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ENVIRONMENT- Sankar IASChapter 01: EcologyDefine Ecology.How many main levels of organizations of ecology exist? Name them.Define environment.Differentiate between ecology, environment, and ecosystem. What are autotrophs, phagotrophs, heterotrops, osmotrophs, and saprotrophs?What is an Ecotone?Explain the ‘edge effect.With reference to ecosystems, what is meant by ‘Niche’?What are biomes?How many major types of biomes exist? Name them, and describe the countries they cover, rainfall they receive, and the flora and fauna they harbor. Name the three main kinds of Aquatic Zones.What is the average salinity of the ocean?What is meant by Biosphere?Chapter 02: Functions of an EcosystemWhat are the 3 broad functions of an ecosystem?What are trophic levels? How many of these usually exist, and why?Define ‘food chain’. How many types of food chains exist? How are they different from each other?What are ‘cetaceans’? Give some examples.What is an ecological pyramid?How many types of ecological pyramids exist? Are they all necessarily inverted?What is the phenomenon of biological magnification? How is it different from bioaccumulation?Define: mutualism, commensalism, competition, predation, parasitism, amensalism, and neutralism.What is a bio-geo chemical cycle?Name the four ways in which nutrient cycles can be classified (2 heads).Even though there is an almost inexhaustible supply of nitrogen in the atmosphere, why can’t plants use it directly? What needs to be done to it so that it’s usable as a nutrient? Describe the various ways in which this process can take place.Describe: water cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle, and sedimentary cycle.What is meant by ‘succession’?What is a ‘pioneer community’? ‘Climax community’?What is meant by ‘secondary succession’?Chapter 03: Terrestrial EcosystemsWhat is ‘terrestrial ecology’?What is the literal meaning of ‘tundra’? How many basic types exist? Name them.Do any flora and fauna exist in tundra regions?Describe the body features of mammals found in tundra regions.What are the three main kinds of forest ecosystems?What is another name for boreal forests?Describe coniferous forests with respect to the following features: temperature, rainfall, and length of winter and summer, soil.Why is soil in coniferous areas acidic and mineral deficient? What is the technical term for such soils?Describe the 3 kinds of temperate forests with respect to: vegetation, precipitation, and soil type.Describe the 2 kinds of tropical rain forests with respect to: vegetation, precipitation, and soil type.What are podzols and latosols? In which areas are they found?How many types of forests exist in India?Name 3 prominent causes of deforestation.What is the annual range of rainfall in grasslands?Differentiate between steppes and savannas. How much rainfall do deserts typically receive?Which is the largest zoo in the country? (Page 27)Name some ways in which desert flora and fauna adapt themselves to survive in the extreme climatic conditions. Name one extraordinary bird found in the Thar desert. Why was it in the news recently?What % of India’s land is under forest cover?What % of India’s land is classified as ‘dry land’?What is the main UN convention that deals with desertification? Is India a signatory to it?Name some government programmes that aim to deal with desertification.Chapter 04: Aquatic EcosystemsOn what basis are aquatic ecosystems classified? How many types are there? Name them.Name the 5 classifications of aquatic organisms.What is a profundal zone?What are the 3 main classifications of lakes on the basis of their nutrient content?What is meant by eutrophication? What are its effects in aquatic systems?Name some mitigation measures than can help deal with eutrophication.What are algae?What is an algal bloom? Name two common causes of algal blooms. What are the effects of an algal bloom?What are the potential effects of an algal bloom on humans?What are wetlands? What kind of soils do they have? Can they exist inland?Name some reasons for the depletion of wetlands.What are some of the differences between wetlands and lakes? Which one of these is more important from the viewpoint of ecosystem and biodiversity conservation?What % of India’s lands are wetlands?What is the major programme run by the Indian government to conserve wetlands? What is the role of the central and state governments here?What is the international convention on which the above programme is modeled?What is an estuary?Why are estuaries some of the most heavily populated areas of the world?On