In News:

• The State Fisheries Department in Kerala launched a sea ranching project by releasing 20,000 pompano (Trachinotus blochii) fingerlings off the Vizhinjam coast as part of the artificial reef project.
• Coordinates: The fingerlings were released near artificial reef modules placed 1.5 nautical miles off the coast.
• Follow-up to Artificial Reef Project: The release of fingerlings is a follow-up to the artificial reef project aimed at replenishing marine fishery resources and promoting sustainable fishing practices.

Project Details

• Fingerling Release: The first batch of 20,000 pompano was released as part of the broader initiative to release 10 lakh fingerlings (pompano and cobia) at 10 locations along the Thiruvananthapuram coast.
• Location and Quantity: At each location, 1 lakh fingerlings will be released, where artificial reefs have already been deployed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Reef Design: Artificial reefs consist of 150 reef modules (triangular, flower, and pipe-shaped) created at 42 locations off 33 fishing villages in the Thiruvananthapuram district.

Objective and Benefits

• Marine Resource Replenishment: The primary aim is to replenish marine fishery resources in the region by enhancing biodiversity through the introduction of fingerlings.
• Sustainable Fishing: The project aims to promote sustainable fishing practices by supporting fish populations and ensuring long-term fishery health.
• Attraction of Fish Species: The artificial reefs have already attracted a variety of fish species, including tuna, trevally, and mackerel, enhancing the fishing ecosystem.

Implementation and Funding

• Scheme: The project is being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which focuses on sustainable fisheries development.
• Central Approval: The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) approved the ?3 crore funding for the initial phase in Thiruvananthapuram.
• Proposed Expansions:
  • Phase II: A proposal for extending the artificial reef project to 96 villages in the districts of Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Thrissur with an estimated cost of ?29.76 crore.
  • Phase III: A similar proposal for 96 villages in the northern districts of Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod with an estimated cost of ?25.82 crore.

Mission and Fingerlings Details

• Fingerlings:
  • Pompano (Trachinotus blochii) and Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) fingerlings were reared at the Ayiramthengu fish farm.
  • Each fingerling weighs between 8 to 10 grams.
  • The release aims to stock marine areas with species that will contribute to biodiversity and fisheries sustainability.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

• Launched: PMMSY is a Centrally funded scheme under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
• Goal: The scheme focuses on sustainable fisheries development to enhance fisheries production, boost aquaculture, and promote responsible fishing practices.
• Funding: The scheme involves both Central and State Government funding for projects related to fisheries management, infrastructure development, and resource conservation.

Mission Fingerling

• Launched: 2017 by the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.
• Objective: To achieve the Blue Revolution by holistically developing and managing fisheries in India.
• Production Target: The mission aimed to increase fisheries production from 10.79 MMT (2014-15) to 15 MMT by 2020-21.

In News:

• In 2023, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) revealed that Indian farmers faced the highest implicit taxation globally, amounting to USD 120 billion.
• Implicit Taxation: This taxation arises from government policies like export bans, duties, and price controls, aimed at lowering food prices for consumers but reducing the income of farmers.
• Export Restrictions: Key commodities affected include rice, sugar, onions, and de-oiled rice bran.

Impact on Indian Farmers

• Market Price Support (MPS):
  • Negative MPS: In 2023, Indian agricultural policies resulted in a negative MPS of USD 110 billion.
  • Farmers received lower prices than international market rates due to export bans and trade restrictions, impacting their income.
• Budgetary Support: Despite government subsidies and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) worth USD 10 billion, negative MPS outweighed positive support, leading to an overall loss for farmers.
• Farmer’s Share in Global Negative Support:
  • India’s share of global negative price support in 2023 was 62.5%, a significant increase from 61% in 2000-02.

Global Agricultural Policy Trends

• Global Support: Total support for agriculture across 54 countries averaged USD 842 billion annually (2021-2023). However, there was a decline in support in 2022-23 from the pandemic-era peak.
• Challenges:
  • Geopolitical Tensions (e.g., Russia-Ukraine war) and climate change are exacerbating global agricultural production and trade.
  • Export Restrictions in various countries are distorting international agricultural markets.
  • Farmer Protests across countries reflect the economic and social struggles of the farming community.
• Sustainability Issues: Global agricultural productivity growth is slowing, posing challenges to feeding a growing population sustainably.

India's Agricultural Policies

• Export Bans and Restrictions: These policies are intended to control domestic prices but undermine farmers’ income by lowering market prices for key agricultural products.
• Minimum Support Price (MSP): MSP is meant to protect farmers, but is often set below international market rates, leading to a negative price effect.
• Regulatory Constraints: Policies like the Essential Commodities Act (1955) and APMC Act (2003), though aimed at ensuring food security, often lead to price suppression for farmers.
• Price Depressing Policies: India's agricultural policies result in lower farm-gate prices due to price controls, government-set procurement prices, and lack of market access.

Negative Market Price Support (MPS)

• Historical Trends:
  • From 2014-2016, India’s Producer Support Estimate (PSE) was -6.2%, driven mainly by negative MPS (-13.1%).
  • The PSE measures the annual value of transfers to farmers, both from consumers and the government.
• Inefficiencies:
  • Infrastructure Gaps: Poor infrastructure and high transaction costs lower the prices farmers receive.
  • Inefficient Resource Allocation: Short-term subsidies for inputs (fertilizers, irrigation) don’t address long-term agricultural challenges like climate change and market access.

Government Support Programs

• Subsidies and Schemes:
  • National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA)
  • Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) for organic farming.
  • Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) to promote agricultural development.
  • Digital Agriculture Mission and Unified Farmer Service Platform (UFSP) for modernizing agricultural practices.
• Sustainability Efforts:
  • The government has introduced initiatives like AgriStack and Mission Organic Value Chain Development in the North East to enhance sustainable agricultural practices and reduce the negative impacts on farmers.

Global Context and Recommendations

• Environmental Public Goods Payments (EPGP): Only 0.3% of total producer support is dedicated to environmental sustainability, despite the growing need for climate-resilient agriculture.
• Sustainable Agricultural Practices: The OECD advocates for governments to tie producer support to sustainable farming practices, including the use of metrics like Total Factor Productivity (TFP) and Agri-Environmental Indicators (AEIs).
  • TFP measures agricultural efficiency, while AEIs assess the environmental impacts of farming.

OECD Overview

• OECD Function: Founded in 1961, the OECD is an international organization of 38 countries that promotes prosperity, equality, and well-being through economic reports, data, and policy analysis.
• India’s Role: India has been an OECD Key Partner since 2007, engaging with the OECD on various policy issues, though it is not a member.

In News:

India with an abysmal score of 45.5 (out of 100) has been ranked 176th in the Global Nature Conservation Index, 2024.

Key Highlights:

• India's Ranking:
  • Ranked 176th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Global Nature Conservation Index (NCI).
  • India is listed among the five worst performers, along with Kiribati (180), Turkey (179), Iraq (178), and Micronesia (177).
  • Score: 45.5 out of 100, indicating significant conservation challenges.
• Key Factors Contributing to Low Rank:
  • Inefficient land management practices.
  • Rising threats to biodiversity, exacerbated by unsustainable development and climate change.
• Four Key Markers Assessed by the NCI:
  • Land Management: Ineffective management leading to significant land conversion.
  • Threats to Biodiversity: Habitat loss, fragmentation, and deforestation.
  • Capacity and Governance: Need for stronger political will and better enforcement of conservation laws.
  • Future Trends: Growing pressure from population density, climate change, and illegal wildlife trade.
• Sustainable Land Use Concerns:
  • 53% of land has been converted for urban, industrial, and agricultural purposes.
  • High use of pesticides and concerns over soil pollution.
  • Sustainable nitrogen index of 0.77 indicates significant risks to soil health.
• Marine Conservation Issues:
  • Only 0.2% of India’s national waterways are under protected areas, with no protected areas within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
  • Significant improvements needed in marine conservation despite 7.5% of terrestrial areas being protected.
• Deforestation and Habitat Loss:
  • 23,300 sq. km of tree cover lost between 2001-2019 due to deforestation.
  • Habitat fragmentation from agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure development.
  • Impact of climate change on sensitive ecosystems like alpine regions and coral reefs.
• Biodiversity Decline:
  • Despite 40% of marine species and 65% of terrestrial species being within Protected Areas (PAs), many species continue to face population decline.
  • 67.5% of marine species and 46.9% of terrestrial species are still experiencing population declines.
• Illegal Wildlife Trade:
  • India is the fourth-largest illegal wildlife trading nation globally, with an estimated annual trade value of £15 billion.
  • The NCI emphasizes the need for stronger enforcement and international cooperation to combat wildlife trafficking.
• Ecological Wealth Under Threat:
  • India’s high population density (with a population that has doubled since the late 1970s) continues to put pressure on its ecological wealth.
  • The country faces significant biodiversity challenges due to overpopulation and unsustainable development.
• Recommendations and Optimism:
  • The NCI stresses the need for strong political will and commitment to sustainable development.
  • India can improve its rank by strengthening conservation laws, improving governance, and securing funding for environmental initiatives.
  • The NCI remains optimistic about India’s potential to address its conservation challenges and achieve more sustainable outcomes in the future.
• About the Nature Conservation Index (NCI):
• Developed by: Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change (Ben-Gurion University) and BioDB.com (a biodiversity database).
• Purpose: Evaluates the conservation efforts of countries, using a data-driven approach to balance conservation and development.
• Key Focus Areas: Land management, biodiversity threats, governance, and future sustainability trends.

In News:

• India's annual hidden costs from agrifood systems total $1.3 trillion, the third-largest globally, after China ($1.8 trillion) and the US ($1.4 trillion).
• These costs are mainly driven by unhealthy dietary patterns leading to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Major Contributors to Hidden Costs:

• Unhealthy Diets: Over 73% of India’s hidden costs stem from unhealthy dietary habits, including:
  • Excessive consumption of processed foods and additives ($128 billion).
  • Low intake of plant-based foods, fruits, and beneficial fatty acids ($846 billion).
• These dietary risks contribute to a significant health burden, increasing the prevalence of NCDs and reducing labor productivity.

