the United States, etc. 

Biodiversity in UNESCO WHS: 

• The total of 1157 World Heritage sites take up only 1 per cent of the earth’s surface. 
• UNESCO World Heritage sites (WHS) are home to 75,000 species of plants, and over 30,000 species of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians — a fifth of all the species mapped globally. 
• Today, up to 1/3^rd of remaining elephants, tigers and pandas can be found in these sites, as well as at least one in 10 great apes, giraffes, lions and rhinos. 
• They are home to all remaining Javan rhinos, vaquitas (the world’s smallest cetacean) and pink iguanas, as well as more than half of all Sumatran rhinos, Sumatran orangutans and mountain gorillas. 
• Threats to these WHS: 
  • Agricultural expansion, 
  • Infrastructure development, 
  • Poaching, 
  • Overexploitation of resources and 
  • Proliferation of invasive species. 

BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle’ 

In News:

Recently, Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the world’s first prototype of a BS 6 Stage II ‘Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicle’ in India. 

Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs): 

• It is designed to run on a flexible combination of fuels, typically gasoline and ethanol. 
• These vehicles are equipped with engines that can adjust their fuel mixture based on the available fuel blend E.g., E20 (20% ethanol and 80% gasoline) or even higher percentages. 

Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicles: 

• They are a more advanced version of FFVs that offer the advantage of being able to operate on both ethanol-based fuels and electricity. 
• They provide higher fuel efficiency and potentially reducing emissions compared to traditional gasoline-only vehicles. 

Bharat Stage (BS6) Norms: 

• The BS regulations are based on the European emission standards and the Central Pollution Control Board implements these standards. 
• Presently, every newly sold and registered vehicle in India is required to adhere to the BS-VI version of emission regulations. 

BS6 Stage II Norms: 

• These are even stricter emission limits compared to the initial BS6 norms. 
• BS6 (Stage II) incorporates Real Driving Emissions (RDE) and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE 2) and On-Board Diagnostics. 
• The new RDE test figures will provide a more realistic estimation of the amount of emissions likely to be produced by vehicles in real traffic conditions with frequent changes in speed, acceleration, and deceleration. 
• Onboard diagnostic (OBD) systems monitor and report the status and performance of various vehicle subsystems and sensors. 

Significance of Flex Fuel Vehicles: 

• These vehicles offer higher ethanol use and better fuel efficiency similar to Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles (SHEVs). 
• Electrified Flex Fuel Vehicles use minimal advanced chemistry batteries to reduce dependence on imports. 
• It reduces reliance on conventional fuels, contributing towards sustainable transportation and India’s ‘Aatmnirbhar Bharat’ initiative as production of ethanol increases. 
• The vehicle represents a significant stride towards decarbonization and greener mobility, aligning with global efforts to combat climate change. 

Challenges with FFVs: 

• Higher cost of ownership and running cost for customers, which may affect their acceptance unless retail fuel prices are competitive. 
• Developing FFVs requires significant effort and calibration with multiple fuel blends, making them less viable without widespread fuel availability. 

Kākāpō parrots 

In News:

Recently, the genetic mapping of the kākāpō population, a critically endangered flightless parrot native to New Zealand, has provided crucial insights for conservation biologists striving to save this unique species. 

About: 

• Kākāpō are remarkable and unusual birds, found only in Aotearoa New Zealand.  
• The kākāpō, also known as the owl parrot, is a large, flightless parrot.   
• Kākāpō are known for their unique appearance, which includes a facial disc, owl-like eyes, and a large, gray beak. 
• It is often referred to as the “night parrot” due to its nocturnal habits. 
• They only breed every few years, triggered by the availability of certain forest foods.  
• Rimu fruit, which is part of the kākāpō diet, is thought to trigger breeding. 
• IUCN Status: critically endangered. 

More Information 

• Population Recovery: Due to conservation efforts, the kākāpō population has risen to 247 birds on predator-free islands. 
• Disease and Infertility: Challenges include diseases like aspergillosis and high egg infertility rates. 

Red sand boa 

In News:

Recently, A report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)-India has highlighted 172 incidents of seizures involving the red sand boa (Eryx johnii) between 2016 and 2021 in India. 

About: 

• The red sand boa (Eryx johnii) is a non-venomous snake that lives in the dry parts of the Indian subcontinent. 
• It’s also known as the Indian sand boa.  
• The Red Sand Boa is the largest of the sand boa in the world.  
• It is ovoviviparous and nocturnal and spends the majority of its time under the ground. 
• Appearance: 
  • The red sand boa is a thick-set snake that’s usually reddish-brown, known for its blunt tail, which it uses to mimic its head when it senses a threat. 
  • Unlike most snakes, the tail is almost as thick as the body and gives the reptile the appearance of being “double-headed”. 
• Distribution: 
  • Found in the whole of India excluding North-east states and North-Bengal; also not found in Indian islands. 
• Status: 
  • IUCN Red List: Near Threatened 
• CITES: Appendix II 
• Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972: Schedule IV. 
• Threats to Red Sand Boa: 
  • Demand upsurge in pet trade, as well as for use in black magic. 
  • Poached for perceived medicinal benefits. 
  • Expansion of human settlements and activities. 