which coast do most of India’s major estuaries lie?What is meant by a littoral zone? (Page 43)What are mangroves? What are the best locations for growth of mangroves?What are stilt roots?What is the single largest area of mangroves in the world?Where in Orissa will one find mangroves?List 4 uses of mangroves..What are corals? What are the algae that live on them? Describe their symbiotic relationship.What are the two types of corals? Which type build reefs?How is a coral reef formed?In what latitudes are you most likely to find corals?Where is the Gulf of Mannar? (check)Depending upon their location, what are the four major classifications of coral reefs?List 4 points about why coral reefs are useful.What is coral bleaching? What is the major cause of coral bleaching?Explain the effects of eutrophication on corals.List the 5 key initiatives run by the Indian government to protect marine and coastal environments. Chapter 05: Environmental PollutionWhat are qualitative and quantitative pollutants?How is carbon monoxide produced? Why is it harmful for humans?Which toxic gas is produced when coal burns? (Page 50)What is the most common reason for the formation of ozone at the ground level?What is fly ash?What are some ill effects of lead poisoning?What is the full form of NAAQS?What is meant by ‘indicator species’? (Page 57)Among the 3 types of nuclear radiations. Which ones have the most penetrative power?What is bioremediation?Name 2 major programmes of the Indian government with regards to controlling air pollution.What is thermal pollution?With respect to landfills, what does leaching mean?What is vermiculture?What is bioremediation?Explain bioventing, biosparging, and bioaugmentation.Chapter 06: Environmental Impact AssessmentWhat is the purpose of EIAs?Under which GoI Act are these mandatory? (Page 70)List the 9 steps in an EIA.What changes did the 2006 notification to the Environment (Protection) Act bring to the system of EIAs?What is the most major drawback of the current system of EIAs in India? Chapter 07: BiodiversityDefine biodiversity.What % of the world’s recorded species does India account for?At what three levels does biodiversity exist? Name them.By which two broad components is biodiversity measured? Differentiate between alpha, beta, and gamma biodiversity.Differentiate between ex-situ and in-situ methods of biodiversity conservation.What is a botanical garden?Chapter 08: Indian Biodiversity LandscapeWhat % of India’s land is (a) dedicated to crops, and (b) under forest cover? (Page 85)Of the 34 globally identified biodiversity hotspots, which 2 does India harbor?What is a ‘biogeographic realm’? How many of these does India have?Define ‘biome’.Name the 5 biomes of India.What are the two main branches of biogeography?What are: aves, annelids, mollusks, echinoderms, protozoa, and anthropods.What are algae? Do they have chlorophyll?On the basis of colour, how can one differentiate between freshwater and marine algae?What is the main difference between algae and fungi?What are lichens?Chapter 09: Animal Diversity of IndiaWhich agency issues the Red Data Book?What do the pink pages in this book signify? Green pages?What are the seven classifications of various species according to IUCN?What are ‘monotremes’? (Page 100)What are ‘marsupials’?Name 8 critically endangered, 15 endangered, and 14 vulnerable mammals in India.Mammals:MammalsCritically Endangered1Pygmy Hog* World’s smallest pig* Found in Terai grasslands2Andaman white-toothed shrew* Usually active after twilight* Require special habitats, such as rock crevices and leaf litter3Kondana Rat* Nocturnal rodent* Found only in Sinhagarh plateau in Pune4Large Rock Rat/ Elvira RatFound only in Eastern Ghats of Tamil Nadu5Namdapha Flying SquirrelFound only in Namdapha in Arunachal Pradesh; it is hunted for food6Malabar CivetOne of the world’s rarest mammals; nocturnal, found only in Western Ghats7Sumatran RhinocerosSmallest, most endangered of the 5 rhino species; thought to be extinct in India, and found only in Java and Vietnam8Kashmir Stag/ HangulState animal of Jammu and Kashmir; subspecies of Red Deer which is endemic to IndiaEndangered Mammals1Wild Ass/ KhurFound only in Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Rann of Kutch (Gujarat)2Asiatic or Indian Wild Dog/ Dhole3Eld’s Deer/ Thamin/ Brow-Antlered DeerFound in Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur4Himalayan Brown/ Red BearIndia’s largest animal in the Himalayas; exhibits sexual dimorphism5Golden LangurAssam/ Bhutan6Himalayan Wolf7Himalayan/ White-bellied Musk DeerLack antlers, but have enlarged canines