Environment
Environment
Environment
84
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands ...........84
Ramsar Sites in India ............................86
Contents
Wetlands International ..........................93
1. Black-necked crane
2. Cheetah
3. Flying squirrel
4. Snow leopard
Page
Answer: a) Which of the above are naturally found in
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India ?
Q3. Among the following States, which one
has the most suitable climatic conditions a. 1, 2 and 3 only
for the cultivation of a large variety of b. 1, 3 and 4 only
orchids with minimum cost of production, c. 2 and 4 only
and can develop an export oriented d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
industry in this field ?
Black-necked crane is commonly found in
a. Andhra Pradesh Tibetan and trans-Himalayan region. In
b. Arunachal Pradesh winters they migrate to less colder regions of
c. Madhya Pradesh Indian Himalayas.
d. Uttar Pradesh
Cheetah is an extinct species. They have gone
Orchids are decorative flowering plants. They extinct during pre-independence era. Reason:
grow in regions with moderate climatic They were hunted down by various Indian
conditions [Sub-tropics with decent rainfall] kings and British officers.
They are typical to North-Eastern states. Flying Squirrels are found in many Indian
forests.
Great demand for these decorative flowering
plants exists in South-East Asian region. Snow leopard is an ‘endangered’ specie found
in the Himalayan ranges.
Answer: b)
Pollination = transfer of pollen from stamen to As of 2016, the status of most of these
pistil. animals has changed. Outdated question.
Bees are well known pollinators. Q9. The Himalayan Range is very rich in
species diversity. Which one among the
Birds help in pollination while trying to catch following is the most appropriate reason for
insects or trying to suck nectar. this phenomenon?
Bats help in pollination while trying to catch a. It has a high rainfall that supports
insects. [Bats are pollinators – Mentioned luxuriant vegetative growth.
several times in NCERT] b. It is a confluence of different bio
geographical zones.
Answer: All c. Exotic and invasive species have not
been introduced in this region.
Q7. The ‘Red Data Books’ published by the d. It has less human interference.
International Union for Conservation of
Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Explanation:
contain lists of
Options c) and d) are wrong statements.
1. Endemic plant and animal species
present in the biodiversity hotspots. Options a) and b) are correct statements.
2. Threatened plant and animal species.
3. Protected sites for conservation of
nature & natural resources in various
countries.
a. 1 & 3
b. 2 only
c. 2 & 3
The top soil is continuously washed
away = nutrients are also washed away
= leaching of nutrients = very little
fertility remains in top soil = most of
the seeds don’t germinate for years =
regeneration is very slow (it takes
decades). But the layer below top soil Page
(sub-soil) is very fertile. So plants grow
very quickly once their roots reach the | 6
sub-soil and if they receive enough
sunlight.
2. propagules of the trees in a rain forest
have poor viability: Propagule =
detachable structure that can give rise
to a new plant, e.g. a bud, sucker, or
spore [Asexual Reproduction in plants].
Seed bearing plants are more
significant than Propagules in
rainforest. So propagules don’t really
matter.
Greater Diversity is due to 3. the rain forest species are slow-
growing: The plant species in
1. various types of forests found along the rainforests compete for sunlight. So
Himalayas Ranges [Shiwaliks, they grow as rapidly as they can.
Himachal and Himadri]. 4. exotic species invade the fertile soil of
2. Vertical zonation of vegetation [chief rain forest: this statement is wrong as
characteristic of Himachal and the rainforest soil is heavily leached.
Himadri]. Hence they are not fertile. But exotic
invasive species are a threat to rain
Answer is b) forests (E.g. Most plantation crops like
rubber, palm etc.).
Q10. If a tropical rain forest is removed, it
does not regenerate quickly as compared to
Answer: a)
a tropical deciduous forest. This is because
Q11. When the bark of a tree is removed in
a. the soil of rain forest is deficient in a circular fashion all around near its base,
nutrients it generally dries up and dies because
b. propagules of the trees in a rain forest
have poor viability a. Water from soil cannot rise to aerial
c. the rain forest species are slow-growing parts.
d. exotic species invade the fertile soil of b. Roots are starved of energy
rain forest. c. Tree is infected by soil microbes
d. Roots do not receive oxygen for
Explanation: respiration
Which of the statements given above is/are 1. in the production of plastic foams
correct? 2. in the production of tubeless tyres
3. in cleaning certain electronic
a. 1, 2 and 3 only components
b. 4 only 4. as pressurizing agents in aerosol cans
Which of the statements given above is/are Q17. The acidification of oceans is
correct? increasing. Why is this phenomenon a
cause of concern?
a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 4 only 1. The growth and survival of calcareous
c. 1, 3 and 4 only phytoplankton will be adversely
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4 affected. Page
2. The growth and survival of coral reefs
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Answer: c) CFCs were used as refrigerants, will be adversely affected.
pressurizing agents (foam and aerosol cans) 3. The survival of some animals that have
and for cleaning electronic equipment. phytoplanktonic larvae will be adversely
affected.
Q15. The increasing amount of carbon 4. The cloud seeding and formation of
dioxide in the air is slowly raising the clouds will be adversely affected.
temperature of the atmosphere, because it
absorbs Which of statements given above is / are
correct?
a. the water vapour of the air and retains
its heat. a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. the ultraviolet part of the solar b. 2 only
radiation. c. 1 and 3 only
c. all the solar radiations. d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
d. the infrared part of the solar radiation
Explanation:
Answer: d) the infrared part of the solar
radiation (outgoing radiation). Ocean acidification decreases the calcifying
ability of corals, calcareous plankton,
Among GHGs, only water vapor has the ability crustaceans etc. It also adversely affects cloud
to absorb both incoming (UV) and outgoing formation and cloud seeding. So Options 1, 2
(infrared) radiation. and 4 are correct [Detailed explanation is
given under “Ocean Acidification”].
Q16. The formation of ozone hole in the
Antarctic region has been a cause of Answer: d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
concern. What could be the reason for the
formation of this hole? Q18. Regarding "carbon credits", which one
of the following statements is not correct?
a. Presence of prominent tropospheric
turbulence; and inflow of a. The carbon credit system was ratified in
chlorofluorocarbons conjunction with the Kyoto Protocol
b. Presence of prominent polar front and b. Carbon credits are awarded to
stratospheric clouds; and inflow of countries or groups that have reduced
chloro fluorocarbons greenhouse gases below their emission
c. Absence of polar front and quota
stratospheric clouds; and inflow of c. The goal of the carbon credit system is
methane and chloro fluorocarbons. to limit the increase of carbon emission
d. Increased temperature at polar region quota
due to global warming d. Carbon credits are traded at a price
fixed from time to time by the United
Answer: b) Presence of prominent polar front Nations Environment Programme.
and stratospheric Clouds and inflow of
chlorofluorocarbons. [Explained in the Post on Answer d) Carbon credit prices are traded
Ozone Depletion] on an exchange. So their prices are never
fixed.
Q19. With reference to India, consider the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation
following Central Acts: and Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act.
1980
1. Import and Export (Control) Act, 1947. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
2. Mining and Mineral Development Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
(Regulation) Act, 1957 Act, 1981
3. Customs Act, 1962 Agricultural and Processed Food Page
4. Indian Forest Act, 1927 Products Export Development Authority
Act, 1985/1986 |9
Which of above Acts have relevance to/bearing Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
on the biodiversity conservation in the Spices Board Act, 1986
country? National Dairy Development Board,
1987
a. 1 and 3 only Rules for the manufacture,
b. 2,3 and 4 only use/import/export and storage of
c. 1,2,3 and 4 hazardous microorganisms/ genetically
d. None of the above Acts engineered organisms or cells, 1989
Foreign Trade (Development and
Answer: c) all Regulation) Act, 1992 [Imports and
Exports (Control) Act, 1947 got
Central Acts and Rules having Relevance to repealed with the enactment of
Foreign Trade (Development And
Biodiversity Conservation
Regulation) Act, 1992.]
Protection of Plant Varieties and
Fisheries Act, 1897
Farmers’ Rights (PPVFR) Act, 2001
Destructive Insects and Pests Act, 1914
Biological Diversity Act, 2002
The Indian Forest Act, 1927
Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import
Agricultural Produce (Grading and
into India) Order, 2003
Marketing) Act,1937
Biological Diversity Rules, 2004
Indian Coffee Act, 1942 Import and
The Food Safety and Standards Act,
Export (Control) Act, 1947
2006
Rubber (Production and Marketing) Act,
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional
1947
Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest
Tea Act, 1953
Rights) Act, 2006.
Mining and Mineral Development
(Regulation) Act,1957
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Q20. The National Green Tribunal Act,
1960 2010 was enacted in consonance with
Customs Act, 1962 which of the following provisions of the
Cardamom Act, 1965 Constitution of India?
Seeds Act, 1966
The Patents Act, 1970 1. Right to healthy environment,
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 construed as a part of part of Right to
Marine Products Export Development life under Article 21.
Authority Act,1972 2. Provision of grants for raising the level
Water (Prevention and Control of of administration in the Scheduled
Pollution) Act, 1974 Areas for the welfare of Scheduled
Tobacco Board Act, 1975 Tribes under Article 275(1)
Territorial Water, Continental Shelf,
Exclusive Economic Zone and other Which of the statements given above is/are
Maritime Zones Act, 1976 correct ?
Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2 technique is not only environment friendly,
but also highly cost-effective.
Answer: a)
Answer: a) remediation of oil sludge and oil
Q21. How does National Biodiversity spills
Authority (NBA) help in protecting the
Indian agriculture? Q23. Government of India encourages the Page
cultivation of 'sea buckthorn'. What is the
1. NBA checks the biopiracy and protects importance of this plant ? | 10
the indigenous and traditional genetic
resources. 1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and
2. NBA directly monitors and supervises in preventing desertification.
the scientific research on genetic 2. It is a rich source of biodiesel.
modification of crop plants. 3. It has nutritional value and is well-
3. Application for intellectual Property adapted to live in cold areas of high
Rights related to genetic / biological altitudes.
resources cannot be made without the 4. Its timber is of great commercial value.
approval of NBA.
Which of the statements given above is /are
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
correct?
a. 2, 3 and 4 only
a. 1 only b. 1 and 3 only
b. 2 and 3 only c. 1, 2, 3 and 4
c. 1 and 3 only d. 1 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Q24. Two important rivers - one with its
The top biotech regulator in India for source in Jharkhand (and known by a
Genetically Modified Organisms is Genetic different name in Odisha), and another,
Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC). with its source in Odisha - merge at a place
only a short distance from the coast of Bay
Answer: c) 1 and 3 only of Bengal before flowing into the sea. This
is an important site of wildlife and bio-
Q22. Recently, ‘oilzapper’ was in the news. diversity and a protected area. Which one
What is it? of the following could be this ?
1. Tamil Nadu
2. Kerala
3. Karnataka
4. Andhra Pradesh
Old World monkeys are located in Africa,
central to southern Asia, Japan, and India.
Page
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1. Gharial
2. Leatherback turtle
3. Swamp deer Answer: a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Which of the above is/are endangered? Q7. Consider the following animals:
a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 4 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
1. resist drought and increase absorptive Burning coal releases CO, CO2, sulphur Page
area dioxide and oxides of nitrogen – air pollutants. | 13
2. tolerate extremes of pH
3. Resist disease infestation Oxides of nitrogen fall on earth as acid rain.
Acidic rain is a complex mixture of nitrous,
Select the correct answer using the codes nitric, sulfurous and sulfuric acids which all
given below: combine to lower the pH.
So, soil gets nitrogen from acid rain. Q13. Due to improper/indiscriminate
disposal of old and used computers or their
From this, I feel Burning of coal by man adds parts, which of the following are released
nitrogen to soil but indirectly though acid into the environment as e-waste?
rain.
1. Beryllium
The answer depends on how you interpret the 2. Cadmium
question. 3. Chromium
4. Heptachlor
Answer: Official UPSC Key says answer is c) 5. Mercury
1 and 3 only. 6. Lead
7. Plutonium
If you have anything more to add write it at
poormansfriend2485@gmail.com Select the correct answer using the codes
given below.
Q11. Contour bunding is a method of soil
conservation used in a. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
b. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only
a. desert margins, liable to strong wind c. 2, 4, 5 and 7 only
action d. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7
b. low flat plains, close to stream courses,
liable to flooding Explanation:
c. scrublands, liable to spread of weed
growth Heptachlor is a Chlorohydrocarbon (CHC)
d. None of the above which is used as an insecticide.
Counter bunding is used along with terracing Plutonium is a radioactive metal and hence
to protect sloped surfaces. not used in computers.
a. 1 and 3 only
b. 2, 4 and 5 only
c. 1, 3 and 5 only
d. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Page
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Explanation:
The knowledge of either “Sorbitol” or Q16. Acid rain is caused by the pollution of
“Formaldehyde” will tell us the answer. environment by
Explanation:
When pollutants such as nitrogen 1. A food chain illustrates the order in
oxides (primary pollutant) and volatile which a chain of organisms feed upon
organic compounds (primary each other. (True)
pollutant) react together in the 2. Food chains are found within the
presence populations of a species. (Man won’t eat
of SUNLIGHT, OZONE (Secondary man – so, false)
pollutant) and peroxyacetyl nitrate 3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of Page
(PAN) (Secondary pollutant) are formed. each organism which are eaten by
others (food web illustrates the number | 16
Reactions involved not the food chain).
Answer: a)
a. Ecotone
b. Ecological niche
Photochemical (summer smog) is c. Habitat
formed when the primary pollutant d. Home range
NO2 reacts with secondary pollutants
03 and peroxyacetyl nitrate in the Answer: b) Niche
presence of sunlight.
Explanation:
Answer: a) NO2, 03 and peroxyacetyl
nitrate in the presence of sunlight Ecotone – zone of transition between
two ecosystems. E.g. grasslands,
Q18. With reference to food chains in mangroves etc.
ecosystems, consider the following Habitat – surroundings in which an
statements: organism lives.
Home Range - Ahome range is the area
1. A food chain illustrates the order in in which an animal lives and moves on
which a chain of organisms feed upon a daily or periodic basis.
each other.
2. Food chains are found within the Q20. With reference to the food chains in
populations of a species. ecosystems, which of the following kinds of
3. A food chain illustrates the numbers of organism is / are known as decomposer
each organism which are eaten by organism/organisms?
others.
1. Virus
Which of the statements given above is / are 2. Fungi
correct? 3. Bacteria
a. 1 only Select the correct answer using the codes
b. 1 and 2 only given below.
c. 1, 2 and 3
d. None
a. 1 only
b. 2 and 3 only
Explanation: c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Q22. Which one of the following is the
correct sequence of ecosystems in the
Fungi and Bacteria are decomposers. order of decreasing productivity?
They breakdown organic matter into
simple inorganic substances. a. Oceans, lakes, grasslands, mangroves
Virus represents dormant life. They are b. Mangroves, oceans, grasslands, lakes
metabolically inactive as long as they c. Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans Page
are outside a host body. They are not d. Oceans, mangroves, lakes, grasslands
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decomposers. They invade host cells
and use their nucleus (DNA machinery) Explanation:
to carry out their life processes.
Protists are unicellular organisms, such Productivity = production/unit area/unit time
as paramecium and euglena. They're
not decomposers either. Production/unit area depends on number and
diversity of producers.
Answer: b)
From the topics discussed in this post, we can
Q21. In the grasslands, trees do not replace
say that transitional zones (Ecotones) have
the grasses as a part of an ecological
very high productivity compared to normal
succession because of
ecosystems. [Tropical Rainforests is an
exception as it has productivity comparable to
a. insects and fungi wetlands because of its rich diversity of
b. limited sunlight and paucity of primary producers]
nutrients
c. water limits and fire
In the options, mangroves are transitional
d. None of the above
ecosystems while the rest are normal
ecosystems.
Answer: c)
Remember: Grasslands are not transitional all
Explanation: the time. E.g. Steppe. Non transitional
grasslands have very low productivity because
Grasses have this one good trick to of very limited diversity of primary producers.
monopolize a place. In dry season the [Grasslands become transitional only when
grasses dry up and cause fires which they are narrow]
destroy other plant species and their
seeds. So the order of decreasing productivity will be
Also grasslands develop in regions with like
scanty rainfall where plant growth
cannot be achieved.
Mangroves ,…… , …… , ……..
Though forests form the climax
community in most of the ecosystems,
Oceans = very deep and hence productivity is
but in grassland ecosystem [In the
limited to surface only (Below in the aphotic
grasslands, trees do not replace the
zone productivity is negligible. Aphotic zone in
grasses as a part of an ecological
oceans is few kilometers).
succession] grasses form the climax
community. Thanks to fire and lack of
water. Also surface water in oceans are very poor in
Grasslands are almost irreversible once nutrients. Nutrient rich cold water flows as a
deforestation in water scarce areas sub-surface flow lying in the aphotic zone.
gives way to grasslands. [Ecological Sunlight and nutrients are far apart and
Damage] hence primary productivity is very low except
in regions where there is upwelling of nutrient
rich cold water [Cold and Warm current
mixing zones].
So open ocean ecosystem has the least Q3. In India, the problem of soil erosion is
productivity. [Desert ecosystem also has very associated with which of the following?
low productivity, lesser than oceans].
1. Terrace cultivation
So, the answer will look like Mangroves, 2. Deforestation
………., ………, Oceans. 3. Tropical climate
Page
The only such option is c) Select the correct answer using the code given
| 18
below.
Answer: c) Mangroves, grasslands, lakes,
oceans. a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 only
Lakes just like oceans have low productivity. c. 1 and 3 only
But due to some plants in photic zone, lakes d. 1, 2 and 3
have productivity slightly greater than that of
oceans. Terrace cultivation is a method to prevent soil
erosion.
2014
Soil erosion occurs in all climates.
Q1. Which one of the following is the
process involved in photosynthesis? Answer: b) 2 only
a. Potential energy is released to form free Q4. Lichens, which are capable of initiating
energy ecological succession even on a bare rock,
b. Free energy is converted into potential are actually a symbiotic association of
energy and stored
c. Food is oxidized to release carbon a. algae and bacteria
dioxide and water b. algae and fungi
d. Oxygen is taken, and carbon dioxide c. bacteria and fungi
and water vapour are given out d. fungi and mosses
a. 1 only
b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Wetlands
Confluence of
rivers
1. Harike
Wetlands
Beas and Satluj/Sutlej
2. Keoladeo Ghana National
Park Banas and Chambal
The phenomenon of hibernation can be
observed in which of the above kinds of
animals?
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 2 only
c. 1, 2 and 3 Page
d. Hibernation cannot be observed in any
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of the above
http://www.pmfias.com/classification-
vertebrata-phylum-chordata/#warm-blooded-
vs-cold-blooded-animals [Hibernation also
explained]
Answer: c) All
a. Crab
b. Mite
c. Scorpion
d. Spider
Coral reefs don’t form in areas where there is
significant intrusion of fresh water and cold
Insects, Arachnids and Crustaceans are
water.
subphylum of Arthropoda.
Most of the mighty Indian Rivers flow into Bay
Mite, Scorpion and spider are Arachnids,
of Bengal and hence coral reefs are absent on
while Crab is a Crustacean.
the east coast of India.
I missed this concept in biology. So I am
Coral reefs are also absent on west coast of
updating here.
Africa (Benguela Current), South America
(Peruvian or Humboldt Current), Europe
(Canaries Current) and other continents due Arachnids
to cold currents.
Spiders, harvestmen, mites, ticks and
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Kutch other arachnids are members of the
and Gulf of Mannar are regions where there is class Arachnida.
not significant freshwater intrusion. But
Sunderbans are the mouth of Ganga-
Brahmaputra river system and hence there is
no coral reef formation there.
1. Bats
2. Bears
3. Rodents
a. Diatoms-Crustaceans-Herrings
b. Crustaceans-Diatoms-Herrings
c. Diatoms-Herrings-Crustaceans
d. Crustaceans-Herrings-Diatoms
Explanation:
Page
Food chain starts with a producer and
| 21
ends with a top consumer.
Phytoplankton are the primary
producers in the oceans. They include:
1. Oak
Insects 2. Rhododendron
3. Sandalwood
In general, insects have three-part
bodies, six jointed legs, compound eyes Select the correct answer using the code given
and two antennae. below
Bees, wasps, beetles, mosquitoes, flies,
grasshoppers, ants, butterflies and a. 1 and 2 only
moths, and dragonflies and damselflies b. 3 only
are common types of insects. c. 1 and 3 only
d. 1, 2 and 3
Q12. Which one of the following is the
correct sequence of a food chain? Explanation:
Oaks occur in Sub-tropical Broad-leaved Hill 4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other
Forests, Montane Wet Temperate Forests and agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in
Himalayan Dry Temperate Forests [All these the vicinity of rivers
forest types are found in Himalayan regions]
Select the correct answer using the code given
Rhododendron occur in sub-alpine cold below.
desert regions [Himalayan regions]. Page
a. 1 and 2 only
| 22
Sandalwood (Red Sanders) occur in Dry b. 2 and 3 only
Deciduous forests [Ganga plains, South and c. 1, 3 and 4 only
Central India. ]. d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Q15. Other than poaching, what are the
possible reasons for the decline in the CBM = Methane
population of Ganges River Dolphins?
Shale gas = Lot of Methane + Little Ethane,
1. Construction of dams and barrages on Propane, & Butane + very little carbon
rivers dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide.
2. Increase in the population of crocodiles
in rivers Abundant shale reserves occur in India
3. Getting trapped in fishing nets
accidentally [Explained in “Economic Geography
Notes” http://imojo.in/7rxa1g]
Q17. In India, cluster bean (Guar) is Photovoltaic = The dislodged electrons if
traditionally used as a vegetable or animal channeled through a conductor will create
feed, but recently the cultivation of this electric current (voltage Or potential
has assumed significance. Which one of the difference) = Solar Panels. [Electric current is
following statements is correct in this nothing but movement of electrons from high
context? potential to low potential area (more electrons
to less electrons region)] Page
a. The oil extracted from seeds is used in
| 23
the manufacture of biodegradable Solar thermal = converting light into heat
plastics = solar cooker, solar water heater.
b. The gum made from its seeds is used
in the extraction of shale gas Photovoltaics generate direct current (DC).
c. The leaf extract of this plant has the [Rotating = AC, Stationary = DC. Electric
properties of anti-histamines generator, wind turbine generate AC while
d. It is a source of high quality biodiesel solar panels generate DC]
Gaur is used to make water viscous before Solar thermal is mostly used for water heating
pumping into ground for hydraulic franking purposes. Electricity can be generated by
used to extract shale gas. using hot water steam to rotate turbine = AC
current.
[Explained in “Economic Geography
Notes” http://imojo.in/7rxa1g] In India both solar panels and solar cookers
are manufactured. [Remember India – USA
Q18. With reference to technologies for WTO ‘domestic content’ dispute?]
solar power production, consider the
following statements: Answer: a) 1 only
a. 1 only Explanation:
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2 Taiga and temperate forests act as an
d. Neither 1 nor 2 important carbon sink. Global warming by 3°C
will turn these forests into carbon source.
Answer: b) 2 only. Wetlands International is
an NGO Corals are very sensitive to temperature
changes. 3°C rise in global temperature will
Q26. Consider the following international lead to widespread coral mortality.
agreements:
3°C rise in global temperature will lead to
1. The International Treaty on Plant submergence of many low lying coastal
Genetic Resources for Food and wetlands (not all) due to rise in sea levels.
Agriculture Inland wetlands like Keoladeo Ghana National
2. The United Nations Convention to Park will not be effected (it is 100s of
Combat Desertification kilometers away from coast).
3. The World Heritage Convention
Because of the slow inertia, long response
Which of the above has/have a bearing on the time for parts of the climate system, it has
biodiversity? been estimated that we are already committed
to a sea-level rise of approximately 2.3 metres
(7.5 ft) for each degree Celsius of temperature c. 2 and 3 only
rise within the next 2,000 years. d. 1, 2 and 3
Q31. Every year, a month long ecologically Agricultural fertilization and the use of Page
important campaign/festival is held during nitrogen fixing plants also contribute to
which certain communities/ tribes plant | 27
atmospheric NOx, by promoting nitrogen
saplings of fruit-bearing trees. Which of the fixation by microorganisms. Excess NOx leads
following are such communities/tribes? to acid rain. Acid rain lowers pH of soil
(increase in acidity of soil)
a. Bhutia and Lepcha
b. Gond and Korku The legume–rhizobium symbiosis is a classic
c. lrula and Toda example of mutualism—rhizobia supply
d. Sahariya and Agariya ammonia or amino acids to the plant and in
return receive organic acids as a carbon and
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp- energy source.
miscellaneous/tp-others/their-own-green-
revolution/article3823031.ece So, excessive/inappropriate use of
nitrogenous fertilizers can make the plants
2015 independent of both symbiotic and free living
nitrogen fixers. Fixers don’t get the food from
Q1. Which of the following National Parks the plants due to broken relationship and
is unique in being a swamp with floating other factors. So their population decreases.
vegetation that supports a rich
biodiversity? Answer: c) 2 and 3 only
a. 1 and 3 only Select the correct using the code given below.
b. 2 only
c. 2 and 3 only a. 1 only
d. 1,2 and 3 b. 2 and 3 only
c. 1 and 3 only
Explanation: d. 1, 2 and 3
Explanation: Explanation:
Fly ash does contain heavy toxic elements like a. Saltwater crocodile
arsenic, cobalt, lead etc. b. Olive ridley turtle
c. Gangetic dolphin
Answer: a) 1 and 2 d. Gharial
Q5. With reference to ‘dugong’, a mammal Q7. Which one of the following regions of
found in India, which of the following India has a combination of mangrove
statements is/are correct? forest, evergreen forest and deciduous
forest?
