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Subject: Environment

  • [pib] Calcium Nitrate and Boronated Calcium Nitrate

    Union Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers has launched an indigenous variety of fertilizers- ‘Calcium Nitrate’ & ‘Boronated Calcium Nitrate’.

    Try this PYQ:

    Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?

    (a) Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms

    (b) Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil

    (c) Nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is not at all released into atmosphere by crop fields

    (d) It is a combination of a weedicide and a fertilizer for particular crops

    What is Calcium Nitrate?

    • Calcium nitrate is used as a water-soluble fertilizer in agriculture. In addition, this product is also used in wastewater treatment and to increase the strength of cement concrete.
    • Last year, around 1.25 lakh metric tons (1,23,000 tons) of Calcium Nitrate was imported in the country.
    • Of this, 76% was imported from China and the rest from other countries like Norway and Israel.
    • These indigenous varieties will provide a quality product at a cheaper rate to the farmer community in the country than imported ones.

    Uses of Calcium nitrate

    • The fertilizer grade calcium nitrate is popular in the greenhouse and hydroponics. It is also used to control certain plant diseases.
    • Calcium nitrate is also used in wastewater pre-conditioning for odour emission prevention.

  • [pib] Bio-Pesticide Formulation using Verticillium Lecanii

    Indian researchers have successfully developed new Aqueous Suspension formulation technology of bio-pesticide based on entomopathogenic fungus Verticillium lecanii.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Recently, there was a growing awareness in our country about the importance of Himalayan nettle (Girardinia diversifolia) because it is found to be a sustainable source of

    (a) anti-malarial drug

    (b) biodiesel

    (c) pulp for paper industry

    (d) textile fibre

    Verticillium lecanii

    • This bio-pesticide formulation has been found very effective in controlling various insects in seed spice crops (fenugreek, cumin, and coriander).
    • It has a good shelf life, safe to user & environment and it may be effectively used for controlling different agricultural insects especially in seed spice crops.
    • This bio-pesticide may be used as a safer alternative to chemical pesticides to minimize pesticide residue problem.
    • Besides, it may be used as a key input for crop protection from insects pest in organic agriculture and Integrated Pest Management.

  • 3 contenders for National Butterfly Status

    A citizen poll to identify the national butterfly concluded with three species garnering the highest number of votes.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.With reference to India’s Biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are-
    (a) Birds
    (b) Primates
    (c) Reptiles
    (d) Amphibians

    Which are the three species?

    (1) Indian Jezebel

    • Blessed with a vibrant colour pattern, including vermilion (Haldi – kumkum), the Indian Jezebel (or Common Jezebel) is known to deter its predators with its flashy wing colours.
    • Regarded as soldiers of farmers, they also prey on parasites that infest fruit-bearing plants.
    • Widely distributed, the species can be spotted in gardens and other lightly wooded areas.

    (2) Krishna Peacock

    • It is a flagship species for biodiversity and conservation, generally found in large numbers in the Himalayas.
    • Possessing a peculiarly large swallowtail, its iridescent green scales diffract light to coat itself in radiance.

    (3) Orange Oakleaf

    • It is commonly known as ‘dead leaf’ for its ability to camouflage as a dry autumn leaf while striking a stationary pose with its wings closed.
    • The masquerade enables the species to prevent it from being devoured by birds in the moist forests of the northern Western Ghats, central, northern and northeastern parts of India where they are generally found.
    • Besides, the Oakleaf is also known to exhibit polyphenism as it assumes specific colour and size during dry and wet seasons.

  • What is Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)?

    The Supreme Court has directed Delhi and neighbouring States to implement air pollution control measures under “very poor” and “severe” category air quality of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

    Note the various measures under the GRAP under various grades of Air Quality.

    Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)

    • In 2014, when a study by the WHO found that Delhi was the most polluted city in the world, panic spread in the Centre and the state government.
    • Approved by the Supreme Court in 2016, the plan was formulated after several meetings that the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) held with state government and experts.
    • The result was a plan that institutionalized measures to be taken when air quality deteriorates.
    • GRAP works only as an emergency measure.

    How does it work?

    • As such, the plan does not include action by various state governments to be taken throughout the year to tackle industrial, vehicular and combustion emissions.
    • When the air quality shifts from poor to very poor, the measures listed under both sections have to be followed since the plan is incremental in nature.
    • If air quality reaches the severe+ stage, GRAP talks about shutting down schools and implementing the odd-even road-space rationing scheme.

    Measures taken under GRAP

    1)Severe+ or Emergency

    (PM 2.5 over 300 ”g/cubic metre or PM10 over 500 ”g/cu. m. for 48+ hours)

    • Stop entry of trucks into Delhi (except essential commodities)
    • Stop construction work
    • Introduce odd/even scheme for private vehicles and minimise exemptions
    • Task Force to decide any additional steps including shutting of schools

    2) Severe

    (PM 2.5 over 250 ”g/cu. m. or PM10 over 430 ”g/cu. m.)

    • Close brick kilns, hot mix plants, stone crushers
    • Maximise power generation from natural gas to reduce generation from coal
    • Encourage public transport, with differential rates
    • More frequent mechanized cleaning of road and sprinkling of water

    3) Very Poor

    (PM2.5 121-250 ”g/cu. m. or PM10 351-430 ”g/cu. m.)