Global Context:

• Global hidden costs of agrifood systems amount to $12 trillion annually.
• 70% of these costs (~$8.1 trillion) arise from unhealthy dietary patterns, which include high intakes of sugar, salt, and processed foods, contributing to diseases and economic losses.

Health Impacts:

• The report identifies 13 dietary risk factors that contribute to NCDs, including insufficient intake of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and excessive sodium, with varying effects across different agrifood systems.

Environmental and Social Costs:

• Environmental Costs: High costs from unsustainable agricultural practices, including greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen runoff. In some agrifood systems, environmental costs can reach up to 20% of GDP.
• Social Costs: High poverty rates among agrifood workers and undernourishment in systems like protracted crises and traditional agrifood systems contribute significantly to the hidden costs.

India’s Agrifood System Profile:

• India’s agrifood system faces significant challenges related to low wages, poor productivity, and poverty among agrifood workers, driven by distributional failures.
• Climate Change and Environmental Degradation: Issues like droughts, floods, and soil degradation threaten food security and agricultural sustainability in India.

Recommendations for Transformative Change:

• True Cost Accounting: Implementing this method can help better capture hidden costs and enable more informed decision-making for a sustainable agrifood system.
• Healthier Diets: Policies to make nutritious food more affordable and accessible to reduce health-related hidden costs.
• Sustainability Incentives: Encouraging practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, harmful land-use changes, and biodiversity loss, using labelling, certification, and industry standards.
• Consumer Empowerment: Providing accessible information about the environmental, social, and health impacts of food choices, ensuring even vulnerable households benefit from healthier options.

India’s Path Forward:

• India has several ongoing initiatives for sustainable agriculture, including:
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
  • Eat Right Initiative.
  • Digital Agriculture Mission (DAM).
• However, challenges like climate change, soil degradation, and low productivity among smallholder farmers hinder progress toward sustainable food systems.

Key Focus Areas for India’s Agrifood Systems:

• Support for Smallholder Farmers: Enhancing access to technology, markets, and financial services for marginalized farmers.
• Sustainable Practices: Adoption of water-efficient practices, soil health restoration, and environmentally friendly farming methods.
• Collaboration with International Agencies: Cooperation with FAO, WFP, and others to strengthen agricultural reforms and support smallholder farmers.

In News:

The Adaptation Gap Report 2024, published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), underscores the urgent need for enhanced climate adaptation efforts, particularly through increased financial support for developing countries. The report, titled Come Hell and High Water, provides an annual assessment of global adaptation progress in planning, implementation, and financing.

Key Findings

• Adaptation Gap:
  • The adaptation finance gap is estimated at $187–359 billion per year.
  • Current adaptation finance falls short, with only $28 billion provided in 2022, meeting just 5% of projected needs.
• Adaptation Progress:
  • International public adaptation finance to developing countries rose to $27.5 billion in 2022, up from $19 billion in 2019, reflecting progress toward the Glasgow Climate Pact's goal of doubling finance by 2025.
• Significance of Adaptation:
  • Ambitious adaptation measures could reduce global climate risk by 50%.
  • For instance, $16 billion annually in agriculture could prevent climate-induced hunger for 78 million people.
• Impact of Global Warming:
  • According to UNEP's Emissions Gap Report 2024, global temperatures may increase by 2.6°C–3.1°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100.
  • Developing countries face severe vulnerabilities, evidenced by recent floods in Nepal, Nigeria, and Chad.
• National Adaptation Plans (NAPs):
  • While 171 countries have at least one adaptation policy, progress in implementation remains slow.
  • 10 countries have shown no interest in developing adaptation policies.

Challenges in Adaptation Financing

• Financial Burden: Adaptation projects such as seawalls and resilient infrastructure are costly for developing nations.
• Funding Shortfalls:
  • Developed nations have failed to meet financial commitments like the $100 billion goal set for 2020.
  • The adaptation finance gap remains significant in non-private sector-funded areas, such as ecosystem preservation.
• High-Interest Loans: Much current funding relies on high-interest loans, increasing the debt burden for recipient countries.

Recommendations

• Adopt New Financing Goals: Establish an ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal for climate finance at COP29.
• Strategic Adaptation Financing:
  • Shift from project-based to anticipatory and transformational financing.
  • Invest in harder-to-finance areas like ecosystem preservation and cultural heritage.
• Alternative Financing Models: Encourage risk finance, resilience bonds, debt-for-adaptation swaps, and payments for ecosystem services.

Global and Indian Initiatives

Global Initiatives:

• Paris Agreement: Sets a global adaptation goal to enhance resilience.
• UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience: Introduced at COP28, focusing on agriculture, water, and health adaptation targets.
• Adaptation Fund: Provides project funding for developing nations under the Kyoto Protocol.

Indian Initiatives:

• National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Includes eight missions, such as the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).
• Sectoral Schemes:
  • MISHTI: Mangrove initiative for shoreline protection.
  • Amrit Dharohar: Enhances wetland ecosystems.
• India's adaptation spending accounted for 5.6% of GDP in 2021–2022.

In News:

More than one in three tree species threatened with extinction, finds IUCN’s first Global Tree Assessment

Key Highlights:

Global Tree Extinction Risk:

• 38% of the world’s tree species are now facing the risk of extinction — over one in three tree species is at risk.
• This means 16,425 out of 47,282 tree speciesanalyzed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are under threat.
• Threatened tree species outnumber all threatened birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians combined, highlighting the urgent need for conservation action.

Key Drivers of Threat:

• Deforestation: The primary threat to trees is deforestation, driven by agriculture, livestock rearing, and urban development, especially in tropical regions.
• Climate Change: Rising sea levels and increasingly frequent storms exacerbate the threats, particularly in tropical regions and islands.
• Invasive Species & Pests: Non-native species, pests, and diseases are adding pressure to vulnerable tree populations.

Geographic Vulnerabilities:

• Islands are particularly vulnerable, with a high proportion of threatened species due to habitat destruction and urbanization.
• South America, which boasts the highest tree diversity, faces significant threats, with 3,356 out of 13,668 species at risk, mainly due to deforestation for agriculture.

Ecological and Economic Importance of Trees:

• Trees play a fundamental role in carbon, water, and nutrient cycles, and are critical for soil formation and climate regulation.
• The loss of trees poses a growing threat to thousands of other species of plants, fungi, and animals.
• Trees are essential for local communities, providing resources such as timber, medicines, food, and fuel. Over 5,000 species of trees are used for timber and construction, while more than 2,000 species are vital for food, fuel, and medicine.

Conservation Status:

• Tree species are threatened across 192 countries.
• The assessment is the first global analysis of the conservation status of trees, enabling better-informed conservation decisions.

Positive Actions and Strategies:

• Successful community-driven conservation efforts have had positive outcomes in places like the Juan Fernández Islands, Cuba, Madagascar, and Fiji.
• Some countries, including Ghana, Colombia, Chile, and Kenya, already have national strategies for tree conservation.
• Ex-situ conservation, such as seed banks and botanical gardens, is also crucial to safeguard species that may not survive in the wild.

Urgent Call for Action:

The IUCN Global Tree Assessment underlines the urgent need for enhanced conservation efforts, including:

• Habitat protection and restoration.
• Ex-situ conservation through seed banks and botanical gardens.
• Diversified and species-focused reforestation strategies.
• Supporting community-led conservation initiatives to safeguard vulnerable tree species.

In News:

Centre for Science and Environment release a report on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Plastic Packaging

Key Findings:

• EPR Guidelines (2022) were a step towards enforcing the "polluter pays" principle, but the system faces significant issues in its implementation and registration processes.
• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report, released on October 29, 2024, highlights gaps in the EPR system for plastic packaging and suggests corrective actions.

EPR Guidelines Overview:

• Issued by: Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Objective: Hold producers, importers, brand owners (PIBOs), and plastic waste processors (PWPs) responsible for managing plastic packaging waste.
• Key Requirements:
  • PIBOs must register on a centralized portal and set targets for collection, recycling, and reuse of plastic packaging.
  • Registration involves compliance with targets on end-of-life recycling and recycled content usage.

Problems Identified in the Current EPR System:

• Low Registration and Enrollment:
  • 41,577 registrations on the EPR portal, but a significant discrepancy in the type of stakeholders registered.
  • 83% of registered entities are importers, 11% are producers, and only 6% are brand owners.
  • Producers contribute 65% of the plastic packaging in the market but have low registration.
• Absence of Key Polluters:
  • Manufacturers of virgin plastics are notably absent from the portal, despite being required to register.
• Fraudulent Practices:
  • 700,000 fake certificates were generated by plastic recyclers, far exceeding the actual certificate generation capacity.
  • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) found that such fraudulent activities are undermining the integrity of the system.
  • For example, end-of-life co-processing units (e.g., cement plants) claimed to have processed 335.4 million tonnes per annum of plastic waste, while their actual capacity is just 11.4 million tonnes per annum.
• Underreporting and Mismanagement:
  • Despite 23.9 million tonnes of plastic packaging being introduced into the market, the CPCB’s estimation of plastic waste generation (4.1 MT annually) is underestimated.
• Lack of Stakeholder Representation:
  • Urban local bodies and informal waste collectors—key contributors to plastic waste management—are not included in the EPR framework, which limits their incentives and support.

Recommendations for Improvement:

• Incorporate the Informal Sector:
  • Recognize informal waste collectors and waste management agencies in the EPR framework to improve traceability and ensure better waste management.
• Eliminate Fraudulent Practices:
  • Strict actions need to be taken against fraudulent recyclers and fake certificate issuers to restore credibility to the EPR system.
• Establish Fair Pricing for EPR Certificates:
  • Undertake baseline cost studies to determine the true costs of plastic waste management, ensuring fair pricing for recycling certificates and preventing undervaluation.
• Standardize Packaging:
  • Focus on product standardization to ensure that packaging materials are uniform and easily recyclable.
• Strengthen Monitoring:
  • Improve oversight on the registration process and ensure that all polluters (producers, importers, brand owners) comply with the system’s guidelines.

