www.iasabhiyan.

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COMPILATION OF ANNUAL REPORT OF MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT 2015-16

IT COVERS MAJOR PART OF ENVIRONMENT PREPARATION FOR PRELIMS

Biosphere Reserves
Ex-Situ & In-Situ Conservation
Endangered Animals, Plants
Wildlife Sanctuaries / National Parks as mentioned in Annual
Report
Tiger Reserves as mentioned in Annual Report
Wetlands as mentioned in Annual Report
Conventions on Biological Diversity & Acts
Coral Reefs
International Protocols on Biological Diversity
Genetically Modified Crops
Project Elephant / Project Tiger
United Nations forum on Forests
Nagar Van Udyan Yojana
National River Conservation Plan
Mission Innovation
Ozone Depleting Substances & Vienna Convention
Sustainable Development Goals

Source: Wikipedia, WHO, FAO, PIB, Ministry of Environment of India,

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Botanical garden

A garden dedicated to the collection, cultivation and display of a wide range of plants
labelled with their botanical names. It may contain specialist plant collections such
as cacti and other succulent plants, herb gardens, plants from particular parts of the world,
and so on; there may be greenhouses, shade houses, again with special collections such
as tropical plants, alpine plants, or other exotic plants.

Ex situ conservation

Ex situ conservation literally means, "off-site conservation". It is the process of

conserving components of biological diversity by removing or restricting them from
a natural habitat and then managing them in a controlled or modified environment.

The degree to which humans control or modify the natural dynamics of the
managed population varies widely, and this may include alteration of living
environments, reproductive patterns, access to resources, and protection from
predation and mortality.

Ex situ management can occur within or outside a species natural geographic

range. Individuals maintained ex situ exist outside of an ecological niche. This
means that they are not under the same selection pressures as wild populations,
and they may undergo artificial selection if maintained ex situ for multiple
generations.

Agricultural biodiversity is also conserved in ex situ collections. This is primarily in

the form of gene banks where samples are stored in order to conserve the genetic
resources of major crop plants and their wild relatives.

The primary facilities that hold ex situ conservation collections of plants and
animals are aquaria, botanical gardens, and zoos.

In situ conservation

In-situ conservation is the on-site conservation or the conservation of genetic

resources in natural populations of plant or animal species, such as forest genetic

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resources in natural populations of tree species.[1] It is the process of protecting
an endangered plant or animal species in its natural habitat, either by protecting
or cleaning up the habitat itself, or by defending the species from predators. It is
applied to conservation of agricultural biodiversity in agro-ecosystems by farmers,
especially those using unconventional farming practices.
Biosphere reserves, National Parks, Wild Sanctuaries, Gene Sanctuary are in-situ
conservation.

Lodoicea

Lodoicea, commonly known as the sea coconut, coco de mer, or double coconut,
is a monotypic genus in the palm family.
The Double Coconut tree not only bears the largest seed known to science
weighing around 25 kg but this unique species is also the longest surviving palm
which can live for as long as 1,000 years, he says. The palm tree also bears the
largest leaf among palms and one leaf can thatch a small hut.
It is endangered as per the IUCN.

KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

A national park in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of the state of Assam, India.
The sanctuary, which hosts two-thirds of the world's great one-horned
rhinoceroses is a World Heritage Site. Located on the edge of the Eastern
Himalaya biodiversity hotspot.

Sangla Valley- Himanchal Pradesh

Shola Grassland

Shola finds its origin from Tamil word sholai meaning thicket, cold place. Shola -
grasslands are rich store houses of biodiversity and also home to extremely rich
wildlife.

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They consist of dwarf trees growing 25-30 feet - vegetation is double layered storey
with closed canopy which hardly permits a single ray of sunlight to penetrate in the
natural vegetation.
Nilgiris upper region is classified as southern grassland mountain grassland.
Mountain vegetation consists of patches of stunted evergreen forest. Sharp
ecotone between the shola and grassland structure has been attributed to
prevalence of forest fire.
Branches of shola tree are colonized by epiphytes like lichen, mosses, orchids and
ferns, beside woody climbers.
They get water from the mist. Shola are natural sponges and they collect rain water
in soil trunks, leaving cavities of trunk in monsoon and feed thousand of perennial
springs keeping them alive even during the severest of summer downhill.
Shola also act as thermostats, remaining at a constant 15-20 Celsius, morning and
night ,summer and winter. At same time, the temperature in the adjoining
grassland vary from 0 to 40 Celsius.
Every shola, no matter how small it is, give birth to the springs, many rivers of
south India originate in the sholas:Tunga Bhadra, Nethravathi, Cauvery
etc. grasslands are so important as critical life giving waters. Flora & fauna of
shola grassland are unique, they are home to most of the birds endemic to
western ghats. Like black orange flycatcher, Nilgiri pipit, Nilgiri laughing thrush,
and mammals like Nilgiri langoor and most endangered species Nilgiri Tahr.

Ropar Wetland-Punjab-Punjab

Ropar Wetland, also named Ropar Lake, is a man-made freshwater riverine

and lacustrine wetland.
This important ecological zone is located in the Shivalik foothills of the
Lower Himalayas and was created in 1952 on the Sutlej River, in the Punjab state

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of India, by building a head regulator to store and divert water for beneficial uses
of irrigation, drinking and industrial water supply.
The endangered turtle Chitra indica and the threatened snake Python molurus ("at
lower risk"), as per IUCN Red List, are reported to be resident in the wetland.
Considering the wetlands diverse and rich biodiversity, Ramsar Convention has
included Ropar Wetland (listed as Ropar Lake) as one of the Ramsar sites among
the 26 sites listed under India, for the conservation of global biological diversity
and for sustaining human life through the ecological and hydrological functions
they perform.

Gobind Sagar-Himanchal Pradesh

Himanchal Pradesh-It is formed by the Bhakra Dam. The reservoir is on the

river Sutlej.
The dam has been named in honour of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru.
One of the world's highest gravity dams, the Bhakra dam rises nearly 225.5 m
above its lowest foundations.

Bhoj Wetland-Madhya Pradesh

The Bhoj Wetland consists of two lakes located in the city of Bhopal, the capital of
the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.
The two lakes are the Bhojtal and the Lower Lake, which lie to the west of the city
center.
The lakes are home to a diverse flora and fauna, including many waterbirds.
They have been designated a wetland of international importance under the
international Ramsar Convention.

List of Wildlife Sanctuary mentioned in Annual Report. Will cover only important
points.

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Wayanad WLS

State-Kerala,
an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

The wildlife sanctuary comes under Protect Elephant.

The Kabini River, one of the three east flowing rivers of Kerala, is an important
tributary of the Kaveri River. Almost the entire Wayanad district is drained by Kabini
and its three tributaries, the Panamaram, Mananthavady, and Kalindy rivers.
The BanasuraSagar Dam is built on one of tributaries of the Kabini River.

Samaspur Bird Sanctuary

State-Uttar Pradesh
endangered bird species like Indian Sarus Crane

Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary

Madhya Pradesh State

The protected area sits astride two major river basins of India, namely
the Narmada, flowing west to the Arabian Sea and theGanges, flowing east to
the Bay of Bengal.

Three-fourths of the wildlife sanctuary falls in the basin of Ganges tributary, the
Yamuna River, of which the Ken River is a tributary, and one fourth of the sanctuary
falls in the Naramada basin.

The north flowing Kopra River, Bamner River, Vyarma River and Bearma River,
which are tributaries of the Ken River, are the major rivers of this protected area.
Some smaller streams flow southerly to the Narmada river in the south of the
sanctuary.

The forest is spread over the southern area of the Vindhya Range of hills in which
the Bandhavgarh National Park and Panna National Park are also located.

Tropical dry deciduous forest.

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Sonanadi Wild Life Sanctuary-State-Uttarakhand

Talley Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

A wildlife sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, India. Talley is a plateau with dense

forest of silver fir trees, pine clad plateau of beautiful grandeur, and a vast
wasteland.
The area has some of the most important endangered species including
the clouded leopard.

Malvan Marine Sanctuary-Located in the Malvan region of Maharashtra.

Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary

Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary is a national park

in Uttarakhand, India established initially as a wildlife sanctuary in 1955, and later
converted into a national park.
The park lies in the higher reaches of the Garhwal Himalayas.
The Snow Leopard Project started by the Government of India is being managed
at this sanctuary.
Also, it is one of the remaining strongholds in the Himalayas of the bearded vulture,
a vital ecological catalyst.

Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kozhikode-Kerala

Spread across 74 sq. km. in the three villages of Kozhikode district, the Malabar
Wildlife Sanctuary is the 16th wildlife sanctuary to be formed in Kerala. This wildlife
sanctuary has been set up with the aim of protecting the rich biodiversity of the
Malabar region.
Situated within the limits of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the area of the sanctuary
is an integral part of the Wayanad Elephant Reserve under Project Elephant.

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The sanctuary covers the region of the Pannikotur Reserve Forests of the
Peruvannamoozhi range and Karapara; Olathuki, Shankaranpuzha and the
Attikkode area.
Located at Peruvannamoozhi, a popular ecotourism destination, the sanctuary is
home to the rarest amphibians, especially the frog variety named Philatus
Oschlandrae.
The sanctuary is also a haven for butterflies such as Papilio liomedon, Papilio
paris, Papilio dravidarum and Prioneris sita. Fish varieties such as Barilius bakeri,
Tor khudree, Mystus vittatus and Puntius denisoni are also seen.
The lion-tailed macaque, brown palm civet, elephants, gaurs, tigers, leopards,
Nilgiri Langur and the Kerala laughing thrush, oriental darter, grey-headed bulbul,
Malabar parakeet, small sunbird, and white-bellied blue flycatcher are among the
protected animals and birds in this region.
Thattekad Bird Sanctuary

The Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, covering an area of barely 25 km2, and located
about 12 km from Kothamangalam (Keralastate, India), was the first bird sanctuary
in Kerala. Salim Ali, one of the best known ornithologist described this sanctuary
as the richest bird habitat on peninsular India.
Thattekkad literally means flat forest, and the region is an evergreen low-land
forest located between the branches of Periyar River, the longest river in Kerala.

The sanctuary is a habitat for different varieties of cuckoos and a region of the
sanctuary popularly called "Cuckoo Paradise" is home to them, among which are the:

Drongo cuckoo, which may be easily mistaken for drongo,

Indian hawk cuckoo, which is highly vocal, and the
Large hawk cuckoo, which looks relatively massive compared to other types of
cuckoos, and is characterized by a dark grey and heavily streaked throat.

Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary

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Sainj Wildlife Sanctuary is next to Maraur and is located in Himachal Pradesh,
India.

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP)

one of India's national parks, is located in Kullu region in the state of Himachal
Pradesh. The park was established in 1984 and is spread over an area of
1,171 km2 at an altitude of between 1500 to 6000 m.

The Great Himalayan National Park is a habitat to numerous flora and more than
375 fauna species, including approximately 31 mammals, 181 birds, 3 reptiles, 9
amphibians, 11 annelids, 17 mollusks and 127 insects.

They are protected under the strict guidelines of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972;
hence any sort of hunting is not permitted.

In June 2014, the Great Himalayan National Park was added to the UNESCO list
of World Heritage Sites.