    • Stop use of diesel generator sets
    • Enhance parking fee by 3-4 times
    • Increase bus and Metro services
    • Apartment owners to discourage burning fires in winter by providing electric heaters during winter
    • Advisories to people with respiratory and cardiac conditions to restrict outdoor movement

    4) Moderate to poor

    (PM2.5 61-120 ”g/cu. m. or PM10 101-350 ”g/cu. m.)

    • Heavy fines for garbage burning
    • Close/enforce pollution control regulations in brick kilns and industries
    • Mechanized sweeping on roads with heavy traffic and water sprinkling
    • Strictly enforce a ban on firecrackers

    Has GRAP helped?

    • The biggest success of GRAP has been in fixing accountability and deadlines.
    • For each action to be taken under a particular air quality category, executing agencies are clearly marked.
    • In a territory like Delhi, where a multiplicity of authorities has been a long-standing impediment to effective governance, this step made a crucial difference.

  • Species in news: Abortelphusa Namdaphaensis

    A crab specie was recently named after Arunachal Pradesh’s pristine forests on the edge of a small stream in Namdapha Tiger Reserve.

    Try this question from CSP 2020:

    Q.With reference to India’s Biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are:

    (a) Birds
    (b) Primates
    (c) Reptiles
    (d) Amphibians

    Abortelphusa Namdaphaensis

    • The species, a small freshwater crab species, is a tribute to Namdapha, the largest protected area in the Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot and the Abor Hills.
    • It is the first Gecarcinucidae to be found in the Himalayan region. Freshwater crabs are divided into two families/categories: Potamidae and Gecarcinucidae.
    • Both differ in abdomen shape and size. Potamidae species have a broad triangular abdomen, whereas, in Gecarcinucidae, the abdomen is mostly T-shaped.
    • While the Gecarcinucidae is found in the peninsular region, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, Potamidae are found in the Himalayan region.

    What makes it special?

    • The new species was found in a dry area, despite being a “freshwater” crab.
    • Freshwater crabs use their gills to absorb dissolved oxygen from water, but for food, breeding, and other purposes, they do not need water, and thus roam on the land near water.
    • The only reason it was possible to spot this on land is that the habitat around the water body has been preserved, untouched even.
    • Of the 125 freshwater crabs in India, the north-east accounts for 37. Arunachal Pradesh has 15 and Assam has 21.
    • The discovery highlights the potential of Arunachal Pradesh as one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in the country.

    Back2Basics: Namdapha

    • Namdapha (named a National Park in 1983) is known for its rich biodiversity and believed to be the rare area that harbours four large cats: tigers, snow leopards, clouded leopards and leopards.
    • The Abor Hills, bordered by the Mishmi Hills and Miri Hills, is historically known for the Abor Expedition.
    • It is a punitive expedition against the Abors in the North-Eastern Frontier Agency (which corresponds to parts of present-day Assam and Arunachal Pradesh) from October 1911 to April 1912.
    • The expedition had thrown up a plethora of new floral and faunal species, making it a zoological and botanical expedition as well.

  • What is Global Warming Hiatus (GWH)?

    A new study on variability in the Mascarene High (MH) in the Southern Indian Ocean during global warming hiatus (GWH) has revealed that the region experienced significantly increased sea surface temperature (SST) during this period (1998-2016).

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? (CSP 2020)

    1. OMT is measured upto a depth of 26 degree Celsius isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January-March.
    2. OMT collected during January-March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:
    (a) 1 only
    (b) 2 only
    (c) Both 1 and 2
    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    What is Global Warming Hiatus (GWH)?

    • A global warming hiatus is referred to a global warming pause, or a global warming slowdown, which is a period of relatively little change in globally averaged surface temperatures.
    • The hiatus, however, can result in an increase in the SST.

    What is Mascarene High (MH)?

    • The Mascarene High (MH) is a semi-permanent subtropical high-pressure zone in the South Indian Ocean.
    • It is also called the Indian Ocean subtropical high, which is a high-pressure area located between 20° to 35° South latitude and 40° to 90° East longitude.
    • It is a region from where the cross-equatorial winds blow to India.
    • It has been named after the Mascarene Islands, in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar consisting of the islands belonging to Mauritius as well as the French RĂ©union Islands.
    • Apart from its large influence on African and Australian weather patterns, it also helps in driving the inter-hemispheric circulation between the Indian Ocean in the south and subcontinental landmass in the north.

    Role of MH

    • The warming in SST due to global warming has resulted in a decrease in the pressure gradient between the MH and the Indian landmass.
    • This in turn suppressed the intensity of low-level cross-equatorial winds over the western Indian Ocean affecting the onset of the monsoon over the Indian subcontinent and rainfall over East Asia.

  • [pib] Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

    The Union Cabinet has approved the Ratification of seven chemicals listed under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).

    Stockholm Convention

    • It is a global treaty to protect human health and environment from POPs, which are identified chemical substances that persist in the environment, bio-accumulate in living organisms, adversely affect human health/ environment and have the property of long-range environmental transport (LRET).

