Environment Ready Reckoner 2019

FREE BOOKS, NOTES & VIDEOS FOR CIVILSERVICES
EBOOKS & UPSC PRELIMS USPC MAINS VIDEO FOR DAILY

MAGZINES MATERIALS MATERIALS CIVILSERVICES NEWSAPERS
SECUREIAS UPSC PRELIMS UPSC MAINS DELHI CIVILSERVICES

TESTSERIES TESTSERIES STUDENTS BOOKS
OPTIONAL SUBJECTS BOOKS, STATE PCS, SSC, BANKING

TEST SERIES, VIDEOS & NOTES BOOKS, TESTS VIDEOS & NOTES
1.GEOGRAPHY 1.UPPSC 2.SSC 3.MPSC
2.HISTORY 4.IBPS 5.RAS & RPSC
3.MATHEMATICS ENGINEERING BOOKS & MATERIAL
4. SOCIOLOGY 1. IES 2. GATE 3. IFoS
5.PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION 4. COMPUTER SCIENCE
6. POLITICAL SCIENCE 5. MECHINICAL ENGINEERING
7. ECONOMICS OTHER TELEGRAM CHANNELS
8 PHYSICS 1 GOVERNMENT JOBS
9 COMMERCE ACCOUNTANCY 2 LEARN YOGA & MEDITATION
10 ANTHROPOLOGY 3 LEARN ENGLISH
11 LAW 4 BEST DELAS & OFFERS
12 PHILOSOPHY 5 IAS HINDI BOOKS
13 CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTANCY 6 PDFs FOR ALL EXAMS
14 MEDICAL SCIENCE 7. WORLD DIGITAL LIBIRARY
1.CHENNAI STUDENTS 2.BANGLORE STUDENTS 3. CURRENT AFFAIRS
CONTACT FOR ADVERTISEMENT IN ABOVE CHANNLES
ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
LA EX MAINS
MAINS IS THE GAME CHANGER IN UPSC CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION, AS INTERVIEW SCORE DEPENDS
ON VARIETY OF FACTORS, ONE CANT BE PRETTY SURE ABOUT IT. HOWEVER GOOD SCORE IN MAINS
WOULD ENSURE ONE’S NAME IN FINAL LIST.
LA EX HAS COME OUT WITH SPECIAL INITIATIVES FOR MAINS, WHICH WOULD SIMPLIFY YOUR MAINS
PREPARATION WITH RAPID REVISION PROGRAM, UPDATE WITH TREASURE OF CURRENT AFFAIRS WITH
VALUE ADDITION PROGRAM, UPSKILLING THROUGH TEST SERIES, MENTORS FOR ONE ON ONE
COUNSELLING, TOPPERS FOR STRATEGY.
LA EX MAINS MENTORSHIP INCLUDES,

1. Study Plan of 107 days.
2. Test Series and Discussion.
3. One to one Assessment by Mentors and Faculty.
4. Value addition Current Affairs Classes.
5. Mains Rapid Revision for Polity, Governance, History, Geography, Disaster Management, Internal
Security, International Relations, Social issues, Economy etc.,
6. Exclusive Essay Classes and Essay Test Series.
7. Exclusive Ethics classes and Test Series.
Optional Mentorship Program:

 Study plan.
 One on one counselling.
 Optional test series.
 Optional value addition course (on the lines of our rapid revision program, quick revision of optional,
updation with relevant reports and current affairs, trend analysis based on previous year Question
Paper).
OPTIONAL- TEST SERIES AND VALUE ADDITION COURSE:

1. ANTHROPOLOGY - Dr.AKASH (AIR 78)
2. POLITICAL SCIENCE - ROHAN JAGADEESH(AIR 224)
3. GEOGRAPHY - SANDEEP MAHAJAN
4. KANNADA LITERATURE - RAKESH
5. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION- Dr. RAM BABU, KRUPAL
READY RECKONER OF ENVIRONMENT
R
INDEX
E 1.
2.
Environment and Ecology ........................................................................ 2
Ecosystem............................................................................................. 3-7
A 3. Aquatic Ecosystem ................................................................................ 8-9
D
4. Coral Reefs............................................................................................. 10
5. Mangroves ............................................................................................ 11
Y
6. Terrestrial Ecosystem............................................................................. 12
7. Wetland Ecosystem ............................................................................... 13
8. Climate Change ................................................................................. 14-17
9. Ozone and Ozone Hole ..................................................................... 18-19
R
10. Ocean Acidification ........................................................................... 20-21
11. Acid Rain ................................................................................................ 22
E 12.
13.
Biodiversity ....................................................................................... 23-25
Animal Diversity ..................................................................................... 26
C 14. Plant Diversity ....................................................................................... 27
K
15. Environmental Impact Assessment ........................................................ 28
16. Pollution ........................................................................................... 29-32
O
17. Climate Change Organisations .......................................................... 33-36
18. Treaties/Agreements/Conventions .................................................. 37-40
N
19. Acts and Policies .............................................................................. 41-42
20. Institutions and Measures ................................................................ 43-44
E 21.
22.
Environmental Organisations ................................................................ 45
Programs/Initiatives to Mitigate Climate Change Effects................... 46-47
R 23. Conservation Efforts ......................................................................... 48-51
www.laex.in www.civilsprep.com
READY RECKONER OF ENVIRONMENT |2|
Environment and Ecology

Community:
Environment: It is an assemblage of populations of plants, animals,
The term ‘Environment’ means surroundings in bacteria, and fungi that live in an area that show.
which the organisms live.
It is the sum total of all biotic (living-plants, animals,
decomposers etc.) and abiotic (Non-living-energy,
radiation, temperature etc) factors that surround
and potentially influence an organism.
Ecology:
Ecology is defined “as a scientific study of the
relationship of the living organisms with each other
and with their environment.”
Levels of Organisation in Ecology:

The various ecological levels of organisation are
described below.
Organism “Be an officer like,

to be an officer “
▪ An individual organism is a distinct unit of life in
nature. It is the basic unit of ecological hierarchy.
Ex: plant, animal, bacteria.
- Dr. Akash AIR 78

Population:
▪ It is a group of individuals of a plant or animal
species inhabiting a given area at a particular
time. Ex: All the frogs living in a pond constitute a
population.
www.laex.in Environment and Ecology www.civilsprep.com

Biome:
Ecosystem ▪ A large regional unit characterised by a major
▪ It is defined as structural and functional unit of vegetation type and associated fauna found in a
biosphere consisting of living beings and physical specific climatic zone. Ex: tropical rain forest, deserts,
environment, both interacting and exchanging savannah, grasslands etc.
materials between them.
Biological community + physical environment ——>
▪ (exchange of energy and recycling of nutrients) —
>ecosystem.
Eco system with higher biodiversity tends to be more
stable, they can self regulate themselves known as
▪ homeostatis.
Biosphere:
▪ Biosphere can be conceived as a thin life supporting
belt on and around the earth.
Eco system consists of Abiotic and Biotic components:
Abiotic components are- They include the climatic and

edaphic (influenced by soil) factors .Energy, Rainfall,
Temperature, Atmosphere etc Habitat:
In other words, habitat can be defined as ‘the sum
total of environmental factors, which determine the
Biotic Components are-
existence of an individual organism, population or
a. Primary producers- Autotrophs/ self- nourishing: they
community in a particular locality.’
are green plants (certain Bacteria and Algae).
b. Consumers- heterotrophs- depend on others for food.
Such organisms may consume by various means,
Biotic Interactions:
includingpredation,parasitization,and
▪ Biological interactions are the effects of an organism’s
biodegradation. (Bacteria and Fungi which feeds on
interactions with its environment and is fundamental
dead organic matter).
to the survival of the organism and the functioning of
the ecosystem as a whole.
▪ Where, (+) = Benefited, (—) = Harmed, (0) = Neither
Food chain: benefited nor harmed.
A sequence of organisms that feed on one another.it
can be grazing food chain (plant> caterpillar > lizard >
snake) or detritus food chain (litter > Earthworms > Sl. Type of Biotic Spec Speci
chicken > hawk). Example
No. Interaction ies 1 es 2
In pollination, pollinator
gets food, and plants
Food Web: hasitspollen
1 Mutualism (+) (+)
Several interrelated food chains forms food web transferred to other
where all possible transfers of energy and nutrients flowers.
happens among the organisms. Cow dung provides
Commensalis
2 (+) (0) food and shelter to
m
www.laex.in Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