Key Highlights of the Report: 

• The report aims to shed light on the illegal trade of red sand boas, particularly online, to raise awareness and prevent further illegal collection and sale of the species. 
• The report reveals that illegal sand boa trade occurred in 18 Indian states and one Union Territory, spanning 87 districts across the country. Maharashtra recorded the highest number of incidents. 
• The report recommends that local and international conservation organizations conduct research to better understand the illegal reptile trade. 
• Social media, especially YouTube, aids illegal trade, with 200 sales-promoting videos in 2021. 
• The report’s findings underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts to prevent the further decline of the red sand boa population and protect India’s biodiversity. 

New species of leaf insects 

In News:

Recently, an international research team, has identified seven previously unknown species of leaf insects, also known as walking leaves.  

About: 

• Walking Leaves, also called leaf insects, are part of the phasmatodea order.  
• They are also referred to as “phasmids” or “stick and leaf insects.”  
• They are known for their remarkable camouflage that makes them appear like parts of plants such as twigs, bark, or leaves. 
• They feed on plants and typically inhabit densely vegetated areas. 
• They are also largely nocturnal, resulting in a relative lack of movement during the day that makes locating them quite difficult in the wild. 
• Distribution:  
  • Their natural range extends from islands in the Indian Ocean, across parts of mainland South Asia and Southeast Asia, to Papua New Guinea and Australia in the western Pacific. 
  • This disguise offers protection from predators and poses challenges for researchers. 
• Genetic analysis played a key role in identifying these “cryptic species” that cannot be differentiated based solely on their external appearance. 

Features: 

• They measure roughly 28 to 100 mm in body length. 
• Males tend to be smaller than females.  
• They are mostly brown or green, some slightly speckled or have serrated edges like nibbled leaves. 
• Female walking leaves cannot fly but males can fly short distances. 

Man-made Natural Disaster 

In News:

Heavy rains in several parts of north India, particularly Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, damaged various infrastructures and took hundreds of lives. While a warming Arctic is said to be a cause for the unusually heavy rains, years of haphazard planning and construction have multiplied the tragedy. 

Natural Disaster: 

A natural disaster is a catastrophic event that is caused by the forces of nature. Examples of natural disasters include earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes,  and wildfires. E.g., The 2020 Haiti earthquake, and a recent landslide in Himachal Pradesh. 

Impact of Human Activities on Natural Disasters: 

• The frequency and intensity of hazards have increased, and anthropogenic climate change has played a major role in that. 
• Humans have built on floodplains, encroached water bodies, and planned cities without thinking about sustainability. 
• Some landscapes have changed drastically and exceeded their carrying capacity that exacerbated the extent of loss and damage in these areas. 
• Rapid urbanization often leads to inadequate infrastructure such as roads, water supply, and sewage systems, causing congestion and public health issues. 
• Unsustainable development harms ecosystems, leading to deforestation, pollution, and loss of biodiversity. 

Solutions for Various Natural Disasters: 

• Flood: Improved drainage systems, floodplain zoning, early warning systems, flood-resistant, infrastructure, flood insurance. E.g., Netherlands’ extensive network of dikes and levees to prevent river flooding. 
• Wildfire: Controlled burns, firebreaks, forest management, public awareness campaigns, and firefighting infrastructure. E.g., Australia’s “Prepare, Act, Survive” strategy to educate and prepare communities for bushfires. 
• Drought: Efficient water management, rainwater harvesting, drought-resistant crops, water conservation, drought monitoring and early warning. E.g., Israel’s advanced drip irrigation systems to maximize water efficiency. 
• Cyclones: Advanced storm tracking, early warning systems, coastal defences, building codes, and evacuation plans. E.g., United States National Hurricane Centre’s forecasts and evacuation plans for hurricane-prone regions. 
• Earthquakes: Seismic building codes, retrofitting existing structures, early warning systems, community. E.g., Japan’s stringent earthquake building codes and disaster preparedness. 
• Tsunami: Tsunami warning systems, coastal land-use planning, public education on tsunami safety. E.g., Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System (IOTWS) for early warnings. 
• Volcanic Eruptions: Monitoring volcanic activity, evacuation plans, hazard mapping, and resilient infrastructure. E.g., Iceland’s comprehensive monitoring and response system for volcanic eruptions. 

Emperor Penguin 

In News:

According to a new study, up to 10,000 emperor penguin chicks across four colonies in Antarctica’s Bellingshausen Sea may have died as the sea ice underneath their breeding grounds melted and broke apart in late 2022. 

About: 

• The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to Antarctica. 
• Scientific Name: Aptenodytes forsteri. 
• Like all penguins, it is flightless. 
• Its diet consists primarily of fish but also includes crustaceans. 
• While hunting, the species can remain submerged for around 20 minutes. 
• It is the only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter. 
• The lifespan is typically 20 years in the wild, although observations suggest that some individuals may live to 50 years of age. 
• It is the largest member of the penguin order (Sphenisciformes).  
• They spend their entire lives on Antarctic ice and in its waters. 
• They have a gray back, white belly, and orange markings behind their eyes and at the top of their chest. 
• IUCN status: Near threatened. 

More Information: 

• Emperor penguins’ breeding cycle heavily relies on stable sea ice, where they spend their entire breeding cycle.  

