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GS Paper: GS3-18.Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

  • What is Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

    pacific

    Central idea: The article reports on a recent study which found evidence that coastal life forms have colonized plastic items in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a vast area in the North Pacific Ocean where plastic waste has accumulated due to ocean currents.

    What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP)?

    Features
    Location North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG), north of the equator in the Pacific Ocean
    Currents Kuroshio, North Pacific, California, and North Equatorial currents, moving in a clockwise direction
    Sources Any trash that enters one of these currents from any of the 51 Pacific Rim countries
    Size Estimated to be 1.6 million sq. km
    Age More than 50 years old
    Plastic Content Estimated to contain 45,000-129,000 metric tonnes of plastic, predominantly in the form of microplastics
    Visible Objects Heavier, more visible objects that haven’t yet broken down into smaller particles accounted for 92% in 2018

     

    Findings of the new study

    • Researchers from Canada, the Netherlands, and the U.S. have reported that coastal life forms have colonized plastic items in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
    • From November 2018 to January 2019, they collected 105 pieces of plastic debris, the most heavily plastic-polluted ocean gyre on the globe.
    • Based on studying them, they reported that 98% of the debris items had invertebrate organisms.

    Plastic inflicting into a coastal organism

    • Organisms found on coasts were getting by on small floating islands of garbage out in the Pacific Ocean, which the researchers named the neopelagic community.
    • They found organisms belonging to 46 taxa, and 37 of them were coastal; the rest were pelagic. Among both coastal and pelagic organisms, crustaceans were the most common.
    • Nearly all taxa were of Northwest Pacific origin, including Japan.
    • Eight of the remainder were from East Asia and five specifically from Japan. Four items were from North America.
    • They found that 68% of the coastal taxa and 33% of the pelagic taxa reproduced asexually and that there was evidence of sexual reproduction among the hydroids and the crustaceans, among others.

    Implications of the findings

    • Marine plastic pollution has given rise to a new kind of standing coastal community in the open ocean.
    • The neopelagic community is not misplaced but lives on plastic items in the garbage patch, including reproducing there.
    • The finding recalls other studies that show the chemical bonding of plastic with rocks, sedimentary rocks embedded with plastic earrings in Brazil, and the formation of plastiglomerates in Hawaii.

     

    What is neopelagic community?

    • The neopelagic community refers to the group of organisms that inhabit the open ocean or the pelagic zone beyond the continental shelf.
    • It is characterized by deep waters with very few physical structures or substrate for organisms to attach to.
    • This community includes a wide variety of organisms, including zooplankton, fish, squid, and marine mammals, among others.
    • These organisms have adapted to survive in the open ocean environment, which can be quite challenging due to factors such as temperature fluctuations, limited food availability, and the absence of physical structures for shelter.
    • The neopelagic community is an important part of the global marine ecosystem, playing a key role in nutrient cycling and energy transfer between different levels of the food chain.

     

    GPGP and its impact on marine life

    • The GPGP has significant impacts on marine life due to the ingestion of plastic by marine animals, which can cause harm and even death.
    • Plastic can also entangle and suffocate marine animals, leading to the disruption of ecosystems.
    • The new study sheds light on the neopelagic community, which has adapted to living on plastic in the garbage patch.

    Plastic pollution and its environmental impact

    • Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue that affects land and water ecosystems worldwide.
    • Plastic waste can take hundreds of years to decompose, and even then, it breaks down into microplastics that can persist in the environment indefinitely.
    • The presence of plastic in the environment has negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem function, and human health.

    Conclusion

    • There are various solutions to plastic pollution, including reducing the use of single-use plastics, recycling, and promoting alternative materials.
    • Governments and industries can also take steps to reduce plastic waste, such as implementing policies and regulations that reduce plastic use and increase recycling.
    • Individual actions, such as reducing personal plastic consumption and properly disposing of plastic waste, can also make a difference.

     

  • India’s first Mangrove Pitta Birds Census conducted in Odisha

    pitta

    Central idea: The article talks about the first-ever census of mangrove pitta birds conducted in two coastal districts of Odisha, India.

    About Mangrove Pitta

    • The mangrove pitta (Pitta megarhyncha) belongs to the family of pittas, the Pittidae.
    • The mangrove pitta species is distributed in India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
    • These pitta species have fragmented distribution and considered ‘Near Threatened’ by IUCN. These pittas are monotypic species.