EPR and Plastic Waste Management: Context and Importance

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach where the responsibility of managing the entire lifecycle of plastic products (from production to disposal) lies with the producer.
• It is an essential part of India’s Plastic Waste Management Rules (2016), which mandate the recycling and proper disposal of plastic packaging waste.

Key Elements of EPR:

• Producer Accountability: Producers are responsible for the take-back, recycling, and final disposal of plastic packaging.
• Waste Minimization: Encourages reducing waste at the source by promoting sustainable packaging designs.
• Lifecycle Approach: Considers the entire lifecycle of the product, focusing on sustainability from production to disposal.
• Polluter Pays Principle: Ensures that the cost of waste management is borne by those responsible for generating the waste.

In News:

The updated NBSAP was released by India at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Overview of the NBSAP (2024-30):

• Title:Updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan: A Roadmap for Conservation of India’s Biodiversity.
• Objective: To provide a comprehensive roadmap for biodiversity conservation, aligning with global frameworks like the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

Key Features of the Updated NBSAP:

• Alignment with Global Frameworks:
  • The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) adopted in 2022 aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
  • India’s updated NBSAP aligns with KMGBF’s goals, focusing on biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use, and ensuring fair benefit-sharing.
• 23 National Biodiversity Targets:
  • The targets are focused on three key themes:
    • Reducing threats to biodiversity
    • Ensuring sustainable use of biodiversity
    • Enhancing tools for biodiversity implementation
• Key Domains of Focus:
  • Area-based conservation: Protecting ecosystems and habitats.
  • Ecosystem resilience: Enhancing the ability of ecosystems to withstand environmental stressors.
  • Recovery and conservation of threatened species.
  • Conservation of agrobiodiversity: Ensuring the sustainability of agricultural biodiversity.
  • Sustainable management of biodiversity.
  • Enabling tools and solutions: Including financial and technical support for implementation.
• Financial Plan and Expenditure:
  • Biodiversity Expenditure Review (BER) estimated an average annual expenditure of Rs 32,20,713 crore (FY 2017-2022) for biodiversity conservation.
  • Future funding requirements (FY 2024-2030) estimated at Rs 81,664.88 crore annually at the central government level.
  • Biodiversity Finance Plan suggests financing solutions, including public finance, corporate social responsibility (CSR), Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT), and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) mechanisms.
• Capacity Building:
  • The NBSAP stresses the need for capacity building across various levels—national, state, and local.
  • Focus on skills acquisition for biodiversity management and enhancing knowledge to implement conservation strategies.

Implementation Framework:

• Multi-Level Governance:
  • At the national level, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) will oversee implementation with involvement from 22 other ministries.
  • State-level: Involves State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils.
  • Local level: Community-driven efforts through Biodiversity Management Committees.
• BIOFIN and Resource Mobilization:
  • India is recognized as a leading country in the implementation of the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN).
  • Encouragement for private entrepreneurs, businesses, and international donors to invest in biodiversity through innovative financial instruments like:
    • Green Bonds
    • Green Funds
    • Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)
• Incentives for Financial Solutions:
  • India aims to explore funding from corporate social responsibility (CSR), ecological fiscal transfers, and access and benefit sharing mechanisms to meet the financial needs for biodiversity conservation.

Challenges and Strategies:

• Challenges India Faces:
  • Habitat fragmentation
  • Pollution
  • Illegal wildlife trade
  • Adverse effects of climate change
• Strategic Responses:
  • The updated NBSAP provides strategies to address these challenges, ensuring comprehensive conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

In News:

India with an abysmal score of 45.5 (out of 100) has been ranked 176th in the Global Nature Conservation Index, 2024.

India's Ranking and Score:

• Rank: India ranks 176th out of 180 countries.
• Score: 45.5 out of 100.
• Context: India is listed among the five "worst performers," alongside Kiribati (180), Turkey (179), Iraq (178), and Micronesia (177).

Key Factors Affecting India’s Ranking:

• Inefficient Land Management: The main contributing factor to India's low ranking.
• Threats to Biodiversity: Rising threats due to habitat loss, deforestation, climate change, and pollution.
• Deforestation: Between 2001 and 2019, India lost 23,300 sq. km of tree cover, exacerbating biodiversity loss.

Focus Areas of the Nature Conservation Index (NCI):

• Land Management: Inefficient land use practices, with 53% of land converted for urban, industrial, and agricultural purposes.
• Biodiversity Threats: Habitat loss, fragmentation, and declining populations of marine and terrestrial species.
• Governance and Capacity: Challenges in enforcement of laws and governance structures that support conservation.
• Future Trends: India faces both opportunities and challenges, given its high population density and rapid development.

Key Findings:                                    

• Land Conversion and Urbanization: High rates of land conversion (53%) for development purposes, contributing to habitat loss.
• Soil Pollution: Issues with pesticide use and soil pollution (low nitrogen index of 0.77), affecting soil health.
• Marine Conservation: Only 0.2% of national waterways and none within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are protected.
• Deforestation Impact: Loss of 23,300 sq. km of forest between 2001-2019.
• Biodiversity Decline: Despite 40% of marine species and 65% of terrestrial species in protected areas, biodiversity continues to decline—67.5% of marine species and 46.9% of terrestrial species face population decreases.

Marine and Terrestrial Conservation:

• Marine Areas: Need for greater investment in marine conservation, as India's marine protected areas (MPAs) are limited.
• Protected Areas: While 7.5% of India’s terrestrial area is protected, significant threats like climate change and habitat fragmentation persist.

Biodiversity and Climate Change:

• Climate Change Risks: Impacts on vulnerable ecosystems, including coral reefs and alpine regions, further threaten biodiversity.
• Population Growth: India’s rapidly growing population (one of the highest in the world) places constant pressure on natural resources and ecosystems.

Illegal Wildlife Trade:

• Global Ranking: India is the fourth-largest illegal wildlife trader globally, with an annual trade worth approximately £15 billion.
• Call for Action: Stronger enforcement of wildlife protection laws and international cooperation are crucial to combat illegal wildlife trade.

SDGs and India’s Conservation Challenges:

• SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land): India faces significant challenges in meeting these Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in protecting marine life and terrestrial ecosystems.

Recommendations for Improvement:

• Stronger Political Will: Political commitment is essential for passing laws that promote sustainable development and biodiversity conservation.
• Enforcement and Funding: Increased funding for environmental initiatives and better enforcement of conservation policies are necessary to address the conservation challenges.
• Sustainable Development: Integrating sustainable land use practices and improving governance structures for conservation are key areas for focus.

In News:

Egypt was officially declared ‘malaria-free’ by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Key Highlights:

• Egypt became the second country (after Cabo Verde) to be certified malaria-free in 2024.

• It is the fifth African country to achieve this milestone, joining Morocco, UAE, and Cabo Verde in the malaria-free list.
• WHO Certification Criteria:
  • A country is certified malaria-free if it can prove the Anopheles mosquito-borne malaria transmission chain has been broken for at least three years.
  • The country must also have the capacity to prevent the re-establishment of transmission.
• About Malaria:
  • Malaria is an acute febrile illness caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
  • It is a life-threatening disease primarily found in tropical countries.
  • Symptoms include fever, headache, and chills, which can be mild and difficult to diagnose.
  • Prevention mainly involves vector control interventions, and treatment involves early diagnosis and use of antimalarial drugs.

In News:

• Chile and the United Kingdom have prepared a proposal to recognize fungi as an independent kingdom, termed "Funga", alongside flora (plants) and fauna (animals).
• This will be presented at the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to be held in Cali, Colombia in October 2024.
• Why Funga?
• Fungi (e.g., mushrooms, moulds, yeast, lichen) play crucial ecological roles, but have historically been overlooked in conservation strategies.
• Fungi contribute significantly to decomposition, forest regeneration, carbon sequestration, and the global nutrient cycle.
• The recognition aims to strengthen fungal conservation by integrating fungi into global legislation and policies.
• Ecological Importance of Fungi:
• Decomposition: Fungi break down organic matter, facilitating nutrient recycling in ecosystems.
• Symbiotic Relationships: Many fungi form crucial symbiotic relationships with plants (e.g., mycorrhizal associations) and animals.
• Climate Mitigation: Boreal forest fungi absorb large amounts of carbon through symbiosis with plants, playing a role in mitigating climate change.
• Pollution Remediation: Fungi can help clean polluted soils by breaking down toxins.
• Food Production: Fungi are essential for producing common foods like bread, cheese, wine, beer, and chocolate.
• Health: Fungi produce antibiotics (e.g., penicillin) and aid in mammalian digestion.
• Scientific Recognition:
• In August 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recognized fungi as one of the three kingdoms of life, alongside plants and animals.
• The 3F initiative (Flora, Fauna, and Funga), led by Giuliana Furci, aims to promote the international recognition and protection of fungi.
• Diversity and Research Gaps:
• Only 8% of the estimated 2.2 to 3.8 million fungal species have been formally described.
• Approximately 2,000 new fungal species are discovered annually, indicating the vast underexplored diversity of fungi.
• Threats to Fungi:
• Fungi face significant threats from deforestation, climate change, pollution, overharvesting, and fungicide use.
• These threats disrupt the symbiotic relationships fungi share with plants and animals, leading to ecosystem instability.
• Nitrogen enrichment in soils and habitat loss further exacerbate these risks.

Key Facts About Fungi

• Biological Characteristics:
• Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with rigid cell walls made of chitin (distinct from the cellulose found in plant cell walls).
• They are heterotrophic, meaning they absorb nutrients from their environment through external digestion (secreting enzymes to break down organic material before absorption).
• Reproductive Strategies:
• Fungi reproduce both asexually (via spores) and sexually, ensuring their proliferation across ecosystems.
• Growth Form:
• Fungi grow primarily as mycelium, a network of hyphae (filamentous structures) that helps in nutrient absorption and environmental interaction.
• Symbiotic Relationships:
• Fungi form mycorrhizal relationships with plants, enhancing nutrient exchange, and lichen associations with algae, providing mutual benefits in extreme environments.

In News:

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will take place in Cali, Colombia, from October 21, 2024. This marks the first gathering since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in 2022.

About Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• Adopted in 1992, the CBD is the most comprehensive international treaty focused on biodiversity conservation, the sustainable use of natural resources, and the fair sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources. It has been ratified by 196 countries, making it a key global instrument for biodiversity governance.

Key Objectives of the CBD

• Conservation of Biodiversity: Protecting genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
• Sustainable Use of Resources: Ensuring resources are used in a way that does not deplete or degrade biodiversity.
• Fair Sharing of Benefits: Ensuring that benefits from genetic resources are shared equitably with countries of origin.

Notable Frameworks within CBD

• Nagoya Protocol (2010): Establishes a framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the utilization of genetic resources.
• Cartagena Protocol (2000): Regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)

• Adoption: The KMGBF was adopted at COP15 in 2022, following the Kunming Declaration.
• Targets: The framework includes 23 targets for 2030 and 4 global goals for 2050, aimed at reversing biodiversity loss and promoting sustainability.
  • Notably, the 30x30 Target aims for 30% of the world’s land and oceans to be conserved by 2030. This is a key agenda item at COP16.
  • The framework also emphasizes equitable access to genetic resources and the sharing of benefits from their use (Target 13).

Challenges and Issues at COP16

• Benefit-Sharing from Digital Sequence Information (DSI):
  • A key issue is the fair sharing of benefits from digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. The adoption of a global mechanism for this issue is still pending, as negotiations between developed and developing countries remain unresolved.
    • Developed nations advocate for unrestricted access to genetic materials in exchange for voluntary contributions to a global fund.
    • Developing nations seek a more equitable system, aligned with the CBD's principles of fair benefit-sharing.
• 30x30 Target Progress:
  • The 30x30 target, which aims to conserve 30% of land and oceans by 2030, is far from being met:
    • 17.5% of land and 8.4% of oceans are currently under protection.
    • Concerns persist about the effectiveness of these protected areas, as studies suggest they may not be sufficient for long-term biodiversity conservation.
• Financial Commitments (Target 19):
  • Developed countries have pledged $20 billion annually for biodiversity financing by 2025. However, progress is slow:
    • By September 2024, only $8.2 billion (41% of the target) had been committed.
    • COP16 will assess whether this target can be met, with further announcements expected.
• Implementation Gaps:
  • Countries are required to set national targets aligned with the KMGBF. As of COP16, only 100 parties have submitted their targets, and 30 countries have updated their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
  • A significant implementation gap remains in translating these targets into concrete actions.

Focus Areas for COP16

• Strengthening the 30x30 Target:
  • COP16 will push for enhanced efforts to meet the 30x30 conservation goal. There is a need for better management and monitoring of protected areas to ensure they contribute to biodiversity preservation.
• Finalizing Benefit-Sharing Mechanism:
  • Countries will focus on finalizing the multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism for genetic resources and DSI. The goal is to ensure that countries benefiting from genetic resources share those benefits with the countries of origin, addressing the issue of biopiracy and ensuring equitable access.
• Financial Commitment and Tracking:
  • The financial shortfall for biodiversity conservation will be a critical discussion point. Effective monitoring of the biodiversity finance tracker will be needed to ensure that developed countries meet their $20 billion/year commitment.
• Addressing Implementation Gaps:
  • There is a need to enhance monitoring and reporting mechanisms, improve national strategies, and align financial support with on-ground conservation efforts.

In News:

Overview of Typhoons

• Definition: A typhoon is a type of cyclone with wind speeds of 119 km/h or more, forming over warm ocean waters near the equator.
• Mechanism: As warm, moist air rises from the ocean, it creates a low-pressure system, leading to the characteristic circular wind patterns: anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Recent Typhoon Events

• Typhoon Yagi: The most powerful tropical cyclone in Asia in 2024, with peak winds of 260 km/h. It caused significant destruction across Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, displacing around 631,000 people and resulting in over 500 fatalities.
• Typhoon Bebinca: Reached wind speeds of 151 km/h, classified as a Category 1 storm, impacting eastern China with heavy rainfall and forcing evacuations for over 414,000 residents.
• Typhoon Shanshan: Affected Japan, bringing severe weather conditions.

Why are Typhoons more frequent?

1. Rising Sea Surface Temperatures:
   • Global warming has raised ocean temperatures, providing more energy for typhoon formation and intensification.
2. Atmospheric Circulation Changes:
   • Alterations in patterns, such as the weakening of the Walker Circulation, affect the frequency and paths of typhoons.
3. El Niño and La Niña Effects:
   • The El Niño-Southern Oscillation significantly influences typhoon activity. El Niño years often lead to increased typhoon occurrences in Southeast Asia, while La Niña can enhance cyclone activity in the Western Pacific.
4. Increased Atmospheric Moisture:
   • Higher global temperatures result in more evaporation, adding moisture to the atmosphere, which fuels stronger storms and increases rainfall intensity.
5. Geographical Vulnerability:
   • Southeast Asia’s location near warm ocean currents makes it a hotspot for typhoon activity, particularly along its extensive coastlines.
6. Marine Heat Waves:
   • Climate change has led to more frequent marine heat waves, causing extreme ocean warming, which contributes to intensified storms.
7. Weaker Land-Sea Temperature Gradients:
   • Changes in temperature differences between land and sea can prolong storm duration and severity.
8. Urbanization and Environmental Degradation:
   • Rapid urban development and the destruction of coastal ecosystems, like mangroves, diminish natural barriers against storm impacts.

Humanitarian Impact and Response

• The increasing intensity and frequency of typhoons have precipitated severe humanitarian crises in affected regions. The need for international cooperation in disaster response has become critical, involving collaboration among governments, civil societies, and humanitarian organizations to provide aid and support for those affected.
• Understanding the multifaceted reasons behind the rising frequency of typhoons is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate their impacts and enhance community resilience in Southeast Asia.

Why is it in the News?

One hundred and twenty-five years ago on May 25, 2024, a ‘rebel poet’ was born in undivided Bengal who would go on to create about 4,000 songs and several stories to remind his warring and impoverished country folks of the power of humanity to tide over hunger, poverty and disintegration of society.

Who was Kazi Nazrul Islam?

• Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976) was a Bengali poet, writer, and musician whose oeuvre, Nazrulgeeti (Songs of Nazrul), constitutes a musical genre that is perhaps second in popularity to only Rabindrasangeet, the compositions of Rabindranath Tagore.
  • He enjoys iconic status in West Bengal, Bangladesh, and the Bengali diaspora around the world, and is revered as the National poet of Bangladesh.
• Nazrul is known as the Bidrohi Kobi (Rebel Poet) because most of the more than 4,000 songs that he wrote and composed are songs of protest and revolution, which inspired the freedom fighters of Bengal in their struggle against colonialism and imperialism.
  • In 1923, the British arrested Nazrul because of the strongly anti-British content of a magazine that he founded and edited.
• His first poem was published when he was still in Karachi, in the Bangiya Mussalman Sahitya Patrika.
  • Some of the poems he had composed and contributed in Moslem Bharat included Shatil Arab, Moharram, Korbani, Fatiha, Doazdaham, Badal Prater Sharab, and Kheya Parer Tarani, amongst others.
• The political conditions in which Nazrul Islam eventually began his career as a writer were ones conditioned by extreme tensions and conflict including the Jallianwala Bagh massacre and launch of the Non-Cooperation Movement following the special session of the Indian National Congress, and especially in the context of the “divide and rule” policy which was adopted by the British.
  • Several issues that the populace of the subcontinent had to deal with included economic backwardness, racial prejudices, and social inequality.
  • In such circumstances, he joined a Bengali newspaper called Naba-Yug (New Era).
  • His writings were later compiled and published as a book Yugabani (Message of the Age) which was immediately banned by the British government.
• Apart from writing and working for several other newspapers of the times, including Sevak, he had also started his own political weekly in 1922, named, Dhumketu (The Comet).
  • The paper explicitly voiced their opinions against the British government and played an important role in steering the rebellious attitude and voices of the populace.
  • As a result, Nazrul was charged with charges of sedition and he was sentenced to 1 year of rigorous imprisonment in 1923.
  • On this occasion, Rabindranath Tagore had also dedicated a newly composed dance-drama Basanti to Nazrul, which was performed in Calcutta.
• Nazrul Islam was a prolific poet and composed several poems on various themes including themes of social messages, and resistance against the colonial government.
  • He had effectively used his poems as a literary conduit to voice his opinions against British colonial rule.
  • The highest point of his career as a poet was when he composed the poem Bidrohi (The Rebel).
  • The poem was highly appreciated and established him as a well-respected poet.
  • The poem was characterized by a revolutionary spirit and rife with heroic sentiments.
  • It portrayed a revolutionary who had called upon the marginalized sections of the society to rise up and face the British despots.
• The compositions of Kazi Nazrul Islam in the form of songs, poems, and other forms of literature formed a very strong and powerful weapon against British colonial rule.
• The revolutionary themes which were explicit in his writings played an important role during the freedom movement.
• He consistently raised his voice against communalism, imperialism, fundamentalism and exploitation.
• His literary legacy is remembered and acknowledged to this date.
• He had earned the respect of not only his contemporaries but also of the later generations.
• His contributions thus are not limited to the efflorescence of Bengali literature but also extended to the cause of freedom during the Indian Independence Movement.

Why is it in the News?

The Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge was adopted at the Diplomatic Conference held under the aegis of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at its headquarters in Geneva recently.

What is the WIPO Meeting 2024?

• The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Meeting 2024 focuses on final-stage negotiations for a proposed treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources, and associated traditional knowledge.
• The aim is to protect the rights of communities that conserve genetic resources and hold traditional knowledge of their use.
• The main goal of the treaty is to enhance the efficacy, transparency, and quality of the patent system regarding genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
  • It aims to prevent patents for non-novel or non-inventive inventions and ensure proper disclosure of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in patent applications.

Key challenges in the negotiations:

• Key challenges include reaching a consensus on mandatory disclosure requirements, addressing biopiracy, deciding on the inclusion of DSI in the treaty, and defining traditional knowledge.
  • Countries like the United States, Japan, and South Korea generally oppose mandatory disclosure requirements, adding complexity to the negotiations.

What are genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated?

