International NGOs

Global Footprint Network

Established When: In 2003, Mathis Wackernagel, PhD, and Susan Burns founded Global Footprint Network.

Headquarter: California, USA

Objective of the body: Global Footprint Network’s goal is to create a future where all humans can live well, within the means of one planet Earth.

Key Functions:  

• It develops and promotes tools for advancing sustainability, including the ecological footprint and biocapacity, which measure the amount of resources we use and how much we have.
• These tools aim at bringing ecological limits to the center of decision-making.

 

Green Cross International

Established When and by Whom: It was founded by former Soviet Union President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mikhail Gorbachev in 1993.

Headquarter: GCI is headquartered in Geneva.

Objective of the body:  It is working to address the inter-connected global challenges of security, poverty eradication and environmental degradation through a combination of advocacy and local projects.

Key Functions:

To achieve its objective GCI:

• Promote legal, ethical and behavioural norms that ensure basic changes in the values, actions and attitudes of government, the private sector and civil society, necessary to develop a sustainable global community
• Contribute to the prevention and resolution of conflicts arising from environmental degradation.
• Provide assistance to people affected by the environmental consequences of wars, conflicts and man made calamities.

 

Greenpeace

Established When and by Whom: Greenpeace was founded by Irving Stowe and Dorothy Stowe, Canadian and US ex-pat environmental activists in 1971.

Headquarter: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Objective of the body: Greenpeace states its goal is to “ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity”.

Key Functions:

• Greenpeace focuses its campaigning on worldwide issues such as climate change, deforestation, overfishing, commercial whaling, genetic engineering, and anti-nuclear issues.
• It uses , lobbying, research, and ecotage to achieve its goals
• Greenpeace is known for its direct actions and has been described as the most visible environmental organization in the world.

India specific trivia: Greenpeace India was founded in 2001, and is a legally registered society with offices in Chennai, Delhi,  Bengaluru and Patna.

 

International Network for Sustainable Energy(INFORSE)

Established When and by Whom: INFORSE was established in 1992 at the Global Forum, which was a parallel forum to the UNCED Conference so called Earth Summit.

Headquarter: Denmark

Objective: It is a  network of environmental organizations promoting sustainable energy to protect the environment and to decrease poverty.

Key Functions:

Develops scenarios for a transition to a 100% renewables energy supply with factor four energy efficiency by 2050. A global, EU-27 and European national scenarios are developed. The name of the sustainable energy model is INFORSE Vision 2050.

Participation on UN Conferences as NGO observer as INFORSE has Consultative Status at UN ECOSOC and UNFCCC.

 

Project GreenWorld International

Established When and by Whom: It is founded by a student at Indian School, Salalah, Hridith Sudev (then aged 12), and his younger brother Samved Shaji (then aged 7), in 2012.

Headquarter: Salalah, Dhofar, Oman

Objective: Turn degraded lands green again. Raise the living standards of the rural poor. Combat climate change. Create holistic ways to work for the health of our shared biosphere and the harmony of our global village.

Key Functions:

• The GWC connects those who want to help create a more sustainable world with on-the-ground projects that benefit people and planet.
• It focusses on providing ecological and social benefits where they’re most needed.
• It seek out effective grassroots partners, then finding the simplest, most direct ways we can all contribute to their success.
• Its work centers around tree-planting.
• It allies with local experts who best know the problems and opportunities in their country. Their trusted, ground-level partners work with villagers who are motivated to work for the benefits our programs bring.
• Contributions from the GWC get planted right in the ground. We always learn from our partners, and collaborate with them on creative solutions.

India specific trivia: PGWI’s Indian wing, the Project GreenIndia was founded On 17 July 2016 in Vatakara Municipality of Kerala, India. Various tree plantation drives, summer camps and cleanup campaigns mark their activity.

 

Rainforest Alliance

Established When and by Whom: It was founded in 1987 by Daniel Katz.

Headquarter: USA

Objective: It is working to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices and consumer behavior.

Key Functions:

• The Rainforest Alliance launched the world’s first sustainable forestry certification program in 1989 to encourage market-driven and environmentally and socially responsible management of forests, tree farms, and forest resources.
• The organization verifies carbon offset projects to standards that address greenhouse gas sequestration, biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.
• The Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable agriculture program includes training programs for farmers and the certification of small, medium and large farms that produce more than 100 different crops, including avocado, cattle, cinnamon, coffee, palm oil, and potatoes, as well as tea, cocoa, and bananas.
• The organization launched a sustainable tourism program in 2000 and provides small- and medium-sized tourism businesses in Latin America with training and tools to minimize their impacts on the environment and local communities.

 

Society for the Environment (SocEnv)

Established When and by Whom:  SocEnv attained Royal Chartered status on 6 May 2004 and issued the first licenses to enable the award of Chartered Environmentalist in September 2004.

Headquarter: England

Objective: The Society aspires to be the leading and coordinating body for professionals working in sustainability and environmental matters and a pre-eminent champion of a sustainable environment.

Key Functions:  It is an umbrella body that can license its member institutions to confer chartered status on sustainability and environmental professionals worldwide.

 

The Climate Reality Project

Established When and by Whom: The Alliance for Climate Protection was founded in 2006 by Al Gore to encourage civic action against climate change.

