Biodiversity Report 2018

Living Planet Report released by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature documents the state of the earth in terms of biodiversity and indicates the raising demand on natural resources and its impact on nature and wildlife.
The report is said to reveal the health of the Earth.

World Wildlife Fund

• The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is an international non-governmental organization
  founded in 1961, working in the field of wilderness preservation,
   and the reduction of human impact on the environment.
• HQ- Switzerland
  
  Living Planet Report
• Published every two years by WWF since 1998.
• It is based on a Living Planet Index and ecological footprint calculation.

Findings of the Report

• Earth witnessed the decline in mammals, birds, fish, reptiles,
   amphibians between 1970-2014. Data covers over 16700 population
  belonging to 4000 species.
• Destruction of natural habitats is the biggest cause of wildlife losses.
  Three-quarters of land on Earth is affected by human activities.
• Killing for food is another major cause for wildlife losses.
  300 mammal species have already being eaten into extinction.
• Major habitats suffering are water bodies like rivers, ponds etc.
  Oceans are massively overfished - more than half being industrially fished.
• Wildlife population in rivers, lakes has fallen to 83% due to agricultural
  activities and increased number of dams.
• Ocean acidification is occurring at a rate not seen in the last 300 million years.
• 50% of shallow water corals have estimated to have been lost in the past 30 years.
• 89% loss in vertebrate population in South America and Central America due to
  deforestation.
• A fifth of the Amazon has disappeared in just 50 years.
• The area of minimally disturbed forests has
  declined by 92 million hectares between 2000-2013.
• Humans are responsible for releasing 100 billion tonnes of carbon
  into the ecosystem every 10 years.
• According to the Report, around 70,000 medicinal plant
   species have also been affected.
• Human activities associated with production and processing
  have an enormous effect on biodiversity.
  Agriculture accounts for a lion’s share in the conversion of forest land,
  a decrease in forest area impact both plant and animals.

Biosphere reserves in India

What is the Biosphere Reserve?

• ‘Biosphere Reserves’ are designated natural sites, comprising terrestrial or marine or coastal or combined ecosystems, which promote the conservation of biodiversity and minimizes the conflict between the development and nature conservation.
• ‘Biosphere Reserve’ is originally an international concept. It was introduced by International Co-ordinating Council (ICC) of UNESCO in Nov.1971 for the first time.

Criteria of the Biosphere Reserve

• A site must contain protected and minimally disturbed core area of value of nature conservation.
• Core zone should be large enough to sustain viable populations representing all Tropic levels in the ecosystem.
• Management authorities to ensure local community involvement to bring the variety of knowledge and experiences to link biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development while managing and containing the conflicts.
• Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for harmonious use of the environment.

Structure of the Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere reserves are demarcated into following three zones.

1. Core Zone

• This zone is the heart and soul of the Biosphere Reserve.
• The core contains the maximum diversity of numerous plants and animals which are endemic to the region.
• Most of the times, Core part is the legally protected area like the National park, sanctuaries under Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
• Management and research activities are allowed to some extent without affecting ecological diversity and wildlife.
• Activities like grazing, human settlement are not allowed in the core zone. So it is always free from human encroachment.

2. Buffer Zone

• Buffer zone surrounds core zone. It acts like the blanket to the core part.
• In Buffer zone, some activities like Grazing, fishing, research, tourism are allowed under strict regulations without affecting ecological diversity.

3. Transition Zone

• This zone is the outermost cover of the biosphere reserve.
• This zone contains least diversity and density of animal and trees.
• It is an example of ‘Human- Nature Coexistence’.
• This zone includes human settlements, agriculture, forests etc.

Functions of Biosphere Reserve

• There are tripartite i.e. three main functions of the biosphere reserve given follow

1. Conservation

• Conservation of diversity and integrity of plants and animals within natural ecosystems

2. Development

• Sustainable use of natural resources for the Cultural, Social, Economic development of local community

3. Logistics Support

• Provide areas and facilities for multi-faceted research and monitoring

List of Biospheres in India

• Currently, there are 18 notified biosphere reserves in India.
• The list of Biosphere Reserves in India notified chronologically, is given below.

1. Nilgiri Biosphere

• This is the first Biosphere of India notified in 1986.
• This spreads over three states Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala.

2. Nanda Devi

• This lies in Uttarakhand state.

3. Nokrek

• This biosphere lies in the Garo hills of Meghalaya state.

4. Great Nicobar

• This is the only biosphere reserve in India that entirely lies in the Union territory i.e. Andaman and Nicobar

5. Gulf of Mannar

• It lies in the Indian part of Gulf of Mannar between India and Sri Lanka i.e. in Tamil Nadu state.