• Genetic resources are genetic material of actual or potential value found in plants, animals, and microorganisms.
  • These resources are essential in fields like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology.
• Traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources refers to the knowledge, practices, and innovations of indigenous and local communities, developed and passed down through generations.
  • This knowledge is often related to the use and conservation of genetic resources.

What is Biopiracy?

• Biopiracy refers to the unauthorized use and patenting of genetic resources and traditional knowledge without proper compensation or acknowledgement to the communities that developed and conserved them.
  • The treaty seeks to address biopiracy by requiring the disclosure of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in patent applications and aligning with international agreements like the Nagoya Protocol.

What is Digital sequence information (DSI)?

• Digital sequence information (DSI) refers to the digital representation of genetic material.
  • The treaty currently excludes DSI from its scope, which is a point of contention as it affects the management and protection of genetic resources.
  • Including DSI in the treaty is under debate to ensure comprehensive protection.

Outcomes and Significance of this Meeting:

• Expected outcomes include finalizing the treaty's text, agreeing on substantive intellectual property provisions, and administrative issues.
  • Once finalized, the treaty will be open for signature and aims to provide a robust framework for protecting genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
• The treaty also aims to protect the rights of indigenous and local communities by ensuring they receive fair compensation and recognition for their genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
  • It also promotes the sustainable use and conservation of these resources, benefiting both global and local communities.
• The treaty has broader implications for international intellectual property law, biodiversity conservation, and the rights of indigenous and local communities.
  • It aims to balance the interests of patent holders with the need to protect and sustainably use genetic resources and traditional knowledge.

India’s Role:

• India plays a significant role in the negotiations by advocating for strong disclosure requirements and a clear definition of traditional knowledge.
  • India's participation helps ensure that the treaty provides sufficient policy space for countries to maintain their current stronger disclosure requirements under national laws.

Why is it in the News?

Governments should be using their agriculture extension services to raise awareness among farmers, and consumers about the benefits & practical applications of sweet sorghum in people’s diet.

About Sweet Sorghum:

• Sweet sorghum is the most important millet crop occupying the largest area among the cereals next to rice.
• It is mainly grown for its grain and fodder.
• Alternative uses of sorghum include commercial utilization of grain in the food industry and utilization of stalk for the production of value-added products like ethanol, syrup jaggery and enriched bagasse as fodder and as a base material for cogeneration.
• Sweet sorghum has emerged as a supplementary crop to sugarcane in dry land pockets for the production of ethanol.
• The success rate is high because of the use of existing machinery available in the sugar factories and attached distilleries.
• The advantages of the crop are it can be grown with limited water and minimal inputs and it can be harvested in four months.

Climate and Soil:

• Sweet sorghum can be sown in June with the southwest monsoon, in September-October with the northeast monsoon (500-600 mm rainfall), or in summer with assured irrigation.
• The crop prefers moderate rainfall; excessive moisture or heavy rain after flowering can reduce sugar content.
• With irrigation, early sowing before June can prevent issues with heavy rains during flowering and grain maturation.
• Summer sowing may result in lower biomass and sugar yield. Sweet sorghum thrives in well-drained soils of medium depth (18" and above), with water requirements varying by soil type (red, black, laterite, and loamy).

Multiple Uses of Sweet Sorghum:

• Sweet sorghum is a versatile crop used for grain, animal feed, and sugary juice.
• Its grains are made into steamed bread, porridge, and beer, providing high nutritional value with proteins, carbohydrates, fibre, and essential minerals like potassium, calcium, sodium, and iron.
• Resilient in arid climates, sweet sorghum produces significant biomass, which, along with grains, serves as high-quality animal feed.
  • The sugary juice from its stalks is used for bioethanol production, yielding more ethanol per hectare than maize, second only to sugarcane.
• Notably, sweet sorghum is drought-resistant, capable of dormancy during dry periods and resuming growth later.
• Its tolerance to low water, nitrogen inputs, salinity, and drought stress makes it ideal for arid regions, making it popular in the US, Brazil, and China.

Why is it in the News?

A new report by the United Nations paints a concerning picture of the world’s rangelands, with up to 50 per cent estimated to be degraded.

What are Rangelands?

• A rangeland is an open area that is suitable for grazing livestock.
• Rangelands are home to grass and grass-like plants, shrubs, and scattered trees.
• They are, however, unfit for growing crops due to their aridity and poor soil quality.
• Rangelands cover 80 million square kilometres, or over 54 per cent of the terrestrial surface, constituting the largest land cover/use type in the world but accounting for one-sixth of global food production and representing nearly one-third of the planet’s carbon reservoir.
• According to the Rangelands Atlas, livestock production systems in rangelands cover 45 per cent of the global land surface, almost half of which is situated in drylands.
• In India, rangelands occupy about 121 million hectares and the area used for grazing is estimated at around 40 per cent of the total land surface of India, including grasslands (17 per cent), and forests (23 per cent).

Key Characteristics of Rangelands in India:

• Vegetation: Rangelands in India is primarily covered with grasses and shrubs, such as Dichanthium annulatum (gamhar), Cenchrus ciliaris (buffel grass), and Ziziphus nummularia (ber).
  • The presence and type of vegetation vary based on rainfall and soil conditions, with trees being scattered or sometimes entirely absent.
• Climate: These areas experience semi-arid to arid climates with significant seasonal variations in rainfall.
  • Droughts are a frequent challenge.
• Soil: Rangeland soils are typically thin and less fertile than those found in agricultural areas.
• Land Use: Rangelands are mainly used for grazing by domestic animals like cattle, sheep, and goats.
  • Some of these lands also support wildlife herbivores.

The Significance and Management of Rangelands in India:

• Rangelands play a pivotal role in India's ecosystem, serving as primary grazing areas for livestock, maintaining biodiversity, and providing ecological services such as soil erosion prevention, water flow regulation, and carbon storage.
• These lands are also a crucial source of livelihood for millions through pastoralism, dairy production, and wool production.
• However, rangelands face multiple challenges, including overgrazing, climate change, and encroachment, which negatively impact their health and productivity.
• To address these issues, several management strategies have been employed:
• Rotational Grazing: This approach allows for controlled grazing periods, enabling vegetation to recover and promoting long-term sustainability.
• Reseeding: By reintroducing native grasses and shrubs, the quality of rangelands can be significantly enhanced.
• Community-Based Management: Engaging local communities in the decision-making process fosters sustainable practices and ensures the well-being of both the rangelands and the people relying on them.
• Understanding the significance of rangelands in India is essential for maintaining their vitality, supporting the livelihoods of those dependent on them, and ensuring the continued provision of vital ecological services.

Why is it in the News?

New research has found South African leopards originated from two unique clades in southern and central Africa approximately 0.8 million years ago.

What is a Mitogenome?

• DNA is found in the nucleus of cells and also in the mitochondrial genome, or mitogenome.
• Mitogenomes are DNA molecules that float around outside the nucleus of a cell.
• They store their own set of genetic information and are maternally inherited, which means they are only passed on from mother to offspring.
• Mitogenomes are a “genomic by-catch” when sequencing the whole genome.
  • They are so abundant in cells that it is very easy to extract them.
• Studying mitogenomes is a reliable way to track the ancestry of a species.
  • This is because genes mutate (change) at a regular rate over time.
• The changes in the mitogenome provide a picture of any species' evolution over hundreds of thousands of years.

What is DNA?

• DNA or Deoxyribonucleic Acid is the genetic material that codes the information for all the different processes that make an organism living like growth, replication, metabolism, etc.
• DNA is present in each cell (except for some viral species, RBCs, sieve cells, etc.) and is passed down from parents to their offspring. DNA is comprised of units called nucleotides.
• DNA is self-replicating, a long stretch of nucleotides.
• DNA is a form of nucleic acid and is one of the four major macromolecules that make up the living system.
• In eukaryotic cells, it is found in the nucleus of the cell whereas in prokaryotes it is found free-floating in the cell cytoplasm.
• Other than the nucleus DNA is also found in mitochondria, chloroplast, and in smaller forms called plasmid in certain bacterial species.

Why is it in the News?

The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a small wild cat native to South, Southeast and East Asia, was recently spotted in Maharashtra’s Pench, in what is being billed as Central India’s first sighting of the species.

About Leopard Cat:

• The Leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) is a small wild cat native to continental South, Southeast, and East Asia.
• With its distinctive leopard-like colouring, this small wildcat is known for its remarkable adaptability and extensive distribution across Asia.

Habitat and Distribution:

• Leopard cats can be found in a variety of environments, ranging from the Amur region in Russia to the Korean Peninsula, China, Indochina, the Indian Subcontinent, northern Pakistan, and as far south as the Philippines and the Sunda Islands of Indonesia.
• Although they can inhabit agriculturally used areas, leopard cats prefer forested habitats, including tropical evergreen rainforests, subtropical deciduous and coniferous forests, and plantations at various altitudes.

Physical Characteristics:

• Size and appearance vary considerably across their range, with a length of 45 to 75 cm (18 to 30 inches), excluding their 23-35 cm (9-13.8 inches) tail.
• Their colouration ranges from pale tawny to yellow, red, or grey, with white underparts and distinctive spots.
• Most leopard cats have four black stripes running from their forehead to the nape, breaking into short bands and elongated spots on their shoulders.

Behaviour and Diet:

• As solitary and nocturnal carnivores, leopard cats primarily feed on rodents, tree shrews, and hares, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of their ecosystems.

Conservation Status:

• Listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List, leopard cats face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict. Continued monitoring and conservation efforts are essential to protect this species and its vital role in Asia's diverse ecosystems.