• The sea ice, present from April to December, provides the necessary platform for their breeding and fledging activities (the stage in the development of young birds when they acquire the feathers and abilities necessary for flight). 
• As a result of the loss of sea ice, the penguin chicks were unable to develop their waterproof adult wings and regulate their body temperature.  
• This led to their vulnerability to drowning or freezing to death. 
• This incident marked the first recorded instance of widespread breeding failure of emperor penguins across multiple colonies due to sea ice loss. 

Penguins

Penguins are a group of aquatic flightless birds. They live almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, with only one species, the Galapagos penguin, found north of the equator. Every year the 25th of April is observed as World Penguin Day. Penguins employ physiological adaptations and cooperative behaviors in order to deal with an incredibly harsh environment. Penguins are divided into six genera.

Flora Fauna and ‘Funga’ 

In News:

United Nations Biodiversity has urged people globally to use the word ‘funga’ whenever they say ‘flora and fauna’, in order to highlight the importance of fungi. 

About Fungi: 

• Fungi, along with Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), Protista, Archaea/Archaebacteria, and Bacteria or Eubacteria form the six ‘kingdoms’ of biology. 
• They are a very diverse group of eukaryotic organisms encompassing a wide range of life forms, from single celled to very complex multicellular organisms. They can be microscopic or macroscopic. 
• Two years ago, the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of IUCN announced that it would use “mycologically inclusive” language in its internal and public-facing communications i.e. “fauna, flora and funga” to incorporate fungi in conservation strategies with rare and endangered plants and animals. 
• UN Biodiversity urged that fungi needs to be protected on an equal footing with animals and plants in legal conservation frameworks  

Significance of Fungi: 

• Nutrient Cycling: Fungi have the ability to transform nutrients in a way that makes them available for plants. They can also propel nitrogen fixation and phosphorus mobilisation. 
• Carbon Cycling: Fungi are important contributors to the soil carbon stock. They play a major part in the carbon cycle through the soil food web. 
• Soil Carbon sequestration: Together, plants and fungi capture carbon from the atmosphere and store it into the soil for decades. This process not only improves soil fertility but also reduces the excess carbon released by humans into the atmosphere. 
• Nutrition and food security: Edible mushrooms are fungi, which are rich in nutrients such as vitamin B, C and D, fibre, minerals including potassium, phosphorus, calcium and they are also a good source of protein. 
• Human Health: Fungi also provide health benefits for humans. 6% of edible mushrooms possess medicinal properties, which can help prevent diseases and boost our immune system. 
• Environmental protection: Fungi also helps to degrade various pollutants from the environment, such as plastic and other petroleum-based products, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, and oil. 

IUCN’s Tiger Programme  

In News:

In a significant step towards preserving the world’s big cats and their habitats, the Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) has launched a Call for Concept Notes for Phase IV of the Tiger Programme. 

About: 

• This phase will expand eligibility to include species beyond tigers. 
• Leopards and both mainland and Sunda clouded leopards are now eligible for funding.  
• Countries eligible under this call for concept notes include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand, focusing on specific conservation areas. 
• The Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), launched in 2014, is a strategic funding mechanism supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). 

More Information: 

• The ITHCP’s success in increasing tiger populations by 40% since 2015 highlights the effectiveness of such initiatives.  
• This phase signifies a vital step towards safeguarding diverse species, their habitats, and surrounding communities. 
• Project grant size can vary from a minimum of € 500,000 to a maximum of € 2 million, and sites currently being funded under ongoing ITHCP projects are not eligible for funding under this call.  

6th Census Report on Minor Irrigation (MI) Schemes 

In News:

Recently, the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation released the report on the 6th census on minor irrigation schemes. 

About: 

Key Highlights of the Report: 

• The census reveals that there are a total of 23.14 million minor irrigation schemes in India, with 94.8% (21.93 million) being Ground Water (GW) schemes and 5.2% (1.21 million) being Surface Water (SW) schemes. 
• Uttar Pradesh holds the highest number of Minor Irrigation (MI) Schemes, followed by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. 
• The report indicates a growth of 1.42 million MI schemes compared to the previous census, with a 6.9% increase in GW schemes and a 1.2% increase in SW schemes. 
• The ownership of MI schemes is primarily private (96.6%), with a notable finding that 18.1% of individually owned schemes are owned by women. 

More About the News: 

• Leading States in GW schemes are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.  
• GW schemes comprise dugwells, shallow tube wells, medium tube wells and deep tube wells. 
• In SW schemes Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Jharkhand have the highest share.  
• The SW schemes comprise surface flow and surface lift schemes. 
• So far, five censuses were conducted in 1986-87, 1993-94, 2000-01, 2006-07, and 2013-14. 

Fire Prevention Zone 

In News:

A well-constructed fire prevention zone created by a local Indigenous logging company played an important role in protecting a community from a wildfire in Canada. 

About: 

• Fire prevention zones are designated areas meticulously managed to mitigate the risk of wildfire spread and associated damage. 
• These zones are typically created in or around communities, especially those located in wildfire-prone areas. 
• The primary goal of Fire Prevention Zones is to create a buffer or barrier that hinders the advance of wildfires, protecting lives, property, and natural ecosystems. 
• Indigenous logging company in Canada named Ntityix Development, created a fire prevention zone using traditional Indigenous forestry practices.  
• These practices encompassed activities such as forest thinning, clearing debris from the ground, and controlled burning of debris and ground cover. This approach aimed to curtail the availability of fuel for wildfires. 