    Focus of the Census

    • In this census, a total of 179 individual mangrove pitta birds were counted.
    • The census mainly focused on the mangrove patches along the coasts of Kendrapara and Jagatsingpur districts.
    • Information was collected on the distribution, habitat, and breeding of mangrove pittas along the coastal mangroves.
    • The census was carried out by point count method, either by walking in the forest or using country boats in the creeks.

     

  • TEMPO: NASA device to Monitor Air Pollution from Space

    tempo

    SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched carrying a new NASA device named Tropospheric Emissions Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) designed to monitor air pollutants and their emission sources across North America from space more comprehensively than ever before.

    What is TEMPO?

    • TEMPO is an instrument developed by NASA, which will enable scientists to monitor air pollutants and their emission sources from space, down to the neighbourhood level.
    • This instrument will measure pollution and air quality across greater North America on an hourly basis during the daytime.

    TEMPO’s special features

    • TEMPO is unique because it will be hosted on an Intelsat communications satellite in geostationary orbit, about 22,236 miles (35,786 km) above the equator.
    • This will allow the instrument to match the rotation of the Earth, meaning it will stay over the same location (North America) at all times.
    • It will be able to measure atmospheric pollution down to a spatial resolution of 4 square miles (10 square km), or neighbourhood level.

    Applications of TEMPO

    • TEMPO will have multiple applications from measuring levels of various pollutants to providing air quality forecasts and helping the development of emission-control strategies.
    • The data will be used by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other agencies responsible for tackling atmospheric pollution.

    Importance of the mission

    • According to the American Lung Association, more than 40% of the US population, 137 million people, live in places with unhealthy levels of particle pollution or ozone, and air pollution is blamed for some 60,000 premature deaths a year.
    • TEMPO will track pollutants like nitrogen dioxide, produced from the combustion of fossil fuels, formaldehyde, and ozone.

  • Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023

    aqua

    The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced in the Lok Sabha.

    What is Aquaculture?

    • Aquaculture essentially means, breeding, raising, and harvesting fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants.
    • In a nutshell, it’s farming in water.
    • Saline water along the coast has been found to be suitable for practising aquaculture which produces shrimp, majorly.
    • If aquaculture is not practised on this land, it will be left idle and uncultivated as it is not suitable for the cultivation of crops.
    • Aquaculture can be practised on about 12 lakh hectares in the country along the coast, of which only 14% has been utilized so far.

    Key highlights of the amendment

    • Decriminalisation of certain offences: The Bill aims to decriminalize the offences under the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act.
    • Fine-tuning operational procedures: It seeks to promote ease of doing business and to fine-tune the operational procedures of the authority.
    • Promotion of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture: The Bill also aims to promote newer forms of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture, such as cage culture, seaweed culture, marine ornamental fish culture, and pearl oyster culture.
    • Create employment opportunities: These newer forms of coastal aquaculture have the potential to create additional employment opportunities.
    • Prevention of use of harmful substances in coastal aquaculture: The Bill also includes a provision to prevent the use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances that are harmful to human health in coastal aquaculture.

    About the Coastal Aquaculture Act

    • This Act was enacted in the year 2005 for the establishment an authority to regulate activities in this sector.
    • It is a parliamentary act that establishes the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) for the regulation and registration of coastal aquaculture farms in India.

    Overview

    • The CAA Act, of 2005 mandates the Central Government to take measures to regulate coastal aquaculture and ensure that it does not cause any harm to the coastal environment.
    • The guidelines prescribed by the government aim to promote responsible coastal aquaculture practices that protect the livelihood of various coastal communities.

    Key features

    • The CAA Act, 2005 provides for the establishment of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority to regulate the activities related to coastal aquaculture.
    • The Central Government is responsible for prescribing guidelines to regulate coastal aquaculture activities and ensure responsible practices.
    • The guidelines aim to protect the livelihood of coastal communities and prevent any harm to the coastal environment.
    • The Act also mandates the registration of coastal aquaculture farms to ensure their compliance with the guidelines.
    • The CAA is a strong force in enforcing the regulations and registration of coastal aquaculture farms in India.