Headquarter: Washington, D.C., U.S.

Objective: The Climate Reality Project is a non-profit organization focused on climate change education and countering climate change denial campaigns worldwide.

Key Functions:

• In 2013, The Climate Reality Project released the Reality Drop tool, a news aggregator that collects online news stories about climate change.
• The Climate Reality Project also addresses climate change through a network of approximately 10,000 grassroots Climate Reality Leaders, which the organization calls the Climate Reality Leadership Corps.

India specific trivia: Approximately 50 principals from government schools falling under the Department of Education, Government of Uttarakhand participated in the conclave. The event was organized in partnership with The Climate Reality Project India, UNESCO, New Delhi and HaritaDhara Research Development and Education Foundation (HRDEF).

 

Traffic (conservation programme)

Established When and by Whom: It was founded in 1976 as a strategic alliance of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Headquarter: Cambridge, UK

Objective: The organization’s aim is to ‘ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature’.

Key Functions:

• It is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on the trade of wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity and sustainable development.
• It promotes sustainable wildlife trade (the green stream work) and combats wildlife crime and trafficking (the red stream work).
• TRAFFIC’s work involves research, publication of influential reports, projects, education, outreach and advocacy on the issue of wildlife trade.

 

Wetlands International

Established When and by Whom: Founded in 1937 as the International Wildfowl Inquiry the organisation was focused on the protection of waterbirds as part of the British section.

Later, the name became International Waterfowl & Wetlands Research Bureau (IWRB).

Headquarter: Netherlands

Objective: Its mission is to sustain and restore wetlands, their resources, and biodiversity.

Key Functions:

• Wetlands International’s work ranges from research and community-based field projects to advocacy and engagement with governments, corporate and international policy fora and conventions.
• Wetlands International works through partnerships and is supported by contributions from an extensive specialist expert network and tens of thousands of volunteers.

India specific trivia: In the Himalaya Mountains the organization works to restore wetlands to reduce the impacts of glacier melt and precipitation extremes on densely populated regions downstream India, China and Bangladesh.

 

Wildlife Conservation Society

Established When and by Whom: WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society (NYZS).

Headquarter: USA

Objective: To save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature.

Key Functions:

• Currently works to conserve more than two million square miles of wild places around the world.
• Today WCS is at work on some 500 projects in more than 60 nations around the world that are intended to help protect both wildlife and the wild places in which they live.
• The organization endeavors to protect 25 percent of the world’s biodiversity—from the gorillas of Africa and the tigers of Asia to macaws in South America and the sharks, whales and turtles traveling through the planet’s seas.

India specific trivia: Wildlife Conservation Society – India Program describes the work of several partner institutions engaged in saving wildlife and wild lands in full compliance with all Indian laws.

WCS – India Program mission has combined cutting-edge research on tigers and other wildlife, with national capacity building and effective site-based conservation through constructive collaborations with governmental and non-governmental partners.

Uncompromisingly committed to wildlife conservation, WCS – India Program inspires and nurtures positive attitude towards nature in people through its scientific and conservation endeavors.

 

World Resources Institute

Established When and by Whom:  It was established in 1982 with funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation under the leadership of James Gustave Speth

Headquarter: USA

Objective: To move human society to live in ways that protect earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

Key Functions: WRI’s activities are focused on six areas: climate; energy; food; forests; water; and sustainable cities.

India specific trivia: WRI established its India office in 2011. It  works with leaders in business, government, and civil society to expand clean energy development, combat climate change, and develop sustainable transport solutions.

 

World Wide Fund for Nature

Established When: It was founded in 1969.

Headquarter: Switzerland

Objective: Its mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the diversity of life on Earth.

Key Functions:

• It is the world’s largest conservation organization with over five million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries, supporting around 1,300.
• The living planet report is published every two years by WWF since 1998, it is based on living planet index and ecological footprint calculation.
• Currently, much of its work concentrates on the conservation of three biomes that contain most of the world’s biodiversity: oceans and coasts, forests, and freshwater ecosystems.
• Among other issues, it is also concerned with endangered species, sustainable production of commodities and climate change.

Funding:  WWF is a foundation, with 55% of funding from individuals and bequests, 19% from government sources (such as the World Bank, DFID, USAID) and 8% from corporations in 2014.

India specific trivia: Established as a Charitable Trust on 27 November, 1969, WWF-India set out with the aim of reducing the degradation of Earth’s natural environment and building a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

In 1987, the organization changed it’s name from the World Wildlife Fund to World Wide Fund for Nature-India. With close to five decades of extensive work in the sector, WWF-India today is one of the leading conservation organizations in the country.

 

Bioversity International

Established When and by Whom: Bioversity International was originally established by the CGIAR( Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) as the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources (IBPGR) in 1974.

Headquarter: Maccarese, Rome

Objective of the body: Bioversity International is a global research-for-development organization with a vision – that agricultural biodiversity nourishes people and sustains the planet.

Key Functions:

• It delivers scientific evidence, management practices and policy options to use and safeguard agricultural and tree biodiversity to attain sustainable global food and nutrition security.
• It works with partners in low-income countries in different regions where agricultural and tree biodiversity can contribute to improved nutrition, resilience, productivity and climate change adaptation.