Hollongapar Gibbon sanctuary 

In news:

Primatologists raise concerns against a proposed railway track through western hoolock gibbon’s sanctuary 

About Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary 

• The Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary located in the eastern Indian state of Assam and stands as a vital refuge for the western hoolock gibbon or Hoolock hoolock. 
• The sanctuary spans approximately 21 square kilometers and plays a pivotal role in the conservation of this endangered primate. 
• The western hoolock gibbon is the only ape species found in India, making it a species of utmost significance for conservation efforts. 
• It is categorized as “endangered” due to habitat loss and fragmentation, making sanctuaries like Hollongapar crucial for its survival. 
• The Gibbon Sanctuary has a unique ecosystem characterized by its lush greenery and diverse flora providing a haven for a variety of wildlife with hoolock gibbons being the flagship species. 
• Like many other gibbon species worldwide, the western hoolock gibbons face the threat of habitat loss, primarily due to deforestation and human encroachment. 
• In recent years, the sanctuary has been affected by habitat fragmentation, leading to isolated populations of gibbons. 
• In this regard, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has proposed artificial canopy bridges to facilitate the movement of hoolock gibbons across a railway track that divides their habitat. 
• Beyond gibbons, the Hollongapar Sanctuary is also a biodiversity hotspot being home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including various bird species, reptiles, and plant species. 
• Overall, the preservation of the gibbon sanctuary through steps such as canopy bridge and railway track rerouting are vital to secure the sanctuary’s future and the survival of this endangered primate species. 

Flood Plain Zoning 

In News:

Punjab has been reeling under floods for well over a month and people settled in the villages lying in the sensitive flood plains are worst affected. The concrete encroachments in these areas have further exacerbated the devastation caused by flooding. 

About Flood Plain Zoning: 

• Floodplain zoning is a non-structural measure to mitigate flood disasters by preventing development in the floodplains. Encroachment and unauthorised development in floodplains reduces the carrying capacity of rivers and exacerbates the effects of floods. 
• It is a land use planning strategy that designates specific areas along rivers and water bodies for various uses based on their susceptibility to flooding. 
• A river expands and contracts naturally over seasons and in different years. A flood plain is an area adjacent to the river which normally gets flooded when the river swells. 
• Zoning involves demarcating areas around rivers likely to be affected by floods of different magnitudes and frequencies, in order to specify the types of permissible developments there. 
• As per guidelines of the NDMA, defence installations, industries, and public utilities like hospitals, electricity installations, water supply, telephone exchanges, railway stations, etc. should be located above the levels corresponding to the maximum observed flood levels. 

Need for Flood Plain Zoning: 

• Defence against flooding: Well-maintained flood plains, free from wanton construction and concrete, are natural defences against flooding farther inland.  
• Groundwater recharge: They are also useful for recharging groundwater levels and maintaining the water table. 
• Better land use planning: Identification of flood plains based on topography helps in better land use planning. 
• Prevention of loss of life and property: Floods cause massive loss of life and property along with large scale migration. Adoption of flood plain zoning would resolve such crises.  

Status of Flood plain zoning: 

• Punjab is yet to carry out flood plain zoning, despite NGT’s directions for the same. 
• Despite the Centre’s directions, so far only four states namely Manipur, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand have adopted the act on paper. On ground implementation still remains unsatisfactory.  
• Environmental activists and NGOs have been demanding flood plain zoning, but no progress is seen. 
• India’s high risk and vulnerability is highlighted by the fact that 40 million hectares out of a geographical area of 3290 lakh hectares is prone to floods. 

Impacts of lack of zoning and haphazard development: 

• Encroachment and mismanagement of flood plains lead to non-suitable construction activity and concretization of flood plains. 
• Unsuitable constructions result in pushing floods further inland, increasing the area harmed and damage caused during floods.  
• Concretisation also leads to floods taking longer to subside as the water simply does not drain. 
• Such kind of flooding is not good for flood plains themselves, affecting the fertility and quality of the soil as well. 

Salem sago 

In News:

The Salem Starch and Sago Manufacturers Service Industrial Cooperative Society Ltd (popularly called SAGOSERVE) received a Geographical indication tag or GI tag for Salem sago. 

About 

• Sago, derived from raw tapiocas, is in the form of small hard globules or pearls and is pearl white in color. 
• Tapioca is a major horticulture crop cultivated on nearly 3 lakh hectares in Tamil Nadu, producing 60 lakh tonnes of the crop. 
• Sago is manufactured from the wet starch powder crushed from tapioca roots. 
• The wet starch powder is used for producing sago and the dry powder has been used as a raw material for industrial purposes. 
• Sago was produced first in Salem district, which is the main center for sago production in the country, on a cottage scale basis. 

Global Biofuel Alliance 

In News:

Recently, on the side lines of G20 Summit, India has launched the Global Biofuels Alliance, which aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable biofuels and reduce the world’s dependency on traditional fossil fuels. 