    Significance

    • The Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, of 2005 is significant in promoting responsible coastal aquaculture practices and protecting the livelihood of coastal communities.
    • The act ensures that coastal aquaculture activities are regulated and registered, which helps prevent harm to the coastal environment.

  • Tribes in news: Idu Mishmis

    mishmi

    Central idea

    • The National Tiger Conservation Authority has proposed to notify Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh as a tiger reserve, causing concerns among the Idu Mishmi community.
    • The Idu Mishmi community has a unique cultural relationship with the forest, particularly with tigers.
    • This article explains who the Idu Mishmis are, their relationship with the forest, the move to propose a tiger reserve, and the community’s resistance.

    Who are the Idu Mishmis?

    • The Idu Mishmi community is a sub-tribe of the larger Mishmi group, primarily living in the Mishmi Hills bordering Tibet in Arunachal Pradesh.
    • The tribe has strong ties with the flora and fauna of the region, particularly tigers, which are considered their “elder brothers” in their mythology.
    • Despite traditional hunting practices, the tribe follows a belief system of myths and taboos that restrict them from hunting many animals, including a complete prohibition on killing tigers.
    • This belief system has led to a unique model of wildlife conservation, according to anthropologists and researchers.

    Overturning Dibang WLS into Tiger Reserve

    • Plans to declare Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve have been ongoing for a while now.
    • The sanctuary, home to rare Mishmi takin, musk deer, goral, clouded leopards, snow leopards, and tigers, was notified in 1998.
    • The Wildlife Institute of India carried out a survey in 2014 to determine the presence of tigers in the area based on photographic evidence via camera trapping.
    • The study recorded the presence of tigers in the highest reaches of the Mishmi Hills, forming the basis of the proposal to declare the sanctuary as a tiger reserve.

    Why are the Idu Mishmis resisting the move?

    • The community’s access to the Dibang forests has not been impacted as a wildlife sanctuary, but many believe a tiger reserve would increasingly restrict access.
    • The upgrade to a tiger reserve would feature stricter security measures, such as a ‘Special Tiger Protection Force,’ which would hinder the community’s access to their forest lands.
    • The community has declared part of its forest land as a ‘Community Conserved Area,’ governed entirely by local populations, where they ban hunting, felling trees, and implement other conservation measures.
    • The community alleges that the Dibang WLS was created without their consent or knowledge.

    Back2Basics: Mishmi Tribe

    Information
    Name and Location Mishmi people, an indigenous group living in the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, as well as parts of Tibet and Myanmar
    Subgroups Idu Mishmi, Digaru Mishmi, and Miju Mishmi
    Migration and Language Believed to have migrated from the Mongoloid race, their languages belong to the Tibeto-Burman family
    History Rich and complex history dating back several centuries, involved in conflicts with neighboring tribes and states, affected by British colonialism and creation of McMahon Line, played important role in Sino-Indian War
    Culture Rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge, unique customs and practices related to birth, marriage, and death, known for craftsmanship skills in weaving, woodcarving, and metalwork, rich mythology
    Religion Primarily animists, believe in spirits in nature, worship ancestors and spirits of forests and mountains, rich tradition of shamanism
    Livelihoods Primarily agriculturists, with rice as staple crop, engage in animal husbandry, fishing, beekeeping is an important source of income, hunting restricted
    Challenges Struggling to protect ancestral lands from outsiders, culture and way of life threatened by modernization and globalization, vulnerable to effects of climate change

     

     

  • UN Water Conference and Key Takeaways

    water

    Central idea

    • The UN 2023 Water Conference was held in New York from March 22-24.
    • It was the first such meeting on water in 46 years.
    • The conference aimed to identify game-changing ideas and make recommendations to policymakers on how to speed up and scale up change in the water sector.

    What is the UN Water Conference?

    • The UN Water Conference is an international conference that aims to better align activities by governments, companies, NGOs, and funders around a few grand challenges in the water sector.
    • It serves as a platform for countries to learn from the experiences of others, transfer technology, and invest.
    • The last UN Water Conference was held in 1977.
    • It resulted in the first global ‘Action Plan’ recognizing that all people have the right to access safe drinking water and sanitation.
    • This led to several decades of global funding and concerted effort to provide drinking water and sanitation for all.