6. Manas

• It spreads over part of Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Nalbari districts of Assam.

7. Sundarban

• It lies in part of delta system of Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers in West Bengal state.

8. Simplipal

• It lies in part of Mayurbhanj district of Orissa state.

9. Dibru-Saikhowa

• It spreads over Dibrugarh and Tinsukhia districts of Assam.

10. Dehang- Dibang

• It spreads over part of Siang and Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh state.

11. Pachmarhi

• It lies in central India in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

12. Khangchendzonga

• It is part of Sikkim state and it is the only mixed heritage site in UNESCO’s world heritage sites list.

13. Agasthyamalai

• It spreads over eastern part of Kerala state.
• Neyyar, Peppara and Shendurney wildlife sanctuaries are part of this biosphere.

14. Achanakamar- Amarkantak

• It spreads over Dindori, Anupur districts of Madhya Pradesh and Bilaspur districts of Chhattisgarh state.

15. Kachchh

• It lies in the desert area of Gujarat state.

16. Cold Desert

• It spreads over Himachal Pradesh state. Pin Valley National Park and surroundings, Chandratal and Sarchu & Kibber wildlife sanctuaries are part of this biosphere.

17. Seshachalam Hills

• It lies in the Andhra Pradesh district.

18. Panna

• It is the latest added biosphere in 2011.
• It lies in Madhya Pradesh state.

Out of these 18 biosphere reserves from India, there are 10 biosphere reserves which are internationally recognised under World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) of the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme of UNESCO.

Man And Biosphere (MAB) Programme

• MAB programme was launched in 1971.
• It is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between nature and human.
• Biosphere Reserves are nominated by the national government for inclusion in the world network of biospheres.
• Then the committee of MAB programme recognises the BRs after fulfilling the criteria.
• There are currently 669 sites in 120 countries in World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) of the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme.
• Out of these, 10 BRs are from India.

List of Biosphere reserves in MAB Programme

1. Nilgiri Biosphere- Oldest entry from India in the list in 2000
2. Gulf of Mannar
3. Sundarban
4. Nanda Devi
5. Nokrek
6. Simplipal
7. Pachmarhi
8. Achanakamar- Amarkantak
9. Great Nicobar
10. Agasthyamalai- Latest entry from India in the list in 2016

2017 is set to be in top three hottest years: WMO

All-India rainfall for the 2017 monsoon season was 5% below average, the statement says

2017 will be one of the three hottest years on record, with many high-impact events including catastrophic hurricanes and floods, debilitating heat waves and drought, a provisional statement on the State of the Climate released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has said. 

The average global temperature from January to September 2017 was approximately 1.1°C above the pre-industrial era. Powerful El Nino As a result of a powerful El Niño, 2016 is likely to remain the warmest year on record, with 2017 and 2015 being second or third. 

The WMO statement, which uses 1981-2010 as the baseline, was released on Monday at the opening day of the United Nations climate change conference in Bonn. “The past three years have all been in the top three years in terms of temperature records. 

This is part of a long term warming trend,” said WMO SecretaryGeneral Petteri Taalas, in a release. “We have witnessed extraordinary weather, including temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius in Asia, record-breaking hurricanes in rapid succession in the Caribbean and Atlantic reaching as far as Ireland, devastating monsoon flooding affecting many millions of people and a relentless drought in East Africa,” Mr. Taalas added. 

Extreme weather events due to climate change have affected the food security of millions of people with agriculture accounting for 26% of all the damage and loss associated with medium to large-scale storms, floods and drought, the statement said, citing an FAO assessment. 

Flooding in Northeast All-India rainfall for the 2017 monsoon season (June to September) was 5% below average. However, aboveaverage rainfall in the Northeast and adjacent countries led to significant flooding. Many parts of the Indian subcontinent were affected by monsoonal flooding, the statement said. 

Project- IRV 2020

IRV 2020 is a partnership between the Assam Forest Department, the Bodoland Territorial Council, WWF, IRF, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

 Its goal is to have a wild population of at least 3,000 Greater one-horned rhinos in the Indian state of Assam – spread over seven protected areas – by the year 2020. 

IRV 2020 is an ambitious rhino range and population expansion programme. SRI has supported the programme since 2006 through the IRF.

Programme details:

Staff: Dr Bibhab Talukdar is the project leader for the International Rhino Foundation

Project partners: Assam Forest Department, the Bodoland Territorial Council, WWF, IRF, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service

Location: Kaziranga, Orang and Manas National Parks and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, India

Species: Greater one-horned rhinos

Habitat: Grasslands and shrub lands on the southern base of the Himalayas

Activities: Anti-poaching, monitoring, translocations and community conservation

why support this project ?