1. It is a herbivorous marine animal.
2. It is found along the entire coast of a. North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
India b. South-West Bengal
3. It is given legal protection under c. Southern Saurashtra
Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) d. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Act, 1972.
Explanation:
Select the correct answer using the code given
below. North Coastal Andhra Pradesh has deciduous
and mangrove forests.
a. 1 and 2
b. 2 only South West Bengal has mangrove, semi-
c. 1 and 3 evergreen and moist deciduous.
d. 3 only
Southern Saurashtra has dry deciduous and Explanation:
tropical thorn.
Earth Summit 1992 is also known as
Answer: d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands The United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development
Q8. Which one of the following is (UNCED).
associated with the issue of control and As a follow-up, the World Summit on Page
phasing out of the use of ozone-depleting Sustainable Development
substances? | 29
(Rio+10) was held in 2002 in
Johannesburg, South Africa.
a. Bretton Woods Conference In 2012, the United Nations
b. Montreal Protocol Conference on Sustainable
c. Kyoto Protocol Development was also held in Rio, and
d. Nagoya Protocol is also commonly called Rio+20 or Rio
Earth Summit 2012.
Explanation:
Answer: a) United nations Conference on
Bretton Woods Conference established the Sustainable Development
International Bank for Reconstruction and
Development (IBRD) and the International Q10. Which of the following statements
Monetary Fund (IMF). regarding ‘Green Climate Fund’ is/are
correct?
Montreal Protocol is an international treaty to
protect the ozone layer by phasing out the 1. It is intended to assist the developing
production of ozone depleting substances. It is countries in adaptation and mitigation
legally binding. practices to counter climate change.
2. It is founded under the aegis of UNEP,
Kyoto Protocol implemented the objective of OECD, Asian Development Bank and
the UNFCCC to fight global warming by World Bank
reducing greenhouse gas concentrations in
the atmosphere to “a level that would prevent Select the correct answer using the code given
dangerous anthropogenic interference with the below.
climate system”. It is binding on the parties.
a. 1 only
Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement b. 2 only
to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity c. Both 1 and 2
(CBD) on “Access to Genetic Resources and d. Neither 1 nor 2
the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits
Arising from their Utilization”. Green Climate Fund
Namdapha National park lies in Purvanchal Q14. ‘Basel III Accord’ or simply ‘Basel III’,
hills in Arunachal Pradesh. often seen in the news, seeks to
In the Namdapha National Park, located in a. develop national strategies for the
Arunachal Pradesh, the climate varies from conservation and sustainable use of
tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic. biological diversity
It is tropical and subtropical in the southern b. improve banking sector’s ability to deal
region while it is of arctic type in the northern with financial and economic stress and
part of the park. improve risk management
c. reduce the greenhouse gas emissions
Answer: d) Namdapha National park but places a heavier burden on
developed countries
Q12. ‘BioCarbon Fund Initiative for d. transfer technology from developed
Sustain-able Forest Landscapes’ is managed Countries to poor countries to enable
by the them to replace the use of
chlorofluorocarbons in refrigeration
a. Asian Development Bank with harmless chemicals
b. International Monetary Fund
c. United Nations Environment Basel III accord is about improving banking by
Programme dealing with financial and economic stress.
d. World Bank
Answer: b) improve banking sector’s ability
Explanation:
Q15. In a particular region in India, the
The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable local people train the roots of living tree
Forest Landscapes (ISFL) is a multilateral into robust bridges across the streams. As
fund, supported by donor governments and the time passes these bridges become
managed by the World Bank. stronger. These unique ‘Living Root
Bridges’ are found in
Answer: d) World Bank
a. Meghalaya
Q13. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal b. Himachal Pradesh
Committee is constituted under the c. Jharkhand
d. Tamil Nadu
a. Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
Q16. Consider the following States:
1. Arunachal Pradesh Answer: c) 1 and 3 only
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Mizoram Q18. With reference to an organization
known as ‘Birdlife International’ which of
In which of the following states do “Tropical the following statements is/are correct?
Wet Evergreen Forests” occur?
1. It is a Global Partnership of Page
a. 1 only Conservation Organizations.
b. 2 and 3 only 2. The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ | 31
c. 1 and 3 only originated from this organization.
d. 1, 2 and 3 3. It identifies the sites known/referred to
as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity
Explanation: Areas’.
Himachal Pradesh has many varieties of Select the correct answer using the code given
forests but not wet evergreen. below.
Q17. With reference to ‘Forest Carbon Q19. In India, in which one of the following
Partnership Facility’, which of the types of forests is teak a dominant tree
following statements is/are correct? species?
Page
| 33
Picture Credits:
https://briangrimmerblog.files.wordpress.com
/2014/07/image.jpg
Answer: c)
Explanation
Components of an Ecosystem
Macro consumers
Adaptive radiation
Those offsprings which are suited to
their immediate environment have a
better chance of surviving, reaching
reproductive age and passing on the
suitable adaptations to their progeny.
Evolution Page
| 41
Evolution is the change which gives rise
to new species. It happens in order to
make the organism better suit to the
present environment.
Codes: Explanation:
Succession in Plants
[http://www.pmfias.com/classification-
vertebrata-phylum-chordata/#warm-blooded-
vs-cold-blooded-animals]
Mutualism Neutralism
Pyramid of Biomass
Pyramid of Energy
Effects of CHC
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/com
mons/d/d5/Carbon_cycle.jpg
1. Photosynthesis
2. Respiration
Carbon is a minor constituent of the 3. Decay of organic matter
atmosphere as compared to oxygen and 4. Volcanic action
nitrogen.
However, without carbon dioxide life could Which of the above add carbon dioxide to the
not exist because it is vital for the carbon cycle on Earth ?
production of carbohydrates through
photosynthesis by plants. a) 1 and 4 only
It is the element that anchors all organic b) 2 and 3 only
substances from coal and oil to DNA c) 2,3 and 4 only
(deoxyribonudeic acid: the compound that d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
carries genetic information).
Carbon is present in the atmosphere, Answer: c) Photosynthesis takes out
mainly in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 from carbon cycle. Rest all ads CO2.
Q2. Which one of the following is the There is an inexhaustible supply of
process involved in photosynthesis? nitrogen in the atmosphere but the
elemental form cannot be used directly by
a) Potential energy is released to form free most of the living organisms.
energy Nitrogen needs to be ‘fixed’, that
b) Free energy is converted into potential is, converted to ammonia, nitrites or
energy and stored nitrates, before it can be taken up by Page
c) Food is oxidized to release carbon plants.
dioxide and water Nitrogen fixation on earth is accomplished | 62
d) Oxygen is taken, and carbon dioxide in three different ways:
and water vapour are given out
1. By microorganisms (bacteria and blue-
Answer: b) Sunlight (free energy) is green algae),
converted into carbohydrates (potential 2. By man using industrial processes
energy) using water and carbon dioxide. (fertilizer factories) and
Oxygen is released in the process. 3. To a limited extent by atmospheric
phenomenon such as thunder and
Nitrogen Cycle [Gaseous Cycle] lighting.
Apart from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, Certain microorganisms are capable of
nitrogen is the most prevalent element in fixing atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia
living organisms. (NH3) and ammonium ions (NH4+).
Nitrogen is a constituent of amino acids,
proteins, hormones, chlorophylls and Ammonia is a molecule consisting of nitrogen
many of the vitamins. [All of these and hydrogen having molecular NH3,
explained under Biology while ammonium (NH4+) is an ion of ammonia
(http://imojo.in/76hnkb)] that is formed by accepting hydrogen ion.
Plants compete with microbes for the
limited nitrogen that is available in soil. The enzyme, nitrogenase which is capable
Thus, nitrogen is a limiting nutrient for of nitrogen reduction is present
both natural and agricultural ecosystems. exclusively in prokaryotes. Such microbes
Nitrogen exists as two nitrogen atoms (N2) are called N2-fixers. These include:
joined by a very strong triple covalent
bond (N ≡ N). 1. free living nitrogen fixing bacteria (non-
In nature, lightning and ultraviolet symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria or
radiation provide enough energy to nitrogen fixing soil bacteria)
convert nitrogen to nitrogen oxides (NO, (e.g. aerobic Azotobacter and Beijemic
NO2, N2O). kia; anaerobic Clostridium and Rhodo
Industrial combustions, forest fires, spirillum),
automobile exhausts and power-generating 2. symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria
stations are also sources of atmospheric (e.g. Rhizobium) living in association
nitrogen oxides. with leguminous plants and non-
leguminous root nodule plants and
3. some cyanobacteria (major source of
nitrogen fixation in oceans)(blue green
Nitrogen Fixing – Nitrogen to Ammonia algae. E.g. Nostoc, Anabaena,
(N2 to NH3) Spirulina etc.).
Page
| 63
1. Animal Waste like Urea, Uric acid and The answer depends on how you interpret the
Death of vegetation add nitrogen in the question.
form of nitrates directly into soil.
2. Coal combustion ads nitrogen to Answer: Official UPSC Key says answer is c)
atmosphere and from there it falls back to 1 and 3 only.
earth in the form of acid rain and acid rain
adds nitrogen to soil. If you have anything more to add write it
at poormansfriend2485@gmail.com
http://www.ehow.com/how-
does_5117705_burning-fuels-affect-nitrogen- Q4. Consider the following:
cycle.html says:
1. Carbon dioxide
“The release of nitric oxides into the air in 2. Oxides of Nitrogen
large quantities causes smog and acid 3. Oxides of Sulphur
rain that pollutes the atmosphere, soil and
water and affects plants and animals. The Which of the above is/are the
increase in nitrogen and nitrous oxide is emission/emissions from coal combustion at
caused by automobiles, power plants and a thermal power plants ?
wide variety of industries.
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only The legume–rhizobium symbiosis is a classic
d) 1, 2 and 3 example of mutualism—rhizobia supply
ammonia or amino acids to the plant and in
Burning coal releases CO, CO2, sulphur return receive organic acids as a carbon and
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen – air pollutants. energy source.
There are two types of tundra – arctic and Arctic tundra extends as a continuous belt
alpine. below the polar ice cap and above the tree
line (taiga) in the northern hemisphere.
It occupies the northern fringe of Canada, lemming, arctic hare, arctic willow live
Alaska, European Russia, Siberia and in tundra region.
island group of Arctic Ocean. Reptiles and amphibians are almost
On the south pole, tundra is very small absent.
since most of it is covered by ocean. Most of the animals have long life e.g.
Alpine tundra occurs at high mountains arctic willow has a life span of 150 to 300
above the tree line. E.g. High ranges of years. Page
Himalayas, Andes, Alps etc. They are protected from chillness by the
presence of thick cuticle and epidermal | 70
hair or fur.
Mammals of the tundra region have large
body size and small tail and ear to avoid
the loss of heat from the surface [less
surface area = less heat loss = less food
required to produce heat].
Temperature
Precipitation
Grasses
Trees
Name of the Region
Temperate Polewards, an increase in precipitation
Grassland gives rise to a transitional zone of wooded
Pustaz Hungary and steppes where some conifers gradually
surrounding regions appear.
Prairies North America
[between the foothills Animals
of the Rockies and the
Great Lakes] Does not have much animal diversity.
Pampas Argentina and Horses are common in Asian Steppes.
Page
| 74
At the time of joining the Convention, each The Ramsar Convention works closely with
Contracting Party undertakes to designate six other organizations known as
at least one wetland site for inclusion in International Organization Partners (IOPs).
the List of Wetlands of International These are:
Importance.
The inclusion of a “Ramsar Site” in the List 1. Birdlife International
embodies the government’s commitment to 2. International Union for Conservation of
take the steps necessary to ensure that its Nature (IUCN)
ecological character is maintained. 3. International Water Management
The List of Wetlands of International Institute (IWMI)
Importance included 2,231 Ramsar Sites 4. Wetlands International
in March 2016. 5. WWF
The country with the highest number of 6. International Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
Sites is the United Kingdom with 170 (WWT)
The country with the greatest area of listed
wetlands is Bolivia. Other Partners
1.83
11 Keoladeo National Park Rajasthan A complex of ten artificial, seasonal
lagoons, varying in size, situated in a
28.73 densely populated region.
Placed on the Montreux Record in 1990
due to "water shortage and an unbalanced
grazing regime".
Additionally, the invasive growth of the
grass Paspalum distichum has changed
the ecological character of large areas of
the site, reducing its suitability for certain
waterbird species, notably the Siberian
crane.
901
13 Loktak Lake Manipur Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake
in the north-eastern region.
266 Keibul Lamjao the only floating national
park in the world floats over it.
14 Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary Gujarat A natural freshwater lake (a relict sea)
that is the largest natural wetland in the
[Declared as Ramsar site in 123 Thar Desert Biogeographic Province and
2012. Most recent Ramsar represents a dynamic environment with
Site in India] salinity and depth varying depending on
rainfall.
Besides a few mammalian species Page
including the endangered wild ass and
the black buck, its migratory bird | 90
population includes rosy
pelicans, flamingoes, white
storks, brahminy ducks and herons.
Thousands of migratory waterfowl flock to
this sanctuary just after the Indian
monsoon season.
The wetland is also a lifeline for a satellite
population of the endangered Indian Wild
Ass (Equus hemionus khur) which uses
this area in the dry season.
15 Point Calimere Wildlife and Tamil Nadu One of the last remnants of Dry Evergreen
Bird Sanctuary Forests.
385 Habitat:Dry Evergreen Forests, Mangrove
& Wetlands.
Winter Migrants : Spoon Billed Sandpiper,
Greater Flamingos.
2.4
20 Sambhar Lake Rajasthan The Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest
inland salt lake.
240 Sambhar has been designated as a
Ramsar site (recognized wetland of
international importance) because the
wetland is a key wintering area for tens of
thousands of flamingos and other birds
that migrate from northern Asia.
The specialized algae and bacteria growing
in the lake provide striking water colours
and support the lake ecology that, in turn,
sustains the migrating waterfowl. There is
other wildlife in the nearby forests, where
Nilgai move freely along with deer and
foxes.
3.5
23 Tsomoriri Jammu and A freshwater to brackish lake lying at
Kashmir 4,595m above sea level. The site is said to
represent the only breeding ground
120 outside of China for one of the most
endangered cranes, the Black-necked
crane (Grus nigricollis), and the only
breeding ground for Bar-headed geese in
India.
The Great Tibetan Sheep or Argali (Ovis
ammon hodgsoni) and Tibetan Wild Ass
(Equus kiang) are endemic to the Tibetan
plateau, of which the Changthang is the
westernmost part.
24 Upper Ganga River (Brijghat Uttar Pradesh The river provides habitat for IUCN Red
to Narora Stretch) listed Ganges River Dolphin, Gharial,
266 Crocodile, 6 species of turtles, otters, 82
species of fish and more than hundred
species of birds.
189
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Page
| 93
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2. It works at the field level to develop and It also provides guidelines, financial &
mobilize knowledge, and use the practical technical assistance to state govt.
experience to advocate for better policies. Since the land resources belong to them,
the State Governments/UT Administration
Select the correct answer using the code given are responsible for management of
below. wetlands.
Page
a. 1 only Mangrove and Estuarine Ecosystems
| 94
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2 Estuarine Ecosystem
d. Neither 1 nor 2
An estuary is a place where a river or a
Answer: b) 2 only. Wetlands International stream opens into the sea (mouth of the
is an NGO river).
It is a partially enclosed coastal area of
National Wetlands Conservation brackish water (salinity varies between 0-
Programme (NWCP) 35 ppt) with one or more rivers or streams
flowing into it, and with a free connection
NWCP was implemented in the year 1985- to the open sea.
86. At the estuaries, fresh water carrying
Under the programme, 115 wetlands have fertile silt and runoff from the land mixes
been identified by the MoEF which require with the salty sea water.
urgent conservation and management Estuaries form a transition zone
interventions. (ecotone) between river environments and
Criteria for identification of wetlands of maritime environments.
national importance under NWCP are same Examples of estuaries are river mouths,
as those prescribed under the ‘Ramsar coastal bays, tidal marshes, lagoons and
Convention on Wetlands’. deltas.
Aim
Objectives
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In some narrow estuaries, tidal bores are ideal locations for the construction of ports
significant. Tidal bores cause great damage and harbours.
to the estuarine ecology. The banks of estuarine channels form a
favored location for human settlements,
Importance of Estuaries which use the estuaries for fishing and
commerce, but nowadays also for dumping
They are the most productive (more
civic and industrial waste. Page
productive than wetlands) water bodies in | 95
the world because of the mixing of fresh Differences between Lagoon and
water and saline water zone where marine Estuary
organisms of both the ecosystems meet.
A lagoon is a stretch of salt water
Ecotone regions (transitional zones) separated from the sea by a low sandbank
like mangroves, wetlands, estuaries, or coral reef.
grasslands etc. have far greater productivity Backwaters in Kerala are mostly lagoons
compared to natural ecosystems like forest where sea water flows inwards through a
ecosystem, ocean ecosystem, pond ecosystem, small inlet that is open towards the sea.
riverine ecosystem, desert ecosystem etc.. This The main difference between lagoons and
is because of the wide ranging species from estuaries is in the flow dynamics of the
the adjacent ecosystems being present in the water bodies: in estuaries, the water flows
ecotone. fast and strong, while in lagoons the water
is more shallow and flows sluggishly.
Also, an estuary has very little wave Estuaries are usually deeper than lagoons.
action, so it provides a calm refuge from Also, lagoons mostly don’t have any fresh
the open sea and hence becomes ideal for water source while the estuaries have at
the survival of numerous aquatic species. least one. Lagoons more saline than
Estuaries are most heavily populated areas estuaries.
throughout the world, with about 60% of Lagoons are formed due to fall in sea levels
the world's population living along (coastline of emergence. E.g. Kerala Coast)
estuaries and the coast. whereas estuaries are mostly formed due
The vast mangrove forests on the sea ward to rise in sea levels (coastline of
side of an estuary act as barrier for the submergence. E.g. Konkan coast)
costal habitat to check the wind speed
during cyclones and high velocity landward Estuarine Vegetation
winds.
Mangroves act as a filter trapping Only certain types of plants and animals
suspended mud and sand carried by rivers specially adapted to the "brackish"
which leads to delta formations around estuarine waters flourish in the estuaries.
estuaries. Factors influencing the growth and
Precipitation of clay and alluvium particles distribution of organism in an estuary are
in estuarine region is high because of the its salinity and the amount of flooding.
exposure to saline water (saline water Estuaries support diverse habitats, such
precipitates fine alluvium). as mangroves, salt marshes, sea-grass,
Estuaries store and recycle Nutrients, mudflats etc.
traps sediment and forms a buffer between Estuaries are very dynamic and productive
coastal catchments and the marine ecosystems since the river flow, tidal range
environment. and sediment distribution is continuously
They also absorb, trap and detoxify changing in them.
pollutants, acting as a natural water filter. In general the phytoplanktons of estuaries
Estuaries with their wetlands, creeks, are diatoms, dinoflagellates, green algae,
lagoons, mangroves and sea-grass beds are blue-green algae.
rich in natural resources including Towards the sea coast of the estuaries
fisheries. there are large algae and sea grasses. Near
They are deep and well protected from
marine transgressions and hence they are
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the mouth of the rivers and deltas there Destruction of biodiversity through prawn
are mangrove forests. seed collection and operation of small-
Estuaries are homes to all kind of meshed nets (e.g., Hooghly, Chilka, Pulicat)
terrestrial or land-based plants and Submergence of catchment areas due to
animals, such as wood storks, pelicans, rise in water level.
coniferous and deciduous trees and
butterflies. Mangroves Page
Estuaries are also homes to unique aquatic
plants and animals, such as sea turtles, | 96
Mangroves represent a characteristic
sea lions, sea catfish, saltworts, eelgrass,
littoral (near the sea shore) forest
saltgrasses, cordgrasses, sea grass, sedge,
ecosystem.
bulrush etc..
These are mostly evergreen forests that
grow in sheltered low lying coasts,
India Estuarine Ecosystem estuaries, mudflats, tidal creeks
backwaters (coastal waters held back on
The Country has 14 major, 44 medium land), marshes and lagoons of tropical and
and 162 minor rivers drains into the sea subtropical regions.
through various estuaries. Mangroves grow below the high water level
Major estuaries occur in the Bay of Bengal. of spring tides. The best locations are
Many estuaries are locations of some of the where abundant silt is brought down by
major seaports. rivers or on the backshore of accreting
Most of the India's major estuaries occur sandy beaches.
on the east coast. In contrast, the Mangroves are highly productive
estuaries on the west coast are smaller (In ecosystems and the trees may vary in
environmental studies, deltas are height from 8 to 20 m. They protect the
considered as sub sections of estuaries). shoreline from the effect of cyclones and
Two typical examples of estuaries on the tsunamis.
west coast are the Mandovi and Zuari They are breeding and spawning ground
estuaries. for many commercially important fishes.
Since mangroves are located between the
Issues of Indian Estuarine Ecosystem land and sea they represent the best
example of ecotone.
Mangroves are shrubs or small trees that
Modifications of the estuarine catchments
grow in coastal saline or brackish water.
results in changes in water flow in various
Mangroves are salt tolerant trees, also
estuaries, either far in excess or much
called halophytes, and are adapted to life
lower than required (Eg: Hooghly,
in harsh coastal conditions.
Narmada, Krishna, Godavari, Pulicat etc.)
Mangrove vegetation facilitates more water
Pollution through industries and combined
loss. Leaves are thick and contain salt
city sewage discharge.
secreting glands. Some block absorption of
Recreational boating and fishing.
salt at their roots itself.
Navigation, dredging and shipping (e.g.
They contain a complex salt filtration
Hooghly)
system and complex root system to cope
Expansion of urban and rural settlements,
with salt water immersion and wave
mining & industries, agriculture and
action.
dumping of solid wastes
They are adapted to the low oxygen
Over exploitation of target fish stock due to
(anoxic) conditions of waterlogged mud.
increased demand.
They produces pneumatophores (blind
Reclaiming the fringed areas for intensive
roots) to overcome respiration problem in
aquaculture in pens.
the anaerobic soil conditions.
Obstructing the migratory routes of fish
Mangroves occur worldwide in the tropics
and prawn recruitment (e.g., Chilka,
and subtropics, mainly between latitudes
Pulicat)
25° N and 25° S.
Polluting the environment through feeding
They require high solar radiation to filter
of stocked fish and prawn in pens (Chilka)
saline water through their roots. This
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creeks in Maharashtra, Goa and They are destroyed for conversion of area
Karnataka. for agricultural purpose, fuel, fodder and,
The mangrove vegetation in the coastal salinization, mining, oil spills, aqua
zone of Kerala is very sparse and thin. cultural (shrimp farming), use of chemical
In Gujarat (north-west coast) mangroves pesticides & fertilizers, industrial
Avicennia marine, Avicennia officinalis and purposes.
Rhizophora mucronata are found mainly in Page
Gulf of Kachchh and the Kori creek. Q2. Which one of the following is the
Mangroves are of scrubby type with correct sequence of ecosystems in the | 98
stunted growth, forming narrow, order of decreasing productivity?
discontinuous patches on soft clayey mud.
The condition of the mangroves is a. Oceans, lakes, grasslands, mangroves
improving especially in the Kori creek b. Mangroves, oceans, grasslands, lakes
region, which is a paleodelta of the Indus c. Mangroves, grasslands, lakes, oceans
river. d. Oceans, mangroves, lakes, grasslands
In size, mangroves range from bushy
stands of dwarf mangroves found in Gulf of Explanation:
Kuchchh, to taller stands found in the
Sunderbans. Productivity = production/unit area/unit time
On the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the
small tidal estuaries, neritic inlets and the Production/unit area depends on number and
lagoons support a dense and diverse diversity of producers.
undisturbed mangrove flora.
From the topics discussed in this post, we can
Importance of Mangroves say that transitional zones (Ecotones) have
very high productivity compared to normal
Mangrove plants have (additional) special ecosystems. [Tropical Rainforests is an
roots such as prop roots, pneumatophores exception as it has productivity comparable to
which help to impede water flow and wetlands because of its rich diversity of
thereby enhance the deposition of primary producers]
sediment in areas (where it is already
occurring), stabilize the coastal shores, In the options, mangroves are transitional
provide breeding ground for fishes. ecosystems while the rest are normal
Mangroves moderate monsoonal tidal ecosystems.
floods and reduce inundation of coastal
lowlands. Remember: Grasslands are not transitional all
They prevents coastal soil erosion. the time. E.g. Steppe. Non transitional
They protects coastal lands from tsunami, grasslands have very low productivity because
hurricanes and floods. of very limited diversity of primary producers.
Mangroves enhance natural recycling of [Grasslands become transitional only when
nutrients. they are narrow]
Mangrove supports numerous flora,
avifauna and wild life. So the order of decreasing productivity will be
Provide a safe and favorable environment like
for breeding, spawning, rearing of several
fishes. Mangroves ,…… , …… , ……..
They supplies woods, fire wood, medicinal
plants and edible plants to local people.
Oceans = very deep and hence productivity is
They provides numerous employment
limited to surface only (Below in the aphotic
opportunities to local communities and
zone productivity is negligible. Aphotic zone in
augments their livelihood.
oceans is few kilometers).
