1518) Environment - Prelims Booster - by Bookstawa

Environment
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Environment, Ecology, and Functions of Ecosystems
Biosphere
● Regions supporting life, presence of life is characteristic of biosphere

● Includes lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere
● Absent at extremes of north and South poles
Habitat
● Physical environment in which an organism lives, it's an address of an organism

● Many species may live in same habitat
● Many habitat constitute environment
Habitat vs environment
● Habitat always has life, environment may not have

● All habitats are environment but all environment are not habitats
● Usually, environment governs properties of habitat and not vice versa
Ecosystem
● Functional unit of nature in which living organisms, interact among themselves

and with surrounding environment
● It can be of any size but usually encompasses specific and limited species this
is how it differs from environment
Ecology
Is the study of interaction between organisms, organisms and surrounding within an

ecosystem or environment.
Note:
● A high content of organic matter (humus) in soil increases its water holding
capacity.
● Hyperthermophile - organism which lives in extremely hot environments
Components of ecosystem
Abiotic components
● Inorganic and non living

○ Light (UV rays harmful),
○ soil
○ rainfall,
○ temperature (euryrthermal are those organisms which tolerate wide
range of temperature, its opposite is stenothermal),
○ atmosphere (oxygen, nitrogen - helps in preventing spontaneous
combustion, CO2),
○ organic and inorganic compounds
○ Altitude
○ Buffering capacity of earth - neutral pH is good
○ Salinity - euryhaline organisms and stenohalines
● Even one of these factors can be a limiting factor, in Equatorial rainforest -
○ Heavily leached soil limiting factor for germination of seed
○ Absence of light as limiting factor for growth of plants
In rainforest, due to heavy rain, topsoil and hence nutrients gets washed away. But the
layer below top soil is very fertile, Plants grow fast once their roots reach sub soil.
Effect of Abiotic Components on Plants
Light
● Of the visible spectrum, only red and blue are effective in photosynthesis
● When the Intensity of light is less than the minimum, the plants cease to grow
due to the accumulation of CO2 and finally die.
Frost
● Results in freezing soil moisture

● The plants are killed due to increased transpiration when their roots are unable to
supply moisture.
● increasing concentration of salts and dehydration of cells
● Leads to canker - various plant diseases
Snow
● Acts as cover, protects seedlings from excessive cold and frost.

● Snow shortens the period of vegetative growth. (between germination and
flowering)
Temperature
● high temperature results in the death of plant due to coagulation of protoplasmic

proteins
Dieback
● Dying backwards from tip

● Adaptive mechanism to adverse condn like droughts
● Roots remain alive
Biotic components
Primary producers or Autotrophs (self-nourishing)
● green plants, certain bacteria and algae that carry out photosynthesis.
● In the aquatic ecosystem, microscopic algae (plankton)
Consumers or Heterotrophs or Phagotrophs (other nourishing)

● Macro consumers
○ Herbivores - primary consumers
○ Secondary consumers - feed on primary consumers
○ Tertiary consumers
○ Omnivores - consume both plants and animals
● Micro consumers or Saprotrophs (decomposers or osmotrophs)
○ Bacteria and fungi
○ Earthworm
○ Nematodes and anthropods
Ecology - principles and organisation
Species - are a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of

exchanging genes or of interbreeding.
Population is a community of interbreeding organisms (same species), occupying a

defined area during a specific time.
Note: sex of tigers can be determined from pugmarks
Community - named after dominant plant form
A biome is a large naturally occurring community of flora and fauna occupying a major
habitat. Biomes are distinct from habitats because any biome can comprise a variety of
habitats.
A biome is an area of the planet that can be classified according to the plants and
animals that live in it. Temperature, soil, and the amount of light and water help
determine what life exists in a biome
Principles of Ecology
Adaptation
The way particular organism live in particular environment in order to survive.
● Morphological - giraffe neck got longer as trees grew

● Physiological - less water in desert, yet camels survive
● Behavioural - migration
Acclimatization short duration changes in body to adapt to surrounding - such as high

altitudes
● Low oxygen - body increases RBC production, decrease binding capacity of

haemoglobin and increased breathing rate
Variation
● Induced by changes in genetic make up, mutation
Adaptive radiation
process in which organisms diversify from an ancestral species into a multitude of new
forms when the environment creates new challenges or opens new environmental
niches
Speciation
● process by which new species are formed, and evolution is the mechanism by
which speciation is brought about.
● difference: even small changes for survival is evolution; speciation = new
species formed
● Geographic isolation leads to speciation (allopatric speciation or geographic
speciation).
● After a long period of time, the sub-populations become very different (genetic
drift)
● Later even when barrier removed, unable to interbreed
Mutation
● change in genetic material that results from an error in replication of DNA

● in a sexually reproducing population, meiosis and fertilisation produce a new
combination of genes every generation, which is termed recombination.
Natural selection
● By Darwin and Wallace

● Process by which species adapt to their environment
● Artificial selection - process through which genes desirable to humans are
produced more
Evolution change which gives rise to new species; its actually a gradual change to
survive
Ecotone a zone of junction or transition between two biomes

● Mangrove is between terrestrial and marine

● Grasslands are between forest and desert
● Estuary - fresh and salt water
Characteristics of Ecotone
● May be narrow or wide

● Its a zone of tension
● well-developed ecotone contains some organisms which are entirely different
from that of the adjoining communities.
Ecocline
zone of gradual but continuous change from one ecosystem to another when there is no
sharp boundary between the two in terms of species composition.
Edge effect
● refers to the changes in population or community structures that occur at the

boundary of two habitats (ecotone).
● Sometimes the number of species and the population density of some of the
species in the ecotone is much greater than either community. This is called edge
effect.
● The organisms which occur primarily or most abundantly in this zone are known
as edge species
● the density of birds is greater in the ecotone between the forest and the desert
Ecological niche
● unique functional role and position of a species in its habitat or ecosystem.

● Plays important role in conservation of organism
Habitat vs niche
● Habitat is address, niche is profession

● Niche is unique
● No two species in habitat can have same niche
Functions of ecosystem
The function of an ecosystem includes:
1. Ecological succession or ecosystem development

2. Homeostasis (or cybernetic) or feedback control mechanisms
3. Energy flow through the food chain
4. Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles)
1. Ecological succession or ecosystem development
● The process by which communities of plant and animal species in an area are
replaced or changed into another over a period of time is known as ecological
succession.
● The first plant to colonize an area is called the pioneer community.
○ pioneer species through their death and decay lead to development of
soil.
● The final stage of succession is called the climax community.
● A climax community is stable, mature, more complex and long-lasting. The stage
leading to the climax community is called successional stages or seres
● Succession is characterized by the following: increased productivity, the shift of
nutrients from the reservoirs, increased diversity of organisms, and a gradual
increase in the complexity of food webs.
● Succession would occur faster in area existing in the middle of the large
continent.
● Primary succession takes place where no community has existed previously.
pioneer species on terrestrial sites are often microbes, lichens and mosses.
○ In primary succession in water, the pioneers are the small phytoplankton,
and they are replaced with time by free-floating angiosperms. The climax
again would be a forest. With time the water body is converted into land.
● Lichen are plant-like organisms that consist of a symbiotic association of algae
(usually green) or cyanobacteria and fungi.
● secondary succession : previously community existed which got destroyed due

to floods, drought etc. Complete or partial destruction of existing communities
○ the secondary succession starts on a well-developed soil already
formed at the site. Thus, secondary succession is relatively faster.
● When succession is brought about by living inhabitants of that community itself,
the process is called autogenic succession (driven by biotic components), while
change brought about by outside forces is known as allogenic succession (driven
by abiotic components).
● in the grassland ecosystem grasses form the climax community. Grasslands
are almost irreversible
● Succession in which, initially green plants are much greater in quantity is
known as autotrophic succession; and the ones in which the heterotrophs are
greater in quantity is known as heterotrophic succession.
2. Homeostasis (or cybernetic) or feedback control mechanisms
● An overwhelming majority of animals and nearly all plants cannot maintain a

constant internal environment.
○ Since small animals have a larger surface area relative to their volume,
they tend to lose body heat very fast when it is cold outside. Thats why
very small animals are rarely found in polar regions.
○ bears going into hibernation during winter, Some snails and fish go into
aestivation to avoid summer-related problems, many zooplankton species
in lakes and ponds are known to enter diapause
● In ecology, the term homeostasis applies to the tendency for a biological system
to resist changes.It also applies to ecosystem.
● in a homeostatic system, negative feedback mechanism induced by the limiting
resource (here its scarcity of food) is responsible for maintaining stability in an
ecosystem. However, the homeostatic capacity of ecosystems is not unlimited as
well as not everything in an ecosystem is always well regulated.
3. Energy flow through the food chain
● there are usually not more than four-five trophic levels (beyond this the energy
available is negligible to support an organism).
The trophic level interaction involves three concepts namely
1) Food Chain
2) Food Web
3) Ecological Pyramids
1) Food Chain
● Transfer of food energy from green plants (producers) through a series of

organisms
● Grazing food chain
○ starts from plant in terrestrial ecosystem, in aquatic - phytoplankton
○ phytoplanktons include diatoms, coccolithophores, Cyanobacteria,
Dinoflagellates
● detritus food chain
○ starts from organic matter of dead and decaying animals and plant bodies
2) Food Web
● Multiple interlinked food chains make a food web.

● Predators help in maintaining species diversity in a community, by reducing the
intensity of competition among competing prey species.
Pyramid of numbers
● is upright in grassland, pond/aquatic ecosystem.

● inverted in tree ecosystem.
Pyramid of biomass
● is upright in most ecosystems on land,

● in aquatic ecosystems it is inverted
Energy pyramid
● concept helps to explain the phenomenon of biological magnification

● always upright
Ecological efficiency describes the efficiency with which energy is transferred from one
trophic level to the next
4. Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles)
Based on the replacement period, a nutrient cycle is referred to as Perfect or Imperfect

cycle.
● perfect nutrient cycle is one in which nutrients are replaced as fast as they are
utilized. Most gaseous cycles
● sedimentary cycles relatively imperfect
Based on the nature of the reservoir
● Gaseous Cycle: the reservoir is the atmosphere or the hydrosphere — water

cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, etc
○ Carbon cycle is usually short term cycle
● Sedimentary Cycle: the reservoir is the earth's crust (soluble elements mostly
found in earth’s crust) — phosphorous cycle, sulphur cycle, calcium cycle,
magnesium cycle etc.
N2 fixers:
Nitrogen fixation = N2 to nitrites/nitrates/ammonium
Plant absorb nitrogen in the form of nitrates and ammonium.
Phosphorus
● plays a central role in aquatic ecosystems and water quality.

● This is the nutrient considered to be the main causeof excessive growth of
rooted and freefloating microscopic plants (phytoplankton) in lakes (leads to
eutrophication).
Sulphur
● The sulphur reservoir is in the soil and sediments

● The sulphur cycle is mostly sedimentary except two of its compounds, hydrogen
sulphide (H2S) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), which add a gaseous component.
Imp global environmental issues
● Biodiversity loss
● Desertification
● Depletion of ozone layer
● Acid rains
● Oil spills
● Dumping of hazardous waste
● Climate change
Smog is a secondary air pollutant
Government passed EPA 1986 after the Bhopal gas tragedy
Marble cancer - acid rain corrodes marble monuments like taj mahal
Classification of pollutants
● Primary pollutants - persistent in the form in which they are added to

environment
○ DDT
○ plastic
○ CO
○ CO2
○ Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur
● Secondary pollutants
○ Formed by interaction among primary pollutants
○ Ex PAN, Smog
Qualitative pollutants don't occur in nature and are man made

According to CPCB, particulates of size PM2.5 or less responsible for greatest harm to
human health
Fly ash composition
● Silica
● Alumina
● Oxides of iron, calcium, magnesium
● Many toxic heavy metals
● Aluminum silicate
● SiO2
● CaO
Fly ash can increase crop yield when added to the soil. It also enhances water
holding capacity of soil.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has made it mandatory to use Fly Ash-based
products in all construction projects, road embank-ment works, and low lying landfilling
works within 100 km radius of Thermal Power Station and mine filling activities within 50
km radius of Thermal Power Station
Tetraethyl lead is an anti knock agent in petrol for smooth and easy running of vehicles
Asian brown clouds impact on himalayan glaciers
● Carry soot + black carbon