There are only approximately 3,333 Greater one-horned rhinos left in the world (as at 31 December 2012), with about 75% of those found in the Indian state of Assam. Through the concentrated efforts of the IRV2020 programme, the species is increasing in number once again, despite the continued threats of poaching and habitat loss. IRV 2020 is an exceptionally significant and inspirational programme that has captivated imaginations and support locally in Assam and nationally in India.

17th Sept Daily current affairs for UPSC Civil Service Exam

Black Planet

• Astronomers have discovered a black planet using hubble space telescope.
• It is formally called as WASP-12b, an exoplanet that reflects almost no light, making it appear essentially pitch black.
• It orbits its parent star WASP-12A, about 1400 light year away.
• Its albedo is 0.064, whereas the albedo of earth is 0.3 and moon is 0.12.
• It is categorized as a hot Jupiter since its radius almost twice that of Jupiter and a year of just over one Earth day.
• Albedo – Fraction of light falling on a surface that is reflected.
• Exoplanet – A Planet that orbits a star other than a sun.

Global Burden of Disease Study – 2016

• Recent global burden of disease study – 2016 report has put forth comprehensive data on the leading causes of deaths in India.
• According to the report, cardiovascular disease was the leading killer in 2016 followed by Diarrhoea, lower respiratory and infectious diseases being the 2nd cause.
• In India and world over, lifestyle diseases have increased, while deaths due to curable diseases have come down because of better medical care.
• Nearly 72% of all deaths in 2016 were from non-communicable diseases.
• The report also highlighted that smoking and poor diet remains leading risk factors of ill health.

ATAGS

• Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) is a indigenous artillery gun which has set a new world record in range by hitting targets at a distance of 48 km.
• It is being jointly developed by the DRDO and the private sector.
• The development is being done through a consortium based model, similar to that adopted for the pinaka multi-barrel rocket launch system.
• The Army has not inducted any new artillery gun since the Bofors in the 1980's.
• Last year, India signed a contract for 145 M-777 Ultra-Light Howitzers from the US.

Gharial Exchange Programme

Bangladesh Forest Department and IUCN have piloted the first ever gharial exchange programme to initiate the captive breeding of the species in Bangladesh.

• The gharial is a crocodilian of the family Gavialidae, native to the northern part of the Indian Subcontinent.
• It is listed as “Critically Endangered” in the IUCN red list.
• The gharial is one of three crocodilians native to India, the other two being the mugger crocodile and the saltwater crocodile.

Source: The Hindu

6th Sept Daily current affairs for UPSC Civil Service Exam

National Nutrition Strategy

• To address the slow pace of decline in the under nutrition and to bring nutrition to the centre-stage ofthe National Development Agenda, NITI Aayog has drafted the National Nutrition Strategy.
• The Strategy lays down a roadmap for effective action, among both implementers and practitioners, in achieving our nutrition objectives.
• It envisages a framework wherein the following four determinants of nutrition work together to accelerate decline of under nutrition in India –
  1. Uptake of health services,
  2. Food,
  3. Drinking water & sanitation and
  4. Income & livelihoods.
• Currently, there is a lack of real time measurement of these determinants, which reduces our capacity for targeted action.
• The framework envisages a Kuposhan Mukt Bharat - linked to Swachh Bharat and Swasth Bharat.
• It enables states to make strategic choices, through decentralized planning and local innovation, with accountability for nutrition outcomes.

Surya Kiran

• India and Nepal began their 12th edition of joint military exercise with around 300 troops each side in Rupandehi district in the western part of Nepal.
• It focuses on counter-terrorism and forest fighting operations.
• According to the Indian Army officials, the Surya Kiran is the largest joint exercise in terms of troop participation.
• Disaster management and joint operations for disaster relief will also be a part of the exercise.
• The exercise will provide the two armies a platform to exchange experiences, ideas and skills.
• Surya Kiran series of exercises are held alternately in India and Nepal.

Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs)

• Following the global financial crisis of 2008, it was observed that problems faced by certain large and highly interconnected financial institutions hampered the functioning of the financial system.
• This in turn negatively impacted the real economy.
• It was decided to identify such institutions and prescribe them higher capital requirements.
• Following this, RBI had started listing D-SIBs from August 2015.
• The banking regulator prescribes higher capital requirements for such entities.
• HDFC Bank is the second largest private sector lender of the country
• RBI has added HDFC in the list of D-SIBs.
• State Bank of India and ICICI Bank are also in this category.

Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC)

• CVC is the chief of the country’s top anti-corruption body- Central Vigilance Commission.
• Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) is an autonomous apex Indian governmental body created to address governmental corruption.
• It is free of control from any executive authority, charged with monitoring all vigilance activity under the Central Government of India.
• The Commission shall consist of
  1. A Central Vigilance Commissioner - Chairperson;
  2. Not more than two Vigilance Commissioners - Members;
• Recently allegations were raised in a PIL, challenging the appointments as “arbitrary, illegal and in violation of the principle of institutional integrity.”
• The Centre told the Supreme Court that K.V. Chowdary was appointed Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC), with the “unanimous consensus” of a high-profile committee led by the Prime Minister in June 2015.

Advance Pricing Agreement

• The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has entered into Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs) between Indian Company and UK based Company.
• An APA is a contract, usually for multiple years, between a taxpayer and at least one tax authority specifying the pricing method that the taxpayer will apply to its related-company transactions.
• It was introduced in IT act, 2012.
• It helps taxpayers voluntarily resolve transfer pricing disputes in a cooperative manner reducing the incidence of double taxation.
• It also involves resolving both the future and existing transfer pricing audits and adjustments.
• It fosters a non-adversarial tax regime.
• Unilateral APA – It involve agreements between only the taxpayer and one government.
• Bilateral APA – Tax payer enter into APA with more than one tax authority.
• Transfer Pricing - A transfer price is the price at which different divisions of a same company transact good or services with each other.
• Transfer pricing are used when individual entities of a large multi-entity firm are treated as separately run entities.

Source: The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB

5th Sept Daily current affairs for UPSC Civil Service Exam

SmartE

• The first batch of E-rickshaws under the brand name of “SmartE” was launched in Gurugram by Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.
• The E-rickshaws have been manufactured in India and are fitted with GPS and tracking system.
• It has established strategic partnerships with the Haryana government and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to launch 1000 vehicles in Gurugram and Faridabad in 2017.
• It will provide the last mile transport connectivity in the area and meaningful self-employment for marginalised youths in next 4-5 years.

SAUNI Yojana’

• Saurashtra Narmada Avataran Irrigation Yojna is a project to divert flood waters of Narmada to Saurashtra region and fill up the reservoirs through giant pipelines.
• There are 4 link canals through which the water is diverted.
• Link I takes water to Jamnagar and Dwarka districts and Link II to Botad, Bhavnagar and Amreli Districts.
• These two pipelines are designed to pump Narmada water in 17 identified dams in the regions such as Krushnasagar dam, Bhimdad dam (Botad), Bhogavo dam etc.
• Recently, President of India laid the foundation stone of SAUNI Phase-II Link-4 canal in Rajkot.
• The project targets to provide irrigation water for 10.22 lakh acres of land in Saurashtra region.
  
  
  Geographical Indicators
  • The Cell for IPR Promotions & Management (CIPAM) has launched a social media campaign to promote Indian Geographical Indicators (GIs) with #LetsTalkIP.
  • It is initiated to make more people aware about the importance of Intellectual Property Rights.
  • A Geographical Indication or a GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
  • It conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to its origin in that defined geographical locality.
  • Darjeeling Tea, Mahabaleshwar Strawberry, Blue Pottery of Jaipur, Banarasi Sarees and Tirupati Laddus are some of the GIs.
  Polavaram Project
  • It is a multi-purpose irrigation project in East Godavari District in Andhra Pradesh State.
  • The dam across Godavari River is under the construction and it aims to transfer the surplus water from Godavari to Krishna river basin.
  • The project is considered as “lifeline of the State” and has been declared as a national project under the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014.
  • As per the act, the central government shall execute the project and obtain all requisite clearances, including forest, environmental and rehabilitation and resettlement.
  • The regulation and development of the project is under the control of Union government and accordingly it constituted the Polavaram Project Authority (PPA) for the purpose.
  • Recently, NGT has directed the Environment Ministry and the AP government to examine about huge quantity of waste material being dumped in agricultural lands near Polavaram project.
  Initial Coin Offering
  • China has recently banned individuals and organisations from raising funds through initial coin offerings (ICO) saying the practice constituted illegal fund-raising.
  • ICO is an unregulated means of crowd funding for a project via use of Cryptocurrency.
  • The right of ownership or royalties of a project is offered to investors in the form of digital coins in exchange for legal tender or other cryptocurrencies (usually bitcoin).
  • The value of the coin will appreciate if the business is successful.
  • Presently, there is no regulator for this kind of crowd sourcing.
  Secure mobile phones
  • There is a wave of concerns over the security of mobile phones being sold by foreign firms in the country.
  • Thus it has decided to secure its communication network by offering customised mobile phones to top officers in rank of Joint Secretaries and above.
  • The mobile phones run on Android OS and have a pre-stored directory that contains the number of all officials above the rank of joint secretary.
  • The Government already operates a secure landline communication network called RAX. But it has certain limitations.
  Source: PIB, Business Line