Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, delegates met in New York for the first session of the Preparatory Commission to frame rules for the High Seas Treaty and prepare for the first Conference of Parties (COP1). The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, also called the High Seas Treaty, is a United Nations (UN) treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It is the first treaty aimed at protecting ocean areas beyond national borders and is often called the Paris Agreement for the Ocean. It legally binds countries to protect marine biodiversity and promote sustainable use through international cooperation. The treaty will help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and will become effective 120 days after 60 countries ratify it.

Notes:
Public trespassing in the ecologically sensitive Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS) in Khanapur taluk has raised major concerns among conservationists recently. Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Western Ghats in the Belgaum district of Karnataka. It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in December 2011 to protect its rich biodiversity. The sanctuary is named after the historic Bhimgad Fort, built by Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century to defend against Portuguese forces. It borders Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, Mollem National Park, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.

Notes:
The Blyde Rondavel Flat Gecko was rediscovered in the Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, after being unseen for 34 years. This flat-bodied lizard grows up to 8–9 cm and is adapted to live on cliffs and rocky outcrops, making it hard to spot. It was first discovered in 1991, but no sightings since then led to fears of extinction or doubts about it being a distinct species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had listed it as “Data Deficient” due to lack of data. The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) confirmed its rediscovery during a special expedition to a remote rocky area. This gecko is the fifth lost species rediscovered by the Endangered Wildlife Trust in recent years, after a dune mole, a butterfly, a lizard, and a frog.

Notes:
California’s Tulare Lake, which had dried up long ago, reemerged after a gap of 130 years due to powerful atmospheric rivers over the region. Tulare Lake is located in the San Joaquin Valley in California, United States of America. It was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. The lake disappeared over time mainly due to man-made irrigation systems. In 2023, heavy atmospheric rivers brought record rainfall to California. This rare weather event caused Tulare Lake to reemerge after 130 years. The Kern River, which is fed by snowmelt from the southern Sierra Nevada, helps refill the lake. The Tachi Yokut tribe traditionally depended on Tulare Lake for survival as the region receives very little rainfall.

Notes:
On May 27, 2025, large amounts of tiny plastic pellets called nurdles were found along the coast of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. This followed the sinking of the Liberian cargo ship MSC ELSA 3 on May 25, 2025, which carried containers with hazardous materials. Nurdles are small plastic pellets, 1 to 5 millimeters in size, used as raw materials in plastic manufacturing. They are made of plastics like Low-Density Polyethene (LDPE) and High-Density Polyethene (HDPE). Nurdles are harmful because marine animals ingest them, causing health problems and threatening ecosystems. The incident highlights ongoing marine pollution risks linked to growing global plastic production.

Notes:
The Union Ministry of Environment recently declared two new Ramsar sites in Rajasthan: Menar in Udaipur and Khichan in Phalodi. Menar is a freshwater monsoon wetland formed by Braham talab, Dhand talab, Kheroda talab, and nearby farmland that floods during monsoon. It supports water birds like the critically endangered white-rumped vulture and long-billed vulture. Khichan in the Thar Desert includes Ratri river and Vijaysagar pond, and supports 150 bird species.

Notes:
A year-long camera-trap survey by Holématthi Nature Foundation (HNF), led by conservation biologist Dr. Sanjay Gubbi, revealed 80–85 wild leopards around Bengaluru. This makes Bengaluru the metro city with the highest number of free-ranging leopards, surpassing Mumbai’s 54 leopards. The survey recorded 54 leopards inside Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) and 30 in surrounding reserved and private forests. Bannerghatta National Park is located in Karnataka.

Notes:
Recently, researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) discovered how lac insects produce laccaic acid, which is used to make lac pigment. Lac insects are hemimetabolous and undergo gradual metamorphosis with stages like egg, nymph instars, pupa, and adult. They are found in Southeast Asian countries like India, Thailand, Myanmar, and China, with India and Thailand being top producers. More than 90% of India’s lac comes from Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Eastern Maharashtra, and Northern Odisha.

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Kannampadi, a tribal settlement in the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala, is getting three new libraries to support tribal students and residents. This marks a new chapter in education and learning opportunities for the local community. Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kerala. The region features steep mountains, valleys, and hills with altitudes between 450 to 1272 meters. Vanjur Medu is the highest peak at 1272 meters.

Notes:
A rare electric-blue bird called Grandala was recently spotted in Sainj Valley, Himachal Pradesh. Grandala belongs to the thrush family called Turdidae. It is the only species in the genus Grandala. It is an arboreal insectivore, meaning it lives in trees and eats insects. It is found in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Tibet, and China. It lives in alpine and subalpine regions at 3,000 to 5,000 meters altitude.