Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The Supreme Court of India recently directed governments to adopt a ‘broad’ definition of forests, emphasizing the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. Enacted to safeguard forests and resources, the Act’s Section 2 defines ‘forest land’ broadly, encompassing reserved, protected, or government-recorded areas. The landmark TN Godavarman Thirumalpad vs Union of India (1996) case reinforced this, interpreting ‘forest’ in line with its dictionary meaning. The Act applies to all areas resembling a forest, prioritizing conservation efforts across statutorily recognized forests in India.

Notes:
The Tamil Nadu Government has launched the “TN Endangered Species Conservation Fund” to protect lesser-known species like the Nilgiri Marten. This rare carnivore, scientifically named Martes gwatkinsii, is exclusive to the Western Ghats in India, spanning Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Found in Shola ecosystems, it boasts chocolate-colored fur and a canary yellow throat, resembling a civet or mongoose. The conservation effort focuses on its habitat in high altitudes (300 to 1200 m) across specific Western Ghats clusters.

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In February 2024, scientists uncovered the world’s largest anaconda in the Amazon rainforest—a colossal Northern Green Anaconda. Discovered by TV wildlife presenter Professor Freek Vonk during a National Geographic expedition, this previously unknown snake measures 26 feet, weighs 200 kg, and boasts a head the size of a human’s. Featured in National Geographic’s Disney+ series ‘Pole to Pole’ with Will Smith, the snake has been named ‘Eunectes akayima’ by researchers, solidifying its status as the planet’s largest and heaviest snake.

Notes:
Recently, scientists found North Atlantic right whales are diminishing in size, impacting their breeding. Migratory, they winter in warm waters and migrate to polar regions in late summer. Inhabiting temperate and subpolar waters of the North Atlantic and North Pacific, their distribution is mainly along the East Coast of the United States and Canada. There are three recognized species globally. Critically endangered, North Atlantic right whales skim-feed on plankton, facing threats like habitat loss, making conservation crucial (IUCN: Critically endangered, CITES: Appendix I).

Notes:
Researchers recently discovered a new scorpion species, Euscorpiops Krachan, in Thailand’s Krachan National Park. Belonging to the subgenus Euscopiops, it exhibits typical features of this group, yet is notably smaller, measuring just over 1 inch. Brownish in color, females are darker than males, possessing eight eyes and legs. Like other Scorpiops genus members, it likely hunts through ambush tactics. This discovery highlights the biodiversity of mountainous regions.

Notes:
The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying unveiled a book and video on “Sagar Parikrama”. This outreach program aims to engage coastal fishermen along a predetermined sea route, addressing their concerns and promoting government schemes. Conducted by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, the Sagar Parikrama Yatra covered 7,986 kilometers across 80 coastal districts, awarding certificates and sanctions under schemes like PMMSY and KCC to progressive fishermen and entrepreneurs.

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Arunachal Bugun Tribe generously donates land in Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary for the protection of critically endangered Bugun Liocichla, a small babbler bird with olive-grey plumage and black cap, measuring only 20 cm. Discovered by astrophysicist Ramana Athreya in 2006, this species is exclusive to Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary. With just 14 individuals spotted in Braiduah village, it’s India’s first bird discovery post-independence, facing severe endangerment.

Notes:
Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), Bihar’s sole tiger reserve, utilizes green energy for watering wild animals, including tigers, and their prey in scorching summers. Established in 1990 and declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1978, VTR encompasses Valmiki National Park and Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary. Situated on the Gandak riverbanks, it shares borders with Royal Chitwan National Park and Parsa Wildlife Sanctuary of Nepal. The Bihar government awaits NTCA approval to declare Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary as the state’s second tiger reserve after VTR.

Notes:
Despite conservation efforts, Kashmir’s hangul deer, also known as the Kashmir stag, faces extinction. This shy and sensitive species, the only surviving Asiatic sub-species of the European red deer, is Jammu and Kashmir’s state animal. Endemic to Kashmir’s hills, particularly in Dachigam National Park, it suffers from habitat loss and poaching. Critically endangered according to IUCN and listed in CITES Appendix I, urgent measures are needed to save it from disappearing.

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Delhi’s Forest and Wildlife Department is setting up a tissue culture lab at Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary to propagate endangered native trees. The lab aims to regenerate saplings of rare species facing challenges in natural regeneration. Tissue culture, also known as micropropagation, involves growing plant cells in a controlled, sterile environment. This technique allows for the production of clones from a single cell, aiding conservation efforts for threatened trees in the city.