that grow continuously; poached for it’s glands that produce musk used in perfumes8Hispid Hare/ Assam rabbit9Hog DeerDucks under obstacles instead of leaping over them like most other deers10Lion-tailed MacaqueWestern Ghats; being captive bred in Arinagar Anna Zoological park, Chennai; and Mysore Zoo11MarkhorSexual dimorphism, national animal of Pakistan12Nilgiri Langur- vulnerable; not endangered13Nilgiri TahrTamil Nadu; Tahrs look like goats but don’t have beards14Great Indian One Horn RhinocerosHimalayas onlyVulnerable Mammals1Chiru/ Tibetan Antelope-endangered nowHunted for fine wool and meat2Himalayan Tahr3BlackbuckShow sexual dimorphism; live in grasslands4Gaur (Indian Bison)Evergreen/ Moist deciduous forests 5Four-horned antelope/ Chausingha6TakinHimalayas/ Western China7Nilgiri MartenEndemic to Western Ghats; semi-arboreal animal8Red PandaEndemic to temperate forests of the Himalayas (Sikkim/ Assam)9Marbled catSikkim, Darjeeling etc.; arboreal10Barasingha/ Swamp Deer11Indian Wolf12Oriental small-clawed otter Semiaquatic mammal; lives in mangrove swamps and freshwater wetlands13Clouded LeopardWest Bengal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeast14Asian black bear/ moon-bear/ white-chested bear15Dugong (sea cow)Feeds on sea grass, whose depletion is threatening the Dugongs’ survival16ManateeNot found in IndiaBirds: MammalsCritically Endangered1Jerdon’s CourserNocturnal, found only in northern part of Andhra Pradesh2Forest OwletLives in dry deciduous forests; was though to be extinct for a century, but recently sighted3White-bellied heronAssam/ Arunachal Pradesh only4Bengal FloricanA rare bustard species; well known for mating dance; found in UP, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh5Himalayan QuailMight be extinct; used to be found in Western Ghats6Pink-headed duck7Sociable LapwingWinter migrant to India8Spoon-billed sandpiperSouthern India9Siberian CraneCritically Endangered Reptiles: Gharial, (currently, only viable population is in National Chambal Sanctuary spread across UP, Rajasthan, and MP)Hawksbill TurtleLeatherback TurtleFour-toed River Terrapin (Turtle)Red-crowned Roofed Turtle (Bengal Roofed Turtle)Sispara Day GeckoCritically Endangered Fish: Pondicherry sharkGanges sharkKnife-toothed sawfishLarge-toothed sawfishLong-comb sawfishCritically Endangered Spiders: Rameshwaram Ornamental/ Parachute spiderGooty/ Metallic/ Peacock TarantulaChapter 10: Plant Diversity of IndiaWhat are epiphytes? (Page 108)What is meant by ‘die back’?In what kinds of soil is one most likely to find insectivorous plants?What are the 3 broad families to which India’s insectivorous plants belong?What are ‘alien invasive species’?Define: Taproot, Lateral root, adventitious root, Prop roots, Stilt roots, and pneumatophores.Chapter 11: Marine OrganismsWhat are planktons?Differentiate between holoplanktons and meroplanktons.What are phytoplankton?Are phytoplanktons similar to land plants? (Page 117)At what latitudes is the concentration of marine phytoplankton more: low, or high? Why is this so?How are phytoplanktons responsible for the occurrence of red tides?How are phytoplanktons important for preventing global warming? (Page 119)In what kind of waters are you more likely to find sea grass? Fresh or saline?Are seaweeds a form of algae? (Page 120)Chapter 12: Protected Area NetworksWhat are some of the differences between wildlife sanctuaries and national parks? Who notifies them? (State/ C23qentral government)? Degree of protection? Which one (if either) can be declared for a single species? Can national parks/ wildlife sanctuaries extend over territorial waters?How can boundaries of a wildlife sanctuary/ national park be altered? (Page 122)In case there are claims to property rights that are upheld within the boundaries of a proposed national park, and such area is sought to be acquired, provisions of which act apply? What are conservation reserves and community reserves?What are marine protected areas?What is the difference between Category I, II, IIIA, and IIIB types of marine protected areas?What is the main aim of Man and Biosphere initiative? Under the aegis of which international body does it function? (Page 126)What is a biosphere reserve? Which Indian programme deals with biospheres? What are the primary and secondary criteria for selection of BRs? (Page 129)Is it true that there are no legal provisions that limit the use of a biosphere reserve, like there are for National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries?Describe the structure of a biosphere reserve.How are BRs different from protected areas (such as