India specific trivia: The international status of Bioversity International is conferred under an Establishment Agreement and it is also signed by India.

 

BirdLife International

Established When and by Whom:  BirdLife International was founded as in 1922 the International Council for Bird Preservation by American ornithologists T. Gilbert Pearson and Jean Theodore Delacour under the name International Committee for Bird Protection.

The group was renamed International Committee for Bird Preservation in 1928, International Council for Bird Preservation in 1960, and BirdLife International in 1994.

Headquarter: Cambridge, United Kingdom

Objective of the body: It promotes the conservation of birds and their habitats.

Key Functions:

• It is a global partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources
• BirdLife International’s priorities include preventing extinction of bird species, identifying and safeguarding important sites for birds, maintaining and restoring key bird habitats, and empowering conservationists worldwide

India specific trivia: Last year, the BirdLife International has recorded that 11 water bird species of Kerala come under the IUCN Red list threatened categories with the black bellied tern being one of the ‘Endangered’ waterbird species in Kerala.

 

Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL)

Established When and by Whom: It is operating since 2007. And founded by Marshall Saunders.

Headquarter: USA

Objective of the body: The goal of CCL is to build political support across party lines to put a price on carbon, specifically a revenue neutral carbon fee and dividend (CF&D) at the national level.

Key Functions: It trains and supports volunteers to build relationships with their elected representatives in order to influence climate policy. 

India specific trivia: CCL also have an active group in India.

 

Climate Action Network

Headquarter: Beirut, Lebanon

Objective:  Working to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels.

Key Functions:

• CAN members work to achieve their objective through information exchange and the coordinated development of NGO strategy on international, regional, and national climate issues.
• CAN has regional network hubs that coordinate these efforts around the world.
• It is most active at meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), where it publishes a daily newsletter “ECO”, (presenting the views of the Environmental NGO community)

India specific trivia:

Under the CAN

• The Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) is a network of young people in 18 states who are concerned about climate change & environment issues.
• Started in 2008, IYCN was registered as a society in 2009 with representation from 8 states of India and today IYCN has 19 chapters in different states and offices in 7 locations with outreach to thousands of youth in colleges, schools, corporations and institutions in India.
• The purpose of IYCN is to bring the voice of Indian youth on the global platform as South Asia is one of the most vulnerable regions affected by potentially catastrophic climate change & environment issues.
• IYCN provides technical, financial and administrative support to increase youth participation in protection of the environment of India as well as establish consensus on what role India should play in the global debate of climate change.

 

Conservation International

Established When and by Whom: Founded by Spencer Beebe and Peter Seligmann in 1987

Headquarter: USA

Objective of the body: Its goal is to protect nature as a source of food, fresh water, livelihoods and a stable climate.

Key Functions:

• CI’s work focuses on science, policy, and partnership with businesses and communities
• The foundation of CI’s work is “science, partnership and field demonstration.”
• The organization has scientists, policy workers and other conservationists on the ground in more than 30 countries. It also relies heavily on thousands of local partners.
• CI aims to make the protection of nature a key consideration in economic development decisions around the world
• The organization has been active in United Nations discussions on issues such as climate change and biodiversity, and its scientists present at international conferences and workshops.

 

Earth Charter Initiative

Established When: In 2000

Headquarter: USA

Objective of the body: The stated mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is to promote the transition to sustainable ways of living and a global society founded on a shared ethical framework that includes respect and care for the community of life, ecological integrity, universal human rights, respect for diversity, economic justice, democracy, and a culture of peace.

Key Functions:

• To promote development of a global network of Earth Charter supporters and activists with the collaboration of advisors, affiliates, partner organizations, and task forces.
• To create and disseminate high quality communications and educational materials to different target groups that will reach millions of people.
• To translate key Earth Charter materials in all major languages of the world.
• To set up Earth Charter websites in all countries in partnership with key individuals and organizations.
• To promote the Earth Charter vision in key local, national and international events and engage individuals and organizations in applying it in their areas of activity.
• To position the Earth Charter in relation to important international initiatives and processes so that its ethical framework can be used as a guide in efforts to address urgent challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, the Millennium Development Goals, food security, and conflict resolution.
• To undertake training programmes to facilitate the uptake and application of the Earth Charter in different sectors.
• To develop the guidance and instruments to help organizations, businesses, and local communities use the Earth Charter to assess progress toward sustainable development.

 

Earth Day Network  

Headquarter: USA

Objective of the body: Earth Day Network’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.

Key Functions:

• Earth Day events in more than 193 countries are now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network
• EDN works to broaden the definition of “environment” to include issues that affect our health and our communities, such as greening deteriorated schools, creating green jobs and investment, and promoting activism to stop air and water pollution.

India specific trivia: Earth Day Network has made significant inroads across India and now has a permanent Indian Program – EDN India – located in Kolkata.

 

Environmental Defense Fund

Established When and by Whom:  The organization’s founders, includes Art Cooley, George Woodwell, Charles Wurster, Dennis Puleston, Victor Yannacone and Robert Smolker. It was founded in 1967.

