Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
The Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary (SRS) is a nature park in the Yumthang Valley of Flowers north of Lachung in North Sikkim district and covers an area of 43 sq kms. Bird species found in the park include Wood snipe and Hoary-throated barwing.

Notes:
Cerbera odollam, commonly known as the Suicide tree, Pong-pong, and Othalanga. It is a species of tree native to India and other parts of southern Asia. It grows wild along the coast in many parts of Kerala. It yields a potent poison, often used for suicide or murder. The kernels of C. Odollam contain cerberin, a potent cardenolide glycoside belonging to the cardiac glycoside family of toxins that includes digoxin. The poison blocks the calcium ion channels in heart muscle, causing disruption of the heart beat. This is most often fatal. Cerberin is difficult to detect in autopsies and its taste can be masked with strong spices. Therefore it is often used in homicide and suicide in India.

Notes:
Saltwater Crocodiles are notably common in the regions of Odisha and the Sundarbans. These areas provide suitable habitats for these crocodiles, thanks to their mangrove swamps and river deltas. While they are present in other regions such as the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, their prevalence is particularly notable in the coastal areas of Odisha and the Sundarbans, which span across the border of India and Bangladesh. The Sundarbans, especially, is famous for its large population of Saltwater Crocodiles.

Notes:
Despite constituting only 2.4% of the global land area, India accounts for approximately 7-8% of the world’s recorded species. As per the Botanical Survey of India and the Zoological Survey of India, the country boasts of more than 46,000 species of plants and over 81,000 species of animals. Additionally, India is recognized as a hub of crop diversity, housing many wild relatives and breeds of domestic animals. This rich biodiversity showcases India’s ecological significance and critically supports its ecological sustainability.

Notes:
Manas National Park is located in the state of Assam. It is a national park, UNESCO Natural World Heritage site, a Project Tiger reserve, an elephant reserve and a biosphere reserve. It is home to endangered endemic wildlife like Assam roofed turtle, hispid hare, golden langur and pygmy hog.

Notes:
Silent Valley National Park also known as “Sairandhri Vanam” is located in the state of Kerala and is located in the Nilgiri hills. It is home to the lion-tailed macaques, an endangered species of primate. In 1973, “Save Silent Valley” campaign (environmental movement) was initiated when the Kerala State Electricity Board declared to implement the Silent Valley Hydro-Electric Project.

Notes:
The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary is located in the state of Assam. It is an isolated protected area of evergreen forest. It was officially constituted in 1997. It is home to only ape in India, the hoolock gibbon.

Notes:
The clean energy cess, also known as the coal cess, is a tax levied on coal production and import in India. It was introduced in the 2010 Indian budget to finance and promote clean energy initiatives and fund research in the area. The cess started at Rs. 50 per tonne and has been increased periodically.
As of July 2022, the clean energy cess on coal stands at Rs. 400 per tonne. Revenues from the cess go into the National Clean Energy and Environment Fund (NCEEF). The NCEEF finances projects in renewable energy, clean coal technologies, and environmental remediation programs.

Notes:
Bioversity International, a non-profit research organization for development, was established in 1974. The motto of the organization is “Agricultural biodiversity nourishes and sustains the planet”. It is headquatered at Rome, Italy.

Notes:
An extremely cold region that lacks trees and has a permanently frozen subsurface soil. The permanently frozen soil layer is called permafrost.