WLSs and NPs)?What are the roles of the central and state governments in managing BRs?What is the ‘Man and Biosphere’ initiative? What is its primary achievement? Under which international body does it function? (Page 130)What is a biodiversity hotspot? What re the two criteria that a region needs to fulfill to qualify as a hotspot?How many of these exist in India? Name them.What is the regional name for Western Ghats? (Page 133)Expand UNESCO. (CHECK)On which date is International Day for Biological Diversity celebrated?Chapter 13: Conservation Efforts On whose recommendation do state governments notify tiger reserves?Is such a recommendation also required for de-notification?Write a note on India’s tiger conservation efforts (appropriate body, state efforts, tiger census method, current estimates)What is the biggest threat to elephants in India? (Page 140)What is the MIKE programme? (Page 140)What animal does the SAVE organisation focus on? (Page 144)Where is the Keoladeo National Park located? (Page 142)Name the drug that is responsible for death of vultures.Describe the Maharashtra Government’s ‘Vulture Restaurant’ scheme.Which state has Kaziranga national park?What variety of turtles migrates to Indian coastal waters every year to nest? (Page 146)Where will you find the Dachigam National Park? (Page 147)Where is the Arignar Zoological Park?Which animal is India’s National Aquatic Animal?How many schedules does the WPA contain, with regards to protection of listed animals? Give examples of animals included in each schedule.How many animals are listed in Schedule V of the WPA? Name them.Chapter 14: Climate ChangeDefine: Climate.Define: Global Warming.Approximately what % of the Sun’s energy is reflected directly back into space by the atmosphere, clouds, and the surface of the earth?What kind of long-wave radiation does the surface of the earth emit? Infrared or ultraviolet?What is the biggest overall contributor to the greenhouse effect? (Check- Page 153)What is meant by carbon sequestration? What are some of the ways in which this can be achieved?What is the largest source of methane emissions? (Page 154)Why are fluorinated gases especially harmful?What are the 3 main categories of fluorinated gases? List some uses of each of these 3 categories.What is Black Carbon? How does it contribute to global warming?What is meant by ‘albedo’?What is Project Surya? (Page 156)What are climate ‘forcings’?What are the effects of positive and negative forcings? Give an example of each kind.What does ‘Global Warming Potential’ mean? On what basis is it calculated?Arrange the following gases in terms of ascending GWP: Methane, CFCs, CO2, Nitrous OxideList the top 3 causes of greenhouse emissions. Chapter 15: AcidificationOxides of which 2 elements react with moisture in rainwater to cause acid rain?What is the pH scale? What do quantities below and above 7 on this scale indicate?How is acid rain formed? What are some of the ways of preventing it? (Page 164)What are the effects of acid rain on an area’s soil?What is ‘buffering’? Name two buffering agents. (Page 164)What is ocean acidification? Aside from atmospheric carbon dioxide, outline two other processes that lead to ocean acidification.Explain associated chemical reactions and their significance. What is its primary cause? What are some of its most harmful consequences?Can oceans ever become acidic? What is the current pH level?What is the importance of carbonate ions in oceans?What is meant by the ‘saturation horizon’? How is this affected by ocean acidification?What is the main natural source of CO2 on the earth? (Page 166)What is ‘lysocline’?What is the carbonate composition depth? (CCD)What is upwelling?Chapter 16: Ozone DepletionIn which two layers of the atmosphere is ozone found? Explain its effects in both.List the three main compounds that cause ozone depletion.List some uses of CFCs. (6)How long do CFCs ‘stick around’ in the atmosphere for? (Page 168)Explain the mechanism by which CFCs affect the ozone layer (chemical reaction).What happens to the chlorine molecules released in the process of destruction of CFCs after they combine with ozone? (Page 168)Which of the following destroys ozone layer: Nitrous Oxide, Ammonia, Nitric Oxide? Write the chemical reaction.What are halons? HBFCs?Which one is more harmful for ozone depletion? Bromine or Chlorine?What is the role of Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSCs) in depletion of ozone layer?Why does the temperature in the stratosphere increase with altitude? (check- Page 170)Why is ozone depletion predominant at the Arctic?In which month