Threats Also surface water in oceans are very poor in
nutrients. Nutrient rich cold water flows as a
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sub-surface flow lying in the aphotic zone. So, the answer will look like Mangroves,
Sunlight and nutrients are far apart and ………., ………, Oceans.
hence primary productivity is very low except
in regions where there is upwelling of nutrient The only such option is c)
rich cold water [Cold and Warm current
mixing zones]. Answer: c) Mangroves, grasslands, lakes,
oceans. Page
So open ocean ecosystem has the least
productivity. [Desert ecosystem also has very | 99
Lakes just like oceans have low productivity.
low productivity, lesser than oceans]. But due to some plants in photic zone, lakes
have productivity slightly greater than that of
oceans.
Notes: https://www.instamojo.com/poormansfriend/
Air/water/soil pollution: Gaseous Consequences of Environmental
pollutants: Oxides of carbon, nitrogen and Degradation
sulphur. [All types of pollution are
explained in detail in future posts]
Increased sensitivity to
Particulate matter: Fine metal dust, fly
diseases: Cultivated species of plants,
ash, soot, cotton dust and radioactive
fishes and other domesticated animals
have become increasingly sensitive to pest Page
substances.
Burning of plastics: Emit poly chlorinated
and diseases. |
biphenyles (PCBs).
Genetic resistance: An increased use of
Industrial and domestic effluents:
insecticides, pesticides and antibiotics has 100
Pathogens, heavy metals in water bodies
speeded up directional natural selection
and soil.
and caused genetic resistance in
Industrial catastrophes: Accidental release
pathogens.
of some poisonous gases
Effect on nutrient recycling: Use of
like phosgene (COCl2) and methyl
fertilizers in agricultural fields interferes
isocynate (as it happened in Bhopal) were
with the natural biogeochemical cycles.
fatal.
Loss of biodiversity: Habitat destruction
Secondary air pollutants formed from
and habitat fragmentation are threatening
complex reactions between primary
the survival of many endangered species.
pollutants, such as smog and acid rain.
Climate change/global warming: Air
Habitat fragmentation and
pollution is making the plant inhospitable
destruction: Industrialization and
due to events like global warming, acid
associated infrastructure development has
rain, ocean acidification etc.
led to the destruction of habitats of many
Melting of ice caps and glaciers/Sea
species.
level change: Global warming is posing
Hazardous waste/Toxic substances: Use
serious threat to Himalayan and polar
of various type of chemicals today have
ecosystems by melting snow at a faster
serious health implications. Incidence of
rate. Rise in sea level in future is a serious
cancer, genetic mutations and damage to
threat to costal landforms.
nervous, immune and hormonal systems.
Depletion of water resources: Water
Invasive populations: Introduction of new
pollution has created tremendous scarcity
alien species or non-native species reduces
of quality water resources.
the populations growth of native species.
Desertification: Lot of arable land is
Stress due to over
converted to waste land due to erosion,
harvesting: Overgrazing by livestock
salinity and loss of fertility.
results in soil erosion and loss of
Change in weather patterns: The
productivity. Similarly over harvesting of
incidence of extreme weather events and
edible fishes reduces population and may
change in weather patterns have become
become completely extinct if the over
common due to environmental
fishing continues for long.
degradation.
Global warming: Increasing use of fossil
fuels is a leading cause of increasing levels
of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the Human Modified Ecosystems and
atmosphere. Environmental Degradation
Over exploitation of natural resources:
Rapidly growing population results in over Some examples of human modified
exploitation of resources. Over exploitation ecosystems are: agro-ecosystems,
and introduction of a new or genetically plantation forests, rural and urban
modified species reduce the productivity of ecosystems, aquaculture etc.
natural ecosystems.
Deforestation, over grazing, intensive Characteristics of human modified
cultivation, over irrigation etc. results in ecosystems
the loss of top soil and fertility of the land.
Prolonged degradation of land leads to Highly unstable, unsustainable and have a
desertification. devastating effect on the environment.
Highly simplified with a very low species The aim is to grow fast growing trees which
diversity and poor nutrient cycling. are commercially valuable. E.g. Palm,
Food chains are simple, small and undergo rubber, eucalyptus etc.
frequent changes. Trees planted on barren land, private land,
Depend on human (anthropogenic) support village panchayat land, roadsides, canal
for survival. banks, along with railway line and on land
Species are highly susceptible to epidemic not suitable for agriculture. Page
diseases.
Highly subjected to soil erosion and soil Characteristics of plantation forests |
degradation. 101
Regeneration and recovery of the Plantation forests are generally
environment is very slow. Some adverse monoculture, like oil palm plantation,
effects are irreversible for a very long time. rubber plantation, coffee
plantation, Jatropa curcare (biodiesel).
Agro ecosystems Plantation forests have trees of
approximately same age.
Agro ecosystems are large areas where Plantation forests are highly susceptible to
commercial crops are cultivated. pathogens.
Crops are mostly cultivated
as monoculture (growing only one type of Economic importance
crop) on the entire field.
Tree plantation are raised for fruits, oil,
Characteristics of agro-ecosystems rubber, coffee, timber, fire wood, pulp
wood for making rayon and paper
Attract weeds and susceptible to plant industries.
diseases. Trees are also planted to serve as wind
Soil are poor, deficient in nutrients, require breaks or shelter belts.
supplement of chemical or fertilizers. Tree plantations are also raised for
Need artificial irrigation and water controlling soil erosion and for increasing
management. soil fertility.
The Himalayan region, with its young and Thriving tourist industry has created
unstable topography, is one of the most great demand for lodging facilities.
fragile ecosystems on earth. Buildings are constructed
It has recently gained notice for its indiscriminately by flouting rules.
‘vulnerability’ due to various General non-compliance with prescribed
unsustainable economic and norms and guidelines has become very
developmental activities such as common.
unchecked tourism and mountaineering, The natural sites for these illegal
hydroelectric power projects, constructions are river banks, dried and
indiscriminate urbanization etc.. old river courses and moderately sloped
regions.
Biotic pressure During wet seasons, landslides become
common along sloped regions that are
affected by construction. The debris from
Population explosion has resulted in high
the construction sites block the river
biotic pressure by putting strain on
courses causing flash floods. All these
natural resources.
cause a great damage to the fragile
Many species are now threatened due to
ecology.
habitat destruction and habitat
fragmentation caused by anthropogenic
activities. Infrastructure development
Man-animal conflict: snow Leopards are
hunted to save livestock. Growing population, thriving tourism,
military (security) needs have led to rapid
Pollution and solid waste construction of roads, and railways on
the Himalayan slopes.
Instability caused by infrastructure
Air pollution due to increase in vehicle
development is evident in numerous
density; water pollution and soil pollution
landslides that occur in along the slopes
due to domestic sewage are making the
in the region.
region more vulnerable.
Indiscriminate solid waste dumping as a
result of urbanization and tourism Cultural/Pilgrimage Tourism
development have resulted in
The Himalayas is known to be a home of Initiatives to save Himalayan
saints, destination of pilgrimage since Environment
time immemorial.
For example, Badrinath, Kedarnath, Ban on Plastic in HP
Gangotri-Yamunotri and Hemkund Sahib
in Uttarakhand, Manimahesh, Jwala State government enacted the Himachal
Devi, Chintpurni, Naina Devi in Himachal Pradesh Non-Biodegradable Garbage Page
Pradesh and Vaishnav Devi and (Control) Act, 1995 in order to prevent |
Amarnath in Jammu & Kashmir, throwing or depositing non-biodegradable
Khecheopalri and other sacred lakes in garbage in public drains, roads. 104
Sikkim are particularly important It has then increased the minimum
destinations. thickness of plastic carry bags to 70
Unfortunately, most of these places lack microns of virgin material, which
adequate facilities of transport, exceeded the 20 micron thickness
accommodation, waste disposal and other recommended by Central Rules.
amenities for the ever growing number of Further, the state Government has taken
pilgrims that visit them every year. a Cabinet decision to ban plastics
Also, there is a gross lack of regulatory altogether in the entire state since 2009.
mechanism for infrastructure creation,
management, and for controlling the
Participatory Conservation of Lakes in the
tourist inflow in such sites.
Region
As a result the sensitive ecosystems and
cultural values of these areas are facing
pressures far beyond their carrying The Nainital Lake is the sole source of
capacities. drinking water for Nainital town, an
important tourist destination in
Deforestation Uttarakhand state.
Increasing inflow of tourists, urban waste
making its way into the lake is adversely
Deforestation in rampant all over India. affecting water quality.
In spite of their fragile ecosystem, To conserve the water body, the residents
Himalayas are no exception. have switched on to a scientific garbage
Trees are felled for their timber which find disposal system - under the project name
many domestic and industrial 'Mission Butterfly' by Nainital Lake
applications. Conservation Project.
Deforestation leads to soil erosion and The sweepers, on a small monthly charge,
slope instability. Landslides become collect waste from each household and
common. directly transfer it to the compost pits.
Apart from the residents, schools and
Climate change/global warming hotel owners have extended full
cooperation to the authorities, to save its
Climate change has evolved as the single precious eco-system.
biggest threat to the Himalayan In addition, they are able to generate
ecosystem. Melting of glaciers, ice caps income and employment by converting it
and bursting of lakes create havoc to manure.
downstream.
The receding snowline has threated the Assam Hill Land and Ecological Sites Act,
local biodiversity. Many species 2006
acclimatized to the cold environment are
moving further up the slopes. They lose The Assam Hill Land and Ecological Sites
their normal pray and hence struggle to (Protection and Management) Act, 2006
survive. Their natural habitat turns to prevent indiscriminate cutting of trees
hostile leading to extinction of many and filling up of water bodies in urban
critical species. areas.
Under the Act, the state government can conservation-based community managed
bring any hill under its purview for tourism development in remote
protection. settlements, by gradually building local
capacity and ownership.
Sikkim's Ecotourism Policy
Promoting Ecotourism and Regulation of
"Sikkim - the Ultimate Tourist Commercial Tourism Page
Destination" is the policy motto of the |
state. Eco-tourism villages, parks, sanctuaries
The state is employing a system of and other areas should be identified to 105
environmental fees, and permits for establish a primary base for ecotourism.
entries, and stay time restrictions in Village communities, especially youths,
some environmentally sensitive high and rural women should be involved in
altitude/pristine areas. Ecotourism.
Operationalization of tourism in various Restrictions on the entry of vehicles and
modes, such as village tourism, nature visitors per day/ per group should be
tourism, wildlife tourism, imposed in sensitive ecological sites.
trekking/adventure tourism, and cultural Local art, crafts, cuisines, and dishes
tourism in the state and should be promoted and made an integral
institutionalization of tourism part of tourist experience in order to
management at the community level. ensure economic benefits to the locals
Promotion and use of local art & craft, and their cultural integrity/ entity is not
cuisines, etc., along with organizing lost.
tourism fairs and festivals. Best practices on commercial trekking
Imparting training in tourism related should be imposed on a mandatory basis
service industries. Creation of log/bamboo huts should be
The efforts made by Sikkim can be a promoted in busy mountain areas.
basis of responsible tourism in other
Himalayan states. Soil Erosion - Wind & Water Erosion |
Desertification
Measures That Can Be Taken to Protect
Himalayan Ecosystem Soil erosion
Raindrop erosion |
106
Raindrops falling on land surface cause
detachment of the soil particles. The loose Stream bank erosion
soil particles are washed away by flowing
water.
An average size of raindrop is The erosion of soil from the banks (shores)
approximately 5 mm in diameter falling of the streams or rivers due to the flowing
through the air hits the soil at a velocity water is called bank erosion.
of 32 km/hr. In certain areas where river changes its
Larger raindrops and gusts of wind hit course, the river banks get eroded at a
the soil surface even at higher velocities. rapid rate. Stream bank erosion damages
Raindrops behave like tiny bombs when the adjoining agricultural lands, highways
falling on exposed soil, displace soil and bridges.
particles and destroy soil structure.
Presence of vegetation on land prevents
raindrops from falling directly on the soil
thus erosion of soil in areas covered by
vegetation is prevented.
With continued rainfall the displaced soil
particles fill in the spaces between soil
particles and so prevent water from
seeping into the soil.
After some time this result in
accumulation of water called ‘ponding’ on
the land. This water begins to flow. This Landslide
flowing water is called runoff. As the
water moves it erodes the soil surface. Sudden mass movement of soil is called
landslide. Landslides occur due to
Sheet erosion instability or loss of balance of land mass
with respect to gravity.
The detachment and transportation of Loss in balance occurred mainly due to
soil particles by flowing rainwater is excessive water or moisture in the earth
called sheet or wash off erosion. This is mass.
very slow process and often remain Gravity acts on such an unstable
unnoticed. landmass and causes the large chunks of
surface materials such as soil and rocks
Rill erosion slide down rapidly.
Coastal erosion
In rill erosion finger like rills appear on
the cultivated land after it has undergone
sheet erosion. These rills are usually Coastal erosion of soil occurs along sea
smoothened out every year while forming. shores. It is caused by the wave action of
Each year the rills slowly increase in the sea and the inward movement of the
number become wider and deeper. When sea into the land.
Consequences of water erosion To prevent stream bank erosion runoff
water should be stored in the catchment
The fine particles of the topsoil which for as possible by maintaining vegetation
contain the bulk of nutrients and organic cover and as by constructing dams for
matter needed by the plants are lost from storing water.
soil erosion. Erosion removes the most For prevention or reduction of coastal
fertile part of soil. The less fertile subsoil is erosion, protective vegetation along the Page
left. beaches should be re-established.
Erosion may result in removal of seeds or The best method of controlling coastal |
seedlings so that the soil becomes bare. dune erosion is not to disturb the dunes 107
Bare soil is more vulnerable to erosion and the coastal system.
both by wind and water. Further, construction of buildings and
Removal of seeds and seedlings reduces other development should be located
the ability of soil to store water. behind the dune system.
Sheet, rill, gully and stream bank erosion
also cause siltation of rivers, streams and Wind erosion
fields. Deposition of silt results in damage
of crops and pastures, and sedimentation Soil erosion by wind is more common in
of water bodies like streams, dams, areas where the natural vegetation has
reservoirs etc. been destroyed. Such conditions occur
Sedimentation of water bodies deteriorate mainly in arid and dry areas along the
water quality and damage aquatic habitats sandy shores of oceans, lakes and rivers.
and organisms. The loose soil particles are blown and
Gully erosion also results in loss of large transported from wind by following three
volumes of soil. Wider deep gullies ways: (i) Siltation: blown by wind in a
sometimes reach 30 m and thus severely series of short bounces. (ii) Suspension:
limit land use. transported over long distances in the form
Large gullies disrupt normal farm of suspended particles. (iii) Surface creep:
operation. transported at ground level by high velocity
Stream bank erosion not only causes loss winds.
of land, but also changes the course of a
river or stream. Consequences of wind erosion
Stream banks erosion also damage public
roads.
Wind erosion removes the finer soil
Mass movement of land or landslides also
material including organic matter, clay and
inhibits farm production and land use.
slit, in a suspension (colloidal) form and
It also causes mortality in animals and
leaving behind coarser, less fertile
humans.
material.
Coastal erosion causes the adjourning land
Productive capacity of the soil is lost as
to become covered by sand.
most of the plant nutrients which remain
attached smaller colloidal soil fraction are
Prevention of water erosion
lost.
Wind erosion also damages roads and
It is essential to retain vegetation cover fertile agricultural fields by depositing large
that soil is not exposed to rain. quantities of air blown soil particles.
Plants intercept rainfall and protect soil
from direct impact of raindrops. Prevention of wind erosion
Cattle grazing should be controlled.
Crop rotation and keeping the land fallow
The vegetation cover over sandy soils
(not planting anything in the soil for some
should be kept above 30%.Access of wind
time) should be adopted.
to the soil should be controlled by leaving
Vegetation and soil management should be
the stubble or mulch on the soil. (Stubble
improved in order to increase soil organic
is the remains of crop left after harvesting).
matter.
Wind speed can be broken or controlled by Deforestation includes cutting and felling
planting trees in form of a shelter belt. of trees, removal of forest litter.
The practice of leaving the land fallow (i.e. Browsing and trampling by livestock, forest
not planting anything in the field) and use fires, also leads to cause deforestation etc.
of machinery should be modified. This can Deforestation leads to erosion.
be done by using direct- drilling techniques Deforestation further leads to land
(ploughing the field) and by using direct- degradation, nutrient and the disruption of Page
drilling techniques. the delicate soil plant relationship.
Over grazing by cattle should be avoided. |
Farming 108
The following
agricultural practices
can lead to accelerated
soil erosion
Tilling or
ploughing increases the
chances of erosion
because it disturbs the
natural soil surface and
protective vegetation.
Continuous
cropping: Continuous
cropping of the same
land and extending of
Soil Erosion Caused By Human cultivation of marginal and sub-marginal
Activities lands encourages soil erosion.
Cultivation on mountain slopes:
Deforestation Cultivation on mountain slopes without
appropriate land treatment measures such
as bounding, terracing and trenching
cause soil erosion and loss of soil soil erosion and disruption of natural
nutrients. drainage system.
Monoculture: Monoculture refers to the
practice of planting of the same variety of Soil degradation and soil conservation are
crop in the field. already explained under “Indian Geography”
Monoculture practices can lead to soil
erosion in three ways. Desertification Page
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) It includes pollen from plants, mite, and hair
from pets, fungi, parasites, and some bacteria.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a Most of them are allergens and can cause
large group of carbon-based chemicals that asthma, hay fever, and other allergic diseases.
easily evaporate at room temperature.
For example, formaldehyde, which evaporates Asbestos
from paint, has a boiling point of only –19 °C.
Formaldehyde causes irritation to the eyes
Asbestos refers to a set of six naturally
and nose and allergies.
occurring silicate fibrous minerals ––
The main indoor sources are perfumes, hair
chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite,
sprays, furniture polish, glues, air fresheners,
tremolite, and actinolite.
moth repellents, wood preservatives, and other
It is now known that prolonged inhalation of
products.
asbestos fibers can cause serious and fatal
Health effect - imitation of the eye, nose and
illnesses including lung cancer,
throat, headaches, nausea and loss of
mesothelioma, and asbestosis (a type of
coordination.
pneumoconiosis).
Long term - suspected to damage the liver and
other parts of the body.
Radon
Benzene and Ethylene
It is a gas that is emitted naturally by the soil.
Due to modern houses having poor
Benzene is a natural constituent of crude oil
ventilation, it is confined inside the house and
and is one of the elementary petrochemicals.
causes lung cancers.
Because benzene has a high octane number,
it is an important component of gasoline.
Smog - Photochemical smog – Sulfurous
Benzene increases the risk of cancer and
smog
other illnesses. Benzene is a notorious cause
of bone marrow failure.
Ethylene is widely used in the chemical Prevention and Control of air Pollution
industry. Much of this production goes
toward polyethylene, a widely used plastic Indoor Air Pollution
Poor ventilation due to faulty design of 3. installing devices which reduce release of
buildings leads to pollution of the confined pollutants.
space.
Paints, carpets, furniture, etc. in rooms may Devices like filters, electrostatic precipitators,
give out volatile organic compounds (VOCs). inertial collectors, scrubbers, gravel bed filters
Use of disinfectants, fumigants, etc. may or dry scrubbers are described below:
release hazardous gases. Page
In hospitals, pathogens present in waste Filters
remain in the air in the form of spores. This |
can result in hospital acquired infections and Filters remove particulate matter from the gas 116
is an occupational health hazard. stream. The medium of a filter may be made of
In congested areas, slums and rural areas fibrous materials like cloth, granular material
burning of firewood and biomass results in lot like sand, a rigid material like screen, or any
of smoke. mat like felt pad.
Children and ladies exposed to smoke may Baghouse filtration system is the most
suffer from acute respiratory problems. common one and is made of cotton or
synthetic fibres (for low temperatures) or glass
Prevention and control of indoor air cloth fabrics (for higher temperature up to
pollution 2900 C).
It works on the principle that inertia of SPM Steps Taken to Control Vehicular
(suspended particulate matter) in a gas is Pollution
higher than its solvent and as inertia is a
function of the mass of the particulate matter, The emission standards for automobiles have
this device collects heavier particles more been set which if followed will reduce the
efficiently (centrifugation is the technique). pollution. Standards have been set for the
‘Cyclone’ is a common inertial collector used durability of catalytic converters which reduce
in gas cleaning plants. vehicular emission.
In cities like Delhi, motor vehicles need to
Scrubbers obtain Pollution Under Control (PUC)
certificate at regular intervals. This ensures
Scrubbers are wet collectors. They that levels of pollutants emitted from vehicle
remove aerosols from a stream of gas either exhaust are not beyond the prescribed legal
by collecting wet particles on a surface limits.
followed by their removal, or else the particles The price of diesel is much cheaper than
are wetted by a scrubbing liquid. petrol which promotes use of diesel. To reduce
The particles get trapped as they travel from emission of sulphur dioxide, sulphur content
supporting gaseous medium across the in diesel has been reduced to 0.05%.
interface to the liquid scrubbing medium. (this Earlier lead in the form of tetraethyl lead was
is just like mucus in trachea trapping dust) added in the petrol to raise octane
A scrubber can remove gases like sulphur level for smooth running of engines. Addition
dioxide. of lead in petrol has been banned to prevent
emission of lead particles with the vehicular
Catalytic converter emission.
Usage of alternate fuels like CNG in public
transport vehicles is made mandatory in cities
Proper maintenance of automobiles along with like Delhi. All the buses of Delhi were
use of lead-free petrol or diesel can reduce the converted to run on CNG by the end of 2002.
pollutants they emit.
Catalytic converters, having expensive metals
CNG burns most efficiently, unlike petrol or
namely platinum-palladium and rhodium as
diesel, in the automobiles and very little of it is
the catalysts, are fitted into automobiles for
left unburnt. Moreover, CNG is cheaper than
reducing emission of poisonous gases.
petrol or diesel, cannot be siphoned off by
As the exhaust passes through the catalytic
thieves and adulterated like petrol or diesel.
converter, unburnt hydrocarbons are
The main problem with switching over to CNG
converted into carbon dioxide and water, and
is the difficulty of laying down pipelines to
carbon monoxide and nitric oxide are changed
deliver CNG through distribution
to carbon dioxide and nitrogen gas,
points/pumps and ensuring uninterrupted
respectively.
supply. The National Air Quality Monitoring
Programme (NAMP) is undertaken
Simultaneously parallel steps taken in Delhi to determine status and trends of ambient air
for reducing vehicular pollution include quality;
phasing out of old vehicles, use of unleaded to ascertain the compliance of NAAQS;
petrol, use of low-sulphur petrol and diesel, to identify non-attainment cities; Page
use of catalytic converters in vehicles, to understand the natural process of cleaning
in the atmosphere; and |
application of stringent pollution- level norms
for vehicles, etc. to undertake preventive and corrective 118
The Government of India through a new auto measures.
fuel policy has laid out a roadmap to cut down
vehicular pollution in Indian cities. National Ambient Air Quality Standards
More stringent norms for fuels means steadily (NAAQS)
reducing the sulphur and aromatics content
in petrol and diesel fuels. The NAAQS have been revisited and revised in
The goal, according to the roadmap, is November 2009 for 12 pollutants, which
to reduce sulphur to 50 ppm in petrol and include
diesel and bring down the level of aromatic sulphur dioxide (S02),
hydrocarbons to 35 per cent. nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
The Bharat Stage II (equivalent to Euro-II particulate matter having micron (PM10),
norms), which is currently in place in Delhi, particulate matter having size less than 2.5
Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and micron (PM2.5),
other major cities was made applicable to all ozone,
automobiles throughout the country. lead,
All automobiles in major cities were expected carbon monoxide (CO),
to meet the Euro III emission specifications by arsenic,
2005 and Euro-IV norms by 2010. nickel,
The rest of the country was expected to meet benzene,
Euro-III emission norm by 2010. ammonia, and
According to an estimate, a substantial fall in benzopyrene.
CO2 and SO2 level has been found in Delhi
between 1997 and 2005. But still their levels National Air Quality Index (AQI)
are not under permissible levels.
The recent odd-even formula is expected to Launched by the Environment Ministry in
improve the worsening air quality in Delhi. April 2015.
In India, the Air (Prevention and Control of Initiative under ‘Swachh Bharat’.
Pollution) Act came into force in 1981, but
was amended in 1987 to include noise as an AQI
air pollutant. Noise is undesired high level of
sound.
It helps the common man to judge the air
quality within his vicinity.
Government Initiative Index constituted as a part of Government’s
mission to improve the culture of cleanliness.
National Air Quality Monitoring
Programme Old vs new
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has While the earlier measuring index was limited
been executing a nationwide programme of to three indicators, the current measurement
ambient air quality monitoring known as index had been made quite comprehensive by
National Air Quality Monitoring Programme the addition of more parameters.
(NAMP).
Previously who measured Air pollution
Central Pollution Control Board along with Smog
State Pollution Control Boards has been
operating National Air Monitoring Program
(NAMP).
There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Smog = smoke + fog (smoky fog) caused by
Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very the burning of large amounts of coal,
Poor, and Severe. vehicular emission and industrial
fumes (Primary pollutants).
Pollutants considered Smog contains soot particulates like smoke,
sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and other
The proposed AQI will consider eight components.
pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, At least two distinct types of smog are
NH3, and Pb). recognized: sulfurous
smog and photochemical smog.