The Unesco World Heritage Site Committee granted the status to the park under
the criteria of "outstanding significance for biodiversity conservation".

Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary

Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary is a 282-square-kilometre (109 sq mi) wildlife

sanctuary in the Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, a state
in Northeast India.
The sanctuary was declared in 1980, and is home to many species of wild animals
including the Bengal tiger, hoolock gibbon, leopard and clouded leopard.

Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary, Lawalong Wildlife

Sanctuary belongs to Jharkhand State.

Great Indian bustard

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) or Indian bustard is a bustard found
in India and the adjoining regions of Pakistan.

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A large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich like
appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds.
Once common on the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, as few as 250
individuals were estimated in 2011 to survive and the species is critically
endangered by hunting and loss of its habitat, which consists of large expanses of
dry grassland and scrub.
These birds are often found associated in the same habitat as blackbuck.
In 2011 Birdlife International uplisted this species from Endangered to Critically
Endangered.
Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972, in the CMS
Convention and in Appendix I of CITES, as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red
List and the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016).
It has also been identified as one of the species for the recovery programme under
the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and
Forests, Government of India.

Western hoolock gibbon

The western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is a primate from

the gibbon family, Hylobatidae.
The species is found in Assam,Mizoram, Bangladesh and in Myanmar west of
the Chindwin River..
Of the two, the western hoolock is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Redlist, while
the eastern hoolock is listed as Vulnerable, and both species populations have
been declining due to habitat destruction of various forms and hunting for meat.
In India, it is listed on Schedule 1 of the Indian (Wildlife) Protection Act 1972.
Enhancing protection for the species, the Government of Assam upgraded the
status of the Hoollongapar Reserve Forest in the Jorhat District of Assam to a
Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in 1997, making this the first Protected Area ever named
after a primate species.

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Loktak Lake

Loktak Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Northeast India, and is famous for
the phumdis (heterogeneous mass of vegetation, soil, and organic matter at
various stages of decomposition) floating over it.

Keibul Lamjao is the only floating national park in the world.

It is located near Moirang in Manipur state, India.

The largest of all the phumdis covers an area of 40 km2 (15 sq mi) and is situated
on the southeastern shore of the lake.

The Keibul Lamjao National Park is the last natural refuge of the
endangered sangai (state animal) Rucervus eldii eldii or Manipur brown-antlered
deer (Cervus eldi eldi), one of three subspecies of Eld's deer.

Considering the ecological status and its biodiversity values, the lake was initially
designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar
Convention on 23 March 1990.
It was also listed under the Montreux Record on 16 June 1993, "a record of Ramsar
sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring or are
likely to occur".
What makes the Loktak Lake even more special is the Keibul Lamjao National
Park located at the south western part of the lake.
It is the worlds only floating national park and is home to the endangered Manipuri
brow-antlered deer, Sangai.

Keibul Lamjao National Park

a national park in the Bishnupur district of the state of Manipur in India. It is

40 km2(15.4 sq mi) in area, the only floating park in the world, located in North East
India, and an integral part of Loktak Lake.
The national park is characterized by many floating decomposed plant materials
locally called phumdis.

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To preserve the natural refuge of the endangered Manipur Eld's deer or brow-
antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi), or sangai also called the dancing deer, listed as
an endangered species by IUCN, the park which was initially declared to be
a sanctuary in 1966, was subsequently declared to be a national park in 1977
through a gazette notification.
The act has generated local support and public awareness.

State of Forests Report 2015

Key Definitions
Canopy and Canopy Density
The cover of branches and Foliage formed by the crown of trees is called
Canopy. The percentage area of land covered by the canopy of trees is called
Canopy density.

Forest Cover
All lands which are more than 1 hectare in area and with a Canopy density of
more than 10% irrespective of the ownership and legal status is called Forest
Cover. Also it does not make any distinction whether the forest is natural or
manmade forest, government or private, recorded or not recorded. It includes
bamboo, orchards, palm etc.

Recorded Forest Area and Forest Blank

The area recorded as forests in the Government records is called Forest Area or
Recorded Forest Area. The patches within the forest area which have little or no
trees are called Forest Blank. The recorded Forest Area denotes the legal status
of the land. It is defined as the geographic area recorded as forest in government
records, state law or any local law. It is different from the forest cover as forest
area may include areas with less than 10% of tree canopy density and may exclude
areas more than 10% of tree canopy density.
E-Watch

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It is a web based GIS application developed for monitoring various activities funded
under CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning
Authority) CAMPA is meant to promote afforestation activities in order to
compensate for forest land diverted to non-forest uses).

Carbon Stock
It is defined as the amount of carbon stored in the ecosystem of the forest
especially in living biomass and soil.
Best Season to get Satellite Data of Forests
October December is the best season. The reflectance from the forests is
dependent on the crown foliage and its chlorophyll content. Due to seasonal
variability of the tree phenology over the year, season of satellite data acquisition
is of utmost importance for forest cover assessment. Deciduous forests allow more
reflectance from the ground surface during leafless period thus making their own
detection and classification difficult. Hence, data of the spring-summer season is
not suitable for interpretation of such forest types. During rainy season, the
situation is compounded due to non availability of cloud-free data and mixing of
agricultural and other green covers with forest cover due to similarity in their
spectral reflectance. Taking these limitations into consideration, satellite data of
the period October to December is considered to be the most suitable for forest
cover mapping of the entire country. However, in cases where cloud free data is
not available for this period, data of January to March is procured.

Types of Forest Covers

The degraded forest lands which have a Canopy density of less than 10% are
called Scrubs. The Lands with Canopy density of 10-40% are called Open
Forests. The Land with forest cover having a canopy density of 40-70% is called
the Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) The Lands with forest cover having a
canopy density of 70% and more are called Very Dense Forests (VDF).

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State of Forests Report 2015:
Key Findings
Total forest cover in India: 7,01,673 sq km (increase of 3775 sqkm)
Total forest cover as percentage of geographical area: 21.34 per cent
Total tree cover in India: 92,572 sq km (increase of 1306 sq km)
Total tree cover as percentage of geographical area : 2.82 per cent
State with largest total forest cover:
Madhya Pradesh having 77, 462 sq km
State having highest forest cover as % of its area:
Mizoram (88.93 per cent) Increase in carbon sink:103 million tonnes CO2
equivalent

Top five states with maximum forest cover Indias top five states with maximum forest
cover (in km) are as follows:

Madhya Pradesh (77,462) Arunachal Pradesh (67,248) Chhattisgarh (55,586)

Maharashtra (50,628) Orissa (50,354)

Top five states with maximum forest cover as part of their area Top five states / UTs
with maximum forest cover as percentage of their own geographical area are as
follows:
Mizoram (88.93%) Lakshadweep (84.56%) A&N islands (81.84%) Arunachal
Pradesh (80.30%) Nagaland (78.21%)
Important Observations
Out of the total forest cover, the maximum share is of Moderate Dense Forests,
followed by Open Forests.

The very dense forests in India are in just around 2.5% of total geographical area
of the country.
Among all the states of India the states which have shown considerable
improvement in their forest cover are: Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar
Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka.

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The states where forest cover has decreased substantially are Mizoram
,Telangana, Uttarakhand, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh.
The total forest cover in the hill districts of the country is 283,015 sq km which is
39.99 % of total geographic area of these districts.
In the latest report the hill districts have recorded a net increase of 1680 sq km
area. North east constitutes only 7.98% of geographical area of the country but it
occupies one fourth of the forest cover.
However according to the current report there is a decrease in the forest cover in
the north east by 628 sq km which is primarily because of shifting cultivation and
increase in biotic pressure.
Mangroves Cover In worlds total mangrove vegetation, Indias share stands at
3%.
Currently Mangrove cover in India is 4740 km which is 0.14 % of the countrys
geographical area.
Sundarbans in West Bengal accounts for almost half of the total area.
As compared to 2013 there is a net increase of 112 sq km in the mangrove
cover.

Top five states with maximum Mangrove cover are as follows:

West Bengal (2106) Gujarat (1107) Andaman & Nicobar Island (617) Andhra
Pradesh (367) Odisha (231) Mangroves are also found in Tamil Nadu, Goa,
Kerala, Daman & Diu, Karnataka and Puducherry.

Total Carbon Stock

The total carbon stock has also increased by 103 million tonnes or an increase of
1.48 in percentage terms compared to previous assessments.

The total carbon stock in the countrys forest is around 7, 044 million tonnes. The
increase in the carbon stock shows the commitment of the country towards
achieving INDC target of additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3.0 billion tonnes of
CO2.

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Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve

The Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is a non-use conservation area and biosphere

reserve in the Satpura Range of Madhya Pradesh state, in central India.

The conservation area was created in 1999 by the Indian

government. UNESCO designated a biosphere reserve in 2009.

It includes three wildlife conservation units:

Bori Sanctuary
Pachmarhi Sanctuary
Satpura National Park
Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

The Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve

A biosphere reserve in India that extends across the states of Madhya

Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The area of the Achanakmar-Amarkantak Biosphere
Reserve is considered to be one of the major watersheds of peninsular India.
It separates the rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The
reserve is also the source of three major river systems: the Narmada,
the Johilla and the Son River.
Maikal hill ranges together with Vindhya and Satpura lie within the Achanakmar-
Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve.
The forest area of the reserve has tropical deciduous vegetation and it can be
classified into Northern Tropical Moist Deciduous and Southern Dry Mixed
Deciduous forests.
Nokrek National Park

Nokrek National Park, or Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, is a national park located

Approximately 2 km from Tura Peak in West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India.
UNESCO added this National park to its list of Biosphere Reserves in May 2009.

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Along with Balphakram national park, Nokrek is a hotspot of biodiversity in
Meghalaya.

Tiger Reserve

The National Tiger Conservation Authority was established in December 2005

following a recommendation of the Tiger Task Force, constituted by the Prime
Minister of India for reorganised management of Project Tiger and the many Tiger
Reserves in India.
Project Tiger is a conservation programme launched in 1973 by the Government
of India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure.
The project aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural
habitats and also to protect them from extinction, and preserving areas of biological
importance as a natural heritage forever represented as close as possible the
diversity of animals across the tiger's distribution in the country.

Sivalik Gangetic Plains cover-Corbett TR, Dudhwa TR, Valmiki TR

International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) was established under the
auspices of the United Nations in 1986 amidst increasing worldwide concern for
the fate of tropical forests.
While almost everyone was alarmed at the rate of deforestation occurring in many
tropical countries, there was also considerable agreement that the tropical timber
trade was one of the keys to economic development in those same countries. The
reconciliation of these two seemingly disparate phenomena is ITTO's story.
ITTO's origins can be traced back to 1976 when the long series of negotiations
that led to the first International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) began at the

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fourth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD) as part of that organization's Programme for Commodities.
The eventual outcome of these negotiations was the ITTA, 1983, which governed
the Organization's work until 31 December 1996, when it was superseded by
theITTA, 1994. Negotiations for a successor to this agreement were concluded in
2006, again under the auspices of UNCTAD. The ITTA, 2006 entered into force on
December 7, 2011.
India is a founder and signatory member.

International Network for Bamboo and Rattan

The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) is an

independent intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to develop and
promote innovative solutions to poverty and environmental sustainability using
bamboo and rattan.

INBAR is a member of Association of International Research and Development

Centers for Agriculture (AIRCA).