● it is a layer of air pollution
● More absorption, less albedo
● Increased Melting
Nanoparticles also play role in destroying ozone layer by forming stratospheric clouds
CO is less dense than air and its short lived
How CO is formed
● Exhaust of IC engines
● Incomplete combustion
● Iron smelting
Largest source of CO is natural in origin
It combines with haemoglobin to produce carboxyhaemoglobin, which usurps the space

in haemoglobin that normally carries oxygen.
CO is not considered a direct GHG.
● It plays role in formation of ground level ozone

● Elevate concentration of methane
CO2
● Heavier than air

● Soluble in water
● Cause suffocation
● GHG, global warming, ocean acidification
Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen dioxide play a major role in converting O2 to O3.
NO and NO2 contribute to global cooling, N2O is a greenhouse gas
● NOx gases react to form smog and acid rain, central to formation of tropospheric
ozone
● NOx + Ozone = photochemical smog
Ethylene imp natural plant hormone, used in ripening of fruits
Radon is emitted by Soil
Black lung disease/ pneumoconiosis/anthracosis
● Deposits of coal dust make lungs look black
Paints, carpets and furniture etc may give out VOCs
Control of industrial pollution
● To remove PM
○ Filters remove - baghouse filtration system
○ Electrostatic Precipitation
○ Inertial collectors
● Scrubbers remove aerosols and SO2
● Catalytic converters in automobiles contain platinum - iridium and rhodium as
catalyst - reduce emission of poisonous gases
National air quality monitoring program is executed by CPCB
NAAQS
● SO2
● NO2
● PM2.5
● PM10
● Ozone
● CO
● Arsenic
● Ammonia
● Benzene
● Nickel
● Benzopyrene
● Lead
First 6 used in world air quality index
National air quality index
● Launched by MoEF under swachha bharat mission

● Consider 8 pollutants
○ All except last 4 written above
Acid rain
● Precipitation that is more acidic than normal - less than pH 5.6
Rainwater is naturally slightly acidic, but we don't call it acidic rain, pH has to be less
than 5.6
Effect of acid rain on soil
● Leaching of nutrients - rendering it infertile

● An increase in ammonia in the soil due to a decrease in other nutrients decrease
the rate of decomposition. The nitrate level of the soil is also found to decrease.
● The impact of acid rain on soil is less in India; because Indian soils are mostly
alkaline, with good buffering ability.
Other impacts
● Acid rain damage cuticle of plant leaves and reduces photosynthesis.

● microbial species in the soil and water shift from bacteria-bound to fungi-bound.
● This causes a delay in the decomposition of soil organic material.
CaO and calcium carbonate is used to buffer acid rain

Ocean acidification
called the “evil twin of global warming” and “the other CO2 problem”.
The uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide is occurring at a rate exceeding the natural
buffering capacity of the oceans.
An increase in the concentration of carbonic acid and bicarbonate ions, causing a

decrease in the concentration of carbonate ions.
The decrease in the amount of carbonate ions available makes it more difficult for
marine calcifying organisms, such as coral (calcareous corals) and some plankton
(calcareous plankton), to form biogenic calcium carbonate.
OA leads to decreased cloud formation, raising global temperatures.
Artificial cloud seeding
● Spreading either dry ice or silver iodide into to stimulate precipitation

● Encourage growth of new ice particles
Water pollution
Presence of organic and inorganic wastes in water decreases the dissolved oxygen
content of the water.
Biological oxygen demand (BOD)

● BOD is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by bacteria in decomposing the

organic wastes present in water. It is expressed in milligrams of oxygen per litre
of water.
● The higher value of BOD indicates low DO content of water.
● Since BOD is limited to biodegradable materials, it is not a reliable method of
measuring water pollution.
chemical oxygen demand (COD)
measures the amount of oxygen in parts per million required to oxidise organic (bio-
degradable and non-biodegradable) and oxidizable inorganic compounds in the water
sample.
Invasive species
Plants of water hyacinth are the world’s most problematic aquatic weed, also called
‘Terror of Bengal’. Grow abundantly in eutrophic bodies.
● Water hyacinth (an aquatic weed, invasive species) can purify water by taking
some toxic materials and a number of heavy metals from water.
Compound and disease
● Nitrate: methamoglobinemia or blue baby Syndrome

● Arsenic : black foot
● Flouride : knock knee Syndrome
● Mercury : minamata
● Cadmium : itai itai or ouch ouch
Effects of water pollution on environment
● Algal bloom - ageing of lakes

● Biomagnification in aquatic food chain - DDT and mercury
● High concentration of DDT - decline in bird population
● Indicator species for polluted water - tubifex tubifex
We should plant eucalyptus trees all along sewage ponds. These trees absorb all
surplus wastewater.
Bioremediation
use of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) to degrade the environmental contaminants

into less toxic forms.
In situ bioremediation VAS
● Bioventing: supply of air and nutrients through wells to contaminated soil

● Biosparging: Injection of air under pressure below the water table
● Bioaugmentation: Microorganisms are imported to a contaminated site
Ex situ bioremediation
● Landfarming
● Bioreactors
● Composting
Disadvantages of bioremediation
● Longer time
● Limited to biodegradable compounds
● Heavy metals cannot be destroyed by biological degradation.
Phytoremediation is the use of plants to remove contaminants from soil and water.
Phytoextraction/phytoaccumulation: plants accumulate contaminants into the roots

and above ground shoots or leaves.
Aluminium sulphate (alum) is the most common coagulant used for water purification.
Water disinfection
● Chlorine
● Ozone - causes no taste or odour problem.
The nutrient-enrichment of the lakes promotes the growth of algae, aquatic plants and
various fauna. This process is known as natural eutrophication.
Similar nutrient enrichment of lakes at an accelerated rate is caused by human activities

and the consequent ageing phenomenon is known as cultural eutrophication.
Algal blooms can be any colours, but the most common ones are red or brown. These
blooms are commonly referred to as red or brown tides.
Radioactive pollution
They include cosmic rays from space and terrestrial radiations from radio-nuclides
present in earth's crust such as radium-224, uranium-238, thorium-232, potassium-40,
carbon-14, etc.
Non-ionizing radiations are constituted by the electromagnetic waves at the longer

wave-length of the spectrum ranging from near infra-red rays to radio waves
Radiation from mobile towers is non ionizing
effects of soil pollution
● Reduced soil fertility due to increase in alkalinity, salinity or pH.

● Reduced nitrogen fixation due to the reduced number of nitrogen fixers.
dioxin - highly carcinogenic and toxic, can be passed on through breast milk, its one of
the dirty dozens of POP. Along with furan, it is emitted from domestic waste
● Non-ferrous industries like aluminium, copper and zinc producing red mud and
tailings;
● Sugar industries generating press mud;
● Pulp and paper industries producing lime mud;
● Fertilizer and allied industries producing gypsum;
treatment and disposal of soild waste
● open dumps
● landfills - all types of waste dumped in landfills, groundwater contamination (GC)
may occur
● sanitary landfills - more hygienic, built methodically, no GC
● incineration plants - burning waste in large furnaces at high temperature
● pyrolysis - combustion in the absence/controlled use of oxygen
● composting - microorganisms degrade organic waste and recycle them into
valuable fertilizer
● vermiculture - earthworm added to compost
Vermiculture/Vermicompost
● Vermiculture means artificial rearing or cultivation of worms (Earthworms)

● Vermicompost is the excreta of earthworm, which is rich in humus.
● Earthworms convert garbage/municipal/household waste/cow dung into valuable
manure
● Advantages of Vermicomposting
○ free from chemical inputs
○ It does not have any adverse effect on soil, plant and environment.
○ It improves soil aeration, texture and tilth thereby reducing soil
compaction.
○ It improves water retention capacity of soil because of its high organic
matter content.
○ It promotes better root growth and nutrient absorption.
○ It improves nutrient status of soil-both macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients.
Waste Minimization Circles (WMC): helps Small and Medium Industrial Clusters in
waste minimisation in their industrial plants. assisted by world bank, being implemented
with the assistance of the National Productivity Council
marine pollution
● 1972 london convention to ban dumping of wastes in seas - india not signed
● 1996 protocol replaced this convention is much stricter, based on polluter pays
cost of pollution principle
UN Convention of Laws of Sea (UNCLOS)
● India is party
● International seabed authority (ISA) is under it
● establishes general obligations for safeguarding the marine environment and
protecting freedom of scientific research on the high seas.
Note: In shifting cultivation, yield is modest
Impact of overgrazing on erosion:
overgrazing >> lose structure of soil >> soil is pulvurised (reduced to fine particles) >>
erosion
Salinization in soil
● irrigation water itself contains salts

● After irrigation, the water added to the soil is used by the crop or evaporates
directly from the moist soil. The salt, however, is left behind in the soil. If not
removed, it accumulates in the soil; this process is called salinization
● Most crops do not grow well on soils that contain salts. Because
○ salt causes a reduction in the rate and amount of water that the plant roots
can take up from the soil
○ some salts are toxic to plants when present in high concentration
● Salts are removed by process of leaching - excess water is applied to leach salts
effect of salinity and alkalinity
● salinity is chiefly caused by waterlogging

● Salinity and alkalinity have an adverse effect on soil and reduce soil fertility.
● Cultivation is not possible on saline soils unless they are flushed out with large
quantities of irrigation water to leach out the salts.
● Salinity and alkalinity create difficulties in building and road construction.
● These cause floods due to reduced percolation of water.
Steps to treat salinity and alkalinity
● Gypsum is used to remove excess sodium from soil

● Organic residues such as rice husks and rice straw can be added to promote the
formation of mild acid as a result of their decomposition.
Characteristics of Indian Soils
● largely deficient in nitrogen, mineral salts, humus and other organic materials.
● old and mature
Soil erosion agents

● running water
● raindrops
● sheet erosion: detachment and transportation of soil particles by flowing
rainwater
● rill erosion
● landslide
● coastal erosion
strip cropping Crops may be cultivated in alternate strips, parallel to one another
aquaculture
● artificial cultivation of aquatic plants or animals.

● Fish farming is the cultivation of fish in a controlled environment and harvesting
when they reach the desired size.
● Fish ranching is a practice of keeping fishes in captivity for the first few years in
floating cages in coastal lagoons
● ecological efficiency is high
● high yield, high profit
● need large inputs
● fish waste
Note: "mission butterfly" by nainital lake conservation project to conserve nainital lake
Biodiversity
Species richness is measure of number of different species found in a community

Species evenness measure of relative abundance of different species
Example: The sample forest A has 4 tigers, 5 deer and 6 rabbits and sample forest B
has 1 tiger, 6 deer and 8 rabbits. Both samples have the same richness (3 species –
species richness) and the same total number of individuals (15). However, the sample
forest A has more evenness than the sample forest B.
Alpha diversity species richness of an ecosystem
Beta diversity comparison between species richness between 2 ecosystems
Gamma diversity is overall diversity of different ecosystem within a region
Genetic diversity refers to genetic variation within a species
Species diversity is species richness + species evenness
In general, species diversity decreases as we move away from the equator towards the
poles.
Bioprospecting Deriving economic benefits out of ecosystem diversity
Stable community
● Productivity variation not there

● Resilient to disturbances and Invasive species
Ecological diversity refers to diversity of habitats of ecosystem within a region
● India has greater ecological diversity than Scandinavian nations like Norway
Endemism is the ecological state of a species being unique to a defined geographic

location. The extreme opposite of endemism is cosmopolitan distribution.
Keystone species is a species whose addition to or loss from an ecosystem leads to

major changes in the occurrence of at least one other species.
● All top predators

○ Shark
● Bats are also keystone species
In general 3 types of keystone species
● Predators
● Ecosystem engineers
○ Beaver, a rodent
● Mutualists
○ Bees
Keystone species can also be plants. For eg mangroves.
Some scientists identify other categories of keystone species. One alternate list
includes predators, herbivores, and mutualists. Another cites predators, mutualists, and
competitors for resources.
Foundation species is a dominant primary producer in an ecosystem. For eg corals in

coral reef.
A flagship species is a species chosen to represent an environmental cause, such as

an ecosystem in need of conservation.
North to south
● Trans himalayas
● Higher himalayas
● Lesser Himalayas
● Sub himalayas
The Indian region is composed of two realms. They are:
1) the Himalayan region represented by Pale-arctic Realm and
2) the rest of the sub-continent represented by Malayan Realm
The term biome means the main groups of plants and animals living in areas of certain
climate patterns. 5 biomes of India.
Note: Bali, Javan and Caspian tiger is extinct.
Evil quartet - loss of biodiversity - habitat loss, overexploitation, alien species and
secondary extinction. (- Once one species goes extinct, there will likely be other
extinction - a lot of them)
Some other Invasive species
● Flora
○ Carrot grass
○ Argemone
○ Lantana
● Fauna
○ Eucalyptus
○ Gold fish
○ House gecko
Co-extinction When a species becomes extinct, the plant and animal species
associated with it in an obligatory way also become extinct.
National forest policy 1988
● Minimum one third of total land area of country under forest or tree cover
● Two third in hilly and mountain region
● first national forest policy was in 1952
○ fixed a target in increasing the area under forests to about one-third of
total land area.
● To protect the interest of tribals, the Draft Policy of 2018 proposes to launch
Community Forest Management Mission for management of community forest
resources though a participatory forest management approach.
National environment policy 2006 professes balance between human needs and
environment conservation
NBWL is a statutory body, WLPA 1972, chaired by PM.
Reserved and protected forests
● All activities are banned in reserved forest unless specific orders given
● In PF, some activities like hunting and grazing are sometimes given
● RF, PF along with village forests are detailed in and origin from Indian forests act
1927
Forest conservation act 1980