Facts about Pench Tiger Reserve:

• Location: Situated in the southern reaches of the Satpura hills, the Pench Tiger Reserve spans Seoni and Chhindwara districts in Madhya Pradesh and extends into Nagpur district in Maharashtra as a separate Sanctuary.
  • It derives its name from the Pench River, which flows from north to south through the Reserve.
• The reserve encompasses the Indira Priyadarshini Pench National Park, the Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and a buffer zone.
• The area served as the inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's renowned work, "The Jungle Book."
• Vegetation: The undulating topography supports a diverse range of vegetation, from moist, sheltered valleys to open, dry deciduous forests.
• Flora: Pench Tiger Reserve boasts a rich variety of flora, including teak, saag, mahua, and various grasses and shrubs.
• Fauna: Renowned for its wildlife diversity, the reserve is home to large herds of Chital, Sambar, Nilgai, Gaur (Indian Bison), and wild boar.
  • Key predators include the tiger, leopard, wild dogs, and wolf. Additionally, the reserve supports over 325 species of resident and migratory birds, including the Malabar Pied Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Osprey, Grey Headed Fishing Eagle, and White Eyed Buzzard.

Why is it in the News?

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi has initiated action on the Netravati Waterfront Promenade Development Project in Mangaluru.

About the Netravati River:

• The Netravati River, also known as Netravathi Nadi, originates from the Bangrabalige valley, Yelaneeru Ghat in Kudremukh, Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, India.
• It passes through the revered pilgrimage site Dharmasthala, earning recognition as one of India's sacred rivers.
• Converging with the Kumaradhara River at Uppinangadi, it eventually flows into the Arabian Sea, south of Mangalore city, serving as the primary water source for Bantwal and Mangalore.
• The Netravati railway bridge, a prominent structure, acts as the gateway to Mangalore.
• Historically known as the Bantwal River, it was documented as unfordable during the South-West Monsoon in the 1855 Gazetteer of Southern India.
• The river's navigability by small country craft and its influence on local geography and transport, including the naming of the Netravati Express train, underscores its significance in the region's history.
• Instances of flooding, notably in 1928 and 1974, have shaped the lives of residents, prompting relocations and resilience

About the National Green Tribunal:

• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) was established under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010.
• While its principal seat is located in New Delhi, it also holds sessions in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai.
• The NGT is entrusted with the responsibility of adjudicating applications or appeals, ensuring their final disposition within six months of filing.

Composition:

• The tribunal comprises a Chairperson, Judicial Members, and Expert Members, each serving a non-renewable term of five years.
• The appointment of the Chairperson is made by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
• A Selection Committee, constituted by the Central Government, is responsible for appointing both Judicial and Expert Members.
• The tribunal can accommodate a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial and Expert Members.

Powers & Jurisdiction:

• Established to efficiently handle cases concerning environmental protection and conservation of natural resources, including forests.
• It possesses appellate jurisdiction akin to a court.
• While not bound by the procedural formalities outlined in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the NGT operates based on the principles of natural justice.

Why is it in the News?

Public knowledge and awareness about Hepatitis B, a deadly disease that can cause end-stage liver cirrhosis and liver cancer, is dismal in India, according to a new study conducted by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.

What is Hepatitis B?

• It is a severe liver infection that can lead to liver damage, cancer, and death.
• The virus spreads through contact with an infected person's blood or bodily fluids.
• One can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, sharing needles or other drug-injection equipment, or from mother to child during childbirth.

Symptoms of Hepatitis B:

• Hepatitis B is a severe viral infection of the liver that can cause inflammation and scarring.
• Symptoms include fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, dark urine, joint pain, and jaundice.

Causes of Hepatitis B:

• Hepatitis B is caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV).
• HBV is found in the blood and body fluids of an infected person. It can spread through contact with fluids, such as:
  • Blood, through needle sharing or accidental needle sticks
  • Contact with body fluids, such as saliva, etc.
  • Sexual contact with someone who has HBV
  • From a mother to a child through childbirth
• Hepatitis B can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, such as:
  • Sharing personal items like toothbrushes or razors with someone who has HBV
  • Getting a tattoo or body piercing with contaminated equipment

Types of Hepatitis B:

• There are three main types of hepatitis B: acute, chronic, and carriers.
  • Acute hepatitis B is a short-term illness that occurs within the first six months after exposure to the virus. It is the most common type of hepatitis B in children.
  • Chronic hepatitis B is a long-term illness that can lead to serious health problems, including liver failure and liver cancer.
  • Carriers of hepatitis B have the virus in their blood but do not show any symptoms.

Treatment for Hepatitis B

• Several medications can help treat hepatitis B.
• These include antiviral drugs, which can help reduce the amount of virus in the body, and immunomodulators, which can help boost the immune system to better fight the virus.
• If the liver is damaged, one may also need medication to help protect it from further damage.
• HBIG (Hepatitis B Immuno Globulin) is one of the best ways to treat hepatitis B.
  • Adults who have been exposed to hepatitis should get HBIG and vaccination as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours but not later than 14 days after the exposure.

Prevention of Hepatitis B:

• The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to get vaccinated.
• The vaccine is given as a series of shots.
• The first shot is usually given at birth; the rest at 1–2 months old, 6–18 months old, and 4–6 years old.
• If one was not vaccinated as a child, they can receive the vaccines as an adult.

Why is it in the News?

As per the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Global Methane Tracker 2024, methane emissions from fuel consumption in 2023 approached record levels, nearing their highest point in history.

About the Global Methane Tracker:

• The Global Methane Tracker is an annual publication issued by the International Energy Agency (IEA), presenting the latest data on methane emissions primarily from the energy sector. It integrates recent scientific research, measurement campaigns, and satellite data.

Key Highlights from the Global Methane Tracker 2024:

• Methane emissions from fuel usage in 2023 approached record levels, reaching approximately 120 million tonnes (Mt), marking a slight increase from the previous year.
• Bioenergy, derived from plant and animal waste, contributed an additional 10 million tons of emissions.
• Out of the total methane emissions, around 80 million tons originated from ten countries, with the United States and Russia leading in emissions from oil and gas operations, and China leading in emissions from coal operations.
• Despite indications of declining emissions in certain regions, the overall methane emissions remain alarmingly high, posing a significant challenge to achieving global climate objectives.
• To align with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C, there is a critical need to reduce methane emissions from fossil fuels by 75 percent by 2030.
• Achieving this target would require an estimated investment of approximately $170 billion, representing less than 5 percent of the revenue generated by the fossil fuel industry in 2023.

About the International Energy Agency (IEA):

• The International Energy Agency is an intergovernmental organization headquartered in Paris, established in 1974.
• Its primary mandate is to ensure stability in the international oil supply, a response to the oil crisis of 1973, which led to temporary disruptions in the global oil supply chain.
• Operational Framework: The IEA functions within the broader scope of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
• Membership: As of 2022, the IEA comprises 31 member nations, with India joining as an associate member in 2017.
• Key Requirement: Member countries are obligated to maintain reserves equivalent to 90 days of the previous year's net oil imports.
  • These reserves must be readily accessible by the government to address potential disruptions in the global oil supply chain, even if the reserves are not owned directly by the government.

Why is it in the News?

In a historic gathering in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé, African health ministers, global malaria partners, funding agencies, scientists, civil society organizations and other principal malaria stakeholders pledged to end malaria deaths, especially given the tools and systems available.

What is the Yaounde Declaration?

• The Yaounde Declaration was endorsed by health ministers from 11 African nations with the highest malaria burden, aiming to expedite efforts to eliminate malaria-related deaths.
• Signed during the Yaoundé conference, co-hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of Cameroon, the declaration underscores a collective commitment to combat malaria.
  • The signatory countries include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania, together accounting for approximately 70% of the global malaria burden.
• Commitments entail stronger leadership and increased domestic funding for malaria control programs, leveraging data technology, adhering to updated technical guidance, and intensifying efforts at national and sub-national levels.
• Ministers pledged augmented health sector investments to fortify infrastructure, personnel, and program implementation, fostering multi-sectoral collaboration, and cultivating partnerships for funding, research, and innovation.
• Signatories affirmed their resolute dedication to hasten malaria mortality reduction and to ensure mutual accountability for the declaration's outlined commitments.

Current Status of Malaria:

• Between 2019 and 2022, global malaria cases increased from 233 million to 249 million, with Africa experiencing a substantial rise from 218 million to 233 million cases, highlighting the continent as the epicenter of the malaria crisis.
• The 11 African countries represented at the conference bear the highest burden of malaria infections and deaths.

Progress and Challenges:

• Despite some progress, malaria incidence has only declined by 7.6% and mortality by 11.3%, falling short of the African Union’s interim goals.
• Only seven out of 46 member states have achieved a 40% reduction in malaria incidence or mortality.
• Urgent action is imperative to bridge a financial gap of $1.5 billion to sustain basic malaria services, especially for vector control.
• Additional funding of $5.2 billion annually for progress towards elimination and $11 billion for climate adaptation in the health sector is crucial to avert significant surges in cases and deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women.

Why is it in the News?

Post-Independence, the revival of the crafts sector began with Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay who strongly championed the handicrafts movement for the role it could play in social and economic upliftment.

About Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay:

• Kamaladevi was born in April 1903 in a liberal Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family in Mangalore (now Mangaluru).
  • She completed her primary education at the local St Ann’s Convent.
  • Growing up in a land with a rich cultural heritage, especially of the music and dance form Yakshagana, she developed a taste for traditional art forms.
  • After her father’s untimely death, Kamaladevi moved to her maternal uncle’s house.
  • There, she met renowned freedom fighters, including Gopalkrishna Gokhale, Srinivasa Shastri, Ramabai Ranade and Annie Besant.
• Kamaladevi was married off at the age of 14 and widowed two years later.
  • Unperturbed by these life events, she joined Queen Mary’s College in Madras (now Chennai) for higher studies.
  • There, she met Sarojini (Chattopadhyay) Naidu’s brother Harindranath Chattopadhyay which led to their wedlock.
  • However, their marriage ended over incompatibility issues and this, too, created history – Kamaladevi was the first legal divorce granted through an Indian court of law.
• Kamaladevi played a prominent role in political reforms and India’s freedom struggle.
  • She was the first woman to contest the Madras provincial elections.
  • Though she lost by a narrow margin, she got recognition and was appointed secretary of the All-India Women’s Conference.
  • She joined Indian National Congress in 1927 and was elected to the All-India Congress Committee within a year.
• During the Salt March to Dandi, she convinced Gandhi to give women equal opportunity to be in the forefront of the march.
  • Later, she joined Seva Dal and trained women activists.
  • However, the British government banned Seva Dal and threw Kamaladevi into jail.
  • There, she contracted jaundice. Having experienced the pathetic condition of the prison hospital, she built a hospital for inmates upon release.
  • Kamaladevi got attracted to socialism and took up the problems of laborers and peasants.
• During World War II, she visited America and met several political activists, mostly blacks, and shared with them India’s non-violent approach to freedom struggle.
  • The British got wind of her activism and banned her from returning to India.
  • Unmoved, Kamaladevi continued on her journey, visiting South Africa, China, Japan and Vietnam.
• Kamaladevi was inarguably the embodiment of women’s empowerment.
  • She was an advocate of female sexual freedom and birth control.
  • Her remarriage after widowhood and legal divorce from her second marriage were symbolic of her self-empowerment.
  • She acted in many films (a Kannada film, too) when the film industry was not considered a respectable place for women.
• Indeed, Kamaladevi’s immense travel and experiences shaped her as a secular, socialist world citizen.
  • Such were her ideals that led to her building the city of Faridabad to rehabilitate some 50,000 craftsmen who moved to India from Pakistan during Partition.
  • Post-independence, she helped revive Indian handicrafts and built institutions for a ‘New India’-- to name a few, the National School of Drama, Bharatiya Natya Sangha, Lady Irwin College, Sangeet Natak Academy, Central Cottage Industries Emporium, World Craft Council, Craft Council of India, and the Delhi Craft Council.
• Kamaladevi was a prolific writer, too and wrote 18 books altogether, touching upon women’s issues, Indian handicrafts and her foreign visits.
  • She published her autobiography, “Inner Recesses, Outer Spaces: Memoir” (1986).
  • She received several awards in recognition of her public service, like Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, the Ramon Magsaysay Award and the UNESCO Award.
  • She died in Mumbai on October 29, 1988, aged 85.

Why is it in the News

The Maharashtra government recently notified Mendha, a village deep inside the forests of the state’s Gadchiroli district, as a separate Gram Panchayat under The Maharashtra Gramdan Act, 1964.

What is Gramdan?

• Gramdan is an expansion of the Bhoodan Movement started in 1951 by Aacharya Vinoba Bhave.
  • ‘Bhoodan’ meant redistribution of land from bigger landowners to the landless.
  • Under Gramdan, the entire village will put its land under a common trust.
• This way, the land will not be sold outside the village or to one who has not joined Gramdan in the village.
  • But the landowners can continue to cultivate it and reap the benefits.
• The Movement paved the way for the protection of natural resources by giving equal rights and responsibilities to everyone in the community and empowering communities to move towards self-governance.
• Under the Act, at least 75 percent of landowners in the village should surrender land ownership to the village community for it to be declared as ‘gramdan’.
  • Such land should at least be 60 percent of the village land. Five per cent of the surrendered land is distributed to the landless in the village for cultivation.
  • Recipients of such land cannot transfer the same without the permission of the community.
  • The rest remains with the donors.
  • They and their descendants can work on it and reap the benefits.
  • But they cannot sell it outside the village or to a village resident who has not joined Gramdan.
• Today, seven states in India have 3,660 Gramdan villages, the highest being in Odisha (1,309).
  • The states are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
• In September 2022, the Assam government repealed the Assam Gramdan Act, 1961 and Assam Bhoodan Act, 1965, bypassing The Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2022.
• This, it said, was done to counter encroachment on donated lands in the state.
• Till that time, Assam had 312 Gramdan villages.

About Mendha’s Village Struggle:

• The village, comprising around 500 Gond Adivasis, has fought for its forests for years.
  • It is popular as the first village in India to secure community forest rights (CFR), following the passing of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
  • Some 80 per cent of the area in the village is covered with dense forest.
• People here believe that land is not a private property but a collective resource that provides food and livelihood and should be saved and passed on to the next generation.
• All villagers in Mendha have surrendered their land, which is unique. In all other villages, only about 75-80 per cent of landowners had agreed to do so.
  • The village fulfilled these conditions of the Act in 2013 and notified the district collector about its decision to implement the Act.

Why is it in the News

The Blue Leaders High-Level Event on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction was held in Belgium on March 7, 2024, to urge nations to ratify a new treaty to protect the high seas from pollution, climate change and overfishing.

What is the BBNJ Treaty?

• The BBNJ Treaty, also referred to as the Treaty of the High Seas, is an international agreement aimed at conserving and sustainably managing marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, operating within the framework of the UNCLOS.
  • These areas encompass the high seas beyond exclusive economic zones or national waters.
  • It represents nearly half of the Earth's surface and is characterized by minimal regulation and understanding of their biodiversity, with only 1% currently under protection.
• Launched at the One Ocean Summit in February 2022, the High Ambition Coalition on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction seeks to unite various delegations involved in BBNJ negotiations toward a comprehensive and ambitious outcome.
• The negotiations focus on key elements agreed upon in 2015, including the conservation and sustainable use of marine genetic resources, area-based management tools such as marine protected areas, environmental impact assessments, and initiatives for capacity-building and technology transfer in marine science and management.
• India is yet to sign the treaty. However, it called on efforts for entry into force and implementation of the treaty at the G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration held in September 2023.

The Importance of a Legally Binding Instrument for BBNJ:

• Biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction is crucial for ocean health, coastal communities' welfare, and global sustainability, constituting 95% of the ocean and offering essential ecological, economic, social, cultural, scientific, and food-security benefits.
• Despite their significance, these areas face escalating threats such as pollution, overexploitation, and the impacts of climate change, compounded by the anticipated rise in demand for marine resources in the future.
• Even the deep seafloors, considered one of the most inhospitable habitats, are experiencing the onset of extinction processes, with alarming statistics showing that 62% of assessed mollusc species are threatened, including critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable species, while the International Seabed Authority permits deep sea mining contracts.
• It is imperative to establish a legally binding framework for managing and regulating biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, as over 60% of this resource in the global seas remains unmanaged and unprotected, necessitating comprehensive conservation measures.

Why is it in the News?

A new waste management technology that allows pyrolysis at a community level could help rural Indians cut indoor air pollution, improve soil health, and generate clean power, a recent study has claimed.

What is BioTRIG?

• BioTRIG represents a novel waste management technology centered around pyrolysis, poised to mitigate indoor air pollution, enhance soil quality, and foster clean energy generation across rural India.
• This community-oriented pyrolysis system is ingeniously crafted to utilize locally generated waste, offering a sustainable solution tailored to village environments.
• The innovative process yields three valuable by-products: bio-oil, syngas, and biochar fertilizer, presenting multifaceted benefits for rural communities, from cleaner energy sources to enhanced agricultural productivity.
• Moreover, the self-sustaining nature of BioTRIG enables the utilization of syngas and bio-oil to fuel subsequent pyrolysis cycles, with excess electricity catering to local energy needs, fostering self-reliance and sustainability.
• By harnessing the clean-burning properties of bio-oil and the soil-enriching qualities of biochar, BioTRIG empowers rural households to transition away from traditional cooking fuels while concurrently enhancing agricultural resilience and carbon sequestration efforts.

Significance:

• Computer simulations indicate that the BioTRIG system holds the potential to significantly mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from communities, potentially reducing them by nearly 350 kg of CO2-eq per capita per year.
• This projection underscores a noteworthy positive influence on both climate emissions and public health.
• The BioTRIG technology could mark a paradigm shift in waste management practices and energy generation methods within rural India, promising transformative benefits for communities.

What is Pyrolysis?

• Pyrolysis is a transformative chemical recycling method that disassembles residual organic matter into its fundamental molecular components.
• This innovative process entails confining the waste within an oxygen-deprived enclosure and subjecting it to temperatures exceeding 400 degrees Celsius.

Why is it in the News?

The European Parliament recently adopted the first European Union (EU) law to restore degraded ecosystems across the 27-nation political and economic bloc.

About the Nature Restoration Law:

• The Nature Restoration Law is hailed as a significant stride toward rejuvenating Europe’s natural habitats, with a staggering 81% currently classified as being in poor health.
• It sets a pioneering example for global emulation, emphasizing the criticality of safeguarding and revitalizing our natural environment for the welfare of forthcoming generations.

Objectives:

• This legislation aims to rejuvenate ecosystems, habitats, and species across the European Union's (EU) terrestrial and marine domains, fostering the enduring recuperation of diverse and robust nature.
• Additionally, it endeavors to contribute to the EU's climate mitigation and adaptation objectives while fulfilling international commitments.
• These directives aspire to encompass a minimum of 20% of the EU's land and marine territories by 2030, with the ultimate goal of restoring all ecosystems in need by 2050.

Specific Targets:

• Wetlands, forests, grasslands, rivers, lakes, heath & scrub, rocky habitats, and dunes: The objective is to enhance and restore biodiverse habitats on a large scale, fostering the recovery of species populations through habitat improvement and expansion.
• Pollinating Insects: The target is to reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030, aiming for a positive trajectory in pollinator numbers.
• Forest Ecosystems: The aim is to promote an upward trend in standing and fallen deadwood, varied aged forests, forest connectivity, common forest bird populations, and organic carbon reserves.
• Urban Ecosystems: The objective is to achieve zero net loss of green urban spaces by 2030 and expand the total area covered by green urban spaces by 2040 and 2050.
• Agricultural Ecosystems: The goal is to bolster grassland butterfly and farmland bird populations, increase organic carbon reserves in cropland mineral soils, and augment the proportion of agricultural land featuring diverse landscape characteristics.

About the European Union (EU):

• The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union of 27 European countries that collaborate on various issues, including trade, security, and environmental protection.
• Founded after World War II to promote peace and economic cooperation, the EU has evolved into a complex organization with its own institutions, laws, and currency (the euro).
• It operates on the principles of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, with the European Commission, European Parliament, and European Council among its key decision-making bodies.
• The EU's single market allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and people across member states, fostering economic growth and prosperity.
• Additionally, the EU plays a prominent role in global affairs, advocating for multilateralism, sustainable development, and climate action.

Why is it in the News?

Recently, during the 37th African Union Summit, member countries initiated the formation of the Africa Club.

What is the Africa Club?