    Key Provisions:  The provisions of the Convention require each party to:

    • Prohibit and/or eliminate the production and use, as well as the import and export, of the intentionally, produced POPs that are listed in Annex A to the Convention
    • Restrict the production and use, as well as the import and export, of the intentionally, produced POPs that are listed in Annex B to the Convention
    • Reduce or eliminate releases from unintentionally produced POPs that are listed in Annex C to the Convention
    • Ensure that stockpiles and wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with POPs are managed safely and in an environmentally sound manner

    Do you know?

    The Global Environment Facility (GEF) serves as a financial mechanism for the following conventions:

    1. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
    2. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
    3. UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
    4. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
    5. Minamata Convention on Mercury

    What are POPs?

    • Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), sometimes known as “forever chemicals” are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes.
    • Because of their persistence, POPs bioaccumulate with potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment.
    • Many POPs are currently or were in the past used as pesticides, solvents, pharmaceuticals, and industrial chemicals.
    • Although some POPs arise naturally (e.g from volcanoes), most are man-made via total synthesis.

    Threats of POPs

    • Exposure to POPs can lead to cancer, damage to central & peripheral nervous systems, diseases of the immune system, reproductive disorders and interference with normal infant and child development.

    India’s actions on POPs till now

    • The MoEFCC had notified the ‘Regulation of Persistent Organic Pollutants Rules, on March 5, 2018, under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
    • The regulation prohibited the manufacture, trade, use, import and export seven chemicals which were already listed as POPs under Stockholm Convention-
    1. Chlordecone
    2. Hexabromobiphenyl
    3. Hexabromodiphenyl ether and Heptabromodiphenylether (Commercial octa-BDE)
    4. Tetrabromodiphenyl ether and Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Commercial Penta-BDE)
    5. Pentachlorobenzene
    6. Hexabromocyclododecane and
    7. Hexachlorobutadiene

  • Places in news: Kamchatka Peninsula

    An ‘ecological disaster’ of sorts is unfolding on a black volcanic beach of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, according to a report.

    Note the features of the map and surrounding seas.

    About Kamchatka Peninsula

    • The Kamchatka Peninsula is a 1,250-kilometre-long peninsula in the Russian Far East.
    • The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk make up the peninsula’s eastern and western coastlines, respectively.
    • Immediately offshore along the Pacific coast of the peninsula runs the 10,500-metre-deep Kuril–Kamchatka Trench.
    • The Kamchatka Peninsula, the Commander Islands, and Karaginsky Island constitute the Kamchatka Krai of the Russian Federation.
    • The vast majority of the 322,079 inhabitants are ethnic Russians, although about 13,000 are Koryaks (2014).
    • The Kamchatka peninsula contains the volcanoes of Kamchatka, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Why in news?

    • Then, sea animals begin to die in large numbers, their bodies littering the beach.
    • These included octopuses, seals, sea urchins, stars, crabs and fish.
    • Examination of the seawater by the administration has shown that levels of phenols and oil compounds have spiked.

  • Species in news: Madhuca Diplostemon

    A tree species, long believed extinct, has been rediscovered after a gap of more than 180 years from a sacred grove in Kollam district.

    Try this PYQ:

    Q.Consider the following statements:

    1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions.
    2. India has four biodiversity hotspots i.e., Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

    Which of the above statements is/ are correct?

    (a) 1 only

    (b) 2 only

    (c) Both 1 and 2

    (d) Neither 1 nor 2

    Madhuca diplostemon

    • Scientists have identified the tree as Madhuca diplostemon (family Sapotaceae), a threatened species of the Western Ghats whose specimen was first collected in 1835.
    • In 1835, Robert Wight, a surgeon-botanist with the East India Company, had collected three specimens of the species.
    • Only one mature tree has been found so far, which makes this remarkable rediscovery extremely valuable from a scientific, environmental and conservation point of view.
    • Since the species is represented only by one specimen in a single locality, it is eligible to be categorised ‘Critically Endangered’ by the IUCN.

  • JAL JEEVAN MISSION (PIB)

    What is Jal Jeevan Mission ?

    The Union Minister of Jal Shakti launched a special mission mode campaign to provide potable piped water supply in all schools and anganwadi centres across the nation within 100 days.

    About Jal Jeevan Mission

    • This mission was envisaged by the Prime Minister on 29th September, 2020 while releasing the ‘Margdarshika’ for Gram Panchayats and Paani Samitis for implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
    • Provisions have been made under Jal Jeevan Mission for ensuring safe water through tap water connection in schools, anganwadi centres, health care centres, etc.
    • National Jal Jeevan Mission has reached out to States/ UTs to ensure that during this campaign, Gram Sabhas are convened at the earliest to pass a resolution for providing safe water in all schools, anganwadi centres and other public institutions in the village in the next 100 days.
    • These facilities will be operated and maintained by the Gram Panchayat and/ or its sub-committee i.e. Village Water & Sanitation Committee or Paani Samiti.
    • Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims at the universal coverage of provision of tap water connection to every rural home by 2024. Under the mission, special focus is on women and children.