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Subject: Conservation & Mitigation

1. Conservation Progs.
2. Worldwide initiatives
3. Mitigation Strategies
4. Conventions and Protocols

  • 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.

  • 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.

     

  • Places in news: Nathu La

    nathu la

    Several people have been killed and many others are feared trapped under snow after a massive avalanche near Sikkim’s Nathu La Mountain pass.

    Nathu La Pass

    Location Sikkim, on the border between India and China
    Altitude 4,310 meters (14,140 ft)
    Importance Historical Silk Route
    Trade Reopened in 2006 for border trade between India and China
    Restrictions Only for Indian and Chinese nationals with a valid visa
    Connectivity Connects the Indian state of Sikkim with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China
    Military importance Strategic importance in the Sino-Indian War of 1962
    Tourism Restricted due to the sensitive nature of the region
    Weather Harsh and unpredictable, with heavy snowfall in winter months
    Border dispute The pass was closed by China after the 1962 war and was reopened only after the Chinese president visited India in 2003.

     

    How has it been at the centre stage of India-China disputes?

    • Sino-Indian War: In 1962, Nathu La pass was a battleground between the Indian and Chinese armies during the Sino-Indian War. The conflict resulted in casualties on both sides, with China ultimately capturing the pass.
    • Skirmishes in 1967: In 1967, there were several minor skirmishes between the Indian and Chinese armies near Nathu La pass. The conflict was resolved through diplomatic negotiations.
    • Standoff in 2017: In 2017, there was a 73-day-long standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies near the Doklam plateau, which is close to Nathu La pass. The dispute was over the construction of a road by China in the disputed area. The standoff ended with both sides agreeing to disengage.

  • 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.

     

  • UN allows Deep Sea Mining operations from July

    mining

    Central idea: The International Seabed Authority has announced that it will start accepting applications from companies for deep sea mining from July.

    Why in news?

    • This decision was made in the absence of a mining code that has not been put in place yet.

    What is Deep Sea Mining?

    • Deep-sea mining is the process of extracting minerals from the deep ocean floor.
    • The minerals that are extracted can include valuable metals such as copper, gold, nickel, and manganese, as well as rare earth metals that are used in high-tech devices such as smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles.
    • The minerals are found in the form of polymetallic nodules that are located on the ocean floor at depths of around 4 to 6 kilometers.
    • Deep-sea mining involves the use of specially designed equipment that can withstand the extreme pressure and temperature conditions found at these depths.

    About International Seabed Authority

    • The International Seabed Authority is a Jamaica-based organization established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
    • The authority holds jurisdiction over the ocean floors outside of the Exclusive Economic Zones of its 167 member states.

    Reasons behind undersea mining

    • The mining is aimed at extracting cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese from the ocean’s floor.
    • The undersea mining will extract key battery materials from polymetallic nodules found at depths of 4 kilometers to 6 kilometers.
    • These nodules are potato-sized rocks containing cobalt, copper, nickel, and manganese.

    Key concern: Mining code missing

    • Despite 10 years of discussion, there is no mining code in place.
    • The governing council of ISA is uncertain about the process it should adopt for reviewing applications for mining contracts.

    Issues with deep-sea mining

    • Deep-sea mining is a controversial issue that has raised concerns among non-governmental organizations, experts, and some countries.
    • One major concern is the potential damage to the seabed and the essential function of deep-sea ecosystems in regulating the climate.
    • Mining activities can also have wider impacts on fish populations, marine mammals, and other ocean life.

    Tap to read more about

    India’s Deep Ocean Mission

  • 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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  • India’s Support for Marine Protected Areas in Antarctica

    marine

    Central idea: India has pledged its continued support for the establishment of two Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Antarctica, with the aim of protecting marine life and the ecosystem services that it provides.

    What are Marine Protected Areas?

    • An MPA is a defined region that is managed for the long-term conservation of marine resources, ecosystem services, or cultural heritage.
    • They can be established in national and international waters to preserve the biodiversity of the marine environment.

    Criteria used for MPAs declaration

    The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has developed a set of criteria for the identification and management of marine protected areas (MPAs). These criteria include:

    • Representativeness: MPAs should include a range of habitats, ecosystems, and species that are representative of the region.
    • Biological diversity: MPAs should conserve a wide range of biodiversity, including species, habitats, and genetic diversity.
    • Rarity: MPAs should protect rare, unique, or endemic species or habitats.
    • Productivity: MPAs should conserve areas of high productivity, such as spawning and nursery grounds.
    • Resilience: MPAs should protect ecosystems that are able to withstand disturbances and recover from damage.
    • Ecological processes: MPAs should conserve important ecological processes, such as nutrient cycling and migration patterns.
    • Connectivity: MPAs should be connected to other protected areas to allow for the movement of species and genetic material.
    • Cultural and social importance: MPAs should consider the cultural and social importance of the area to local communities.

    MPA in focus: Southern Ocean

    • The Southern Ocean, which encircles Antarctica, covers around 10 per cent of the global ocean and is home to nearly 10,000 unique polar species.
    • The ecosystem is an important source of marine resources, including fish and krill, which support commercial fisheries and provide a food source for larger animals.

    Threats to the Southern Ocean and its marine life

    marine

    • Climate change is affecting the Southern Ocean, altering habitats such as sea ice and the sheltered seafloor under ice shelves that are home to a variety of species.
    • Commercial fishing, particularly for krill (shrimp-like crustacean), is also threatening the ecosystem.

    Need for an MPA in Antarctica

    • The Southern Ocean needs protection to prevent the further impact of climate change and commercial exploitation.
    • A new MPA would help limit human activities, including fishing, mining, and drilling, and help conserve the region’s marine resources and unique biodiversity.

    Existing MPAs in the Southern Ocean

    • The Southern Ocean currently has two MPAs:
    1. In the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands and
    2. In the Ross Sea
    • These MPAs protect only 5 percent of the ocean, with all types of fishing, other than scientific research, prohibited within the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands MPA.

    Resistance to proposed MPAs  

    • Proposals to establish MPAs in East Antarctica, the Weddell Sea, and the waters surrounding the Antarctic Peninsula have been met with resistance by China and Russia.
    • The two countries have a different view than the rest of the members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which is an intergovernmental body set up in 1982 to conserve Antarctic marine life.

    India’s interest in the commercial exploitation of krill

    • India has expressed interest in commercial exploitation of krill in the region.
    • However, increased harvesting of krill threatens animals that feed on them, including fish, whales, seals, penguins, and other seabirds.

    Contribution of proposed MPAs to the United Nations 30×30 Framework

    • If the proposed MPAs take form in Antarctica, they will contribute to the United Nations 30×30 Framework, which aims to protect 30 percent of the world’s land and sea.
    • This agreement was reached at the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022.

    Conclusion

    • Most countries have agreed in principle to establish MPAs in Antarctica, and it is expected to be discussed further at the next Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
    • The establishment of MPAs in Antarctica is crucial to preserving the region’s marine resources and unique biodiversity, and for contributing to the global