    Themes of the conference

    The Conference has five themes that support the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework:

    1. Water for Health: Access to ‘WASH’ (Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene) including the Human Rights to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
    2. Water for Sustainable Development: Valuing water, the water-energy-food nexus and sustainable economic and urban development.
    3. Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to sea, biodiversity, climate, resilience and disaster risk reduction.
    4. Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and international water cooperation, cross sectoral cooperation and water across the 2030 Agenda.
    5. Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade for Action, including through the UN Secretary-General’s Action Plan.

    Purpose of the conference

    • International conferences on water aim to better align activities by governments, companies, NGOs, and funders around a few grand challenges.
    • They help countries learn from the experiences of others, transfer technology, and invest.
    • Water problems tend to be local and need local solutions, so there is a challenge of mobilizing globally to solve local water problems.

    Water challenges discussed

    water

    • While access to safe drinking water and sanitation is challenging, extending services to underserved populations is relatively uncontroversial.
    • However, improving access to water and sanitation no longer translates directly to sustained access.
    • The water problem is no longer about access to water and sanitation; the remaining SDG 6 targets address the need to sustain agriculture, industry, and natural ecosystems.

    Outcomes of the 2023 Conference

    • The conference’s proceedings resulted in a lot of talk, fragmented discussions, and no binding commitments.
    • There were 713 diverse voluntary commitments by philanthropic donors, governments, corporations, and NGOs, with 120 relevant to India.
    • Commitments included a $50-billion commitment from the Indian government to improve rural drinking water services under its Jal Jeevan Mission.

    Examples of Commitments

    • Technology: Specific innovations in wastewater treatment or solar treatment of water in remote areas, and a number of proposals for incubation platforms.
    • Data and Models: Cost-effective approaches to data-generation included sensors and satellite data. Other efforts offered data analysis tools.
    • Knowledge Sharing: One useful tool was the W12+ Blueprint, a UNESCO platform that hosts city profiles and case studies of programs, technologies, policies that addresses common water security challenges.
    • Capacity Building: Efforts offered to help marginalized communities and women understand how to exercise their rights.
    • Civil Society: Platforms for collective action by civil society groups lobbying for changes in regulations.
    • Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance: The conference concluded that effective water governance hinges on these broad areas, and weaving them into the Water Action Agenda is a step.

     

  • Fernarium at Eravikulam National Park

    fern

    Eravikulam National Park, located in Munnar, India, is known for its natural habitat of Nilgiri Tahr, and has recently introduced a new attraction – a Fernarium.

    What are Ferns?

    • Ferns are a type of vascular plant that reproduces via spores, rather than seeds.
    • They have distinctive leaves, called fronds, which are often intricately divided into smaller leaflets.
    • Ferns can grow in a wide variety of environments, from rainforests to deserts, and they play an important role in many ecosystems as a habitat for animals, as well as by providing food and shelter for a variety of other plants.

    Importance of Ferns

    • Ferns are ecological indicators of healthy forests, and the climatic conditions inside the park are suitable for growing ferns.
    • Ferns are part of the Epiphytic family and grow naturally in soilless conditions.
    • They obtain water and nutrients through leaching from trees, and a large number of ferns are found on trees inside the park.

    Fernarium @ Eravikulam

    • The Fernarium is a collection of ferns and it is the first of its kind in Munnar.
    • Currently, 52 varieties of ferns have been planted, and the plan is to cover all 104 varieties that are found in the park.
    • This initiative aims to provide visitors with awareness about the biodiversity of the park.

    Back2Basics: Eravikulam National Park

    Location Perched 7000 ft. above sea level, the Park was a former hunting preserve of British planters
    Designation Declared a Sanctuary in 1975, and a National Park in 1978
    Significance Protects the highly endangered mountain goat, Nilgiri Tahr, and is the land of the Neelakurinji flower that blooms once in twelve years
    Extent Covers an area of 97 sq. km of rolling grasslands and high-level sholas
    Climate Receives heavy showers during the southwest (June/July) and retreating (October/November) Monsoons; one of the wettest areas in the world
    Topography Undulating terrain with grass, hillocks, and sholas; highest peak south of the Himalayas, the Anamudi, is located here
    Vegetation Majorly covered with rolling grasslands, with several patches of shola forests; important flora includes Actinodaphne bourdilloni, Microtropis ramiflora, Strobilanthus Kunthianus (Neela Kurinji), etc.
    Wildlife Population 29 species of mammals, including the endemic Nilgiri Tahr, Gaur, Sloth Bear, Nilgiri Langur, Tiger, Leopard, Giant Squirrel, and wild dog; 140 species of birds, including 10 unique to the Western Ghats; more than 100 varieties of butterflies and 20 species of amphibians are also recorded here.