Headquarter: USA

Objective:  EDF aims to reduce the pollution and slow global warming, with strategies including overhauling U.S. energy systems, protecting the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s limits on pollution, training new climate/energy leaders, and slowing deforestation in Brazil and the Amazon rainforest.

Key Functions:

• It is basically nonprofit environmental advocacy group.
• The group is known for its work on issues including global warming, ecosystem restoration, oceans, and human health, and advocates using sound science, economics and law to find environmental solutions that work.
• It is nonpartisan, and its work often advocates market-based solutions to environmental problems.

 

Fauna and Flora International

Established When and by Whom: FFI was founded in 1903 as the Society for the Preservation of the Wild Fauna of the Empire by a group of British naturalists and American statesmen in Africa.

It later became the Fauna Preservation Society, before being renamed Fauna and Flora Preservation Society in 1981.

Headquarter: Cambridge, UK

Objective of the body: Conservation charity

Key Functions:

FFI has a seven-step approach to conserving biodiversity:

• Building local capacity for conservation
• Integrating biodiversity and human needs
• Direct protection of species and habitats
• Securing land for conservation
• Emergency response to conservation needs
• Influencing policy and the practice of conservation
• Bridging the gap between business and biodiversity

In line with its seven-step approach to conservation, Fauna & Flora International has endorsed the Forests Now Declaration, which calls for new market based mechanisms to protect tropical forests.

India specific trivia: Last year, Fauna & Flora International (FFI), has contributed to the discovery of a previously undescribed species of evergreen tree in one of India’s most iconic natural landscapes.

 

Regional Organizations

European Environment Agency (EEA)

Established When and by Whom:  The EEA was established by the European Economic Community (EEC) became operational in 1994

Headquarter: It is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Objective of the body: The EEA’s mandate is:

• To help the Community and member and cooperating countries make informed decisions about improving the environment, integrating environmental considerations into economic policies and moving towards sustainability
• To coordinate the European environment information and observation network

Key Functions:

• The European environment information and observation network (Eionet) is a partnership network of the EEA and the countries.
• The EEA is responsible for developing the network and coordinating its activities.
• To do so, the EEA works closely together with national focal points, typically national environment agencies or environment ministries.
• They are responsible for coordinating national networks involving many institutions (about 350 in all).

India specific trivia: No official relationship

Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA)

Established When and by Whom:  It is a regional partnership programme implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and executed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The project, started in 1994, was originally known as Prevention and Management of Marine Pollution in the East Asian Seas (SDS-SEA).

Headquarter: Quezon City, Philippines

Objective of the body: Marine and Coastal Areas Environmental Management

Key Functions:

• It aims to proactively build effective intergovernmental and intersectoral partnerships and expand the capacities of countries and other stakeholders with innovative, cross-cutting policies, tools and services for integrated coastal and ocean management.
• PEMSEA applies integrated coastal management (ICM) as our primary approach for generating and sustaining healthy oceans, people and economies.

Funding:  UN

 

NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES IN INDIA

        NATIONAL PARKS                                                           STATES

Papikonda National Park	—	Andhra Pradesh
Rajiv Gandhi National Park	—	Andhra Pradesh
Lanjamadugu Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Andhra Pradesh
Namdapha National Park	—	Arunachal Pradesh
Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Arunachal Pradesh
Manas National Park (UNESCO)	—	Assam
Nameri National Park	—	Assam
Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park	—	Assam
Kaziranga National Park (UNESCO)	—	Assam
Dibru Sai Khowa National Park	—	Assam
Gautam Budha Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Bihar
Valmild National Park	—	Bihar
Rajgir Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Bihar
Indravati National Park	—	Chhattisgarh
Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Chhattisgarh
Kanger Valley National Park	—	Chhattisgarh
Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Chhattisgarh
Guru Ghasi Das (Sanjay) National Park	—	Chhattisgarh
Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Chhattisgarh
Bhagwan Mahavir National Park	—	Goa
Vansda National Park	—	Gujarat
Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Gujarat
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary	—	Gujarat
Marine National Park (First Marine National Park)	—	Gujarat
Black Buck National Park	—	Gujarat
Gir Forest National Park	—	Gujarat
Kalesar National Park	—	Haryana
Sultanpur National Park	—	Haryana
Lippa Asrang Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Himachal Pradesh
Tundah Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Himachal Pradesh
Inderkilla National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Great Himalayan National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Pin Valley National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Khirganga National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Simbalbara National Park	—	Himachal Pradesh
Sechu Tuan Nala Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Himachal Pradesh
Salim All National Park	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Kishtwar National Park	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Hemis National Park (Largest in Area)	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Changtang Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Dachigam National Park	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Kara Koram Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jammu & Kashmir
Betla National Park	—	Jharkhand
Hazaribagh National Park	—	Jharkhand
Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Jharkhand
Nagarhole National Park	—	Karnataka
Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Karnataka
Kudremukh National Park	—	Karnataka
Bannerghatta National Park	—	Karnataka
Bandipur National Park	—	Karnataka
Arabithittu Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Karnataka
Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Karnataka
Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Karnataka
Chinnar Wild Life Sanctuary	—	Kerala
Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Kerala
Periyar National Park	—	Kerala
Silent Valley National Park	—	Kerala
Eravikulam National Park	—	Kerala
Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Kerala
Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Kerala
Anamudi Shola National Park	—	Kerala
Pampadum Shola National Park	—	Kerala
Pench National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Bandhavgarh National Park (Highest Numbers of Tigers)	—	Madhya Pradesh
Kanha National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Madhav National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Panna National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Satpura National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Van Vihar National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary	—	Madhya Pradesh
National Chambal Sanctuary	—	Madhya Pradesh
Mandla Plant Fossils National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Pachmari Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Madhya Pradesh
Phen Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Madhya Pradesh
Ratapani Tiger Reserve	—	Madhya Pradesh
Sanjay National Park	—	Madhya Pradesh
Chandoli National Park	—	Maharashtra
Gugamal National Park	—	Maharashtra
Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) National Park	—	Maharashtra
Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Maharashtra
Navegaon National Park	—	Maharashtra
Tadoba National Park	—	Maharashtra
Dhakna Kolkaz Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Maharashtra
Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Maharashtra
Wain Ganga Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Maharashtra
Keibul Lamjao National Park	—	Manipur
Yagoupokpi Lokchao Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Manipur
Nokrek National Park	—	Meghalaya
Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Meghalaya
Balphakram National Park	—	Meghalaya
Khawnglung Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Mizoram
Murlen National Park	—	Mizoram
Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Mizoram
Phawngpui Blue Mountain National Park	—	Mizoram
Pulebarze Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Nagaland
Intanki National Park	—	Nagaland
Simplipal National Park	—	Orissa
Chilka Wild Life Sanctuary	—	Orissa
Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Orissa
Bhitarkanika National Park	—	Orissa
Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Orissa
Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Orissa
Ranthambore National Park	—	Rajasthan
Sariska National Park	—	Rajasthan
First National Park in the world, which was successfully adapted by Royal Bengal Tiger]
Darrah National Park	—	Rajasthan
Desert National Park	—	Rajasthan
Keoladeo National Park (UNESCO)	—	Rajasthan
Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Rajasthan
Jawaharsagar Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Rajasthan
Phulwari Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Rajasthan
Keladevi Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Rajasthan
Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Sikkim
Khangchendzonga National Park	—	Sikkim
Kyongnosla Alpine Sanctuary	—	Sikkim
Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Sikkim
Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary	—	Sikkim
Mukurthi National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Shenbagathoppu Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Tamilnadu
Satyamanglam wild Life Sanctuary	—	Tamilnadu
Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Guindy National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Mudumalai National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Vettangundi Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Tamilnadu
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park	—	Tamilnadu
Mrugavani National Park	—	Telangana
Sipahijola Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Tripura
Bisan (Rajbari) National Park	—	Tripura
Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Tripura
Clouded Leopard National Park	—	Tripura
Chandra Prabha Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Uttar Pradesh
Dudhwa National Park	—	Uttar Pradesh
Ranipur Sanctuary	—	Uttar Pradesh
Rajaji National Park	—	Uttarakhand
Gangotri National ParkGangotri National PaA	—	Uttarakhand
Nanda Devi National Park (UNESCO)	—	Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett National Park (Oldest Park)	—	Uttarakhand
Valley of Flowers National Park (UNESCO)	—	Uttarakhand
Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary	—	Uttarakhand
Govind Pashu Vihar	—	Uttarakhand
Kedamath Wildlife Sanctuary	—	Uttarakhand
Sundarbans National Park	—	West Bengal
Gorumara National Park	—	West Bengal
Buxa National Park	—	West Bengal
Jaldapara National Park	—	West Bengal
Neora Valley National Park	— .	West Bengal
Singalila National Park	—	West Bengal
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Rani Jhansi Marine National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Saddle Peak National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Middle Button Island National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
South Button Island National Park	—	Andaman &Nicobar Islands
Mount Harriet National Park	—	Andaman &Nicobar Islands
North Button Island National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Campbell Bay National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Galathea National Park	—	Andaman & Nicobar Islands

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

Background

• Founded by Alexander Cunningham, who is also revered as the “Father of Indian Archaeology”
  • He was the protege of James Prinsep <who was he, post in comments>
  • It was Lord Canning who helped pass a statute for ASI’s establishment in 1861
• Post Independence, it’s a Statutory body that now works under Ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains act (AMASR Act), 1958
• It works as an attached Office of the Ministry of Culture
• ASI has 3678 protected monuments and Archaeology sites of National Importance + 29 cultural under the World Heritage List by UNESCO

Initiatives by ASI

1. Museums

ASI’s museums are customarily located right next to the sites that their inventories are associated with “so that they may be studied amid their natural surroundings and not lose focus by being transported”.

A dedicated Museums Branch maintains a total of 44 museums spread across the country.

2. Publications by ASI

• Epigraphia Indica
• Ancient India
• Indian Archaeology: A Review (Annually)

3. Library

• Central Archaeological Library in the National Archives building in Janpath, New Delhi

2.

