UPSC Environment Ecology Agriculture Notes

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2023-07-24 17:30:30 #Environment

■ What are the provisions of the High Seas Treaty?

Recently, the UN adopted the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or the High Seas Treaty.

It became the third agreement to be approved under UNCLOS

● The Background:

The idea of protecting the marine environment emerged in 2002.

By 2008, the need for implementing an agreement was recognised

This led to the UNGA resolution in 2015 to form a Preparatory Committee to create the treaty.

The Committee recommended the holding of intergovernmental conferences (IGC) and after negotiations, the treaty was adopted in 2023.

The treaty’s objective is to implement international regulations to protect life in oceans beyond national jurisdiction through international cooperation.

● The High Seas Treaty:

The treaty aims to address critical issues such as the increasing sea surface temperatures, overexploitation of marine biodiversity, overfishing, coastal pollution, and unsustainable practices beyond national jurisdiction.

It aims to establish marine protected areas to protect oceans from human activities through a “three-quarterly majority vote,”

It mandates sharing of scientific information and monetary benefits through installing a “clear house mechanism.”

Through the mechanism, information on marine protected areas, marine genetic resources, and “area-based management tools” will be open to access for all parties.

This is done to bring transparency and boost cooperation.

The last pillar of the treaty is capacity building and marine technology.

The Scientific and Technical Body will play a significant role in environmental impact assessment.

It will be creating standards and guidelines for assessment procedures, and helping countries with less capacity in carrying out assessments.

This will facilitate the parties to trace future impacts, identify data gaps, and bring out research priorities.

● Reasons for the delay:

The marine genetic resources issue was the treaty’s most contended element due to the absence of a provision to monitor information sharing.

The use of the phrases “promote” or “ensure” in different parts of the treaty, especially with respect to the sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, was heavily debated over.

There was prolonged negotiation over the adjacency issue too.

● Who opposed the treaty?

Many developed countries opposed the treaty as they stand by private entities which are at the forefront of advanced research and development in marine technology

Patents relating to marine genetic resources are held by a small group of private companies

Russia and China also are not in favour of the treaty.

Russia argues that the treaty does not balance conservation and sustainability.

SOURCE - THE HINDU Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-24 16:30:11 Substantially Raise your GS and Essay Scores with our Mains PYQ Notes - Subjectwise Mains PYQ Notes 2015-2022

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2023-07-23 19:52:21 A Team of IAS/IPS Officers started this platform for the preparation of UPSC CSE



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2023-07-23 17:28:14 #Environment

■ What are the provisions of the High Seas Treaty?

Recently, the UN adopted the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) or the High Seas Treaty.

It became the third agreement to be approved under UNCLOS

● The Background:

The idea of protecting the marine environment emerged in 2002.

By 2008, the need for implementing an agreement was recognised

This led to the UNGA resolution in 2015 to form a Preparatory Committee to create the treaty.

The Committee recommended the holding of intergovernmental conferences (IGC) and after negotiations, the treaty was adopted in 2023.

The treaty’s objective is to implement international regulations to protect life in oceans beyond national jurisdiction through international cooperation.

● The High Seas Treaty:

The treaty aims to address critical issues such as the increasing sea surface temperatures, overexploitation of marine biodiversity, overfishing, coastal pollution, and unsustainable practices beyond national jurisdiction.

It aims to establish marine protected areas to protect oceans from human activities through a “three-quarterly majority vote,”

It mandates sharing of scientific information and monetary benefits through installing a “clear house mechanism.”

Through the mechanism, information on marine protected areas, marine genetic resources, and “area-based management tools” will be open to access for all parties.

This is done to bring transparency and boost cooperation.

The last pillar of the treaty is capacity building and marine technology.

The Scientific and Technical Body will play a significant role in environmental impact assessment.

It will be creating standards and guidelines for assessment procedures, and helping countries with less capacity in carrying out assessments.

This will facilitate the parties to trace future impacts, identify data gaps, and bring out research priorities.

● Reasons for the delay:

The marine genetic resources issue was the treaty’s most contended element due to the absence of a provision to monitor information sharing.

The use of the phrases “promote” or “ensure” in different parts of the treaty, especially with respect to the sharing of benefits from marine genetic resources, was heavily debated over.