Alternatives
Primary and secondary pollutants
Government is disincentivising use of private
vehicles through congestion charging. A primary pollutant is an air pollutant emitted
The National Green Tribunal has ordered that directly from a source.
diesel vehicles over 10 years old not ply on A secondary pollutant is not directly emitted
Delhi roads. as such, but forms when other pollutants
Odd even formula. (primary pollutants) react in the atmosphere.
Making city roads friendly to bicycle users. Examples of a secondary pollutant
Promoting rooftop solar power as an include ozone, which is formed when
alternative to coal power.
1. hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)
Photochemical smog - Sulfurous smog combine in the presence of sunlight;
2. NO combines with oxygen in the air; and
In this Post: Smog - Primary and secondary 3. acid rain, which is formed when sulfur dioxide
pollutants; Types of Smog: Sulfurous smog or nitrogen oxides react with water.
[London Smog] and Photochemical smog [Los
Angeles Smog]; Effects of Smog; Question Sulfurous smog
UPSC Mains 2015: Mumbai, Delhi and
Kolkata are the three mega cities of the
country but the air pollution is much more Sulfurous smog is also called “London
serious problem in Delhi as compared to the smog,” (first formed in London).
other two. Why is this so?] [200 words] Sulfurous smog results from a high
concentration of SULFUR OXIDES in the air
and is caused by the use of sulfur-bearing
Previous post: Must read post: Condensation –
fossil fuels, particularly coal (Coal was the
Forms of Condensation – Types of Clouds
mains source of power in London during
nineteenth century. The effects of coal burning Nitrogen
were observed in early twentieth century). Dioxide + Sunlight + Hydrocarbons = Oz
This type of smog is aggravated one (Ozone in stratosphere it is beneficial,
by dampness and a high concentration of but near the earth’s surface it results in
suspended particulate matter in the air. global warming as it is a greenhouse gas)
Ozone Depletion | Ozone Hole - Causes, Halogen atoms like chlorine destroy
Effects ozone
Ozone Hole – Ozone Depletion creates free chlorine atoms that destroy
ozone.
Polar vortex and ozone depletion are two
distinct but related phenomena. Bromine containing compounds
Ozone gas is continuously formed by the called halons and HBFCs, i.e. hydrobromo
action of UV rays on molecular oxygen in the fluorocarbons [both used in fire
stratosphere. Also, ozone is simultaneously extinguishers and methyl bromide (a widely
used pesticide)] release bromine atoms similar
to CFCs that release chlorine atoms.
Each bromine atom destroys hundred
times of more ozone molecules than what a
chlorine atom does.
Page
|
123
a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 4 only Polar Vortex
c. 1, 3 and 4 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Polar vortex (circumpolar vortex) is a polar
cyclone.
Answer: c) CFCs were used as refrigerants, A polar vortex is a large pocket of very cold air,
pressurizing agents (foam and aerosol cans) typically the coldest air in the Northern
and for cleaning electronic equipment. Hemisphere, which sits over the polar region
during the winter season.
But how does a chlorine atom reach to Polar vortex is closely associated with jet
such high levels of atmosphere? streams [Rossby waves].
It is formed mainly in winter and gets weaker
Methane (CH4), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), in summer.
nitrous oxide (N2O) and water are injected It surrounds polar highs and lie within the
into the stratosphere through polar front (boundary separating the
towering tropical cumulus clouds. temperate and polar air masses).
These compounds are broken down by the
ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere.
PSCs or nacreous clouds contain water,
nitric acid and/or sulfuric acid.
They are formed mainly during the event
of polar vertex in winter; more intense
at south pole.
The Cl-catalyzed ozone depletion is
dramatically enhanced in the presence of Page
polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) [Finally this
how polar vortex contributes to ozone |
depletion]. 124
A number of naturally occurring substances
like Hydrogen oxide (HOx), Methane (CH4),
Hydrogen gas (H2), Nitrogen oxides
(NOx) aid the process of ozone depletion.
Nacreous clouds
Effects on Humans
In short
Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement Acidic gases and their emission sources
to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) on “Access to Genetic Resources and
the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits
Arising from their Utilization”.
Acidic gases Source
CO2 (Carbon dioxide) Fossil fuel burning, industrial process, respiration.
CH4 (Methane) Paddy fields, wetlands, gas drilling, landfills, decomposition of animals
wastes and carcasses.
CO (Carbon monoxide) Biomass burning, Industrial sources: smelting of iron ore, Biogenesis,
Plant isoprene's.
SO. (Sulphur oxides) Fossil fuel burning, power plants, smelting of metal sulfide ores,
industrial sources, industrial production of sulfuric acid in metallurgical,
chemical and fertilizer industries volcanoes, seas and
oceans, decomposition of organic matter.
NO. (nitrogen oxides) Fossil fuel burning, lightening, biomass burning, forest fires, oceans,
power plants.
Formic acid (HCOOH) Biomass burning due to forest fires causes emission of formic acid
(HCOOH) and formaldehyde (HCHO) into the atmosphere.
Large fraction formaldehyde gets photo — oxidation and forms formic acid
in the atmosphere.
Page
Carbonic acid (H2CO3) Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide dissolve in water (water vapor) to
|
form carbonic acid.
Q1. Acid rain is caused by the pollution of Dry Deposition 128
environment by
In areas where the weather is dry, the acid
a) carbon dioxide and nitrogen chemicals may become incorporated into dust
b) carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide or smoke and fall to the ground through dry
c) ozone and carbon dioxide deposition, sticking to the ground, buildings,
d) nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide vegetation, cars, etc.
Dry deposited gases and particles can be
Explanation: washed from these surfaces by rainstorms,
through runoff. This runoff water makes the
Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxides of resulting mixture more acidic.
nitrogen and oxides of sulphur in atmosphere About half of the acidity in the atmosphere
can cause acid rains. falls back to earth through dry deposition.
Both b) and d) are correct. But d) has more Chemistry of Acid Rain
influence than b)
Six basic steps are involved in the formation of
Answer: d) nitrous oxide and sulphur acid rain:
dioxide
The atmosphere receives oxides of sulfur and
Types Of Acid Deposition
nitrogen from natural and man-made sources.
Some of these oxides fall back directly to the
"Acid rain" is a broad term referring to a ground as dry deposition, either close to the
mixture of wet and dry deposition (form of place of origin or some distance away.
deposition material) from the atmosphere. Sunlight stimulates the formation of photo-
oxidants (such as ozone) in the atmosphere.
Wet Deposition These photo-oxidants interact with the oxides
of sulfur and nitrogen and other gases (like
If the acid chemicals in the air are blown into NH3) to produce H2SO4 (sulphuric acid) and
areas where the weather is wet, the acids can HNO3 (nitric acid) by oxidation.
fall to the ground in the form of rain, snow, Acid rain containing ions of sulfate, nitrate,
fog, or mist. ammonium and hydrogen falls as wet
As this acidic water flows over and through deposition.
the ground, it affects a variety of plants and
animals.
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129
Harmful effects of acid rain magnesium in the soil cause leaching of the
nutrients, making the soil infertile. This is
Acid precipitation affects both aquatic and accompanied by a decrease in the respiration
terrestrial organisms. It also damages of soil organisms.
buildings and monuments. An increase in ammonia in the soil due to a
decrease in other nutrients decrease the rate
of decomposition. The nitrate level of the soil
Effects on humans
is also found to decrease.
The impact of acid rain on soil is less in India;
Acid rain affects human health is a number of
because Indian soils are mostly alkaline, with
ways.
good buffering ability.
The obvious ones are bad smells, reduced
visibility; irritation of the skin, eyes and the
Effects on aquatic life
respiratory tract.
Some direct effects include chronic bronchitis,
pulmonary emphysema and cancer. The pH of the medium is very important for
Some indirect effects include food poisoning metabolic processes of aquatic organisms.
vis a vis drinking water and food. Eggs or sperms of fish, frogs and other aquatic
An increase in the levels of toxic heavy-metals organisms are sensitive to pH changes.
like manganese, copper, cadmium and Acid rain kills their gametes affecting the life
aluminium also contribute to the detrimental cycles and productivity. Death or their
effects on human health. inability to increase in numbers causes severe
ecosystem imbalances.
Acidic lake waters may kill
Effects on soil
bacteria/microbes/planktons and the acidic
lakes become unproductive and life less. Such
The exchange between hydrogen ions and the
acidic and lifeless ponds/lakes adversely
nutrient cations like potassium and
affect fisheries and livelihood.
Naturally acidic lakes Anthropogenically acidified lakes
Brown to yellow colour Very clear water caused by reduced primary productivity
caused by humic substances
Concentrations of dissolved Dissolved organic carbon concentrations are low. Whereas the
organic carbon are high transparency is high.
while transparency is low
Low pH but well buffered. Poorly buffered
Abound with aquatic life. Some of the more sensitive taxa, such as blue-green algae, some
bacteria, snails, mussels crustaceans, mayflies and fish either
decrease or /are eliminated.
Effect on terrestrial life Acid rain damage cuticle of plant leaves
resulting etiolation (pale and weak) of foliage.
This in turn reduces photosynthesis.
Reduced photosynthesis accompanied by leaf an acidic environment, most blue-green
fall reduces plant and crop productivity. bacteria prefer an alkaline environment.
Acidic medium promotes leaching of heavy So after a long run of acid rain, microbial
metals like aluminum, lead and mercury. species in the soil and water shift from
Such metals when percolate into ground water bacteria-bound to fungi-bound and cause an
affect soil micro flora/fauna. imbalance in the micro flora.
Absorption of these toxic metal ions by This causes a delay in the decomposition of Page
plants/microorganisms affect their soil organic material, and an increase in
metabolism. fungal disease in aquatic life and forests. |
Acid rain can directly affect the eggs and 130
tadpoles of frogs and salamanders that breed Effects on forests
in small forest ponds.
It has been postulated that acid rain can Acid rains kill vegetation and causes severe
indirectly affect wildlife by allowing metals damage to the forest landscape.
bound on soils and sediments to be released
into the aquatic environment, where toxic Effect on buildings, monuments and
substances may be ingested by animals, like materials
birds, that feed in such an environment.
Other indirect effects of acid rain on wildlife Many old, historic, ancient buildings and
are loss or alteration of food and habitat works of art/textile etc. are adversely affected
resources. by acid rain.
Limestone and marble are destroyed by acid
Effects on micro organisms rain. Smoke and soot cover such objects. They
slowly dissolve/flake away the surfaces
pH determines the proliferation of any because of acid fumes in the air. Many
microbial species in a particular environment buildings/monuments such as Taj Mahal in
and the rate at which it can produce. Agra have suffered from acid rain.
The optimum pH of most bacteria and
protozoa is near neutrality; most fungi prefer
Material Type of Impact Principal Air Pollutants
Metals Corrosion, tarnishing Sulphur Oxides and other acid gases
Paints and organic Surface erosion, discoloration, Sulphur dioxides, hydrogen sulphide
coatings soiling
Textiles Fading, colour change Nitrogen oxides, ozone
Leather Weakening, powdered surface Sulphur oxides
Rubber Cracking Ozone
Trigger Effect of Acid Rain on The use of lime has helped in reducing the
Pollutants mercury levels in fish.
Oceans are an important reservoir for CO2, Deep, cold ocean waters are naturally under
absorbing a significant quantity of it (one- saturated with carbonate ions causing the
third) produced by anthropogenic activities shells of most calcifying organisms to dissolve.
and effectively buffering climate change. Surface waters are oversaturated with
The uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide is carbonate ions and do not readily dissolve
occurring at a rate exceeding the natural shells of calcifying organisms.
buffering capacity of the oceans creating new The saturation horizon is the level below
problems in the form of ocean acidification. which calcium carbonate minerals undergo
dissolution.
1. Increasing acidity depresses metabolic rates Those organisms that can survive below the
and immune responses in some organisms. saturation horizon do so due to special
2. Other chemical reactions are triggered which mechanisms to protect their calcium
result in a net decrease in the amount of carbonate from dissolving.
carbonate ions available. This makes it more As ocean acidification causes this horizon to
difficult for marine calcifying organisms, such rise vertically (upwelling) in the water column
as coral (calcareous corals) and some so more and more calcifying organisms will be
plankton (calcareous plankton), to form exposed to under saturated water and thus
biogenic calcium carbonate. vulnerable to dissolution of their shells and
3. Commercial fisheries are threatened because skeletons.
acidification harms calcifying organisms
which form the base of the Arctic food webs. Impact of Ocean Acidification on Cloud
4. Acidification could damage the Arctic tourism Formation
economy and affect the way of life of
indigenous peoples. A major pillar of Arctic
The majority of sulfur in the atmosphere is
tourism is the sport fishing and hunting
emitted from the ocean, often in the form
industry.
of dimethylsulfide (DMS) produced by
5. Increasing acidity accentuates coral bleaching
phytoplankton.
as corals are very sensitive to changes in
Some of DMS produced
water composition.
by phytoplankton enters the atmosphere and
reacts to make sulphuric acid, which clumps
How ocean acidification effects into aerosols, or microscopic airborne
calcifying ability particles.
Aerosols seed the formation of clouds,
Seawater absorbs CO2 to produce carbonic which help cool the Earth by reflecting
acid, bicarbonate and carbonate ions. sunlight.
The carbonate ions are essential to the But, in acidified ocean water,
calcification process that allows certain phytoplankton produce less DMS. This
marine organisms to build their calcium reduction of sulfur may lead to decreased
carbonate shells and skeletons (e.g. hard cloud formation, raising global
tropical corals, cold water corals, molluscs, temperatures.
Artificial Cloud seeding heat, which degrades the quality of water so
that it becomes unfit for use’.
Cloud seeding is the process of spreading Water pollution is caused by a variety of
either dry ice, or more commonly, silver human activities such as industrial,
iodide aerosols, into the upper part of clouds agricultural and domestic.
to try to stimulate the precipitation process Natural sources of pollution of water are soil
and form rain. erosion, leaching of minerals from rocks and Page
Since most rainfall starts through the growth decaying of organic matter.
of ice crystals from super-cooled cloud |
droplets in the upper parts of clouds, Point and non-point sources of 133
the silver iodide particles are meant to pollution
encourage the growth of new ice particles.
Rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, estuaries and
Q2. The acidification of oceans is ground water sources may be polluted by
increasing. Why is this phenomenon a point or non-point sources.
cause of concern? When pollutants are discharged from a
specific location such as a drain pipe carrying
1. The growth and survival of calcareous industrial effluents discharged directly into a
phytoplankton will be adversely affected. water body it represents point source
2. The growth and survival of coral reefs will be pollution.
adversely affected. In contrast non-point sources include
3. The survival of some animals that have discharge of pollutants from diffused sources
phytoplanktonic larvae will be adversely or from a larger area such as run off from
affected. agricultural fields, grazing lands, construction
4. The cloud seeding and formation of clouds will sites, abandoned mines and pits, roads and
be adversely affected. streets.
Poor hygiene of wells may cause pathogenic Major Water Issues Of India
contamination. Water seepage from solid
Water scarcity therefore, ecologically very sensitive. They
need special protection.
Due to un-even distribution of rainfall in time
and space and ever-increasing demand of Water Pollution Control Measures
water for agricultural, industrial and domestic
activities, the water resources are over- Realizing the importance of maintaining the
exploited. This is resulting in shrinking or Page
cleanliness of the water bodies, the
even drying up of many water bodies for Government of India has passed the Water |
considerable periods in a year. (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
Reducing demands by optimum use, 1974 to safeguard our water resources. 138
minimization of wastage, efforts to reduce the An ambitious plan to save the river, called
percolation and evaporation losses, the Ganga Action Plan was launched in 1985.
conservation efforts in domestic uses, It aimed to reduce the pollution levels in the
groundwater recharging, rain water river. However, the increasing population and
harvesting, afforestation, recycling and reuse industrialization have already damaged this
are important to combat this problem. mighty river beyond repair.
In India, the Central Pollution Control Board
Pathogenic pollution (CPCB), an apex body in the field of water
quality management, has developed a concept
Water borne diseases are the most important of “designated best use”.
water quality issues in India. This is mainly Accordingly the water body is designated as A,
due to inadequate arrangements for transport B, C, D, E on the basis of
and treatment of wastewaters. pH,
dissolved oxygen, mg/1
Oxygen depletion BOD, (200C) mg/l
total coliform (MPN/100ml)
Eutrophication [oxygen depletion due to algal free ammonia mg/l,
blooms] is a common problem in most of the electrical conductivity etc.
India lakes and rivers due to discharge of The CPCB, in collaboration with the concerned
untreated sewage and industrial effluents. State Pollution Control Boards, has classified
all the water bodies including coastal waters
Salinity in the country according to their “designated
best uses”.
There are number of cases where salinity is This classification helps the water quality
increasing in both surface water and managers and planners to set water quality
groundwater. targets and identify needs and priority for
The increase in groundwater salinity is mainly water quality restoration programmes for
due to increased irrigation activities or sea various water bodies in the country.
water intrusion in coastal areas. The famous Ganga Action Plan and
subsequently the National River Action
Toxic pollution Plan are results of such exercise.
Riparian buffers: A riparian buffer is a
Due to discharge of toxic effluents from many vegetated area (a "buffer strip") near a stream,
industries and increased use of chemicals in usually forested, which helps shade and
agriculture and their subsequent contribution partially protect a stream from the impact of
to the water bodies, many water bodies in the adjacent land uses. It plays a key role in
country are polluted due to presence of toxic increasing water quality in associated
substances. streams, rivers, and lakes, thus providing
environmental benefits.
Ecological health Treatment of sewage water and the industrial
effluents before releasing it into water bodies.
A large number of areas in our aquatic Hot water should be cooled before release from
environment support rare species of aquatic the power plants.
and amphibious plants and animals and are, Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides
should be avoided. Organic farming and
efficient use of animal residues as fertilizers Using bioremediation techniques, TERI has
can replace chemical fertilizers. developed a mixture of bacteria called
Water hyacinth (an aquatic weed, invasive ‘Oilzapper and Oilivorous-S’ which degrades
specie) can purify water by taking some toxic the pollutants of oil-contaminated sites,
materials and a number of heavy metals from leaving behind no harmful residues. This
water. technique is not only environment friendly,
Oil spills in water can be cleaned with the help but also highly cost-effective. Page
of bregoli — a by-product of paper industry
resembling saw dust, oil zapper, Q2. Recently, ‘oilzapper’ was in the news. |
microorganisms. What is it? 139
It has been suggested that we should
plant eucalyptus trees all along sewage 1. It is an eco-friendly technology for the
ponds. These trees absorb all surplus remediation of oil sludge and oil spills.
wastewater rapidly and release pure water 2. It is the latest technology developed for under-
vapor into the atmosphere. sea oil exploration.
3. It is a genetically engineered high biofuel
Bioremediation yielding maize variety.
4. It is the latest technology to control the
Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms accidentally caused flames from oil wells.
(bacteria and fungi) to degrade the
environmental contaminants into less toxic Answer: a) Current Affairs based question.
forms. Keep track of latest developments.
The microorganisms may be indigenous to a
contaminated area or they may be isolated Ex situ bioremediation
from elsewhere and brought to the
contaminated site. Ex situ — involves the removal of the
The process of bioremediation can be contaminated material to be treated
monitored indirectly by measuring elsewhere.
the Oxidation Reduction Potential or Land farming: contaminated soil is excavated
redox in soil and groundwater, together with and spread over a prepared bed and
pH, temperature, oxygen content, electron periodically tilled until pollutants are
acceptor/donor concentrations, and degraded. The goal is to stimulate indigenous
concentration of breakdown products (e.g. biodegradative microorganisms and facilitate
carbon dioxide) their aerobic degradation of contaminants.
Biopiles: it is a hybrid of land farming and
In situ bioremediation composting. Essentially, engineered cells are
constructed as aerated composted piles.
In situ — It involves treatment of the Typically used for treatment of surface
contaminated material at the site. contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons.
Bioventing: supply of air and nutrients Bioreactors: it involves the processing of
through wells to contaminated soil to contaminated solid material (soil, sediment,
stimulate the growth of indigenous bacteria. It sludge) or water through an engineered
is used for simple hydrocarbons and can be containment system.
used where the contamination is deep under Composting: Composting is nature's process
the surface. of recycling decomposed organic materials into
Biosparging: Injection of air under pressure a rich soil known as compost.
below the water table to increase groundwater
oxygen concentrations and enhance the rate of Advantages and Disadvantages of
biological degradation of contaminants by bioremediation
naturally occurring bacteria
Bioaugmentation: Microorganisms are Advantages of bioremediation
imported to a contaminated site to enhance
degradation process. Useful for the complete destruction of a wide
variety of contaminants.
The complete destruction of target pollutants mercury which are released from radioactive
is possible. nuclear waste.
Less expensive.
Environment friendly. Effects of Water Pollution on Health
and Environment
Disadvantages of bioremediation
Effects of Water Pollution Page
Bioremediation is limited to those compounds
|
that are biodegradable. Not all compounds Effects of Water Pollution on Human
are susceptible to rapid and complete Health 140
degradation.
Biological processes are often highly specific.
Domestic and hospital sewage contain many
It is difficult to extrapolate from bench and
undesirable pathogenic microorganisms, and
pilot-scale studies to full-scale field
its disposal into a water without proper
operations.
treatment may cause outbreak of serious
Bioremediation often takes longer time than
diseases, such as, amoebiasis dysentery,
other treatment process.
typhoid, jaundice, cholera, etc.
Metals like lead, zinc, arsenic, copper,
Phytoremediation mercury and cadmium in industrial waste
waters adversely affect humans and other
Phytoremediation is use of plants to remove animals.
contaminants from soil and water. Natural Arsenic pollution of ground water has been
phytoremediation is carried out by mangroves, reported from West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar,
estuarine vegetation and other wetland Western U.P. Consumption of such arsenic
vegetation. polluted water leads to accumulation of
Phytoextraction/phytoaccumulation: plants arsenic in the body parts like blood, nails and
accumulate contaminants into the roots and hairs causing skin lesions, rough skin, dry
aboveground shoots or leaves. and thickening of skin and ultimately skin
Phytotransformation/phytodegradation: cancer.
uptake of organic contaminants from soil, and Mercury compounds in waste water are
their transformation to more stable, less toxic, converted by bacterial action into extremely
less mobile form. toxic methyl mercury, which can cause
Phytostabilization: plants reduce the numbness of limbs, lips and tongue, deafness,
mobility and migration of contaminated soil. blurring of vision and mental derangement.
Leachable constituents are adsorbed and Pollution of water bodies by mercury
bound into the plant structure. causes Minamata (neurological syndrome)
Rhizodegradation: breakdown of disease in humans and dropsy in fishes.
contaminants through the activity existing in Lead causes lead poisoning (Lead interferes
the rhizosphere (region of soil in the vicinity of with a variety of body processes and is toxic to
plant roots). This activity is due to the many organs and tissues). The compounds of
presence of proteins and enzymes produced by lead cause anaemia, headache, loss of muscle
the plants or by soil organisms such as power and bluish line around the gum.
bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Cadmium poisoning causes cancer of lungs
Rhizofiltration: water remediation technique and liverand Itai – Itai disease (a painful
that involves the uptake of contaminants by disease of bones and joints, causes softening
plant roots. Rhizofiltration is used to reduce of the bones and kidney failure) etc.
contamination in natural wetlands and Water contaminated with cadmium can cause
estuary areas (E.g. Mangroves). itai itai disease also called ouch-ouch disease
Mycoremediation: fungi are used to (a painful disease of bones and joints) and
decontaminate the area. cancer of lungs and liver.
Mycofiltration: using fungal mycelia to filter
toxic waste and microorganisms. Water Borne Diseases
The bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans has
been used to detoxify toluene and ionic
Bacterial diseases
Disease Causative organism Mode of spread Symptoms
Typhoid Salmonella typhi Contaminated food, water, Continuous fever which increases day by
milk, unwashed raw day Temperature higher in evening than
vegetables and flies morning, body ache, headache and
constipation. Haemorrhage from an
ulceration in small intestine
Cholera Vibrio cholerae Water or food con- Painless diarrhoea , vomiting, 30-40 stools
taminated by bacteria per day which soon becomes typically Page
from stools of cholera watery and colourless with flakes of
patient mucous floating in them
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Bacterial Shigella spp. Contaminated food, water Diarrhoea, with blood and dysentry mucous
Diaorhoea and by direct personal in the stools along with severe gripping pain 141
contact in the abdomen. Stools not too frequent (4-
10 per day), faecal matter scanty. Patient
looks ill
Leptospirosis Leptospira Rodents primary hosts- Fever, pain in legs, nausea, vomiting are
carry organisms in common, congestion of the conjunctival
kidneys. Infection by blood vessels around corneas of the eyes
wading or swimming in
water contaminated with
rodent urine
Viral diseases
Infective Hepatitis Hepatitis virus Food and water Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting and
contaminated with virus diarrhoea, accompanied with fever. Urine
in stools dark coloured. Eye and skin appear yellow
Protozoan diseases
Amoebic Entamoeba histolytica Ingestion of cysts in food Abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea, with
dysentery and water or without blood or mucous in stools, fever,
chills and gripping pain in abdomen
Diarrhoea Giardia (=Lamblia) Food or water con- Intestinal disorders leading to epigastric
taminated with faeces pain, abdominal discomfort, loss of
intestinalis having cysts appetite, headache and loose bowels
Bilharzia Schistosoma spp Cercaria larvae of flukes Allergy-like itch, rash, aches, fever,
in water penetrate skin of eosinophilia etc.
persons wading in water
When infection becomes heavy, eggs may
block arterioles of lungs cardio-pulmonary
water causing schistosomiasis and may
lead to congestive heart failure.