Biofuels: 

• Biofuels are renewable energy sources derived from biomass, such as crop stubble, plant waste, and municipal solid waste. 
• Biofuels may be solid, liquid or gaseous in nature. 
• Solid: Wood, dried plant material, and manure 
• Liquid: Bioethanol and Biodiesel 
• Gaseous: Biogas 

Various Generations of Biofuels: 

• First generation: It is produced from consumable food items containing starch (rice and wheat), sugar (beets and sugarcane) for bio-alcohols, or vegetable oils for biodiesel. 
• Second generation: It is mainly obtained from non-food feedstocks such as forest/industry/agricultural wastes and waste or used vegetable oils. 
• Third generation: It is known as ‘algae fuel’ and is derived from algae in the form of both biodiesel and bio-alcohols. 
• Fourth generation: Like the third generation, 4G biofuels are made using non-arable land. However, unlike the third, they do not need the destruction of biomass. 

Global Biofuels Alliance: 

• It is an India-led Initiative to develop an alliance of Governments, International organizations and Industry to facilitate the adoption of biofuels. 
• A total of 19 countries and 12 international organizations have so far agreed to join the alliance, including both G20 members and non-member countries. 
• India, Brazil and the US are the founding members of the alliance. 
• India, the US and Brazil account for a total of 85 percent of the global ethanol production with the US holding 55 per cent share followed by Brazil 27 per cent and India 3 per cent. 

Significance of Global Biofuels Alliance: 

• India sees this alliance as a means to advance energy transitions in developing countries and promote a circular economy. 
• India, a major oil importer, is working on building its capacity to produce biofuels, particularly from sugarcane and agricultural waste. 
• India aims to increase the blending of ethanol in petrol to 20% by 2025 and is establishing compressed biogas (CBG) plants. 
• The initiative aligns with India’s goal of transitioning to alternative fuels and reducing its carbon emissions, with a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. 

Araku Coffee 

In News:

Recently, Araku Coffee was gifted to G-20 delegates by the government of India 

About 

• Araku Valley Arabica coffee can be described as coffee from the Eastern Ghats hilly tracks of Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha region grown at an elevation of 900-1100m Mean Sea Level (MSL).  
• The coffee is grown in the hilly terrains of Ananthagiri, Paderu, Pedabayalu, G Madugula, Koraput, etc. 
• These coffee beans bear the essence of the valley’s rich soil and temperate climate. Pure Arabica with a rare aromatic profile, Araku Coffee is known for its unique texture and symphony of flavors. 
• Farmers grow coffee without the use of machines and chemicals. 
• This variety is produced by the tribals, who follow an organic approach in which they emphasize management practices involving substantial use of organic manures, green manuring, and organic pest management practices. 

• Araku Coffee is often referred to as “India’s answer to Blue Mountain coffee” due to its excellent flavor profile and premium quality. 

Reasons behind Morocco’s earthquake 

In News:

Recently, Morocco has been hit by a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8, causing a death toll exceeding 2,400 people. Its epicentre was located in the Al-Haouz province, in the Atlas Mountains of the historic city of Marrakech. 

Reasons for the earthquake in Morocco: 

• Morocco is situated in a region where the Eurasian and African tectonic plates converge. 
• The Atlas Mountains, where the earthquake occurred, are actively rising due to the convergence of these two large tectonic plates. 
• Although the region had not experienced major recorded earthquakes before, stress had been accumulating underground for an extended period due to the slow movement of tectonic plates. 
• The Oblique-Reverse Fault is present in areas of compression along the convergent plate boundaries. The stress along these fault lines can induce earthquakes as rocks abruptly shift to release accumulated stress. 

Reasons for heavy damage in Morocco: 

• The epicentre of the earthquake is roughly 18.5 km below the Earth’s surface. So, it was a very shallow earthquake. Shallow earthquakes carry a much higher amount of energy when they hit the surface. 
• The earthquake’s epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains which is close to the city of Marrakesh, causing it to affect populated areas and infrastructure. 
• Earthquakes are not very common in North Africa. Therefore, Morocco was not prepared for such a calamity. 
• Many changes were introduced to construction rules after Morocco faced the earthquake in 1960, but buildings in rural areas and older cities are not built to withstand the earthquake. Many houses collapsed in Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Types of Faults: 

Dip Slips: 

• In these faults, the movement is along the direction of the dip plane. 
• Vertical movement either up (reverse dip-slip) or down (normal dip-slip) along the fault plane. 

Strike-Slip Faults: 

• In these faults, the movement is horizontal along the fault plane and is parallel to the strike of the fault. 
• These faults are common where tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. 

Oblique-Slip Faults: 

• These faults show characteristics of both dip-slip and strike-slip faults. 
• Movement occurs in two directions – horizontal (strike-slip) and vertical (dip-slip) along the fault plane. 

Earthquake prone areas in India: 

• The Western Himalayas in India are considered one of the most dangerous seismic zones globally. 
• The entire Himalayan region, spanning from the Hindu Kush mountains to Arunachal Pradesh, is at risk of a major earthquake with a magnitude exceeding 8 on the Richter scale. 
• This is because of the substantial energy accumulation along fault lines due to the ongoing interaction of various tectonic plates. 

Way Forward: 

• Earthquakes cannot be accurately predicted because there is currently no equipment or method to detect precursory signals within the Earth that would indicate an impending major earthquake. 
• However, we can mitigate their impact. Through integrated studies of the region’s geology, geophysics and geodesy we can find out where there are active earthquake faults. 
• We can also estimate how powerful the earthquakes on these faults could be and how often they might happen again. 
• The best way to minimise earthquake damage is to improve seismic building design codes to withstand the highest possible seismic activity. 
• Traditional homes and rock constructions in mountain villages should be reinforced to prevent future disasters. 

Libya Flood Reason for High Death Toll 

In News:

Recently, over 5,000 individuals have died and thousands are missing after a disastrous flood in Derna, eastern Libya, caused by broken dams and flash floods brought on by the Mediterranean storm Daniel. 

Mediterranean storm: 

• A Mediterranean storm or Mediterranean cyclone is a weather condition formed over the Mediterranean Sea. 
• Although the strength and effects of Mediterranean storms can vary, they frequently produce large amounts of precipitation, which can cause flooding, landslides, and other weather-related dangers. 

Derna City of Libya: 

• Derna is a port city in eastern Libya with a population of around 85,000 to 90,000. 
• Libya is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. 
• The Mediterranean Sea forms its northern boundary, and Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Chad, and Tunisia make up its western, eastern, southern, and southernmost borders, respectively. 

Flash Flood: 

• Excessive or continuous rainfall over a period of days or during particular seasons, can lead to stagnation of water and cause flooding. 
• Flash floods occur in a much shorter span of time (say, when rainfall creates flooding in less than 6 hours) and are highly localized. 
• Flash floods can also be caused by factors apart from rainfall, like when a dam overflows. 

Reasons for Flood in Libya: 

• Despite being a port city there was a lack of a functioning weather agency and early warning system. 
• Lack of maintenance of dam which caused the failure of the dam.

Rubber 

In News:

Rubber Board to increase the area under rubber in Northeast. 

About 

• The Rubber Board of India is embarking on a project aimed at expanding the area under natural rubber cultivation in the northeastern states of India.  
• This initiative excludes Sikkim but includes the state of West Bengal.  
• The objective is likely to promote and support the cultivation of natural rubber in the northeastern region, which could have economic and environmental benefits for the area and the rubber industry as a whole. 

About Natural Rubber 

• Natural rubber is a polymer derived from isoprene, an organic compound. It is a cohesive, elastic solid obtained from the latex of several tropical trees, with Hevea brasiliensis being the most significant source. 
• Rubber trees typically have an economic lifespan of approximately 32 years in plantation settings. 
• Natural rubber can be sourced from various plants, with the most common being the Pará rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). This tree thrives when cultivated and produces latex for several years. 
• Congo rubber is obtained from vines within the Landolphia genus. These vines cannot be successfully cultivated, leading to the extensive harvesting of wild plants in the Congo for their latex. 
• Additionally, rubber can be derived from dandelion milk, which contains latex and can be utilized in rubber production. 

Condition Required 

• Rubber is a tropical tree. It requires high temperature throughout the year – ranging between 20°-35°C or average monthly mean of 27°C. Less than 20°C temperature is detrimental. Similarly, rubber also requires heavy rainfall. 
• The annual average rainfall of not less than 200 cm is optimum. Rubber tree thrives well when the distribution of rainfall is uniformly high all over the year. The equatorial regions of the world are suitable for rubber cultivation. 
• Rubber is grown in literate or loamy soil, mostly in slope and undulated land or slightly high elaborated flat land where there is no possibility of water stagnation, and having well drainage facilities 

Critical Raw Materials Act  

In News:

EU Parliament votes in favor of Critical Raw Materials Act 

About 

• Critical raw materials refer to natural resources that hold a strategic value for a country or region because of their economic, industrial, and geopolitical significance.  

• These resources play a vital role in various industries, encompassing technology, manufacturing, energy, and defence, and their accessibility can profoundly affect a nation’s economic stability and competitive edge. 
• Critical raw materials encompass rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, graphite, platinum group metals, and specific minerals and metals pivotal for advanced technologies and the development of clean energy solutions. 

Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics 

In News:

Recently, the Unified Portal for Agricultural Statistics was officially launched by the central government. 

About 

• Unified Portal for Agricultural Statisticsplatform is designed to revolutionize data management in India’s agriculture sector, addressing complex governance challenges. 
• The UPAg Portal addres ses key challenges in agriculture data, including lack of standardization, verification, dispersion, and different update frequencies. 
• It offers data standardization, advanced analytics, granular production estimates, commodity profile reports, and flexibility for users to prepare their own reports. 
• The UPAg Portal is part of the Digital Public Infrastructure for Agriculture, focusing on harnessing data for growth, transparency, and agility in India’s agriculture sector. 
• This initiative aligns with e-governance principles and aims to enhance data-driven decision-making for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in the agriculture domain. 

Phosphorus 

In News:

India is running out of phosphorus, which is essential for fertilizers but also a major environmental pollutant.  

Reasons for Phosphorous shortage: 

• Morocco and the Western Sahara region, control most of the world’s phosphorus reserves, raising geopolitical concerns. 
• Coexistence of heavy metal cadmium with phosphorus in some deposits is a significant issue. Cadmium-laden fertilizers are often used in agriculture, leading to health concerns, including heart disease. 
• The phosphorus shortage is due to its limited availability in geological formations and its contamination of water bodies when not properly managed. 
• India is the world’s largest importer of phosphorus, primarily from cadmium-laden deposits in West Africa. 
• Small portion of mined phosphorus is used in food production, with a significant amount lost to water bodies as agricultural runoff.  
• Phosphorus consumed by people ends up in sewage, exacerbating environmental problems like algal blooms and fish deaths. 
• To address the phosphorus scarcity, there is growing interest in mining urban sewage for high-quality phosphorus. This approach could create a sustainable source of phosphorus while mitigating environmental issues. 

Narmada River 

In News:

Severe rains in Gujarat caused the Narmada River to flood, displacing thousands. 

About: 

• Some blame the Sardar Sarovar Dam operators for their delayed actions. 

Narmada River 

• Narmada is the largest west flowing river of the peninsular region flowing through a rift valley between the Vindhya Range on the north and the Satpura Range on the south. 
• It rises from Maikala range near Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh. 
• It flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before reaching the Gulf of Cambay. 
• The river near Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) forms the DhuanDhar Falls. 
• It is the fifth largest river in India. 
• Major Tributaries: Hiran, Orsang, the Barna and the Kolar. 
• Notable dams in the Narmada Basin include the Sardar Sarovar Dam, Rani Avanti Bai Sagar (Bargi) Dam, and Maheshwar Dam. 

Sardar Sarovar Dam 

• The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a concrete gravity dam erected on the Narmada River near the town of Kevadiya in Gujarat’s Narmada District. 
• The dam was constructed to provide water and electricity to four Indian states: Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. 
• The dam is located on the boundary between Gujarat and Maharashtra in Gujarat’s Narmada district. 
• To the west of the dam lies the Malwa plateau of Madhya Pradesh. 

Formation of Pink Diamond 

In News:

Recently, Western Australian scientists have connected formation of the pink diamond to the Earth’s first supercontinent (Vaalbara or Nuna) and events 1.3 billion years ago. 

Pink diamond: 

• Rare and highly coveted pink diamonds are distinguished by their exquisite pink or reddish-pink colour. 
• Pink diamonds are quite uncommon, and because of their compelling beauty and rarity, they are worth a lot of money. 
• Instead of impurities like nitrogen or boron, which give other coloured diamonds their colours (such as in the case of yellow and blue diamonds), pink diamonds have distinctive structural imperfections in the crystal lattice of the diamond. 

Key findings of the Study: 

• More than 90% of all the pink (and Red) diamonds ever found were discovered at the recently closed Argyle mine in the remote northwest of Australia. 
• By measuring the age of elements in the crystals, the researchers determined that Argyle was 1.3 billion years old. That lines up with the break-up of the world’s first supercontinent, known as Nuna. 
• Two of the three ingredients for forming pink diamonds had already been known. 
• The first ingredient is carbon, and it must be more than 150 km deep. 
• The second is just the right amount of pressure, to damage the otherwise clear diamonds. 
• The missing (3rd) ingredient was the event (collisions between western Australia and northern Australia 1.8 billion years ago) that sent the diamonds shooting up to the surface along with the magma. 
• Old mountain belts of Canada, Russia, southern Africa, and Australia are the possible locations where pink diamonds can be found. 

Nuna supercontinent: 

• The former supercontinent of Columbia, also known as Nuna or Hudsonland formerly existed on Earth. 
• It is believed to have existed between 2,500 and 1,500 million years ago, during the Paleoproterozoic Era, as initially suggested by John J.W. Rogers and M. Santosh in 2002. 
• Supercontinent assembly most likely took place between 2100 and 1800 million years ago, amid global-scale collisional episodes. 
• The cores of the continents Laurentia, Baltica, the Ukrainian and Amazonian shields, Australia, and maybe Siberia, North China, and the Kalahari were built up of proto-cratons that made up Columbia. 
• Geological and paleomagnetic findings support the presence of Columbia. 

Vandanium Discovery in Gujarat 

In News:

Rare metal Vanadium, key for batteries, discovered in India’s Gujarat. 

About 

• Vanadium is a rare metal and a key raw material for many industrial applications. The metal has been found in the sediment samples collected from the Gulf of Khambhat, which opens into the Arabian Sea off Alang in Gujarat. 

Application of Vandanium 

Enhancing Steel and Titanium Resilience: 

• Vanadium is a significant metal in India due to its scarcity. It possesses the capability to improve the resilience and strength of steel and titanium alloys. 

Vanadium Redox Batteries (VRB) for Energy Storage: 

• Modern applications of vanadium include its use in energy storage systems, particularly in VRBs. VRBs are utilized in various settings, including power plants and commercial applications. 

Unlimited Capacity with Sequentially Larger Tanks: 

• VRBs offer the advantage of nearly unlimited capacity by using storage tanks of increasing size. 

Long-Term Discharge Tolerance: 

• VRBs can be left completely discharged for extended periods without suffering any adverse effects. 

Rechargeability via Electrolyte Replacement: 

• In cases where no power source is available for recharging, VRBs can be revitalized by simply replacing the electrolyte. 

Minimal Ecological Impact: 

• VRBs are recognized for having the least ecological impact among all energy storage technologies. They contribute to more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy storage solutions.  

Kaobal Gali-Mushkoh Valley 

In News: 

Kaobal Gali-Mushkoh Valley, once a battleground during the Kargil war, has now opened up for tourists. 

About: 

• This transformation is attributed to the enduring ceasefire between India and Pakistan sparking hope that tourism-driven commerce will thrive in the region. 

Kaobal Gali-Mushkoh Valley 

• It is located in Kargil’s Drass Sector and was a battlefield during the 1999 Kargil war between India and Pakistan.  
• The region includes the Gurez Valley in north Kashmir, which was previously inaccessible to civilians due to shelling from Pakistan but now connects with the Mushkoh Valley in Kargil’s Drass Sector.  
• Kaobal Gali, the highest pass at a height of 4,167 meters in Gurez, connects Gurez to Mushkoh Valley. 

Gurez Valley 

• The Gurez Valley is close to the Line of Control (LoC), in north Kashmir, with the Kishanganga river demarcating the line in several parts. 
• It is also home to ibex, musk deer and marmots, Himalayan brown bear and snow leopard.  
• The Gurez valley is one of few habitations in Kashmir where villages with only log houses exist, with no intervention of urban concrete materials.  

Mushkoh Valley 

• The Mushkoh Valley is situated in Dras, Ladakh. 
• It is home to boisterous wild tulip flowers and endangered Himalayan yew. 

Galactic tides 

In News:

Like the earth’s oceans at their shores, the universe’s galaxies also experience tides, on a larger scale. 

About 

• The gravitational forces within galaxies that result from interactions between celestial objects like stars and gas clouds are what drive galactic tides, which are similar to the tides in Earth’s oceans but on a much larger scale. 
• The evolution of galaxies is significantly shaped by these tidal forces. By forming features like tidal tails and bridges, promoting star formation, and upsetting smaller star systems, they can change the structure of a galaxy. 
• Galactic tides over long periods of time also disturb star orbits, resulting in long-term modifications in galaxy structure. Even the interactions between nearby galaxies are influenced by galactic tides. 
• Supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies are also affected by galactic tides, which results in events that change how these cosmic giants interact with nearby stars. 

World Coffee Conference 

In News:

Recently, the International Coffee Organisation (ICO) hosted the 5th World Coffee Conference (WCC) in Bengaluru. 

Key highlights of the 5^th World Coffee Conference (WCC): 

• The ICO focused on highlighting the economic importance of coffee. 
• It is being held for the first time in an Asian coffee-producing country. 
• “Regenerative agriculture,” a comprehensive agricultural method was one of the main themes covered during the conference. 
• Regenerative Agriculture: 
  • It is a comprehensive agricultural strategy that emphasizes reducing soil disturbance, diversifying crops, utilizing cover crops, and including livestock in order to improve soil health, biodiversity, and sustainability. 
  • By adhering to concepts like conservation tillage, crop variety, soil cover with cover crops, and livestock integration, it seeks to increase resources rather than depleting them. 

Conditions required for Coffee Plantation: 

• Climate: Hot and Humid; Dry weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the berries. 
• Rainfall: High (150 – 250 cm) 
• Ideal Soil Conditions: Well-drained loamy soils, Presence of humus and minerals (iron, calcium), Fertile volcanic red earth, and Deep sandy loam soils. 

Coffee Production: 

In India:  

• Karnataka (Highest) > Kerala > Tamil Nadu > Andhra Pradesh.  
• Karnataka accounts for approximately 70% of India’s total coffee production. 

Global Production:  

• Brazil is the largest producer.  
• India’s position is 6^th (65 – 70% of India’s coffee is exported). 

Coffee Varieties in India: 

• Arabica: Grown at higher altitudes and it has Higher market value due to its aroma. 
• Robusta: Known for its strength and used in various blends. 

International Coffee Organization (ICO): 

• ICO was established in 1963, under the United Nations and is headquartered at London. 
• It serves as the only intergovernmental organization for coffee. 
• It administers the International Coffee Agreement (ICA), an important instrument for development cooperation. 
• Aim to strengthen the coffee sector and promote sustainable growth for the Global Coffee Value Chain (G-CVC). 
• It has 43 exporting members (including India) and 6 importing members. 

Source: The Hindustan

FAQs on Monthly Current Affairs – September 2023

Q1: What are monthly current affairs?

A1: Monthly current affairs refer to the latest and most significant events, developments, and news stories that have occurred within a particular month. These events encompass a wide range of topics, including politics, economics, science, technology, culture, and more. They are a reflection of the dynamic nature of our world and provide a snapshot of what’s happening globally or within a specific region during a given month.

Q2: Why are monthly current affairs important?

A2: Monthly current affairs are important for several reasons:

1. Informed Citizenship: Staying updated with monthly current affairs is crucial for informed citizenship. It empowers individuals to make well-informed decisions, including voting in elections, advocating for causes, and engaging in meaningful discussions about societal issues.
2. Professional Relevance: Professionals, such as journalists, policymakers, and business leaders, need to be aware of current affairs to make strategic decisions, create informed content, and respond to changes in their respective fields.
3. Academic and Competitive Exams: Many academic institutions and competitive exams assess students’ knowledge of current affairs, making it essential for academic and career success.
4. Cultural Awareness: Understanding current events helps individuals appreciate and understand different cultures, societies, and global interconnections.
5. Safety and Preparedness: Some current affairs, such as natural disasters or public health emergencies, can directly impact personal safety and require timely awareness and preparedness.

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