     

  • Bandipur completes 50 years as Project Tiger Reserve

    tiger

    Central idea: Bandipur completed 50 years as a Project Tiger Reserve on April 1, 2023.

    Bandipur Tiger Reserve

    • The reserve is located in the Indian state of Karnataka and is spread over an area of 912.04 sq. km.
    • It is recognized as one of the prime tiger habitats in the world and is an important component of the country’s first biosphere reserve – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

    Tiger Population in Bandipur

    • When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, there were 12 tigers in Bandipur, according to Ramesh Kumar, director, of Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
    • Today, the number of tigers utilizing the park is 173 while the number of tigers within the reserve has been pegged at 126 as per the Status of Tigers Co-predators and Prey in India, 2018.

    History of conservation efforts in Bandipur

    • Much before the Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972, was passed, the erstwhile rulers of Mysuru had realized the importance of conserving flora and fauna.
    • The Mysore Game and Fish Preservation Act was passed in 1901, and several forest areas were preserved as Game Reserves, and Tiger Blocks were identified with shooting restrictions imposed.
    • Initially, an area spread over 35 sq miles was declared as a Game Sanctuary in Chamarajanagar State Forest of Mysore district in 1931 and was protected for 10 years.

    Bandipur’s inclusion in Project Tiger

    • When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, Bandipur was among the first nine reserves to be brought under the flagship program, and it included most areas that were already protected under the Venugopal Wildlife Park.
    • The park was upgraded to a national park and renamed Bandipur, and the adjacent reserve forests were included under it to extend its area to 874.20 sq km.

    Significance of the area

    • The landscape spanning Bandipur, Nagarahole, Mudumalai, and Wayanad complex is home not only to the highest number of tigers in the country – about 724 – but also to the largest Asian Elephant population.
    • The Bandipur Tiger Reserve is an important component of the country’s first biosphere reserve – Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

    Tap to read more about:

    [Sansad TV] Perspective – Project Tiger: Reclaiming Territories

     

  • How to manage India’s Solar PV waste problem?

    solar pv

    Central idea: India is rapidly expanding its solar photovoltaic (PV) sector, but effective waste management strategies for this sector are still lacking. This article explores the challenges and gaps in solar PV waste management in India.

    solar

    Solar PV Waste in India

    • India has the world’s fourth-highest solar PV deployment, and the installed solar capacity was nearly 62 GW in November 2022.
    • A 2016 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency estimates that India could generate 50,000-3,25,000 tonnes of PV waste by 2030 and more than four million tonnes by 2050.
    • India’s solar PV installations are dominated by crystalline silicon (c-Si) technology, which mainly consists of a glass sheet, an aluminium frame, an encapsulant, a backsheet, copper wires, and silicon wafers.
    • A typical PV panel is made of c-Si modules (93%) and cadmium telluride thin-film modules (7%).

    Hazards posed by PV waste

    Some of the hazards of solar PV waste are:

    • Environmental pollution: The accumulation of solar PV waste in landfills can lead to environmental pollution, as the waste contains hazardous materials such as lead, cadmium, and other toxic chemicals. Incinerating the encapsulate also releases sulphur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, and hydrogen cyanide into the atmosphere.
    • Health hazards: Improper handling and disposal of solar PV waste can lead to health hazards for workers and people living near the waste disposal sites. The toxic chemicals in the waste can cause respiratory problems, skin irritation, and other health issues.

    Economy behind PV waste

    • Financial losses: Improper management of solar PV waste can lead to financial losses for the companies involved in waste collection and treatment. The lack of suitable incentives and schemes in which businesses can invest leads to a small market for repurposing or reusing recycled PV waste in India.
    • Resource depletion: The disposal of solar PV waste leads to the loss of valuable resources such as silicon, silver, and other critical materials, which can lead to resource depletion.

    Recovery and Recycling of PV Waste

    • As PV panels near expiration, some portions of the frame are extracted and sold as scrap; junctions and cables are recycled according to e-waste guidelines; the glass laminate is partly recycled, and the rest is disposed of as general waste.
    • Silicon and silver can be extracted by burning the module in cement furnaces.
    • According to a 2021 report, approximately 50% of the total materials can be recovered.

    Challenges particular to India

    • India faces challenges in the collection, storage, recycling, and repurposing of PV waste.
    • Only about 20% of the waste is recovered in general, and the rest is treated informally, leading to pollution of the surroundings.
    • Gaps in PV Waste Management-
    1. Generalized as e-waste: The clubbing of PV waste with other e-waste could lead to confusion, and there is a need for specific provisions for PV waste treatment within the ambit of e-waste guidelines.
    2. Hazards are ignored: PV waste is classified as hazardous waste in India, and there is a need for pan-India sensitisation drives and awareness programmes on PV waste management.

    Why does India need to act now?

    • Considering the rate at which these panels are being installed around the country, India is expected to generate an enormous amount of waste over the next 20 years.
    • India is expected to become one of the top five leading photovoltaic waste producers worldwide by 2050.
    • Therefore, India needs to install clear policy directives, well-established recycling strategies, and greater collaboration, so that it doesn’t find itself caught unprepared against a new problem in the future.

    Key recommendations

    Policymakers should:

    • Introduce a ban on dumping of waste modules by different entities in the landfills.
    • Formulate a dedicated PV module waste management regulation.
    • Introduce incentives like green certificates to provide a level-playing field and encourage recycling and mineral recovery by the industry.

    Industries should:

    • Improve the PV module design to minimise the waste at the disposal stage. This can include sustainable design with reduced use of toxic minerals or adopting a ‘design to disassemble’ approach.
    • Invest in the second-life use of sub-standard modules to delay waste creation.
    • Collaborate with research institutes to develop recycling techniques and support pilot demonstrations.
    • Conceptualise new business models to manage and finance the waste disposal.

    Way forward

    • India needs to pay more attention to domestic R&D efforts as depending on a single module type will dis-uniformly deplete certain natural resources.
    • It is important to boost capacity for recycling and recover critical materials.
    • This can be achieved by-
    1. Formulating specific provisions for PV waste treatment,
    2. Pan-India sensitisation drives, and awareness programmes,
    3. Promoting domestic R&D efforts, and
    4. Providing appropriate infrastructure facilities and adequate funding.

     

  • What is the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972?

    wild

    A person in UP was booked under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for “illegally” keeping and nursing an injured Sarus crane (Grus Antigone) he found in his village.

    About Sarus

    • The Sarus crane is usually found in wetlands and is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh.
    • Standing at 152-156 centimetres, it is the world’s tallest flying bird.

    What is Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972?

    • WPA provides for the protection of the country’s wild animals, birds and plant species, in order to ensure environmental and ecological security.
    • It provides for the protection of a listed species of animals, birds and plants, and also for the establishment of a network of ecologically-important protected areas in the country.
    • It provides for various types of protected areas such as Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks etc.

    There are six schedules provided in the WPA for the protection of wildlife species which can be concisely summarized as under:

    Schedule I: These species need rigorous protection and therefore, the harshest penalties for violation of the law are for species under this Schedule.
    Schedule II: Animals under this list are accorded high protection. They cannot be hunted except under threat to human life.
    Schedule III & IV: This list is for species that are not endangered. This includes protected species but the penalty for any violation is less compared to the first two schedules.
    Schedule V: This schedule contains animals which can be hunted.
    Schedule VI: This list contains plants that are forbidden from cultivation.

     

    What is the law on animals and birds under Schedule IV?

    • Species mentioned under Schedules III and IV relate to the prohibition on dealings in trophy and animal articles without a license, purchase of animals by a licensee, and restriction on transportation of wildlife.
    • Section 48 of the Act specifically states that any wild animal or animal article can be transported only after obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden or any other officer authorised by the state.
    • Section 44 provides for issuing licenses to taxidermists, eating houses (hotels or restaurants), and dealers in animal articles, preserved animal parts or trophies, uncured trophies (whole or any unpreserved part of an animal), captive animals, and snake venom of such species.

     

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