Guinea worm Dracunculus medinensis Unfiltered water Blister near the ankle, causing allergy and
aches
Vector borne diseases related with water
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142
EcoSan toilets
Bio-Toilets
Designed by
bury it deep underground in insulated The radiation that comes from mobile tower
containers. This is a strategy being pursued in radiation is non-ionizing radiation.
United States.
shoot it into the space or into the sun. The
Health Impacts
cost would be very high and a launch accident
should be disastrous.
bury it under the ice sheet of Antarctica or Every antenna on cell phone tower radiates
Greenland ice cap. The ice could be electro-magnetic radiation (power).
destabilized by heat from the waste. The One cell phone tower is being used by a
method has been prohibited by international number of operators, more the number of
law. antennas more is the power intensity in the
dump it into deep oceans by keeping the nearby area.
waste into glass and steel cases. But the The power level near towers is higher and
containers might leak and contaminate the reduces as we move away.
ocean. EMR may cause cellular and psychological
changes in human beings due to thermal
effects that are generated due to absorption of towers in wildlife and ecologically important
microwave radiation. areas.
The exposure can lead to genetic defects,
effects on reproduction and development, State Environment and Forest Department
Central Nervous System behavior etc.
EMR can also cause non thermal effects which State Environment and Forest Department are
are caused by radio frequency fields at levels entrusted with the task of providing regular Page
too low to produce significant heating and are awareness among the people about the norms |
due to movement of calcium and other ions on cell phone towers and dangers of EMR from
across cell membranes. them. 154
Such exposure is known to be responsible for
fatigue, nausea, irritability, headaches, loss of Department of Telecommunications
appetite and other psychological disorders.
The current exposure safety standards are
purely based on the thermal effects Avoid overlapping of high radiation fields. New
considering few evidences from exposure to towers should not be permitted within a
non-thermal effects. radius of one kilometer of the existing tower.
The location and frequencies of cell phone
towers and other towers emitting EMR should
Impact on birds
be made available in the public domain GIS
mapping of all the cell phone towers to be
The surface area of bird is relatively larger maintained to monitor the population of bird
than their body weight in comparison to and bees in and around the wildlife protected
human body so they absorb more radiation. area and the mobile towers.
Also the fluid content in the body of the bird is Need to refine the Indian standard on safe
less due to small body weight so it gets heated limits of exposure to EMR, keeping in view the
up very fast. available literature on impacts on various life
Magnetic field from the towers disturbs birds' forms.
navigation skills hence when birds are To undertake Precautionary approaches to
exposed to EMR they disorient and begin to fly minimize the exposure levels and adopt
in all directions. stricter norms perennial, that live longer than
A large number of birds die each year from agricultural crops.
collisions with telecommunication masts. Any study conducted on impact of EMF
radiation on wildlife needs to be shared to
What are the responsibilities of facilitate appropriate policy formulations.
Stakeholders?
Soil Pollution
MoEF
Soil pollution is defined as the 'addition of
The MoEF has to notify the impacts of substances to the soil, which adversely affect
communication towers on wildlife and human physical, chemical and biological properties of
health to the concerned agencies for soil and reduces its productivity.
regulating the norms for notification of It is build-up of persistent toxic compounds,
standards for safe limit of EMR. chemicals, salts, radioactive materials, or
disease causing agents in soil which have
State/Local Bodies: adverse effects on plant growth, human and
animal health.
Regular monitoring and auditing in urban
localities/educational/hospital/industrial/ Causes and Sources of Soil Pollution
residential/recreational premises including
the Protected Areas and ecologically sensitive Plastic bags
areas.
Carry out an 'Ecological Impact Assessment' They accumulate in soil and prevents
before giving permission for construction of germination of seeds. They stay in soil for
centuries without decomposing (non- Other pollutants
biodegradable).
Burning of plastic in garbage dumps release Many air pollutants (acid rain) and water
highly toxic and poisonous gases like carbon pollutants ultimately become part of the soil
monoxide, carbon dioxide, phosgene, and the soil also receives some toxic chemicals
dioxins and other poisonous chlorinated during weathering of certain rocks.
compounds. Page
Toxic solid residue left after burning remains Effects of soil pollution
in soil. The harmful gases enters soils through |
chemical cycles. Agriculture 155
Industrial sources Reduced soil fertility due to increase in
alkalinity, salinity or pH.
They includes fly ash, metallic residues, Reduced crop yield due to reduced fertility.
mercury, lead, copper, zinc, cadmium, Reduced nitrogen fixation due to the reduced
cynides, thiocynates, chromates, acids, number of nitrogen fixers.
alkalies, organic substances, nuclear wastes Increased erosion due to loss of forests and
Large number of industrial chemicals, dyes, other vegetation.
acids, etc. find their way into the soil and are Run off due to deforestation cause loss of soil
known to create many health hazards and nutrients.
including cancer. Deposition of silt in tanks and reservoirs due
to soil erosion.
Pesticides
Health
Pesticides are chemicals that include
insecticides, fungicides, algicides, Health effects are similar to effects of water
rodenticides, weedicides sprayed in order to pollution.
improve productivity of agriculture, forestry
and horticulture. Environment
Chlorohydrocarbons (CHCs) like DDT,
endosulfan, heptachlor accumulate in soil Ecological imbalance.
and cause biomagnification. Some of these Foul smell and release of gases.
pesticides like DDT and endosulfan are Waste management problems.
banned by most of the countries.
Control measures
Fertilizers and manures
Excessive use of chemical fertilizers reduces More or less same as for water pollution
the population of soil borne organisms and
the crumb structure of the soil, productivity of Indiscriminate disposal of solid waste should
the soil and increases salt content of the soil. be avoided.
To control soil pollution, it is essential to stop
Discarded materials the use of plastic bags and instead use bags of
degradable materials like paper and cloth.
Sewage should be treated properly before
It includes concrete, asphalt, rungs, leather,
using as fertilizer and as landfills.
cans, plastics, glass, discarded food, paper
The organic matter from domestic,
and carcasses.
agricultural and other waste should be
segregated and subjected to vermicomposting
Radioactive wastes which generates useful manure as a
byproduct.
Radioactive elements from mining and nuclear The industrial wastes prior to disposal should
power plants, find their way into water and be properly treated for removing hazardous
then into the soil. materials.
Biomedical waste should be separately should not be permitted at night. Use of
collected and incinerated in proper horns, alarms, refrigeration units, etc. is to be
incinerators. restricted. Use of fire crackers which are noisy
Use of bio pesticides, bio fertilizers. Organic and cause air pollution should be restricted.
farming. A green belt of trees is an efficient noise
Four R's: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. absorber.
Afforestation and Reforestation. Page
Solid waste treatment. Ambient Noise Level Monitoring
Reduction of waste from construction areas. |
Noise Pollution (Control and Regulation) 156
Noise Pollution Rules, 2000 define ambient noise levels for
various areas as follows:
Noise by definition is “sound without value” or
“any noise that is unwanted by the recipient”. Category of Limits in dB(A) Leq
Noise level is measured in terms of decibels Area/Zone
(dB). An increase of about 10 dB is Day Time Night Time
approximately double the increase in 6 a.m. to 10 p.m to 6
loudness. 10 p.m. a.m
H.O. (World Health Organization) has Industrial Area 75 70
prescribed optimum noise level as 45 dB by Commercial Area 65 55
day and 35 dB by night. Anything above 80 Residential Area 55 45
dB is hazardous. Silence Zone 50 40
Conventional plastics, right from their Thermal power plants producing coal ash/fly
manufacture to their disposal are a major ash;
problem to the environment. The integrated iron and steel mills producing
The land gets littered by plastic bag garbage blast furnace slag;
and becomes ugly and unhygienic. Non-ferrous industries like aluminium, copper
Conventional plastics have been associated and zinc producing red mud and tailings;
with reproductive problems in both humans Sugar industries generating press mud;
and wildlife. Pulp and paper industries producing lime
Dioxin (highly carcinogenic and toxic) mud;
byproduct of the manufacturing process is one Fertilizer and allied industries
of the chemicals believed to be passed on producing gypsum;
through breast milk to the nursing infant.
Burning of plastics, especially PVC releases
Recoverable Matter
dioxin and also furan into the atmosphere.
Dioxins are environmental pollutants. They Pulp and paper: Ligno-sulphate, sodium salts.
belong to the so-called “dirty dozen” - a group Textile: Caustic soda.
of dangerous chemicals known as persistent Distillery: Potassium salts, yeast Fertilizer
organic pollutants (POPs). (phosphatic) Calcium sulphate, fluoride.
Coke oven: Ammonia, ammonium sulphate,
tar, naphthalene, phenol.
The name "dioxins" is often used for the family
of structurally and chemically
related polychlorinated dibenzo para Concept Of Cleaner Technologies
dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated
dibenzofurans (PCDFs). One way to emulate nature is to recycle and
reuse the chemicals used in industries instead
Plastic bags can also contaminate foodstuffs of dumping them into the environment.
due to leaching of toxic dyes and transfer of Industries may interact in such a way that
pathogens. they establish a “resource exchange”
Careless disposal of plastic bags chokes programme in which waste of one industry or
drains, blocks the porosity of the soil and manufacturer is utilized as raw material by
causes problems for groundwater recharge. another-industry- similar to food web in
Plastic disturbs the soil microbe activity. The nature.
terrestrial and aquatic animals misunderstand
Use of CNG by automobiles instead of petrol, characteristics: toxicity, ignitability,
as an automobile fuel, is an example of corrosivity or reactivity (explosive). Thus,
cleaner technology which has reduced any waste that contains hazardous or very
pollution of the environment. hazardous substance is called hazardous
Instead of throw away economy which creates waste.
huge amount of waste, the manufacturers can Hazardous wastes can originate from various
make more money if their product is sources such as: house-hold, local areas, Page
redesigned so that it uses minimum amount urban, industry, agriculture, construction
of raw materials lasts longer, easy to activity, hospitals and laboratories, power |
maintain, repair, remanufacture, reuse or plants and other sources. 158
recycle. The hazardous waste when disposed of release
a number of environmentally unfriendly
Hazardous Waste substance(s).
Hospitals generate hazardous wastes that
contain disinfectants and other harmful
Any substance that is present in the
chemicals, and also pathogenic micro-
environment or released into the environment
organisms. Such wastes also require careful
causing substantial damage to public health
treatment and disposal. The use
and welfare of the environment is called
of incinerators (destroy, especially waste
hazardous substance.
material, by burning) is crucial to disposal of
Any hazardous substance could exhibit any
hospital waste.
one or more of the following
Source Disposed/used Polluting agent Effect
as
Industrial Incineration of Toxic fumes e.g. Chlorine, polyvinylchloride Chlorine could cause acid
waste waste rain
Incomplete Dioxins/organochlorides Carcinogenic
combustion
Release into Chlorophenol, fluorine Cause environmental
water bodies compounds, aldehydes, SO2, CO pollution
Plastic Polythene, poly propylene, polyesters etc. on Toxic, ecological pollution
burning release gases
Nuclear Hospitals Slow/sustained in medical/agriculture use Health hazard,
waste Laboratories
carcinogenic, mutation
Agricultural Forms of Manure/Dung rich in NO3/N022 Accumulate in vegetables,
waste Nitrogen cause methanoglobenemia
wastes cyanosis
Nitrosamines/ NO3/NO i Carcinogenic contribute to
acid rain
N2O – Nitrous Oxide Greenhouse effect
Explanation:
Lead
Lead enters the atmosphere from automobile Ground water contamination with arsenic is
exhaust. Tetraethyl lead (TEL) was added to very common in areas where it is present.
petrol as an anti-knock agent for smooth Chronic arsenic poisoning causes melanosis
running of automobile engines. and keratosis (dark spots on the upper chest,
TEL has now been replaced by other anti- back and arms are known as melanosis. The
knock compounds to prevent emission of lead next stage is keratosis in which palms become
by automobiles. Lead in petrol is being phased hard) and leads to loss of appetite, weight, Page
out by introduction of lead free petrol. diarrhoea, gastrointestinal disturbances and
Many industrial processes use lead and it is skin cancer. |
often released as a pollutant. Battery scrap Surface waters are generally free from arsenic 162
also contain lead. It can get mixed up with pollution and should be preferred for drinking
water and food and create cumulative and cooking.
poisoning. Alternatively the tube well/ hand pump water
Lead can cause irreversible behavioral should be purified to remove arsenic before
disturbances, neurological damage and other consumption. Techniques for removing
developmental problems in young children arsenic from water are available.
and babies. It is a carcinogen of the lungs and
kidneys. Cadmium
Land environment
Benefits of EIA
Study of soil characteristics, land use, and Mitigation measures and EIA report: The
drainage pattern, and the likely adverse EIA report should include the actions and
impact of the project. steps for preventing, minimizing or by passing
Impact on historical monuments and heritage the impacts or else the level of compensation
site. for probable environmental damage or loss.
Assessment of expected economic benefits Public hearing: On completion of the EIA
arising out of the project have to be compared report, public and environmental groups living Page
to the all the above mentioned factors. Thus close to project site may be informed and
we can say that environmental concerns have consulted. |
to be made a part of the decision to set up a Decision making: Impact Assessment 167
project. (IA)Authority along with the experts consult
the project-in-charge along with consultant to
EIA Process And Procedures take the final decision, keeping mind EIA and
EMP (Environment Management Plan).
Steps in Preparation of EIA report Monitoring and implementation of
environmental management plan: The
Collection of baseline data from primary and various phases of implementation of the
secondary sources; project are monitored.
Prediction of impacts based on past Assessment of Alternatives, Delineation of
experience and mathematical modelling; Mitigation Measures and Environmental
Evolution of impacts versus evaluation of net Impact Assessment Report: For every
cost benefit; project, possible alternatives should be
Preparation of environmental management identified and environmental attributes
plans to reduce the impacts to the minimum; compared. Alternatives should cover both
Quantitative estimation of financial cost of project location and process technologies.
monitoring plan and the mitigation measures. Once alternatives have been reviewed, a
mitigation plan should be drawn up for the
Environment Management Plan selected option and is supplemented with an
Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to
Delineation of mitigation measures including guide the proponent towards environmental
prevention and control for each environmental improvements.
component and rehabilitation and Risk assessment: Inventory analysis and
resettlement plan. hazard probability and index also form part of
EIA procedures.
Steps in EIA process
Composition of the expert committees
for EIA
EIA involves the steps mentioned below.
However, EIA process is cyclical with
interaction between the various steps. The Committees will consist of experts in the
following disciplines:
Screening: The project plan is screened for Eco-system management
scale of investment, location and type of Air/water pollution control
development and if the project needs statutory Water resource management
clearance. Flora/fauna conservation and management
Scoping: The project’s potential impacts, zone Land use planning
of impacts, mitigation possibilities and need Social Sciences/Rehabilitation
for monitoring. Project appraisal
Collection of baseline data: Baseline data is Ecology
the environmental status of study area. Environmental Health
Impact prediction: Positive and negative, Subject Area Specialists
reversible and irreversible and temporary and Representatives of NGOs/persons concerned
permanent impacts need to be predicted with environmental issues
which presupposes a good understanding of The Chairman will be an outstanding and
the project by the assessment agency. experienced ecologist or environmentalist or
technical professional with wide managerial Environmental Clearance/Rejection
experience in the relevant development. Letter
The representative of Impact Assessment
Agency will act as a Member-Secretary. Single window clearance
Chairman and members will serve in their
individual capacities except those specifically Environmental clearance + Forestry
nominated as representatives. clearance. Page
The membership of a committee shall not
exceed 15 members. |
When a project requires both environmental
clearance as well as approval under the Forest 168
Environmental Appraisal Procedure In (Conservation) Act, 1980, proposals for both
India are required to be given simultaneously to the
concerned divisions of the Ministry.
An Appraisal Committee constituted by the The processing is done simultaneously for
Ministry of Environment and Forests to first clearance or rejection. If the project does not
scrutinized a project based on the data involve diversion of forestland, the case is
presented by the project authorities. processed only for environmental clearance.
If necessary, the Ministry of Environment and
Forests may also hold consultations with the Time frame
investors and experts on specific issues as
and when necessary. Once all the requisite documents and data
After considering all the facets of a projects, from the project authorities are received and
environmental clearance is accorded subject public hearings (where required) have been
to implementation of the stipulated held, assessment and evaluation of the project
environmental safeguards. from the environment angle is completed
In case of projects where the project within 90 days and the decision of the
proponents have submitted complete ministry shall be conveyed within 30 days
information, a decision is taken within 90 thereafter [120 days for final decision].
days.
The six regional offices of the Ministry Post project monitoring
functioning at Shillong, Bhubaneshwar,
Chandigarh, Bangalore, Whenever a project is given environment
Lucknow and Bhopal undertake monitoring clearance, a set of conditions are stipulated by
of cleared projects. the Appraisal Committee on a case to case
The primary objectives of this procedure is to basis, which have to be complied with by the
ensure adequacy of the suggested safeguards project proponent.
and also to undertake mid-course corrections The project authorities are required to submit
if required. a half-yearly compliance report to the Ministry
Sometimes one or more natural resources about the compliance of conditions stipulated.
becomes limiting resource in a given region Cases of non-compliance of the
and that restrict the scopes of development recommendations and conditions by cleared
projects. projects/ units are brought to the notice of the
Ministry, which may then initiate action
EIA of Coasts against the project authorities.
Applicability
Thus Category A projects and Category B,
projects undergo the complete EIA process
whereas Category B2 projects are excluded There are several projects with significant
from complete EIA process. environmental impacts that are exempted
from the notification either because they are
not listed in schedule I, or their investments
Procedure For Public Hearing are less than what is provided for in the
notification.
Notice of Public Hearing
Composition of expert committees and
Whoever applies for environmental clearance
standards
of projects, should request the concerned
State Pollution Control Board to initiate a
It is being found that the team formed for
public hearing.
conducting EIA studies is lacking the
expertise in various fields such as
environmentalists, wild life experts, There is no accreditation of EIA consultants,
Anthropologists and Social Scientists (to study therefore any such consultant with a track
the social impact of the project). record of fraudulent cases cannot be held
For example for the preparation of EIA report liable for discrepancies.
of the proposed oil exploration in coast of It is hard to imagine any consultant after
Orissa by the reliance group has been given to being paid lakh of rupees, preparing a report
the life science Dept of Berhampur university for the project proponents, indicating that the Page
which has no expertise on the study of turtles project is not viable.
and its life cycle. |
Case Study 170
Public hearing
The MoEF constituted the Western Ghats
Public comments are not taken into account Experts Ecology Panel (WGEEP) in 2010 under
at the early stage, which often leads to conflict the Chairmanship of Prof. Madhav Gadgil.
at the later stage of project clearance. The Panel submitted its report in 2011 but it
A number of projects with significant was not made public immediately due to its
environmental and social impacts have been stringent assessment of the condition of
excluded from the mandatory public hearing Western Ghats.
process. The report suggested many radical changes
The documents which the public are entitled that needs to be brought to conserve Western
to are seldom available on time. Ghats. The recommendation if implemented
The data collectors do not pay respect to the would adversely affect mining mafia, sand
indigenous knowledge of local people. mafia and local encroachers.
Under pressure from various stakeholders,
Quality of EIA MoEF set up the High Level Working Group
(HLWG) under the Chairmanship of Dr. K.
One of the biggest concerns with the Kasturirangan to study recommendations of
environmental clearance process is related to WGEEP.
the quality of EIA report that are being carried The very constitution of the HLWG raised
out. suspicions that this has been formed to dilute
The reports are generally incomplete and the recommendations of the WGEEP.
provided with false data. The HLWG had indeed diluted many
Many EIA report are based on single season recommendations of WGEEP to satisfy the
data. interests of various mafia.
The EIA document in itself is so bulky and
technical, which makes it very difficult to Monitoring, compliance and institutional
decipher so as to aid in the decision making arrangements
process.
Often, and more so for strategic industries
Lack of Credibility such as nuclear energy projected, the EMPs
are kept confidential for political and
It is the responsibility of the project administrative reasons.
proponent to commission the preparation of Details regarding the effectiveness and
the EIA for its project. implementation of mitigation measures are
The EIA is actually funded by an agency or often not provided.
individual whose primary interest is to Emergency preparedness plans are not
procure clearance for the project proposed. discussed in sufficient details and the
There is little chance that the final assessment information not disseminated to the
presented is un biased, even if the consultant communities.
may provide an unbiased assessment that is
critical of the proposed project. Recommendations to improve EIA
There are so many cases of fraudulent EIA process
studies where erroneous data has been used,
same facts used for two totally different places Independent EIA Authority.
etc.
Sector wide EIAs needed. A national level accreditation to environment
Creation of a centralized baseline data bank. consultancy should be adopted
Dissemination of all information related to
projects from notification to clearance to local Grant of clearance
communities and general public.
The notification needs to make it clear that
Applicability the provision for site clearance does not imply Page
any commitment on the part of the impact
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All those projects where there is likely to be a Assessment agency to grant full
significant alternation of ecosystems need to environmental clearance. 171
go through the process of environmental The prior informed consent of local
clearance, without exception. communities and urban wards or residents
No industrial developmental activity should be association needs to be made mandatory
permitted in ecologically sensitive areas. before the grant of environmental clearance.
The consent should be from the full general
Public hearing body.
The language used for specifying conditions of
Public hearings should be applicable to all clearance must be clear and specific.
hitherto exempt categories of projects which
have environmental impacts. Composition of expert committees
1. Tropical Humid Forests The largest of the zones, covering much of the
2. Tropical Dry or Deciduous Forests (including southern and southcentral plateau with a
Monsoon Forests) predominantly deciduous vegetation. 4.3 % of
3. Warm deserts and semi-deserts the country's landmass.
4. Coniferous forests and
5. Alpine meadows. Gangetic plain
Trans-Himalayas Islands
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay two; Lakshadweep islands are included in this
of Bengal, with a highly diverse set of biomes. with the percent area being negligible.
0.03% of the country's landmass.
Bio-geographic provinces
Coasts
Bio-geographic Province is a ecosystematic or
A large coastline distributed both to the west biotic subdivision of realms. India is divided Page
and east, with distinct differences between the into 25 bio geographic zones. |
Biogeographic Zones (10) Biogeographic Provinces (25) 176
Trans Himalaya 1A: Himalaya – Ladakh Mountains
Himalayan foothills
Culling drives are often not well monitored Can be monitored easily using strict
frequently leads to free-for-all shooting sprees. guidelines and law enforcement. Page
Culling can increase peoples apathy (lack of No concrete evidence to prove that
|
interest or enthusiasm) for conservation of other culling increases insensitivity among people.
forms of life. 182
[But practically it does. Lot of people enjoy
hunting animals and others might take
inspiration from culling]
A new invasive gall forming insect of Nativity: Trop. Central & South America
Eucalyptus in Southern India. Distribution in India: Throughout
Remarks: Aggressive colonizer. Common Nativity: Trop. America
winter season weed in cultivated fields, scrub Distribution in India: Throughout
lands and fringes of forests. Remarks: Aggressive colonizer. Common weed
of marhsy lands and along the edges of tanks
Blumea eriantha and ditches.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only Credits: http://cdn.intechopen.com/
3. Both 1 and 2
Biosphere Reserves in India
1. Studying the effects of human interference Conservation Reserves can be declared by the
and pollution on the biotic and abiotic State Governments in any area owned by the
components of ecosystems. Government, particularly the areas adjacent to
2. Conservation the ecosystems for the present National Parks and Sanctuaries and those
as well as future. areas which link one Protected Area with
another.
The main objects of MAB programme are to: Such declaration should be made after having
consultations with the local communities.
1. Conserve representative samples of ecosystem. The rights of people living inside a
2. Provide long term in situ conservation of Conservation Reserve are not affected.
genetic diversity.
3. Provide opportunities for education and Community Reserves
training.
4. Provide appropriate sustainable managements Community Reserves can be declared by the
of the living resources. State Government in any private or
5. Promote infer national co-operation. community land, not comprised within a
National Park, Sanctuary or a Conservation
Tiger Reserves Reserve, where an individual or a community
has volunteered to conserve wildlife and its
Same as sanctuaries. But they are monitored habitat.
by NTCA under Project tiger. As in the case of a Conservation Reserve, the
The various tiger reserves were created in the rights of people living inside a Community
country based on 'core-buffer' strategy. Reserve are not affected.
The core areas are freed of all human India has a history of religious/cultural
activities. traditions that emphasised protection of
It has the legal status of a national park or nature.
wildlife sanctuary. In many cultures, tracts of forest were set
Collection of minor forest produce, grazing, aside, and all the trees and wildlife within
and other human disturbances are not were venerated and given total protection.
allowed. Such sacred groves are found in Khasi and
Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya, Aravalli Hills of
Buffer areas Rajasthan, Western Ghat regions of
Karnataka and Maharashtra and the
Twin objectives: Sarguja, Chanda and Bastar areas of
Madhya Pradesh.
