Development of Eco-Parks in the country

 The concept of Eco-parks encourages harmony with the nature, society, forests and wildlife. Eco-restoration activities have been taken up cross-sectorally under various programmes/funding sources of other ministries/ organizations and also through State Plan budgets. Though, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change does not have any specific programme for developing Eco-parks, it has taken various initiatives through programmes and schemes that encourages eco-restoration of degraded areas namely Nagar Van Yojana, School Nursery Yojana, National Mission for a Green India etc.

The following steps taken by the Government contribute to eco-restoration, preservation and development of forest areas in the country:

1. For preservation and protection of forest & wildlife, various laws including the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and other central/state laws as applicable to a State/UT, are implemented by the respective State Government /UT Administration.

2. Nagar Van Yojana envisages creating a Nagar Van / Nagar Vatika in each City having Municipal Corporation/Municipal council/Municipality/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for providing wholesome healthy living environment for the residents and thus contributing to growth of clean, green, healthy and sustainable cities.

3. MoEF&CC, Govt. of India entrusted Indian Council Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Dehradun to prepare Detailed Project Report (DPR) for rejuvenation of thirteen major Indian rivers namely Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Luni, Narmada, Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna and Cauvery through forestry interventions. These DPRs include rejuvenation measures which inter alia includes Eco-park developments, avenue plantations, riverside plantations, river front development, Biodiversity conservation model, etc. as per site conditions.

4. National Mission for a Green India (GIM), under which, in addition to other sub-missions, there is a specific sub-mission for enhancing tree cover in urban and peri-urban areas. Urban forestry is a permissible activity under the provisions of Compensatory Fund Act, 2016 and the Rules made thereunder.

5. Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), implemented by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs which focuses on development of basic infrastructure in the selected cities and towns, has the provisions for developing green spaces and parks.

6. Ministry of Coal converts suitable mine areas, after exhaustion of reserves, into eco-parks, sites for water sports, underground mine tourism, golf grounds, adventure, bird watching etc. These sites have good potential for recreation, revenue generation and employment for local people.

Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection MCQs

 1. Atmospheric ozone layer which protect us from UV-B & C is getting depleted most by addition of 

 (a) Chlorofluorocarbon

(b) Carbon monoxide 

 (c) Carbon dioxide 

 (d) Sulpur dioxide 

2. In which of the following biome the maximum plant diversity is found ? 

 (a) Tropical evergreen forests 

 (b) Tropical moist deciduous forests 

 (c) Tropical dry deciduous forests 

 (d) Temperate moist forests 

3. Which among the following is a water borne disease? 

 (a) Smallpox 

 (b) Meningitis 

 (c) Malaria 

 (d) Cholera 

4. The term ‘dead’ with respect to a water body refers to: 

 (a) The inability of a water body to sustain aquatic life 

 (b) The ability of a water body to sustainaquatic life 

 (c) The inability of a water body to flow 

 (d) The heating or cooling of a water body

 5. Which one of the following is not normally a pollutant? 

 (a) Carbon monoxide 

 (b) Carbon dioxide 

 (c) Hydrocarbons 

 (d) Sulphur dioxide 

6. Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight causes the reaction that produces 