India is a member of the above organization.

CONSERVATION

Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity

Convention, is a multilateral treaty. The Convention has three main goals:

1. conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity);

2. sustainable use of its components; and
3. fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources

In other words, its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation
and sustainable use of biological diversity. It is often seen as the key document
regarding sustainable development.

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The Convention was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro
on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993.

At the 2010 10th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological

Diversity in October in Nagoya, Japan, the Nagoya Protocol was adopted.

It also covers the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology through its Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety, addressing technology development and transfer, benefit-
sharing andbiosafety issues. Importantly, the Convention is legally binding;
countries that join it ('Parties') are obliged to implement its provisions.

The Convention on Biological Diversity of 2010 would ban some forms

of geoengineering.

India is a Party to the CBD.

Cartagena Protocol

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of the Convention, also known as the

Biosafety Protocol, was adopted in January 2000. The Biosafety Protocol seeks to
protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified
organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.

The Biosafety Protocol makes clear that products from new technologies must be
based on the precautionary principle and allow developing nations to balance
public health against economic benefits. It will for example let countries ban
imports of a genetically modified organism if they feel there is not enough scientific
evidence the product is safe and requires exporters to label shipments
containing genetically modified commodities such as corn or cotton.

The required number of 50 instruments of

ratification/accession/approval/acceptance by countries was reached in May 2003.
In accordance with the provisions of its Article 37, the Protocol entered into force
on 11 September 2003.

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Nagoya Protocol

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable
Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological
Diversity[8] is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological
Diversity. It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation
of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits
arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The Protocol was adopted on 29
October 2010 in Nagoya, Aichi Province, Japan, and entered into force on 12
October 2014. Its objective is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from
the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity.
A Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing (ABS) was adopted in 2010 after
six years of intense negotiations under the aegis of CBD to further develop the
ABS framework provided by the Convention.
India has made significant positive contributions in these negotiations. The
objective of this Protocol is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from
the utilization of genetic resources.
The Protocol has entered into force on 12th October 2014. India signed the Protocol
on 11th May 2011, and ratified it on 9th October, 2012.

National Biodiversity Authority-India

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003 to implement

Indias Biological Diversity Act (2002).
The NBA is a Statutory, Autonomous Body and it performs facilitative, regulatory
and advisory function for the Government of India on issues of conservation,
sustainable use of biological resources and fair and equitable sharing of benefits
arising out of the use of biological resources.
The Biological Diversity Act (2002) mandates implementation of the Act through
decentralized system with the NBA focusing on advising the Central Government

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on matters relating to the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use of its
components and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of
biological resources; and advising the State Governments in the selection of areas
of biodiversity importance to be notified under Sub-Section (1) of Section 37 as
heritage sites and measures for the management of such heritage sites;

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN)

UNDP in October 2012 launched the Biodiversity Finance Initiative BIOFIN, as a
new global partnership seeking to address the biodiversity finance challenge in a
comprehensive manner building a sound business case for increased investment
in the management of ecosystems and biodiversity, with a particular focus on the
needs and transformational opportunities at the national level.
BIOFIN aims to develop a methodology for quantifying the biodiversity finance gap
at national level, for improving cost-effectiveness through mainstreaming of
biodiversity into national development and sectoral planning, and for developing
comprehensive national resource mobilising strategies.
BIOFIN will thus provide a framework for undertaking 'bottom-up' analyses of the
biodiversity finance gap and resource mobilization strategies, through a
transformative process led by national stakeholders.
India and BIOFIN India a megadiverse country rich in biodiversity, despite
tremendous biotic pressure, accounts for 7-8% of recorded species while
supporting 18% of human and cattle population in only 2.4% of the land area. India
is one of the few countries that has developed 12 national biodiversity targets in
line with the 20 global Aichi targets, and updated its national biodiversity action
plan by integrating these national targets.
India is also one of the few countries that have undertaken an assessment of
funding for biodiversity conservation in India.

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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is implementing a global
multi country project on Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), which provides
tools and methodological framework for measuring expenditure on biodiversity,
which the countries may choose to use in their efforts to mobilise resources
required for achieving the global and national biodiversity targets.
Launched in October 2012 by UNDP, BIOFIN focuses on national implementation
of the methodological framework in the countries that agree to pilot the initiative.
So far, 19 countries are implementing the project, and many more likely to join
soon.
In response to an invitation from UNDP, the Ministry of Environment, Forests &
Climate Change has communicated its willingness to participate in the BIOFIN
project in India, emphasising that BIOFIN implementation in India would be
completely country-driven, taking into account the activities already undertaken by
India for development of national biodiversity targets and for assessing funding for
biodiversity in the country.
For the purpose of implementing BIOFIN project, the Ministry has also identified
National Biodiversity Authority as the host organization.

International Day for Biological Diversity:

Theme for 2015-16-Biodiversity for Sustainable Development

Chinkara

The chinkara, also known as the Indian gazelle, is a gazelle species native
to Iran, Pakistan and India.
In 1994, it was categorised as Vulnerable by the International Union for
Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
The situation has looked up since then, and the classification has been changed
to Least Concern in 2003.

The first internationally recognized certificate of compliance

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Issued under the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing Montreal, 7
October 2015.
The first internationally recognized certificate of compliance was issued on 1
October 2015, following a permit made available to the Access and Benefit-sharing
(ABS) Clearing House by India.
Under the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and
Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, Parties are to issue a
permit or its equivalent at the time of access as evidence that access to genetic
resources was based on prior informed consent and that mutually agreed terms
were established. Parties are required by the Nagoya Protocol to make information
on the permit or its equivalent, available to the ABS Clearing-House for the
constitution of the internationally recognized certificate of compliance.
The permit was issued by Indias National Biodiversity Authority, the competent
national authority under the Nagoya Protocol.
The certificate then constituted through the ABS Clearing-House serves as
evidence of the decision by India to grant access to ethno-medicinal knowledge of
the Siddi community from Gujarat to a researcher affiliated with the University of
Kent in the United Kingdom.
The researcher can now demonstrate that s/he has respected the ABS
requirements of India when using this knowledge. The internationally recognized
certificate of compliance is one of the major innovations of the Nagoya Protocol
and one of the cornerstones of the access and benefit-sharing system,

Biological Diversity Act, 2002

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of India for
preservation of biological diversity in India, and provides mechanism for equitable
sharing of benefits arising out use of traditional biological resources
and knowledge.

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The Act was enacted to meet the obligations under Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD), to which India is a party.
Extends to whole of india.

Biodiversity Conservation & Rural Livelihood Improvement Project

Biodiversity Conservation & Rural Livelihood Improvement Project (BCRLIP) aims
at conserving Biodiversity in selected landscapes, including wildlife protected
areas/critical conservation areas while improving rural livelihoods through
participatory approaches.
Development of Joint Forest Management (JFM) and eco-development in some
states are models of new approaches to provide benefits to both conservation and
local communities. The project intends to build on these models and expand
lessons to other globally significant sites in the country to strengthen linkages
between conservation and improving livelihoods of local communities that live in
the neighborhood of biodiversity rich areas-as well as to enhance the local and
national economy.
It is a centrally Sponsored Scheme.
The Project was negotiated with the World Bank on 22-23, March, 2011. The
project was approved by the W.B. Board on 17th.May, 2011 and the legal
document was signed on 14th.June, 2011 thereby making project effective on
13th.July, 2011.

Common emerald dove

A pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in the tropical and sub-
tropical parts of the Indian Subcontinent and east
through Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan,
the Sakishima Islands of Japan and Indonesia, to northern and eastern Australia.
The dove is also known by the names of green dove and green-winged pigeon.
The common emerald dove is the state bird of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Least Concern as per the IUCN Red list.

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MANGROVES

High Salinity
Tidal Regions
Strong Wind velocity
High Temperatures
Muddy Anaerobic Soil
Mangrove swamps protect coastal areas from erosion, storm surge
(especially during hurricanes), and tsunamis.

The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest single block of
tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world, covering parts of
Bangladesh's Khulna Division and the Indian state of West Bengal.

The Sundarbans National Park is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, and a Biosphere
Reserve. It is one of the largest reserves for the Bengal tiger.

The Pichavaram mangroves in Tamil Nadu is India's one of the largest mangrove
forests.
The Bhitarkanika Mangroves Forest of Odisha, by the Bay of Bengal, is India's
second largest mangrove forest.

Coral reef

Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium

carbonate structures secreted by corals. Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny
animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built
from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups.

The polyps belong to a group of animals known as Cnidaria, which also includes
sea anemones and jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard
carbonate exoskeletons which support and protect the coral polyps. Most reefs
grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters.

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Often called "rainforests of the sea", shallow coral reefs form some of the most
diverse ecosystems on Earth.

Coral reefs support many symbiotic relationships.

In particular, zooxanthellae provide energy to coral in the form of glucose, glycerol,
andamino acids.[57] Zooxanthellae can provide up to 90% of a corals energy
requirements.[38] In return, as an example of mutualism, the corals shelter the
zooxanthellae, averaging one million for every cubic centimeter of coral, and
provide a constant supply of the carbon dioxide they need for photosynthesis.
Corals also absorb nutrients, including inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus, directly
from water. Many corals extend their tentacles at night to catch zooplankton that
brush them when the water is agitated.
Zooplankton provide the polyp with nitrogen, and the polyp shares some of the
nitrogen with the zooxanthellae, which also require this element.

Biosphere Reserve

1. Definition:
Biosphere Reserves (BRs) are representative parts of natural and cultural
landscapes extending over large area of terrestrial or coastal/marine ecosystems or a
combination thereof and representative examples of bio-geographic zones/provinces.

2. Criteria for designation of BR

A site that must contain an effectively protected and minimally disturbed core area of
value of nature conservation.

The core area should be typical of a bio-geographical unit and large enough to sustain
viable populations representing all trophic levels in the ecosystem.

The management authority to ensure the involvement/cooperation of local communities

to bring variety of knowledge and experiences to link biodiversity conservation
and socio-economic development while managing and containing the conflicts.

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Areas potential for preservation of traditional tribal or rural modes of living for
harmonious use of environment.

3. International Status of Biosphere Reserves (BR)

The UNESCO has introduced the designation Biosphere Reserve for natural
areas to minimize conflict between development and conservation.

Ten of the eighteen biosphere reserves are a part of the World Network of Biosphere
Reserves, based on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme list.

The 18 Biosphere Reserve of India were already in the last stage of compilation
and will be uploaded shortly.

Nomination of The Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve-is in Kerala & is in Tamil Nadu.

Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve became part of World Network of Biosphere

Reserves in 2016.
Agastyamalai is also home to the Kanikaran, one of the oldest surviving ancient
tribes in the world. rare and endangered species.
Rare animals include the tiger, Asian Elephant, and Nilgiri Tahr.
ABR includes the Indian Ecoregions of South Western Ghats moist deciduous
forests, South Western Ghats montane rain forests and Shola.

Genetically Modified Crop

Frequently asked questions on genetically modified foods (Important from Mains

Point of View)

These questions and answers have been prepared by WHO in response to questions
and concerns from WHO Member State Governments with regard to the nature and
safety of genetically modified food.