● Restricts and regulates dereservation of forests and use of forest land for non
forest purpose without central govt approval
● The Act deals with the four categories of the forests, namely reserved forests,
village forests, protected forests and private forests
The first reserve forest in India was Satpura National Park in Madhya Pradesh
In terms of protection, National Parks > Wildlife Sanctuary > Reserved forests >
Protected forests
wildlife sanctuaries
● defined by state govt via notification

● fixation, alteration of boundary by house resolution
● no alteration of boundaries can be done without the approval of NBWL
● Certain rights of people living inside the Sanctuary could be permitted
● Settlements not allowed (few exceptions: tribal settlements do exist constant;
efforts are made to relocate them).
● In a Sanctuary, the Chief Wildlife Warden may regulate, control or prohibit
grazing
national park
● defined by state govt via notification

● fixation, alteration of boundary requires prior consultation and approval of NBWL
● Unlike a Sanctuary, where certain rights can be allowed, in a National Park, no
rights are allowed. (private tenurial rights land rights)
● No grazing of any livestock shall also be permitted inside a National Park
The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002–2016) of MoEFCC stipulated that state
governments should declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries as eco-fragile zones or ESZs under the Environmental
(Protection) Act, 1986.
biosphere reserve
● its an international designation by UNESCO

● declared by state or central government by notification
● origin of biosphere reserve - "biosphere conference" of UNESCO 1968
● Biosphere reserves are sites established by countries and recognized under
UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme
● The programme of Biosphere Reserve was initiated by UNESCO in 1971.
● core area
○ human activity not allowed
○ education and ecotourism allowed
● buffer zone
○ Used for scientific research, monitoring, training and education.
○ limited recreation, tourism, fishing, grazing permitted
● transition area
○ Ecologically sustainable human settlements and economic activities
(tourism) are permitted.
India is home to 8% of world's recorded species of plants and animals.

WLPA defines 5 types of protected areas
● NP
● WLS
● community reserve, first introduced through 2002 amendment
● conservation reserve, first introduced through 2002 amendment
● tiger reserve
conservation reserve
● can be declared by the State Governments, adjacent to WLS, NP

● rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are not affected.
community reserve
● declared by the State Government in any private or community land

● rights of people living inside a community Reserve are not affected.
● Meghalaya has the highest number of community reserves
Indo burma is among the hottest of hotspots
conservation international has identified 17 mega diverse nations - India is one of

them. all of them located in tropical or sub tropical region totally or partially
Natural Ecosystems
Index
● No two, tundra biome - 2 types, alpine, trees in tundra, r and a, mammal body
● Taiga or boreal -
No two biomes are alike.
Tundra Biome
● Two types - arctic and alpine

● Alpine tundra occurs at high mountains above tree line
● There are no trees in tundra due to permafrost
● Reptiles and amphibians are almost absent
● Mammals have large body size and small tail and ear to avoid loss of heat
Taiga or boreal Biome
● These soils are Characterized by thin podzols and are poor

○ As weathering is slow in cold envt
○ Litter from conifer needle is decomposed slowly
○ Conifers don't shed leaves frequently
● Podzols
○ Typical of these forests
○ Top layer very thin which rests over sandy subsurface
○ Low levels of moisture and nutrients
○ Acidic
○ Poor soils for agriculture, mostly used for grazing
● Vegetation - evergreen coniferous forests - spruce, fir, pine
Aquatic ecosystem
● Freshwater - salt content less than 5 ppm

○ Lentic - static or still water
○ Lotic - running water
● Marine - salt content 35 ppm and above
● Brackish water - 5 to 35 ppm
Aquatic organisms
1. Neuston - live at air water Interface

2. Periphyton - attached to stems and leaves of rooted plants
3. Plankton - algae, crustaceans, protozoan
4. Netkton - swimmers
5. Benthos - bottom
Factors limiting productivity of aquatic habitats
● Sunlight
○ Photic zone - aka euphotic zone
■ till level where light is 1% of that of surface
■ Photosynthesis here only + respiration
○ Aphotic zone - aka profundal zone, only respiration
● Dissolved oxygen
○ Oxygen is less soluble in warm water, warm water - enhanced
decomposers activity
○ Winterkill
● Temperature - aquatic organisms have narrow temperature tolerance limit
Wetland ecosystem
● Depth of water does not exceed 6m

● Transition zone
● Hydrophytes - plants adapted to waterlogged soils, hydric soils - not enough
oxygen; are chief characteristics
● Inland wetlands in India >> coastal wetlands
● Occupy around 18 per cent area of country
Distinction from lakes
● Food chain is detritus pathway, in lakes grazing is..

● Here macrophytes are dominant producers, in lakes phytoplankton are.
● In lakes there is thermal stratification, here it's not
● NLCP defines lake as standing water bodies having min water depth 3m, >10 ha
area and little aquatic vegetation
● Wetlands have rich vegetation
● Wetlands have high value for biodiversity conservation
Measures to protect wetlands
● Wetlands international - an NGO

● National wetlands conservation program
○ Criteria for identification of wetlands of national importance same as in
ramsar convention
○ State govt/UT responsible for management of wetlands
● Ramsar convention
○ International treaty for conservation and sustainable use of wetlands
○ 1971
○ Wise use of wetlands is philosophy
○ Very broad definition of wetlands
○ Country with most sites - UK
○ Montreux record - sub list under it, where changes in ecological character
occurred, occurring..
Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017
● made under EPA 1986

● setting up of state wetlands authority in each state/UT
○ power to regulate activities within wetlands
● prohibits conversion of wetlands for non wetland purposes
● Mandatory for state authorities to prepare list of all wetlands
● setting up of National Wetlands Committee, headed by MoEFCC Secretary
● applies to:
○ Ramsar wetlands
○ wetlands as notified by any government in india
Estuarine ecosystem
● Place where river or a stream opens into sea

● Examples of Estuaries - river mouths, coastal bays, tidal marshes, lagoons and
deltas
● More productive than wetlands
● Very little wave action - provides calm refuge to open sea
● They are heavily populated areas in world
● Act as natural water filter
● Ideal locations for construction of ports and harbours
Lagoons vs estuary
● Lagoon is stretch of saltwater separated from sea by low sandbank or coral reef
● In estuary, water flows fast and strong,
● Lagoons mostly don't have any freshwater source
● Lagoons formed due to falling sea levels, estuaries formed due to rising sea
levels
Estuarine habitats mangroves, salt marshes, sea grass, mud flats etc
In India major estuaries occur in Bay of Bengal
Mangroves
● Littoral (near the shore) forest ecosystem, mostly evergreen forests

● They grow below the high water level of spring tides
● Example of ecotone
● Salt tolerant - halophytes
● This vegetation facilitates more water loss
● Adapted to low oxygen condition
● They produce pneumatophores (blind roots) to overcome the respiration problem
in the anaerobic soil conditions.
● require high solar radiation to filter saline water through their roots. This explains
why mangroves are confined to only tropical and sub-tropical coastal waters.
● Variety
○ Rhizophora - roots down into water
○ Avicennia - air roots
○ Roots which emerge from main trunk - stilt roots
● Viviparity mode of reproduction - seed germinate in tree itself
● Found in All coastal states in India and A&N islands
Productivity = production /unit area /unit time
production /unit area depends on number and diversity of producers
Lakes have higher productivity than oceans
coral reefs
Favourable factors
● corals are found in shallow, well-lit, nutrient-poor tropical seas

● Clean and salt water. water should be saltish and free from sediments; hence
corals best develop on seaward side
● Warm water around 20 to 32 degree Celsius
● Abundant plankton
● coral = coral polyps = living animal

● the polyp has symbiotic relationship with zooxanthelle = algae
● tissues of corals white in colour, receive their colouration from algae
● zooxanthelle assists coral in nutrient production through its photosynthetic
activity
● in return, polyp provide protected environment to live and CO2 supply
● two types of corals
○ hard - only these build reefs, aka hermatypic corals
○ soft = sea fans and gorgonians; precious corals in pacific and red corals of
mediterranean
● as polyp dies, its limestone skeleton left behind = reef building
● UNEP = there are more cold water coral reefs worldwide than tropical
● largest cold water reef - rost reef off norway
● western margin of continents, corals are generally absent = cold currents
coral bleaching
● bleaching = paling of coral colour

● density of algae decline
● concentration of photosynthetic pigment within algae falls
● if bleaching is not too severe, reversible
● if prolonged, coral eventually dies
● ecological causes
○ low or high temperature shocks
○ disproportionate solar irradiance
○ sudden exposure to atmosphere
○ sedimentation
○ fresh water dilution
○ algae loss due to chemical contaminants (xenobiotics)

○ pathogen induced bleaching; different from bleached corals
● eutrophication is not directly involved in algae loss, but it has secondary
adverse effects on coral reefs
Impacts of global warming
● As a result of thawing of snow, the amount of arable land in high-latitude region is

likely to increase by reduction of the amount of frozen lands.
● At the same time arable land along the coast lines are bound to be reduced as a
result of rising sea level and saline water inundations.
● loss of plankton due to warming of sea
● coral reef bleaching
● increasing fertilizer requirement
● Moderate warming (increase of 1 to 3°C in mean temperature) is expected to
benefit crop yields in temperate regions, while in lower latitudes the crops will
take a hit.
Note:
● High latitude forests store more carbon than tropical rainforests.

● One third of the world's soil-bound carbon is in taiga and tundra areas.
● When the permafrost melts due to global warming, it releases carbon in the form
of carbon dioxide and methane.
○ thats why tundras which were sink in 70s, now acting as source of GHG
emissions
○ also taigas and other temperate forests
To check the phenomenon of sea level rise that the ‘Oceans and Coastal Areas
Programme Activity Centre’ was set up in 1987 under the aegis of the UNEP to identify
the countries facing maximum risk of submergence.
Among GHGs, only water vapor has the ability to absorb both incoming (UV) and
outgoing (infrared) radiation.
clean coal technology to clean coal and contain its emissions
● Nowadays It means capturing carbon emissions from burning coal and storing
them under the earth.
Indian coal - less carbon, high ash, high moisture content
carbon dioxide fertilization
● Earth’s vegetated lands have shown significant greening largely due to rising
levels of atmospheric CO2.
● Greening means an increase in leaves on plants and trees
● Increased concentrations of CO2 increases photosynthesis, spurring plant
growth.
● Plants acclimatize to rising CO2 concentration and the fertilization effect
diminishes over time.
● raising CO2 concentrations may be beneficial for plants in the short run, but in
the long run it is harmful due to climate change.
● carbon dioxide fertilization is increasing carbon sink on land (due to
greening)
kigali amendment to montreal protocol
● legally binding
● The parties are expected to reduce the manufacture and use of HFCs by roughly
80-85% from their respective baselines, till 2045.
● HFCs dont contribute to ozone depletion, they have high Global Warming
Potential (GWP)
hydroflouro olefins (HFO) can be used as an alternative to HFCs. HFOs have zero
ozone depleting potential and very low GWP
Ozone depleting substances rules are framed under the jurisdiction of Environment
(Protection) Act.
water act 1974

● vests regulatory authority in SPCB to establish and enforce effluent standards for
factories. CPCB does same for UTs
● they can also close defaulting industries
water cess act 1977
● to generate financial resources to meet expenses of the CPCB and SPCBs.