 (a) Fluorides 

 (b) Ozone 

 (c) Carbon monoxide 

 (d) Sulphur dioxide 

7. DDT is a 

 (a) Green house gas 

 (b) Persistent Organic Pollutant 

 (c) Degradable pollutant 

 (d) None of these

8. Decomposition of domestic wastes under natural processes is called 

 (a) Industrial pollution 

 (b) Thermal pollution 

 (c) Biodegradable pollution 

 (d) Nonbiodegradable pollution 

9. Eutrophication is often seen in 

 (a) Mountains 

 (b) Deserts 

 (c) Fresh water lakes 

 (d) Ocean 

10. Fish die in water polluted by sewage due to 

 (a) Pathogens 

 (b) Reduction in O2 

 (c) Clogging of gills by silt 

 (d) Foul smell 

11. Fluoride pollution mainly affects 

 (a) Brain 

 (b) Teeth 

 (c) Heart 

 (d) Kidney 

12. Gas leaked during Bhopal tragedy was 

 (a) Ethyl isothiocyanate 

 (b) Sodium isothiocyanate 

 (c) Potassium isothiocyanate 

 (d) Methyl isocyanate 

13. The best way to dispose plant waste is

 (a) Burning 

 (b) Composting 

 (c) Dumping in a water body 

 (d) Incineration 

14. Which of the following is a major pollutant causing acid rain? 

 (a) Carbon dioxide 

 (b) Sulphur dioxide 

 (c) Hydrogen peroxide 

 (d) Carbon monoxide 

15. Increase in the concentration of pollutants in higher trophic levels is known as 

 (a) Biomagnification 

 (b) Biodegradation

(c) Eutrophication 

 (d) Recycling 

16. The best household method to obtain potable water is 

 (a) Filtration 

 (b) Boiling 

 (c) Chemical treatment 

 (d) Decantation 

17. Consider the following statements regarding Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972? 

 1. The Government of India enacted Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 with the objective of effectively protecting the wild life of this country and to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives. 

 2. The Act was amended in January 2003 and pun- -ishment and penalty for offences under the Act have been made more stringent. 

 3. The Ministry OF Environment and Forest has proposed further amendments (The Wild Life (Pro- -tection) Amendment Bill, 2010) in the law by intro- -ducing more rigid measures to strengthen the Act. 

 4. The objective of ‘The Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2010’ is to provide protection to the listed endangered flora and fauna and ecologically important protected areas. 

 Which of the statements given above is / are correct? 

 (a) 1 only 

 (b) 1 and 2 only 

 (c) 3 and 4 only 

 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4 

18. An endemic species is 

 (a) a species found uniquely in one place. 

 (b) a species carrying an epidemic disease. 

 (c) a species at an early phase of its evolution. 

 (d) a taxonomist’s mistake. 

19. Contamination of water with sewage is indicated by cysts of 

 (a) Escherichia 

 (b) Escherichia coli 

 (c) Pseudomonas 

 (d) Leishmania 

20. Consider the following statements regarding National Environment Tribunal 

1. In 1999 the Central Government established the National Environment Tribunal [through the National Environment Tribunal Act 1999]. 

 2. National Environment Tribunal was established to provide for strict liability for damage arising out of accidents caused from the handling of hazardous substances. 

 Which of the statements given above is / are correct? 

 (a) 1 only 

 (b) 2 only 

 (c) Both 1 and 2 

 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 

ANSWERS:

1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (a) 5. (b) 

6. (b) 7. (b) 8. (c) 9. (c) 10. (b) 

11. (b) 12. (d) 13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (b) 

16. (b) 17. (d) 18. (a) 19. (b) 20. (b)

Mumbai and Hyderabad - Tree City of the World

 Mumbai and Hyderabad have been jointly recognised as ‘2021 Tree City of the World’ for their commitment to growing and maintaining urban trees and greenery in building healthy, resilient and happy cities. 

• While Mumbai has made the list for the first time, Hyderabad has featured on it for the second consecutive year.

 • ‘Tree Cities of the World’ is a programme started by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN-FAO) and non-profit organisation Arbor Day Foundation. 

• It is an international effort to recognise cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated. 

• It provides direction, assistance, and worldwide recognition for a community’s dedication to its urban forest. 

• It provides a framework for a healthy, sustainable urban forestry programme in a town or city. 

• For 2021, 138 cities have been recognised under the programme. 

• A city is recognised as a ‘Tree City’ if it meets five core standards to show its commitment towards caring for its trees and forests. 

• To be recognised as a Tree City, a city must have a written statement delegating responsibility for the care of trees within the municipal boundary to a staff member, a city department, or a group of citizens - a Tree Board. 

• The city should have in place a law or an official policy to govern the management of forests and trees. 

• The city should have a dedicated annual budget for the implementation of the tree management plan. 

• To be recognised as a Tree City, it should organise an annual celebration of trees to raise awareness among people and to acknowledge citizens who carried out the tree programme

Sustaining the Environment

On completing three years in office the UPA Government recently released a ‘Report To The People’. The following achievements pertain to the Ministry of Environment & Forest and in the field of sustaining the environment.

National Action Plan on Climate Change
The National Action Plan advocates a strategy that promotes, firstly, the adaptation to climate change and secondly, further enhancement of the ecological sustainability of India’s development path. The eight missions under the PM’s Council on Climate Change are the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission, the National Water Mission, the National Missions on Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitat, and Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change, and the National Missions for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, a Green India and Sustainable Agriculture.

