Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Rajasthan Forest Department halted construction of a large complex in the buffer zone of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (RTR). It is located in Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan. It was established as a sanctuary in 1955 and became part of Project Tiger in 1973, gaining national park status in 1980. The reserve spans 1,334 square kilometers, with a 392 square kilometer core zone. It lies at the junction of the Aravali and Vindhya ranges, featuring rugged hills, grasslands, forests, lakes, and rivers. The UNESCO-listed Ranthambore Fort is a key attraction within the reserve.

Notes:
The Rongmei Naga Council Manipur (RNCM) opposes oil exploration in Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary, Tamenglong district, Manipur. The sanctuary, established in 1982, is located near the Indo-Myanmar border. It covers 21 sq. km and features hilly terrain in the Barak River basin. Zeilad Wildlife Sanctuary is home to seven lakes, with Zeilad Lake being the largest and most famous.

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Severe cyclone ‘Dana’ hit India’s eastern coast, bringing heavy rains and winds of 100-120 km/h. It caused major damage to infrastructure and crops in Odisha and West Bengal. The name ‘Dana,’ meaning ‘generosity’ in Arabic, was suggested by Qatar. In Arabic culture, ‘Dana’ also refers to a valuable and perfectly sized pearl, symbolizing beauty.

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The Global Ecosystems Atlas was launched on October 22, 2024, at COP16 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Colombia. It was developed by the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). It is the first tool focused on global ecosystem mapping and monitoring. It provides critical data on ecosystem health and risks, aiding governments, businesses, and communities in sustainable management. This atlas addresses urgent issues like biodiversity loss, climate change, and land degradation, aiming to improve our approach to protecting essential natural systems.

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NASA’s Landsat 8 satellite captured images of ‘sea smoke’ rising from Antarctica’s Pine Island Glacier, a phenomenon where frigid air meets warm water, creating fog-like plumes. This rare atmospheric event highlights the glacier’s vulnerability and the impact of strong winds on polar ice sheets. Sea smoke forms when cold air cools and condenses over open waters, resulting in ghostly ice crystal plumes that can influence ice mass balance. Pine Island Glacier is known for its rapid retreat and significant role in ice flow dynamics.

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The Himachal Chief Minister recently launched water sports activities at Gobind Sagar Lake. Gobind Sagar Lake is a manmade reservoir in the Una and Bilaspur districts of Himachal Pradesh. Named after Guru Gobind Singh, it is fed by the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej River. The Bhakra Dam is one of the highest gravity dams in the world, standing 225.5 m tall. The lake is 90 km long, covers about 170 sq. km, and has a maximum depth of 163.07 m, making it one of the deepest artificial lakes. It supplies irrigation water to Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, benefiting regional agriculture.

Notes:
Rajasthan’s Chief Wildlife Warden formed a three-member committee after reports of 25 tigers missing at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. Ranthambore is located at the junction of the Aravalis and Vindhyan ranges in Eastern Rajasthan. It’s one of northern India’s largest tiger reserves and was once a hunting ground for Jaipur’s Maharajas. The reserve is bounded by the Chambal River to the south and the Banas River to the north, with diverse landscapes and wildlife.

Notes:
A new flowering plant species, Crinum andhricum, was discovered in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. Named after Andhra Pradesh, it belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family and is the 16th addition to India’s Crinum species. The plant features wider perianth lobes and produces 12-38 flowers per cluster. Its waxy white flowers bloom from April to June, with a tall stem up to 100 cm. The plant thrives in dry, rocky crevices and has large, elliptic leaves. Due to its limited distribution and environmental threats, it is classified as ‘Data Deficient’ by the IUCN.

Notes:
The Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve, covering 2,829 sq km, was recently notified as India’s 56th tiger reserve. It is located in Chhattisgarh. It includes a core area of 2,049.2 sq km and is contiguous with other reserves, enhancing conservation efforts. This reserve is the third-largest in India and is home to diverse fauna, including numerous threatened species. The initiative underscores India’s commitment to wildlife conservation and sustainable cohabitation of humans and wildlife.

Notes:
A new genus of freshwater fish, Koima, has been described from the Western Ghats. Two species, Mesonoemacheilus remadevii and Nemacheilus monilis, are reclassified as Koima remadevii and Koima monilis. This is a rare event, as adding a new genus is uncommon. The fish are small, elongated, and used for dietary and ornamental purposes. Both species are endemic to the Western Ghats, particularly in tributaries of the Cauvery River. Koima remadevii is found in fast-flowing streams in Silent Valley National Park. Koima monilis lives in various tributaries of the Cauvery River at elevations of 350-800 meters.