#Environment ■ Saved by Sponge-

✅As oceans warm up, women in Zanzibar switch from seaweed to climate-resilient sponge farming to stay afloat.

● Sponge:

✅Sponges, unlike seaweed, possess remarkable resilience to climate change

✅They require minimal maintenance, and command premium market prices, according to marine biologist Aziza Said from the University of Dodoma, Tanzania.

✅Additionally, sponge farming requires little financial resources and technical expertise, as these organisms grow and propagate naturally.

✅Most sponges are hermaphrodites, harbouring both male and female reproductive organs, enabling them to self-propagate effortlessly.

✅New sponges emerge from small buds that detach from the parent sponge and begin independent growth.

✅Even damaged or fragmented sponges can regenerate into new individuals.

✅This remarkable regenerative ability underpins the ease and feasibility of commercial sponge farming.

✅Unlike synthetic sponges, sea sponges are free from harmful substances like chemicals and microplastics

● Uses:

✅These sponges are used for bathing and general hygiene

✅Their skeletons break down into microscopic pieces of silicon, which helps control the carbon cycle in the ocean and reduces the greenhouse effect.

✅Dissolved silicon is critical for the growth of diatoms, tiny organisms which absorb large amounts of CO2 in the ocean using photosynthesis.

● Prelims takeaway:

✅Sponge

✅Global warming

SOURCE - DOWN TO EARTH

#Environment ■ India in 2023: strides in climate action, criticism of conservation-

✅In 2023, India made significant strides in climate change mitigation, wildlife conservation and biodiversity laws.

✅However, challenges and criticisms surfaced, particularly concerning the cheetah translocation project and changes in forest and biodiversity laws.

● Climate Change Initiatives:

✅COP33 Proposal: India proposed hosting the UN climate conference in 2028 (COP33) and launched the 'Green Credit Initiative' focused on creating carbon sinks to address climate challenges.

✅Dubai Climate Summit: Developing countries, including India, urged rich nations to achieve negative carbon emissions instead of just net zero by 2050.

✅Per Capita Emissions: Despite a 5% increase in per capita CO2 emissions in 2022, India's levels remained less than half of the global average.

✅National Communication: India submitted its third national communication to the UNFCCC, highlighting a 33% reduction in GDP emission intensity between 2005 and 2019.

● Wildlife Conservation:

✅Tiger Population: Data revealed a 6% annual increase in the tiger population from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022.

● Cheetah Translocation Project:

✅The cheetah conservation project faced criticism over the deaths of six imported cheetahs.

✅Challenges included unexpected development of winter coats and subsequent health issues.

✅International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

✅Launched in April, the IBCA aims to conserve the world's seven principal big cats.

✅It includes the tiger, lion, snow leopard, leopard, jaguar, puma, and cheetah.

● Changes in Forest and Biodiversity Laws:

✅Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act

✅Amendments drew criticism for exempting certain categories of land, impacting the applicability of the Forest (Conservation) Act.

✅The amended Act exempts

✅Forest land up to 10 hectares for constructing security-related infrastructure

✅Area falling within 100 km of international borders, Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) for “strategic and security-related projects of national importance”.

✅Concerns were raised about potential effects on tribal and traditional forest-dwelling communities.

✅Biological Diversity Act

✅Amendments aimed to promote growing medicinal plants, support traditional medicine, facilitate research, patents and foreign investments.

✅However, concerns were raised about changes in benefit-sharing rules, with fines replacing jail terms for violations.

● Prelims Takeaway:

✅Biological Diversity Act

✅Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act

✅International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

✅Green Credit Program

SOURCE - THE HINDU

#Environment ■ Indian Forest & Wood Certification Scheme launched to promote Sustainable Management of forests and agroforestry-

✅Recently, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change introduced the Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme.

● Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme:

✅It is a national initiative aimed at encouraging sustainable forest management and agroforestry practices in India.

✅It offers voluntary third-party certification designed to promote sustainable forest management and agroforestry in the country.

✅Parties involved: State forest departments, individual farmers, Farmer Producer Organizations engaged in agroforestry and farm forestry, as well as other wood-based industries in the value chain.