There was prolonged negotiation over the adjacency issue too.

● Who opposed the treaty?

Many developed countries opposed the treaty as they stand by private entities which are at the forefront of advanced research and development in marine technology

Patents relating to marine genetic resources are held by a small group of private companies

Russia and China also are not in favour of the treaty.

Russia argues that the treaty does not balance conservation and sustainability.

SOURCE - THE HINDU Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-22 17:30:27 #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 Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-21 17:30:42 #Agriculture

■ First ever “Credit Guarantee Scheme” for Livestock Sector launched for rebooting rural economy by leveraging MSMEs-

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing the Credit Guarantee Scheme under Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF)

It aims to strengthen the credit delivery system and facilitate smooth flow of credit to the MSMEs engaged in the Livestock sector without hassles of collateral security.

● The Scheme:

DAHD has established a Credit Guarantee fund Trust of Rs. 750.00 crores for operationalizing the scheme

It will provide credit guarantee coverage up to 25% of the credit facilities extended to the MSMEs by the eligible lending institutions.

It facilitates access to finance for the un-served and under-served livestock sector

It makes financial assistance available from lenders to mainly first-generation entrepreneurs and under-privileged sections of society, who lack collateral security for supporting their ventures.

Objective: The lender should give importance to project viability and secure the credit facility purely on the basis primary security of the assets financed.

● Credit Guarantee Fund Trust:

It was approved under the Prime Minister’s AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus package of Rs.15000 crores “Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund” (AHIDF)

It is for incentivizing investments by individual entrepreneurs, private companies, MSMEs, Farmers Producers Organizations (FPOs) and Section 8 companies

This is done to establish

the dairy processing and value addition infrastructure.

meat processing and value addition infrastructure.

Animal Feed Plant.

Breed Improvement technology and Breed Multiplication Farm

Animal Waste to Wealth Management (Agri Waste Management)

Setting up of Veterinary Vaccine and Drugs Manufacturing facilities

● Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund:

Its key feature is the establishment of a Credit Guarantee Fund Trust of Rs. 750.00 Crores

DAHD has formed a trust with NAB Sanrakshan Trustee Company Private Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of NABARD) for the establishment of a Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for extending the credit guarantee to MSME under AHIDF scheme.

Established in March 2021, it is the Nation’s first ever fund trust under Credit guarantee scheme of AHIDF in the agriculture and Animal Husbandry sector.

This would increase the number of MSME units getting benefits of AHIDF scheme and strengthen the ecosystem for the collateral-free credit from the banks.

● Key Features of AHIDF scheme:

Interest Subvention of 3%

Loan up to 90% of the total project cost from any Scheduled Bank, National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)

● Credit Guarantee Portal:

It has been developed as a rule based B2B portal

It has implemented the enrollment of eligible lending institutions under Credit Guarantee Scheme, issuance/renewal of Credit Guarantee Cover and Settlement of Claims.

● Prelims Takeaway:

Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

Credit Guarantee Fund Trust

SOURCE - PIB Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-20 17:30:27 #Environment

■ Climate change aiding spread of deadly virus in Europe: What is CCHF-

Europe is facing heatwaves and wildfires and the rising temperatures have also raised fears of spread of viruses generally not found in colder climates.

Recently, Alert has been sounded about the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF).

An infection spread by ticks that has a high fatality rate, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

● What is CCHF?

According to the WHO, “Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever usually transmitted by ticks.

It can also be contracted through contact with viraemic animal tissues during and immediately post-slaughter of animals.

CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services as the virus can lead to epidemics, has a high case fatality ratio (10–40%), potentially results in hospital and health facility outbreaks, and is difficult to prevent and treat.

CCHF is endemic to Africa, the Balkan countries, Middle East, and parts of Asia. The first fatality from the disease in Europe was in Spain, in 2016.

In India, one person succumbed to CCHF last month in Gujarat, the state that reports the majority of the country’s cases of this disease.

● Source and transmission of CCHF:

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and hares “serve as amplifying hosts for the virus.

Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected ticks or animal blood.

CCHF can be transmitted from one infected human to another by contact with infectious blood or body fluids”, such as sweat and saliva.

