Geography & Environment

Weekly Current Affairs

(August - Part 1)

By Sudarshan Gurjar
Bhojpatra Tree

Recently, the Prime Minister of India, in the 103rd edition of Mann ki Baat
programme highlighted the business of 'bhojpatra calligraphy' by the women of
Mana village near Badrinath.

Found at a height of 3,000m or above, bhojpatra (Himalayan Birch) is a tree

whose bark acts as paper on which text can be written.

● It is also known as Himalayan Birch and it is widely found in the

Himalayas.
 ● It is a deciduous tree native to the Western Himalayas that grows at
elevations of up to 4,500 metres
● It has a high freezing tolerance potential, allowing it to form a treeline in the
Himalayan region.
● It is a long-lived species which can survive up to 400 years and the only
angiosperm in the Himalaya which dominates an extensive area at sub -
alpine altitudes.
● Distribution: It is widely distributed in the altitudinal range from 3100 - 3800
m in North-western Himalaya.
● It contributes to the preservation of the Himalayan ecosystem by reducing
soil erosion and creating a bio-shield for the remaining forests and
sub-alpine meadows below the treeline.
● The bark of this tree was used for centuries in our Country for writing
lengthy scriptures.

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

● Location:

It is located at the junction of the Eastern and the Western Ghats in the Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve, in Tamil Nadu.

Its area is contiguous with the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Bandipur Tiger Reserve
(Karnataka) and BR Tiger Reserve & Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka).

● Terrain: It is hilly and undulated with altitude ranging between 750m and
1649m.
● Vegetation: It consists of southern tropical dry thorn forests, mixed
deciduous forests, semi-evergreen forests, and Riparian forests.
 ● Climate:

It is subtropical and dry.

Summers are hot and dry; the monsoons are wet and cooler, with river flooding.

● Rivers: prominent rivers in the region include the Bhavani, Moyar, and
Noyyal rivers.
● Tribal Communities: It is home to several indigenous tribal communities,
including the Irula and Kurumba tribes.
● Flora: Common Species of trees and shrubs found are Albizzia amara
Chloroxylon swictenia, Gyrocarpus jacquini, Neem, Tamarind,
Sandalwood, Randi dumetorum, Zizyphus and associates.
● Fauna: The major species are Elephant, Tiger, Panther, Sloth bear, Gaur,
Black Buck, Spotted deer, Wild boar, Black napped hare, Common langur
Nilgiri langur, Striped neck mongoose and Bonnet macaque.

Western Tragopan

● It is also known as the western horned tragopan, is amongst the rarest of

all living pheasants.
● Due to its beautiful plumage and large size, this bird is locally known as
‘jujurana’ or ‘king of birds’.
● It is the state bird of Himachal Pradesh.
● Distribution: It is endemic to the northwest Himalaya, within a narrow range
from Hazara in north Pakistan through Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh, to the western part of Garhwal.
● The upper part of Great Himalayan National Park’s (GHNP) forest zone
holds the world’s largest known population of western tragopan.
● Diet: It feeds mostly on leaves, shoots and seeds, but also consumes
insects and other invertebrates.
 ● Threats: Habitat loss, hunting pressure and anthropogenic disturbances
which includes livestock grazing, minor forest produce collection like
medicinal herbs etc.
● Conservation status , IUCN: Vulnerable

NITI AAYOG RELEASED “TOWARDS DECARBONISING

TRANSPORT 2023: A STOCKTAKE
ON SECTORAL AMBITION IN G20” REPORT
Decarbonising transport sector refers to the process of reducing or eliminating
carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions from the
transportation sector.

Key Highlights :-

● India still has no overall emssions or energy targets for transport sector,
despite the goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070.
● India’s transport-sector emissions could increase 65% by 2030 and 197%
by 2050, relative to 2020 levels.
● Road followed by rail transport is the main contributor to sector emissions.

Need to Decarbonise Transport sector :-

● Globally, India is third most CO2 emitting sector.

● High dependence on fossil fuels of the sector leads to exploitation of fossil
fuels.
● To meet nationally determined contributions (NDCs) targets of India i.e.,
reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 45% by 2030 etc.

Initiatives taken to Decarbonise Transport sector :-

(1) Bharat Stage VI Emission Standards.

(2) Forum for Decarbonizing Transport in India by NITI Aayog.

(3) FAME India (part of National Electric Mobility Mission Plan) etc.