● Three Key Certifications:

✅Forest Management Certification

✅Aligned with the Indian Forest Management Standard, it includes 8 criteria, 69 indicators, and 254 verifiers, integral to the National Working Plan Code 2023.

✅Tree Outside Forest Management Certification

✅Specifically designed for agroforestry, focusing on responsible practices beyond traditional forest areas.

✅Chain of Custody Certification

✅Ensuring the traceability of wood-based products through the supply chain, emphasising responsible sourcing.

● Oversight and Governance:

✅The Indian Forest and Wood Certification Council, comprising stakeholders from esteemed institutions and government bodies, will oversee the scheme.

✅The council includes representatives from Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Forest Survey of India, Quality Council of India, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Ministries of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, and Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

✅The Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal, is designated as the scheme operating agency and is responsible for the overall management of the Scheme.

● Accreditation Process:

✅The National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies, under the Quality Council of India, will accredit certification bodies.

✅These bodies will conduct independent audits to assess entities' adherence to the prescribed standards within the scheme.

● Prelims Takeaway:

✅Indian Forest and Wood Certification Scheme

✅Agroforestry

SOURCE - PIB

#Environment ■ India in 2023: strides in climate action, criticism of conservation-

✅In 2023, India made significant strides in climate change mitigation, wildlife conservation and biodiversity laws.

✅However, challenges and criticisms surfaced, particularly concerning the cheetah translocation project and changes in forest and biodiversity laws.

● Climate Change Initiatives:

✅COP33 Proposal: India proposed hosting the UN climate conference in 2028 (COP33) and launched the 'Green Credit Initiative' focused on creating carbon sinks to address climate challenges.

✅Dubai Climate Summit: Developing countries, including India, urged rich nations to achieve negative carbon emissions instead of just net zero by 2050.

✅Per Capita Emissions: Despite a 5% increase in per capita CO2 emissions in 2022, India's levels remained less than half of the global average.

✅National Communication: India submitted its third national communication to the UNFCCC, highlighting a 33% reduction in GDP emission intensity between 2005 and 2019.

● Wildlife Conservation:

✅Tiger Population: Data revealed a 6% annual increase in the tiger population from 2,967 in 2018 to 3,682 in 2022.

● Cheetah Translocation Project:

✅The cheetah conservation project faced criticism over the deaths of six imported cheetahs.

✅Challenges included unexpected development of winter coats and subsequent health issues.

✅International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

✅Launched in April, the IBCA aims to conserve the world's seven principal big cats.

✅It includes the tiger, lion, snow leopard, leopard, jaguar, puma, and cheetah.

● Changes in Forest and Biodiversity Laws:

✅Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act

✅Amendments drew criticism for exempting certain categories of land, impacting the applicability of the Forest (Conservation) Act.

✅The amended Act exempts

✅Forest land up to 10 hectares for constructing security-related infrastructure

✅Area falling within 100 km of international borders, Line of Control (LoC) and Line of Actual Control (LAC) for “strategic and security-related projects of national importance”.

✅Concerns were raised about potential effects on tribal and traditional forest-dwelling communities.

✅Biological Diversity Act

✅Amendments aimed to promote growing medicinal plants, support traditional medicine, facilitate research, patents and foreign investments.

✅However, concerns were raised about changes in benefit-sharing rules, with fines replacing jail terms for violations.

● Prelims Takeaway:

✅Biological Diversity Act

✅Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act

✅International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)

✅Green Credit Program

SOURCE - THE HINDU

#Environment ■ Unpacking the first ever COP ‘Health Day’-

✅The recently concluded COP28 reinforced the urgency to address the climate crisis.

● Climate Crisis as a Public Health Crisis:

✅Severe temperatures, floods, and vector-borne diseases highlight the threat to health security.

✅Therefore, the WHO declared climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century.

✅Marginalized communities face the worst impacts, and climate change could push over 100 million people into extreme poverty by 2030.

✅Much of this reversal would be due to the “negative impacts on health”.