Background

• INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) was founded in 1984, is an autonomous NGO for preservation of Indian Art and Cultural Heritage
• Its motto is “Dedicated to Conservation“

Tasks undertaken by INTACH

• Restoration of monuments that fall outside the coverage of Archaeological Survey of India and other government agencies <Remember that ASI hasn’t shown much interest towards working with INTACH>
• Advocacy for heritage property conservation
• Public awareness through heritage walks and buses <Just like Bombay Natural History Society does, its a common feature of these type of NGOs>
• Establishment of heritage clubs in schools
• Holding of awareness workshop for teachers of schools and colleges

Some notable works done by INTACH

1. It had developed Raghurajpur, Orissa, a place famous for its ‘Pattachitra’ artists and ‘Gotipua’ dance troupes as a heritage village, which has now become a major rural tourist destination
   • Pattachitra is a cloth-based scroll painting of Odisha. Patta = Cloth and Chitra = Picture. Most of these paintings depict stories of Hindu deities of Jagannath and Vaishnava Sect. It has also been given a GI tag. To know more about GI tags, click here to read.
   • Gotipua is a traditional dance form of Odisha, and the precursor of Odissi. Its name comes from Gopi (Single boys), who dress as women to praise Jagannath and Krishna. The dance is executed by a group of boys who perform acrobatic figures inspired by the life of Radha and Krishna.
2. It later used the same pattern to develop Padmanabhpur village, Ganjam district, Orissa, famous for its weavers and folk dancers, into another heritage destination.

3.Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi

• Its an Autonomous organization fully financed by the Government
• Also referred to as India’s National Academy of Letters
• Entrusted with promotion of Literature (“Sahitya” means Literature in Hindi) through following mechanisms:

1. Literary dialogue, publication and promotion
2. Undertakes literary activities in Twenty-four Indian languages
   • Trap Info: Note that it goes beyond 22 languages of the 8th Schedule to include English + Rajasthani
3. Development of Indian literature

Awards and Fellowships

• Sahitya akademi award (Plaque and Cash of 1 lac)
  • Poetry, Novel, Essay, Autobiography, Literary Criticism in 24 languages
• Bhasha samman
  • Awards to writers for significant contribution to Indian languages other than the above 24 major ones
  • Contribution to classical & medieval literature
  • Given to writers, scholars, editors, collectors, performers or translators
• Premchand fellowships (started in 2005)
  • Given to persons of eminence in the Field of Culture from SAARC countries <thus its scope extends to beyond (i) India and (ii) Literature>
• Coomarswamy fellowships
  • Given to scholars from Asian countries <not just SAARC> to spend 3 to 12 months in India to pursue a literary project
• Sahitya Akademi fellowship
  • Given to the “immortals of literature“
  • Limited to 21 people at a time
  • First recipient was 2nd president of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
  • Other notable ones: Khushwant Singh, VS Naipaul

4.Sangeet Natak Akademi  (1953)

Mandate/Objectives:

• Another Autonomous Institution under Ministry of Culture
• Promotion of performing arts– Indian music, dance and drama
• Maintains a Gallery of Musical Instruments
• Maintenance of standards of training in the performing arts
• Teaching institutions
  • Kathak Kendra, Delhi (Classical Dance from Uttar Pradesh)
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Akademi in Imphal
  • Sattriya Centre (Classical Dance from Assam)
  • Centre for Kutiyattam (Age-old Sanskrit theatre of Kerala; Also an Indian Intangible Cultural Heritage as per UNESCO)
  • Chhau Centre (Tribal martial dance in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal)

Awards:

1. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award:
   • Highest national recognition conferred on eminent artistes.
2. Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Ratna Sadsya
   • To distinguished individuals for their contribution to the field of arts, music, dance and theatre.
3. Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puruskar:
   • Given to young artists for their talent in the fields of music, dance and drama
   • Notable info about Ustad Bismillah Khan:
     • Known for popularizing the shehnai, a subcontinental wind instrument of the oboe class
     • Awarded India’s highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, becoming the Third classical musician after M. S. Subbulakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be accorded this distinction.

5.INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS (ICCR)

• ICCR is analogous to the British Council, France’s Alliance Francaise, Germany’s Goethe-Institut and China’s Confucius Institute
• Founded in 1950 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, independent India’s first Education Minister
  • Maulana also helped establish other institutions that we’ve covered previously in this series such as Sahitya Akademi, and Sangeet Natak Akademi. He also founded Lalit Kala Akademi <promotes Visual Arts- Folk and Contemporary>
• Soft power vision, ‘to promote a communion of cultures and a creative dialogue among nations.’
• Its broad mandate is to develop relations with:
  • Other countries and peoples (Cultural agreements with 72 countries)
  • National and inter-national organisations in the field of culture

General assembly

• Consists of representatives each of the Lalit Kala Akademi, Sahitya Akademi and Sangeet Natak Akademi
• Eminent artistes from the fields of performing, fine and plastic arts
• Representatives of universities or of institutions
• President shall be appointed by the President of India and shall hold office for three years

Dear students,

We understand that the UPSC exam is a generalist exam. It’s more important to cover more issues than to cover one issue in more depth. Hence, through Samachar Manthan, we are trying to maintain a fine balance of covering many important news items and having a detailed discussion on selected topics which require the same. On daily basis a news gets repeated multiple times. Scattered knowledge is not adequately useful when you have to write a 200 words answer within 6-7 minutes. To handle this, Samachar manthan covers such issues in a comprehensive and consolidated manner which is the smart strategy.

Benefits of Samachar Manthan

• Packed 3 – 3.5 hours Weekly videos will focus on news and its importance from both prelims and mains perspective.
• This program will also help you understand how to utilize current affairs in all your prelims and mains papers.
• This ideology makes this course the best utilization of your time.
• Detailed coverage would mean analysis from all the angles like background or history, features, significance, challenges and way forward. Also, multiple sources like epw, diplomat magazine etc will be referred to in the video lectures.
• Such an approach will help in writing multidimensional answers.
• Also which part of the topic is important from mains and prelims perspective will also be discussed.
• Audio Visual Learning is more impactful than simply glancing through the material. So that you are able to retain information for long also interlink with any new information you get.
• 4 stage structure of Video->Notes->testing->review to perfect your preparation
• The sequence of video->Notes->testing->review is the best way to ensure maximum retention and a rock solid preparation. Each component of the program has been meticulously crafted.

For example this week, we will be covering the following issues;

Economics
[pib] Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF)
[op-ed snap] Beyond the free trade idealism
RBI divests entire stake in NHB, NABARD
Supreme Court directs RBI to alter disclosure policy

Enviro & Biodiversity
Green issues in J&K
Global Deal for Nature (GDN)
Emperor Penguin colony in Antarctica vanishes
Wild Food Plants

Governance
Sexual Assault Evidence Collection Kits
Kumbh brought Allahabad to verge of an epidemic, says NGT
World’s first Malaria Vaccine: RTS,S (Mosquirix)
WHO guidelines on physical activity for children under 5 years of age
Dentists can practise as General Physicians after bridge course
Khasi ‘kingdoms’ to revisit 1947 agreements
Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2019

International Relations
U.S. ends waiver for India on Iran oil
One belt one road initiative
Terror attack in Srilanka
[op-ed snap] A natural next step
[op-ed snap] India’s perilous obsession with Pakistan

Polity
Right to travel abroad is a basic human right: SC
Explained: What happens when judges face allegations?
[op-ed snap] In defence of hung House
[op-ed snap] Just recompense
[op-ed snap] CJI Sexual Harassment Case: How Fragile Is Judicial Independence?

Science Tech
Bacteriophages in Ganga Water
Soon, heritage by-laws for Purana Qila, Khair-ul-Manazil
Scientists create speech from brain signals

And these issues will be covered in detail

• Iran oil Crisis
• Judiciary Transparency and independence issues
• India Pakistan Trade across LoC
• Terror Attack on Sri Lanka
• Ganga Water
• India’s issues with Belt road Initiative
• Indsutrial Policy changes to boost growth

So to be thorough in your preparation and to have an integrated approach, join Samachar Manthan here.

 

WORLD BANK  GROUP

• The World Bank Group (WBG) is a family of five international organizations that make leveraged loans to developing countries. It is the largest and most famous development bank in the world and is an observer at the United Nations Development Group. Its five organizations are the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), the International Development Association (IDA), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID).
  

  The World Bank

• The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), better known as the World Bank, was established at the same time as the International Monetary Fund to tackle the problem of international investment.
• The World Bank (IBRD) is an inter-governmental institution, corporate in form, whose capital stock is entirely owned by its member-governments. Initially, only nations that were members of the IMF could be members of the World Bank; this restriction on membership was subsequently relaxed.

International Development Association

• The International Development Association (IDA) is the part of the World Bank group that helps the world’s poorest countries. Overseen by 173 shareholder nations, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing loans (called “credits”) and grants for programs that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve people’s living conditions.
• IDA complements the World Bank’s original lending arm—the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). IBRD was established to function as a self-sustaining business and provides loans and advice to middle-income and credit-worthy poor countries. IBRD and IDA share the same staff and headquarters and evaluate projects with the same rigorous standards.
• IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 771 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa, and is the single largest source of donor funds for basic social services in these countries.
• IDA lends money on concessional terms. This means that IDA credits have a zero or very low interest charge and repayments are stretched over 25 to 40 years, including a 5- to 10-year grace period. IDA also provides grants to countries at risk of debt distress.
• In addition to concessional loans and grants, IDA provides significant levels of debt relief through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and the Multilateral Debt Relief initiative (MDRI).

 

IFC

• The IFC was established in 1956 to support the growth of the private sector in the developing world.
• While the World Bank (IBRD and IDA) provides credit and non-lending assistance to governments, the IFC provides loans and equity financing, advice, and technical services to the private sector.

 

 The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

• It is an international financial institution which offers political risk insurance and credit enhancement guarantees. Such guarantees help investors protect foreign direct investments against political and non-commercial risks in developing countries. MIGA is a member of the World Bank Group and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States.
• MIGA is owned and governed by its member states, but has its own executive leadership and staff which carry out its daily operations. Its shareholders are member governments which provide paid-in capital and have the right to vote on its matters.

 

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

You must remember that the name World Bank does not refers to a bank in conventional sense (this is because it performs development function). And International Monetary Fund or IMF performs the lending function(which we associate with banks).

Structure and Size of IMF:

The International Monetary Fund:

• 188 countries member.
• Headquarters:  Washington, D.C.
• It has 2,300 staff members.

Functions of IMF

The International Monetary Fund functions :

• The IMF is basically a lending institution which gives advances to members in need.
• It is the mentor of its members’ monetary and exchange rate policies.
• To maintain the stability in Exchange rate system around the World.

 Operations of IMF and World Bank :

source

 

 

ADB

Asian Development Bank (ADB) was set up to fight poverty in Asia and the Pacific. ADB is a multilateral development finance institution dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific.  Established in 1966, ADB is now owned by 63 members, mostly from the region.  The headquarters is in Manila with 24 other offices around the world.

AIIB & NDB

• The New Development Bank (NDB) is established by The BRICS states (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). According to the Agreement on the NDB, “the Bank shall support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments.” Moreover, the NDB “shall cooperate with international organizations and other financial entities, and provide technical assistance for projects to be supported by the Bank
• The bank is headquartered in Shanghai, China. The first regional office of the NDB will be opened in Johannesburg, South Africa

 

AIIB

Why Has India joined the AIIB?

There are many reasons for it:

1. India is preparing start a large number of infrastructure projects, but they’re short of money, so they need help from China. Of course they can get money from ADB or WB, but they also need to find a balance between China and USA.
2. It’s a great chance to develop economy links between India and China. These two countries both has huge market, and they also keep a rapid growth of economy.
3. Though AIIB is a Chinese-lead financial institution, India is welcomed to play a important role in it. It’s the reason why the UK, Germany and France all want to be a member of AIIB.

WTO

Introduction

World Trade Organization, as an institution was established in 1995. It replaced General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs (GATT) which was in place since 1946.

 

UNO

The United Nations is an international organization founded in 1945 after the Second World War by 51 countries committed to maintaining international peace and security, developing friendly relations among nations and promoting social progress, better living standards and human rights.

The United Nations was the second multipurpose international organization established in the 20th century that was worldwide in scope and membership. Its predecessor, the League of Nations, was created by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and disbanded in 1946.

 

UN TIMELINE:

Organisation Structure of UN : 

 

General Assembly: 

• The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations.
• It is Comprise of all 193 Members of the United Nations.
• It provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter.

 Security Council: 

• IT has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.
• It has 15 Members, consisting of 5 permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and 10 non-permanent members.
• Non Permanent seats are held for two-year terms, with member states voted in by the General Assembly on a regional basis
• Five permanent members hold veto power over UN resolutions, allowing a permanent member to block adoption of a resolution, though not debate.
• The presidency of the Security Council rotates alphabetically each month

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) :

• It is the principal organ to coordinate the economic, social and related work of the United Nations and the specialized agencies and institutions.
• Voting in the Council is by simple majority; each member has one vote.
• The president is elected for a one-year term and chosen amongst the small or middle powers represented on ECOSOC.
• ECOSOC has 54 members, which are elected by the General Assembly for a three-year term.
• Seats on the Council are allotted based on geographical representation with fourteen allocated to African States, eleven to Asian States, six to Eastern European States, ten to Latin American and Caribbean States, and thirteen to Western European and other States.
• The work of specialised agencies and programmes of UN like WHO, FAO, UNESCO etc. is coordinated by ECOSOC.

Trusteeship Council :

• It was established in 1945 by the UN Charter to provide international supervision for 11 Trust Territories placed under the administration of 7 Member States, and ensure that adequate steps were taken to prepare the Territories for self-government and independence.
• By 1994, all Trust Territories had attained self-government or independence. Its work completed, the Council has amended its rules of procedure to meet as and where occasion may require.

The International Court of Justice:

• It is the UN’s main judicial organ.
• It is located at the Hague in the Netherlands
• It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions to the UN and its specialized agencies.  Its Statute is an integral part of the United Nations Charter.
• ICJ has 15 judges, who serve 9-year terms; each from a different nation, elected by the General Assembly and Security Council.
• The Court settles legal disputes between nations only and not between individuals, in accordance with international law. If a country does not wish to take part in a proceeding it does not have to do so, unless required by special treaty provisions. Once a country accepts the Court’s jurisdiction, it must comply with its decision.
• The Court can only hear a dispute when requested to do so by one or more States.  It cannot deal with a dispute of its own motion.
• Difference between  the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and  the International Criminal Court (ICC)

1.  The International Court of Justice has no jurisdiction to try individuals accused of war crimes or crimes against humanity.  As it is not a criminal court, it does not have a prosecutor able to initiate proceedings.
2.  International Criminal Court set up under the Rome Statute. It  was established as an independent international organization in 2002 and is not governed by the UN.
3.  All UN member states are automatically members of the ICJ; Nations must individually become members of the ICC.
4. The ICJ settles disputes between member states, with their consent, on issues of sovereignty, trade, natural resources, treaty violations, treaty interpretation, and etc.
5.  The ICC tries individual people for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and crimes of aggression, according to the Rome Statute.
6. The ICJ issues both binding judgments and advisory opinions. Its judgments may then be enforced by the Security Council if the state fails to comply. The ICC, on the other hand, hands down criminal prosecutions or acquittals.

 Secretariat:

• It carries out the day-to-day work of the Organization.
• It services the other principal organs and carries out tasks as varied as the issues dealt with by the UN: administering peacekeeping operations, surveying economic and social trends, preparing studies on human rights, among others.