● tax for water effluent discharge
air act 1981
● expanded the authority of CPCB and SPCB to include air pollution

● 1987 amendment extended the act to include noise pollution
WLPA amendment act 2006 provides for creation of
● National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) - chairman in MoEF minister

● Wildlife crime control bureau
Biochar
● created by heating biomass in low oxygen environment (pyrolysis)

● its a soil enhancer
● very beneficial for soil and agricultural activities
● Biochar also has the high carbon sequestration potential
Different level of protection to species under schedules:
Conference
● It is consulting together formally; a type of negotiations, there is only broad theme

● Principle bodies are established for further deliberations on the broad theme for
which the conference is called for
● Ex. UN conference on human envt (1972), UN conference on envt and dvpt

(1992), World summit on sustainable dvpt (2002), UN conference on sustainable
dvpt (2012)
Convention
● Provides framework to be respected by each party

● Countries have to adopt national legislation to implement convention at national
level
● Ex. UNFCCC, Ramsar, Vienna, CBD, UNCCD, Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm
(POP), CITES, CMS
Protocol
● Stands on its own but linked to an existing convention

● Add new commitments to convention which are much stronger and detailed
● Kyoto, Montreal, Cartagena, Nagoya
Convention / About
Protocol
● convention on wetlands
● Adopted in 1971 & enforced in 1975
● Secretariat- HQ of IUCN in Gland, Switzerland
● India is party to convention since 1981
● Only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular
ecosystem
● Total no. of Ramsar sites in India: 46
● 2nd Feb: World Wetland Day
● Changwon declaration: positive action for ensuring human
well-being & security in the future (human well-being +
Waterfowl/ wetlands)
Ramsar
convention
United ● 1972, Stockholm conference, 5 June

Nations ● Est of UNEP
Conference
on Human
Envt
● Adopted during United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED- Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro
● Sec- Montreal, Canada
● COP meets every 2 years
● 3 Objectives
○ conservation of biological diversity
○ sustainable use of its components
○ fair & equitable sharing of benefits arising out of
utilization of genetic resources
● Legally binding
● 2010- intl year of biodiversity, 2011- 2020: UN decade on
biodiversity
● USA has not signed
Convention ● Aichi Biodiversity Targets
on Biological ○ Adopted in 2010 @ Nagoya, Japan
Diversity ○ A- to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss
(CBD) by mainstreaming biodiversity across govt & society
○ B- to reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity &
promote sustainable use
○ C- to improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding
ecosystems, species & genetic diversity
○ D- to enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity &
ecosystems services
○ E- to enhance the implementation through participatory
planning, knowledge mgmt & capacity building
● Adopted in 2000 (@ Cartagena, Colombia) and enforced in

2003
● Protocol on Biosafety to CBD
Cartagena ● Govern movement of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) from
Protocol* one country to another
● Establishes Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure, so
the countries can make informed choices
● Nagoya-Kualalampur sub protocol on liability fixing - 2010
● Adopted in 2010 (@Nagoya, Japan) and enforced in 2014
Nagoya ● Protocol to CBD on equitable sharing of benefits arising out of
Protocol utilization of genetic resources and traditional knowledge
associated with them
● Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of

Wild Fauna & Flora (1973)
● also called Washington Convention
● to control or prevent intl commercial trade in endangered
species or products derived from them
CITES
● aim not to directly protect but reduce economic incentive to
poaching by closing intl trade
● CITES secretariat is administered by UNEP
● Legally binding on parties though they have to implement it
through legislation at national level
● Monitoring Illegal Killing of Elephants(MIKE) established
through COP resolution to CITES in 2013
● Convention on Migratory Species

● Inter-governmental treaty under UNEP
● signed in 1979, into force in 1992
● Appendix I- Migratory species threatened with extinction
● Appendix II- Migratory species that would significantly benefit
from International cooperation
● 2020- COP-13: Gandhinagar, India
○ Theme: “Migratory species connect the planet and
together we welcome them home”
○ Logo: Inspired by ‘Kolam’, a traditional art form from
southern India
○ Mascot: Gibi -The Great Indian Bustard
○ Appendix-I: Great Indian Bustard, Asian Elephant
and Bengal Florican
○ Ten new species were added to CMS Appendices at
COP13, out of which 6 are migratory species in India
■ Asian elephant
■ Great Indian bustard
■ Bengal florican
CMS
■ Oceanic white-tip shark
(Bonn ■ Smooth hammerhead shark
Convention)* ■ Urial
○ State of India's birds 2020 (data- through citizen
science app- 'eBird')
● India was the 1st country to ratify the convention
● Chile1st Latin American country to sign the agreement
International ● Convention est in 1946

Convention ● International Whaling Commission is decision taking body of
for convention
Regulation of ● India is member
Whaling ● Southern ocean whale sanctuary and Indian ocean whale
sanctuary
● Adopted in Paris, France in 1994 and entered into force in

1996
● Sec- Bonn, Germany
● sole legally binding agreement linking envt & development to
sustainable land mgmt
● 2019: COP-14: New Delhi (India is hosting for 1st time)
UNCCD ○ BAMBOONOMICS- to combat desertification & CC
which will involve tribal communities of India
○ Drought Toolbox- knowledge bank to reduce drought
risk
○ To achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030
● 2006 was declared as International Year of Deserts &
Desertification
● Top processes leading to degradation in India
○ Water erosion- 11%
○ Vegetation degradation- 9%
○ Wind Erosion- 5.5%
● Aim- to restore 150 mn ha of degraded & deforested land by
Bonn 2020 & 350 mn ha by 2030
Challenge* ● launched in 2011
● Jan 2019- India became part of Bonn Challenge [committed to
rejuvenate 50 million ha of degraded land b/w 2021 & 2030]
United ● Est during Rio Summit, 1992

nations ● Sec- Bonn, Germany
framework ● 1st CoP: 1995, Berlin
convention ● Sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts on
on Climate climate change
change ● To reduce emission of GHGs
(UNFCCC)
Paris Climate
Change ● INDC commitments made by major pollutants - these are
Agreement nationally determined, voluntary
● partially legally binding, to be implemented by 2020
● However, no detailed timetable or country-specific goals for
emissions were incorporated into the Paris Agreement – as
opposed to the previous Kyoto Protocol
● came into force 2016, india ratified 2016
● The expected key result was an agreement to set a goal of
limiting global warming to "well below 2 °C" Celsius compared
to pre-industrial levels.
● The agreement calls for zero net anthropogenic greenhouse
gas emissions to be reached during the second half of the 21st
century.
● In the adopted version of the Paris Agreement, the parties will
also "pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5
°C.”
● ozone layer protection

Vienna ● Adopted in 1985 & enforced in 1988
Convention ● doesn’t include legally binding reduction goals for the use of
CFCs
● Ozone layer depletion

● protocol to Vienna Convention
● Signed in 1987 & into force in 1989
● CFCs, halons, CCl4 & Methyl Chloroform are to be phased out
by 2000 [methyl chloroform- by 2005]
Montreal
● 16 Sept- World Ozone day
protocol
● 2016, Rwanda
● Amendment to Montreal Protocol to phase out HFCs (no aim
to completely eliminate)
Kigali ● HFCs don't contribute to Ozone depletion but they are potent
Agreement GHG
● it is the 1st legally binding climate treaty of 21st century
● India has to phase out HFC by 85% by 2047 over 2024-26
level
● Trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes & their
disposal
● signed in 1989, entered into force in 1992
● it does not address the movement of radioactive waste
● Haiti & US- have signed but not ratified
Basel
● 1995- Basel Ban amendment--> prohibits all exports of
convention
hazardous wastes, including electronic waste & obsolete ships
from 29 wealthiest countries of OECD to non-OECD countries
--> India doesn't sign
● To control international trade of certain hazardous chemicals
Rotterdam ● PIC (Prior Informed Consent) procedure for hazardous
convention chemicals
● 1998
● Creates legally binding obligations
● Annex III chemicals- banned/ severely restricted
● Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Stockholm ● 2001
● POPs- Organic pollutants that are resistant to environmental
convention degradation and bio-accumulate through the food web
Minamata ● 2013
Convention ● To protect human and environment against mercury emissions
Aarhus ● to empower people with rights to access information,

Convention participate in decision-making in envt matters and to seek
justice
Espoo ● Convention on EIA in transboundary context

convention
Cartagena ● protection & development of marine envt of wider Caribbean

convention* Sea
CITES
● international agreement aimed at ensuring "that international trade in specimens

of wild animals and plants do not threaten their survival
● draft adopted @IUCN meeting in 1963 (@Nairobi, Kenya)
● also called Washington Convention (coz- text of the convention agreed in
Washington in 1973)
● it allows trade b/w non parties
● legally binding
● Species may be added to or removed from Appendix I and II, or moved
between them, only by the Conference of the Parties
● However, species may be added to or removed from Appendix III at any time
and by any Party unilaterally
APPEN ABOUT
DIX
1 ● species threatened with extinction

● trade in specimens of such species is permitted only
in exceptional circumstances
2 ● species that although currently not threatened with

extinction, may become so without trade regulations
3 ● species that are protected in at least one country, which

has asked other CITES parties for assistance in
controlling the trade
Warsaw, Poland: COP-19, CMP-9, 2013
● Warsaw international mechanism for Loss and Damage

● Rich countries liable for climate change impact being faced by poor countries
2016: COP-22/ CMA-1: Marrakech (Morocco)
2017: COP-23: Bonn (But chaired by Fiji)
● Talanoa dialogue: Pacific concept of Talanoa- for consensus building (NDC

stock taking)
● Gender Action Plan adopted which strive for gender responsive climate policy,
equal repr of women at global climate meet
2018: COP-24: Katowice, Poland
2019: CoP-25/CMA-2: Madrid (presidency of Chile)
● est Santiago Network for tech assistance to poor countries under WIM for Loss
and Damage
● Did not finalise rules on Carbon Market
CoP 25, UNFCCC
● Madrid, spain under presidency of Chilean government

● Chile Madrid time for action document was adopted
● issues discussed
○ Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage associated with

Climate Change Impacts (WIM);
■ Santiago Network was established, as part of the WIM, to catalyse
the technical assistance required by the most vulnerable countries.
○ Koronivia joint work on agriculture
2021: CoP-26: Glasgow, UK
UN- REDD (Org) UNFCCC- REDD+ (Method)
● The United Nations ● Reducing emissions from

Programme on Reducing deforestation and forest
Emissions from degradation and the role of
Deforestation and Forest conservation, sustainable
Degradation management of forests and
enhancement of forest
carbon stocks in
developing countries
(REDD+)
● FAO + UNDP +UNEP ● Voluntary climate change
● Created in 2008 in response mitigation approach that
to the UNFCCC decisions on has been developed by
the Bali Action Plan and Parties to the UNFCCC
REDD at COP-13
● It partners with developing ● REDD+ goes beyond simply

countries to support them in deforestation and forest
establishing the technical degradation
capacities needed to ● It aims to incentivize
implement REDD+ and meet developing countries to
UNFCCC requirements for reduce emissions from
REDD+ results-based deforestation and forest
payments degradation, conserve
forest carbon stocks,
sustainably manage forests
and enhance forest carbon
stocks.
International conference on land slide risk reduction and resilience
● 1st conference- Delhi, 2019

● Organised by: National institute of disaster management
● To bring together all stakeholders including relevant ministries, universities, as
well as experts to disseminate practically useful knowledge, experiences,
information and innovations for landslides risk reduction and resilience at national
and international levels.
World Sustainable Development Summit
● annual flagship event of TERI (The Energy & Resources Institute)

● 2020 theme: Towards 2030 Goals: Making the Decade Count
● sole summit on global issues taking place in developing world
● platform for global leaders & practitioners to discuss & deliberate over climatic
issues of universal importance
● continuing the legacy of Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS) [2001]
stockholm convention on DDT = its production is not banned, merely restricted. It cant
be used as agricultual pest, but can be used as malaria prevention.
● the convention also has annex A B and C

● annex A = prohibit and eliminate use, production, import and export of

intentionally produced POPs, some exceptions allowed
● annex B = registration of acceptable purposes for the production and use of the
listed POPs
● annex C = Reduce or eliminate releases from unintentionally produced POPs
Bonn convention is also known as global wildlife conference.
SDGs are a collection of 17 global goals, and their 169 targets, set by the UNGA in
2015 for the year 2030 (UNGA resolution “2030 Agenda”).
● proposed in 2012 at rio+20 summit
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals
for the year 2015.
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA)/
International seed treaty
● an FAO, UN treaty
● India is a party
Kyoto protocol
● adopted at CoP 3, 1997

● India ratified
● came into force 2005
● aimed to cut emissions of greenhouse gases across the developed world by
about 5 per cent by 2012 compared with 1990 levels.
● based on principle of common but differentiated responsibility
● only global treaty with binding limits on GHG emission
● developed countries must accept some binding limits on GHG emission
● on developing and LDCs, nothing is binding
Under Kyoto Protocol, there are two commitment periods:
1. 2008 – 2012 and
2. 2013 – 2020.
● The second commitment period was agreed on in 2012, known as the Doha
Amendment to the protocol. This never came into force
● Each commitment period has its own binding targets set for developed countries
to reduce their GHG emissions.
● CoP 14 poland launched adaptation fund under this protocol
The Kyoto Flexible Market Protocol mechanisms include:

1. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
2. Emission Trading: Emissions trading, as set out in Article 17 of the Kyoto Protocol,
allows countries that have emission units to spare - emissions permitted them but not
"used" - to sell this excess capacity to countries that are over their targets
3. Joint Implementation (JI)

paris climate change conference 2015, CoP 21
● INDC commitments made by major pollutants - these are nationally

determined, voluntary
● partially legally binding, to be implemented by 2020
● However, no detailed timetable or country-specific goals for emissions were
incorporated into the Paris Agreement – as opposed to the previous Kyoto
Protocol
● came into force 2016, india ratified 2016
● The expected key result was an agreement to set a goal of limiting global
warming to "well below 2 °C" Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.
● The agreement calls for zero net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions to be
reached during the second half of the 21st century.
● In the adopted version of the Paris Agreement, the parties will also "pursue
efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C.”
climate neutral now
● launched by UNFCCC secretariat in 2015 - they've also launched momentum for

change initiative
● to achieve climate neutral world by mid century
national adaptation fund for climate change
● launched by budget 2015

● money obtained from coal cess into it
● nodal implementing agency - NABARD
In International Solar Alliance, ISA, any country can join, countries that don't fall in
tropic don't have voting rights. There are no targets or legal obligations imposed on
member-countries of international solar alliance
forest carbon partnership facility
● To assist countries in their REDD+ efforts by providing them with financial and
technical assistance.
● World Bank assumes the functions of trustee and secretariat.
climate and clean air coalition
● 2012, few nations + UNEP

● protecting the climate through actions to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.
short lived climate pollutants
● responsible for up to 45% of current global warming

● include black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and HFCs.
biocarbon fund initiative
● for sustainable forest landscapes

● managed by WB
global climate change alliance +
● European Union initiative.

● GCCA+ initiatives help mainly Small Islands Developing States (SIDS) and Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) increase their resilience to climate change.
Basel Ban Amendment
● prohibits all export of hazardous wastes, including electronic wastes and

obsolete ships from 29 wealthiest countries of the OECD to non-OECD countries
● not ratified by india

● Ban Amendment is binding on Parties to the Basel Convention that have
expressed their consent to be bound by it.
IUCN Status of Important Species
Critically endangered
---------Mammals---------
Pygmy hog:
● World's smallest wild pig

● Most useful indicators of the management status of grassland habitats
● Habitat: relatively undisturbed terai grasslands
● Population restricted to manas wildlife sanctuary and its buffer reserves
● Pygmy Hog is found in just three places in Assam
● CITES appendix I
Kashmir stag/hangul:
● State animal of J and K

● In India, Dachigam National Park is the stronghold for the Hangul
Andaman White-toothed Shrew and Jenkin’s Andaman Spiny Shrew:
● Found only south Andaman island

● nocturnal animal, that lives in tropical moist deciduous and evergreen forests,
● Mount Harriet National Park
Nicobar White-tailed Shrew:
● known only from the southern tip of Greater Nicobar Island

● The Nicobar Shrew has been recorded from Campbell Bay National Park
(possibly now extinct here) and Galathea National Park in Great Nicobar Islands
Kondana rat:
● Nocturnal burrowing rat only found in india

● Schedule V WLPA, vermin
● Known only from sinhgarh plateau
The large rock rat or elvira rat:
● Nocturnal burrowing rat only found in india

● Only in eastern ghats of TN
● Schedule V WLPA, vermin
Namdapha flying squirrel: Found in tropical forest only in Namdapha NP
Malabar Civet:
● endemic to western ghats,

● Schedule I
Sumatran Rhinoceros
● Most endangered of 5 rhino species

● Regionally extinct in India, found only in java and Vietnam
● CITES Appendix I
--------BIRDS--------
Great Indian Bustard:
● Native to India and Pakistan

● inhabits arid and semi-arid grasslands with scattered short scrub, bushes and
low intensity cultivation in flat or gently undulating terrain.
● Schedule I WLPA
● Desert National Park Sanctuary and Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary
Baer's Pochard
● CMS appendix I
● The species breeds from the Amur and Ussuri basins in Russia southwards to
the central and lower Yangtze floodplain in central-eastern China
Jerdon's Courser
● Found only in northern Andhra pradesh and extreme southern MP

● Sri Lankamaleswara Wildlife Sanctuary and Sri Penusula Narasimha Wildlife

Sanctuary, Andhra pradesh
● Flagship species of scrub jungles
White bellied heron:
● It breeds in Namdapha Tiger Reserve and it occurs seasonally in several other

protected areas, including Kaziranga, Dibru-Saikhowa (Assam) and Manas
National Parks, and Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam )
● Native to India Bhutan Myanmar
● Habitat: rivers and inland lakes
Bengal florican
● Known for its mating dance

● Habitat grasslands
● Native to UP, India and Terai, Nepal and cambodia
● Kaziranga, D'Ering(Arunachal pradesh) , Dibru-Saikhowa and Dudwa National
Parks (UP) , India
Siberian Crane
● Breed in arctic russia
● They used to winter at Keoladev national park
● Habitat wetlands
Spoon billed sandpiper

● Breeding limited to NE Russia

● Winter in India Point Calimere(TN) and Chilka lake
● CMS appendix I and II
Sociable lapwing
● Breeds in Russia and Kazakhstan

● Winter in India, little runn of kutchh
Himalayan Quail
● only from the western Himalayas in Uttaranchal, north-western India
Pink headed duck
● North East India

● CITES Appendix I. CMS Appendix II
● Wetland type Habitat
Above two are practically extinct
Indian vulture
● Schedule I
● Breeds in SE Pakistan and peninsular India
Slender billed vulture: Schedule I
Red headed vulture: Not in schedule I
White backed Vulture
● Schedule I
● NOT found in India, found extensively in Africa
------REPTILES------
Gharial
● CITES Appendix I and on CMS Appendix I.

● Native to India (UP Bihar) and Nepal
Hawksbill turtle
● Western Indian Ocean

● Found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, TN and Odisha
Bengal roofed turtle

● Mainly restricted to Ganga basin

● Habitat deep flowing waters
------FISHES------
Humped back Mahseer : Tiger of cauvery river
Pondicherry Shark: Habitat Indian Ocean recorded near hoogly river
The ganges shark
● Habitat Ganga and hoogly river system

● Also found in Pakistan
Northern river terrapin
● Extant in Bangladesh and India

● Strongly aquatic but uses terrestrial nesting sites. Tidal areas of estuaries, large
river, mangrove
● fresh water and brackish
Large toothed sawfish
● Habitat indo pacific

● In India enters mahanadi river, common in estuaries of Ganga and brahmaputra
------SPIDERS------
Rameshwaram ornamental spider
● Endemic to India
● Hiding and arboreal
Gooty tarantula
● Endemic to South India

● Habitat wooden mountain area
Endangered
Irrawaddy dolphin Brow antlered deer - Himalayan musk

Habitat : brackish water keibul lamjao NP, deer
schedule I
Aisatic wild dog or Golden langoor- Hispid hare/assam

dhole western assam rabbit
Hog deer - northern Lion trailed macaque Nilgiri tar- state

India - Endemic to western animal of TN,
ghats, in sholas schedule I
Ganges river dolphin Red panda Forest owlet
● Endemic to
central india
● Dry deciduous
forest habitat
● Melghat Tiger
Reserve
Vulnerable
Great one horned rhino
Leatherback turtles
● Largest of living sea turtles

● Habitat tropical and subtropical Ocean
Olive reedly turtle
● VULNERABLE
snow leopard
Speciees in News
Critically endangered
● Black softshell turtle : IUCN Extinct in the wild, a Freshwater turtle. released
into a wetland of pobitora WLS
● Sal forest tortoise
○ Hunted for food, decorative masks and Trade
○ Eastern and northern India
Endangered
● Wild buffalo : Schedule I WLPA. The animal is state animal of Chhattisgarh,

being translocated from Assam to Udanti Wildlife Sanctuary in Raipur.
● lesser florican
Others
1. Asiatic golden cat: Near Threatened, found in Arunachal Pradesh in India

2. India's proposal to upgrade the protection of star tortoise (IUCN vulnerable) ,
smooth coated otter, small clawed otter (vulnerable) in CITES to Appendix I
approved.
○ Appendix I of CITES lists species that are most endangered among
CITES listed animals and plants. They are threatened with extinction and
CITES prohibits international trade of these species except when the
purpose of import is not commercial - for eg, scientific research.
3. Eurasian otter Near Threatened, found in southern india, spotted in chilika lake.
4. dugong - vulnerable, only herbivorous mammal that is strictly marine
Asiatic lion:
● IUCN status: endangered, shcedule I, appendix I (same is for Tiger)

● MoEFCC has launched asiatic lion conservation project
● Project will be funded from Centrally sponsored scheme: development of wildlife
Habitat, 60:40
● The lion is one of five pantherine cats inhabiting India, along with the Bengal
tiger, Indian leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard
● Their population is limited to only five protected areas in Gujarat – Gir National
Park, Gir Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary and Girnar Sanctuary.
Gangetic river dolphin:
● IUCN Status: endangered, Schedule I, appendix I

● Granted non human personhood by Union Government in 2017
● Declared national aquatic animal in 2009
● Almost blind
● They are one of the four Freshwater dolphin species in the world. The other three
are found in the Yangtze river, the Indus river in Pakistan and the Amazon river.
● It is a mammal and cannot breathe in water
● Popularly referred to as: Susu
● Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS) in Bihar is India's only
sanctuary for the Gangetic dolphin
Nilgiri Tahr
● Open montane grassland habitats of South Western ghats

● Eravikulam National park home to largest population
● IUCN: Endangered
● State animal of TN
● Also known as Saddle backs
Birds
Rufuos necked hornbill
● Vulnerable
● Widely found in Arunachal pradesh
● Wpa schedule I
Amur falcon
● Least concern
● Migratory bird, from siberia(south eastern Russia) to South Africa, Somalia.
Sri Lankan Frogmouth batrachostomus moniliger is usually confounded on the western

side of the western ghats but was found at eastern side. It was spotted in chinnar
wildlife sanctuary
Brazil's spix Macau (a bird) is critically endangered bird
Cinereous vulture: IUCN Near threatened. Migratory bird.
Great Indian Hornbill: IUCN Vulnerable, CITES appendix I.
National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in North East
SIKKIM:
1 Khangchendzonga (Kanchenjunga) National Park
2 Barsey (Varsey) Rhododendron Wildlife Sanctuary
3 Shingba (Rhododendron) Wildlife Sanctuary
4 Kitam (Bird) Wildlife Sanctuary
5 Kyongnosla Alpine Wildlife Sanctuary
6 Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary
7 Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary
8 Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary
ASSAM:
1 Kaziranga National Park
2 Manas National Park
3 Nameri National Park
4 Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
5 Orang National Park
6 Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
7 Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary
8 Raimona national park
8 Bornodi Wildlife Sanctuary
9 East Karbi-Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary
10 North Karbi-Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary
11 Bura Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary
12 Laokhowa/Laikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary
13 Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary
14 Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary
15 Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary
16 Panidihing Bird Wildlife Sanctuary
17 Bherjan-Borajan-Padumani (BBP) Wildlife Sanctuary
18 Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary
19 Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary
20 Nambor Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary
21 Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary

22 Borail Wildlife Sanctuary
23 Dehing Patkai national park
MEGHALAYA:
1 Balphakram (Balpakram) National Park
2 Nokrek National Park
3 Baghmara Pitcher Plant Wildlife Sanctuary (Reserve Forest)
4 Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary
5 Siju Wildlife Bird Sanctuary
ARUNACHAL PRADESH:
1 Mouling National Park
2 Namdapha National Park
3 Daying Ering Memorial (Lali) Wildlife Sanctuary
4 Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary
5 Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary
6 Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary
7 Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary KaKa Mama
8 Kane Wildlife Sanctuary
9 Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary
10 Pakhui (Pakke Tiger Reerve) Wildlife Sanctuary