In Meghalaya, the sacred groves are the last Zoo
refuges for a large number of rare and
threatened plants. Zoo is an establishment, whether stationary or
mobile, where captive animals are kept for
Ex situ Conservation exhibition to the public and includes a circus
and rescue centers but does not include an
In this approach, threatened animals and establishment of a licensed dealer in captive Page
plants are taken out from their natural habitat animals.
|
and placed in special setting where they can The initial purpose of zoos was entertainment,
be protected and given special care. over the decades, zoos have got transformed 190
Zoological parks, botanical gardens, wildlife into centers for wildlife conservation and
safari parks and seed banks serve this environmental education.
purpose. Apart from saving individual animals, zoos
There are many animals that have become have a role to play in species conservation too
extinct in the wild but continue to be (through captive breeding).
maintained in zoological parks. Zoos provide an opportunity to open up a
In recent years ex situ conservation has whole new world, and this could be used in
advanced beyond keeping threatened species. sensitizing visitors regarding the value and
Now gametes of threatened species can be need for conservation of wildlife.
preserved in viable and fertile condition for
long periods using cryopreservation Which one of the following is not a site for
techniques, eggs can be fertilized in vitro, and in-situ method of conservation of flora?
plants can be propagated using tissue culture
methods. 1. Biosphere Reserves
Seeds of different genetic strains of 2. Botanical Garden
commercially important plants can be kept for 3. National Park
long periods in seed banks. 4. Wildlife Sanctuary
The national gene bank at National Bureau
Of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), In situ conservation = on the site conservation
Delhi is primarily responsible for conservation without displacing the affected organism.
of unique accessions on long-term basis, as
base collections for posterity, predominantly Ex situ conservation = conserving the
in the form of seeds. organism in an artificial habitat by displacing
it from its natural habitat.
Botanical garden
Botanical Garden = Plants are bred in a
Botanical garden refers to the scientifically protected environment far from their natural
planned collection of living trees, shrubs, home, especially for research purposes. So its
herbs, climbers and other plants from various Ex situ conservation.
parts of the globe.
Rest all along with protected forests and
Purpose of botanical gardens reserved forests are In situ conservation
methods.
To study the taxonomy as well as growth of
plants. Answer: b) Botanical Garden
To study the introduction and acclimatization
process of exotic plants. Constraints in biodiversity conservation
It acts as a germplasm collection.
It helps development of new hybrids. Low priority for conservation of living natural
It augments conserving rare and threatened resources.
species. Exploitation of living natural resources for
It facilitates training of staff. monetary gain.
It acts as a source of recreation. Values and knowledge about the species and
ecosystem inadequately known.
Unplanned urbanization and uncontrolled In September 1983, men, women and children
industrialization. of Salkani ‘hugged the trees’ in Kalase forest.
(The local term for ‘hugging’ in Kannada is
Historic Citizen Movements to appiko.)
Conserve Biodiversity Appiko movement gave birth to a new
awareness all over southern India.
Chipko Movement Page
Biodiversity Hot Spots Across India and
|
It is a social-ecological movement that World
practiced the Gandhian methods of 191
Biodiversity Hot Spots
satyagraha and nonviolent resistance, through
the act of hugging trees to protect them from
falling. Hot spots are the richest and most threatened
The modern Chipko movement started in the reservoirs of plant and animal life of the earth.
early 1970s in the Garhwal Himalayas of They have maximum number of endemic
Uttarakhand, with growing awareness towards species.
rapid deforestation. 25 terrestrial hot spots have been identified
The landmark event in this struggle took place for the conservation of biodiversity. They
on March 26, 1974, when a group of peasant occupy 1.4% of the earth’s surface and 20% of
women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, in worlds the human population lives in these
Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, acted to areas. Western Ghats and Eastern Himalayas
prevent the cutting of trees and reclaim their (Includes some parts of Indo-Burma or
traditional forest rights that were threatened Purvanchal Hills) are two hot spots of India.
by the contractor system of the state Forest
Department. To qualify as a hot spot, a region must meet
Their actions inspired hundreds of such two strict criteria:
actions at the grassroots level throughout the
region. 1. Species endemism: the region must contain
By the 1980s the movement had spread at least 1,500 species of vascular plants (>
throughout India and led to formulation of 0.5% of the world's total) as endemics, and
people-sensitive forest policies, which put a 2. Degree of threat: the region has to have lost
stop to the open felling of trees in regions as at least 70% of its original habitat.
far reaching as Vindhyas and the Western
Ghats. Each biodiversity hot spot represents a
The first recorded event of Chipko however, remarkable universe of extraordinary floral
took place in village Khejarli, Jodhpur district, and faunal endemism struggling to survive in
in 1730 AD, when 363 Bishnois, led by Amrita rapidly shrinking ecosystems.
Devi sacrificed their lives while protecting Over 50 percent of the world's plant species
green Khejri trees, considered sacred by the and 42 percent of all terrestrial vertebrate
community, by hugging them, and braved the species are endemic to the 34 biodiversity hot
axes of loggers sent by the local ruler, today it spots.
is seen an inspiration and a precursor for Some hot spots are much richer than others
Chipko movement of Garhwal. in terms of their numbers of endemics. Five
key factors have been taken into consideration
Appiko Movement and those biodiversity hot spot that tops the
list with respect to these five factors are
Appiko movement was a revolutionary considered as hottest hot spots.
movement based on environmental
conservation in India. Factors
The Chipko movement in Uttarakhand in the
Himalayas inspired the villagers of the district 1. Endemic plants,
of Karnataka province in southern India to 2. Endemic vertebrates,
launch a similar movement to save their 3. Endemic plants/area ratio (species per
forests. 100km2),
4. Endemic vertebrates/area ratio (species per 2. Philippines
100km2) and 3. Sundaland [South East Asia]
5. Remaining primary vegetation as % of original 4. Brazil's Atlantic Forest
extent. 5. Caribbean
6. Indo-Burma
Biodiversity Hotspots Across the World 7. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
8. Eastern Arc and Coastal Forests of Page
Tanzania/Kenya
The eight hottest hot spots in terms of the |
above five factors are:
These eight ‘hottest hot spots’, appear at least 192
three times in the top ten listings for each
1. Madagascar
factor.
The Eastern Himalayan hotspot has nearly World Heritage Sites means “Sites any of
163 globally threatened species (both flora and various areas or objects inscribed on the
fauna) including the One-horned Rhinoceros United Nations Educational, Scientific, and
[Vulnerable], the Wild Asian Water buffalo Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World
[Endangered]. Heritage List”.
There are an estimated 10,000 species of The sites are designated as having
plants in the Himalayas, of which one-third outstanding universal value under the
are endemic and found nowhere else in the Convention concerning the Protection of the
world. World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
A few threatened endemic bird species such as This Convention, which was adopted by the
the Himalayan Quail, Cheer pheasant, UNESCO in 1972 (and enforced in 1975)
Western tragopan are found here, along with provides a framework for international
some of Asia’s largest and most endangered cooperation in preserving and protecting
birds such as the Himalayan vulture and cultural treasures and natural areas
White-bellied heron. throughout the world. The first list of World
Mammals like the Golden langur, The Heritage state was published in 1978.
Himalayan tahr, the pygmy hog, Lang-urs, The convention defines the kind of sites which
Asiatic wild dogs, sloth bears, Gaurs, Muntjac, can be considered for inscription of the World
Sambar, Snow leopard, Black bear, Blue heritage list (ancient monuments,
sheep, Takin, the Gangetic dolphin, wild water museums, biodiversity and geological
buffalo, swamp deer call the Himalayan heritage,), and sets out the duties of the State
ranged their home. Parties in identifying potential sites and their
role in protecting them.
Western Ghats and Sri Lanka
"Natural heritage sites are restricted to
those natural areas that
Western Ghats, also known as the "Sahyadri
Hills" encompasses the mountain forests in
furnish outstanding examples of the Earth's
the southwestern parts of India and highlands
record of life or its geologic processes.
of southwestern Sri Lanka.
provide excellent examples of ongoing Sites subject to unusual levels of pollution,
ecological and biological evolutionary natural hazards, or other problems may be
processes. placed for restoration. Such designated sites
contain natural phenomena that are rare, facilitate promotion of tourism.
unique, superlative, or of outstanding beauty
International Year of Biodiversity
or Page
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the
|
furnish habitats or rare endangered animals International Year of Biodiversity. It is a
or plants or are sites of exceptional celebration of life on earth and of the value of 194
biodiversity”. biodiversity for our lives.
There are ten criteria for cultural heritage and
natural heritage. Slogan
Nominated sites must be of "outstanding
universal value" and meet at least one of the "Biodiversity is variety of life on earth
ten criteria. The criteria are given below.
Biodiversity is life.
Criteria Biodiversity is our life".
1. to represent a masterpiece of human creative IUCN Red List India - Red Data List -
genius; Red Book
2. to exhibit an important interchange of human
values, over a span of time or within a cultural International Union for Conservation of
area of the world; Nature
3. to bear a unique or at least exceptional
testimony to a cultural tradition or to a (IUCN) is an international organization (NGO)
civilization which is living or which has working in the field of nature conservation
disappeared; and sustainable use of natural resources.
4. to be an outstanding example of a type of It is involved in data gathering and analysis,
building, architectural or technological research, field projects, advocacy, lobbying
ensemble or landscape which illustrates a and education.
significant stage(s) in human history; The organization is best known for compiling
5. to be an outstanding example of a traditional and publishing the IUCN Red List, which
human settlement, land-use, or sea-use,; assesses the conservation status of species
6. to contain superlative natural phenomena or worldwide.
areas of exceptional natural beauty and Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland.
aesthetic importance;
7. to be outstanding examples representing
BirdLife International
major stages of Earth's history;
8. to contain the most important and significant
natural habitats for insists conservation of BirdLife International is the world’s largest
biological diversity, including those containing nature conservation Partnership.
threatened species of outstanding universal Together they are 120 BirdLife Partners
value from the point of view of science or worldwide.
conservation. BirdLife International strives to
conserve birds, their habitats and global
The UNESCO funds numerous efforts to biodiversity, working with people towards
preserve and restore World Heritage Sites in sustainability in the use of natural resources.
developing nations. BirdLife International is the official Red
It maintains also a List of World Heritage Sites List authority for birds, for the International
in developing nations. Union for Conservation of Nature.
It maintains also a List of World Heritage in It identifies the sites known/referred to
danger facing threat of pollution and other as ‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’.
natural hazards.
With reference to an organization known as Resources (IUCN) and the Convention on
‘Birdlife International’ which of the International Trade in Endangered Species
following statements is/are correct? of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which of
the following statements is/are correct?
It is a Global Partnership of Conservation
Organizations. IUCN is an organ of the United Nations and
The concept of ‘biodiversity hotspots’ CITES is an international agreement between Page
originated from this organization. governments
It identifies the sites known/referred to as IUCN runs thousands of field projects around |
‘Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas’. the world to better manage natural 195
environments.
Select the correct answer using the code given CITES is legally binding on the States that
below. have joined it, but this Convention does not
take the place of national laws.
1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only Select the correct using the code given below.
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3 1. 1 only
2. 2 and 3 only
BirdLife International has nothing to do with 3. 1 and 3 only
the concept “biodiversity hotspots”. 4. 1, 2 and 3
The pink pages in this publication include the With passing time, the number of pink pages
critically endangered species. As the status of continue to increase. There are pitifully few
the species changes, new pages are sent to the green pages.
subscribers.
Green pages are used for those species that Species are classified by the IUCN Red List
were formerly endangered, but have now into nine groups
recovered to a point where they are no longer
threatened.
Pic Credits: https://upload.wikimedia.org/ India has 988 species on IUCN ‘Red List’ as of
2015.
The ‘Red Data Books’ published by the India has added 15 more species to the “Red
International Union for Conservation of List” of threatened species [973 in 2014].
Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) The list contains critically endangered,
contain lists of endangered and vulnerable species.
1. 1 &3
2. 2 only
3. 2 &3
4. 3 only
Habitat: Indus River in Pakistan and its Beas Which one of the following is the national Page
and Sutlej tributaries. aquatic animal of India?
|
Other than poaching, what are the possible 1. Saltwater crocodile 203
reasons for the decline in the population of 2. Olive ridley turtle
Ganges River Dolphins? 3. Gangetic dolphin
4. Gharial
1. Construction of dams and barrages on rivers
2. Increase in the population of crocodiles in ‘Vulnerable’ Mammals
rivers
3. Getting trapped in fishing nets accidentally Great Indian one horn Rhinoceros
4. Use of synthetic fertilizers and other
agricultural chemicals in crop-fields in the
vicinity of rivers
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1, 3 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Habitat: Found only in the tall grasslands and
forests in the foothills of the Himalayas [Terai
‘Susu’ shares its habitat with crocodiles, region].
freshwater turtles and wetland birds, many of National Parks: Kaziranga National Park,
which are fish eaters and are potential Pabitora wildlife sanctuary, Manas National
competitors with dolphins. Park, Assam.
Status in the Wild: Moved from Endangered to
http://goo.gl/7xvkDi Vulnerable.
Threat – Oriental belief that its horn, among
Crocodile species in India other parts, has medicinal properties, habitat
loss, habitat fragmentation.
The Mugger (or marsh) crocodile, gharial and
the estuarine (coast) crocodile. Gaur/Indian Bison
Gharials (Critically Endangered) once
thrived in all the major river systems of the
Indian Subcontinent. Today, they are extinct
in the Indus River, in the Brahmaputra of
Bhutan and Bangladesh, and in the Irrawaddy
River. Their distribution is now limited to only
2% of their former range.
The mugger (Vulnerable) crocodile is a
freshwater species found sparsely in various
lakes, rivers and marshes in the Indian
subcontinent.
Apart from the eastern coast of India, The gaur (Bos gaurus), also called Indian
the saltwater crocodile (Least concern) is bison, is a large bovine native to South Asia
extremely rare on the Indian subcontinent. and Southeast Asia.
Gaur are largely confined to evergreen forests
or semi-evergreen and moist deciduous
forests, but also occur in deciduous forest
areas at the periphery of their range.
The domesticated form of the gaur, Bos
frontalis, is called gayal or mithun.
Threats: Habitat loss, habitat fragmentation. Page
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205
1. 1 and 2
Habitat: Seen across much of the Himalayas, 2. 2 only
Korea, northeastern China, the Russian far 3. 1 and 3
east and the Honshu and Shikoku islands of 4. 3 only
Japan.
Threats: deforestation and active hunting for Explanation:
its body parts.
Dugong is an herbivorous animal. It eats sea
‘Vulnerable’ Herbivorous Marine grass and aquatic plants found in shallow
oceans (At depths sea grass and aquatic
Mammals
plants don’t grow due to absence of sunlight).
Include dugong and manatees and they Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
inhabit swamps, rivers, estuaries, marine
wetlands, and coastal marine waters.
Harming endangered (vulnerable, Threat: excessive hunting for meat and
endangered, critically endangered) species sporting trophies, as well as habitat loss.
listed in Schedule 1 of the Act is prohibited
throughout India. Himalayan tahr
Hunting species, like those requiring special
protection (Schedule II), big game (Schedule
III), and small game (Schedule IV), is regulated Page
through licensing.
A few species classified as vermin (Schedule |
V), may be hunted without restrictions. 206
Answer: c) 1 and 3
India is home to some of the last existing It is the most uniquely evolved crocodilian in
wintering grounds of this species. the world, a specialized, river-dwelling, fish-
Habitat: Coastal areas with sparse vegetation. eater.
No breeding records further inland than 7 km Habitat: Clean rivers with sand banks.
from the seashore. Distribution: Only viable population in the
Distribution: Has been recorded in West National Chambal Sanctuary, spread across
Bengal, Orissa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. three states of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and
Threats: Habitat degradation and land Madhya Pradesh in India.
reclamation. Human disturbance also leads to Small non-breeding populations exist in Son,
high incidence of nest desertion. Gandak, Hoogly and Ghagra rivers. Now
extinct in Myanmar, Pakistan, Bhutan and
Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) Bangladesh.
Threats: The combined effects of dams,
barrages, artificial embankments, change in
river course, pollution, sand-mining, riparian
agriculture and ingress of domestic and feral
livestock caused irreversible loss of riverine
habitat and consequently of the gharial.
1. 1 and 2 only
2. 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. None
It is the largest of the living sea turtles,
weighing as much as 900 kg.
1 and 2 are ‘Critically Endangered’ 3 is
Jellyfish is their primary food.
‘Vulnerable’.
Habitat: Tropical and subtropical oceans.
Distribution: Found in tropical and temperate
Answer: a) 1 and 2 only
waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and into Indian
Oceans.
Threats: High sea fishing operations, Four-toed River Terrapin or River Terrapin
harvesting of eggs, destruction of nests by wild (Batagur baska)
predators and domesticated species such as
cats, dogs and pigs. Artificial lighting
Habitat: Freshwater rivers and lakes. Threats: Use of flesh for medicinal purposes,
Distribution: Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, demand for eggs, which are considered a
Indonesia and Malaysia. delicacy
Red-crowned Roofed Turtle or the Bengal Olive ridley turtles are best known for their
Roof Turtle (Batagur kachuga) behavior of synchronized nesting in mass
numbers
Habitat: Deep, flowing rivers but with In the Indian Ocean, the majority of olive
terrestrial nest sites. ridleys nest near Gahirmatha in Odisha. The
Distribution: Found in India, Bangladesh and coast of Odisha in India is the largest mass
Nepal. In India it resides basically in the nesting site for the olive ridleys. Page
watershed of the Ganga. Threats: unsustainable egg collection,
Threats: Water development projects, water slaughtering nesting females on the beach, |
pollution, human disturbance and poaching and direct harvesting adults at sea for 211
for the illegal wildlife market. commercial sale of both the meat and hides.
Coastal development, natural disasters,
‘Near Threatened’ Reptiles climate change, and other sources of beach
erosion have also been cited as potential
Sispara day gecko (Cnemaspis sisparensis) threats to nesting grounds.
Turtle Tortoise
Lives in water Lives on land
Come to land to lay Everything happens
eggs on land
Good swimmers Bad swimmers
Carnivores (flesh Herbivores (plant
eating) eating)
Terrapins are almost a combination of turtles
and tortoises. They live in water, mostly small
dams or ponds, however they can also live on
Distribution: Endemic to Western Ghats, and land.
found in Sispara, Nilgiris, Kavalai near ‘Critically Endangered’ Fish
Cochin.
Threats: Habitat conversion and modification. The Pondicherry Shark (Carcharhinus
hemiodon)
Vulnerable Reptiles
‘Endangered’ Fishes
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213
1. Black-necked crane
2. Cheetah
3. Flying squirrel
4. Snow leopard
Page
Which of the above are naturally found in
|
India ?
214
a. 1, 2 and 3 only
b. 1, 3 and 4 only
c. 2 and 4 only
d. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Black-necked crane is commonly found in Moved from the "critically endangered" to the
Tibetan and trans-Himalayan region. In "endangered" category.
winters they migrate to less colder regions of Found in Iberian Peninsula [Western Europe].
Indian Himalayas.
Lion
Cheetah is an extinct species. They have gone
extinct during pre-independence era. Reason:
They were hunted down by various Indian Placed in Vulnerable category.
kings and British officers. Threats: Trade in bones is the major reason
for their dwindling numbers.
Flying Squirrels are found in many Indian
forests. Tiger and Bengal Tiger
Insectivorous Plants
1. Droseraceae (3 species),
2. Nepenthaceae (1 species) and
3. Lentibulariaceae (36 species).
On the leaf midrib are found some sensitive
Drosera and Aldrovanda trigger hairs. The two halves of the leaf blade
of Aldrovanda close along the midrib the
Drosera and Aldrovanda belong to family moment an insect comes into contact with the
Droseraceae. leaf, trapping the victim inside.
Drosera or Sundew inhabit wet infertile soils
or marshy places. Pitcher Plants Family: Nepenthaceae
Aldrovanda is a free-floating, rootless aquatic
plant, the only species found in India, occurs
Pitcher plants belong to family nepenthaceae.
in the salt marshes of Sunderbans, south of
The members of the family are commonly
Calcutta. It also grows in fresh water bodies
known as ‘pitcher plants’ because their leaves
like ponds, tanks and lakes.
bear jar-like structures.
Distribution: Confined to the high rainfall hills
Insect trapping mechanism of Drosera and plateaus of north-eastern region, at
altitudes ranging from 100 —1500 m,
particularly in Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills of
Meghalaya.
Utricularia and Pinguicula belong to family Drosera are capable of curdling milk, its
Lentibulariaceae. bruised leaves are applied on blisters and
used for dyeing silk.
Utricularia or Bladderworts Nepenthes in local medicine to treat cholera
patients, the liquid inside the pitcher is useful
for urinary troubles, it is also used as eye
drops.
Utricularia is useful against cough, for
dressing of wounds, as a remedy for urinary
disease.
Endangered
Near Threatened
Least Concern
India’s coal
Coal mined in India is a poor quality coal To improve efficiency and
with less carbon, high ash (hard to dispose) reduce adverse effects, India should do away
and high moisture content (more gases; less with its present sub-critical coal power plants
fuel efficiency) [India’s coal is not and build more super-critical and ultra-super-
Carboniferous Coal]. critical ones (15-20% increase in efficiency).
Should employ clean coal technology.
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227
Carbon capture and storage Depleted oil or gas fields and deep saline
aquifers safely store CO2 while coal seams
Carbon capture and storage catches and absorb it.
sequesters (hide) carbon dioxide (CO2) from Ocean storage, a technology still in its early
stationary sources like power plants. stages, involves injecting liquid CO2 into
Capture: Flue-gas separation removes CO2 waters 500 to 3,000 meters deep, where it
and condenses it into a concentrated CO2 dissolves under pressure. However, this
stream. method would slightly decrease pH and
After capture, secure containers sequester the potentially harm marine habitats.
collected CO2 to prevent or stall its reentry
into the atmosphere. Carbon Sink
The two storage options are geologic and
oceanic (must hide the CO2 until peak A carbon sink is a natural or artificial
emissions subside hundreds of years from reservoir that accumulates and stores some
now). carbon-containing chemical compound for an
Geologic storage involves injecting CO2 into indefinite period.
the earth.
The process by which carbon sinks remove Because of this increase in atmospheric
carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is carbon, a lot of emphasis and hope has been
known as carbon sequestration. put into the ability of trees, other plants and
the soil to temporarily sink the carbon that
Carbon Sink vs Carbon Source fossil fuel burning releases into the
atmosphere.
A carbon sink is anything that absorbs more Indeed, the Kyoto Protocol, the international Page
carbon that it releases, whilst a carbon source communities’ main instrument for halting
is anything that releases more carbon than is global warming suggests that the absorption |
absorb. of carbon dioxide by trees and the soil is just 228
Forests, soils, oceans and the atmosphere all as valid a means to achieve emission
store carbon and this carbon moves between reduction commitments as cutting carbon
them in a continuous cycle. dioxide emissions from fossil fuels.
This constant movement of carbon means that
forests act as sources or sinks at different The scientific view is that the increase in
times. global temperature should not exceed 2 °C
above pre-industrial level. If the global
Carbon sequestration temperature increases beyond 3°C above
the pre-industrial level, what can be its
possible impact/impacts on the world?
Carbon sequestration is the process of capture
and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon Terrestrial biosphere tends toward a net
dioxide (CO2) carbon source
It has been proposed as a way to slow the Widespread coral mortality will occur.
atmospheric and marine accumulation of All the global wetlands will permanently
greenhouse gases disappear.
Carbon dioxide is naturally captured from the Cultivation of cereals will not be possible
atmosphere through biological, chemical, or anywhere in the world.
physical processes.
Select the correct answer using the code given
Forests as carbon Sinks below.
Annex B Annex I Parties with first or second-round Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions targets.
The first-round targets apply over the years 2008–2012 and the second-round
Kyoto targets, which apply from 2013–2020.
Compulsory binding targets to reduce GHG emissions.
Non-Annex I Parties to the UNFCCC not listed in Annex I of the Convention are mostly low-
income developing countries.
No binding targets to reduce GHG emissions.
Page
LDCs Least-developed countries |
No binding targets to reduce GHG emissions.
234
Developing countries may volunteer to become
Annex I countries when they are sufficiently
developed.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) – carbon credits to the world and tells them how
Kyoto Protocol it is working towards meeting its Kyoto
targets.]
The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM),
defined in the Kyoto Protocol, allows a country Such projects can earn saleable certified
with an emission-reduction or emission- emission reduction (CER) credits, each
limitation commitment under the Kyoto equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be
Protocol (Annex B Party) to implement an counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.
emission-reduction project in developing In simple terms: Developed countries emit
countries. more and lose carbon credits. They provide
financial assistance to developing and least
developed countries to create clean energy
[Hypothetical E.g. of CDM: Australia takes up
(solar, wind energy etc.) and gain some carbon
or finances some environment benefitting
credits = meet their Kyoto Quota (Kyoto units)
project in India (solar power projects, wind
of emissions without violations.
power projects, afforestation etc.) and earns
Suppose a developed country has a Kyoto
some carbon credits (certified emission
Quota of 100 Carbon Credits ==> It can emit
reduction credits). Now it shows these earned
100 tonnes of CO2.
Due to negligence it emits 110 tonnes of CO2 Multi-Commodity Exchange of India
= 10 carbon credits lost = Kyoto Quota (MCX) launched futures trading in carbon
violation. credits in 2009.
Now the country has to make up for its lost
carbon credits to avoid penalty. Types of Carbon trading
So it invests some money (equal to 10 carbon
credits) in developing and LDCs to build clean 1. Emission trading and Page
energy infrastructure like solar plants, wind 2. Offset trading.
farms etc. and will make up for its 10 lost |
carbon credits and avoid penalty. Emission trading/'cap-and-trade' 236
Carbon Credits Trading [Carbon Emissions trading allows countries that have
Trading] – Kyoto Protocol emission units to spare - emissions permitted
them but not “used” - to sell this excess
Carbon credit – Kyoto Protocol capacity to countries that are over their
targets.