● Health Day at COP28:

✅The inaugural Health Day at COP28 emphasized the link between climate and health, asserting that combating climate change is vital for global health.

✅Over 46 million health professionals urged an accelerated, just, and equitable phase-out of fossil fuels as the decisive path to health for all.

● Key Events and Declarations:

✅COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health signifies global commitment to address climate-related health impacts, supported by 143 countries.

✅The first-ever climate-health ministerial brought together ministers to address the growing burden of climate change on healthcare systems.

✅It was hosted by the COP28 Presidency, WHO, the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and a group of champion countries.

● India's Position:

✅India was not represented on Health Day at COP28.

✅Over the last two decades, India has witnessed a significant rise in extreme temperatures, heat stress events, cyclones, floods, droughts, and malnutrition.

✅India witnesses disasters almost daily, causing loss of lives, affecting crop areas, and damaging infrastructure.

✅In 2019 it ranked seventh globally for the severe impact of climate change, as in the Global Climate Risk Index.

✅The Reserve Bank of India warns of a potential 4.5% GDP loss by 2030 due to extreme heat's impact on labour hours.

✅Air pollution in India led to 1.6 million premature deaths in 2019.

● Public Health Challenges:
✅Malaria, malnutrition, and diarrhoea, coupled with weather-related disasters, strain India's public health infrastructure.

✅Climate change poses a significant threat to the vulnerable population, relying on climate-sensitive sectors for livelihoods.

● Need for Health-Centric Climate Planning:

✅Over 700 million individuals in India depend on climate-sensitive sectors for livelihoods, necessitating plans addressing their health needs.

✅Prioritising health in climate planning safeguards both immediate and long-term well-being in the face of climate change impacts.

✅Integrating health into climate planning is economically prudent, reduces healthcare costs, and enhances overall effectiveness and sustainability of climate actions in India.

SOURCE - THE HINDU

#Environment ■ Sea turning red in Puducherry NGT panel inspects beach, to submit report in 15 days-

✅Recently, the principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formed a committee to analyse the cause of the Promenade beach turning red in Puducherry.

● Ossible Causes:

✅The report suggests that the red color may be due to algal bloom and reddish tinge was observed at various patches along the coastline.

✅Concerns were raised about industrial pollution or 'Red Tide' as potential factors behind the phenomenon.

● Red Tide:

✅It is a common term used for a harmful algal bloom.

✅Harmful Algal Blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae grow out of control and produce toxic or harmful effects

✅The name “red tide” comes from the fact that overgrowth of algae can cause the colour of the water to turn red.

● Causes:

✅Chemicals from farming, factories, sewage treatment plants and other sources can become dissolved in water on the land.

✅This water, called runoff, eventually flows into the ocean and can cause algae to grow faster, leading to red tides.
Impacts

✅Some of the algae that cause a red tide produce powerful toxins, which are harmful chemicals that can kill fish, shellfish, mammals and birds.

✅If people eat fish or shellfish that have been in the water with toxic algae, they will also ingest the toxins, which can make them sick.

● Prelims Takeaway:

✅National Green Tribunal (NGT)

✅Red Tide

SOURCE - THE HINDU

#Environment ■ West Bengal government announces a ‘mangrove cell’-

✅West Bengal, which is home to about 40% of mangrove forests in India, recently announced the setting up of a ‘Mangrove Cell’ in the State.

● The Mangrove Cell:

✅The Cell will have an annual action plan for the plantation of mangroves

✅It will also look at their maintenance and coordinate with NGOs.

✅It will generate funds from private and international sectors, as well as publish books and conduct research on the subject.

✅It will bring certain continuity in the efforts of the State government in mangrove management.

● Mangroves:

✅A Mangrove is a small tree or shrub that grows along coastlines, taking root in salty sediments, often underwater.

✅Mangroves are flowering trees, belonging to the families Rhizophoraceae, Acanthaceae, Lythraceae, Combretaceae and Arecaceae.

✅They are found only along sheltered coastlines within the tropical or subtropical latitudes because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures.

