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Subject: Conservation & Mitigation

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

  • Rooftop rainwater harvesting for India’s water stress

    India’s rapid urban growth is expected to stress its already crumbling base of public service arrangements — especially its management of water and sanitation services, whose safe and reliable availability proved to be the first line of defence against this covid pandemic.

    Q.Discuss how Rooftop rainwater harvesting can ease India’s water woes? (150W)

    Rooftop Rain Water Harvesting

    • It is the technique through which rainwater is captured from the roof catchments and stored in reservoirs.
    • Harvested rainwater can be stored in sub-surface groundwater reservoirs by adopting artificial recharge techniques to meet the household needs through storage in tanks.
    • Capturing and storing rainwater for use is particularly important in dryland, hilly, urban and coastal areas.
    • It holds the potential to support the country’s preparedness against the incipient challenges of changing climate.

    Water stress in India

    • An appalling confusion grips our policy makers and planners.
    • While the supply-demand gap is expected to widen by 50 per cent by 2030, many are still left without access to safe and sustainable water and sanitation services.
    • At least five Indian cities are already reported to have joined the list of world’s 20 largest water-stressed cities.

    If we look at the present portfolio of water resources management for other cities, it will not be wrong to claim that many more will soon become qualified for joining this infamous list.

    Exploring the complex problems

    • Water availability in India remains at the mercy of erratic patterns of precipitation.
    • Concretization of urban landscapes, symbolic of modern town planning imaginaries as to what an exercise in urban development has led to floods worsening.
    • Illegal encroachment along stormwater drains and urban rivers also aggravates the situation, not least by opening up spaces of active political contestation and negotiations.

    A paradigm shift needed

    • In India, management of water was bundled as part of the prerogative claims of post-independent public institutions with public participation programs designed later on to serve only a placatory function.
    • This has led to the systematic exclusion of the public’s opinions in informing the design and implementation protocols of large public schemes.
    • It took the form of multi-purpose dams, irrigation canals, public water distribution systems, etc.
    • Despite this, India has now become a ‘water-stressed country.

    A newer approach

    • Rising national empathy for river rejuvenation, watershed conservation and active public participation has, on the other hand, already started scripting a new paradigm for India’s water management.
    • It prompts decision-makers to look for solutions in the collective efforts of the citizens in managing their issues locally.

    Right from the vedic times

    • Our Vedic ancestors, in their appreciation of the timeless bounty of water, always offered timely obeisance to water’s eternal gifts to mankind.
    • Their reverence to water can be found in the hymns and prayers offered to Varuna and Indra — Vedic Gods associated with water to riveting architectural gems and literary delights, each underscoring the centrality of water in our cultural revelries.
    • It is time our policies are re-designed to reflect these values.

    Empowering people

    • Rooftop rainwater structures are perfectly poised to engender a transformative wave of public engagement in water management.
    • Thus it can act as a corollary for making water management an exercise in nurturing democratic routines.
    • To ensure that the public enthusiastically purchases this concept, a country-wide behaviour change campaign can be launched along the lines of the Swachh Bharat Mission.
    • This can emphasize people’s ‘ability and ‘motivation’ to romantically welcome these structures in their private premises.
    • This should rather be a ‘do-it-yourself’ model of engagement.

  • What is Ambergris?

    In the past few weeks, there have been two cases where the Mumbai Police has arrested five persons trying to sell Ambergris or whale vomit.

    What is Ambergris?

    • Ambergris, French for grey amber, is generally referred to as whale vomit.
    • It is a solid waxy substance that floats around the surface of the water body and at times settles on the coast.
    • A sperm whale eats several thousand squid beaks a day.
    • Occasionally, a beak makes it way to the whale’s stomach and into its looping convoluted intestines where it becomes ambergris through a complex process, and may ultimately be excreted by the whale.

    Is it Ambergris valuable?