A carbon credit (often called a carbon offset) is Carbon is now tracked and traded like any
a tradable certificate or permit. other commodity. This is known as the
One carbon credit is equal to one tonne of "carbon market."
carbon dioxide.
Carbon credits are a part of attempts to Other trading units in the carbon market
mitigate the growth in concentrations of
GHGs. 1. A removal unit (RMU) by reforestation.
Carbon credits or carbon offsets can be 2. An emission reduction unit (ERU) generated
acquired through afforestation, renewable by a joint implementation project (explained
energy, CO2 sequestration, methane capture, below).
buying from an exchange (carbon credits 3. A certified emission reduction (CER) generated
trading) etc.. from a clean development mechanism project
activity.
Joint Implementation (JI) – Kyoto Under Kyoto Protocol, Annex 1 countries can
Protocol meet their targets by cutting emissions or
buying unused allowances (carbon credits,
The mechanism known as “joint carbon trading) from other countries.
implementation,” allows a country with an This kind of approach ignores long term social
emission reduction commitment under the and economic costs. It is like committing only
Kyoto Protocol (Annex B Party) to earn half of what one needs to commit.
emission reduction units (ERUs) from an Kyoto Protocol is based on the “common but
emission-reduction project in another Annex differentiated responsibility” approach to
B Party, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, global warming. Under CBDR, many countries
which can be counted towards meeting its were allowed to increase pollution.
Kyoto target. It excluded most polluting countries like
Joint implementation offers Parties a flexible China and India, which have since become the
and cost-efficient means of fulfilling a part of world's largest and fourth largest polluters.
their Kyoto commitments, while the host Party
benefits from foreign investment and Important Summits Post Kyoto
technology transfer.
After the Kyoto Protocol, parties to the
Regarding "carbon credits", which one of Convention have agreed to further
the following statements is not correct? commitments. These include the Bali Action
Plan (2007), the Copenhagen Accord (2009),
1. The carbon credit system was ratified in the Cancún agreements (2010), and the
conjunction with the Kyoto Protocol
Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (2011) Copenhagen Accord also laid the groundwork
etc. for financial commitments from developed
countries to developing countries.
Bali Summit, 2007 Agrees a "goal" for the world to raise $100
billion per year by 2020. New multilateral
funding for adaptation will be delivered, with a
COP 13, CMP 3.
Adopted Bali Road Map that included
governance structure. Page
The Accord states that global warming should
be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) to the pre- |
1. The Bali Action Plan (BAP) [BAP: launch a
industrial level. 238
comprehensive process to enable the
implementation of the Convention through
long-term cooperative action up to and beyond Cancún Summit, 2010
2012.]
2. Launch of the Adaptation Fund, COP 16, CMP 6.
3. Decisions on technology transfer and An agreement adopted by the COP called for a
4. On reducing emissions from deforestation. large “Green Climate Fund”, and
an “Adaptation Committee” at global level to
All developed country Parties have agreed to support developing countries in mitigation of
“quantified emission limitation taking into GHGs.
account differences in their national It looked forward to a second commitment
circumstances.” period for the Kyoto Protocol.
So they will fix emission limits according to As per the Cancun Agreements, all Parties to
their convenience and try to achieve them. the Convention (including the developed and
Developed countries stressed developing developing countries) have agreed to report
countries like India and China, which are their voluntary mitigation goals for
increasing their emissions as they grow implementation.
economically, also undertake some kind of
emission cuts. Durban Summit, 2011
Select the correct answer using the code given The last minute deal urged developed
below. countries to provide financial support to
developing countries to meet their “ambitious
1. 1 only mitigation” goals (Slightly in favor of Common
2. 2 only But Differentiated Responsibility).
3. Both 1 and 2 The agreement urges parties to take national
4. Neither 1 nor 2 pledges by finalizing their Intended
Nationally Determined Contributions
Answer: a) 1 only (INDC) by November 2015 (Before Paris
Summit).
Warsaw Summit, 2013 The agreement was severely criticized for
being too shallow in its commitments.
COP19, CMP9.
2013 United Nations Climate Change Developed vs. Developing
Conference.
The G77 and China bloc led 132 poor Wealthy nations like the U.S, EU argued that
countries in a walk out during talks about emissions from developing countries are
“loss and damage” compensation for the consistently rising and they need to commit to
consequences of global warming. more serious emission cuts.
Poor countries have demanded that the But India accused them of watering down the
developed world give them $100 billion CDR principle envisaged in earlier agreements
annually by 2020. (Kyoto Protocol).
India stuck to its conventional position that
Paris Summit 2015 - Lima Summit the developed countries should shoulder a
2014 – INDC bigger burden as they are responsible for the
problem in the first place.
Lima Summit, 2014 India confirmed that poverty alleviation would
continue to be its primary concern and hence
COP20 or CMP10 or Lima Summit was held in it will not compromise with its share of carbon
Lima, Peru, in December 2014. credits.
2014 United Nations Climate Change
Conference. India’s position
China agreed a deal in 2014 under which its All agreements and decisions were reserved for
emissions would peak by 2030 (after 2030, it Paris Summit 2015.
will start reducing its carbon footprint).
India, the world's third largest carbon emitter, Paris Summit is one of the most important
is under pressure since then to make environmental conference because of
commitments like China did. the INDC commitments made by major
India says carbon emissions will grow as it polluters. Page
drives to beat poverty.
India's emissions are around 1.9 tonnes per |
person — less than China, which emits 240
around 7.2 tonnes per person and the 5
tonnes world average.
So India wants to use its carbon credits to
alleviate poverty and is not ready to accept
anything other than ‘common but
differentiated responsibilities’.
India has long defended the principle of
“common but differentiated responsibility”
(Common but differentiated responsibility =
Contribution proportional to pollution: USA,
China, Japan and Major European powers are
polluting since many years and hence they
should contribute more. India and other
developing nations along with African nations
have stated polluting the environment very
recently and hence they will contribute less).
Commitment Period
Ex-post Review
Produce 40% non-fossil fuel based energy Money required to meet India’s INDC
Produce 40 per cent of electricity from non- At least USD 2.5 trillion (at current prices)
fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030, if required between now and 2030 to implement
international community helps with all planned actions.
technology transfer and low cost finance. A total of INR 170.84 billion collected through
cess on coal production. Being used for
How? funding clean energy projects.
National Adaptation Fund has been created
Install 175 GW of solar, wind and biomass with initial allocation of Rs 3500 million.
electricity by 2022, and scale up further in Tax free infrastructure bonds of INR 50
following years. billion being introduced for funding renewable
Aggressively pursue development of energy projects.
hydropower.
Achieve the target of 63 GW of installed National Adaptation Fund on Climate
nuclear power capacity by 2032. Change (NAFCC)
Create additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 Budget 2015 introduced “National Adaptation
billion tonnes Fund” for climate change.
As an initial sum, an amount of Rs 100 crore
Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 will be transferred to the Fund.
billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by Budget provision for the year 2015-16 and
2030 through additional forest and tree cover. 2016-17 is Rs.350 crores.
Money obtained from coal cess goes into NAF.
How? Objective: Assist States and Union Territories
that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse
Full implementation of Green India Mission effects of climate change in meeting the cost of
and other programmes of afforestation adaptation.
Develop 140,000 km long tree line on both The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural
sides of national highways Development (NABARD) has been appointed
as National Implementing Entity (NIE)
Sustainable development responsible for implementation of adaptation
projects under the (NAFCC).
Develop robust adaptation strategies for
agriculture, water and health sectors. Tax free infrastructure bonds
Answer: c) 1 and 3 only The aims of the IPCC are to assess scientific
information relevant to:
BioCarbon Fund Initiative Page
1. Human-induced climate change,
|
The BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustainable 2. The impacts of human-induced climate
Forest Landscapes (ISFL) is a multilateral change, 244
fund, supported by donor governments and 3. Options for adaptation and mitigation.
managed by the World Bank.
It seeks to promote reduced greenhouse gas IPCC Assessment Reports (AR)
emissions from the land sector, from
deforestation and forest degradation In accordance with its mandate, the IPCC
in developing countries (REDD+), and from prepares at regular intervals comprehensive
sustainable agriculture, as well as smarter Assessment Reports of scientific, technical
land-use planning, policies and practices. and socio-economic information relevant for
the understanding of human induced climate
‘BioCarbon Fund Initiative for Sustain-able change, potential impacts of climate change
Forest Landscapes’ is managed by the and options for mitigation and adaptation.
National Mission For A Green India 1. It helps in controlling soil erosion and in
preventing desertification.
Mission Objectives 2. It is a rich source of biodiesel. Page
3. It has nutritional value and is well-adapted to
live in cold areas of high altitudes. |
Increased forest/tree cover on 5 million
hectares (ha) of forest/non-forest lands and 4. Its timber is of great commercial value. 248
improved quality of forest cover on another 5
million ha of non-forest/forest lands (a total of Which of the statements given above is /are
10 million ha) correct ?
Improved ecosystem services including
biodiversity, hydrological services, and carbon 1. 2, 3 and 4 only
sequestration from the 10 million ha of forest/ 2. 1 and 3 only
non-forest lands mentioned above 3. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Increased forest-based livelihood income of 4. 1 only
about 3 million households, living in and
around the forests National Mission For Sustainable
Enhanced annual CO2 sequestration by 50 to Agriculture (NMSA)
60 million tons in the year 2020.
The NMSA has identified key dimensions for
National Mission on Seabuckthorn
Adaptation and mitigation:
Seabuckthorn plant is popularly known Improved Crop Seeds, Livestock and Fish
as Leh berries. Culture
The MoEF and DRDO have launched a major Water Efficiency
national initiative for seabuckthorn cultivation Pest Management
in the high-altitude, cold desert Improved Farm Practices
ecosystems. Nutrient Management
The initiative is one of many conservation Agricultural Insurance
measures for fragile high-altitude ecosystems. Credit Support
Seabuckthorn, also called the “Wonder plant” Markets
and “Ladakh gold”. Access to Information
Livelihood Diversification
Uses
The National Mission on Strategic
It has multi- Knowledge for Climate Change
purpose medicinal and nutritional (NMSKCC)
properties, and also helps in soil
conservation and nitrogen fixation. Mission Objectives
Hardy, drought-resistant and tolerant to
extreme temperatures from – 43º C to + 40º C, Formation of knowledge networks among the
the plant has an extensive root system which existing knowledge institutions engaged in
can fix atmospheric nitrogen, making it ideal research and development relating to climate
for controlling soil erosion and preventing science.
desertification. Establishment of global technology watch
The initiative is a part of Sub-Mission on Cold groups with institutional capacities to carry
Desert Ecosystems under the Green India out research on risk minimized technology
Mission — which is a part of the National selection for developmental choices
Action Plan on Climate Change. Development of national capacity for modeling
the regional impact of climate change on
different ecological zones within the country in Stockholm in 1972, Indian constitution
for different seasons and living standards was amended to include protection of the
Establishing research networks and environment as a constitutional mandate.
encouraging research in the areas of climate Environment related legislation came very late
change impacts on important socio-economic in 1972 with Wild Life Protection Act 1971.
sectors like agriculture, health, natural The forty second amendment Clause (g)
ecosystems, biodiversity, coastal zones, etc. to Article 51A of the Indian constitution made Page
it a fundamental duty to protect and improve
the natural environment. |
National Bio-Energy Mission
249
The government is preparing a national bio- Clause (g) to Article 51A of the Indian
energy mission to boost power generation from constitution states “It shall be the duty of
biomass, a renewable energy source every citizen of India to protect and improve
abundantly available in India. the natural environment including forests,
The national mission will aim at improving lakes, rivers and wild life and have
energy efficiency in traditional biomass compassion for living creatures.”
consuming industries, seek to develop a bio-
energy city project and provide logistics There is a directive, given to the State as one
support to biomass processing units. of the Directive Principles of State Policy
It will also propose a GIS-based National regarding the protection and improvement of
Biomass Resource Atlas to map potential the environment.
biomass regions in the country.
According to estimates, biomass from agro Article 48A states “The State shall endeavor
and agro-industrial residue can potentially to protect and improve the environment and to
generate 25,000 MW of power in India. safeguard the forests and wildlife of the
country”.
Indian Network On Climate Change
Assessment The Department of Environment was
established in India in 1980 to ensure a
healthy environment for the country. This
Launched by MoEF in an effort to promote later became the Ministry of Environment and
domestic research on climate change. Forests (MoEF) in 1985.
Reports prepared by the INCCA will form a The Environment Protection Act of 1986
part of India's National Communication (Nat (EPA) came into force soon after the Bhopal
Com) to the United Nations Framework Gas Tragedy and is considered umbrella
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). legislation as it fills many lacunae in the
existing legislations.
National Communication (NATCOM)
Pollution Related Acts
In pursuance of the implementation of the
provisions of UNFCCC, India's Initial National
Communication (NATCOM) has been initiated Among all the components of the environment
in 2002 funded by the Global Environment air and water are necessary to fulfill the basic
Facility. survival needs of all organisms. So, to protect
them from degradation the following acts have
been passed.
Pollution Environment & Biodiversity
Conservation Laws 1. Water Acts
National Environmental Legislation 2. Air Acts
3. Environment Act
Our constitution, originally, did not contain A few important legislations of each category
any direct provision regarding the protection with brief description are given below:
of natural environment.
However, after the United Nations
Conference on Human Environment, held
The Water (Prevention and Control of June 1972, Parliament enacted the nationwide
Pollution) Act of 1974 and Amendment, Air Act.
1988 The main objectives of this Act are to improve
the quality of air and to prevent, control and
abate air pollution in the country.
The main objective of this act is to provide
prevention and control of water pollution.
Important provisions of this Act are given Page
below:
Some important provisions of this Act are |
given below:
The Air Act’s framework is similar to that of 250
the Water Act of 1974.
The Act vests regulatory authority in State
The Air Act expanded the authority of the
Pollution Control Boards to establish and
central and state boards established under
enforce effluent standards for factories.
the Water Act, to include air pollution control.
A Central Pollution Control Board performs
States not having water pollution boards were
the same functions for Union Territories and
required to set up air pollution boards.
formulate policies and coordinates activities
Under the Air Act, all industries operating
of different State Boards.
within designated air pollution control areas
The Act grants power to SPCB and CPCB to
must obtain a “consent” (permit) from
test equipment and to take the sample for the
the State Boards.
purpose of analysis.
The states are required to prescribe emission
Prior to its amendment in 1988, enforcement
standards for industry and automobiles after
under the Act was achieved through criminal
consulting the central board and noting its
prosecutions initiated by the Boards.
ambient air quality standards.
The 1988 amendment act empowered SPCB
The Act grants power to SPCB and to test
and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial
equipment and to take the sample for the
plant.
purpose of analysis from any chimney, fly ash
or dust or any other.
The Water (Prevention and Control of Prior to its amendment in 1988, enforcement
Pollution) Cess Act of 1977 under the Act was achieved through criminal
prosecutions initiated by the Boards.
The Water Cess Act was passed to generate The 1988 amendment act empowered SPCB
financial resources to meet expenses of the and CPCB to close a defaulting industrial
Central and State Pollution Boards. plant.
The Act creates economic incentives for Notably, the 1987 amendment introduced a
pollution control and requires local authorities citizen’s suit provision into the Air Act and
and certain designated industries to pay a extended the Act to include noise pollution.
cess (tax) for water effluent discharge.
The Central Government, after deducting the Environment and Biodiversity Related
expenses of collection, pays the central board Acts
and the states such sums, as it seems
necessary.
The most important legislation in this category
To encourage capital investment in pollution
is The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
control, the Act gives a polluter a 70% rebate
Through this Act Central Government gets
of the applicable cess upon installing effluent
full power for the purpose of protecting and
treatment equipment.
improving the quality of the environment.
The Air (Prevention and Control of
Environment (Protection) Act of 1986
Pollution) Act of 1981 and amendment,
1987
In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the
government of India enacted the Environment
To implement the decisions taken at (Protection) Act of 1986.
the United Nations Conference on the The purpose of the Act is to implement the
Human Environment held at Stockholm in decisions of the United Nations Conference
on the Human Environment of 1972, in so The Act explicitly prohibits discharges of
far as they relate to the protection and environmental pollutants in excess of
improvement of the human environment and prescribed regulatory standards.
the prevention of hazards to human beings, There is also a specific prohibition against
other living creatures, plants and property. handling hazardous substances except those
The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations in compliance with regulatory procedures and
designed to provide a framework for Central standards. Page
Government, coordination of the activities of The Act provides provision for penalties. For
various central and state authorities each failure or contravention the punishment |
established under previous Acts, such as the included a prison term up to five years or fine 251
Water Act and the Air Act. up to Rs. 1 lakh, or both.
In this Act, main emphasis is given to The Act imposed an additional fine of up to
“Environment”, defined to include water, air Rs. 5,000 for every day of continuing violation.
and land and the inter-relationships which If a failure or contravention occurs for more
exist among water, air and land and human than one year, offender may be punished with
beings and other living creatures, plants, imprisonment which may be extended to
micro-organisms and property. seven years.
“Environmental pollution” is the presence of Section 19 provides that any person, in
pollutant, defined as any solid, liquid or addition to authorized government officials,
gaseous substance present in such a may file a complaint with a court alleging an
concentration as may be or may tend to be offence under the Act.
injurious to the environment. This “Citizens’ Suit” provision requires that
“Hazardous substances” include any the person has to give notice of not less than
substance or preparation, which may cause 60 days of the alleged offence of pollution to
harm to human beings, other living creatures, the Central Government.
plants, microorganisms, property or the
environment. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
(GEAC) is the apex body constituted in the
The main provisions of this Act are given Ministry of Environment and Forests under
below 'Rules for Manufacture, Use, Import, Export
and Storage of Hazardous
The Act empowers the center to “take all such Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered
measures as it deems necessary”. Organisms or Cells 1989', under the
By virtue of this Act, Central Environment Protection Act, 1986. The Rules
Government has armed itself with of 1989 also define five competent authorities
considerable powers which include, i.e. the Institutional Biosafety Committees
(IBSC), Review Committee of Genetic
1. coordination of action by state, Manipulation (RCGM), Genetic Engineering
2. planning and execution of nationwide Approval Committee (GEAC), State
programmes, Biotechnology Coordination Committee
3. laying down environmental quality standards, (SBCC) and District Level Committee (DLC) for
especially those governing emission or handling of various aspects of the rules
discharge of environmental pollutants,
4. placing restriction on the location of Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
industries and so on. (GEAC)
5. authority to issue direct orders, included
orders to close, prohibit or regulate any 1. Biosafety concerns have led to the
industry. development of regulatory regime in India.
6. power of entry for examination, testing of 2. The MoEFCC has notified the Rules for
equipment and other purposes and power to Manufacture, Use/Import/ Export & Storage
analyze the sample of air, water, soil or any Of Hazardous Micro Organisms/Genetically
other substance from any place. Engineered Organisms or Cells, 1989 [‘Rules
1989’]
3. Aim of ‘Rules 1989’ is to protect environment,
nature and health in connection with
application of gene technology and micro- The Genetic Engineering Appraisal
organisms. Committee is constituted under the
4. These rules cover areas of research as well as
large scale applications of GMOs and their a. Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006
products including experimental field trials b. Geographical Indications of Goods
and seed production. (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
5. The Rules 1989 also define the competent c. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 Page
authorities and composition of such d. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
authorities for handling of various aspects of |
the Rules. Answer: c) 252
Presently there are six committees The Ozone Depleting Substances Rules
1. Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee
The rules are framed under the jurisdiction
(RDAC): The functions are of an advisory
of Environment (Protection) Act.
nature. It recommends safety regulations for
These Rules set the deadlines for phasing out
India in recombinant research, use and
of various ODSs, besides regulating
applications.
production, trade import and export of ODSs
2. Review Committee on Genetic
and the product containing ODS.
Manipulation (RCGM) established under the
These Rules prohibit the use of CFCs in
Department of Biotechnology, ministry of
manufacturing various products beyond 1st
Science and technology is to monitor the
January 2003 except in metered dose inhaler
safety related aspects in respect of on-going
and for other medical purposes.
research projects.
Similarly, use of halons is prohibited after 1st
3. Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee
January 2001 except for essential use.
(GEAC)
Other ODSs such as carbon
4. State Biotechnology Coordination
tetrachloride and methylchoroform and
Committee (SBCC’s) have a major role in
CFC for metered dose inhalers can be used
monitoring. It also has powers to inspect,
upto 1st January 2010.
investigate and take punitive action in case or
Further, the use of methyl bromide has been
violations of statutory provisions.
allowed upto 1st January 2015.
5. District Level Committees (DLCs) have a
Since HCFCs are used as interim substitute to
major role in monitoring the safety regulations
replace CFC, these are allowed up to 1st
in installations engaged in the use of
January 2040.
genetically modified organisms/hazardous
microorganisms and its applications in the
environment. National Ganga River Basin Authority
6. Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBSC) is (NGRBA)
established under the institution engaged in
GMO research to oversee such research and to National Ganga River Basin Authority
interface with the RCGM in regulating it. (NGRBA) is a financing, planning,
implementing, monitoring and coordinating
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee authority for the Ganges River, functioning
(GEAC) under the Ministry of Water Resources.
The mission of the organization is to safeguard
The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee the drainage basin which feeds water into the
(GEAC) is the apex body constituted in Ganges by protecting it from pollution or
the Ministry of Environment and overuse.
Forests under 'Rules for Manufacture, Use, In 2014, the NGRBA has been transferred
Import, Export and Storage of Hazardous from the Ministry of Environment and Forests
Microorganisms/Genetically Engineered to the Ministry of Water Resources, River
Organisms or Cells 1989', under Development & Ganga Rejuvenation.
the Environment Protection Act, 1986. It was established by the Central Government
of India, in 2009 under Section 3(3) of
the Environment Protection Act, 1986,
which also declared Ganges as the ‘National An amendment to the Act in 1982, introduced
River’ of India. a provision permitting the capture and
transportation of wild animals for the
Composition of NGRBA scientific management of animal population.
The Prime Minister the chair of the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980
Authority. Page
First Forest Act was enacted in 1927. |
Members belonging to the government sector Alarmed at India’s rapid deforestation and
are as follows: resulting environmental degradation, Centre 253
Government enacted the Forest (Conservation)
Prime Minister of India Act in1980.
Minister of Environment and Forests (Union It was enacted to consolidate the law related
Minister) to forest, the transit of forest produce and the
Minister of Finance duty livable on timber and other forest
Minister of Urban Development produce.
Minister of Water Resources Forest officers and their staff administer the
Minister of Power Forest Act.
Minister of Sciences and Technology Under the provisions of this Act, prior
Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Uttar approval of the Central Government is
Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal required for diversion of forestlands for non-
Ministry Of Environment and Forests (state forest purposes.
minister) An Advisory Committee constituted under the
Ministry Of Environment and Forests, Act advises the Centre on these approvals.
secretary The Act deals with the four categories of the
forests, namely reserved forests, village
Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 and forests, protected forests and private forests.
Amendment, 1982
Reserved forest
In 1972, Parliament enacted the Wild Life Act
(Protection) Act. A state may declare forestlands or waste lands
The Wild Life Act provides for as reserved forest and may sell the produce
from these forests.
Any unauthorized felling of trees quarrying,
1. state wildlife advisory boards,
grazing and hunting in reserved forests is
2. regulations for hunting wild animals and
punishable with a fine or imprisonment, or
birds,
both
3. establishment of sanctuaries and national
parks,
4. regulations for trade in wild animals, animal Village forests
products and trophies, and
5. judicially imposed penalties for violating the Reserved forests assigned to a village
Act. community are called village forests.
The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 was Ecological sensitive area and the area between
enacted in consonance with which of the High Tide Line (HTL) and Low Tide Line (LTL).
following provisions of the Constitution of No new construction is permitted except for
India? a few specified most essential activities like
support activities for Atomic Energy Plants
1. Right to healthy environment, construed as a and Defense requirements, facilities required
part of part of Right to life under Article 21. for disposal of treated effluents and other port
2. Provision of grants for raising the level of related water front activities.
administration in the Scheduled Areas for the
welfare of Scheduled Tribes under Article CRZ-II:
275(1)
The area that have been developed up to or
Which of the statements given above is/are close to the shore line which includes the
correct ? designated urban areas that are substantially
built up.
a. 1 only Buildings permitted only on the landward side
b. 2 only of the existing authorized structures as
c. Both 1 and 2 defined in the notification.
d. Neither 1 nor 2
CRZ-III:
Answer: a)
The areas that are relatively undisturbed and
Acts for Protecting Coastal those which do not belong to either CRZ-I or
Environment and Wetlands CRZ-II which includes mainly the rural area
and those not substantially built up within
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) designated urban areas.
The area up to 200 meters from HTL is
The coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, earmarked as "No Development Zone".
creeks, rivers and back waters which are No construction is permitted within this zone
influenced by tidal action are declared except for repairs to the existing authorized
"Coastal Regulation Zone" (CRZ) in 1991. structures.
India has created institutional mechanisms Development of vacant plots between 200 and
such as National Coastal Zone Management 500 meters of HTL is permitted in CRZ III for
Authority (NCZMA) and State Coastal Zone the purpose of construction of dwelling units
and hotels/beach resorts subject to certain Functions
conditions.
The board is highly concerned about “abuse of
CRZ-IV animals in research” and “cruelty involved
when animals were used in entertainment”.