● Key Features:

✅They can survive under extreme hostile environments such as high salt and low oxygen conditions.

✅They have special roots called breathing roots or pneumatophores.

✅These roots have numerous pores through which oxygen enters the underground tissues.

✅With their roots submerged in water, mangrove trees thrive in hot, muddy, salty conditions that would have quickly killed most plants.

✅Mangroves, like desert plants, store fresh water in thick succulent leaves.

✅A waxy coating on the leaves seals in water and minimises evaporation.

✅Their seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree (Viviparity)

✅Once germinated, the seedling grows into a propagule.

✅The mature propagule then drops into the water and gets transported to a different spot, eventually taking root in a solid ground.

● Prelims Takeaway:

✅The Mangrove Cell

✅Mangroves

✅Wetlands

SOURCE - THE HINDU

#Environment ■ LS passes Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill/Lok Sabha passes Bill to let forest land be used for strategic needs-

✅Recently, the Lok Sabha passed the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill without any changes

✅It was introduced to amend the Forest Conservation Act, 1980

● Forest Conservation Act, 1980:

✅The 1980 legislation has empowered the Centre to ensure that any forest land diverted for ‘non-forestry’ purposes is duly compensated.

✅It extends its remit to land even beyond what is officially classified as ‘forest’ in State and Central government records.

● Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill:
✅It includes clauses that specify the types of land where the original Act is inapplicable.

✅It encourages the practice of cultivating plantations on non-forest land

✅This can increase tree cover over time, act as a carbon sink and aid India’s ambitions of having ‘net zero’ carbon emissions by 2070.

✅They also seek to remove restrictions imposed by the Act in creating infrastructure that would aid national security and create livelihood opportunities for those residents on the periphery of forests.

✅The central government may issue directions for the implementation of the Act to any other authority/ organisation under or recognised by the centre, state, or union territory.

● Objections:

✅The amendments “diluted” the Supreme Courts 1996 judgement in the Godavarman case

✅It extended protection to wide tracts of forests, even if they were not recorded as forests.

✅Now, all those forest lands which do not fall in the reserved area but are available in government records before 1980 will not come under the purview of the Act.

✅Large parcels of forest land near the borders would no longer be protected.

✅The terms like ‘proposed’, ‘ecotourism facilities’, and ‘any other purposes’ can be exploited or misused for activities damaging forests and ecosystems in forest lands.

✅Plantations are a significant threat to Indian forests as they replace the natural ecosystems, affect soil quality, and particularly threaten the native biodiversity.

● Government’s Stance:

✅The Environment Minister stated that provisions have been made that would enable our soldiers stationed in sub-zero temperatures at Ladakh to access better roads and infrastructure

✅Despite attempts to improve social forestry, people are hesitant to plant private plantations

✅They fear that the forest laws will prevent them from cutting those trees.

✅Changes are made via this Bill to improve agro-forestry

● Prelims Takeaway:

✅Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill

✅Forest Conservation Act, 1980

SOURCE - INDIAN EXPRESS

#Environment ■ Moving away from the ‘take-make-dispose’ model-

✅India has prioritised ‘Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy’ as one of the three core themes for deliberations in the G-20 forum recognising the need to switch from the ‘take-make-dispose’ to ‘reduce-reuse-recycle’ model

● Circular Economy:

✅A circular economy is the one where products are designed for durability, reuse and recyclability

✅Almost everything gets reused, remanufactured and recycled into a raw material or used as a source of energy.

✅It includes 6 R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refurbishment, Recover, and Repairing of materials.

● Priority Areas:

✅India has embraced four priority areas for the circular economy during its G-20
presidency:

✅1.Moving to a circular steel sector

✅Most G-20 member countries have committed to net zero ambitions and are working to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

✅Given the crucial role of steel in infrastructure development, its efficient utilisation is important.

✅The demand for steel is poised to grow especially in growing economies such as India.

✅Globally, about 7% of energy sector emission is attributed to iron and steel production.

✅Transitioning towards a circular steel sector is a key strategy to tackle steel sector emissions.

