o Establishment of Seed Processing- cum- Seed
WETLANDS
Storage Godowns at Gram Panchyat Level,
o National Seed Reserve,
o Boosting Seed Production in Private Sector
and
o Strengthening of Quality Control
Infrastructure Facilities.
• Major achievements of the scheme from 2014-21
o Under Seed Village Programme, 4.29 lakh
Seed Villages have been created.
o Certified seeds have been distributed at 75%
subsidised rates to 2.61 lakh farmers.
o Financial support has been provided to the
States to establish Seed Processing-cum-
storage godown Units at Gram Panchayat level.
o Under National Seed Reserve, seeds of short
and medium crop varieties are kept to meet
the requirement of farmers for re-sowing
during natural calamities i.e., drought, cyclone
and flood etc.
o In order to alleviate malnutrition in the
country, multiple bio-fortified varieties
(nutritionally enriched with protein, Iron,
Zinc, amino acids etc.) of different crops
developed.
11.10. BIODIVERSITY HERITAGE SITE
• Devalsari region in Tehri Garhwal district is likely to
be declared as first biodiversity heritage site of
Uttarakhand.
o The region is rich in biodiversity and has a lot
of potential for ecotourism.
o Last year, a rare day-flying moth, Achelura
bifasciata was spotted in forests of Devalsari
for the first time in history.
• About Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS)
o BHS are areas that are unique, ecologically
fragile ecosystems having rich biodiversity
comprising of any one or more of the
components such as;
✓ species richness,
✓ high endemism,
✓ presence of rare, endemic and
threatened species, keystone species,
species of evolutionary significance, wild
ancestors of domestic species or land
races or their varieties,
✓ past pre-eminence of biological
components represented by fossil beds
and having cultural or aesthetic values.
o Under Biological Diversity Act, 2002 State
Government in consultation with local bodies
may notify the areas of biodiversity
importance as BHS.
o Currently, there are 18 BHS in India.
88 www.visionias.in
11.11.
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change (MoEFCC) established India’s first Centre
for Wetland Conservation and Management
(CWCM).
• CWCM would be a part of National Centre for
Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM),
Chennai, an institution under MoEFCC.
• Role of CWCM
o It would address specific research needs and
knowledge gaps in conservation and
management of wetlands.
o It will aid in application of integrated
approaches for conservation, management
and wise use of wetlands.
o It would also serve as a knowledge hub and
enable exchange between State/ UT
Wetland Authorities, wetland users,
managers, researchers, policy-makers and
practitioners.
11.12. ASIA ENVIRONMENTAL
ENFORCEMENT AWARD
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has received
Asia Environmental Enforcement Award-2020
presented by United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP).
• WCCB has been awarded under the category
‘Innovation’ for “Operation WILDNET-II”.
o Operation WILDNET: WCCB organized this
operation to drag attention of enforcement
agencies on illegal wildlife trade over internet
using Social Media Platforms such as
Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp etc.
o Earlier WCCB has received the award in the
same category in 2018.
• About Asia Environmental Enforcement Award:
o The award publicly recognises excellence in
controlling transboundary environmental
crime such as illegal trade in wildlife and illegal
trade in chemical or waste including plastic.
o The Awards are given to individuals and/or
government organizations/teams that
demonstrate excellence and outstanding
leadership in enforcement of national laws to
combat transboundary environmental crime.
o 2020 Awards were given by UNEP in
partnership with United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of
Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and International
Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
©Vision IAS