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1. What are genetically modified (GM) organisms and GM foods?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e.

plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has
been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural
recombination. The technology is often called modern biotechnology or gene
technology, sometimes also recombinant DNA technology or genetic
engineering. It allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one
organism into another, also between nonrelated species. Foods produced from
or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods.
2. Why are GM foods produced?

GM foods are developed and marketed because there is some perceived

advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods. This is meant to
translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in terms of durability
or nutritional value) or both. Initially GM seed developers wanted their products
to be accepted by producers and have concentrated on innovations that bring
direct benefit to farmers (and the food industry generally).
One of the objectives for developing plants based on GM organisms is to
improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly
aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of
resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through
increased tolerance towards herbicides.
Resistance against insects is achieved by incorporating into the food plant the
gene for toxin production from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). This
toxin is currently used as a conventional insecticide in agriculture and is safe for
human consumption. GM crops that inherently produce this toxin have been
shown to require lower quantities of insecticides in specific situations, e.g.
where pest pressure is high. Virus resistance is achieved through the
introduction of a gene from certain viruses which cause disease in plants. Virus
resistance makes plants less susceptible to diseases caused by such viruses,
resulting in higher crop yields.

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Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from a
bacterium conveying resistance to some herbicides. In situations where weed
pressure is high, the use of such crops has resulted in a reduction in the quantity
of the herbicides used.
3. Is the safety of GM foods assessed differently from conventional foods?

Generally consumers consider that conventional foods (that have an

established record of safe consumption over the history) are safe. Whenever
novel varieties of organisms for food use are developed using the traditional
breeding methods that had existed before the introduction of gene technology,
some of the characteristics of organisms may be altered, either in a positive or
a negative way. National food authorities may be called upon to examine the
safety of such conventional foods obtained from novel varieties of organisms,
but this is not always the case.
In contrast, most national authorities consider that specific assessments are
necessary for GM foods. Specific systems have been set up for the rigorous
evaluation of GM organisms and GM foods relative to both human health and
the environment. Similar evaluations are generally not performed for
conventional foods. Hence there currently exists a significant difference in the
evaluation process prior to marketing for these two groups of food.
The WHO Department of Food Safety and Zoonoses aims at assisting national
authorities in the identification of foods that should be subject to risk assessment
and to recommend appropriate approaches to safety assessment. Should
national authorities decide to conduct safety assessment of GM organisms,
WHO recommends the use of Codex Alimentarius guidelines (See the answer
to Question 11 below).
4. How is a safety assessment of GM food conducted?

The safety assessment of GM foods generally focuses on: (a) direct health
effects (toxicity), (b) potential to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity); (c)
specific components thought to have nutritional or toxic properties; (d) the
stability of the inserted gene; (e) nutritional effects associated with genetic

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modification; and (f) any unintended effects which could result from the gene
insertion.
5. What are the main issues of concern for human health?

While theoretical discussions have covered a broad range of aspects, the three
main issues debated are the potentials to provoke allergic reaction
(allergenicity), gene transfer and outcrossing.
Allergenicity
As a matter of principle, the transfer of genes from commonly allergenic
organisms to non-allergic organisms is discouraged unless it can be
demonstrated that the protein product of the transferred gene is not allergenic.
While foods developed using traditional breeding methods are not generally
tested for allergenicity, protocols for the testing of GM foods have been
evaluated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
and WHO. No allergic effects have been found relative to GM foods currently
on the market.
Gene transfer
Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the
gastrointestinal tract would cause concern if the transferred genetic material
adversely affects human health. This would be particularly relevant if antibiotic
resistance genes, used as markers when creating GMOs, were to be
transferred. Although the probability of transfer is low, the use of gene transfer
technology that does not involve antibiotic resistance genes is encouraged.
Outcrossing
The migration of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related
species in the wild (referred to as outcrossing), as well as the mixing of crops
derived from conventional seeds with GM crops, may have an indirect effect on
food safety and food security. Cases have been reported where GM crops
approved for animal feed or industrial use were detected at low levels in the
products intended for human consumption. Several countries have adopted

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strategies to reduce mixing, including a clear separation of the fields within
which GM crops and conventional crops are grown.
6. How is a risk assessment for the environment performed?

Environmental risk assessments cover both the GMO concerned and the
potential receiving environment. The assessment process includes evaluation
of the characteristics of the GMO and its effect and stability in the environment,
combined with ecological characteristics of the environment in which the
introduction will take place. The assessment also includes unintended effects
which could result from the insertion of the new gene.
7. What are the issues of concern for the environment?

Issues of concern include: the capability of the GMO to escape and potentially
introduce the engineered genes into wild populations; the persistence of the
gene after the GMO has been harvested; the susceptibility of non-target
organisms (e.g. insects which are not pests) to the gene product; the stability of
the gene; the reduction in the spectrum of other plants including loss of
biodiversity; and increased use of chemicals in agriculture. The environmental
safety aspects of GM crops vary considerably according to local conditions.
8. Are GM foods safe?

Different GM organisms include different genes inserted in different ways. This

means that individual GM foods and their safety should be assessed on a case-
by-case basis and that it is not possible to make general statements on the
safety of all GM foods.
GM foods currently available on the international market have passed safety
assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health. In addition,
no effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of
such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been
approved. Continuous application of safety assessments based on the Codex
Alimentarius principles and, where appropriate, adequate post market
monitoring, should form the basis for ensuring the safety of GM foods.

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9. How are GM foods regulated nationally?

The way governments have regulated GM foods varies. In some countries GM

foods are not yet regulated. Countries which have legislation in place focus
primarily on assessment of risks for consumer health. Countries which have
regulatory provisions for GM foods usually also regulate GMOs in general,
taking into account health and environmental risks, as well as control- and
trade-related issues (such as potential testing and labelling regimes). In view
of the dynamics of the debate on GM foods, legislation is likely to continue to
evolve.
10. What kind of GM foods are on the market internationally?

GM crops available on the international market today have been designed using
one of three basic traits: resistance to insect damage; resistance to viral
infections; and tolerance towards certain herbicides. GM crops with higher
nutrient content (e.g. soybeans increased oleic acid) have been also studied
recently.
11. What happens when GM foods are traded internationally?

The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) is the joint FAO/WHO

intergovernmental body responsible for developing the standards, codes of
practice, guidelines and recommendations that constitute the Codex
Alimentarius, meaning the international food code. Codex developed principles
for the human health risk analysis of GM foods in 2003.
Principles for the risk analysis of foods derived from modern biotechnology
The premise of these principles sets out a premarket assessment, performed on a
caseby- case basis and including an evaluation of both direct effects (from the
inserted gene) and unintended effects (that may arise as a consequence of insertion
of the new gene) Codex also developed three Guidelines:
Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods derived from
recombinant-DNA plants
Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods produced using
recombinant-DNA microorganisms

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Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods derived from
recombinant-DNA animals
12. Have GM products on the international market passed a safety assessment?

The GM products that are currently on the international market have all passed
safety assessments conducted by national authorities. These different
assessments in general follow the same basic principles, including an
assessment of environmental and human health risk. The food safety
assessment is usually based on Codex documents.
13. Why has there been concern about GM foods among some politicians, public
interest groups and consumers?

Since the first introduction on the market in the mid-1990s of a major GM food
(herbicide-resistant soybeans), there has been concern about such food among
politicians, activists and consumers, especially in Europe. Several factors are
involved. In the late 1980s early 1990s, the results of decades of molecular
research reached the public domain. Until that time, consumers were generally
not very aware of the potential of this research. In the case of food, consumers
started to wonder about safety because they perceive that modern
biotechnology is leading to the creation of new species.
14. What is the state of public debate on GMOs?

The release of GMOs into the environment and the marketing of GM foods have
resulted in a public debate in many parts of the world. This debate is likely to
continue, probably in the broader context of other uses of biotechnology (e.g. in
human medicine) and their consequences for human societies. Even though
the issues under debate are usually very similar (costs and benefits, safety
issues), the outcome of the debate differs from country to country. On issues
such as labelling and traceability of GM foods as a way to address consumer
preferences, there is no worldwide consensus to date. Despite the lack of
consensus on these topics, the Codex Alimentarius Commission has made
significant progress and developed Codex texts relevant to labelling of foods
derived from modern biotechnology in 2011 to ensure consistency on any

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approach on labelling implemented by Codex members with already adopted
Codex provisions.
15. Are peoples reactions related to the different attitudes to food in various regions
of the world?

Depending on the region of the world, people often have different attitudes to
food. In addition to nutritional value, food often has societal and historical
connotations, and in some instances may have religious importance.
Technological modification of food and food production may evoke a negative
response among consumers, especially in the absence of sound risk
communication on risk assessment efforts and cost/benefit evaluations.
16. Are there implications for the rights of farmers to own their crops?

Yes, intellectual property rights are likely to be an element in the debate on GM

foods, with an impact on the rights of farmers. In the FAO/WHO expert
consultation in 2003
(http://www.who.int/entity/foodsafety/biotech/meetings/en/gmanimal_reportnov
03_en .pdf), WHO and FAO have considered potential problems of the
technological divide and the unbalanced distribution of benefits and risks
between developed and developing countries and the problem often becomes
even more acute through the existence of intellectual property rights and
patenting that places an advantage on the strongholds of scientific and
technological expertise. Such considerations are likely to also affect the debate
on GM foods.
17. Why are certain groups concerned about the growing influence of the chemical
industry on agriculture?

Certain groups are concerned about what they consider to be an undesirable

level of control of seed markets by a few chemical companies. Sustainable
agriculture and biodiversity benefit most from the use of a rich variety of crops,
both in terms of good crop protection practices as well as from the perspective
of society at large and the values attached to food. These groups fear that as a
result of the interest of the chemical industry in seed markets, the range of

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varieties used by farmers may be reduced mainly to GM crops. This would
impact on the food basket of a society as well as in the long run on crop
protection (for example, with the development of resistance against insect pests
and tolerance of certain herbicides). The exclusive use of herbicide-tolerant GM
crops would also make the farmer dependent on these chemicals. These
groups fear a dominant position of the chemical industry in agricultural
development, a trend which they do not consider to be sustainable.
18. What further developments can be expected in the area of GMOs?

Future GM organisms are likely to include plants with improved resistance

against plant disease or drought, crops with increased nutrient levels, fish
species with enhanced growth characteristics. For non-food use, they may
include plants or animals producing pharmaceutically important proteins such
as new vaccines.
19. What has WHO been doing to improve the evaluation of GM foods?

WHO has been taking an active role in relation to GM foods, primarily for two reasons:
on the grounds that public health could benefit from the potential of biotechnology, for
example, from an increase in the nutrient content of foods, decreased allergenicity and
more efficient and/or sustainable food production; and
based on the need to examine the potential negative effects on human health of the
consumption of food produced through genetic modification in order to protect public
health. Modern technologies should be thoroughly evaluated if they are to constitute a
true improvement in the way food is produced.
WHO, together with FAO, has convened several expert consultations on the evaluation
of GM foods and provided technical advice for the Codex Alimentarius Commission
which was fed into the Codex Guidelines on safety assessment of GM foods. WHO
will keep paying due attention to the safety of GM foods from the view of public health
protection, in close collaboration with FAO and other international bodies.