PLASTIC OVERSHOOT DAY 2023: THE EARTH'S PLASTIC CRISIS

Context

On July 28, 2023, the Earth experienced its first Plastic Overshoot Day, marking
the point at which the amount of plastics exceeds the global waste management
capacity.

Global Plastic Pollution Trends:-

➔ Under current scenarios, global plastics pollution is projected to triple by

2040, despite pledges and increased waste management capacity.

Key Contributors to Plastic Waste :-

➔ India is among the 12 countries, along with China, Brazil, Indonesia,

Thailand, Russia, Mexico, the United States, Saudia Arabia, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, and Kazakhstan, responsible for 52%
of the world's mismanaged plastic waste.

Plastic Consumption on Per-Person Basis:-

➔ Iceland tops the list of worst offenders in plastic consumption, with annual
consumption of 128.9 kg per person.
 ➔ India's annual per-person plastic consumption is 5.3 kg, significantly lower
than the global average of 20.9 kg.
➔ Plastic Overshoot Day is a wake-up call, shedding light on short-life
plastics' environmental impact and their higher risk of leakage into the
environment.
➔ Plastic pollution particularly impacts developing countries like India, which
are categorized as 'waste sponges' due to their low plastic consumption
but high plastic pollution levels.

Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR)

Context:- The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recently

raised concern that cattle grazing in the forest and illegal fishing in the
backwaters of Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar dams are posing a big threat
to tigers in Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR).

About Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR):

● Location: It is located in the Nallamala hill ranges(an offshoot of the

Eastern Ghats) of Andhra Pradesh.
● This is the largest tiger reserve in the country, spreading over an area of
5937 Sq. Km.
● It is named after two major dams in the area, Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and
Srisailam Dam.
● Two wildlife Sanctuaries, namely Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and
Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM), constitute the Tiger
Reserve.
● The river Krishna traverses through this Reserve
● Topography: It consists of plateaus, ridges, gorges, and deep valleys.
● Vegetation: Tropical dry deciduous forests with an undergrowth of bamboo
and grass.
● The river Krishna has Muggers, otters, and Turtles.
NOTE:- Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve is the largest tiger reserve in
India, having the largest area under "Critical Tiger Habitat". The reserve spreads
over five districts, Kurnool District, Prakasam District, Guntur District, Nalgonda
District, and Mahbubnagar district.

Critical Tiger habitat

● These are core areas of tiger reserves and are identified under the Wild
Life Protection Act (WLPA), 1972 based on scientific evidence.
● Such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of tiger
conservation, without affecting the rights of the Scheduled Tribes or such
other forest dwellers.
● The notification of CTH is done by the state government in consultation
with the expert committee constituted for the purpose.

Critical Wildlife Habitat

● Critical ‘wildlife’ habitats (CWLHs), on the other hand, are defined only in
the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
● CWLHs are meant to be areas of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries
that are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of wildlife
conservation (not just tigers).
● Similar to CTH, the identification of CWLH is done based on scientific and
objective criteria, but it mandatorily requires settlement of forest rights
under FRA.
● Unlike CTHs, the notification of CWLHs can only be done with the consent
of the Gram Sabhas and affected stakeholders.

Kuril Islands
Context:- In Japan, conservative voices are hinting that Russian and Ukraine war
could give Japan a chance to take control of disputed Kuril Islands.

About Kuril Islands:

These are a set of four islands situated between the Sea of Okhotsk and the
Pacific Ocean near the north of Japan's northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido.

Japan refers to them as Northern territories, Russia calls them the Kuril Islands
and South Korea named them as Dokdo islands.

These are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire belt and have over 100 volcanoes, of
which 35 are said to be active volcanoes along with hot springs.

Both Russia and Japan claim sovereignty over them though the islands have
been under Russian control since the end of World War II.

The Soviet Union had seized the islands at the end of World War II and by 1949
had expelled its Japanese residents.

Tokyo claims that the disputed islands have been part of Japan since the early
19th century.

UNESCO heritage danger list

Context:

● Experts from UNESCO have recommended adding the Italian city of

Venice to the list of world heritage sites in danger due to long-standing
problems such as over-tourism and the effects of climate change.
● Kyiv and Lviv in Ukraine are also recommended to be put on the danger
list this year.

List of World Heritage in Danger:

● The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

(UNESCO) compiles the list of World Heritage in Danger.
● The List contains world heritage sites that are threatened by various
conditions such as natural disasters, armed conflicts, wars, pollution,
unchecked urbanisation, poaching, and uninhibited tourist development.