11 Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary
12 Talle Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
13 Yordi (Yardi) Rabe Supsi Wildlife Sanctuary
NAGALAND:
1 Intanki (Ntangki) National Park
2 Fakim Wildlife Sanctuary
3 Pulie Badze Wildlife Sanctuary
4 Rangapahar Wildlife Sanctuary
MANIPUR:
1 Keibul-Lamjao (Loktak Lake) National Park
2 Yangoupokpi-Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary
3 Bunning Wildlife Sanctuary
4 Dzuko Valley
5 Jiri-Makru Wildlife Sanctuary
6 Kailam Wildlife Sanctuary
7 Shiroy Community Forest
8 Zeilad Lake Sanctuary
MIZORAM:
1 Murlen National Park

2 Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park
3 Dampa Wildlife Sanctuary (Tiger Reserve)
4 Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary
5 Lengteng Wildlife Sanctuary
6 Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary
7 Pualreng Wildlife Sanctuary
8 Tawi Wildlife Sanctuary
9 Thorangtlang Wildlife Sanctuary
10 Palak (Tokalo) Wildlife Sanctuary
TRIPURA:
1 Clouded Leopard National Park
2 Bison (Rajbari) National Park
3 Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary
4 Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary
5 Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary
6 Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary
Elephant Reserves
● It is included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and in

Appendix I of CITES
● It occurs in 16 of the 28 states in the country and is showing an increasing trend
across its distributional range.
● Its population in 2007 was estimated to be in the range from 27,657 to 27,682,
whereas in 2012 the population was estimated to be between 27,785 and
31,368.
● Karnataka highest
● PROJECT ELEPHANT was launched by the Government of India in the year
1992 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme; Project is being mainly implemented in
16 States / UTs
● East-Central Landscape (South-West Bengal-Jharkhand - Orissa) elephant
range highest population
Tiger Reserves
● declared state government under NTCA recommendation under via WL (p) AA

2006 under CSS project tiger
○ chairman - environment minister
● core buffer strategy
● core area
○ freed of all human activities.
○ Collection of minor forest produce, grazing, and other human disturbances
are not allowed.
○ has legal status of WLS or NP
● buffer areas
○ Collection of minor forest produce and grazing by tribals is allowed on a
sustainable basis.
○ The Forest Rights Act passed by the Indian government in 2006
recognises the rights of some forest dwelling communities in forest areas.
New Tiger Reserve: (Total 53)
Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve, Tamil Nadu
● Srivilliputhur Grizzled Giant Squirrel Sanctuary and Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary

have been combined to create the tiger reserve
● Vaigai river
● Contiguous to the east of Periyar Tiger Reserve
Ramgarh Vishdhari sanctuary
● It acts as buffer of Ranthambore National park
Guru Ghasidas Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh
kalakkad mudanthurai tiger River Thamirabarani and 13 other rivers

reserve originate; called popularly as River
Sanctuary, primarily for the conservation
of Lion Tailed Macaque
pamba tiger reserve forms watershed of pamba and periyar

river (origin inside); sabarimala temple
inside it
parambikulam tiger reserve unique habitats like montane grasslands

and marshy grasslands known locally as
‘vayals’ are here, chalakkudy river
anamalai tiger reserve supports indigenous populations like

malasar, malai malasar
panna tiger reserve river ken
pench tiger reserve named after river pench which flows

through it
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Bhavani and Moyyar

Ramsar Sites
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable
utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and
their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.
● The world’s first Site was the Cobourg Peninsula in Australia, designated in 1974
● The countries with the most Ramsar Sites are the United Kingdom
● Bolivia has the largest area under Ramsar protection
● Total 49 now in India
Montreux Record
● register of wetland sites

● list of wetlands of intl importance where change in ecological character have
occurred, are occurring or likely to occur as a result of tech dvpt, pollution or
other human interference
● maintained as part of Ramsar list
● estb-1990
● Sites may be added to and removed from the Record only with the approval of
the Contracting Parties in which they lie
● 2 Indian sites in Montreux record
○ Keoladeo NP (RJ)
○ Loktak lake (Manipur)
● Chilka lake was placed, but later removed
Forest Rights Act:
Rights Under the Act:
● 'Forest dwelling scheduled tribes' are members of scheduled tribes who primrily
reside in forests and depend on them for livelihood. 'Other traditional forest
dwellers' re people who lived in forest for at least 3 generations prior to Dec 13
2005 and depend on them for livelihood.
● title rights right to ownership to land farmed by tribals or forest dwellers subject
to a maximum of 4 hectares
● Rights of settlement and conversion of all forest villages, old habitation into
revenue villages
● Use rights- to minor forest produce (also including ownership), to grazing areas,
to pastoralist routes, etc
○ includes non-timber forest produce of plant origin such as bamboo, canes,
fodder, leaves, gums, waxes, dyes, resins and many forms of food
including nuts, wild fruits, honey, and lac.
● Relief and development rights- to rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or
forced displacement and to basic amenities
● management rights- to protect and conserve forests and wildlife.

● It has the provision for creating critical wildlife habitats within protected areas
which currently is the strongest conservation provision among existing laws of
the country.
Issues faced by tribals
● extinction of tribal dialects and languages indicates an erosion of tribal identity in

certain areas
● their technology is of the most primitive kind
● only a small percentage participate in occupational activities in secondary and
tertiary sectors
● economic backwardness and insecure livelihood, causes health problems
● degradation of natural environment , has had its impact on the status of women
● literaacy rate is very low
● heavy industries hav encroched their living spaces
● follow many simple occupation based on simple technology
● small and uneconomic landholding that give them less yield and keeps them in
debt
● acquisition of tribal land led to large scale displacement of people
● mining activities haave accelerated in the areas
National Organizations
Organisatio About
n / Body
Statutory under WPA, 1972 and successive amendments

National ● Statutory under WPA, 1972

Board for ● Chaired by PM
Wildlife ● Advisory in nature
● Prepare National Wildlife Action Plan
● Ab tak 3 bana chuka hai
Central Zoo ● Statutory Autonomous Org under WPA, 1972 (1991

Authority amendment) under MoEFCC
● Recognition of Zoo rules, 1992
● Regulates the exchange of animals Under sch I&II,
exchange bw Indian and foreign zoos
Wildlife ● Statutory org under MoEFCC
Crime ● 2007
Control ● Under WPA,1972 (2006 amendment)
Bureau
National ● Statutory body under MoEFCC

Tiger ● Statutory status given under 2006 amendment of
Conservati WPA, 1972
on ● Project Tiger- 1973
Authority
(NTCA)
Non Statutory under Environment Ministry
Zoological ● Subordinate org of MoEFCC (Not statutory org)

Survey of ● Est-1916, HQ- Kolkata
India ● Undertakes EIA wrt to Fauna
● Survey of conservation areas, status survey of
endangered species
● Environmental Information System (ENVIS) on
faunal diversity
● Prepares Red Data book, Fauna of India and
Fauna of states
Botanical ● Apex Research org under MoEFCC (Not statutory

Survey of org)
India ● Est 1890, Kolkata
● Aim- Exploring plant resources of country and
identify plant species with economic virtue
● Inventorying of endemic, rare and threatened
species
Forest ● Survey org under MoEFCC (Not statutory org)
Survey of ● 1981, Dehradun
India ● Preparing the State of Forest Report biennially
Wildlife ● Autonomous org under min of MoEFCC

Institute of ● Premier training and research institution
India
Statutory under Environment Protection act, 1986
Genetic ● Under MoEFCC

Engineerin ● constituted under Environment (Protection) Act,
g Appraisal 1986
Committee ● mandate- to assess the safety of GM organisms
(GEAC) and decide whether it is fit for cultivation
● approved GM crops- Bt Cotton, Bt Brinjal, GM
Mustard; later 2- No consent from Envt Minister
National ● chaired by Prime Minister
Ganga ● min of jal shakti
Council ● Under the Environment (Protection) Act
(EPA),1986
● It replaced the National River Ganga Basin
Authority
● It has been given overall responsibility for the
superintendence of pollution prevention and
rejuvenation of River Ganga Basin, including its
tributaries
● National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) acts as
its implementation arm
Statutory org under Biological diversity act, 2002
National ● Statutory org under Biological diversity act, 2002

Biodiversit ● To regulate access to biological resources of
y Authority country to conserve and sustainable use of
(NBA) biodiversity
Biodiversit ● under- Biological Diversity Act, 2002
y ● purpose- for promoting conservation, sustainable
Manageme use & documentation of biological diversity
nt ● composition: CP + < 6 nominated by local body
Committee (1/3rd- women, 18%- SC/ST)
s (BMC) ● main function- prepare People's Biodiversity
Register
Other statutory and non-statutory Organisations
Central ● Statutory body under Water (Prevention and

Pollution control of pollution) act, 1974 and entrusted with
Control power under Air (Prevention and control of
Board pollution) act, 1981
● It is the apex organisation in the country in the field
of pollution control, act as a technical wing of
MoEFCC
● National Air Quality Index (AQI)
○ Tool under CPCB to measure Air quality in
selected cities
○ CO, SO2, NO2, O3, NH3, Pb, PM10, PM2.5
○ Launched under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
● National Air Quality Monitoring Program (NAMP)
○ SO2, NO2, Suspended PM, Respirable SPM
(PM10)
○ meteorological parameters such as wind
speed, RH and T are also monitored
○ Regular monitoring at all locations
National ● NGT Act, 2010

Green ● it is a specialized body equipped with the necessary
Tribunal expertise to handle envt disputes involving multi-
(NGT) disciplinary issues
● For effective and expeditious disposal of cases
relating to
○ environmental protection
○ conservation of forests
○ other natural resources including
enforcement of any legal right relating to
environment
○ giving compensation for damages to person
and property
● Act--> chairperson + min 10 expert members (max
20) + min 10 judicial members (max 20)
● Mandated to dispose cases within 6 months
● replaced Environmental Pollution (prevention
and control) authority (EPCA)
Commissio ● SC mandated body to tackle air pollution in NCR
n for Air ● Notified in 1998 by MoEFCC under envt prot act,
Quality 1986
Manageme ● Enforce Graded Response Action Plan in NCR
nt ○ Prepared by Central pollution control board
○ Nature, scope and rigor of measures depend
on level of pollution
○ Use AQI
○ plan requires action and coordination among
13 different agencies in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana and Rajasthan (NCR areas)
○ It works only as an emergency measure.
When the air quality shifts from poor to very
poor
Island ● chaired by- Home Minister

Developme ● Composition
nt Authority ○ cabinet secretary
(IDA) ○ home secretary
○ secretary (MoEFCC)
○ secretary (Tourism)
○ secretary (tribal welfare)
Animal ● statutory under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Welfare Act 1960
Board of ● 1st of its kind to be set up by any govt in the world
India ● 1962
● pioneer- Rukmini Devli Arundale
● HQ- Chennai
National ● Subordinate office under MoEFCC (Not statutory

Institute of org)
Animal ● Create an enabling envt for fulfillment of statutory
Welfare requirements under Prevention of cruelty to animals
act, 1960
INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS and BODIES
Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
● Objective- Conserving Antarctic marine life

● Secretariat- Hobart, Australia
● 26 members, INDIA is member
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem

Services (IPBES)
● Independent intergovernmental body established by States to strengthen the

science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
● UNEP provides secretariat
● India is member
● It is not a United Nations body
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infra (CDRI)
● launched by Modi in sept 2019 at UN Secretary-General's Climate Action

Summit in NY
● is not just an intergovernmental organization, it is a global partnership of
national governments, United Nations Agencies, multilateral development banks,
the private sector and academic institutions
● provide member countries technical support and capacity development, research
and knowledge management, and advocacy and partnerships to facilitate and
encourage investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure systems
● no mention of finance mechanism
● uphold the UN Agenda 2030 principle of leaving no one, no place, and no
ecosystem behind, focusing on the most vulnerable regions and populations,
while enabling inclusive and deliberative processes that recognize national and
local efforts as primal.
● secretariat of CDRI- will be estb in New Delhi as a society under Societies Reg
Act, 1860
● 2nd such initiative after ISA
TERI- The Energy & Resources Institute
● leading think tank dedicated to conducting research for Sustainable

Development of India & the Global South
● estb 1974 as info centre on energy issues
WWF* (World Wide Fund for Nature)
● international NGO
● founded in 1961
● HQ- Gland, Switzerland
● aim- wilderness preservation & reduction of human impact on the envt
● world's largest conservation org
● Reports & programs
○ Living Planet Report
○ Earth Hour
○ Debt for nature swaps
○ Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
○ Healthy Grown Potato
Wildlife Trust of India
● NGO, formed in 1998

MOEFCC
● ZSI
● BSI
● FSI
● GEAC
● National Institute for Animal Welfare
● Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun (1986)
● Asiatic Lion Conservation Project (recent)
● NAEB: National Afforestation & Eco-Development Board (1992)
MoWR,RD&GR
● NMCG
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
● Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