The ticks can also be hosted by migratory birds, thus carrying the virus over long distances.

● What are the symptoms, cure of CCHF?

CCHF symptoms include fever, muscle ache, dizziness, neck pain, backache, headache, sore eyes and sensitivity to light, according to the WHO.

“There may be nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and sore throat early on, followed by sharp mood swings and confusion.

After 2–4 days the agitation may be replaced by sleepiness, depression and lassitude,” the WHO’s website says.

There is no vaccine for the virus in either humans or animals, and treatment generally consists of managing symptoms.

According to the WHO, “the antiviral drug ribavirin has been used to treat CCHF infection with apparent benefit.”

● Climate change and spread of diseases:

As temperature patterns are disrupted, pathogens are thriving in geographies that traditionally had a climate hostile to them.

“The ticks are moving up through Europe due to climate change, with longer and drier summers.”

The CDC says climate change contributes to the spread of diseases in multiple ways, including

warmer temperatures expanding the habitat of ticks and other insects and

giving them more time to reproduce

the habitat offered by water undergoing changes; and

animals moving to newer areas and people coming into contact with them.

SOURCE - INDIAN EXPRESS Buka / Bagaimana

2023-07-19 17:29:40 #Environment

■ How are cheetahs faring in India?

Recently deaths of cheetahs have been reported last week from the Kuno National Park (KNP), Madhya Pradesh.

An expert committee charged with managing the Project Cheetah programme has recommended that all animals undergo a thorough medical review.

● Project Cheetah:

Project Cheetah is India’s cheetah relocation programme and is perhaps among the most ambitious of its kind in the world.

The attempt is to, over the next decade, bring in 5-10 animals every year until a self-sustaining population of about 35 cheetahs is established.

Unlike cheetahs in South Africa and Namibia that are living in fenced reserves, India’s plan is to have them grow in natural, unfenced, wild conditions.

As of today, 11 of the translocated cheetahs are in the true wild with four in specially designed one-square-kilometre enclosures called ‘bomas,’ to help the animals acclimatise to Indian conditions.

Five of the translocated animals and three of four cubs born in India have died.

● The need of Medical Review:

One of the cheetahs, nicknamed Surya, was found dead in KNP last week.

Veterinarians examining the animal saw a wound on its neck, infected with maggots.

The larvae of the maggots were also found on the radio-collar fitted onto the cheetah’s neck.

There was a chance that chafing from the collar may have indirectly sickened the cheetah.

The collars that the cheetahs wear are made from polystyrene and equipped with a radio-frequency tracking chip that helps monitor the animals.

Coupled with the moisture from the monsoon season — something that South African cheetahs aren’t acclimatised too — the animal may have been unable to lick itself clean which allowed parasites to fatally lodge inside the wound.

There is also a hypothesis that via the wound the African animal may have been exposed to parasites that Indian big-cats are usually resistant too.

However, the Environment Ministry in a note on July 16 dismissed these suggestions as hearsay…in the absence of scientific evidence.

To investigate these points, the expert committee has recommended that all surviving animals be subject to a thorough physical examination.

● Success rate of Project Cheetah:

In September 2023, it will be one year since a batch of eight cheetahs from Namibia arrived in India.

They were followed by 12 others from South Africa in February 2023. While conceived as an experiment that is susceptible to failure in the initial years, independent critics have argued that there are some basic flaws in the project.

For one, it is a mistake to have had all 20 cheetahs in KNP as it’s too little space and prey, given that the animal is a courser and needs large distances.

Moreover, having cheetahs for extended periods in quarantine have affected their adaptive capabilities and caused them to have psychological adjustment problems, making them more vulnerable.

Unlike tigers and leopards, cheetahs are relatively delicate animals and are more likely to be fatally injured in the wild.

Currently, Indian cheetahs face no competition from other comparable predators such as lions and leopards. So, it remains to be seen if the animals can successfully establish themselves in India, over time.

● Way forward:

While officials say that there is enough space and prey in the Kuno reserve, there are plans to develop a second reserve in Gandhisagar, Madhya Pradesh and also establish a cheetah rehabilitation centre.

SOURCE - THE HINDU Buka / Bagaimana