    • This excretion is so valuable it is referred to as floating gold.
    • As per the latest estimates given by Mumbai Police, 1 kg of ambergris is worth Rs 1 crore in the international market.
    • The reason for its high cost is its use in the perfume market, especially to create fragrances like musk.
    • It is believed to be in high demand in countries like Dubai that have a large perfume market. Ancient Egyptians used it as incense.
    • It is also believed to be used in some traditional medicines.

    Why are the laws on Ambergris?

    • Due to its high value, Ambergris has been a target for smugglers especially in coastal areas.
    • There have been several cases where the coastline of Gujarat has been used for such smuggling.
    • Since the sperm whale is a protected species, hunting of the whale is not allowed.
    • However, smugglers are known to have illegally targeted the fish in order to obtain the valuable Ambergris from its stomach.
    • However, Ambergris is produced only by an estimated one per cent of sperm whales.

  • Species in news: Pygmy Hogs

    Few captive-bred pygmy hogs, the world’s rarest and smallest wild pigs, were released in the Manas National Park of western Assam under the Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP).

    Pygmy Hogs

    • The pygmy hog (Porcula salvania) is a native to alluvial grasslands in the foothills of the Himalayas at elevations of up to 300 m (980 ft).
    • Today, the only known population lives in Assam, India and possibly southern Bhutan.
    • As the population is estimated at less than 250 mature individuals, it is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
    • It is designated as a Schedule I species in India under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and offences against them invite heavy penalties.

    About Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme (PHCP)

    • The PHCP is a collaboration among Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust of UK, Assam Forest Department, Wild Pig Specialist Group of IUCN and Union Environment Ministry.
    • It is currently being implemented by NGOs Aaranyak and EcoSystems India.
    • Six hogs — two males and four females — were captured from the Bansbari range of the Manas National Park in 1996 for starting the breeding programme.
    • The reintroduction programme began in 2008 with the Sonai-Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary (35 hogs), Orang National Park (59) and Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary (22).

    Now answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.Consider the following :

    1. Star tortoise
    2. Monitor lizard
    3. Pygmy hog
    4. Spider monkey

    Which of the above found in India?

    (a) 1, 2 and 3 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 4 only

    (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

  • Species in news: Rare Black Softshell Turtle (Nilssonia nigricans)

    A major temple in Assam has signed a MoU with NGOs, the Assam State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden and the Kamrup district administration for the long-term conservation of the rare freshwater black softshell turtle or the Nilssonia nigricans.

    Two years back, one species from our newscard: Species in news: Hump-backed Mahseer made it into the CSP 2019.  The ‘Puntius Sanctus’ fish in the newscard creates such a vibe yet again.

    A stand-alone species being mentioned in the news for the first time (and that too from Southern India) find their way into the prelims. Make special note here.

     

    Q.Consider the following pairs

    Wildlife Naturally found in
    1. Blue-finned Mahseer Cauvery River
    2. Irrawaddy Dolphin Chambal River
    3. Rusty-spotted Cat Eastern Ghats

    Which of the pairs given correctly matched? (CSP 2019)

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

     

    Nilssonia nigricans

    • Until sightings along the Brahmaputra’s drainage in Assam, the black softshell turtle was thought to be “extinct in the wild”.
    • It was confined only to ponds of temples in northeastern India and Bangladesh.
    • The International Union for Conservation of Nature had in 2021 listed the turtle as “critically endangered”.
    • But it does not enjoy legal protection under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, although it has traditionally been hunted for its meat and cartilage, traded in regional and international markets.

  • Green Hydrogen

    India is all set to host a two-day summit on Green Hydrogen initiatives involving the BRICS nations.

    What is Green Hydrogen?

    • Hydrogen, when produced by electrolysis using renewable energy is known as Green Hydrogen which has no carbon footprint.
    • This gives hydrogen the edge over other fuels to unlock various avenues of green usage.
    • However, challenges lie in terms of technology, efficiency, financial viability, and scaling up which the summit will aim to address.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.With reference to ‘fuel cells’ in which hydrogen-rich fuel and oxygen are used to generate electricity, consider the following statements:

    1. If pure hydrogen is used as a fuel, the fuel cell emits heat and water as by products.
    2. Fuel cells can be used for powering buildings and not for small devices like laptop computers.
    3. Fuel cells produce electricity in the form of Alternating Current (AC).

    Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

    Applications of green hydrogen

    • Green hydrogen has innumerable applications.
    • Green Chemicals like ammonia and methanol can directly be utilized in existing applications like fertilizers, mobility, power, chemicals, shipping among others.
    • Green Hydrogen blending up to 10 percent may be adopted in CGD networks to gain widespread acceptance.
    • Further scaling up with greening of hard to abate sectors like steel and cement through hydrogen is to be explored.
    • Many countries have brought out their strategies and defined targets and roadmaps based on their resources and strengths.

    Back2Basics: BRICS Countries

    • BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
    • To be clear, BRICS was not invented by any of its members.
    • In 2001, Goldman Sachs’ Jim O’Neill authored a paper called “Building Better Global Economic BRICs”, pointing out that future GDP growth in the world would come from China, India, Russia and Brazil.
    • Significantly, the paper didn’t recommend a separate grouping for them, but made the case that the G-7 grouping, made up of the world’s most industrialized, and essentially Western countries, should include them.
    • O’Neill also suggested that the G-7 group needed revamping after the introduction of a common currency for Europe, the euro, in 1999.
    • In 2003, Goldman Sachs wrote another paper, “Dreaming with BRICs: Path to 2050”, predicting that the global map would significantly change due to these four emerging economies.
    • In 2006, leaders of the BRIC countries met on the margins of a G-8 (now called G-7) summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, and BRIC was formalized that year.

  • What the G7 message on net-zero emissions means for India

    The article highlights G-7 countries’ emphasis on adoption of net-zero emission target and its implications for India.

    Shifting responsibility to developing countries

    • The Cornwall G7 summit sought to re-establish a common purpose among the richest democracies of the world.
    • The G7 agreed “collectively” to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 and called on “all countries, in particular, major emitting economies” to join as part of global efforts.
    • And, ODA (official development assistance) has been made contingent on net-zero emissions by 2050 and deep cuts in emissions in the 2020s.
    • G7 made an equal effort to shift the responsibility to the large developing countries.
    • However, “common and differentiated responsibilities” is the agreed guiding principle for tackling climate change.
    • Differentiation underscores the responsibility of the industrialised countries to lead.

    India’s climate actions

    • India has been a leading stakeholder in climate action and is among the few in the G20 in line to meet their commitments under the Paris Accord.
    • It has also taken on a most ambitious target of 450 GW of renewable power by 2030.
    • India has shown the world the way forward on solar power with producers now offering ultra-competitive tariffs.

    India’s concerns

    • Coal was particularly in the eye of the G7 which stressed “that international investments in unabated coal must stop now” .
    •  India, that continues to rely on coal, could face a crunch in assistance in thermal power.
    • BASIC, comprising India, China, Brazil and South Africa, has so far led the efforts of large developing countries in climate negotiations.
    • But with possible differences of opinion on net zero, BASIC’s clout in future global negotiations is questionable.

    Way forward

    • Finance and technology are the key areas where the industrialised West can and must lead.
    • The collective developed countries’ commitment of $ 100 billion per year was made in Copenhagen in 2009 and is nowhere near being reached.
    • A smallish sum of $2 billion was committed by G7 to accelerating the transition from coal.
    • For India, with its huge developmental needs and global high-table aspirations that require carbon and policy spaces, the imperative is strong diplomatic partnerships with large developing economies that have an inherent interest in GREEN-Growth with Renewable Energy, Entrepreneurship and Nature.

    Conclusion

    India, which has huge developmental needs and global high-table aspirations that require carbon and policy spaces, must protect its interests.

  • Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India

    The Union Environment Ministry has released the latest version of “Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India.

    Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas

    • It has been published by Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad.
    • The Atlas provides a state-wise area of degraded lands for the time frame 2018-19.
    • It also provides the change analysis for the duration of 15 years, from 2003-05 to 2018-19.
    • It would provide important baseline and temporal data and technical inputs.