Red Sanders
 ● Flora endemic to the tropical dry deciduous forest in Eastern Ghats region
of Andhra Pradesh.
● Very slow-growing tree species that attains maturity after 25 – 40 years.
● Resistant to droughts.
● Locally known as Yerra Chandanam, Rakta Chandanam.
● Its therapeutic properties are responsible for its high demand across
Asia,particularly China, for use in cosmetics, medicinal products, and
high-end furniture/woodcraft.

Conservation Status:

It is under ‘endangered list’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature

(IUCN) Red List.

It is listed in Appendix-II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered

Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Listed under Schedule IV of The Wildlife Protection Act.

Saudi, Kuwait reject Iran claims to disputed gas field

Places in News :-

Arash-Dorra Gas and Saudi Arabia Field

● The offshore field, known as Arash in Iran and Dorra in Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia, has long been a focal point of contention between the three
countries.

Devika: North India’s First River Rejuvenation Project

About Devika River

 ● Originates: from the hilly Suddha Mahadev temple in Udhampur (Jammu &
Kashmir) and flows down towards western Punjab (Pakistan), where it
merges with the Ravi River.
● Udhampur is also referred to as Devika Nagari.

5% of birds in India are endemic, reveals Zoological Survey of

India publication
In the news:

A recent publication by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) points out that about
5% of birds found in the country are endemic and are not reported in other parts
of the world.

Details of the report:

● The highest number of endemic species have been recorded in the

Western Ghats, with 28 bird species.
● Some of the interesting species recorded in the country’s bio-geographic
hotspot are the:

(1)Malabar Grey Hornbill (2)Malabar Parakeet

(3)Ashambu Laughing Thrush (4)White-bellied Sholakili

● 25 bird species are endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

Some interesting bird species which are only found in the Andaman and

Nicobar Islands are:

○ Nicobar Megapode
○ Nicobar Serpent Eagle
○ Andaman Crake
○ Andaman Barn Owl
● Four species of birds are endemic to the Eastern Himalayas, and one each
to the Southern Deccan plateau and central Indian forest.
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI):
● The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a subordinate organization of the
Ministry of Environment and Forests was established in 1916.
● It is a national centre for faunistic survey and exploration of the resources
leading to the advancement of knowledge on the exceptionally rich faunal
diversity of the country.
● It has its headquarters at Kolkata.

What is Bhu-Vision?
About Bhu-Vision:

● It is also known as KRISHI-RASTAA Soil Testing System.

● It has been jointly developed by ICAR-IIRR(Indian Council of Agricultural
Research -Indian Institute of Rice Research) and KrishiTantra.
● This system seamlessly conducts 12 key soil parameter tests in just 30
minutes.
 ● It provides quick and accurate results directly to farmers and stakeholders
through a soil health card on their mobile devices.

Indian Institute of Rice Research :-

● It was established as All India Coordinated Rice Improvement Project
(AICRIP) by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 1965.
● Headquarter: Hyderabad.

Water neutrality in Indian industries

CONTEXT:- The NITI Aayog, a government think-tank, has introduced a standard
definition and approach for water neutrality in Indian industries.

What is Water neutrality?

Water neutrality is described as achieving a balance between total freshwater

consumption, including both direct and indirect usage, and quantifiable water
savings resulting from efficiency strategies.

Explanation using an example:

For instance, if a beverage company saves as much water through efficient

production as it uses for making beverages and producing materials, it achieves
water neutrality. If it saves more, it becomes water-positive; if it uses more, it’s
not water-neutral.

Steps to achieve water neutrality:

● Reduce water use by increasing water efficiency.

● Install water reuse systems such as rainwater harvesting or greywater
recycling.
● Offset remaining water demand in the local region.
Significance:

● NITI Aayog’s report estimates that following water neutrality standards

could save 38.23 billion cubic meters of water over the next decade.
● National Water Mission’s Goal 4 (Increasing water use efficiency by 20%)
includes the promotion of water-neutral and water-positive technologies.

STUDY ON OCEAN COLOR CHANGES DUE TO CLIMATE

CHANGE
Context

● A study published in the journal Nature focused on the alteration of Earth's

oceans' color over the past two decades.
● The possible connection between ocean color changes and
human-induced climate change.