✅The key lies in ensuring collaboration among the G-20 member countries for knowledge sharing, technology co-development and technology transfer.

✅2.Extended Producer Responsibility

✅Under India’s G-20 presidency, there is an emphasis on the significance of the EPR framework in integrating circularity throughout the value chain.

✅As different countries have implemented different EPR models, it is necessary that G-20 member-countries share best practices to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.

✅With over 20,000 registered Producers, Importers, and Brand Owners (PIBOs) and over 1,900 plastic waste processors on the centralised EPR portal, India boasts one of the largest frameworks for EPR.

✅3.Recycling, a bioeconomy and biofuels

✅India has also notified comprehensive rules for e-waste and battery waste management.

✅Since 1970, the consumption of biological resources in G-20 member countries has risen 2.5 times.

✅Biowaste such as municipal and industrial waste and agricultural residue has become a global issue as much of it is burned, causing pollution, biodiversity loss and global warming.

✅Adopting a circular bioeconomy approach will reduce the need for extracting virgin resources and provide an effective waste disposal solution.

✅4.On industry coalition

✅As industries are crucial in advancing resource efficiency and circular economy practices, India has envisioned an industry coalition in these areas.

✅Aim

✅To achieve enhanced technological collaboration

✅Build advanced capabilities across sectors

✅Mobilise de-risked finance

✅Facilitate a proactive private sector engagement
● Initiatives for Biomass Resource Efficiency
Pradhan Mantri JI-VAN Yojana:

✅It provides financial support to integrated bio-ethanol projects to set up second generation (2G) ethanol projects.

✅2G bioethanol technology produces bioethanol from waste feedstock such as crop residues and municipal solid waste that would otherwise have no value.

● Use of Biomass pellets with coal:

✅India has also made it mandatory for coal-burning thermal power plants to use a 5% blend of biomass pellets along with coal.

● Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources (GOBAR) Dhan scheme:

✅It was launched by the Government of India to convert cattle dung and other organic waste into compost, biogas, and biofuels to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce pollution.

✅With over 500 functional biogas plants, the scheme has also helped create rural livelihoods and ensured improved sanitation.

● Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) Scheme:

✅It was launched in 2018 to promote the use of Compressed BioGas (CBG) as an alternative green transportation fuel.

SOURCE - THE HINDU

#Environment ■ SC urges Centre to transfer cheetahs to another location-

✅Recently, the Supreme Court told the Union Government that deaths of 40% of the 20 cheetahs brought from South Africa and Namibia to the Kuno National Park (KNP) under a year does not present a good picture.

✅It urged the government to move them to a more conducive environment, if required

✅It also wants Kuno National Park cheetahs to undergo medical review

● Background:

✅The Cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world.

✅Its historical range includes the majority of Sub-Saharan Africa and extends eastward to India.

✅It is the only large carnivore that went ‘Extinct’ in India due to overhunting and habitat loss.

✅The last cheetah died in the Koriya district of present-day Chhattisgarh in 1947 and the species was declared extinct in 1952.

● Cheetah Reintroduction Plan:

✅Discussions to bring the Cheetah back to India were initiated in 2009 by the Wildlife Trust of India.

✅Under the ‘Action Plan for Reintroduction of Cheetah in India’, 50 cheetahs will be brought from African countries to various national parks over 5 years.

✅Recommended site: Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh

✅Other sites recommended

✅Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh

✅Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary - Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary complex, Madhya Pradesh

✅Shahgarh bulge in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

✅Mukundara Tiger Reserve as the fenced enclosure, Rajasthan

● Why is KNP given the highest priority for reintroduction?

✅Suitable habitat and adequate prey base.

✅Assessed to be capable of supporting 21 cheetahs.

✅Devoid of human settlements

✅Villages have been completely relocated from within the park.

✅Enables the coexistence of the four big cats found in India – the tiger, lion, leopard, and cheetah, as they have in the past.

● Prelims Takeaway:

✅Cheetah Reintroduction Plan

✅Wildlife Trust of India

✅Kuno National Park

✅Cheetah

SOURCE - THE HINDU