    Content of the atlas

    • This Atlas presents state-wise desertification and land degradation status maps depicting land use, the process of degradation, and severity level.
    • This was prepared using IRS Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) data of 2011-13- and 2003-05-time frames in the GIS environment.
    • The area under desertification/land degradation for both time frames and changes are reported state-wise as well as for the entire country.
    • The outputs are helpful in prioritizing areas to be taken up for minimizing the impact of desertification and land degradation.

    India and desertification

    • Desertification and land degradation are major threats to agricultural productivity in our country.
    • India hosted the 14th session of the Conference of Parties (COP 14) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in September 2019.
    • India is striving towards achieving the national commitments of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and restoration of 26 million ha of degraded land by 2030.
    • India has been at the forefront of bringing the issue of land degradation to the core of relevant international alliances for the protection and conservation of the environment.
    • India has adopted a collective approach for making progress towards achieving the national commitments related to land restoration.

    Answer this PYQ from CSP 2016 in the comment box:

    Q.What is/are the importance/importances of the ‘United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification?

    1. It aims to promote effective action through innovative national programmes and supportive inter-national partnerships.
    2. It has a special/particular focus on South Asia and North Africa regions, and its secretariat facilitates the allocation of major portion of financial resources to these regions.
    3. It is committed to bottom-up approach, encouraging the participation of local people in combating the desertification.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below.

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 1 and 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Operation Olivia to protect Olive Ridley Turtles

    Every year, the Indian Coast Guard’s “Operation Olivia”, initiated in the early 1980s, helps protect Olive Ridley turtles as they congregate along the Odisha coast for breeding and nesting from November to December.

    Answer this question from CSP 2012 in the comment box:

    Q.Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?

    (a) Saltwater crocodile

    (b) Olive ridley turtle

    (c) Gangetic dolphin

    (d) Gharial

    Olive Ridley Turtles

    • The Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) is listed as vulnerable under the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red list.
    • All five species of sea turtles found in India are included in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and in the Appendix I of the CITES, which prohibits trade in turtle products by signatory countries.
    • Odisha has also formulated laws for protecting Olive Ridley turtles, and the Orissa Marine Fisheries Act empowers the Coast Guard as one of its enforcement agencies.
    • Studies have found three main factors that damage Olive Ridley turtles and their eggs — heavy predation of eggs by dogs and wild animals, indiscriminate fishing with trawlers and gill nets, and beach soil erosion.
    • Dense fishing activity along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal, especially ocean-going trawlers, mechanized fishing boats, and gill-netters pose a severe threat to turtles.

    Their habitats

    • The Olive Ridley has one of the most extraordinary nesting habits in the natural world, including mass nesting called arribadas.
    • The 480-km-long Odisha coast has three arribada beaches at Gahirmatha, the mouth of the Devi river, and in Rushikulya, where about 1 lakh nests are found annually.
    • They generally return to their natal beach, or where they were born, to lay eggs as adults.
    • Mating occurs in the offshore waters of the breeding grounds and females then come ashore to nest, usually several times during a season.
    • They crawl ashore, dig a flask-shaped nest about 1.5 to 2 foot deep, and lay 100 to 150 eggs in each clutch.
    • Hatchlings emerge from their nests together in about seven to 10 weeks.

  • Protection of ‘Heritage Trees’ in Maharashtra

    The Maharashtra government will make amendments to the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act of 1975, to introduce provisions for the protection of ‘heritage trees’.

    What are Heritage Trees?

    • Under the proposed amendment, a tree with an estimated age of 50 years or more shall be defined as a heritage tree.
    • It may belong to specific species, which will be notified from time to time.
    • Experts believe that in addition to the age, the state climate change department should also consider a tree’s rarity, its botanical, historical, religious, mythological and cultural importance in defining a heritage tree.
    • The local Tree Authority will have to ensure tree census to be carried out every five years along with counting of heritage trees

    How is the age of the tree determined?