Findings :-

● Over 56% of the Earth's oceans, exceeding the total land area on the
planet, experienced shifts in color.
● The change in ocean color indicates that marine ecosystems are
undergoing significant changes and may lead to potential imbalances in
the future, affecting both ocean life and human dependence on marine
resources.

Reasons for Oceans Appearing Blue or Green:-

➔ Oceans appear blue or navy blue in most regions due to the absorption of
longer wavelength colors like red, yellow, and green by water molecules,
while shorter wavelength colors like blue and violet are reflected back.
➔ Certain parts of the oceans appear green due to the presence of
phytoplankton on the upper surface of the water.
Impact on Ocean Stratification

● The study suggests that ocean stratification, the natural separation of

ocean water into horizontal layers by density, has increased due to climate
change.
● Increased stratification hinders the mixing of water layers, affecting the
ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and limiting
proper oxygen mixing with cooler ocean waters below.

Consequences for Marine Ecosystems :-

● Changes in plankton populations, particularly phytoplankton, can be

observed in regions with higher concentrations of these organisms.
● This shift in plankton populations may impact marine food webs, as
plankton are crucial for supporting marine life, including fish, crabs, and
sea stars.

India’s excess sugar production is guzzling groundwater

Context:

In 2021-2022, India surpassed Brazil to become the largest sugar producer in the
world, producing 359 lakh tonnes – an all-time high.

Reasons for excess sugar production in India:

● High consumption (India is the world’s largest sugar consumer) and

demand.
● Government policies and measures:

*Central Government’s Fair and remunerative price (FRP) for sugarcane

*Mandatory payment of a minimum price to sugarcane farmers by the

sugar mills.

*Heavy subsidies and incentives by the state governments.

*The resulting sugar surplus has led to higher exports, with a record 110
lakh tonnes exported in 2021-2022.

How does excessive sugarcane cultivation impact groundwater?

● Sugarcane is a highly resource-intensive cash crop: it needs a large swath

of land and guzzles groundwater.
● India’s top sugarcane-growing states are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh,
Karnataka, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
● The first three account for 85-90% of the sugar produced in the country.
● In a 2022 report, the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) noted that a
third of all its groundwater assessment units in Maharashtra, Uttar
Pradesh, and Karnataka were ‘semi-critical’, ‘critical’ or ‘over-exploited’.

Kattupalli Port Expansion By Adani Group

Kattupalli Port – Tamil Nadu (18 mtpa):The multi-cargo port located near Ennore
North Chennai has a dedicated yard for Direct Port Delivery clearance, Direct
Port Entry for factory stuffed/self-sealed export-laden containers and flexible
carting.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation)

Amendment Bill 2023
Context: Parliament passed the Mines and Minerals (Development and
Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, (MMDR Amendment) in a bid to attract
private sector investment in the exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals
in the country.

What are critical and deep-seated minerals?

● Critical Minerals: Critical minerals are natural resources that are essential
for various industries, including technology, manufacturing, and clean
energy. E.g., Lithium, nickel, cobalt etc.
● Deep-Seated Minerals: Deep-seated minerals refer to minerals that are
found deep within the Earth’s crust and are typically more challenging and
costly to explore and mine compared to minerals closer to the surface.
E.g., Gold, Copper, Diamonds etc.

India’s import dependency for critical and deep-seated minerals:

● 100% dependency: lithium, cobalt, nickel, niobium, beryllium, tantalum,

● Very high dependency: copper, zinc, lead, gold, silver, platinum group
elements (PGEs), and diamonds.

India’s current status:

● India is the world’s 4th largest producer of iron ore and the 2nd largest
producer of coal as of 2021.
● India is the second-largest producer of Aluminium globally
● India’s mineral demand is projected to rise by 3% in 2023, fuelled by
expanded electrification efforts and overall economic growth.
Mines and Minerals Bill 2023 endeavours to stimulate private sector involvement
through:

● The Bill excludes six atomic minerals that were previously reserved
exclusively for government entities
● The Bill overturns the Act’s prohibition on certain exploration activities like
pitting, trenching, drilling, and sub-surface excavation.
● The Bill introduces a new exploration license (EL) aimed at promoting
reconnaissance-level and prospective-stage exploration by private players.
● The Bill specifies the maximum exploration area, allowing activities within
1,000 square kilometres under a single exploration license.
● The Bill empowers the central government to conduct auctions for
composite licenses and mining leases specifically for critical and strategic
minerals.