● Project Tiger/ NTCA
● Central Zoo Authority (WPA amendment- 1991)
● National Board for Wild Life (chaired by-PM)
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
● Animal Welfare Board of India (1962)
Biological Diversity Act, 2002
● National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)

○ BIOFIN
Environment Protection Act, 1986
● National Ganga Council

● Plastic waste management in India
World Wildlife Fund
● Earth Hour
● Living Planet Report
● Health Grow Potato Program
IUCN initiatives:
● Global Dryland Initiative

Important Miscellaneous Concepts and Facts:
COP 14 of UN convention to combat desertification (UNCCD)
● ‘Delhi Declaration' adopted

● India hosting first time
● india will raise the target of restoring land with degraded status from 21 mha to
26 mha by 2030
● drought toolbox launched to assess drought risk in advance
● peace forest initiative = global partnership for LDN in conflict affected regions
● India takes over UNCCD COP Presidency from China for next two years
On the sidelines of COP 14 of UNCCD, TRIFED and Union Tribal Ministry has
launched TICD
!"#$%&'()*$+,-,.-,/0*-1*2134.-*'0)05-,6,7.-,1+8*9+:05*;
“The 4P1000 Initiative: The Tribal Perspective through Bamboonomics
(business model to supplement incomes of tribal community).”
● under PM van dhan scheme

● The international initiative “4per1000”, launched by France in 2015 at the COP
21, to reduce the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere related to human
activities.
UNEP clean seas program = marine plastic pollution
Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP) is a global network of international

organizations and experts is under UNEP
central zoo authority
● statutory body, under WLPA 1972

● chaired by the Environment Minister and
● tasked with regulating zoos across the country.
National Chambal Sanctuary, tri-state protected area in northern India for the
protection of the Critically Endangered gharial, the red-crowned roof turtle and the
Endangered Ganges river dolphin
India’s first Snow Leopard Conservation Centre will be opened in Uttarkashi forest
division in Uttarakhand, part of SECURE himalayas project
Temperatures have increased about twice as fast in the Arctic as in the mid-latitudes, a
phenomenon is known as “Arctic amplification"
IUCN identifies key biodiversity areas, have identified 531 in india, but they have no
legal basis
lonar lake was turned pink due to presence of haloarchaea bacteria which are found
in water saturated with salt
The KURMA mobile application is a unique tool for tracking and reporting Indian turtles.
Woolly whitefly invasive species, enemy of fruit farmers

Hope spots
● AnN Islands and Lakshadweep islands have recently been named as hope spots
● is an area of an ocean that needs special protection because of its wildlife and
significant underwater habitats.
● Initiative by IUCN + mission blue adds
Locusts attacks
● impact
○ high capacity to multiply
○ threat to vegetation
○ food security
○ farmer distress
○ if not controlled, plagues can develop
● 4 species of locusts found in india
● reasons
○ strong positive indian ocean dipole last year - extended rainfall in east
africa - breeding conditions - moist soil
○ westerly winds due to amphan
○ climate change
● control
○ pesticides and insecticides
○ eco friendly pesticides - not much impact on them - farmers
○ noise
○ pakistan chicken feed model
○ long term - sustainable development
● Locusts warning organisation
○ originally estb 1939, karachi
○ then jodhpur in undivided india
○ under ministry of agriculture
○ job - monitor, control, coordination, research, training
Hydroxyl radicals play a role in eliminating greenhouse gases

Global maritime energy efficiency partnership
● UNEP + IMO
● Reducing GHG emission from shipping
Northernmost and southernmost WLS - Nandini and Pushpagiri
Northernmost, westernmost and southernmost tiger reserve?
Debt for nature swap
● World wildlife fund for nature

● Reducing developing country's debt in return for commitment to protect nature
Dark fermentation
● Technology to convert organic waste into biohydrogen (H2 that is produced

biologically, with the use of micro-organisms)
● In absence of oxygen
Biodiversity international
● To safeguard agricultural biodiversity for food security

● member of the CGIAR (Consultative Group for International Agricultural
Research), a global research partnership for a food-secure future.
Gharial
● Critically Endangered
● Odisha has renewed its efforts to revive the population of Gharials, in their
natural habitat by releasing them in satkosia gorge of Mahanadi, southernmost
limit of gharial's home range in India
● Present in only Nepal and India
● Odisha is the only state having all three species - Gharial, mugger and saltwater
crocodile.
Dracaena cambodiana is India's first dragon blood yielding tree - a bright red resin
used since ancient times as medicine, body oil, varnish, incense and dye. Found in
Assam.
Bija, Tinsa, Salai and Dahiman are indigenous tree species of madhya pradesh
Lesser Whistling Duck (Vulnerable) spotted after decades in Dighalipukhari lake in

Assam
Global coalition for disaster resilient infrastructure >> Indian initiative unveiled at
G20 Osaka
Bonn challenge
● It is a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of the world's deforested and
degraded lands into restoration by 2020, and 350 million hectares by 2030.
● India is a part of this effort
● It was launched by government of Germany and IUCN.
The forest advisory committee of the Environment ministry has clarified that a states
can define their own criteria for defining a forest. And that state need not take
permission of the central ministry for approval of the criteria.
● The Forest Advisory Committee is a key statutory body under forest

conservation act 1980
● which considers questions on the diversion of forest land for non-forest uses
● advises the government on the issue of granting forest clearances.
Ecocide is criminalized human activity - extensive damage or destroying ecosystems or

harming the health and well-being of a species. It has not yet been accepted as an
international crime by the United Nations
In 2016, the EU and India established the "European Union - India Clean Energy and
Climate Partnership".
TN chief minister announced that cauvery delta region will be declared as "protected
special agricultural zone". Such zones are already present in Uttarakhand and Kerala.
Hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) have ZERO impact on depletion of ozone layer but

they powerful greenhouse gases
PM in Mann Ki Baat mentioned discovery of new species of fish in Meghalaya.
Black Carbon
● Results from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass

● One of the biggest contributors to climate change
● Short lived climate pollutant
● India is second largest emitter of black carbon
● strongest absorber of sunlight and heats air directly

● reduces albedo when deposited on ice and snow
brown carbon
● major source: biomass burning

● Types of brown carbon include
○ tar materials from smoldering fires or coal combustion,
○ breakdown products from biomass burning,
○ a mixture of organic compounds emitted from soil, and
○ volatile organic compounds given off by vegetation.
Tiger reserves/WLS/NP in news
Easternmost tiger reserve: Namdapha tiger reserve.
Nagarjunasagar srisailam tiger reserve >> largest tiger reserve in india, AP,
Telangana border
Krishna Wildlife sanctuary: located in Andhra Pradesh near the confluence of Krishna
river and BoB.
In 1973, project tiger was launched in palamu tiger reserve.
Chenchu tribe (PVTG) - AP/Telangana are helping conserve big cats in nallamalla forest
reserve
Malai mahadeshwara wildlife sanctuary soon to become a tiger reserve. With this,
Chamarajanagar district (Karnataka) will have the rare distinction in country of having
3 tiger reserves.
● comes under nilgiri biospherte reserve
Meghalaya rainforests are similar to equatorial rainforests, this rainforest is

northernmost in the world.
Ratapani Tiger Reserve
● previously, WLS, soon to be tiger reserve

● Vindhya Range, MP
● MP is tiger state of India
Lakes and Dams in news
Kajin Sara lake : Newly discovered world's highest lake, it's in Nepal.
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam: Joint project between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, located
on Krishna river in Telangana.
Ansupa lake:
● Largest Freshwater lake of Odisha

● On Bank of Mahanadi
Vembanad lake
● largest lake of kerala and longest lake in india

● kumarakom bird sanctuary is located on east coast of lake
● vallam kali (nehru trophy boat race) happens in this lake
● its a backwater stretch
● Ramsar site
● Cochin port is in Vembanad lake
● pamba river empties into it
Sambhar lake
● india's largest inland saline water body in rajasthan, west of jaipur

● one of ramsar site
● in news because 18000 birds died due to avian botulism a neuromuscular illness
● avian botulism is a neuro-muscular illness caused by Botulinum (natural toxin)
that is produced by a bacteria
Important bodies in news
National Green Tribunal
● established 2010 under NGT act 2010

● shall not be bound by procedures laid down under code of civil procedure, 1908
but will be guided by principles of natural justice
● help reduce burden of litigation in higher courts
● mandated to disposal of cases within 6 months
● NGT rules provide for seeking review of the decision or order of NGT. If that fails,
NGT order can be challenged in SC within 90 days
● NGT chairperson must be or have been a judge of SC or HC CJ or "anyone with
at least 25 years of experience in law"
● imposed fine on art of living for degrading ecology of yamuna basin
● banned construction activity, industrial activity when pollution levels rose in delhi
Deemed forests
● Land tracts that appear to be forests but have not been notified
● Freedom to declare which tract of forest qualify as forest is prerogative of state
government
National clean energy fund under Ministry of finance
Green credit scheme
● allows agencies — they could be private companies, village forest communities

— to identify land and begin growing plantations. After three years, they would be
eligible to be considered as compensatory forest land if they met the Forest
Department’s criteria.
● ministry of environment
● approved by forest advisory committee
Coral reefs in India

National Parks/Wildlife Sanctuaries in news
● Raiganj Wildlife Sanctuary: West Bengal

○ A prime spot for bird visit
● Point calimere wildlife and bird sanctuary:
○ Located in nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu
○ Point Calimere is the spot inside the Calimere WLS where the coast takes
a 90 degree turn from the Bay of Bengal towards Palk Strait.
○ Flagship species: blackbuck
○ It is a Ramsar site
● Chinnar wildlife sanctuary
○ It is in idukki dst, kerala
○ It is a part of Eravikulam National Park
● Kawal wildlife sanctuary
○ Declared as tiger reserve in 2012
○ Telangana
● Wayanad WLS
○ Animal sanctuary in Kerala
○ Estb 1973
○ Part of Nilgiri biosphere reserve
○ Its one of the safest haven for white rumped and red headed vultures.
○ Harbours world's largest population of Asiatic Elephant
○ It is contiguous with Mudumalai Wild life Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu and
Bandipur and Nagarahole National Park of Karnataka.
● Kuno palpur wildlife sanctuary
○ Most suitable to relocate lions from Gujarat
○ African cheetahs also are being brought here
○ Madhya Pradesh
● Phen Wildlife Sanctuary
○ Madhya Pradesh
● Neora valley national park
○ West Bengal
● dehing patkai wildlife sanctuary
○ assam
○ also an elephant reserve
● Bhitarkanika National Park
○ ramsar site
○ inundated by the rivers Brahmani, Baitarani, Dhamra, Pathsala
○ second-largest mangrove ecosystem in India
○ abode of saltwater crocodile (LC)
● Nagarahole national park

○ Situated in two districts of kodagu and mysuru of Karnataka
○ Forms a part of Nilgiri biosphere reserve
● Bandipur National Park
○ On Mysore Ooty highway in Karnataka (NH766)
○ Bandipur NP + Mudumalai WLS in TN+ Wayanad WLS in Kerala +
Nagarhole NP in north it creates Nilgiri biosphere reserve
Reduced emission firecrackers:
● PM reduction by 30-35%
● Significant reduction in NOx and SO2 due to in situ water generation as dust
suppression.
● Banning of barium salts (Barium nitrate) as it emits poisonous gas and causes
respiratory problems.
○ It is used to produce green light, with other chemicals, more colours!
○ Light emitting fireworks!
Green crackers:
● Developed by CSIR-NEERI
● 3 types of firecrackers have been developed: swas, star and safal
● Aluminium, barium, potassium nitrate and carbon have been removed or sharply
reduced to cause lesser noise and reduce emission by 15-30%
● 25-30% cheaper to manufacturer and no change in production facility needed.
Palau, a western Pacific ocean nation has banned many types of sun screens to protect
coral reefs.
● Even low concentration of sunscreen hinder in the growth of corals.