Forest Conservation
An amount of Rs. 848 crore was released to State Level Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authorities to carry out protection, conservation and regeneration of natural forests in addition to compensatory afforestation. National Green Tribunal

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established in October, 2010 for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property. Delhi, Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai are the five place of sitting of the NGT.

Mission Clean Ganga
Projects worth nearly Rs. 2,600 crore have been sanctioned by the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA). These include projects for development of sewer networks, sewage treatment plants and sewage pumping stations, electric crematoria, community toilets and development of river fronts.

Several innovations have been introduced for improved implementation of projects sanctioned by the NGRBA. These include Tripartite Memoranda of Agreements, project appraisal by independent institutions, Third Party Inspection, etc. State River Conservation Authorities have been constituted in the five Ganga basin States to facilitate better coordination and implementation of conservation activities at the State level.

The Central Government has secured World Bank assistance of US$ 1 billion for the NGRBA Programme. The World Bank project will support NGRBA’s immediate objective of Mission Clean Ganga.

Tiger Conservation
A detailed report on the country level status of tigers, co-predators and prey in India was released in July, 2011. This was the second round of country level snapshot assessment. The earlier estimation made in 2006 indicated that there were 1411 tigers in the country; the current estimates show that this number has increased by about 20% to 1706.

Govt Launches Centre for Crop Forecast

The government on April 23 launched an integrated centre which will provide estimates of agricultural output and assess the drought situation in the country through latest technologies.
About  The  Center:

• Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar launched the National Crop Forecast Centre (NCFC), which will prepare in-season forecasts for selected 11 major crops such as rice, wheat, sugarcane and maize.
• The centre, in collaboration with ISRO, will also work towards preparing sub-district level drought assessment in the entire country.
• The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation prepares advance estimates of crop output through various technologies like remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS).
•  The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) through its programme the National Agriculture Drought Assessment and Monitoring System (NADAMS) provides data on drought assessment in various states during the monsoon season.
• The centre will help in integrating data from these sources and would also provide production forecasts of more crops.
• It will coordinate the use of Geomatics in cropping system, horticulture, soil and its health and estimation of damage due to natural calamities.

About Earth Day

Earth Day began on April 22, 1970 and has been an important day ever since.  It’s a day to reflect on our planet, our environment and what we can do to help keep them healthy.
From the beginning, children and schools were approached to support the formation and continuation of this special day.  And this makes sense!  Children have the most important stake in keeping our planet healthy.  They’ll still be the caretakers long after their parents and grandparents have passed away.

What Did Earth Day Accomplish?

Well, after the first earth day in 1970 here’s what happened:

• The Environmental Protection Agency was established later in 1970.
• The tough Clean Air Act of 1970 was passed with only a handful of dissenting votes in both Houses of Congress.
• The Federal Occupational Health and Safety Act aimed at “in-plant pollution” was passed by a coalition of labor and environmental groups.
• Within the next three years, such landmarks as the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act were passed.

Other countries have accomplished similar achievements.
But this is one of those jobs that’s never complete.  Global warming and other issues never conceived of in 1970 are now common themes on the news.

The First Earth Day

Senator Gaylord Nelson of the United States founded Earth Day. Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970 in the United States. Across the United States, 20 million people and thousands of local schools and communities participated in the first Earth Day. The huge turnout for the first Earth Day made it the largest organized celebration in the history of the United States. Earth Day’s success helped influence the government of the United States to create stronger laws to protect the environment.

 

Earth Day Goes International

On March 21, 1971, United Nations(UN) Secretary-General U Thant made Earth Day an international celebration. He spoke about it at a Peace Bell Ceremony at the United Nations in New York City. The United Nations Earth Day ceremony continues each year on the day of the vernal equinox (March 20th or 21st), with the ringing of the UN Peace Bell at the very moment of theequinox.

What Did Earth Day 1990 Achieve?

• The UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The Earth Summit was the largest collection of national political leaders ever to meet in one place. It made some important initial steps toward addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity.
• More than a dozen countries established eco-labeling programs to guide consumers toward environmentally preferable goods and services.
• Several Eastern European nations, responding to public demand, established new environmental protection agencies.
• CARE, the international relief agency, set out new environmental goals for itself in the 1990s that include planting 500,000,000 trees worldwide.