Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
WWF-India launched the “Vulture Count 2024” project from September 7 to October 6, 2024. This initiative aligns with International Vulture Awareness Day. The project aims to count and assess the vulture population in India. It focuses particularly on critically endangered vulture species. The project also seeks to raise public awareness about the importance of vultures in ecosystems.

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A new jumping spider species, Carrhotus piperus, has been discovered in the lower Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu. It was found on pepper plants, about two meters above the ground. The name piperus comes from the plant Piper nigrum, reflecting its habitat. This discovery adds to the rich biodiversity of the region and brings the total Carrhotus species in India to 10, and globally to 37. The spider is unique due to its prolateral protrusion and beak-shaped embolus. The Palani Hills are part of the Western Ghats and are a continuation of the Anaimalai Hills in Kerala.

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A study published in Nature reveals India is the world’s largest plastic polluter, releasing 9.3 million tonnes annually.
Plastic emissions are defined as materials moving from a controlled to an uncontrolled state in the environment. India’s plastic pollution accounts for about 20% of global emissions. India generates around 0.12 kilograms of plastic waste per capita per day. Global plastic waste emissions were 52.1 million tonnes in 2020. Nigeria and Indonesia are the second and third largest polluters, with 3.5 and 3.4 million tonnes, respectively. High-income countries have higher waste rates but better collection and disposal systems.

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The elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata) was recently spotted in Haryana’s Damdama area during a research survey in the Aravallis. It is medium-sized with a yellowish-brown or olive shell and black blotches on each scute. During the breeding season, it develops a pink ring around its nostrils, and mature individuals show pinkish color around the nostrils and eyes. It is found in Sal deciduous and hilly evergreen forests across Southeast Asia, including parts of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Its IUCN status is Critically Endangered, and it is listed in CITES Appendix II.

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Authorities discharged 1.19 lakh cusecs of water from Ukai Dam after rainfall, bringing its water level close to the danger mark of 345 feet. The Ukai Dam, built on the Tapti River, is the second-largest reservoir in Gujarat after the Sardar Sarovar. Also called Vallabh Sagar, it was constructed in 1972 for irrigation, power generation, and flood control. It holds 46% of the combined capacity of all other Gujarat dams. The dam has a 62,255 km² catchment area, similar to the Bhakra Nangal Dam. Its embankment wall is 4,927 meters long with a height of 80.77 meters.

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A new snake species, Ahaetulla Longirostris, was discovered in India with a unique long snout. This snake, called the long-snouted vine snake, was found in Bihar and Meghalaya. It has a slender, elongated body and can grow up to 4 feet long. Its color ranges from bright green to orange-brown, with an orange belly. The head is triangular, and the snout is 18% of the head’s length. The species can live in both forests and urban areas, showing adaptability to different environments.

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Natural geographic isolation is occurring among Asiatic lions in Gujarat, so translocation isn’t needed, says the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) director. IBCA was launched by the Indian Prime Minister on 9 April 2023, during the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. Its goal is to conserve seven big cat species—tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma—and their habitats globally. The alliance covers 97 range countries and focuses on knowledge-sharing, capacity-building, and resource support. India supports IBCA with Rs 150 crore for five years, with its headquarters in India and a governance structure.

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A Southern Birdwing butterfly, India’s second largest butterfly species, was recently found at the satellite campus of The American College in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Also known as the ‘Sahyadri Birdwing,’ it is mostly found in South Asia, especially in the Western Ghats. It is exceptionally large, with wings larger than some small birds, which gives it the name “birdwing.” Males have black wings with greenish-blue markings, while females display cream-coloured patterns. It is Karnataka’s state butterfly and is classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN.

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The union government approved transferring 256 acres of salt pan land in Mumbai to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), drawing criticism from opposition leaders. Salt pans are low-lying lands where seawater leaves behind salt and minerals, vital for flood protection. According to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2011, salt pans are ecologically sensitive and fall under CRZ-1B, allowing only salt extraction and gas exploration. Nationally, 60,000 acres of salt pan land exist, with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra having the largest areas. Salt pans also host various bird and insect species, contributing to ecological balance.

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The water level of Gujarat’s Sardar Sarovar Dam recently reached 136.43 meters, just over two meters short of its full capacity. This concrete gravity dam is situated on the Narmada River in Kevadia, Gujarat, and is named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. At 163 meters high, it is the third highest concrete dam in India, following Bhakra and Lakhwar. It ranks as the second largest gravity dam by concrete volume, after the Grand Coulee Dam in the USA. Part of the Narmada Valley Project, the dam supports extensive irrigation and hydroelectric systems. The river catchment area is 88,000 sq. km., and the dam’s spillway can discharge 87,000 cubic meters per second. The canal network includes the world’s longest canal system and the largest irrigation-lined canal, the Narmada Main Canal, at 458.3 km.