● The latitude which passes through Palau also passes through Kerala and TN.
Advanced motor fuels technology collaboration program
1. AMF TCP is an international platform under the framework of International

Energy Agency (IEA) for co-operation among countries to promote cleaner and
more energy efficient fuels & vehicle technologies.
2. India has joined it to bring down its emissions and achieve higher fuel efficiency
in transport sector.
3. India has association status with IEA since 2017
Ecologically sensitive zones
● ESAs are defined as those areas ‘that are ecologically and economically
important, but vulnerable even to mild disturbances, and hence demand careful
management
● The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 does not mention the word “Eco-
Sensitive Zones”.
● notified by the MoEFCC around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife
Sanctuaries.
● Can be declared till 10 kms around Protected area
National clean air program
● Launched by MoEFCC
● 2017 is chosen as base year and 2019 is starting year
● Tackle increasing air pollution in the country in a comprehensive manner
● Not pan India but city specific program
● NCAP proposes a framework to achieve a national-level target of 20-30 per cent
reduction of PM2.5 and PM10 concentration by 2024.
● CPCB will execute this program under Air act 1986
Endosulfan tragedy
● Occurred in Kasaragod district of Kerala

● One of the worst pesticide disasters
● It is a pesticide
● India have phased out endosulfan use by 2017
Genetic modification has:
● made crops more tolerant to abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, heat).
● reduced reliance on chemical pesticides (pest-resistant crops).
● helped to reduce post harvest losses.
● increased efficiency of mineral usage by plants (this prevents early exhaustion of
fertility of soil).
● enhanced nutritional value of food, e.g., golden rice, i.e., Vitamin ‘A’ enriched
rice.
Bt toxin
● is produced by a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt for short).

● Bt toxin gene has been cloned from the bacteria and been expressed in plants to
provide resistance to insects without the need for insecticides; in effect
created a bio-pesticide.
Biopiracy is the term used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational

companies and other organisations without proper authorisation from the countries
and people concerned without compensatory payment.
Ocean heat waves are threatening marine life:
● Ocean heat waves >> at least five consecutive days of warmer-than-usual ocean
temperatures, are more severe and longer-lasting because of greenhouse gas
emission
Australian rodent is first mammal made extinct by human made climate change: The
Bramble Cay melomys
oxybenzone and octinoxate >> sunscreen chemicals >> damages coral reef
The polar vortex:
● it is an area of low pressure

● Cold air is contained within the polar vortex by the polar-front jet stream
● its strength is strongest in winter
● Usually, the polar vortex stays North because of the pressure differences caused
by extremely low temperatures in the Arctic and semi-warm temperatures in the
Canada and US
● breakdown Reason: climate change
Connection between jellyfish and climate change is not explicit but it is agreed that
prevalence of jellyfish is a sign that ecosystems are not functioning properly
Santa ana >> extremely dry, downslope wind near california >> causes wildfires
One of the benefits of deep-sea mining is that metals such as copper, nickel and cobalt
can all be extracted from one place whereas on land, more than one metal is rarely
found at each site
Central Arctic Ocean Agreement
● Canada, China, Denmark, Iceland, Japan, Norway, the Russian Federation, the
Republic of Korea and the US and the EU
● To prevent unregulated fishing in central arctic ocean
● This agreement is the first to use a legally binding, precautionary approach to
protect an area from commercial fishing before fishing has begun in the area.
World’s largest offshore windfarm opens off in Cumbrian coast, Irish sea
David Tilman's long term ecosystem experiments shows that high species richness in
an area leads to less year to year variation in biomass
Point and non point sources of water pollution
Point sources Non point sources
Originating from single, Occurs as water moves across the

identifiable source land and picks up natural and man
made pollutants
Source of pollution is single One single point of source of pollution

cannot be traced
Wastewater treatment plants, Agricultural fields, deforested areas,

landfills construction sites, acid rain, streets etc
Measures for mitigation of cyclones
● Plantation of green belts along the coastline in a scientific interweaving pattern

● Wild buffer zone of forests should be managed properly along the coastline
● Policies should be made to regulate land use and enforcement of building codes
● Construction of concrete walls along the coastline
Simlipal NP Palamu NP Pench NP Kanha NP

Located in One of the nine Straddles MP, tiger

mayurbhanj district original tiger reserves across two reserve.
of Odisha. of India and the only states, MP
Comprises of sal one in Jharkhand and MH
forests due to
which it has been
chosen for project
tiger
Also a biosphere Forms a part of betla
reserve NP and Palamu WLS
● Scheme of labelling ECO-MARK has been started in 1991. The logo indicates
that the product causes least damage to the environment
Smog is of two types:
● Photochemical smog
● Classical smog
Classical smog
● Formed in the month of winter particularly under humid conditions

● Results from large amounts of coal burning in an area. It is a mixture of smoke,
fog and sulpher dioxide
● It is a reducing smog
Common components of photochemical smog:

● Ozone
● Nitric oxide
● Acrolien
● Formaldehyde
● PAN
Conservation movement State
Chipko, 1973 Uttarakhand
Appiko, 1983 Karnataka
Silent valley movement, 1973 Kerala
Joint forest movement, 1981 West Bengal
Constituents of biogas
● Methane
● Carbon dioxide
● Hydrogen
● Hydrogen sulfide
It is produced by anaerobic degradation of Animal and plastic waste in presence of

water
After incineration, many glass and metals can be recovered, hence can be recycled
All biodiversity hotspots put together constitute 2.3 per cent of earth's land surface
London convention 1972
● Prevention of marine pollution by dumping of wastes

● Under international Maritime organisation
● India has not signed the convention
Ozone depletion in winter
● polar stratopheric clouds leads to ozone layer depletion
Chernobyl radioactive accident in 1986 in Chernobyl in Ukraine.
Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth is one of the objective of
sustainable development.
Food process order(FPO) mark
● Mandatory mark for all processed fruit products in India

● Certifies that product was manufactured in a hygienic food-safe environment
under FSSAI act 2006
● Issued by ministry of food processing
ISI mark
● Indian Standard institute, it is now BIS

● Operated under BIS under provisions of BIS act
● It is both mandatory for some products and voluntary for some other
AGMARK
● Employed on agri products in India

● Certifying agency: Directorate of marketing and inspection, ministry of agriculture
and farmers welfare
CFCs are used in
● Air conditioning
● Aerosol spray cans
The likelihood of acid rain increase with the presence of PM in air
Bio-degradable wastes and not non Bio-degradable wastes are deposited in

landfills
SO2 is not a GHG
Pollutants directly emitted by vehicular exhaust :
● CO
● CO2
● NOx
● Unburnt hydrocarbon
● PM
● CH4
(NO OZONE)
LPG
● It is by product obtained after refining crude oil

● Main component is butane, other being propane and ethane
● Odourless, pan apalya ghar cha vas marto: because ethyl mercaptan a foul
smelling gas is added to LPG to detect any leakage
Now 12 of 18 biosphere reserves of India are a part of World Network of biosphere

reserves
● Panna biosphere reserve has been added
Spring shock
● Release of sulfuric acid in water bodies due to melting of snow in spring season,
causes damage to aquatic plants and animals
CPCB was constituted under water act 1974
Terrestrial disaster >> originating over land
Atmospheric disaster >>originating over atmosphere
Fungi and bacteria have a role in composting. Virus does not have any role in
composting
● In aquatic ecosystem, CO2 concentration is much higher than O2 because CO2

is more soluble in water than O2.
● The aquatic ecosystem operates in a balanced way and maintains CO2 content
in air at steady state. If there is increase in concentration of CO2 in air, more
CO2 dissolves in water forming bicarbonates and carbonates
Cryodrakonboreas, the largest flying animal was a plane-sized reptile
Indian Rhino Vision 2020

● It is an ambitious effort to attain a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-

horned rhinos in Assam by 2020.
● Other: Rhinos to be re-introduced in jim corbett NP
Diego- the giant tortoise
● Ecuador
● CR
India has proposed to include three species- the Indian elephant (E), the Great Indian
Bustard (CR), and the Bengal Florican (CR) in the ‘Appendix I’ of the CMS Convention
for ‘migratory species threatened with extinction’.
Chilika lake is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest coastal lagoon
in the world
Gujarat became the world’s first market for particulate matter emissions trading in the
world
The world’s southernmost coral reef - Lord Howe Island – approx. 600 kilometres
offshore from Sydney - has been hit by bleaching due to an increase in temperature
Parali group of islands in lakshadweep have been sinking
Types of Geoengineering Proposals

● Carbon dioxide removal techniques (CDR): Example:

○ Ocean fertilisation using phytoplankton and iron
○ Biochar production
○ Artificial trees
○ Carbon filtering
● Solar geoengineering, or “solar radiation management” (SRM); technologies to
rapidly cool the Earth by reflecting solar energy to space. Example:
○ Stratospheric aerosol injection
○ Marine cloud brightening
○ Cirrus cloud thinning (CCT)
○ Space reflectors
Protect 15 Northern European countries from rising seas = Northern European

Enclosure Dam (NEED) enclosing all of the North Sea.
Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW)
● to advance solutions to eliminate plastic waste, especially in the ocean.

● launched by few companies
St. Petersburg Declaration on doubling the tiger population was signed in 2010 under
which all 13 tiger range countries in Asia and partner organizations of the Global Tiger
Initiative agreed to a Global Tiger Recovery Program, the first-ever coordinated,
range-wide and international effort to save the world tigers.
Clean seas campaign : UNEP
Global cool coalition

● Launched at the First Global Conference on Synergies between the 2030

Agenda and Paris Agreement
● a global effort led by UN Environment, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, the
Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL).
Soil organic carbon (SOC) comes from plants, animals, microbes, leaves, and wood. It
is mostly found in the first-metre layer of the soil.
Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
● few nations + UNEP

● to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.
● India has joined
Blue Flag Challenge
● It is international recognition conferred on beaches and marinas that meet certain

criteria of cleanliness and environmental propriety and equipped with amenities
of international standards for tourists
● run by NGO Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
● Chandrabhaga beach on the Konark coast in Odisha was first in Asia to get Blue
Flag certification
‘Ecoclub’ programme To provide opportunities for children to understand the

environment and environmental problems through school ecoclubs.
Delhi got its first smog tower

● structures designed to work as large-scale air purifiers.

● uses carbon Nano fibres as a major component
US Agency for International Development (USAID) and MoEF&CC have launched

Forest-PLUS 2.0.
Components of ZBNF: Jeevamrutha, Bijamrita, Acchadana, Whapasa

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Environment

Environment, Ecology, and Functions of Ecosystems

● Regions supporting life, presence of life is characteristic of biosphere

● Physical environment in which an organism lives, it's an address of an organism

● Habitat always has life, environment may not have

● Functional unit of nature in which living organisms, interact among themselves

Is the study of interaction between organisms, organisms and surrounding within an

● Inorganic and non living

Effect of Abiotic Components on Plants

● Results in freezing soil moisture

● Acts as cover, protects seedlings from excessive cold and frost.

● high temperature results in the death of plant due to coagulation of protoplasmic

● Dying backwards from tip

Primary producers or Autotrophs (self-nourishing)

Consumers or Heterotrophs or Phagotrophs (other nourishing)

Ecology - principles and organisation

Species - are a group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of

Population is a community of interbreeding organisms (same species), occupying a

Note: sex of tigers can be determined from pugmarks

Community - named after dominant plant form

The way particular organism live in particular environment in order to survive.

● Morphological - giraffe neck got longer as trees grew

Acclimatization short duration changes in body to adapt to surrounding - such as high

● Low oxygen - body increases RBC production, decrease binding capacity of

● Induced by changes in genetic make up, mutation

● change in genetic material that results from an error in replication of DNA

● By Darwin and Wallace

Ecotone a zone of junction or transition between two biomes

● Mangrove is between terrestrial and marine

● May be narrow or wide

● refers to the changes in population or community structures that occur at the

● unique functional role and position of a species in its habitat or ecosystem.

● Habitat is address, niche is profession

The function of an ecosystem includes:

1. Ecological succession or ecosystem development

1. Ecological succession or ecosystem development

● secondary succession : previously community existed which got destroyed due

2. Homeostasis (or cybernetic) or feedback control mechanisms

● An overwhelming majority of animals and nearly all plants cannot maintain a

3. Energy flow through the food chain

The trophic level interaction involves three concepts namely

● Transfer of food energy from green plants (producers) through a series of

● Multiple interlinked food chains make a food web.

● is upright in grassland, pond/aquatic ecosystem.

● is upright in most ecosystems on land,

● concept helps to explain the phenomenon of biological magnification

4. Nutrient cycling (biogeochemical cycles)

Based on the replacement period, a nutrient cycle is referred to as Perfect or Imperfect

Based on the nature of the reservoir

● Gaseous Cycle: the reservoir is the atmosphere or the hydrosphere — water

Nitrogen fixation = N2 to nitrites/nitrates/ammonium

Plant absorb nitrogen in the form of nitrates and ammonium.

● plays a central role in aquatic ecosystems and water quality.

● The sulphur reservoir is in the soil and sediments

Imp global environmental issues

Smog is a secondary air pollutant

Government passed EPA 1986 after the Bhopal gas tragedy

● Primary pollutants - persistent in the form in which they are added to

Qualitative pollutants don't occur in nature and are man made