• The Africa Club is an alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions, established at the African Union summit, designed to enhance Africa's influence in the global financial system.
• The initiative aims to align its operations with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union's Agenda 2063, fostering innovative financial instruments, facilitating debt management discussions, and promoting collaborative efforts to address the specific needs of African nations.
• Its membership comprises key institutions such as the African Export-Import Bank, Trade and Development Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, African Reinsurance Corporation, African Trade and Investment Development Insurance, Shelter Afrique Development Bank, and ZEP – RE (PTA Reinsurance Co).

About the African Union:

• The African Union is a continental organization consisting of 55 member states across the African continent, established on May 26, 2001, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
• The AU's objectives include promoting peace, security, and stability on the continent, accelerating political and socioeconomic integration, defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states, and advancing sustainable development.
• It serves as a platform for African countries to coordinate their efforts in various fields, including governance, human rights, economic development, infrastructure, health, education, and culture.
• The AU's structures include the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the Executive Council, the Pan-African Parliament, the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, and various specialized technical committees and organs.
• Through its initiatives and programs, the AU works towards realizing the vision of an integrated, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

Why is it in the News?

Exploring ancient cratons such as the Singhbhum Craton in India, alongside similar formations in South Africa and Australia, provides unparalleled insights into the early stages of our planet's development, reaching back approximately 3.5 billion years.

What is Singhbhum Craton?

• The Singhbhum Craton encompasses a vast expanse of rugged terrain, primarily spanning regions in Jharkhand and Odisha, situated between the Chhota Nagpur plateau and the Eastern Ghats.
• Dating back approximately 3.5 billion years, this ancient segment of the Earth's crust offers valuable insights into early geological processes.
• Its oldest rock formations consist predominantly of volcanic and sedimentary rocks, referred to as greenstone successions.
  • Greenstones are characterised by submarine volcanic rocks with minor sedimentary components.
• Geologically akin to greenstone belts in South Africa's Barberton and Nondweni regions and the Pilbara Craton in Western Australia, these areas experienced extensive submarine mafic volcanic activity, rich in magnesium oxide, between 3.5 and 3.3 billion years ago, with preserved features like pillowed lava and komatiites.

Significance:

• The Singhbhum Craton sheds light on early tectonic activities during the Archaean era, enhancing our understanding of the Earth's formative stages.
• Its distinctive geological characteristics, particularly the presence of greenstone belts, yield invaluable data on surface and atmospheric processes crucial for theorising about early habitable conditions and the emergence of life on Earth.

What are Cratons?

• A craton is a stable and ancient part of Earth's lithosphere that has experienced long-term tectonic and geomorphic stability.
• It is considered to be the nucleus of a continent and is characterised by its thick and cold lithosphere.
• Cratons can undergo destruction, which is defined as a geological process resulting in the loss of craton stability due to changes in its physical and chemical properties.
• The mechanisms responsible for craton destruction include oceanic plate subduction, rollback and retreat of subducting plates, stagnation and dehydration of subducting plates in the mantle transition zone, melting of the mantle caused by dehydration of stagnant slabs, non-steady flow in the upper mantle induced by melting, and changes like the lithospheric mantle.
• Craton destruction can lead to crustal thinning, surface uplift, and the concentration of mineral deposits.

Why is it in the News?

A bird flu outbreak in poultry in Andhra Pradesh’s Nellore district was reported recently. Laboratory tests by the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal confirmed that it was caused by the type A strain of the H5N1 variant of the avian influenza virus.

What is Bird Flu/Avian Influenza?

• Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a viral respiratory illness primarily affecting birds.
• It's caused by specific strains of the Influenza A virus.
• Bird flu spreads between both wild and domesticated birds.
• It has also been passed from birds to humans who are in close contact with poultry or other birds.
• There is no clear evidence that the virus can be transmitted from human to human.
  • However, this may have happened in rare cases, where a person has become ill after caring for a sick family member.
• While most types don't infect humans, certain strains like H5N1, H7N9, and H5N6 have caused concern due to their ability to transmit to humans in rare cases.
• Transmission:
  • Birds: Spreads easily between birds through bodily fluids (saliva, faeces, nasal discharge) and contaminated environments.
  • Humans: Primarily occurs through direct contact with infected birds or surfaces, inhaling infected droplets, or consuming undercooked poultry meat from infected birds.
• Symptoms:

• The symptoms of bird flu in humans are similar to those of regular influenza and include:
  • Can range from mild (fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches) to severe (pneumonia, respiratory failure, multi-organ failure, death).
  • Symptoms usually appear within 3-7 days of exposure.
• Treatment: Antiviral medications like Tamiflu have proven effective in managing human infections caused by avian influenza viruses, reducing both the severity of symptoms and the likelihood of fatalities.

Avian Influenza in India:

• Initial Incidence: The first instance of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in India occurred in 2006 in Navapur, Maharashtra, marking the onset of recurrent annual outbreaks.
  • The emergence of H5N8 was documented in India in November 2016, primarily affecting wild birds in five states, with Kerala reporting the highest number of cases.
  • This disease has been identified in 24 states and union territories, prompting the culling of over 9 million birds to curb its spread.
• Corresponding Strategy: India's strategy for managing Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) revolves around a "detect and cull" approach, as delineated in the National Action Plan for Prevention, Control, and Containment of Avian Influenza (revised - 2021).

Why is it in the News

Cameroon, a central African country recently adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing.

About the Nagoya Protocol:

• The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation (the Protocol) is a globally binding agreement designed to fulfill the access and benefit-sharing obligations outlined in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• Adopted in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010, the Protocol came into effect on October 12, 2014, following the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification.
• It establishes a transparent legal framework to ensure the fair and equitable distribution of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources, a key objective of the CBD.

Benefits of the Protocol:

• It provides researchers with a structured framework to access genetic resources for biotechnological research and development while ensuring a fair share of benefits derived from their utilization.
• Indigenous and local communities stand to benefit from the recognition and protection of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.

Scope of the Protocol:

• The Protocol covers genetic resources within the scope of the CBD and addresses the benefits arising from their utilization.
• Additionally, it encompasses traditional knowledge linked to genetic resources covered by the CBD and the benefits derived from its utilization.

Key Facts about the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):

• With 196 contracting parties, the CBD is the most comprehensive binding international agreement for conserving nature and sustainably managing natural resources.
• Opened for signing at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, the CBD aims to conserve biological diversity, ensure its sustainable use, and promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
• The CBD covers biodiversity across ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.
• The Conference of the Parties (COP) serves as the highest decision-making body of the Convention, with the Secretariat based in Montreal, Canada.
• To further CBD objectives, two internationally binding agreements were adopted: the Cartagena Protocol in 2000, regulating the transboundary movement of living modified organisms, and the Nagoya Protocol in 2010, facilitating access to genetic resources and the equitable sharing of benefits.

Why is it in the News?

The central government recently launched a framework to promote voluntary carbon markets in the agriculture sector.

What are Carbon Markets?

• Carbon markets are trading systems in which carbon credits are sold and bought.
• Companies or individuals can use carbon markets to compensate for their greenhouse gas emissions by purchasing carbon credits from entities that remove or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• One tradable carbon credit equals one tonne of carbon dioxide or the equivalent amount of a different greenhouse gas reduced, sequestered or avoided.
• When a credit is used to reduce, sequester, or avoid emissions, it becomes an offset and is no longer tradable.

Why are Carbon Markets Important?

• Scientists warn that 2°C of warming will be exceeded during the 21st century unless we achieve deep reductions in GHG emissions now.
• Effective action will require concerted and sufficient investment, knowing also that the costs of inaction will be far higher.
• The latest IPCC report finds all countries are falling way short, with financial flows three to six times lower than levels needed by 2030 – and even starker differences in some regions of the world.
• Many countries are turning to carbon markets as a key component in driving and financing the necessary transformation to tackle the climate crisis.

How Many Types of Carbon Markets Are There?

• There are broadly two types of carbon markets: compliance and voluntary.
  • Compliance markets are created as a result of any national, regional and/or international policy or regulatory requirement.
  • Voluntary carbon markets (VCM)– national and international – refer to the issuance, buying and selling of carbon credits, on a voluntary basis.
• The current supply of voluntary carbon credits comes mostly from private entities that develop carbon projects, or governments that develop programs certified by carbon standards that generate emission reductions and/or removals.

Importance of Establishing a VCM Framework in the Agricultural Sector:

• Emission Concerns: Agriculture in India contributes approximately 15% of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the urgent need for mitigation strategies.
• Vulnerability: With around 50% of cultivated land being rainfed and more than 80% of farmers categorized as small or marginal, the sector is highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change.
• National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (2010): This initiative focuses on promoting adaptation measures such as agroforestry, micro irrigation, and soil health management, which not only reduce emissions but also offer opportunities for carbon sequestration.
• Additional Income Opportunities: Through the implementation of these practices, farmers can potentially generate additional income streams.

What is the News ?

The Rashtriya Gokul Mission is actively supporting the promotion of the Gir indigenous cow breed.

Facts About:

• It is being implemented for the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds since December 2014.
• With a budget of Rs. 2400 crore, the program is also carried out under the general Rashtriya Pashudhan Vikas Yojna from 2021 to 2026.
• The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying is the nodal ministry.

Mission Objectives:

• To use cutting-edge technologies to raise milk production and sustainably improve the productivity of cows.
• To spread the practice of breeding bulls with high genetic merit.
• To increase the breeding network's strength and provide farmers with doorstep artificial insemination services to increase the coverage of artificial insemination.
• To encourage the scientific, all-encompassing rearing of native cattle and buffalo as well as conservation.

What is the News ?

Recently, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), published the "International Migration Outlook 2023."

Facts About:

• In 2021 and 2022, India had the largest migration flows to nations that are members of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
• In terms of citizenship, 0.13 million Indians became citizens of an OECD nation in 2021.
• The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused the greatest level of internal displacement and refugee inflows into the OECD, with over 10 million people becoming internally displaced or refugees.
• In terms of workers, migration flows from India (+172 percent), Uzbekistan (+122 percent), and Turkey (+240 percent) increased dramatically, making them the primary countries of origin after Ukraine.