Bt. Cotton the 1st GM crop in india was approved in April-

United Nations Forum on Forests

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The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is a high-level intergovernmental
policy forum.
The forum includes all United Nations Member States and Permanent
Observers, the UNFF Secretariat, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests,
Regional Organizations and Processes and Major Groups.
In 2000, the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
established the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) with the main
objective to promote the management, conservation and sustainable
development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political
commitment to this end based on the Rio Declaration, theForest Principles.
India is a member state.
On December 17, 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the Non-Legally
Binding Instrument on All Types of Forests negotiated by the UNFF earlier that
year.

The purpose of this instrument is:

To strengthen political commitment and action at all levels to implement effectively

sustainable management of all types of forests and to achieve the shared global
objectives on forests;
To enhance the contribution of forests to the achievement of the internationally
agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, in
particular with respect to poverty eradication and environmental sustainability;
To provide a framework for national action and international cooperation.
Committee on Forestry

The Committee on Forestry (COFO) is the highest FAO Forestry statutory body.
The biennial sessions of COFO (held at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy) bring
together heads of forest services and other senior government officials to identify
emerging policy and technical issues, to seek solutions and to advise FAO and
others on appropriate action.

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Other international organizations and, increasingly, non-governmental groups
participate in COFO.
Participation in COFO is open to all FAO member countries.
India is a member State.
Nagar Vana Udyan Yojana
A Nagar Van-Udyan is a forested area in the vicinity of a city accessible to the city
dwellers suitably managed for providing wholesome natural environment for
recreation, conservation education, biodiversity conservation and supported
services like water and soil conservation, pollution abatement, reduction of heat
islands effect of the city with the essential elements for regular use.
Nagar Van-Udyan Yojana is a Pilot scheme for implementation for a period of five
Years by the the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change.

Vision

To create/ develop at least one CITY FOREST in each City having Municipal
Corporation/ Class I Cities for providing wholesome healthy living environment,
and contributing to growth of Smart, Clean, Green, Sustainable and Healthy
Cities.

Objectives

To create 200 City Forests in the Country. A City Forest will be developed in each City
with Municipal Council.
To create awareness on plants and biodiversity.
Conservation education on important flora and fauna of the region including threat
perception.
Ecological rejuvenation of the cities-Forests the green lungs will contribute to
Environmental improvement of cities by pollution mitigation, cleaner air, noise reduction,
water harvesting and reduction of heat islands effect.
In-situ Biodiversity conservation.
Health benefits to citizens.

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Making cities climate resilient.
Moyar River

Moyar River is one of the tributary of Bhavani in Tamil Nadu, South India. The
Moyar river originates from a small town called Moyar along the MasinagudyOoty
road. This is a natural line of separation between Bandipur and the Mudumalai
sanctuary to the south.
Bhavani is a major river in Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the second
largest river in Tamil Nadu and a major tributary of the Kaveri River. Bhavani river
originates from the Silent Valley National Park in Kerala and flows towards Tamil
Nadu.

Nilgai

The nilgai or blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) (pronounced /nil-g/) is the

largest Asian antelope and is endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
The nilgai is categorised as Least Concern by the IUCN.
The nilgai has been associated with Indian culture since the Vedic period (1500
500 BCE). Hindus revere the nilgai as sacred and associate it with the cow, the
mother animal in Hinduism, through its name and loosely similar physical features.
They were hunted in the Mughal era (16th to 19th centuries) and are depicted in
numerous miniatures. Nilgai have been considered a pest in several north
Indian states as they ravage crop fields and cause considerable damage.
The nilgai has been declared as vermin in Bihar.
The nilgai is protected under Schedule III of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

Raptor MOU

India has signed today the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Memorandum
of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and
Eurasia (Raptors MoU) raising the number of signatories to 56.

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Over fifty species of migratory raptors listed in the Raptors MoU occur in India. For
example, the north-eastern State of Nagaland represents an internationally
important stop-over site for at least a million Amur Falcons (Falco
amurensis) annually. These small falcons are long-distance migrants on their way
to wintering areas in southern Africa from breeding grounds in China and Russia.
This represents the largest concentration of any species of bird of prey, anywhere
in the world.
The Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of
Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MoU) is an international, legally non-binding,
agreement to protect migratory birds of prey.
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals -- more

commonly abbreviated to just the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) or
the Bonn Convention -- aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian
migratory species throughout their range. It is an intergovernmental treaty,
concluded under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme,
concerned with the conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale. Since
the Convention's entry into force, its membership has grown steadily to include
over 100 Parties from Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Europe and
Oceania. The Convention was signed in 1979 in Bad Godesberg, a suburb
of Bonn (hence the name), and entered into force in 1983. The depositary is the
government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The CMS is the only global and UN-based intergovernmental organization

established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial,
aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range. CMS and its daughter
agreements determine policy and provide further guidance on specific issues
through their Strategic Plans, Action Plans, resolutions, decisions and guidelines.
All maintain on their websites a list of all decisions taken, guidelines issues and
Action Plans adopted by the Member States.

Project Elephant

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Project Elephant (PE) was launched by the Government of India in the year 1992 as a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme with following objectives :
1. To protect elephants, their habitat & corridors
2. To address issues of man-animal conflict
3. Welfare of captive elephants

Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary

In Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka state in India., Sloth Bears , Barking Deer The
Indian Pangolin The Malabar Giant Squirrel are seen mammals
The sanctuary covers part of the rich forests of the Uttara Kannada District, on the
banks of the river Kali. In the jungles of Dandeli, one can spot several animals as
well as birds including many endangered species provided the reasonable
ground for the government to declare the Dandeli forest, a National Wildlife
Sanctuary in 1956.
The sanctuary now covers an area of 834.16 square kilometres. This sanctuary is
the second largest wildlife sanctuary of Karnataka.
Along with its adjoining Anshi National Park.

Project Tiger

A conservation programme launched in 1973 by the Government of

India during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's tenure.
The project aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal tigers in their natural
habitats and also to protect them from extinction, and preserving areas of biological
importance as a natural heritage forever represented as close as possible the
diversity of animals across the tiger's distribution in the country.
The project's task force visualized these tiger reserves as breeding nuclei, from
which surplus animals would migrate to adjacent forests. Project Tiger is
administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

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Project Tiger is an ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change providing central assistance to the tiger
States for tiger conservation in designated tiger reserves.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) is a statutory body of the
Ministry, with an overarching supervisory / coordination role, performing functions
as provided in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
List of Tiger Reserves Core & Buffer Areas

Sl. No Name of Tiger Reserve State

1 Bandipur Karnataka

Corbett Uttarakhand
2
Amangarh (buffer of Corbett TR) Uttar Pradesh

3 Kanha Madhya Pradesh

4 Manas Assam

5 Melghat Maharashtra

6 Palamau Jharkhand

7 Ranthambore Rajasthan

8 Similipal Odisha

9 Sunderbans West Bengal

10 Periyar Kerala
11 Sariska Rajasthan

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12 Buxa West Bengal
13 Indravati Chhattisgarh
14 Namdapha Arunachal Pradesh
15 Dudhwa Uttar Pradesh
16 Kalakad-Mundanthurai Tamil Nadu
17 Valmiki Bihar
18 Pench Madhya Pradesh
19 Tadoba-Andhari Maharashtra
20 Bandhavgarh Madhya Pradesh
21 Panna Madhya Pradesh
22 Dampa Mizoram
23 Bhadra Karnataka
24 Pench Maharashtra
25 Pakke Arunachal Pradesh
26 Nameri Assam
27 Satpura Madhya Pradesh
28 Anamalai Tamil Nadu
29 Udanti-Sitanadi Chattisgarh
30 Satkosia Odisha
31 Kaziranga Assam
32 Achanakmar Chattisgarh
33 Dandeli-Anshi Karnataka
34 Sanjay-Dubri Madhya Pradesh
35 Mudumalai Tamil Nadu
36 Nagarahole Karnataka
37 Parambikulam Kerala
38 Sahyadri Maharashtra
39 Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Karnataka
40 Kawal Telangana
41 Sathyamangalam Tamil Nadu

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42 Mukandra Hills Rajasthan
43 Nawegaon-Nagzira Maharashtra
44 Nagarjunsagar Srisailam (part)* Andhra Pradesh
45 Amrabad Telangana
46 Pilibhit Uttar Pradesh
47 Bor Maharashtra
48 Rajaji Tige Reserve Uttarakhand
49 Orang Tiger Reserve Assam

Binturong

The binturong also known as bearcat, is a viverrid native

to South and Southeast Asia.
It is uncommon in much of its range, and has been assessed as vulnerable on
the IUCN Red List.
Binturongs are confined to tall forest.
They are not uncommon in the forested plains and hills throughout Assam, but
more common in foothills and hills with good tree cover.
They have been recorded in Manas National Park, in Dulung and Kakoi
Reserved Forests of the Lakhimpur district, in the hill forests of Karbi
Anglong, North Cachar Hills, Cacharand Hailakandi Districts.

Bar-headed goose

The bar-headed goose (Anser indicus) is a goose that breeds in Central Asia in
colonies of thousands near mountain lakes and winters in South Asia, as far
south as peninsular India. The bar-headed goose is one of the world's highest-
flying birds.
Least Concern as per the IUCN Red list.

Control of Pollution
National Air Quality Index

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a huge initiative under Swachh Bharat
AQI to act as One Number- One Colour-One Description to judge the Air
Quality for Common Man.
The AQI has been developed by the Central Pollution Control Board in
consultation with IIT-Kanpur and an expert group comprising medical, air-quality
professionals and other stakeholders.
The index considers eight pollutants- Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Lead,
Ozone, PM.10, PM 2.5, Carbon Monoxide, Ammonia.

Assistance for Abatement of Pollution

The Scheme of Assistance for Abatement of Pollution was conceptualized
during the 7th Five-Year Plan with the main objective to strengthen the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) /
State Pollution Control Committees (SPCCs) for enforcing statutory provisions
of pollution abatement.
The Scheme is now a part of a Centrally Sponsored Umbrella Scheme of
'Pollution Abatement'.
The Scheme envisages financial support to SPCBs/PCCs, State Departments
of Environment and Autonomous Institutions / Statutory Bodies under the
Central and State Governments. The Scheme envisages support to activities
specifically focusing on pollution abatement, particularly water, air and noise
pollution. The grant will be provided to the State Pollution Control Boards/UT
Pollution Control Committees, State Departments of Environment and
Autonomous Institutions / Statutory Bodies under the Central and State
Governments with the aim of effective pollution prevention and control.

COMMON EFFLUENT TREATMENT PLANTS

In order to minimize environmental pollution due to the small and medium-scale
industries, cleaner production technologies and formation of waste minimization
circles are being encouraged in India.

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Besides, collective treatment at a centralized facility, known as the CETP is
considered as a viable treatment solution, to overcome the constraints
associated with effluent treatment in small to medium enterprises.
The concept of CETP was adopted to achieve end-of-the-pipe treatment of
combined wastewater to avail the benefit of scale of operation. In addition, the
CETP also facilitates in reduction of number of discharge points in an industrial
estate for better enforcement and also to make the skilled man power available
for proper treatment of effluent.
Advantages of CETP
facilitates economy of scale in waste treatment, thereby reducing the cost of
pollution abatement for individual SMEs
addresses the lack of space issue CETP can be planned in advance to ensure
that adequate space is available including plans for expansion in future
homogenization of wastewater
relatively better hydraulic stability
professional control over treatment can be affordable
facilitates small scale units, which often can not internalize the externalities
due to control of pollution
eliminates multiple discharges in the area, provides opportunity for better
enforcement i.e., proper treatment and disposal
provides opportunity to improve the recycling and reuse possibilities
facilitates better organization of treated effluent and sludge disposal etc.

Problems and constraints

Consistency in compliance to the prescribed standards by the CETPs is constrained
by many reasons, such as:
operating on one-size-fits-all-basis
lack of access to capital investments, working capitals, specialized technical
skills, inconsistent effluent quality from member industries
improper management of treatment units at common facility

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varied nature and scale of the industries, along with the addition of industries
in a haphazard manner, without proper planning
no provision to tackle the fluctuations in the pollution load and quantities, at
individual member industries
no separate treatment units to deal with hazardous and toxic effluents, etc.
the treatment envisaged at CETP is primarily for the separation of suspended
solids and organic matter through biological treatment systems (pre-treatment
standards refer to just this expectation). Therefore, only those streams which
can be treated at CETPs may be sent and others require specific treatment at
the individual industry level. In other words, additional treatment either at
CETP or at individual member industries is required.

Defining hazardous substances

A 'hazardous substance' is any substance that has one or more of the following intrinsic
'hazardous properties':

Explosiveness

Flammability

Ability to oxidise (accelerate a fire)

Human toxicity (acute or chronic)

Corrosiveness (to human tissue or metal)

Ecotoxicity (with or without bioaccumulation)

Capacity, on contact with air or water, to develop one or more of the above
properties.

Definition of "Substance" from Section 2 of the Hazardous Substances and New

Organisms Act 1996
Substance means:

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a. Any element, defined mixture of elements, compounds, or defined mixture of
compounds, either naturally occurring or produced synthetically, or any mixtures
thereof.

b. Any isotope, allotrope, isomer, congener, radical, or ion of an element or

compound which has been declared by the Authority, by notice in the Gazette, to
be a different substance from that element or compound.

c. Any mixtures or combinations of any of the above.

d. Any manufactured article containing, incorporating, or including any hazardous

substance with explosive properties.

The Hazardous Substances Management Division (HSMD) is

The nodal point within the Ministry for management of chemical emergencies
and hazardous substances.
The main objective of the Division is to promote safe management and use of
hazardous substances including hazardous chemicals and hazardous wastes,
in order to avoid damage to health and environment.
The Division is also the nodal point for the following four International
Conventions viz. Basel Convention on Control of transboundary movement of
Hazardous waste and their disposal; Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed
Consent Procedure for certain Chemicals and Pesticides in International trade;
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, the Minamata
Convention on Mercury and Strategic Approach to International Chemicals
Management.
1. International Conventions/Protocols

(i) Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous

Wastes and their Disposal:

The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous

Wastes and their Disposal was adopted on 22 March 1989 by the Conference of
Plenipotentiaries in Basel, Switzerland. The Convention entered into force on 5

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May 1992 . The overarching objective of the Basel Convention is to protect human
health and the environment against the adverse effects of hazardous wastes. Its
scope of application covers a wide range of wastes defined as hazardous wastes
based on their origin and/or composition and their characteristics (article 1 and
annexes I, III, VIII and IX), as well as two types of wastes defined as other wastes
(household waste and incinerator ash; article 1 and annex II).
India deposited its instrument of ratification on June 1992. As on date there are 180
Parties to the Convention.

(ii) Rotterdam Convention on the prior informed consent procedure for certain
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade:

The Rotterdam Convention on the prior informed consent procedure for certain
Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade entered into force on
24thFebruary 2004.
India acceded to the convention on 24th May 2005 and it became operative on
23rd August 2005.
During the interim period, over 170 countries identified 265 departments/institutes
as Designated National Authorities (DNAs) to act on their behalf in the
performance of the administrative functions required by the Convention.
The Designated National Authorities (DNAs) for India are in Ministry of Chemicals
and Fertilizers, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation. The Official Contact Points
(OCPs) are designated in Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
There are 47 chemicals listed in Annex III to this Convention, which include 33
pesticides and 14 industrial chemicals that have been banned or severely
restricted for health or environmental reasons by two or more Parties and which
the Conference of the Parties (COPs) has decided to subject to the Prior Informed
consent (PIC) procedure.

(iii) Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants:

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The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) is a global

treaty to protect human health and the environment from POPs. The Convention
sought initially 12 chemicals, for restriction or elimination of the production and
release. Now, the Convention covers 23 chemicals. The Convention was adopted
in May, 2001 and came into force on 17th May, 2004. India ratified the Convention
on 13th January, 2006 which came in to force on 12th April, 2006. As per Article 7
of the Convention, Parties to the Convention were required to develop a National
Implementation Plan (NIP) to demonstrate how their obligations to the Convention
would be implemented and NIP has been developed through Global Environment
Facility (GEF) funding. Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change
serves as the focal point for GEF and Stockholm Convention in the country.
Designated national authorities are in Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation and
Ministry of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. India has ratified 12 initially listed
chemicals.

(iv) Minamata Convention on Mercury:

In February 2009, the Governing Council of UNEP adopted Decision 25/5 on the
development of a global legally binding instrument on mercury. At the Conference
of Plenipotentiaries held from 9th-11th October 2013 in Minamata and Kumamoto,
Japan, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a global treaty to protect human
health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury, was formally
adopted and opened for signature by States and regional economic integration
organizations. The Convention has till now received nine ratification and 128
signatures. India has signed the Convention on 30th September 2014.

(v) Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management:

In February 2006, over 190 countries including India acceded to the Strategic
Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM), an international
policy framework to foster sound management of chemicals. Initial activities under

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SAICM included development or updating of national chemicals profiles,
strengthening of institutions, and mainstreaming sound management of chemicals
in national strategies. Towards this end, India initiated the preparation of the
National Chemicals Management Profile to assess Indias infrastructure and
capacity for management of chemicals. Other actions taken by the Ministry were:
(i) initiated studies of inventorisation of lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in
paints, distemper and pigments in the country, (ii) initiated discussions with leading
national laboratories, (iii) notified the E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules,
2012 for the management of electronic waste, and (iv) finalized the draft
Dangerous Goods (Classification, Packaging and Labelling) Rules, 2013 in the line
of Globally Harmonized System.

Red avadavat

The red avadavat, red munia or strawberry finch (Amandava amandava) is a

sparrow-sized bird of the Estrildidae family.
It is found in the open fields and grasslands of tropical Asia and is popular as a
cage bird due to the colourful plumage of the males in their breeding season.
It breeds in the Indian Subcontinent in the monsoon season.
The species name of amandava and the common name of avadavat are derived
from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, from where these birds were
exported into the pet trade in former times.
The species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Okhla Sanctuary

Okhla Bird Sanctuary is a bird sanctuary at the Okhla barrage over Yamuna River.

It is situated in Noida, Gautam Buddh Nagar district, on Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state

border and known as a haven for over 300 bird species, especially waterbirds.

In 1990, an area of 3.5 square kilometres (1.4 sq mi) on the river Yamuna was
designated a bird sanctuary by the Government of Uttar Pradesh under the Wildlife
Protection Act, 1972.

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The site is located at the point where the river enters Uttar Pradesh.

The most prominent feature of the sanctuary is the large lake created by damming
the river, which lies between Okhla village to the west and Gautam Budh Nagar to
the east. The Okhla Bird Sanctuary (OBS) is roughly 4 square kilometres in size
and is situated at the entrance of NOIDA in Gautam Budh Nagar district of Uttar
Pradesh.

It is situated at a point where river Yamuna enters in the state of Uttar Pradesh
leaving the territory of Delhi.

It is one among fifteen bird sanctuaries in the state.

The bird species of thorny scrub, grassland and wetland are seen in the sanctuary
due its location.

The total Okhla list includes:

Two critically endangered (CR) species (white-rumped vulture and Indian vulture)
Nine vulnerable (VU) species (Baikal teal, Baers pochard, sarus crane, sociable
lapwing, Indian skimmer, Pallass fish eagle, lesser adjutant, bristled
grassbird and Finns weaver)
Seven near threatened (NT) species (ferruginous pochard, black-bellied tern, grey-
headed fish eagle, erratically east to West Bengal and south to Kerala and Sri
Lanka.

Conservation of Water Bodies

National River Conservation Plan

National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) is a centrally funded scheme

launched in 1995 aimed at preventing the pollution of rivers.
It provoide information of each state on amount sanctioned under NRCP to
which city and for what purpose.

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Purposes included under the plan are construction of STP, river front
development, low cost sanitation, afforestation etc.

National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP)

Government of India opertionalized National Wetland Conservation Programme

(NWCP) in closed collaboration with concerned State Government during the year
1985/86.
Under the programme 115 wetlands have been identified till now by the Ministry
which requires urgent conservation and management initiatives.

Aim of the Scheme

Conservation and wise use of wetlands in the country so as to prevent their further
degradation.

Objectives of the Scheme

The scheme was initiated with the following objectives:-

to lay down policy guidelines for conservation and management of wetlands in the
country;

to undertake intensive conservation measures in priority wetlands;

to monitor implementation of the programme; and

to prepare an inventory of Indian wetlands.

National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP)

Recognising the importance of lakes, Ministry of Environment & Forests,
Government of India, launched the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP), a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme exclusively aimed at restoring the water quality
and ecology of the lakes in different parts of the country.

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The scheme was approved by Government of India during IX Plan (June 2001)
as 100% Central Grant.
Funding pattern under NLCP has since been changed w.e.f. February, 2002
from 100% central funding to 70:30 costs sharing between the Central and the
concerned State Government.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the scheme is to restore and conserve the urban and semi-
urban lakes of the country degraded due to waste water discharge into the lake
and other unique freshwater eco systems1 , through an integrated ecosystem
approach.

ACTIVITIES COVERED UNDER NLCP

Prevention of pollution from point sources by intercepting, diverting and treating the
pollution loads entering the lake. The interception and diversion works may include
sewerage & sewage treatment for the entire lake catchment area.
(i) In situ measures of lake cleaning such as de-silting, de-weeding,
bioremediation, aeration, bio-manipulation, nutrient reduction, withdrawal of
anoxic hypolimn ion, constructed wetland approach or any other successfully
tested eco-technologies etc depending upon the site conditions.
(ii) Catchment area treatment which may include afforestation, storm water
drainage, silt traps etc.
(iii) Strengthening of bund, lake fencing, shoreline development etc.
(iv) Lake front eco-development including public interface.
(v) Solid waste management2 & provision of dhobi ghats is generally not
covered under NLCP.
(vi) Prevention of pollution from non-point sources by providing low cost
sanitation.
(vii) Public awareness and public participation.
(viii) Capacity building, training and research in the area of Lake Conservation.
(ix) Any other activity depending upon location specific requirements.

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Merger of National Lake Conservation Plan and National Wetlands Conservation

Programme into a new scheme

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the proposal for the
merger of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) and National Wetlands
Conservation Programme (NWCP) into a new scheme called the 'National Plan for
Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems' (NPCA).
The merged scheme shall be operational during the XII Plan Period at an
estimated cost of Rs.900 crore on 70:30 cost sharing between the Central
Government and respective State Governments (90:10 for North-East States).
For conservation of lakes and wetlands, the Ministry of Environment and Forests
is presently, implementing two separate Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS),
namely the NWCP and the NLCP. To avoid overlap, promote better synergies and
to ensure conservation and management works, an integrated scheme, NPCA is
proposed, with the objective of conserving aquatic ecosystems (lakes and
wetlands), through implementation of sustainable conservation plans and
governed with application of uniform policy and guidelines.
The principal objectives of the new scheme will be holistic conservation and
restoration of lakes and wetlands for achieving desired water quality enhancement,
besides improvement in biodiversity and the ecosystem, through an integrated and
multidisciplinary approach with a common regulatory framework, The scheme
would contribute to reduction of pollution loads and improvement in goods and
services provided by these water bodies to stakeholders.
The new scheme will have conservation and management of lakes and wetlands
in the country within its scope, to include inventory and information system on lakes
and wetlands national level directive on criteria for lakes and wetlands, regulatory
framework, capacity building at state government and local body levels, evaluation
etc.

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World Wetlands Day
Celebrated every year on 2 February. This day marks the date of the adoption
of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar
on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods is the theme for World
Wetlands Day in 2016. This theme is selected to demonstrate the vital role of
wetlands for the future of humanity and specifically their relevance towards
achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals.

National Afforestation & Eco-Development Board

The National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB), set up in

August 1992,is responsible for promoting afforestation,tree planting,
ecological restoration and eco-development activities in the country, with
special attention to the degraded forest areas and lands adjoining the forest
areas, national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas as well as the
ecologically fragile areas like the Western Himalayas, Aravallis, Western
Ghats, etc. The detailed role and functions of the NAEB are given below.

Evolve mechanisms for ecological restoration of degraded forest

areas and adjoining lands through systematic planning and
implementation, in a cost effective manner;

Restore through natural regeneration or appropriate intervention the

forest cover in the country for ecological security and to meet the
fuelwood, fodder and other needs of the rural communities;

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Restore fuelwood, fodder, timber and other forest produce on the
degraded forest and adjoining lands in order to meet the demands for
these items;

Sponsor research and extension of research findings to disseminate

new and proper technologies for the regeneration and development of
degraded forest areas and adjoining lands;

Create general awareness and help foster people's movement for

promoting afforestation and eco-development with the assistance of
voluntary agencies, non-government organisations, Panchayati Raj
institutions and others and promote participatory and sustainable
management of degraded forest areas and adjoining lands;

Coordinate and monitor the Action Plans for afforestation, tree

planting, ecological restoration and eco-development; and

Undertake all other measures necessary for promoting afforestation,

tree planting, ecological restoration and eco-development activities in
the country.

Eco-Development Forces
Ecological Task Forces (ETFs) Scheme was initiated by the Ministry of Defence
in 1982 with a view to securing involvement of ex-servicemen in afforestation
and eco-development in remote and difficult areas to undertake restoration of
degraded ecosystems through afforestation, soil conservation and water
resource management techniques.
The scheme also serves as a mechanism to rehabilitate the ex-servicemen for
productive work and to create employment for retired army personnel mainly in
the rural areas.
The Scheme has been in operation for last four Five Year Plans. Therefore, the
basic requirements with regard to procedural and financial aspects stand
fulfilled.

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Himalayan tahr

The Himalayan tahr is a large ungulate native to the Himalayas in southern

Tibet, northern India and Nepal.
It is listed as Near Threatened by IUCN, as the population is declining due to
hunting and habitat loss.
The Himalayan tahr is adapted to life in a cool climate with rocky terrain, which
allows them to be found in mountainous areas.
In the Himalayas, they are mainly found on slopes ranging from 2,500 to 5,000
m. Himalayan tahr can eat a wide variety of plants.
They most often inhabit locations in where vegetation is exposed for browsing
and grazing.
During the winter (when snow covers vegetation at higher elevations), they are
found on lower-altitude slopes.

Eco-Sensitive Zones
The purpose of declaring an Eco-Sensitive Zone is to create a buffer zone,
where activities will be regulated to protect areas demarcated as Protected
Areas. It includes National Park and Wild life Sanctuary.

Nagarhole National Park

Nagarhole National Park (also known as Rajiv Gandhi National Park), is a national
park located in Kodagu district and Mysore district in Karnataka state in South
India.

This park was declared the thirty seventh Project Tiger tiger reserve in 1999. It is
part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. TheWestern Ghats Nilgiri Sub-Cluster of
6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi), including all of Nagarhole National Park, is under
consideration by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for selection as a World
Heritage Site.

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The park has rich forest cover, small streams, hills, valleys and waterfalls.

The park has a healthy predator-prey ratio, with manytigers, Indian

bison and elephants.
The park ranges the foothills of the Western Ghats spreading down
the Brahmagiri hills and south towards Kerala state.
Indian Himalayan Region

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is a range that spans ten states
of India namely, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim,
and Arunachal Pradesh as well as the hill regions of two states - Assam and West
Bengal.

The region is responsible for providing water to a large part of the Indian
subcontinent and contains varied flora and fauna.

The IHR physiographically, starting from the foothills of south (Siwaliks), this
mountain range extends up to Tibetan plateau on the north (Trans-Himalaya).

Three major geographical entities, the Himadri (greater Himalaya), Himanchal

(lesser Himalaya) and the Siwaliks (outer Himalaya) extending almost
uninterrupted throughout its length, are separated by major geological fault lines.

Mighty but older streams like the Indus, Sutlej, Kali, Kosi and Brahmaputra have
cut through steep gorges to escape into the Great Plains and have established
their antecedence.

Barasingha-Swamp Deer

The barasingha also called swamp deer, is a deer species distributed in

the Indian subcontinent. Populations in northern and central India are
fragmented, and two isolated populations occur in southwestern Nepal.
It is extinct in Pakistan and in Bangladesh.
In India, it is included under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.

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Kanha Tiger Reserve

Kanha Tiger Reserve, also called Kanha National Park, is one of the tiger
reserves of India and the largest national park of Madhya Pradesh, state in the
heart of India.
The present-day Kanha area was divided into two sanctuaries, Hallon and
Banjar, of 250 and 300 km2 respectively. Kanha National Park was created on
1 June 1955 and in 1973 was made the Kanha Tiger Reserve. Today it stretches
over an area of 940 km2 in the two districts Mandla and Balaghat.
Together with a surrounding buffer zone of 1,067 km2 and the neighboring
110 km2 Phen Sanctuary it forms the Kanha Tiger Reserve.
Black-winged stilt

The species is evaluated as Least Concern as per birdlife international & Sch
IV of the Wildlife Protection Act.

Sambar Deer-Vulnerable as per IUCN & Schedule- III of Wildlife Protection Act.

Humboldtia Brunonis
A genus of flowering plants in the legume family. Most are endemic to Southern
Western Ghats.

National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC)

The National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) has been established
in August 2015 to meet the cost of adaptation to climate change for the State and
Union Territories of India that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of
climate change.

Considering the existing arrangement with NABARD as National Implementing

Entity (NIE) for Adaptation Fund Board (AFB) under Kyoto Protocol and its
presence across the country, NABARD has been designated as National
Implementing Entity (NIE) for implementation of adaptation projects under
NAFCC by Govt. of India.

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A centrally Sponsored scheme.

International Solar Alliance

The COP-21 Climate Conference was held in Paris, France from 30 November
to 12 December 2015. During this conference, India and France have launched
the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which has been creating buzz in the
international media. Here is a brief backgrounder on this new Indian initiative.
What is the Alliance?
On the first day of the COP-21 summit, the International Solar Alliance was
launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President
Francois Hollande as a union of countries with abundant sunlight. Under this
alliance, 121 countries that fall within the tropics {i.e. between Tropic of Cancer
and Tropic of Capricorn} have been invited to make collaborative efforts to
harness solar energy to generate the electricity. Most of these countries fall
within Asia, Africa and South America.
Objectives
There are three objectives behind the International Solar Alliance. Firstly, to
force down prices by driving demand; secondly, to bring standardization in solar
technologies and thirdly, to foster research and development.
Forcing down prices
Currently, the global installed capacity of solar power is around 180 GW at
present. It has grown around tenfold in last one decade only. The prices of solar
panels and other related equipments have gradually become very competitive,
but still India and world are far from reaching the grid parity. {Grid Parity is when
cost of per unit energy produced via solar or any other alternative method is
equal to cost of purchasing the same from an existing electricity grid}. To
achieve the grid parity, it is a prerequisite to bring down the cost of generation
of solar power. The idea behind an international alliance is that the countries
can come together to collaborate in installation of solar plants and thus can drive

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up the demand for solar technologies manifold. This would force down the
prices around the world and will make generation of solar energy rather cheap.
Standardization
The second rationale of this alliance is to bring standardization in the
manufacturing of the solar panels and other solar technologies, so that the
prices can fall substantially. The countries can also come together in
technological innovation also to bring down the prices.
Research and Development
One of the key objectives of ISA is to foster research and development in solar
technologies. Currently, a technology breakthrough is awaited in the field of
storage of energy. Currently, there is no way to store the electricity being
produced by solar systems due to which it has not established itself as reliable
energy source.
Important Facts
The Sunshine Countries {Suryaputra} Our Prime Minister was the leading force
behind this alliance. He coined the new term Surya Putra for all the nations which
fall between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, and which have been invited
to join the alliance. The other term used for these countries is Sunshine Countries.
International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA)
International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (IASPA) will be the formal name
of International Solar Alliance. Its secretariat will be set up in India with an investment
of initial funding of $30 million from India. It will raise around $400 million as fees
from international agencies. Initially The ISA secretariat will be set up in National
Institute of Solar Energy, New Delhi.
IESS 2047
IESS 2047 stands for India Energy Security Scenarios 2047 calculator which has
been launched by India to explore the potential of future energy scenarios for India.
Points for Analysis
Firstly, ISA is a pragmatic and interesting initiative by India towards bringing
affordable solar energy to all and towards global effort to fight climate change. If its

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successful, it will not only be helpful for India but also for many developing countries
which could defend their people against ravages of climate change while giving them
safe and clean energy.
Secondly, this alliance has diplomatic importance also. It is one of the Indias major
global diplomatic initiatives since NAM days. It fosters South-South Cooperation.
Thirdly, if successful, it can be extended to other forms of renewable energy also,
such as wind or biogas.

MISSION INNOVATION

Mission Innovation is a global initiative to accelerate public and private clean

energy innovation to address climate change, make clean energy affordable to
consumers, and create green jobs and commercial opportunities.
It was announced by Bill Gates at COP21 on 30 November 2015, on stage
with President Obama, President Hollande and Prime Minister Modi.

THE VIENNA CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE OZONE LAYER

The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is often called a
framework convention, because it served as a framework for efforts to protect the
globes ozone layer.

The Vienna Convention was adopted in 1985 and entered into force on 22 Sep
1988. In 2009, the Vienna Convention became the first Convention of any kind to
achieve universal ratification.

The objectives of the Convention were for Parties to promote cooperation by

means of systematic observations, research and information exchange on the
effects of human activities on the ozone layer and to adopt legislative or
administrative measures against activities likely to have adverse effects on the
ozone layer.

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The Vienna Convention did not require countries to take concrete actions to control
ozone depleting substances. Instead, in accordance with the provisions of the
Convention, the countries of the world agreed the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer under the Convention to advance that
goal.

The Parties to the Vienna Convention meet once every three years, back to back
with the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, in order to take decisions designed to
administer the Convention.
30th Anniversary of the Vienna Convention and 21st International Day for
Preservation of Ozone Layer Celebrated
The theme of the celebration is "30 Years of Healing the Ozone Together. The
theme is supported by the slogan Ozone: All there is between you and UV.
Background to 30th anniversary of Vienna Convention and 21st International Day for
the preservation of Ozone layer-From PIB
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone layer was signed on
March 22, 1985 and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the
Ozone layer was signed on September 16, 1987.
India became Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer on March 18, 1991 and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete
the Ozone layer on June 19, 1992.
The UN General Assembly on January 23, 1995 adopted a resolution 49/114,
which proclaims September 16 as the International Day for the preservation of
the Ozone layer, to commemorate the signing of the Montreal Protocol on
substances that deplete the Ozone Layer, which was signed on September 16,
1987. Since 1995, this day is celebrated every year as the International Day for
the preservation of the Ozone layer and commemorates the date of signing of
the Montreal Protocol.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Convention for the
protection of the Ozone layer, an important milestone for the protection of the
Ozone layer. The 30th anniversary of the Vienna Convention and the 21st

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International Day for the preservation of the Ozone layer are being celebrated
by India on September 16, 2015.
The Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone layer has been
recognized as the most successful international environment treaty in history.
Another testimony to its remarkable accomplishments, the Montreal Protocol
has received universal ratification; all countries in the world have now ratified
this landmark agreement. This brings together the global community to protect
the Ozone layer.
The Montreal Protocol, which has been in operation for twenty eight years had
an extraordinary international cooperation and has led to a complete phase-out
of production and consumption of several ODSs. As of January 1, 2015 the
production and consumption of key ODSs like CFCs, CTC halons, Methyl
Chloroform and Methyl Bromide have already been phased-out globally. This
has not only protected the stratospheric Ozone layer, but it has also immensely
benefitted the climate system. The ODSs are also potent Green House Gases
(GHGs) and these gases were not included in Kyoto basket of gases for
emission controls, as these are already being phased out under ambit of the
Montreal Protocol. As per expert estimates, GHG emissions have been reduced
by more than 11 Giga tonnes CO2 equivalent per year through the ODS phase-
out activities of the Montreal Protocol.
India, being a Party to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone
Layer and the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer,
have been sharing the global concern for protecting the Ozone layer and
phasing out of the ODSs. These substances are used in a number of
applications, including industrial and pharmaceutical aerosols, refrigeration and
air-conditioning equipments, foam manufacturing, fire extinguishing equipment,
metal-cleaning, garment cleaning, soil fumigation, quarantine and pre-shipment
applications etc.
The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, have
been put in place to control production, consumption, export, import and trade

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with the non-Parties to the Montreal Protocol. These Rules are being enforced
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 with effect from 19th July, 2000.
OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES (ODS)

What are ozone depleting substances?

Ozone depleting substances (ODSs) are those substances which deplete the
ozone layer and are widely used in refrigerators, airconditioners, fire extinguishers,
in dry cleaning, as solvents for cleaning, electronic equipment and as agricultural
fumigants.

Ozone depleting substances controlled by Montreal Protocol include:

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Halon
Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), Methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3)
Hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs)
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
Methyl bromide (CH3Br)
Bromochloromethane (CH2BrCl)

HYDROCHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (HCFCS)
Hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are compounds consisting of hydrogen,
chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms.
HCFCs and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) were created in the 1980s as
substitutes for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) for use in refrigeration and a wide
variety of manufacturing processes.
Because all three of these classes of compounds either destroy the
stratospheric ozone layer essential to life on Earth or contribute to global
warming, international agreements have been signed to eliminate their
production and use by either the year 2000 (CFCs) or 2040 (HCFCs and HFCs).

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KEY TERMS

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Chemical compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and

carbon. CFCs were a key component in the development of refrigeration, air conditioning,
and foam products.

Greenhouse gases Gases that contribute to the warming of Earths atmosphere.

Examples include carbon dioxide, HCFCs, CFCs, and HFCs.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) Chemical compounds that contain hydrogen, fluorine, and

carbon atoms.

Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer An agreement signed
by 43 countries in 1987, and amended and signed by 90 nations in 1990, to eliminate the
production and use of compounds that destroy the ozone layer.
Ozone A gas made up of three atoms of oxygen. Pale blue in color, it is a pollutant in
the lower atmosphere, but essential for the survival of life on Earths surface when found
in the upper atmosphere because it blocks dangerous ultraviolet solar radiation.
Ozone layer A layer of ozone in the stratosphere that shields the surface of Earth from
dangerous ultraviolet solar radiation.
Stratosphere A layer of the upper atmosphere above an altitude of 510.6 mi (817 km)
and extending to about 31 mi (50 km), depending on season and latitude. Within the
stratosphere, air temperature changes little with altitude, and there are few convective air
currents.
Troposphere The layer of air up to 15 mi (24 km) above the surface of Earth, also known
as the lower atmosphere.
Ultraviolet radiation Radiation similar to visible light but of shorter wavelength, and thus
higher energy.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

16 September every year
2015 Theme: 30 Years of Healing the Ozone Together -
"Ozone: All there is between you and UV.
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In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 16 September the International Day
for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in
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The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established on the eve of the 1992
Rio Earth Summit, to help tackle our planets most pressing environmental
problems.
The GEF serves as financial mechanism for the following conventions:

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
Minamata Convention on Mercury
The GEF, although not linked formally to the Montreal Protocol on Substances That
Deplete the Ozone Layer (MP), supports implementation of the Protocol in countries
with economies in transition.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by world leaders in September
2015 at an historic UN Summit officially came into force. Over the next fifteen
years, with these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize
efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change,
while ensuring that no one is left behind.

The SDGs build on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and
aim to go further to end all forms of poverty. The new Goals are unique in that they
call for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income to promote prosperity
while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-
hand with strategies that build economic growth and addresses a range of social
needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while
tackling climate change and environmental protection.

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While the SDGs are not legally binding, governments are expected to take
ownership and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the 17
Goals. Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the
progress made in implementing the Goals, which will require quality, accessible
and timely data collection. Regional follow-up and review will be based on
national-level analyses and contribute to follow-up and review at the global level.

The Sustainable Development Goals

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Frequently Asked Questions
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development has been defined as development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.

Sustainable development calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive,

sustainable and resilient future for people and planet.

For sustainable development to be achieved, it is crucial to harmonize three core

elements: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. These
elements are interconnected and all are crucial for the well-being of individuals and
societies.

Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is an indispensable requirement for
sustainable development. To this end, there must be promotion of sustainable, inclusive
and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing
inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social development and
inclusion, and promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural resources
and ecosystems.

Are the Sustainable Development Goals legally binding?

No. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not legally binding.

Nevertheless, countries are expected to take ownership and establish a national

framework for achieving the 17 Goals.

Implementation and success will rely on countries own sustainable development

policies, plans and programmes.

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Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review, at the
national, regional and global levels, with regard to the progress made in
implementing the Goals and targets over the next 15 years.

Actions at the national level to monitor progress will require quality, accessible
and timely data collection and regional follow-up and review.

How will the Sustainable Development Goals be implemented?

The Addis Ababa Action Agenda that came out of the Third International Conference
on Financing for Development provided concrete policies and actions to support the
implementation of the new agenda.

Implementation and success will rely on countries own sustainable development

policies, plans and programmes, and will be led by countries. The Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) will be a compass for aligning countries plans with their
global commitments.

Nationally owned and country-led sustainable development strategies will require

resource mobilization and financing strategies.

All stakeholders: governments, civil society, the private sector, and others, are
expected to contribute to the realisation of the new agenda.

A revitalized global partnership at the global level is needed to support national

efforts. This is recognized in the 2030 Agenda.

Multi-stakeholder partnerships have been recognized as an important component of

strategies that seek to mobilize all stakeholders around the new agenda.

How will the Sustainable Development Goals be monitored?

At the global level, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets of
the new agenda will be monitored and reviewed using a set of global indicators. The
global indicator framework, to be developed by the Inter Agency and Expert Group on

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SDG Indicators (IAEA-SDGs), will be agreed on by the UN Statistical Commission by
March 2016. The Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly will then
adopt these indicators.

Governments will also develop their own national indicators to assist in monitoring
progress made on the goals and targets.

Chief statisticians from Member States are working on the identification of the targets
with the aim to have 2 indicators for each target. There will be approximately 300
indicators for all the targets. Where the targets cover cross-cutting issues, however, the
number of indicators may be reduced.

The follow-up and review process will be informed by an annual SDG Progress
Report to be prepared by the Secretary-General.

The annual meetings of the High-level Political Forum on sustainable development

will play a central role in reviewing progress towards the SDGs at the global level. The
means of implementation of the SDGs will be monitored and reviewed as outlined in the
Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the outcome document of the Third International
Conference on Financing for Development, to ensure that financial resources are
effectively mobilized to support the new sustainable development agenda.

How much will the implementation of this new sustainable development agenda cost?
The means of implementationincluding how to mobilize the financial resources to
achieve the sustainable development agendaare a core feature of the new agenda.

In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), substantial

investment will be required, in both developed and developing countries. This agenda
will require the mobilization of significant resourcesin the trillions of dollars.

But these resources already exist. There are far more than enough savings in the
world to finance the new agenda. How to direct investment so that it supports
sustainable development will be crucial for achieving our Goals.

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Resources need to be mobilized from domestic and international sources, as well as
from the public and private sectors.

Official development assistance is still necessary to help the countries most in need,
including the least developed countries, to achieve sustainable development.

How does climate change relate to sustainable development?

Climate change is already impacting public health, food and water security, migration,
peace and security. Climate change, left unchecked, will roll back the development
gains we have made over the last decades and will make further gains impossible.

Investments in sustainable development will help address climate change by reducing

greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience.

Conversely, action on climate change will drive sustainable development.

Tackling climate change and fostering sustainable development are two mutually
reinforcing sides of the same coin; sustainable development cannot be achieved without
climate action. Conversely, many of the SDGs are addressing the core drivers of
climate change.

How are the Sustainable Development Goals different from the MDGs?
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 169 targets are broader in scope
and go further than the MDGs by addressing the root causes of poverty and the
universal need for development that works for all people. The goals cover the three
dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion and
environmental protection.

Building on the success and momentum of the MDGs, the new global goals cover
more ground, with ambitions to address inequalities, economic growth, decent jobs,
cities and human settlements, industrialization, oceans, ecosystems, energy, climate
change, sustainable consumption and production, peace and justice.

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The new Goals are universal and apply to all countries, whereas the MDGs were
intended for action in developing countries only.

A core feature of the SDGs is their strong focus on means of implementationthe

mobilization of financial resourcescapacity-building and technology, as well as data
and institutions.

The new Goals recognize that tackling climate change is essential for sustainable
development and poverty eradication. SDG 13 aims to promote urgent action to combat
climate change and its impacts.

Pied kingfisher

The pied kingfisher is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across
Africa and Asia.
The species is evaluated as Least Concern as per IUCN.

THANKS FOR READING

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