of the year are lowest levels of ozone likely to be found over the Arctic?What is the most common measure of total ozone abundance in the air?Chapter 17: Impact of Climate ChangeNo questions; skim through chapter and see highlighted pages.Chapter 18: Mitigation StrategiesWhat is meant by carbon sequestration?What are the different types of sequestration possible? Which of these has the largest potential for near-term sequestration?Explain: hydrodynamic trapping, solubility trapping, and mineral carbonation. What kind of sequestration are these?What are green and blue carbons? On a comparable basis, which one is more effective?What is the Blue Carbon Initiative?Expand: CI, IUCN, and IOC.What is a carbon credit? What are the 2 ways that companies can earn it?Which country is currently the largest seller of carbon credits?Is carbon traded on any exchange in India? Is it traded anywhere across the world?Explain carbon offsetting.Which one is better, a carbon tax or the cap-and trade method? List 4 reasons why. What is geo-engineering? What are some of the methods proposed by scientists using geo-engineering? What are some of its drawbacks?Chapter 19: India and Climate ChangeWhat are NAPCC, NAMA, REDD, REDD+, NMEEE, NMSA, INCCA, UNFCCC, GRIHA, NICRA?Compared to USA and China, how much lower are per-capita CO2 emissions in India?List two risk-financing programmes for agriculture in India that support adaptation to climate impacts. (Page 184)List the two key features of Forest Conservation Act of 1980 (Page 185)What are the 8 component missions of India’s National Action Plan on climate change?Describe the 2022 capacity target of India’s National Solar Mission. What is the current installed capacity?Define ‘bio-energy’. Describe the key features of India’s National Bio-Energy Mission.What is INCCA’s 4x4 Assessment?List the 4 climate sensitive regions of India (Page 192)What is NATCOM? Who funds it? Who is the implementing agency? What is its key job?What is the Global Environment Facility? (Wikipedia)What is the Montreal Protocol?Chapter 20: Climate Change Organizations(Bali -> 15. Copenhagen -> 16. Cancun -> 17.Durban = CCD)Describe the Kyoto Protocol. What is its central principle? Describe its 2 features that make it tick.What is the main difference between UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol?What are ‘Annex B’ countries under the Kyoto protocol?Describe 3 flexible market mechanisms allowed under the Kyoto Protocol.What is the key difference between ‘joint implementation’ and CDM?Describe the 2 different types of carbon trading allowed under the Kyoto protocol.What are the benefits of using these flexible market mechanisms? What are some of the penalties for countries that don’t meet their commitments under KP?What was the main aim of the Bali summit in 2012?What is the Copenhagen Accord? (Parties/ Binding or not/ features)What is the CoP 16 Cancun Agreement? (1 key feature, 3 mechanisms that came out of CoP 16)Explain the key outcomes of the CoP 17 Durban Summit.Which countries are part of the ‘BASIC’ group?What is India’s position on REDD and REDD+?With regards to agriculture, what is meant by the ‘triple wins’?Chapter 21: AgricultureWhat are: silviculture, sericulture, apiculture, olericulture, viticulture, floriculture, arboriculture, pomology, aeroponics, hydroponics, and geoponics.Classify the following crops into Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid: Watermelons, Gourds, Cotton, Gram, Bajara, Pumpkins, Jowar, Rice, Sunflower, Groundnut, and Wheat.What are the English names for Jowar, Bajra and Ragi? In what season are these crops grown?What is meant by photoperiodism? (Page 218)What is the other name for multiple cropping? How is multiple cropping different from double cropping?Differentiate between monoculture and monocropping.What does ratoon cropping mean? Name some crops that are grown by such cropping. What is intercropping? How is it different from multiple cropping and mixed cropping? (Page 220-222)What is relay intercropping?What is garden land farming? (Page 222)What is dry land farming?What is mixed farming?What is the difference between tap-rooted and fiber-rooted crops?What is organic farming?What is the slogan of eco-farming?What is permaculture?Which element is responsible for the green colour in plants? (Chlorophyll, but which element in chlorophyll?)What is ‘bone meal’ in agriculture?What are bio-fertilizers? (Check: page 226)Define ‘watershed’. (Page 227)Define: micro, sprinkler, and drip/ trickle irrigation.What is soil profile? What are the 5 master horizons? Which horizon is also known as ‘saprolite’?What are saline soils? Sodic soils?What is podsolization?What is heliotropism? (Page 230)What is mulching?Expand: SRIChapter 22: Acts and PoliciesWhen is the World Environment Day celebrated?Describe the key features of the Wildlife Protection Act, with respect to the following: Jurisdiction of the state and union governments (remember, environment and forests are state subjects)Schedules and their provisionsAnimals included in each scheduleDescribe the key features of the Environment Protection Act of 1986 (penal provisions, jurisdiction of civil courts, conflicting provisions in any other enactment, industry etc.)What % of India’s land is under forest cover?What are the key aims and methods used by the National Forest Policy of 1988?Describe the 3-tiered structure prescribed in the Biological Diversity Act (2002) for regulating access to biological resources.What is the most outstanding feature of the Forest Rights Act of 2006? Which Ministry manages this Act? (Check: Page 236)What is ‘minor forest produce’?Are the rights conferred under the Forest Rights Act heritable? Transferable? Alienable?Which Act contains the rules related to Ozone Depleting Substances?Chapter 23: Institutions and MeasuresWhat is the one salient feature of Joint Forest Management? Under which Act does this fall?What is ‘social forestry’?What is ‘extension forestry’? (Page 241)Expand ‘CEPI’.Explain the ‘Lighting a Billion Lives’ campaign. Who runs it? (Page 242)What is the Eco Mark?Under which fund does the National Clean Energy Fund operate? Consolidated Fund of India, or the Public Account of India? Chapter 24: OrganizationsWhose approval is required before anybody can seek any kind of intellectual property rights on a research based upon biological resource or knowledge obtained from India?Which Ministry implements the National Lake Conservation Programme?Chapter 25: International ConventionsWhat is the Montreaux Record? (Page 256)Name 5 documents that resulted from the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 (3 non-legally binding and 2 legally binding)What was the official name of the Earth Summit?What is ‘Local Agenda 21’?What are the 3 main goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity? (Page 251)List the two main protocols attached to the CBD.What is the objective of the Cartagena Protocol? Which treaty does it fall under?What is the objective of the Nagoya Protocol? (2 main)What is the aim of the Ramsar convention? What is an informal name for it? What is the principal tool?How many spots in India are on the Montreaux record? Name them.What does CITIES stand for?What is the Bonn convention?S.No.NameYear/ PlaceKey idea(s)1.United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Summit/ Earth Summit)1992/ RioResulted in 3 documents:1. Rio Declaration: contained principles to guide sustainable development across the world2. Agenda 21: actions to guide sustainable development; ‘21’ refers to 21st century3. Forest PrinciplesAlso, resulted in 2 legally binding document: CBD, and UNFCCC(Rio+5: 5 years after Rio, progress etc.)2.Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)Covers all ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. Aims to ensure sustainable use, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from commercial/ other utilization of genetic resourcesCartagena Protocol on Biosafety: establishes rules for import and export of living modified organisms from one country to another; main aim is to ensure that all countries know what they’re importingNagoya-Kualalampur supplementary protocol: specifies response measures in case of damage to biodiversity resulting from LMOsNagoya protocol: establishes guidelines for prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms; fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from utilization of genetic resources with the party providing such resources; also covers traditional knowledge Aichi Biodiversity Targets (A to E)3.Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Waterfowl convention)1971Only global treaty that deals with a specific ecosystem; parties committed to wise use of national land-use planning Set up Montreux Record, which is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred/ are occurring/ likely to occur 4. CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)(Washington Convention)1975Only treaty to ensure that international trade in plants and animals does not threaten their survival in the wild; has three appendices- 1 has highest protection, with restriction on any kind of tradeTRAFFIC is an NGO run by IUCN and WWF that is the world’s largest wildlife trade monitoring programme5.Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (Bonn Convention)Covers terrestrial aquatic, and avian migratory species. Convention has 2 appendices: 1st lists animals threated with extinction, and 2nd lists species that benefit or will benefit from international cooperation6.Coalition against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) 2005Unique voluntary public-private coalition of governments and organizations; aims at mobilizing opinion to properly implement wildlife laws, reduce consumer demand for wildlife etc.7.Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants2004Deals with organic (carbon containing) pollutants that are not easily degradable, accumulate in fatty tissues of organisms, and are toxic (such as DDT, hexachlorobenzene, endosulfan etc.)8.Basel ConventionDeals with control of trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal; aims to reduce generation of hazardous waste, and promote ecologically sound management of any hazardous waste9.Rotterdam Convention2004Aims to create PIC norms for hazardous chemical substances and pesticides 10.UNCCDDesertification (land degradation in dry lands)11.Vienna conventionProtection of ozone layer Montreal Protocol: deals with control of substances that deplete the ozone layer12.GIAHS- Globally Important Agricultural Heritage SystemsAims to recognize ‘remarkable land use systems and landscapes which are rich in globally significant biological diversity evolving from co-adaptation of a community with its environment and its needs and aspirations of sustainable developmentGKToday NotesModule 1: Framework Around Biodiversity ProtectionWhat is the Latitude Diversity Gradient?Which is higher: terrestrial or oceanic diversity? (Page 4)When did the current Holocene extinction start? (Page 5)Who invented the concept of biodiversity hotspots?Point out some criticisms of the Biodiversity Hotspot approach to conservation (2 main) (Page 9)What is the ‘Ecosystem Approach’?What is ‘bioprospecting’?What is the main aim of CBD?Is the US a part of CBD? Why/ Why not? (Page 11)What are LMOs?What is the main aim of the Cartagena protocol? (Name the agreement)List 2 cases where the Nagoya protocol would not apply.What is the aim of the ‘Aichi targets’? What convention are they associated with?Where is the Sargasso Sea? Why is it famous? (Google)Here was CoP 11 of the CBD held? What were the key outcomes?What is another names for CITES?List out the various biogeographic regions of India, with the kind of flora and fauna you are likely to find in each.Biogeographic RegionFaunaFloraTrans-Himalayas (high altitudes)Snow leopard, Blacknecked Crane (migratory)Himalayan regionNorthern Himalayas: Markhor, Himalayan Tahr, Takin, Hangul, Musk Deer; Bharal (Himalayan Blue Sheep- least concern), Ibex (least concern)Pitcher Plant, Himalayan yew (endangered now, because of cancer treatment)Eastern Himalayas: Bengal Tiger (eastern Himalayas have highest density), One-Horned Rhino (last bastion: eastern Himalayas), Golden Langur, Namdapha Flying SquirrelDesert zoneWolf, Great Indian Bustard, Houbara BustardCaracal (Black-earer cat), Desert CatSemi-Arid regionSambar, Cheetal, LionCaracal, Jackal, WolfWestern GhatsNilgiri Langur, Lion-Tailed Macaque, Malabar Civet, Nilgiri Tahr, Travancore TortoiseMalabar Grey HornbillDeccan Plateau (Semi-Arid)Chital, Sambar, ChousinghaNilgai, Barking Deer (Muntjac), BuffaloMostly, deciduous forestsGangetic PlainSwamp deer (Barasingha; only found in one place in MP), Hog Deer, Hispid HareDescribe the composition, powers, and functions of the NBA. Explain the 3-tiered structure of management at national, state and local area.Describe the Schedule 6 plants.PlantLocationUsesBlue VandaNortheast (Assam)Eye infection, skin treatmentRed VandaNortheast (Manipur)Eye infection, skin treatmentPitcher PlantNortheastInsectivorousKuthAyurvedic preparationsLadies Slippers OrchidsSouthern IndiaInsectivorousBeddomes’ CycadAndhra Pradesh onlyArthritis/ Muscle pain (Ayurveda)Is legislation required to declare a Wildlife Sanctuary? If yes, by whom?What are the primary criteria for declaring a site as a biospehere reserve?Apart from level of humanactivity allowed, what is the one major difference between Biosphere Reserves and the other 2 (NPs/ WSs)? (Page 34)How is the chairman of the National Tiger Conservation Authority selected? (Page 35)Name 3 new tiger reserves reently notified by the government.Which state has the maximum number of wild elephants in India? (Page 41) ................
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