The activities impugning on the sea and tidal The Board oversees Animal Welfare
influenced water bodies will be regulated Organizations (AWOs) by granting recognition Page
except for traditional fishing and related to them if they meet its guidelines.
activities undertaken by local communities. The Board provides financial assistance to |
No untreated sewage, effluents, pollution from recognized Animal Welfare Organizations 257
oil drilling shall be let off or dumped. (AWOs)
The Board suggests changes to laws and rules
Wetlands (Conservation And about animal welfare issues.
Management) Rules 2010 The Board issues publications to raise
awareness of various animal welfare issues.
MoEF has notified the rules in order to ensure
Consider the following statements:
that there is no further degradation of
wetlands.
Animal Welfare Board of India is established
The rules specify activities which are harmful
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
to wetlands such as industrialization,
National Tiger Conservation Authority is a
construction, dumping of untreated waste and
statutory body.
reclamation and prohibit these activities in the
National Ganga River Basin Authority is
wetlands.
chaired by the Prime Minister.
Other activities such as harvesting and
dredging may be carried out in the wetlands
but only with prior permission from the Which of the statements given above is/ are
concerned authorities. correct?
Under the Rules, wetlands have been
classified for better management and easier 1. 1 only
identification. 2. 2 and 3 only
Central Wetland Regulatory Authority has 3. 2 only
been set up to ensure proper implementation 4. 1, 2 and 3
of the Rules.
Animal Welfare Board of India is established
Animal Welfare Board of India under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Which of the statements given above is/are The core area is kept free of biotic
correct? disturbances and forestry operations, where
collection of minor forest produce, grazing,
a. 1 and 3 only human disturbances are not allowed within.
b. 2 only These areas are required to be kept for the
c. 2 and 3 only purposes of tiger conservation, without
d. 1, 2 and 3 affecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes or
such other forest dwellers.
Indian government has also started some These areas are notified by the State
conservation projects for individual Government in consultation with an Expert
endangered species like Hungal (1970), Lion Committee (constituted for that purpose).
(1972), Tiger (1973), Crocodiles (1974), Brown-
antlered Deer (1981) and Elephant (1991-92). Buffer Zone
They are given in the next post.
The Act defines buffer zone as the area
Project Tiger - Elephant - Indian Rhino - peripheral to the critical tiger habitat or core
Snow Leopard area providing supplementary habitat for
dispersing tigers, besides offering scope for co-
Project Tiger – Tiger Conservation existence of human activity (tribals).
The limits of such areas are determined with
Indian tiger population at the end of the 20th the concerned Gram Sabha and an Expert
century was estimated at 20,000 to 40,000 Committee constituted for the purpose.
individuals.
The first country-wide tiger census conducted Tiger Task Force
in 1972 estimated the population to comprise
a little more than 1,800 individuals, an The implementation of Project Tiger over the
alarming reduction in tiger population. years has highlighted the need for a statutory
In 1973, Project Tiger was launched in the authority with legal backing to ensure tiger
Palamau Tiger Reserve, and various tiger conservation.
reserves were created in the country based on On the basis of the recommendations
a ‘core-buffer’ strategy. of National Board for Wild Life, a Task Force
India has more than 80 national parks and was set up to look into the problems of tiger
441 Sanctuaries of which some have been conservation in the country.
declared as Tiger reserves. The recommendations of the Task
Tiger reserves are governed by the Project Force include strengthening of Project Tiger
Tiger (1973). by giving it statutory and administrative
It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of powers.
the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
It is administered by the National Tiger National Board for Wild Life ==> Tiger Task
Conservation Authority. Force ==> National Tiger Conservation
Aim: Protect tigers from extinction by ensuring Authority
a viable population in their natural habitats.
National Tiger Conservation Authority It would provide information on protection
(NTCA) measures including future plan for
conservation.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority was The Authority would facilitate and support
established in December 2005 following a tiger reserve management in the States
recommendations of the Tiger Task Force. through eco-development and people's
National Tiger Conservation Authority participation. Page
administers Project Tiger. The Tiger Conservation Authority would be
Administration of the tiger reserves will be in required to prepare an Annual Report, which |
accordance with guidelines of NTCA. would be laid in the Parliament along with the 259
Tiger reserves in India are administered by Audit Report.
field directors as mandated by NTCA. State level Steering Committees will be set up
No alteration in the boundaries of a tiger in the Tiger States under the Chairmanship
reserve shall be made except on a of respective Chief Ministers. This has been
recommendation of the NTCA and the done with a view for ensuring coordination,
approval of the National Board for Wild Life. monitoring and protection of tigers in the
No State Government shall de-notify a tiger States.
reserve, except in public interest with the A provision has been made for the State
approval of the NTCA and the approval of the Governments to prepare a Tiger
National Board for Wild Life. Conservation Plan.
Provision will be made for the States to
The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, establish a Tiger Conservation
2006 Foundation, based on the good practices
emanating from some tiger reserves.
The Act provides for creating
Steps Taken by the Government
1. National Tiger Conservation Authority and
Legal Steps
2. Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime
Control Bureau (Wildlife Crime Control
Bureau). Amendment of the Wild Life (Protection) Act,
1972 to Wild Life (Protection) Act, 2006 for
providing enabling provisions towards
NTCA members
constituting the National Tiger Conservation
Authority and the Tiger and Other
The Wildlife Protection Amendment Act, 2006 Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau.
provides for the constitution of the National Enhancement of punishment in cases of
Tiger Conservation Authority. offence relating to a tiger reserve or its core
NTCA was set up under the Chairmanship of area.
the Minister for Environment and Forests.
The Authority will have Administrative Steps
Green Revolution that turned India from The ICAR has established IARI, Hazaribagh in
'begging bowl' to leading producer of food- Jharkhand and Indian Institute of
grains. Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi.
BGREI is about binging similar benefits to It has also established National Research
eastern India that largely remained untouched Centre for Integrated Farming at Motihari in
of the wonder that converted the north-west Bihar to further strengthen the agricultural
into a ‘grain bowl’. research for the eastern region.
Central Agricultural University (CAU) has been
sanctioned six new Colleges for the North-
Eastern States.
How to Make Second Green Revolution a
Success
Precision Agriculture
1. Green gram - Wheat – Moong There are sixteen nutrients which are
2. Ground nut – Wheat – Moong essential for plants.
3. Arhar – Sugarcane – Wheat – Moong Air supplies carbon and oxygen, hydrogen
4. Paddy – Wheat – Moong comes from water, and soil supplies the other
thirteen nutrients to plants.
Mixed Farming Amongst these thirteen nutrients, six are
required in large quantities and are therefore
Optimum diversity may be obtained by called macronutrients.
integrating both crops and livestock in the The other seven nutrients are used by plants
same farming operation. in small quantities and are therefore called
micronutrients
Mixed crop along with livestock operations Deficiency of these nutrients affects
have several advantages. physiological processes in plants including
reproduction, growth and susceptibility to
1. Growing crops only on more level land and diseases.
pastures or forages on steeper slopes will
reduce soil erosion.
2. Pasture and leguminous forage crops in
rotation enhance soil quality and reduce
erosion; livestock manure, in turn, contributes
to soil fertility.
3. Livestock can buffer the negative impacts of
low rainfall periods by consuming crop residue
which in “plant only” systems would have
been considered crop failure.
4. Feeding and marketing are flexible in animal
production systems. This can help cushion
farmers against price fluctuations and, make
more efficient use of farm labour.
Compost Tea is a Liquid fertilizer for flowers, It increases crop yields, sometimes Page
vegetables and houseplants. substantially if the soil is in poor condition.
|
Compost tea is an aerobic (in the presence of It helps to prevent fertilizer runoff and
oxygen) water solution that has extracted the leeching, allowing the use of less fertilizers. 274
microbe population from compost (dead and It retains moisture, helping plants through
decaying matter) along with the nutrients. periods of drought more easily.
In simple terms, it is a concentrated liquid Most importantly, it replenishes exhausted or
created by a process to increase the numbers marginal soils with organic carbon
of beneficial organisms as an organic It fosters the growth of soil microbes essential
approach to plant/soil care. for nutrient absorption,
Air is sent through the water to keep the water particularly mycorrhizal fungi.
oxygenated, as this favors the beneficial Bio char can increase soil fertility of acidic
bacteria and fungi over the pathogens. soils (low pH soils)[pH < 7 = Acidic Soils; pH >
At the end of the brewing cycle, what you have 7 = Basic Soils] [The most fertile soils are
is a concentrated liquid full of billions of slightly acidic (pH just below 7)]
microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, Bio-char reduces the acidity of the soil,
nematodes) that can then be sprayed directly protects the plants from diseases, promotes
onto the leaf surface. growth of friendly microorganisms, and
The liquid fertilizer occupies the infection sites reduces the loss of micro nutrients apart from
on the leaf surface and is held there by simple increasing water retain-ability.
sugars that the plant puts out that work as a
glue to keep the beneficial microorganisms Kollam, Kerala, is famous for fishing and
thriving and protecting the plant. fishery-related activities; as an agricultural
sector, it does not evoke any enthusiasm.
Bio char Why?
Bio char is found in soils around the world as With the prevailing soil and climatic
a result of vegetation fires and historic soil conditions which favors leaching and draining
management practices. of soil nutrients into the Arabian sea and
Intensive study of bio char-rich dark earths in Ashtamudi Lake, the soil has high acidity
the Amazon (terra preta), has led to a wider making it unfit for cultivation of any kind
appreciation of bio char’s unique properties as (Why? Because friendly microorganisms don’t
a soil enhancer. like acidic medium. They like slightly alkaline
Bio char is charcoal that is as soil amendment or basic medium [having a pH greater than 7]).
(minor improvement). Bio char can make a difference to the
It created using a pyrolysis process agriculture of the region.
(decomposition brought about by high
temperatures), heating biomass in a low Other Environmental Benefits
oxygen environment.
Once the pyrolysis reaction has begun, it is Most carbon in the soil is lost as greenhouse
self-sustaining, requiring no outside energy gas (carbon dioxide, CO2) into the atmosphere
input. if natural ecosystems are converted to
Byproducts of the process include syngas (H2 agricultural land.
+ CO), minor quantities of methane (CH4) Soils contain 3.3 times more carbon than the
(greenhouse gas), organic acids and excess atmosphere.
heat. This makes soils an important source of
Once it is produced, bio char is spread on greenhouse gases but also a potential sink if
agricultural fields and incorporated into the right management is applied.
top layer of soil.
The use of crop residues for bio-energy Organic farmers build healthy soils by
production reduces the carbon stocks in nourishing the microbial inhabitants that
cropland. release, transform, and transfer nutrients.
Further the dedication of cropland to bio-fuel Soil organic matter contributes to good soil
production increases the area of cultivated structure and water-holding capacity.
land and thus carbon loss from soils and Organic farmers feed soil biota and build soil
vegetation. organic matter with cover crops, compost, and Page
Bio char remains stable for millennia, biologically based soil amendments. These
providing a simple means to sequester produce healthy plants that are better able to |
carbon emissions. resist disease and insect predation. 275
If bio char is returned to agricultural land it Organic farmers’ primary strategy in
can increase the soil’s carbon content controlling pests and diseases is prevention
permanently and would establish a carbon through good plant nutrition and
sink for atmospheric CO2. management.
Organic farmers use cover crops and
Organic Farming sophisticated crop rotations to change the
field ecology, effectively disrupting habitat for
weeds, insects, and disease organisms.
Weeds are controlled through crop rotation,
mechanical tillage, and hand-weeding, as well
as through cover crops, mulches, flame
weeding, and other management methods.
Organic farmers rely on a diverse population
of soil organisms, beneficial insects, and birds
to keep pests in check.
When pest populations get out of balance,
growers implement a variety of strategies such
as the use of insect predators, mating
disruption, traps and barriers.
Benefits of GM Crops
By using the technique of genetic engineering
it has been possible to genetically transform Crops
large number of agricultural and ornamental
crops. Enhanced taste and quality.
Reduced maturation time.
Transgenics have been produced with the Increased nutrients, yields, and stress
following aims: tolerance.
Improved resistance to disease, pests, and
Crop resistance to herbicides. herbicides.
Crop resistance to insects and diseases. New products and growing techniques.
Atmospheric nitrogen fixation by cereal crops.
Tolerance to high salt soils and to flooding in Animals
crops.
Drought resistance in crops. Increased resistance, productivity, hardness,
Improving nutritional quality of crops. and feed efficiency.
Prolonging shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk.
Improved animal health and diagnostic
Some important examples of transgenics or methods.
GMOs are:
Environment
Bt cotton produced by incorporating Bt gene
which encodes for BT toxin (insecticidal “Friendly” bioherbicides and bioinsecticides.
protein in Bacillus thuringiensis) in the Conservation of soil, water and energy.
cotton plant. The plant becomes insect Bioprocessing for forestry products.
resistant and this gene has been incorporated Better natural waste management.
More efficient processing.
Society The ineffectiveness of genetically modified
(GM) cotton against the recent whitefly attack
Increased food security for growing in Punjab and Haryana raised more questions
population. regarding the effectiveness of GMO.
The whitefly attack in Punjab damaged over
Controversies Surrounding GM crops 75 per cent crop across the cotton belt.
This has raised concern among agricultural Page
Safety experts and farmers over the growing
dependency on Bt cotton. |
Potential human health impact: allergens, 278
transfer of antibiotic resistance markers, Bt cotton
unknown effects.
Potential environmental impact: unintended Strains of the bacterium Bacillus
transfer of transgenes through thuringiensis produce over 200 different Bt
crosspollination, unknown effects on other toxins, each harmful to different insects.
organisms (e.g., soil microbes) and loss of flora Most notably, Bt toxins are insecticidal to the
and fauna biodiversity larvae of moths and butterflies, beetles, cotton
bollworms but are harmless to other forms of
Access and intellectual property life. (this is why Bt cotton failed against
whitefly).
Domination of world food production by a few
companies. Newer Agricultural Practices & Misc
Increasing dependence on industrialized Topics
nations by developing countries.
Biopiracy—foreign exploitation of natural Newer Agricultural Practices
resources.
Modern agriculture includes animal
Ethics husbandry, poultry farming, apiculture,
fisheries and mushroom culture etc. to
Violation of natural organisms’ intrinsic provide additional food supplements like milk,
values. meat, fish, egg, mushroom etc.
Tampering with nature by mixing genes In addition to provide nutritional food for the
among species. masses, they also reduce load on the
Objections to transferring animal genes in consumption of cereals and pulses.
plants and vice versa.
Stress for animal. Revolutions in Agriculture
Poultry farming is a term used for rearing and Apiculture is also known as bee-keeping.
keeping of birds such as fowl, duck and hen Apiculture or bee-keeping is the art of
for egg and meat. controlling colonies of honey bee in large
Poultry farming has become popular because quantity for commercial production of honey.
this is comparatively easy to start and There are three major advantages of bee-
maintain. keeping: (i) provides honey- a valuable food (ii)
It gives quick return within one to six month provides bee wax- which has many uses in
of investments, is easily manageable and industry (iii) honey bees are excellent
required less space and labour. Poultry birds pollinating agents which increase agricultural
and their eggs are rich source of nutrients. yields.
Indian poultry birds provide good quality meat
but produces small sized eggs. They have Fish culture and aquaculture
natural immunity against common diseases as
compared to exotic varieties bred abroad. Consequences Of Over fishing in seas
Cereals are cultivated grasses grown for their 1. Bagasse can be used as biomass fuel for the
edible starchy grains. Larger grains used as generation of energy.
staple food are cereals. Rice, wheat, maize, 2. Molasses can be used as one of the feedstocks
barley, rye and oats. for the production of synthetic chemical
fertilizers.
Millets 3. Molasses can be used for the production of
ethanol.
These are staple food of poor people.
Select the correct answer using the codes
Major millets given below.
Jute, mesta (pulicha keerai), sun hemp, sisal Classification based on root system
hemp
Tap root system: The main root goes deep into Page
Narcotics - Stimulates Nervous System the soil. E.g. Tur, Grape, Cotton etc. |
Fiber rooted: The crops whose roots are
Tobacco, betelvine and arecanut. fibrous shallow & spreading into the soil. E.g. 282
Cereal crops, wheat, rice etc.
Plantation Crops
Classification based on economic
Tea – leaf, Coffee – seed, rubber, cocoa – seed, importance
palm – oil, sugarcane – sugar etc.
Cash crop: Grown for earning money. E.g.
Spices and Condiments Sugarcane, cotton.
Food crops: Grown for raising food grain for
Products of crop plants are used to flavor taste the population and & fodder for cattle. E.g.
and sometime color the fresh preserved food. Jowar, wheat, rice etc.
E.g. ginger, garlic, chili, cumin onion,
coriander, cardamom, pepper, turmeric etc. Classification based on No. of cotyledons
Rain fed: Cultivation of crop mainly based on The yearly sequence and spatial arrangement
the availability of rain water. E.g. Jowar, of crops and fallow on a given area is called
Bajara, Mung etc. cropping pattern
Cropping system obtain extra yields with intercrop without
compromise in the main crop yields
Multiple cropping: Growing more than two
crops in a piece of land in a year in orderly Disadvantages
succession. It is also called as intensive
cropping. It is used to intensify the Higher amount of nitrogen has to be applied
production. It is possible only when assured for mineralization of organic matter in zero Page
resources are available (land, labour, capital tillage
|
and water) Perennial weeds may be a problem
Double cropping: Growing two crops a year in High number of volunteer plants and buildup 283
sequence. Example: Rice - Pulse of pests
Triple cropping: Growing three crops a year in
sequence. Example: Rice - Rice - Pulse Advantages
Monoculture: Repetitive growing of the same
sole crop in the same land. Better use of growth resources including light,
Mono cropping: Continuous production of one nutrients and water
and the same crop year after year or season Suppression of weeds
after season is called mono cropping. Yield & stability - even if one crop fails due to
Sole cropping: One crop variety grown alone in unforeseen situations, another crop will yield
a pure stand at normal density. and provides some secured income
Successful intercropping gives higher
Intercropping equivalent yields (yield of base crop + yield of
intercrop), higher cropping intensity
Growing two or more crops simultaneously Reduced pest and disease incidences
with distinct row arrangement on the same Improvement of soil health and agro-eco
field at the same time. system Examples of Inter cropping
Base crop: primary crop which is planted/
sown at its optimum sole crop population in 1. Maize + Cowpea
an intercropping situation. 2. Sorghum + Redgram
Intercrop : This is a second crop planted in 3. Groundnut + Redgram
between rows of base crop with a view to 4. Potato + Mustard
5. Wheat + Mustard
Inter cropping Mixed cropping
The main objective of inter cropping is to The main objective of mixed cropping is insurance
utilize the space between rows of main crop against crop failure.
and to produce more grain per unit area
There is no competition between main and There is competition between component crops. Here
inter crop (subsidiary crop) all crops are given equal importance and care.
Hence, there is no difference between component
crops
In inter cropping, the main crop may be a Crops may or may not be of same duration
long duration one and the inter crop may
be a short duration/early maturing one
Main and inter crops are sown in definite There is no specific row arrangement. Generally crop
row arrangement seeds are mixed and broadcasted
The sowing time of both the crops may or The sowing time of component crops is same.
may not be the same. Sometimes the main
crops is sown earlier than the inter crop
Permaculture It uses ecology as the basis for designing
integrated systems of food production,
It is a contraction of "permanent agriculture" housing, appropriate technology, and
or "permanent culture." community development.
It is defined as a design system for creating
sustainable human environments.
Permaculture is built upon an ethic of caring of transplanting, water and weed
for the earth and interacting with the management.
environment in mutually beneficial ways. It emphasizes altering of certain agronomic
A central theme in Permaculture is the design practices of the conventional way of rice
of ecological landscapes that produce food. cultivation.
Emphasis is placed on multi-use plants, All these new practices are together known as
cultural practices such as sheet mulching and System of Rice Intensification (SRI). Page
trellising, and the integration of animals to
recycle nutrients and graze weeds. Principle - 'More with Less' |
284
Micro Irrigation SRI is not a fixed package of technical
specifications, but a system of production with
Micro irrigation is defined as the methods in four main components, viz., soil fertility
which low volume of water is applied at low management, planting method, weed control
pressure & high frequency. The system has and water (irrigation) management.
extensive network of pipes at operated at low Rice yield increased with less water and with
pressure. At pre-determined spacing outlets reduction in chemical inputs.
are provided for emission water generally
known as Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative (SSI)
Higher amount of nitrogen has to be applied Shale gas = Lot of Methane + Little Ethane,
for mineralization of organic matter in zero Propane, & Butane + very little carbon
tillage. dioxide, nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide.
Perennial weeds may be a problem.
High number of volunteer plants and buildup Abundant shale reserves occur in India.
of pests.
Hydropower Dams built on river for World's Ecosystems behind dams disturbed.
electricity generation hydroelectricity Human settlements up rooted.
capacity high Habitat loss and biodiversity loss.
Developmental cost high.
Fertile farmland lost
Amount of nutrient rich silt on down
river agricultural fields reduced.
Solar energy From natural sunlight Environment Limited capacity for storage of sunlight.
friendly Cloud cover.
Ample or Collecting equipment expensive.
unlimited
availability.
Wind energy Fans for directing No pollution Not available everywhere or
winds in use from long Available for free intermittently available.
for irrigation crops Fans of wind mills visual hazards for
flying birds and aeroplanes (visual
pollution).
Page
Tidal energy Harnessing tidal power Free and clean Structures (plant) used for harnessing
by suitable structures energy expensive. |
Plant disrupts natural flow of estuary
and concentrate pollutants in the area. 286
Biomass Obtaining energy from Renew able May lead to food shortage because
conversion chemical energy. Stored energy nutrients not returned to soil from
in biomass (or live biomass.
material). Burned Growing maize for ethanol requires more
directly for cooking or energy expenditure than the amount of
to produce electricity energy in the form of alcohol retrieved.
converted to ethanol or Land for growing food used for growing
methane (biogas) biomass for conversion into fuel.
Solid waste Waste sorted and Decreases cost of Causes air pollution for burning releases
burnable material fresh disposal CO2 and other gases.
separated Reduces need for Waste such as bleached paper and
land fill sites plastics have chlorine containing
compounds which form. dioxins which
are highly toxic and suspected to be
carcinogenic.
Solar cells or photovoltaic technology Solar thermal = converting light into heat
= solar cooker, solar water heater.
Solar energy can be converted directly into
electrical energy (direct current, DC) by Photovoltaics generate direct current (DC).
[Rotating = AC, Stationary = DC. Electric
generator, wind turbine generate AC while One of the greatest advantages of hydropower
solar panels generate DC] is that once the dam is built and turbines
become operative, it is relatively cheap and
Solar thermal is mostly used for water heating clean source of energy.
purposes. Electricity can be generated by Hydropower also has some disadvantages,
using hot water steam to rotate turbine = AC building of dam seriously disturbs and
current. damages the natural habitats and some of Page
them are lost forever.
|
In India both solar panels and solar cookers
are manufactured. [Remember Indian – USA Ministry of New and Renewable Energy 290
WTO ‘domestic content’ dispute?] (MNRE)
Oil and gas were formed from the remains of boiling points. The important components are
plants and animals that once lived in the sea. gases, gasoline, aviation fuel, kerosene, diesel
For over millions of years these remains oil, naphtha, grease and wax and asphalt.
remained buried under mud and rock under Some of the products of oil distillation are
great pressure and at high temperatures. called petro-chemicals which are used as raw
Under these conditions marine biomass material for the manufacture of pesticides,
gradually changed into oil and gas. plastics, synthetic fibers, paints and
Oil and gas are primarily found medicines etc.
along geologically young tectonic belt at plate
boundaries, where large depositional basins Natural Gas
are more likely to occur.
Petroleum or crude oil (oil as it comes out of
Natural gas, primarily consist of methane, is
the ground), is a thick dark liquid consisting
often found above reservoirs of crude oil.
of a mixture hundreds of combustible
The natural gas is a mixture of 50 to 90% by
hydrocarbons along with small amounts
volume of methane (CH4), the simplest
of sulphur, oxygen and nitrogen impurities.
hydrocarbon.
It is also known as conventional oil or light oil.
It also contains small amounts of heavier
Deposits of crude oil and natural gas are
gaseous hydrocarbons such as ethane
usually trapped together under the sea floor or
(C2H6), propane (C3H8) and butane
earth’s crust on land.
(C4H10) and also small amounts of highly
After it is extracted, crude oil is transported to
toxic hydrogen sulphide (H2S).
a refinery by pipelines, trucks or ships (oil
Natural gas is formed through geological
tanker).
processes similar to the processes of crude oil
In refineries oil is heated and distilled to
formation described earlier except the organic
separate it into components with different
material gets changed to more volatile the casing lining the well is missing or
hydrocarbons than those found in oil. corroded.
Almost every oil well produces liquid About half of the oil that contaminates the
petroleum along varying amounts of natural ocean comes from natural seepage from
gas. However, there are large gas deposits offshore deposits.
without any liquid petroleum being associated 20% of the oil contaminating the ocean comes
with them. from oil well, blowouts, pipeline breaks and Page
tankers.
Conventional natural gas |
Nuclear Energy Sources 295
It lies above most reservoirs of crude oil. These
deposits can be tapped/used only through Radioactive minerals are used to generate
pipeline. nuclear energy through high technological
But the natural gas that comes out along with methods.
oil is often looked as unwanted by product There are two methods which can be used to
and is burned off. release energy from radioactive minerals: