UnderStand Environment PYQs Research Document

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2021 PYQs Set A-Environment detailed Notes

Tricks:
R2==> read carefully all the 4 options
R2==> completely resonates with the First
option i.e Responsible recycling
So 'R2 Code of Practices' constitutes a tool
available for promoting the adoption of
"environmentally responsible recycling

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industry"

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About R2:

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 Stands for Responsible Recycling
 It is a standard specifically created for the electronics recycling industry by
Sustainable Electronics Recycling International (SERI)
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About SERI:
 The housing body & ANSI-accredited Standards Devpt Organization for the R2
an
standard: Responsible Recycling practices for Use in Accredited Programs
 Stakeholders responsible for creation of these standards (US Envt l. Protection
Agency, regulators from state agencies, electronic recyclers, refurbishers & trade
assocn, OEMs/Customers, NGOs)
St

Remarks:
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UPSC Official Answer key awaited (update


once released)
All statements are generic but VISION, IAS
corridor etc etc==>answer key is B
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Confusion regarding statement:


UPSC uses the word 'lethal'======> so it is
assumed as incorrect in this context
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CO poisoning typically occurs from breathing


@ excessive levels

About Copper smelting plants: Concerns & implications:


PYQ Page 1
About Copper smelting plants: Concerns & implications:
 Smelting==> A process of applying heat to ore in order to extract a base metal.
 Copper concentrates are fed through flash smelting furnace with O2-enriched air.
 Copper slag==>consists of Iron Oxide, Silica, & other compounds
Concerns associated:
 Cu slag can cause the leaching of some heavy metals into envt.
 May release SO2 as a pollutant

Observation:
• Very generic statements

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• Furnace oil/fuel oil/heavy
oil/marine fuel/bunker/gas oil:

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• It is a fraction obtained from
petroleum distillation
• So, it is a product of oil refineries

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Analysis:
• Very easy question
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• Blue carbon:
• The term for carbon
captured by world's ocean
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and coastal ecosystems


• Sea grasses, mangroves and
salt marshes along the coast
capture and hold carbon
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acting as "carbon sink"

Related concepts/terminologies:
 Carbon Sink==> A natural or artificial reservoir that accumulates & stores some
carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period. Eg Oceans, Forests,

PYQ Page 2
carbon-containing chemical compound for an indefinite period. Eg Oceans, Forests,
soils, atmosphere etc
 So, a carbon Sink is anything that absorbs more Carbon than that it releases
 Carbon source==> Anything that releases more Carbon>>> than it absorbs
 Carbon sequestration==> The process of capture and long-term storage of
atmospheric CO2
 Carbon Dioxide fertilization/Carbon fertilization==> Increased plant growth due to
increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere (CO2 fertilization contributes to
70% of the greening effect; 2nd most imp driver is N2 gas)
 But plant acclimatize to rising CO2 concentration & the fertilization effect diminished
over time

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 Thus, raising CO2 concentrations==>beneficial for short-run but harmful in the long
run

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Remarks:
• Eliminate Statement 1==>
because fern is a member of

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a group of vascular plants
that reproduce via spores &
have neither seeds nor
d flowers
• It requires indirect sunlight,
moist soil & a humid
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atmosphere
• Ferns prefer potting soil
with good drainage & high
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organic content
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 Lichens==>a complex life form==>symbiotic partnership of Fungus & Alga


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 Lichens only require an undisturbed surface, time and clean air. It is an indicator of
SO2 pollution (indicator species)
 Lichens grow on any undisturbed surface-->bark, wood, mosses, rock, soil, peat,
glass, metal, plastic and even cloth

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Mosses:

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 Mosses are non-flowering plants which produces spores & have stems & leaves but
don't have true roots.

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 It needs virtually nothing except shade & moisture to thrive

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Mushrooms:
 A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a Fungus,
typically produced above ground, on soil or on its food soruce
 It can be cultivated hydroponically as fungi
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PYQ Page 4

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Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus)


 Citronella the essential oil found in Lemongrass is registered with the FDA. It is the
most widely used natural mosquito repellant found in candles, sprays and lotions
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 It deters mosquitoes with its strong fragrance


Other uses of Lemon grass==>as herbal tea & other medicinal purposes
nd
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PYQ Page 5
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Analysis:
 Primary Producer/Autotrophs==> Those organisms that acquire their energy from
sunlight & materials from non-living sources.
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 Cyanobacteria==> "blue-green algae":
○ microscopic organisms found naturally in all types of water. They are important
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primary producers & form part of the phytoplankton.
○ They may also form biofilms and mats (benthic cyanobacteria)
 Diatoms:
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○ They are photosynthesizing algae; they have a siliceous skeleton (frustule) & are
found in almost every aquatic environment including fresh & marine waters
○ Diatoms are one of the major primary producers in the ocean; fixes CO 2 on Earth
 Copepods:
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○ They are a group of small crustaceans found in nearly every freshwater &
saltwater habitat.
○ They are major secondary producers in the ocean
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○ They represent an important link b/w phytoplankton, microzooplankton & higher


tropic levels such as fish
○ An imp source of food for many fish species; also a significant producer of
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detritus
 Foraminifera:
○ Single-celled organisms, members of a phylum or class of amoebid protists
characterized by streaming granular ectoplasm for catching food & other uses.
Related concepts (Source: SHANKAR & NCERT)
Phyto-planktons: Zooplankton
 cyanobacteria, silica-encased diatoms, • Play vital role in food web of the food
dinoflagellates, green algae, chalk coated chain, nutrient recycling, transfer of
cocolithophores organic matter from primary producers
 Phytoplankton produce more than 60% of the to secondary consumers like fished
PYQ Page 6
 Phytoplankton produce more than 60% of the to secondary consumers like fished
Oxygen produced from all plants • They are more abundant within
 They have cholorophyll to capture sunlight; mangrove water-ways than in adjacent
use photosynthesis to turn into chemical coastal waters
energy • They determine quantum of fish stocks
 They serve as "pasture grounds" in the aquatic • Egs tiny flagellates, giant jellyfish etc
environment

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Hedgehogs:
• They are small mammal with short limbs & a body low to the ground
• When they are frightened or annoyed==>they roll into a ball so that a predator will feel the
full brunt of its sharp spines & leave them
• Indian hedgehogs==>mainly live in sandy desert areas but can be found in other envts
• IUCN=______???
PYQ Page 7
• IUCN=______???
Pangolins:
Indian Pangolin Chinese Pangolin
• Widely distributed in India except the • Found in the Himalayan foothills in Eastern Nepal,
arid region, high Himalayas & the Bhutan, Northern India, North East, Bangladesh,
North East Southern China
• IUCN: Endangered • IUCN: Critically Endangered
• Pangolins are uniquely covered in tough, overlapping scales
• They eat ants & termites using an extraordinarily long & sticky tongue, able to quickly roll
themselves up into a tight ball

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Marmot:

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• Marmots are relatively large ground squirrels in the genus Marmots; 15 species live in
Asia, Europe & North America
• Herbivores; active during summer but not seen during winter since they hibernate
underground

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• They are the heaviest members of the squirrel family. They do not roll up when threatened

d Remarks:
• Eliminate 3rd statement==>
an
cannot be legally binding
• 2nd & 4th statement are
positives and generic in nature
• So the best option in this context
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would be Option A) deduced as


per logic
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nd
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About New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF):


• It is a political declaration calling for global action to protect and restore forests
• First endorsed @UN Secy General's Climate Summit in 2014 held in New York (USA)
• It endorses a global timeline to end the loss of forests
• Endorsed by govts, big companies & indigenous communities

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• Endorsed by govts, big companies & indigenous communities
• Voluntary & non-legally binding political declaration
• The declaration includes ambitious targets to end natural forest loss by 2030; with a 50%
reduction by 2020 as a milestone towards its achievement
• Currently endorsed by over 190 entities
• NOT ENDORSED BY INDIA

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d
• Sources of Magnetite particles which causes neurodegenerative problems==> are released
from Frictional heating like Brake pads, Exhaust plumes of motor vehicles, power plants
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due to extreme heating, poorly sealed stoves or open fires
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• Filter feeder==>Filter feeder is an animal (such as a clam or baleen whale) that obtains its
food by filtering organic matter or minute organisms from a current of water that passes
through some part of its system
• Oysters==>natural filter feeders. This means they feed by pumping water through their
gills, trapping particles of food as well as nutrients, suspended sediments and chemical
contaminants

PYQ Page 9

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• Biogeochemical cycle==>The elements or mineral nutrients in circulation from non-living
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to living & then back to the non-living components of the ecosystem in a more or less
circular fashion [bio==>living; geo==>atmosphere]
• Nutrient cycling==>It is a concept that describes how nutrients move from the physical
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environment to the living organisms and subsequently recycled back to the physical envt.
• Types:
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Gaseous cycle (Water, Carbon, Sedimentary cycle (Phosphorous cycle,


Nitrogen) Sulphur cycle)
• Here, reservoir is the atmosphere or the • Here, Reservoir is the earth's crust
hydrosphere • Phosphorous cycle:
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• Eg Water Cycle (Hydrologic) • Phosphorous usually found in the form of


• Water moves from one reservoir to phosphates
another by the process of evaporation, • On continental shelves==>as insoluble
transpiration, condensation, deposits
precipitation, deposition, runoff,
infiltration and groundwater flow Sulphur cycle:
• Carbon cycle • Sulphur reservoirs==>soils & sediments where
• Carbon from the atmosphere moves to it is locked in organic (coal, oil & peat) &
green plants through photosynthesis & inorganic deposits (pyrite rock and sulphur
then to animals. Respiration & rock) in the form of sulphates, sulphides and
PYQ Page 10
then to animals. Respiration & rock) in the form of sulphates, sulphides and
decomposition of dead organic organic sulphur
matter==>Carbon returns to • Released by weathering of rocks, erosional
atmosphere runoff & decomposition of organic matter and
• Nitrogen cycle: is carried to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
• Converted to Ammonia, Nitrites or in salt solution
nitrates before it can be taken by plants. • Sulphur cycle is mostly sedimentary except
In 3 ways: two of its compounds H2S and SO2 add a
• By micro-organisms (bacteria & blue- gaseous component
green algae); industrial process
(fertilizers) and by atmospheric

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phenomenon such as thunder &
lightning

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• Micro-organisms capable of fixing N2
==>aerobic Azotobacter, Anaerobic
Clostridium, Rhizobium, blue green
algae, Anabaena, Spirulina

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d Remarks:
• Eliminate St 2 & St 4
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Detritivores==> They are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus


• All detritivores contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles
• Earthworms and certain soil organisms like Millipedes, Woodlice, nematodes, arthropods
are detritus feeders and help in the decomposition of organic matter and are called
detritivores
Class-Osteichthyes: It includes both marine & fresh water fishes with bony endoskeleton
• Egs Marine-Exocoetus (flying fish), Hippocampus (sea horse), freshwater-Labeo (Rohu),
Catla (Katla)
• They are not detritivores

PYQ Page 11

Remarks:

• "metric" word in qn can be used


to eliminate Option B

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• Common carbon metric==>assesses the carbon footprint of building operation around the
world
• It is the calculation used to define the measurement, reporting and verification for GHG
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emissions associated with the operation of buildings types of particular climate regions
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• It does not include value-based interpretation of the measurements such as weighting or
benchmarking
• Suggestions: Read up on UNEP (PT 365, Shankar Book)
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All of the above


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• Cnidarians:
○ also called coelenterate are mostly marine animals. They include corals, hydras,
jellyfish, Portugese men-of-war, sea anemones, sea pens, sea whips and sea fans.

PYQ Page 12

jellyfish, Portugese men-of-war, sea anemones, sea pens, sea whips and sea fans.
○ Symbiotic with dinoflagellate algae
• Fungi:
○ They have several mutualistic relationships with other organisms. Eg Algae + Fungi==
Lichen, mycorrhiza
• Protozoa:
○ Termites have a mutualistic relationship with protozoa that live in the insect's gut
○ The termite benefits from the ability of bacterial symbionts within the protozoa to
digest cellulose

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Observations:

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• Careful reading of the qns

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• Permaculture:
○ defined as a design system for creating sustainable human environments
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○ It uses ecology as the basis for designing integrated systems of food production,
housing, appropriate tech and community devpt.
○ Emphasis==>on multi-use plants, cultural practices such as sheet mulching and
trellising and the integration of animals to recycle nutrients and graze weeds.
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○ It promotes organic agriculture, which does not use pesticides.


○ It is built upon an ethics of caring for the earth & interacting with the envt in mutually
beneficial ways

Remarks:
• UPSC playing in Statement 1

PYQ Page 13
Remarks:
• UPSC playing in Statement 1

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• Palm oil==> An edible vegetable oil derived from the mesocrap (reddish pulp) of the fruit

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of the oil palms. It is native to Africa.
About Palm oil
• Majorly grown in Malaysia & Indonesia
• Currently the world's most consumed vegetable oil
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• Top consumers: India, China & European Union
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• Largest producers: Indonesia>> Malaysia
• Keep updating regarding: National Mission on Edible Oil Palms
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Observation:
• UPSC playing with organization.
• Eliminate statement 1
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• Licenses are granted by


International Seabed Authority
(ISA) and not Global Ocean
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Commission
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About International Seabed Authority (ISA):


• established in 1982 by UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the ‘Law of the Sea’) and
is an autonomous intergovernmental body with 167 members.
• ISA is the institution through which Parties to UNCLOS design and control all the mineral-
related resources activities in the area.

PYQ Page 14
related resources activities in the area.
• ISA became operational as an autonomous international institution in June 1996 and has
168 members, including the European Union.
Activities of ISA:
• The main activity of ISA is to regulate the exploration of poly-metallic nodules.
• The ISA considers applications for exploration and exploitation of deepsea resources from
contractors, assesses environmental impact assessments and supervises mining activities in
the ‘Area’
India and ISA
• India actively participates in the work of the International Seabed Authority. India was re-
elected as a member of ISA in 2020.

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TRICKS irrelevant in this question

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• Climate-smart Agriculture (CSA) is an approach that helps to guide actions needed to


transform and reorient agricultural systems to effectively support development and ensure
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food security in a changing climate


• In Climate-Smart villages, farmers and researchers test & implement portfolios of climate-
smart agricultural practices, techs and services==>which can be combined together to make
the best out of an increasingly difficult situation
CCAFS:
• An international prog to address the increasing challenge of global warming and declining
food security on agricultural practices, policies and measures through a strategic
collaboration between CGIAR and Future Earth
CGIAR:
• It is a global partnership that unites International orgnzns engaged in research about food

PYQ Page 15
• It is a global partnership that unites International orgnzns engaged in research about food
security
• HQ: France
ICRISAT:
• A CGIAR research center, is a non-profit, non-political public international research for
devpt in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa with a wide array of partners throughout the world

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Observation:
• 2 and 4 is definitely correct
and mentioned in Shankar
IAS

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• So answer would be C)
• Conceptual qn

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Savannah ecosystems:
• They are heterogenous environments characterized by the presence of trees, bushes and
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grasses
• Grow in tropical regions (8-20 degrees N & S of Equator)
• Conditions: warm to hot in all seasons but significant rainfall occurs for only a few months
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• Limiting factors affecting the biomass growth==>Nutrients, soil moisture, competition,


fire, grazing, harvesting
• Not very fertile soil; nutrients in the soil are found near the surface as they come from
decayed organic matter
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• Herbivores and burrowing activities can reduce overall plant biomass associated with
burrowing mammal colonies

Observations:
• 3, 4 and 5 has to be absolutely correct.
PYQ Page 16
Observations:
• 3, 4 and 5 has to be absolutely correct.
Very generic statements
• Examiner can only play with random facts
associated in Statement 1 and 2

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Moringa (drumstick tree):
d
• Statement 1 is false
• Moringa trees are evergreen or semi-deciduous forests; a member of mustard-oil plants
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• Tamarind is native to tropical Africa. It is widely cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical
regions for its edible fruit, the sweet and sour pulp of which is extensively used in foods,
beverages and traditional medicines
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PYQ Page 17
2020 Environment (set A)
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 12:13 AM

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Topic- Air pollution/ hazardous Pollutants


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Benzene-
• colourless
• sweet odour
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• highly flammable
• evaporates into the air very quickly
• vapour is heavier than air
• Sink into low lying areas
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• dissolves only slightly in water and will float on top of the water.
• Natural sources -
a. volcanoes and forest fires
b. natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
• Uses-
a. industries use benzene to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, and
nylon and synthetic fibres.
b. to make some types of lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides
• Emission-
a. major sources are tobacco smoke, automobile service stations, exhaust from motor vehicles,
and industrial emissions.
b. present in both exhaust and evaporative emissions.
c. Motor vehicles account for approximately 85% of the total benzene emissions
d. ingestion and dermal absorption of benzene can also occur through contact with
contaminated water.

• Other emissions from following pollutions

a. Automobile Exhaust- generated by the evaporation of fuel within the vehicle when the
vehicle stops, and during fueling.

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i. carbon dioxide, nitrogen, water vapor, and oxygen in unconsumed air.
ii. Carbon monoxide, unburned fuel, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter such as
mercury - in smaller quantities

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iii. these substances play a significant role in vehicle-related air pollution, and carbon
dioxide – a greenhouse gas – contributes to climate change.
iv. Sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide found in vehicle exhaust emissions contribute to
the creation of tropospheric or ground-level ozone
b. Tobacco Smoke- consists solid particles and gases

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i. Major gas present- carbon monoxide
ii. Others include formaldehyde, acrolein, ammonia, nitrogen oxides, pyridine, hydrogen
d cyanide, vinyl chloride, N-nitrosodimethylamine, and acrylonitrile
iii. solid particles make up about 10 % of tobacco smoke and include "tar" and nicotine
iv. gases or vapours make up about 90% of tobacco smoke.
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c. Wood Burning- major contributor” to particle pollution
i. indoor concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and
suspended particles, including benzo-A-pyrene.
ii. PM2.5
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1. Government initiative- Ujjwala 2.0


a. additional one crore LPG connection under the PMUY scheme was
announced.
b. aim to provide deposit-free LPG connections to those low-income families
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who could not be covered under the earlier phase of PMUY.


c. provide first refill and hotplate (stove) free of cost to the beneficiaries.
Also, the enrolment procedure will require minimum paperwork
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d. migrants will not be required to submit ration cards or address proof


e. self-declaration for both ‘family declaration’ and as a ‘proof of address’
will suffice. Ujjwala 2.0 will help achieve the Prime Minister’s vision of
universal access to LPG.
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d. Using Vanished wooden furniture-


i. formaldehyde fumes.
ii. VOCs
iii. Indoor pollution.

e. Using products made of using polyurethane-


i. Polyurethane made of plastic material- exists in various forms
ii. Uses- insulation of refrigerators and freezers,
building insulation,
cushioning for furniture
mattresses,
car parts,
coatings,
adhesives,
rollers and tyres,
composite wood panels,
shoe soles,
sportswear
iii. Uncured polyurethane not safe for human

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• Further suggested reading-
○ Basics of chemicals used for remedy/usage
○ Chemical/pollutants released by major industries including paper, steel, power plants,

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nuclear etc
○ Remembering all pollutants cannot be possible but using logic while solving questions will
help

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• Ans-A

• Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)- one of 3 extant recognised subspecies of the Asian
elephant and native to mainland Asia.
○ Largest land mammal in Asia
○ Of all the species of the genus Elephas only the Asiatic Elephant is alive today
○ IUCN Red List Status: Endangered.
○ Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I.
○ CITES status – Appendix I

• Government Initiatives-
a. Project Elephant-
i. Launched in 1992
ii. CSS
iii. To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors.
iv. To address issues of man-animal conflict.
v. The welfare of captive elephants

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vi. elephant census is conducted once in 5 years under the aegis of Project elephant.
vii. Karnataka has the highest number of elephants (6,049), followed by Assam (5,719)
and Kerala (5706).

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b. Project RE-HAB (Reducing Elephant-Human Attacks using Bees) -
i. Initiative of khadi village industries commission (KVIC)
ii. Launched in Karnataka

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iii. installing bee boxes along the periphery of the forest and the villages to mitigate
human-elephant conflict
iv. intended to create “bee fences” to thwart elephant attacks in human habitations
d using honeybees.
v. spots are located on the periphery of Nagarahole National Park and Tiger Reserve
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c. Elephant Corridor-elephant corridor is defined as a stretch/narrow strips of forested (or
otherwise) land that connects larger habitats with elephant populations and forms a conduit
for animal movement between the habitats
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i. helps enhance species survival and birth rate


ii. 88 identified elephant corridors in India
iii. Highest- 22 in north-eastern India.
iv. Lowest- 12 in north-western India
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• Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) Programme


nd

○ established by a CITES Resolution adopted at the CoP10 in 1997.


○ international collaboration that measures the levels, trends, and causes of elephant
mortality.
○ To measure the levels and trends in illegal poaching
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○ To determine the factors responsible for such changes


○ 10 MIKE sites in India

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• Haathi mere sathi -
○ MoEf and WTI

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○ aimed at increasing awareness among people and developing friendship, companionship
between people and elephants.

• Elephant Task Force-

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○ 2010
○ Gajah

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• 32 Elephant reserves in India
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• Further suggested reading-
○ Basics of species including Nilgiri Tahr, Cheetah, Asiatic lion, Tiger, Elephant, Leopard etc
○ Present status of species whose categories has been changed in last 1-2 years

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○ Ans- C
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• What is protected area-


• comprise National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation / Community Reserves and Tiger Reserves.
• It does not include Reserved Forests.
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• National parks and Wildlife sanctuaries are protected natural habitats, declared by the
government under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
• National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), chaired by the Prime Minister of India provides for policy
framework for wildlife conservation in the country.
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1. Nagarahole National Park- karnataka


a. Also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park
b. Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
c. park is backed by the Brahamagiri Mountains and filled with sandalwood and teak trees
d. critical connecting habitat for tigers and elephants
e. spread over Mysore and Kodagu
f. Kabini and Taraka reservoirs are large water bodies located towards the west and
southeastern parts
g. contiguous with Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) to its south and Bandipur Tiger
Reserve to its southeastern parts
h. high-density tiger populations in the country after Corbett & Kaziranga tiger reserves
respectively

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i.

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d
• Papikonda National park-: Andhra Pradesh
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○ Climate- Tropical
○ Forest- Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous type
○ A unique dwarf breed of goat known locally as the “kanchu mekha” originates in this region
○ 3 districts
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○ The park is located in the Godavari River Basin.


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• Satyamangalam Tiger Reserve- Tamil Nadu


○ Erode dist. Of TN
○ Recenly has been given the prestigious TX2 award after its tiger numbers doubled to 80
since 2010.- in news -awards are presented by the Conservation Assured Tiger Standards
(CA|TS), Fauna and Flora International (FFI), Global Tiger Forum (GTF), IUCN’s Integrated
Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP), Panthera, UNDP, The Lion’s Share, Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS) and WWF
○ important link between the Nilgiris and Eastern Ghats landscape
○ genetic link between the five other protected areas which it adjoins,Billigiriranga Swamy
Temple Wildlife Sanctuary, Sigur Plateau, Mudumalai National Park, Bandipur National Park
and the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary
○ lies on the banks of the River Bhavani, a tributary of the River Cauvery in the foothills of the
Western Ghats.

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• Waynad wildlife sanctuary- kerala


○ integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
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○ contiguous to the tiger reserve of Nagerhole and Bandipur of Karnataka and Mudumalai of
Tamil Nadu
○ Kabini river (a tributary of Cauvery river) flows through the sanctuary.
○ forest types- South Indian Moist Deciduous forests, West coast semi-evergreen forests and
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plantations of teak, eucalyptus and Grewelia.


○ second largest wildlife sanctuary in Kerala.
○ bounded by protected area network of Nagarhole National Park and Bandipur National Park
in Karnataka in the northeast, and on the southeast by Mudumalai National Park in Tamil
Nadu.
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• Further suggested Reading-
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○ All protected areas and apecies of incorrect choices of PYQs


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• ANS- A
• Graminivorous- Feeding on grass
• Oviparous- animals lay eggs. These eggs develop and hatch into young individuals
• Viviparous- born as live young individuals.

• Kanha National Park- Madhya Pradesh


○ nestled in the Maikal range of Satpuras in Madhya Pradesh
○ Largest tiger reserve park in MP

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○ State animal of MP Barasingha( swamp deer) found exclusively in this
○ Other Species found include Tiger, Leopard, Dhole, Bear, Gaur and Indian Python etc

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○ Flora- evergreen Sal forests (Shorea Robusta).
○ first tiger reserve in India to officially introduce a mascot, “Bhoorsingh the Barasingha”.
○ park was declared as the reserve forest.
○ Bammi Dadar’ is the famous tourist spot at Kanha Tiger Reserve.
○ two famous tribes of Gonda and Baigas originally inhabited the forest.

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○ Barasingha-
• IUCN red list- Vulnerable
• CITES- APPENDIX 1
• WPA,1972-schedule-1
d• 3 subspecies found in indian subcontinent
• Southern swamp deer/Hard Ground Barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi)
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• Eastern swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii ranjitsinhi) found in the Kaziranga (Assam)
and Dudhwa National Parks (Uttar Pradesh)
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• Manas National Park-


○ two districts of Assam, Bongaigaon and Barpeta.
○ River Manas, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra, divides this National Park into two
halves and forms a border with Bhutan.
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○ contiguous with the Royal Manas National Park in Bhutan


○ main vegetation - alluvial grasslands, dry deciduous, moist deciduous, and semi-evergreen
forests.
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○ Manas is-
• MAB UNESCO World Heritage Site (2837 sq. km)
• Tiger Reserve
• Elephant Reserve
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• Biosphere Reserve
• National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary
• Important Bird Area
○ Max. endangered endemic wildlife- the Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and
pygmy hog. It is also famous for its population of wild water buffalo.
○ 5other rivers also flows from NP

• Madumalai wildlife sanctuary- Tamil Nadu

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○ tri-junction of three states, viz, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
○ part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1st Biosphere Reserve in India) along with Wayanad

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Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala) in the West, Bandipur National Park (Karnataka) in the North,
Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley in the South.
○ Fauna- Tiger and Asian Elephant
○ Other species: Indian Gaur, Spotted Deer, Common Langur, Malabar Giant Squirrel, Wild
Dog, Jungle Cat among others.

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○ Tall grasses- Elephanta grass

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• Tal chhapar WS- Rajasthan


○ Famous for Blackbucks
○ Unique ecosystem in Thar desert
○ Also called Tal chhapar blackbuck sanctuary
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• Ans- A

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• Musk deer-
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• lives in mountainous regions from Siberia to the Himalayas
• IUCN- Endangered
• CITES-Appendix 1
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• Inhabits in high alpine environment


• Askot WLS-
• Recently declared as ESZ
• In Uttarakhand
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• 'Green paradise on Earth'


• Gangotri National Park-
• Uttarakhand
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• Upper catchment of Bhagirathi river


• viable continuity between Govind National Park and Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.
• Gangotri Glacier- in GNP
• Vegetation- alpine scrub
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• Kishanpur WLS-
• Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary is a part of the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve
• Uttar Pradesh
• sanctuary is covered with a dense deciduous forest of sal, teak and jamun.
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• National parks generally dont have human habitation allowed inside the core area. But sometimes
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due to human settlements issues human habitations are present.

• India's Desert National Park-


○ It is the only natural habitat for the Rajasthan State Bird (Great Indian Bustard), State Animal
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(Camel), State Tree (Khejri), and State Flower (Rohida).


○ Arid vegetation
○ Great Indian Bustard - important habitat
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• Great Indian Bustard-
○ Rajasthan's state bird animal
○ India's most critically endangered bird

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○ Flagship grassland species
○ Confined mostly to RJ and GJ
○ Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
○ IUCN- CRITICALLY ENDANGERED
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○ CMS- appendix 1
○ WPA, 1972- sch.1
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• Measures taken to protect GIB
○ Species Recovery programme-:under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the
Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
○ National Bustard recovery programme
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○ Conservation breeding facility- in desert NP, 2019


○ Project GIB
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• Ans-A
• Biofuels- Any hydrocarbon fuel i.e. Solid, Liquid or Gas, that is produced from an organic matter which
may be living or once living material, in a short period of time is considered a biofuel.
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• Examples include:
Solid: Wood, manure
Liquid: Bioethanol and Biodiesel
Gaseous: Biogas
• can be produced from biomass, such as corn or sugar, vegetable oils or waste feedstocks.
• Emits less CO2 than conventional fuels
• Can be blended with existing fuels
• 1st Gen Biofuels- produced directly from food crops
• can produce Negative Net energy gains, releasing more carbon in their production than their
feedstock’s capture in their growth.
• The most contentious issue with first generation biofuels is ‘fuel vs food’.
• Biofuels from foodgrains has been blamed for the increase in food prices over the last couple of
years.
• 2nd generation -
• produced from non-food crops such as wood, organic waste, food crop waste and specific biomass
crops, therefore eliminating the main problem with first generation biofuels.
• cost competitive in relation to existing fossil fuel.
• +ve net energy gains
• 3rd Gen-
• Produced from- specially engineered energy crops such as algae.
• The algae are cultured to act as a low-cost, high-energy and entirely renewable feedstock.

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• More energy per acre than conventional
• 4th Gen-
• production of these fuels, crops that are genetically engineered to take in high amounts of carbon

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are grown and harvested as biomass.
• carbon is geo-sequestered, meaning that the carbon is stored in depleted oil or gas fields or in
unmineable coal seams.
• Major biofuels
• Bioethanol

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• Biodiesel
• Biogas
• Biobutanol
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• Biohydrogen
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• Cassava-plant, root vegetable
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Critical Tiger habitat- wildlife habitat means created in areas of National Parks and Sanctuaries which are
required to be kept as inviolate for the purposes of wildlife conservation. Certain areas of the Bandipur
National Park and the Jim Corbett National parks have been designated as critical tiger habitats.

• Corbett- Uttarakhand
• Known for its Bengal tiger
• entire area of the reserve is mountainous and falls in the Shivalik and Outer Himalaya geological
provinces.
• Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain and Kosi are the major rivers flowing through the Reserve.

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• Ranthambore-
• Location: Ranthambore Tiger Reserve lies in the eastern part of Rajasthan state in Karauli and
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Sawai Madhopur districts, at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya hill ranges.
• Ranthambore National Park as well as Sawai Mansingh and Keladevi Sanctuaries.
• tropical dry deciduous with ‘dhak’ - a species of tree capable of withstanding long periods of
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drought, being the commonest- This tree is also called as 'Flame of forest' and
• Nagarjuna-srisailam
• Largest tiger reserve in India
• Tiger reserve is spread over 5 districts in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
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• The area consists mostly of the Nallamala Hills.


• multipurpose reservoirs- Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar are located in the
• Krishna river cuts the basin of this reserve.
• Sunderbans-
• Sundarbans is a mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Padma, Brahmaputra
and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal.
• Largest mangrove forest in the world
• World heritage site
• Ramsar site
• 96-Royal Bengal Tiger
2019 ENVT DETAILED NOTES

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2018 Set A-Envt PYQs Detailed notes

• Easy question

• All of the above type


question

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Plants growing in extreme dry conditions:
 Plants growing in deserts (psammophytes), on rock (lithophytes) or alpine plants growing
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above 14000 feet altitude
Xerophytes adaptations for different functions:
Conservation of Storage of water Prevention of Prevention of Efficient
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Water loss of water by excessive heat mechanism of


transpiration Water
absorption
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• Leaves few or • Thick, fleshy & • Intercellular • Leaves • Long and


absent or succulent leaves spaces reduced covered with profusely
represented by as well as stem • Spongy dense hairs branched
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spines only parenchyma/pal • Leaf surfaced roots


• Petiole modified isade shiny or • Dense root
into leaf like parenchyma glaborous hairs
structure present • Leaf blade • Well-
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• Stem reduced, • Stomata on remains rolled developed


branching sparse lower surface, during the day xylem
• Steam flattened, leaf sunken in • Efficient
life, green, stomatal pits mechanism of
photosynthetic in • Leaves needle water
nature like absorption
• Thick, fleshy and • Thick cuticle on
succulent leaves as leaf surface
well as stem

PYQ Page 1
Observation:
• UPSC playing in
statement 1

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• Both are statutory bodies
• 2nd statement is very
generic. CORRECT

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NGT:
 Ä statutory body estbd. Under NGT Act, 2010
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 Set up to handle cases and speed up the cases related to environmental issues
 NGT==>not bound by CPC, 1908 but shall be guided by "principles of natural justice"
 Provide speedy environmental justice and help reduce burden of litigation in higher courts
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 Mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of application or appeals finally within 6
months of filing of the same
 Sitting benches==>New Delhi, Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai
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 Composition
 Chairperson
 Not less than ten but subject to a maximum of twenty full-time Judicial members
 Not less than ten but subject to a maximum of twenty full-time Expert members
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 Qualification:
 Chairperson – A person must be a Judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice of
High Court
 Judicial member - A person must be a Judge of the Supreme Court or Chief Justice
of High Court or Judge of High court
 Decisions are binding
 No jurisdiction over WPA’72 and IFA'1927, ST (FRA), 2006
 The Tribunal is competent to hear matters relating to laws listed in Schedule I of the NGT
Act. These are:
o Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
o The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
PYQ Page 2
o The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
o The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
o The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
o The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
o The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.
o The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
CPCP:
 Statutory body estbd. In 1974 under Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
 Also entrusted with the powers & functions under Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution)
Act, 1981
 Provides technical services to MoEFCC and provision of EPA, 1986

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 Promotes cleanliness of streams & wells, prevention, control and abatement of water
pollution, improving quality of air and prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country

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Observations:
• UPSC playing with facts in
Statement 1. Eliminate 1
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• 2nd should be assumed as


correct. Generally, such
alliances does not create
binding obligations
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 Climate-Smart Agriculture was first coined by FAO in 2010 as a means to attract climate
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finance to its agricultural programmes in Africa


 GACSA is an inclusive, voluntary and action-oriented multi-stakeholder platform on
Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA)
 GACSA was launched in Sept, 2014 in the margins of UN Climate Summit.
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 The alliance held its inaugural Annual Forum in Dec 2014, during which the 2015
Inception Year Work Plan was endorsed
 So, the concept of SCA==>originally developed by FAO & officially presented and at the
Hague Conference on Agriculture, Food Security & Climate Change in 2010
 They are estbd. Based on bottom-up approaches, inclusive, independent and voluntary
processes with specific objectives
 INDIA IS NOT INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CREATION OF GACSA (UPSC is just
playing with words)

PYQ Page 3
playing with words)

Observations:
• UPSC again playing with facts in
statement 2
• Statement 1 & 2 are conceptual

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 Earth's magnetic field has flipped its polarity many times over the millennia. Earth has

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settled in the last 20 million years into a pattern of a magnetic pole reversal about every
200,000-300,000 years
 Statement 2 is wrong==> When Earth was formed 4.6by ago, it had almost no atmosphere.
As Earth cooled, an atmosphere formed mainly from gases spewed from volcanoes. It
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included H2S, CH4 and 10-200 times as much C02 as today's atmosphere
 Living organisms includes plants & microbes. Life started and created a major impact on
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the environment. Photosynthesis==> reduced CO2==>released O2==>living beings
originated==>and thus modify Earth's atmosphere
Related concept: Stages in Evolution of Earth's atmosphere:
 Stage I==>Loss of primordial atmosphere. The early atmosphere with Hydrogen & Helium
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stripped off by solar winds.


 Stage II==> Hot interior of the Earth contributed to the evolution of the atmosphere
 Stage III==>Composition of the atmosphere modified by the living world through the
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process of photosynthesis
 During the cooling of the Earth, gases & water vapour were released from the interior solid
earth. This started the evolution of the present atmosphere. The early atmosphere contained
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(H20 vapour, N2, CO2, CH4, NH3 and very little of free O2)==>This process through which
gases were outpoured from the interior is called "degassing"
 Continous volcanic eruptions contributed water vapour and gases to the atmosphere. As the
earth cooled, the water vapour released started getting condensed.
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 The carbon dioxide in the atmosphere got dissolved in rainwater and the temperature
further decreased causing more condensation and more rains.
 The rainwater falling onto the surface got collected in the depressions to give rise to
oceans. The earth’s oceans were formed within 500 million years from the formation of the
earth.

Observations:
• Eliminate Statement 1==>
monoculture is harmful practice

PYQ Page 4
Observations:
• Eliminate Statement 1==>
monoculture is harmful practice

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 Conservation agriculture==>A set of soil management practices that minimize the
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disruption of the soil's structure, composition and natural biodiversity
 3 core principles of Conservation agriculture:
1. Maintenance of permanent or semi-permanent soil cover (using either a previous crop
residue or specifically growing a cover crop for this purpose)
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2. Minimum soil disturbance through tillage (just enough to get the seed into the ground)
3. Regular crop rotations to help combat the various biotic constraints
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Observation:
• Read very carefully each options==>it has to
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be anthropogenically induced extinction


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PYQ Page 5
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Ongoing Sixth mass extinction:
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 one of the most serious environmental threats to persistence of civilization as loss of
species will be permanent.
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 It is referred to as Anthropocene extinction.
 This extinction is human-caused and is more immediate than climate destruction.
 400 vertebrate species went extinct in last century, extinctions that would have taken over
10,000 years in normal course of evolution.
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 There will be more pandemics if we continue destroying habitats and trading wildlife.

Observations:
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• Careful reading of the given "fertilization"


• So it has to do with some increased plant
growth
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 Carbon fertilization effect (CFE)==>The larger amount of CO2 in the atmosphere that
has resulted from anthropogenic emissions should help the growth of plants, which use

PYQ Page 6
has resulted from anthropogenic emissions should help the growth of plants, which use
CO2 during photosynthesis. This effect ought to increase crop yields
 It helps in the short-run==>but harmful in the long-run
 Plants acclimatize to rising CO2 concentration and the fertilization effect diminishes over
time.
 That is, raising CO2 concentrations may be beneficial for plants in the short run, but in the
long run it is harmful due to climate change.

Observations:

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• Conceptual & tricky
• All of the above TRICKS NOT
APPLICABLE

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 Excessive instream sand-and-gravel mining causes the degradation of rivers.
 Instream mining lowers the stream bottom==>leads to bank erosion
 Depletion of sand in the streambed and along coastal areas==>causes deepening of rivers
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& estuaries and enlargement of river mouths and coastal inlets


 Thus, it leads to saline-water intrusion from the nearby sea. The effect is further
compounded by the effect of sea level rise. Hence statement 1 is correct
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 2nd & 3rd statement==>self-explanatory


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PYQ Page 7
2nd & 3rd statement==>self-explanatory

Observations:
• Eliminate Statement 2: "Any"
• Eliminate Statement 1: drastically
reduces

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 Sulfur is one of the three nutrients that are cycled between the soil, plant matter & the
atmosphere
 Excessive irrigation==>Increased soil salinization eg increasing salinization over PJ, HY
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and UP belts because of excessive irrigation. (Gypsum is used to treat soil salinity)
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PYQ Page 8
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Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE):
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 Launched in 2013 as a response to the call@ Rio+20 (UN Conference on Sustainable
Development 2012, Rio De Janeiro)
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 To support those countries wishing to embark on greener and more inclusive growth
trajectories
 PAGE seeks to put sustainability at the heart of economic policies and practices to advance
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
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 Supports nations and regions in reframing economic policies and practices around
sustainability to foster economic growth, create income and jobs, reduce poverty &
inequality
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 PAGE brings together==>UNEP, ILO, UNIDO and UN institute for training & research

Related: World Sustainable Development Summit:


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 Annual event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)


 2022 Summit Theme: Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable
Future
 WSDC is the annual flagship Track II initiative of TERI.
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 Instituted in 2001
 The only summit on global issues taking place in the developing world==>WSDS strives to
provide long-term solutions for the benefit of global communities by assembling the
world's most enligthened leaders & thinkers on a single platform

About TERI:
 TERI is an independent, multi-dimensional organization with expertise in research, policy,
consultation and implementation

PYQ Page 9
consultation and implementation

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Prosopis fuliflora/Mesquite:

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 an exotic tree, one of the top invaders in India
 A native of South & Central America
 It was introduced in India to meet the fuel and wood requirement of the rural poor and to
restore degraded lands
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Other Invasive flora in India:
 Needle bush==> (Native-South America); found in thorny scrub
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 Black wattle==>(native-SE Australia)==>in Western Ghats
 Goat weed==>(native- tropical America)
 Alternanthera paronychioides (native: Tropical america)
 Prickly poopy (native: Tropical Central & South America)
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 Blumea eriantha (native: Tropical america)


 Palmyra, toddy palm (native: Tropical africa)
 Calotropis/Madar, Swallo wort (native: Tropical africa)
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 Datura, Mad plant, thorn apple (native: Trop America)


 Water Hyacinth (native: Tropical america)
 Impatients, Balsam (native: Trop America)
 Ipomoea/the pink morning glory (native: Trop America)
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 Lantana camara/Lantana, Wild Sage (native: Trop America)


 Black Mimosa (native: Trop North America)
 Touch-me-not, Sleeping grass (native: Brazil)
 4 o clock plant (native: Peru)
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 Parthenium/Congress grass (native: Trop America)


 Townsend grass (trop: West Asia)
Invasive fauna:
 Insects of Eucalyptus (Leptocybe invasa), crazy ant
 Giant african snail, Myna, Gold fish
 Pigeon, Donkey, House Gecko, Tilapia
Observations/TRICKS
• Climate related
initiative…. So ans

PYQ Page 10
Observations/TRICKS
• Climate related
initiative…. So ans
has to be either A/C
• But qns resonates
more with UNFCCC
• Hence, by this logic
Ans would be Option
C

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 UNFCCC Sectt launched Climate Neutral Now Initiative in 2015

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Observations:

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• NO TRICKS here unless
you are from one of the NE
states
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PYQ Page 11
2017 ENVT DETAILED NOTES

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3/10/22, 11:25 AM OneNote

2016 PYQs Environment


Wednesday, March 9, 2022 5:05 PM

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• Ans- C
• UNCCD-
○ Established in 1994.
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○ the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to
sustainable land management
○ only convention stemming from a direct recommendation of the Rio Conference’s Agenda
21.
○ 2006 was declared “International Year of Deserts and Desertification”
○ Focus areas- arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some
of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
○ Aim- 197 parties aim - through partnerships,
• to implement the Convention and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
• end goal is to protect land from over-use and drought, so it can continue to provide
food, water and energy.
○ The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the nodal Ministry for this
Convention.

https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=D080978C81D62671%21105&authkey=%21AEgbQHyrGWBbVhg&page=View&wd=target%28Quick Notes… 1/26


3/10/22, 11:25 AM OneNote

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○ COP14 - in 2019
○ India was host- India was the COP president for 2019 – 2021.
○ India is also a part of the Bonn Challenge, which is an international effort to bring 150

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million hectares of the world’s degraded and deforested land into restoration by 2020, and
350 million hectares by 2030.
○ Outcome of 2019 COP-
• Delhi declaration-
• Peace forest Initiative-initiative of South Korea to use ecological restoration as a

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peace-building process.
• aims at addressing the issue of land degradation in conflict-torn border areas
and would go a long way in alleviating tensions and building trust between
communities living there and between enemy countries in particular.
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• To address migration driven by land degradation an initiative 3S i.e. Sustainability,
Stability and Security
• to adopt an ambitious resolution on land tenure for Land Degradation Neutrality.
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https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=D080978C81D62671%21105&authkey=%21AEgbQHyrGWBbVhg&page=View&wd=target%28Quick Notes… 2/26


3/10/22, 11:25 AM OneNote

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• Ans-B

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○ FAO- specialized agency of the United Nations
• international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security
• HQ-Rome, Italy
• Food price index-global agricultural commodity markets.
• FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) is a measure of the monthly change in international prices
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of a basket of food commodities.
• measures changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat and
sugar.Base Period: 2014-16.
• India released a commemorative coin of Rs. 75 denomination to mark the 75th
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Anniversary of the FAO (16th October 2020).


• sister bodies are the World Food Programme and the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD).
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• Initiatives-
a. GIAHS
b. Monitors the Desert Locust situation throughout the world.
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c. Codex Alimentarius Commission or CAC -responsible for all matters regarding the
implementation of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.
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d. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
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https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=D080978C81D62671%21105&authkey=%21AEgbQHyrGWBbVhg&page=View&wd=target%28Quick Notes… 3/26


3/10/22, 11:25 AM OneNote

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• Ans-C
• Certified Emission Reduction-
○ Certified Emission Reductions(CERs) are a type of emissions unit (or carbon credits) issued
by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board for emission reductions

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achieved by CDM projects and verified by a DOE (Designated Operational Entity) under the
rules of the Kyoto Protocol.
○ CERs or Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) for the CO2 emissions of their installations.
○ CERs can be held by governmental and private entities on electronic accounts with the UN.
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○ CERs can be purchased from the primary market (purchased from an original party that
makes the reduction) or secondary market (resold from a marketplace).
• Clean Development MechanismThe Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)-
○ defined in Article 12 of the Protocol, allows a country with an emission-reduction or
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emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to implement an


emission-reduction project in developing countries.
○ Such projects can earn saleable certified emission reduction (CER) credits, each equivalent
to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.It is the first
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global, environmental investment and credit scheme of its kind, providing a standardized
emissions offset instrument, CERs.•
○ A CDM project activity might involve, for example, a rural electrification project using solar
panels or the installation of more energy-efficient boilers
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○ •A CDM project must provide emission reductions that are additional to what would
otherwise have occurred. The projects must qualify through a rigorous and public
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registration and issuance process.


• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
○ The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity is an
international treaty governing the movements of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting
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from modern biotechnology from one country to another.


○ It was adopted on 29 January 2000 as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on
Biological Diversity and entered into force on 11 September 2003.
○ The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living
modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
○ It establishes an advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure for ensuring that countries
are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to
the import of such organisms into their territory.
○ •The Protocol also establishes a Biosafety Clearing-House to facilitate the exchange of
information on living modified organisms and to assist countries in the implementation of
the Protocol.•
○ The protocol defines a 'living modified organism' as any living organism that possesses a
novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology,

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and 'living organism' means any biological entity capable of transferring or replicating
genetic material, including sterile organisms, viruses and viroids.
• Nagoya protocol-
○ Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of
Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) is a supplementary agreement to the UN
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
○ legal framework for the implementation of one of the objectives of the Convention on
Biological Diversity, which is the fair & equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the
utilization of genetic resources
○ legal framework for the implementation of one of the objectives of the Convention on
Biological Diversity, which is the fair & equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the
utilization of genetic resources.
○ In 2010 in japan
• Kyoto protocol-

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○ 1997
○ In japan
○ Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of the UNFCCC to reduce the onset of global

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warming by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere to "a level that
would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"
○ Doha amendment to the kyoto protocol-2012-2020
○ legally binding obligations for developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas
emissions.

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○ India ratified in 2002
○ 192 parties
○ Adaptation Fund
○ only binds developed countries, and places a heavier burden on them under the principle
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of “common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities”

Targets for the first commitment period


○ The targets for the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protococoverl emissions of the six
main greenhouse gases, namely:
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○ • Carbon dioxide (CO2);


○ • Methane (CH4);
○ • Nitrous oxide (N2O);
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○ • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs);
○ • Perfluorocarbons (PFCs); and
○ • Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
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• UNFCCC-
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○ ANS-A
○ National Ganga River Basin Authority-
• It was established by the Central Government of India, on 20 February 2009 under
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Section 3(3) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, which also declared Ganges as
the "National River" of India.
• • The Prime Minister is the chair of the Authority.
• • it was changed toNational Ganga Council (NGC) National Ganga River Basin
Authority (NGRBA) is a financing, planning, implementing, monitoring and
coordinating authority for the Ganges River,
• functioning under the Jal Shakti ministry of India.
• The mission of the organisation is to safeguard the drainage basin which feeds water
into the Ganges by protecting it from pollution or overuse.
• In July 2014, the NGRBA has been transferred from the Ministry of Environment and
Forests to the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga
Rejuvenation, formerly Ministry of Water Resources (India).

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• [1]Union government in a notification issued on 20 September 2016 has taken


decision under River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities
Order 2016 for a new body named "National Council for River Ganga (Rejuvenation,
Protection and Management)" NCRG to replace existing NGRBA.
• The new body will act as an authority replacing the existing National Ganga River
Basin Authority for overall responsibility for superintendence of pollution
prevention and rejuvenation of river Ganga Basin.
• Namami Gange' should holistically evolve to 'Arth Ganga' i.e. a sustainable
development model with a focus on economic activities related to Ganga
• Setting up of a digital dashboard where data from villages and urban bodies to be
monitored on a daily basis by NITI Ayog and Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• The need to increase the efficiency of district Ganga committees for effective
implementation of the Namami Gange Programme
• potential of religious and adventure tourism in the Ganga river basin area to be

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explored in future

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○ Green India Mission (GIM) - National Mission for a Green India


○ Green India mission is one of the missions that come under the umbrella of the National
Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
○ Every country has an obligation to arrest the downward spiral of climate change.
○ Green India Mission was launched in 2014.
○ The primary aim is to protect, restore and enhance India’s diminishing forest cover
○ Activities under Green India Mission are implemented under the convergence with
Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Compensatory

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Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and National


Afforestation Program (NAP).
○ GREEN ACCOUNTING
• Green accounting is a type of accounting that attempts to factor environmental costs
into the financial results of operations.
• It has been argued that gross domestic product ignores the environment and
therefore policymakers need a revised model that incorporates green accounting.

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○ Ans-D

○ Hornbills-

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• The hornbills (Bucerotidae) are a family of birds found in tropical and subtropical
Africa and Asia.
• India is home to nine species of hornbills
• The northeastern region has the highest diversity of hornbill species within India
• Papum RF is a nesting habitat of three species of hornbills
• the great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), wreathed hornbill (Aceros undulatus) and the
Oriental pied hornbill (Anthracoceros albirostris), Wreathed and Oriental Pied. The
862 sq.km. Pakke reserve houses a fourth species, the Rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros
nipalensis) species are found here.
• great hornbill is the state bird of Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala.

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• cultural symbols of some ethnic communities in the northeast, specifically the Nyishi
of Arunachal Pradesh.
• referred to as ‘forest engineers’ or ‘farmers of forest’ for playing a key role in
dispersing seeds of tropical trees and indicate the prosperity and balance of the
forest they build nests in.
• Hornbill festival celebrated in Nagaland is named after the bird – Hornbill which is
the most revered and admired bird for the Nagas.
• It is protected at the highest level under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act,
1972.
• IUCN status- Vulnerable
• CITES- appendix -1

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• Ans-B
○ Nationally determined contribution
A nationally determined contribution (NDC) or intended nationally determined
contribution (INDC) is a non-binding
national plans highlighting climate change mitigation, including climate-related targets for
greenhouse gas
emission reductions, policies and measures governments
○ aim to implement in response to climate change and as a
contribution to achieve the global targets set out in the Paris Agreement.

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○ All the goals for each country are stated in their NDC which are based on the points below.
• Climate neutral to 2050
• Limiting global warming to well below 2 °C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C
• Reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG)
• Increase adaptation to the harmful effects of climate change
• Adjust financial flows so they can be combined with reduced GHG emissions

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○ International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) recently categorised the Red
Sanders (or Red Sandalwood) again into the ‘endangered’ category in its Red List.
○ It was classified as ‘near threatened’ in 2018
○ Indian endemic tree species, with a restricted geographical range in the Eastern Ghats.
○ The species is endemic to a distinct tract of forests in Andhra Pradesh.

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○ Red Sanders usually grow in the rocky, degraded and fallow lands with Red Soil and hot and
dry climate.
○ Protection Status:
• IUCN Red List: Endangered.
• CITES: Appendix II
• Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule II
○ Sandalwood Spike Disease
• It is an infectious disease which is caused by phytoplasma.
• Phytoplasmas are bacterial parasites of plant tissues — which are transmitted by
insect vectors and involved in plant-to-plant transmission.
• There is no cure as of now for the infection.
• Presently, there is no option but to cut down and remove the infected tree to prevent
the spread of the disease.
• The disease was first reported in Kodagu, Karnataka in 1899.

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• More than a million sandalwood trees were removed in the Kodagu and Mysore
region between 1903 and 1916.

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○ REDD+
• Deforestation and forest degradation account for approximately 11 percent of carbon
emissions, more than the entire global transportation sector and second only to the
energy sector.
• •Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is a
mechanism developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC).
• It creates a financial value for the carbon stored in forests by offering incentives for
developing countries to
reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable
development

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• Developing countries would receive results-based payments for results-based actions.

• REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest degradation and includes the role
of conservation,
sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks

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○ United Nations REDD Programme
• The United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest
Degradation (or UN-REDD Programme) is a collaborative programme of the Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme
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(UNEP), created in 2008 in response to the UNFCCC decisions on the Bali Action Plan
and REDD at COP-13.
• It should not be confused with REDD+, a voluntary climate change mitigation
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approach that has been developed by Parties to the UNFCCC.


• •The Programme has expanded steadily since its establishment and now has over 60
official Partner Countries spanning Africa, Asia-Pacific and Latin America-Caribbean.
• •In addition to the UN-REDD Programme, other initiatives assisting countries that are
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engaged in REDD+ include the World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility,
Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, the Global Environment Facility,
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Australia’s International Forest Carbon Initiative, the Collaborative Partnership on


Forests, and the Green Climate Fund.
• The UN-REDD Programme publicly releases each year an Annual Programme Progress
Report and a Semi-Annual Report.
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• REDD+ is a voluntary climate change mitigation approach that has been developed by
Parties to the UNFCCC.
• The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries – or UN-REDD
Programme – is a multilateral body.
• It partners with developing countries to support them in establishing the technical
capacities needed to implement REDD+ and meet UNFCCC requirements for REDD+
results-based payments.
• Other examples of REDD+ multilaterals include the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
and Forest Investment Program, hosted by The World Bank.

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○ GHG Protocol
• Greenhouse Gas Protocol provides standards, guidance, tools and training for business
and government to measure and manage climate-warming emissions.
• •GHG Protocol establishes comprehensive global standardized frameworks to
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measure and manage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private and public sector
operations, value chains and mitigation actions.
• •Building on a 20-year partnership between World Resources Institute (WRI) and the
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), GHG Protocol works
with governments, industry associations, NGOs, businesses and other organizations.
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• GHG Protocol supplies the world's most widely used greenhouse gas accounting
standards.
• The Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard provides the accounting platform
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for virtually every corporate GHG reporting program in the world.


• The standard covers the accounting and reporting of seven greenhouse gases covered
by the Kyoto Protocol – carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O),
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PCFs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and
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nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)


• It was updated in 2015 with the Scope 2 Guidance, which allows companies to
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credibly measure and report emissions from purchased or acquired electricity, steam,
heat, and cooling.
• Carbon accounting in corporations
• Carbon accounting can be used as part of sustainability accounting by for-profit
and non-profit[9] organizations.
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• A corporate or organizational "carbon" or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions


assessment promises to quantify the greenhouse gases produced directly and
indirectly from a business or organization's activities within a set of
boundaries.
• Also known as a carbon footprint, it is a business tool that constructs
information that may (or may not) be useful for understanding and managing
climate change impacts.
• Enterprise carbon accounting
• Enterprise Carbon Accounting (ECA) or Corporate Carbon Footprint aims to be a
rapid and cost effective process for businesses to collect, summarise, and report
enterprise and supply chain GHG inventories.
• ECA leverages financial accounting principles, whilst utilising a hybrid of input-
output LCA (Life Cycle Analysis) and process methodologies as appropriate.
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• The evolution to ECA is necessary to address the urgent need for a more
comprehensive and scalable approach to carbon accounting.
• While an emerging area, a number of new companies offer ECA solutions.
• ECA is a critical part of broader Enterprise Sustainability Accounting.

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○ Kharai camels-
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• Kharai Camels Known as kharai camels, their name is derived from the local word
khara, meaning saline.
• Location: Kutch, a coastal region of Gujarat, which is also a large desert land, has two
camel breeds. One is the popular Kutchi breed and the other, the Kharai breed, native
to the region.

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• •The Kharai breed has the special ability to survive on both dry land and in the sea,
making it an ecotonal breed.
• Recognised as a separate breed a few years ago by the National Bureau of Animal
Genetic Resources(NBAGR), the Kharai camel is probably the only domesticated breed
of camel that lives in dual ecosystems.
• NBAGR also certified the breed as ninth camel breed found in India, separating it from
Kutchi camel.
• Feeding: Kharai camels are known to feed on mangroves on the island off shore. And
to eat this salty marine food, they sometimes swim for hours
• •Its unique abilitiesThese camels have a special ability to swim in seawater and feed
on saline plants and mangroves
• which is how they get their name, Kharai (‘salty’ in Gujarati).
• Their gently padded hooves help them navigate the wet and salty coastal land with
ease and they can

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swim up to three kilometres (1.8 miles)
• During the rainy season, they swim along the Gulf of Kutch, an inlet of the Arabian
Sea, to small

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forest islands and graze on mangroves and other saline-loving plants

• They are also known as dariyataru (meaning sea-swimmer).

• They have adapted to the extreme climate of the desert, shallow or deep-sea waters,

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salinity

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As per latest counting, the state has 6,200 camels out of which around 2,200 are
found in areas such
as Lakhpat, Abdasa, Mundra and Bhachau in Kutch whereas the remaining are seen in
South Gujarat
near Aliya Bet.
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• Threats:
Industries in Kutch–salt, thermal power, cement and shipyards, among others–pose a
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huge threat to the


dwindling mangroves

Conservation status:
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• IUCN: Endangered
• WPA 1942- Schedule I
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• Ans-A
○ Anamalai Tiger Reserve

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• Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, earlier known as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and
National Park and as Anaimalai Wildlife Sanctuary, is a protected area in the Anaimalai
Hills of Pollachi and Valparai taluks of Coimbatore District and Udumalaipettai taluk in
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Tiruppur District, Tamil Nadu, India.


• Major reservoirs like Parambikulam Reservoir, Aliyar Reservoir, Thirumurthi Reservoir,
Upper Aliyar Reservoir, Kadambarai, Sholayar Dam and Amaravathi Dam are fed by
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the perennial rivers which originate from the Sanctuary.


• •Much of the original forest now contains introduced teak plantations. Bamboo
stands and reed beds occur in the natural forests.
• •Threatened species of mammals in the Anamalai Tiger Reserve include Bengal tiger,
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Indian elephant, Indian leopard, dhole, Nilgiri tahr and lion-tailed macaque, Indian
brown mongoose, gaur, Malabar spiny dormouse, Nilgiri langur, rusty-spotted cat,
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sambar deer, sloth bear and smooth-coated otter, Indian giant squirrel, Indian leopard
and Indian pangolin.
• The tribes are the Kadars, Malasars, Pulaiyars, Mudugars and the Eravallan (Eravalar).
○ Anaimalai Hills
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• The Anaimalais or Anamala, also known as the Elephant Mountains, are a range of
mountains in the southern Western
Ghats and span the border of western Tamil Nadu(Coimbatore district and Tiruppur
district) and central Kerala(Palakkad
district, Thrissur district, Ernakulam district, and Idukki district) in Southern India.
• The name anamala is derived from
the Tamil word aanai, the Malayalam word aana, meaning elephant, or from tribal
languages.
• Mala or Malai means 'hill',
and thus 'Elephant hill'.

• The Western Ghats and Anaimalai Sub-Cluster, including the Anaimalai Hills, are now a
UNESCO World Heritage Site
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• There are several rivers in the area including the Chalakkudipuzha, Aliayar, Apambar,
Chinnar , Kaddambarrai , Neerar, Mannambhally, Pambar River, and the Idamalayar.
• Most of these rivers originate in the sholas of Kerala's Ernakulam and Idukki districts,
flowing mostly west towards the Arabian Sea, with a few exceptions, such as the
Amaravathi and Pambar, which flow into Tamil Nadu, the Amaravathi being a tributary
of the Kaveri.
• there is a water dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu about the Idamalayar Dam
due to the construction of the Neerar Dam by Tamil Nadu on the Neerar, a tributary of
the Idamalayar,
○ Maikal Hills

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• The Maikal Hills are range of hills in the state of eastern Madhya Pradesh and
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Chhattisgarh India.
• The Maikal Hills are an eastern part of the Satpuras in Kawardha District of
Chhattisgarh and Anuppur district of MP.
• The hills are inhabited by two tribal peoples, the Baigas and the Gonds.
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• To one side of this stretch of landscape, the Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary of


Chhattisgarh is located.
• On the other side of the Satpuda-Maikal lies the Melghat Tiger Reserve of
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Maharashtra.
• The following protected areas are located in the range
• Kanha National Park
• Kanha National Park is a national park and a Tiger Reserve in the Mandla and
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Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh and located in the Maikal hills of the
Satpuras.
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• Besides harbouring a viable population of the tiger, Kanha has distinguished


itself in saving the endangered hard ground barasingha from extinction, and
supporting the last world population of this deer species
• The hills are known to contain bauxite, an ore for aluminium.
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• ANS-A
○ Earth Summit 2002-The World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002
• took place in South Africa, from 26 August to 4 September 2002.

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• The Johannesburg Declaration was the main outcome of the Summit.
• Agenda 21
• Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to
sustainable development.
• It is a product of the Earth Summit (UN Conference on Environment and

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Development) held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992.
• It is an action agenda for the UN, other multilateral organizations, and individual
governments around the world that can be executed at local, national, and
global levels.
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• One major objective of the Agenda 21 initiative is that every local government
should draw its own local Agenda 21.
• Rio+5- (1997)In 1997, the UN General Assembly held a special session to
appraise the status of Agenda 21 (Rio +5).
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• The Assembly recognized progress as "uneven" and identified key trends,


including increasing globalization, widening inequalities in income, and
continued deterioration of the global environment.
• Rio+10 (2002)[edit]Main article: World Summit on Sustainable
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DevelopmentThe Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, agreed to at the


World Summit on Sustainable Development (Earth Summit 2002), affirmed UN
commitment to "full implementation" of Agenda 21, alongside achievement of
the Millennium Development Goals and other international agreements.
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• Agenda 21 for culture (2002)Main article: Agenda 21 for cultureThe first World
Public Meeting on Culture, held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2002, came up with
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the idea to establish guidelines for local cultural policies, something


comparable to what Agenda 21 was for the environment.
• They are to be included in various subsections of Agenda 21 and will be
carried out through a wide range of sub-programs beginning with G8
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countries.
• Rio+20 (2012)-
• Main article: United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
• In 2012, at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development the
attending members reaffirmed their commitment to Agenda 21 in their
outcome document called "The Future We Want".
• Leaders from 180 nations participated.
• Local Agenda 21" or "LA21From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agenda_21>

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○ United States of America has become the 101st member country to join the International
Solar Alliance (ISA).
○ The ISA is an intergovernmental treaty-based organisation with a global mandate to catalyse
solar growth by helping to reduce the cost of financing and technology.
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○ ISA is the nodal agency for implementing One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG), which
seeks to transfer solar power generated in one region to feed the electricity demands of
others.
○ It is an Indian initiative that was launched by the Prime Minister of India and the President
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of France on 30th November 2015 in Paris, France on the side-lines of the UNFCCC
Conference of the Parties (COP-21), with 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or
partially between the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn as prospective members
○ 101 members, after being joined by the US
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○ Headquarters:
• The Headquarters is in India with its Interim Secretariat being set up in Gurugram.
○ To collectively address key common challenges to the scaling up of solar energy in ISA
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member countries.
○ New ISA programmes
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• have been launched on management of solar PV panels & battery usage waste and
solar hydrogen programme.
• The new Hydrogen initiative is aimed at enabling the use of solar electricity to
produce hydrogen at a more affordable rate than what is available currently (USD 5
per KG), by bringing it down to USD 2 per KG.
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• Ans-D
○ Maharashtra- blue mormon
○ Arunachal Pradesh-Kaiser-i-Hind as the State butterfly
○ Uttarakhand- Common Peacock
○ Karnataka - Southern Birdwing
○ Kerala has Malabar banded peacock or buddha butterfly
○ Tamil Nadu has declared the Tamil Yeoman Butterfly species (endemic to the Western
Ghats) as the state butterfly.
• Himalayan butterfly named Golden Birdwing is India’s largest
• The smallest is the Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora)

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• Ans-B
• Air quality index-
○ Launched in 2014 with outline ‘One Number – One Color -One
Description’ for the common man to judge the air quality within his
vicinity.

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○ The measurement of air quality is based on eight pollutants, namely:


Particulate Matter (PM10), Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Nitrogen Dioxide
(NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3),
Ammonia (NH3), and Lead (Pb).
○ It has been developed by the CPCB in consultation with IIT-Kanpur and an
expert group comprising medical and air-quality professionals.

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PS
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○ The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), statutory organisation, was
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constituted in September, 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1974. Further,
○ CPCB was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
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○ .It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the
Ministry of Environment and Forests of the provisions of the Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986.
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○ Principal Functions of the CPCB, as spelt out in the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981,
○ (i) to promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the
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States by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution, and (ii) to


improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in
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the country.
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Ans-B

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○ The Paris Agreement
a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
○ It was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21 in
Paris, on 12 December 2015 and entered into force on 4 November 2016.
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1.
Its goal is to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees
Celsius, compared to
pre-industrial levels.
ta

2.
To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global
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peaking of greenhouse gas


emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-
century.
3.
e

The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change


process because, for the first time, a
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binding agreement brings all nations into a common cause to undertake


ambitious efforts to combat climate
change and adapt to its effects.
4.
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The Paris Agreement works on a 5- year cycle of increasingly ambitious


climate action carried out by countries.
By 2020, countries submit their plans for climate action known as
nationally determined contributions
(NDCs).-
actions they will take to reduce their Greenhouse Gas emissions in order to
reach the goals of
the Paris Agreement.

also communicate in the NDCs actions they will take to build resilience to
adapt to the impacts of

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rising temperatures.

5.
To better frame the efforts towards the long-term goal, the Paris Agreement
invites countries to formulate and
submit by 2020 long-term low greenhouse gas emission development
strategies (LT-LEDS).
6.
7. LT-LEDS provide the long-term horizon to the NDCs. Unlike NDCs, they
are not mandatory
It establishes a technology framework to provide overarching guidance to
the well-functioning Technology
Mechanism.

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8.
the Paris Agreement places great emphasis on climate-related capacity-
building for developing

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countries and requests all developed countries.
9.
With the Paris Agreement, countries established an enhanced transparency
framework (ETF).

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Under ETF, starting in 2024, countries will report transparently on actions
taken and progress in climate change
mitigation, adaptation measures and support provided or received.
10.
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The information gathered through the ETF will feed into the Global
stocktake which will assess the collective
progress towards the long-term climate goals.
11.
ta

What have we achieved so far?


1. low-carbon solutions and new markets
2. establishing carbon neutrality targets
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3. Zero-carbon solutions
Global stocktakeThe
• Global Stocktake is a fundamental component of the Paris Agreement
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which is used to monitor its implementation and evaluate the collective


progress made in achieving the agreed goals. The Global Stocktake thus
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links implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs)


with the overarching goals of the Paris Agreement, and has the ultimate
aim of raising climate ambition.
• The global stocktake of the Paris Agreement (GST) is a process for taking
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stock of the implementation of the Paris Agreement with the aim to


assess the world’s collective progress towards achieving the purpose of
the agreement and its long-term goals (Article 14).
○ Club of Rome
• The Club of Rome was founded in 1968 at Accademia dei Lincei in
Rome, Italy. It consists of one hundred full members
selected from current and former heads of state and government, UN
administrators, high-level politicians and
government officials, diplomats, scientists, economists, and business
leaders from around the globe.
It stimulated considerable public attention in 1972 with the first report to
the Club of Rome, The Limits to Growth
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nd
• Ans-B
○ Sustainable Development Summit (2022)
○ Sustainable Development GoalsAgenda 2030, also known as the Sustainable
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Development Goals, was a set of goals decided upon at the UN Sustainable


Development Summit in 2015.
○ It takes all of the goals set by Agenda 21 and re-asserts them as the basis for
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sustainable development, saying, "We reaffirm all the principles of the Rio
Declaration on Environment and Development
○ Adding onto those goals from the original Rio document, a total of 17 goals
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have been agreed on, revolving around the same concepts of Agenda 21;
people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.
nd
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○ Recently, the Prime Minister addressed the The Energy and Resources
Institute’s (TERI) World Sustainable Development Summit.
• What is the World Sustainable Development Summit?
• About:The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) is the
annual flagship event of TERI.
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• It was earlier known as Delhi Sustainable Development Summit.


Instituted in 200.
• It is the only Summit on global issues, taking place in the
developing world.
• Objective:It has been conceptualized as a single platform to
accelerate action towards sustainable development and climate
change.
• It aims to bring together global leaders and thinkers in the
fields of sustainable development, energy and environment
sectors on a common platform.
• What is TERI?
• TERI is a non-profit research institute.
• It conducts research work in the fields of energy, environment and

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sustainable development for India and the Global South.
• It was established in 1974 as Tata Energy Research Institute and
renamed to The Energy Resources Institute in 2003.

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• What was India’s Stand at the Summit?
• India's stand

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2015 Set A PYQs- ENVIRONMENT

Observation:
• Keibul Lamjao in
Manipur is famous for
'phumdis' floating
vegetation and Sangai

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(the State Animal of
Manipur)

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U
d
an
St

About Keibul Lamjao National Park:


• Located in Manipur
er

• Keibul Lamjao is world's only floating National Park and last natural habitat of Sangai (Brow
Antlered deer) i.e Sangai (scientific name==>Cervus eldi eldi)
• Sangai==>STATE animal of Manipur; IUCN==> Endangered
• The National park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials locally called
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"phumdis"
Related infos:
• Loktak freshwater lake==>under Montreaux
record, Ramsar site
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• Loktak==>largest freshwater lake in North


East

PYQ Page 1
Other National parks mentioned in options:
Bhitarkanika National Park Keoladeo Ghana NP Sultanpur NP

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• (2nd largest stretch of mangrove • Rajasthan • Haryana
forests • @ confluence of Gambhir and
• home to Critically Endangered white- Banganga rivers

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backed vulture)
• At Odisha

U Observations:
d • Question is asking about
impacts (-ve impacts of
an
excessive and inappropriate
use)
• Ist statement is opposite to the
qn. So eliminate 1
St

• 2nd & 3rd are both correct


er
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• Nitrogen fixing bacteria converts N2 to Ammonium ion (NH4+)


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PYQ Page 2
Observations:
• Statement 1 is wrong: UPSC
playing with
organization/assocn/entities

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U
d
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• IUCN is not an organ of UN. Hence Statement 1 is wrong
• About IUCN:
 Founded in Oct 1948 as International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN) following
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an international conference in Fontainebleau, France


 Changed its name to IUCN; HQ@ Gland, Switzerland
 Vision of IUCN==>Just world that values and conserves nature
 Priority areas of IUCN==>Biodiversity, Climate change, Sustainable energy, Human well-
er

being and Green economy


 IUCN members include both States & NGOs
 It supports scientific research, manages field projects globally and brings govts, NGOs, UN
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agencies, companies & local communities together


 India==> a member since 1969
CITES:
 Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
 An international agreement between govts; entered force in 1975
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 The only treaty to ensure that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their
survival in the wild
 CITES is administered through the UNEP; a sectt located in Geneva, Switzerland
 Legally binding on the states that have joined it
 India==>a party to CITES
Appendix I Appendix II Appendix III
• Includes species threatened with • Includes species that although • Include species for
extinction currently not threatened with which a range country
• Provides the greatest level of extinction; may become so has asked other parties
protection, including restrictions without trade controls to help in controlling

PYQ Page 3
protection, including restrictions without trade controls to help in controlling
on commercial trade • Also includes species that international trade.
• Egs. Gorillas, sea turtles, most resemble other listed species and • Egs. Map turtles,
laddy slipper orchids, giant need to be regulated in order to walruses, cape stag
pandas etc effectively control the trade beetles

Observation:
• 2nd statement wrong--

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keyword 'entire coast'

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d
an
About Dugong:
 Dugongs are found in sea grass beds, sheltered waters, lagoons and bays.
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 Dugong (Dugong dugon) also called ‘Sea Cow’ is one of the four surviving species in the Order
Sirenia and it is the only existing species of herbivorous mammal that lives exclusively in the
sea including in India.
 Dugongs are an important part of the marine ecosystem
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Conservation Status:
 IUCN Red List status: Vulnerable
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 Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I


 CITES: Appendix I
 Distribution and Habitat: They are found in over 30 countries and in India are seen in the Gulf
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of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch, Palk Bay, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Threats:
 Dugongs graze on seagrass and the loss of seagrass beds due to ocean floor trawling is one of
the most important factors behind decreasing dugong populations in many parts of the world.
 Trawling is a method of fishing that involves pulling a fishing net through the water behind
one or more boats.
 It is harmful to the environment because it damages the seafloor, coral reefs and other marine
animals.
 Human activities

PYQ Page 4
 Human activities
Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay

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d
an
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Gangetic river dolphins/Susu Irrawady Indus river dolphins


 Freshwater species; they are  Of the 6 varieties • freshwater dolphins
blind found in India; they
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 Emits Ultrasonic sound are the lowest in no. • important indicator of the health
 National aquatic animal since  Found--brackish of a river.
2009 water zones • only be found in the lower parts
 Reliable indicator of river health  Mostly in Chilika
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of the Indus River in


ecosystem Lake, Odisha Pakistan and in River Beas, a
 Found--Sunderban river system  IUCN: Endangered tributary of the Indus River in
and Brahmaputra river Punjab, India
 Once lived in Ganges- • Conservation Status:
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Brahmaputra-Meghna and
Karnaphuli-Sangu river systems • International Union for the
of Nepal, India and Bangladesh Conservation of Nature
 IUCN: Endangered (IUCN): Endangered.
• Convention on International
Trade in Endangered
Species(CITES): Appendix I
• Indian Wildlife (Protection),
Act 1972: Schedule I

PYQ Page 5
Crocodile Species:
Gharial Mugger/Marsh Saltwater
crocodile
• IUCN: Critically Endangered • India, Sri Lanka, Pak, • Earth's largest living
(CR) Nepal, Iran, possibly crocodilian
• Fish eating crocodile Bang • IUCN: Least Concern
• Clear freshwater river systems • IUCN: Vulnerable • Rare in Indian subcontinent
• Majorly in 3 tributaries of Ganga • Schedule I, WPA and • Eastern states of Odisha, WB,
river CITES Appendix I AP and TN

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• Reserves in UP, MP and RJ
• Girwa river, Son river, Ramganga

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river, Chambal river and
Mahanadi river
• Madhya Pradesh--Gharial State--
highest in India--1255 followed
by Bihar

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Olive Ridley Turtles:
 IUCN--Vulnerable
d
 Schedule I, WPA'1972
 smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles
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 Inhabit warm waters of Indian ocean, Pacific and Atlantic
 unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same
beach to lay eggs
 Operation Oliver--by Indian Coast Guard
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Observation:
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• A&N island is known for


its diversity
• Because @A&N island
(high rainfall, island hence
influx of saline water==>so
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mangroves)

Remarks:
• UPSC playing with
organization/founding
members/entities in Statement 2

PYQ Page 6
• UPSC playing with
organization/founding
members/entities in Statement 2

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Green Climate Fund (GCF):
 The GCF was set up in 2010 under the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism to channel

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funding from developed countries to developing countries to allow them to mitigate
climate change and also adapt to disruptions arising from a changing climate.
 The Green Climate Fund will support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in
developing country Parties using thematic funding windows.
 to raise Climate Finance of $100 billion a year by 2020.

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 The Fund is governed and supervised by a Board that will have full responsibility for funding
decisions and that receives the guidance of the Conference of Parties (COP).
d
an
St
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 About Namdapha National Park==> @ Arunachal Pradesh


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About Khangchendzonga National park==>SIKKIM (mixed heritage site under UNESCO)

PYQ Page 7
About Khangchendzonga National park==>SIKKIM (mixed heritage site under UNESCO)

Neora valley National park==>Kalimpong, West Bengal


Nanda devi National park==>Chamoli, Uttarakhand

Remarks:
• ADB and IMF can be eliminated by logic

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About BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (BISFL):

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 Funded by World Bank
 aims to help rural communities address poverty and develop sustainably while simultaneously
reducing land-based greenhouse gas emission
 ISFL programs seek to build on experience, leverage partnerships, incentivize results, and
emphasize working at scale.
d
an
St
er
nd

About GEAC:
 Under MoEFCC
 It is responsible for the appraisal of activities involving large-scale use of hazardous
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microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the


environmental angle.
 The committee is also responsible for the appraisal of proposals relating to the release
of genetically engineered (GE) organisms and products into the environment including
experimental field trials.
 GEAC is chaired by the Special Secretary/Additional Secretary of MoEF&CC and co-
chaired by a representative from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

PYQ Page 8
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About Meghalaya root bridges:
 Roots of the Rubber tree==>Ficus Elastica are the pavements for these natural bridges in the
thick forests of the Khasi hills district
 Strong secondary roots of Rubber tree are manipulated to grow horizontally through the tunnels

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of hollowed betel nut trunks across the fast flowing rivers

d
an
St
er
nd
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PYQ Page 9
Observations:
• More rainfall==>Tropical Wet
Evergreen forest
• So Option C) 1 & 3

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Vegetation map of India:

d
an
St
er
nd
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About tropical wet evergreen forests:


PYQ Page 10
About tropical wet evergreen forests:
 western slope of the Western Ghats, hills of the northeastern region and the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
 They are found in warm and humid areas with an annual precipitation of over 200 cm and mean
annual temperature above 22oC.
 Tropical evergreen forests are well stratified, with layers closer to the ground and are covered
with shrubs and creepers, with short structured trees followed by tall variety of trees.
 In these forests, trees reach great heights up to 60 m or above. There is no definite time for trees
to shed their leaves, flowering andfruition.
 appear green all the year round.
 Species found in these forests include rosewood, mahogony, aini, ebony, etc.

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PS
U
d
an
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er
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About Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF):


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 A global partnership of govts, business, CSOs, indigenous peoples


 Focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation, forest carbon stock
conservation, sustainable mgt of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks in developing
countries
 Assist countries in REDD+ efforts
 Statement 2 is wrong: FCPF grants fund to developing countries but not universities,
individual scientists and institutions

PYQ Page 11
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PS
U
Birdlife International
 It is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their
d
habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural
resources
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 It was earlier known as International Committee for Bird Preservation.
It publishes a quarterly magazine, World Birdwatch
 It is the official Red List authority for birds, for the International Union for Conservation of
Nature.
 It also published important bird areas (IBA) inventory.
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About Biodiversity Hotspots:


 Biodiversity hotspots are regions with high species richness and a high degree of endemism.
er

 The British biologist Norman Myers coined the term “biodiversity hotspot” in 1988 as a
biogeographic region characterized both by exceptional levels of plant endemism and
by serious levels of habitat loss.
nd

 Conservation International (CI) adopted Myers’ hotspots and in 1996, the organization made
the decision to undertake a reassessment of the hotspots concept.
 According to CI, to qualify as a hotspot a region must meet two strict criteria:
1. It must contain at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (> 0.5% of the world’s total) as
endemics – which is to say, it must have a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else
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on the planet. A hotspot, in other words, is irreplaceable.


2. It has to have lost at least 70% of its original habitat. (It must have 30% or less of its
original natural vegetation). In other words, it must be threatened.
• In 1999, CI identified 25 biodiversity hotspots in the book “Hotspots: Earth’s Biologically
Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions”.
• In 2005 CI published an updated titled “Hotspots Revisited: Earth’s Biologically Richest and
Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions”.
• The 35 biodiversity hotspots cover 2.3% of the Earth’s land surface, yet more than 50% of the
world’s plant species and 42% of all terrestrial vertebrate species are endemic to these areas.
• In 2011, the Forests of East Australia region was identified as the 35th biodiversity hotspot.

PYQ Page 12
Biodiversity hotspots in India
1. Himalaya: Includes the entire Indian Himalayan region (and that falling in Pakistan, Tibet,
Nepal, Bhutan, China and Myanmar).
2. Indo-Burma: Includes entire North-eastern India, except Assam and Andaman group of
Islands (and Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and southern China)
3. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka: Includes entire Western Ghats (and Sri Lanka).
4. Sundalands: Includes Nicobar group of Islands (and Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei,
Philippines).

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Ecosystem:
d
 Ecosystem is defined as a structural and functional unit of biosphere consisting of community of
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living beings and the physical environment, both interacting and exchanging materials between
them
 It includes plants, trees, animals, fish, birds, micro-organisms, water, soil and people
 Components of Ecosystem:
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Abiotic components Biotic components


• Energy • Primary producers-Autotrophs (self-
• Rainfall nourishing)
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• Temperature • Consumers (Heterotrophs or


• Atmosphere phagotrophs)--other nourishing
• Substratum (land covered by soil and a wide • Macro consumers
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variety of microbes, protozoa, fungi and small • Micro consumers


animals (invertebrates) thriving in it (sapotrophs/decomposers or osmotrophs)
• Materials (Organic & Inorganic compounds)
• Latitude and altitude
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PYQ Page 13
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PYQ Page 14
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