    • The most common method of determining the age of the tree is Dendrochronology – or tree-ring dating also called growth rings.
    • Each year, roughly a tree adds to its girth, the new growth is called a tree ring. By counting the rings of a tree, the age can be determined.
    • However, the process is invasive. To analyse the rings, core samples are extracted using a borer that’s screwed into the tree and pulled out, bringing with it a straw-size sample of wood.
    • The hole in the tree is then sealed to prevent disease.

    Why was the concept of heritage tree introduced?

    • A heritage tree will get special protection.
    • Crucially, the tree’s age will determine the number of trees to be planted as part of the compensatory plantation – that is anyone cutting a heritage tree will need to plant trees in the same numbers as the cut tree’s age.
    • According to the current Compensatory Plantation in the state, one sapling has to be planted for each tree that is cut.
    • In Mumbai, as per the Tree Authority set up in 1976, to help in regulating the felling of trees and providing for the planting of an adequate number of new trees, the compensation ratios are 1:3.

    Changes with the amendment

    • As per the amendment, the number of trees planted will be equal to the age of the heritage tree that is cut.
    • For instance, if a 52-year-old tree is to be felled, then the party felling the tree will have to plant 52 trees in compensation, with each compensatory tree at least 6-8 ft in height at the time of planting.
    • The organization planting the compensation trees will also have to ensure the survival of the plantation for seven years and geo-tag the trees.
    • Such plantations can be carried out either in the same plot or a common amenity plot.
    • Through the introduction of a heritage tree, the state environment wants to discourage the cutting of heritage trees.
    • The amendment has the fine for illegal felling of trees from a maximum of Rs 5,000 to Rs 1 lakh per tree.

    What is the economic value of the tree?

    • In case compensatory plantation is not possible, the tree feller has to pay compensation for the economic valuation of the trees being felled.
    • While the state government has not defined the economic value of the tree, experts say that the amount of oxygen that a tree releases into the environment should determine its economic value.
    • A realistic assessment of the economic value of a tree, which may be permitted to fell, concerning its value to the environment and its longevity, about factors such as:

    the production of oxygen and carbon sequestration, soil conservation, protection of flora/fauna, its role in habitat and ecosystem integrity and any other ecologically relevant factor, distinct from timber/wood

    Tree Authority formation

    • The amendments also make room for the formation of the Maharashtra State Tree Authority and also tree authority in local civic bodies and councils.
    • The Tree Authority is tasked with “increasing the tree cover in urban areas and protecting the existing ones.” Experts shall be a part of the local tree authority.
    • Their knowledge and expertise will form the basis of decisions taken up by the authority.
    • A proposal to cut more than 200 trees of age 5 years or more, will be referred to the state tree authority.
    • The local TA will have to ensure that the project is not sub-divided into smaller parts to keep the number of trees below the defined threshold.
    • Ensure preparation of a tree plan and should aspire over the years to have 33 percent green belt in their area.

  • Dihing Patkai is Assam’s 7th National Park

    The Assam government has notified Dihing Patkai as a National Park, four days after creating the 422-sq. km Raimona National Park in western Assam’s Kokrajhar district.

    Dihing Patkai NP

    • Dihing Patkai, in focus a year ago for illegal coal mining in the vicinity, encompasses the erstwhile Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, the Jeypore Reserve Forest and the western block of the Upper Dihing Reserve Forest.
    • The 234.26-sq. km Dihing Patkai straddling eastern Assam’s Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts is a major elephant habitat and 310 species of butterflies have been recorded there.
    • The park has 47 species each of reptiles and mammals, including the tiger and clouded leopard.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?

    (a) Khangchendzonga National Park

    (b) Nandadevi National Park

    (c) Neora Valley National Park

    (d) Namdapha National Park

    NPs in Assam

    • Assam now has the third most National Parks after the 12 in Madhya Pradesh and nine in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
    • The five older National Parks in the State are Kaziranga, Manas, Nameri, Orang and Dibru-Saikhowa.
    • Kaziranga and Manas are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
    • They are also tiger reserves along with Nameri and Orang.