dungbeetles. The 2. Pyramid of Biomass:

beetles have no effect The amount of living or organic matter present in a
on the cows. particular environment is called biomass.
If two species eat the
A graphic representation of total dry weight of all
same food, and there
isn’t enough for both,
organisms at each trophic level at a particular time.
3 Competition (—) (—) It can be upright (eco-system on land) or inverted
both may suffer a
shortage of food. (Aquatic ecosystems).
predation - one fish kills
andeats another
organism
Predation parasitism: parasitic tick 3. Pyramid of Energy:
4 and (+) (—) gains benefit by sucking A graphic representation of the amount of energy
Parasitism blood; host is harmed trapped per unit time and area in different trophic
by losing blood. levels of a food chain.
A large tree shades a
It is always upright as there will be loss of energy
small plant and retards
the growth of the small
from one trophic to next trophic level.
plant while large tree is
5 Amensalism (-) (0) unaffected by the small
plant. Ecological Succession:
6 Neutralism (0) (0)
Ecological Pyramids:
An ecological pyramid is a graphical representation of the
relationship between different organisms in an
ecosystem.
Succession is a universal process of Directional change in

vegetation, on an ecological time scale which leads to the
establishment of a relatively stable climax community.
Stages of Ecological Succession:
Pioneer community —> Seres (or) Seral Stage —>

Climax Community
Pioneer Community:
The first group of organism which establish their
community in the area is called ‘Pioneer’ Community.
Types of Pyramids: Ex: Lichen, Moss and Microbes
1. Pyramid of Numbers Seral Stage:
A graphic representation of number of individuals The various developmental stage of a community is
per unit area of various trophic levels stepwise with called ‘seres’.
producers forming the base and top carnivores the Herbs and Shrubs usually grow after further
tip, is called pyramid of numbers. weathering of rocks, and increase in moisture and
soil.
It can upright (Grassland) or inverted (forests). As it is

difficult to count all organisms, pyramid of numbers
does not completely represent tropic structure. Climax Community:
The final stage of succession which leads to stable
community

Types of Succession: Types of Niche:

▪ Primary Succession: ▪ Habitat niche - where it lives.
It involves the gradual establishment of biotic ▪ Food niche - what it eats or decomposers and what
communities on a lifeless ground. species it competes with.
▪ Secondary Succession: ▪ Reproductive niche - how and when it reproduces.
It involves the establishment of biotic communities in ▪ Physical and Chemical niche - temperature, land
an area, where some type of biotic community is shape, land slope, humidity and other requirement.
already present.
Bioaccumulation and Bio-magnification:

Ecotone: ▪ Bioaccumulation
▪ Is a zone of junction/transition between two or more Entry of pollutants into food chain, occurs within a
diverse ecosystems. trophic level, and is the increase in concentration of a
Ex: Mangrove ecosystem is Ecotone between Forest substance in certain tissues of organisms’ bodies due
and River ecosystem, Estuaries are ecotone between to absorption from food and the environment.
salt and freshwater ecosystem, and grassland is an
ecotone between forest and desert ecosystem.
Bio-Magnification:
Bio-magnification is the tendency of pollutants to
concentrate as they move from one trophic level to
Characteristics of Ecotone: the next.
▪ Zone of transition: It has the condition intermediate
4 conditions for Bio-magnification: Pollutants must
to the adjacent ecosystem. be Long lived, Stable and mobile, Soluble in fats,
▪ May contain organisms which are entirely different
Biologically active.
from that of adjoining communities. Ex: DDT, Hexa-chloro benzene, Polychlorinated
Edge effect: Sometimes the number of species and the biphenyl, Toxaphene, Methyl mercury, Agricultural
population density of some of the species is much greater pesticides.
in size than the adjoining community.
Fig: Ecotone as a transition between two ecosystems.
Nutrient Cycles:
Ecological Niche: The cyclic flow of nutrients between the biotic and
▪ A population of each species within a community has
abiotic components is known as nutrient cycle (or)
a separate ecological niche. No two species within a biogeochemical cycles.
given community can have exactly the same niche and The nutrients enter into producers and move through
live permanently together. If two species happen to the food chain and ultimately reach the consumer.
have the same niche in a community either of the two The bound nutrients of the consumers, after death,
may happen, are decomposed and converted into inorganic
A direct competition Or they may adapt substances, which are readily used up by the plants
between the two will differently in a way that (producers) and again the cycle starts.
eliminate one of them. It there is further niche
is called competitive specialisation of habitat or
exclusion.food etc.

The major nutrients like C, H, O, and N are cycled adding more carbon to the air. These processes are
again and again between biotic and abiotic called sources.
components of the ecosystem. Respiration (breathing) - Every time you breathe you
turn oxygen into carbon dioxide. This is true of every
Gaseous Cycles: animal on Earth.
Hydrological Cycle Decay - When plants and animals die they decay.
▪ Movement of water in a cyclical manner is known as
When this happens, the carbon in their body will
hydrological cycle. either be released into the atmosphere or stored in
▪ The hydrologic cycle begins with the evaporation of
ground as fossil fuels.
water from the surface of the ocean. As moist air is Combustion (burning) - When plants, trees, or fossil
lifted, it cools and water vapour condenses to form fuels are burned, carbon is released into the
clouds. Moisture is transported around the globe until atmosphere.
it returns to the surface as precipitation.
Carbon Cycle:
Taking Carbon out of the Atmosphere: Nitrogen Cycle:
Nature is constantly taking carbon out of the ▪ Why is nitrogen important to life?
atmosphere. These processes are sometimes called Plants and animals could not live without nitrogen. It is an
carbon sinks. important part of many cells and processes such as amino
Photosynthesis - Plants use photosynthesis to make acids, proteins, and even our DNA. It is also needed to
energy and grow. They take carbon dioxide (CO2), make chlorophyll in plants, which plants use in
sunlight, and water and turn it into oxygen and sugar. photosynthesis to make their food and energy.
Large areas of plants like the rainforest help to
remove lots of carbon from the atmosphere.
The ocean - Ocean water does a lot to remove excess Process of Nitrogen Cycle:
carbon from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide in the This picture shows the flow of the nitrogen cycle. The
air reacts with the sea water to make carbonic acid in most important part of the cycle is bacteria. Bacteria help
the ocean. If there is too much carbonic acid, it may the nitrogen change between states so it can be used.
lead to acid rain. However, some carbonic acid is When nitrogen is absorbed by the soil, different bacteria
good as it is used by sea organisms to make their help it to change states so it can be absorbed by plants.
shells. These shells will eventually become Animals then get their nitrogen from the plants.
sedimentary rock like limestone.
Moving Carbon into the Atmosphere:

At the same time that some processes of nature are
removing carbon from the air, other processes are

Processes in the Nitrogen Cycle: The sulphur in the atmosphere is returned to the soil
Fixation - Fixation is the first step in the process of and water cycle when it rains. Fig: The Sulphur Cycle
making nitrogen usable by plants. Here bacteria
change nitrogen into ammonium.
Nitrification - This is the process by which ammonium
gets changed into nitrates by bacteria. Nitrates are
what the plants can then absorb.
Assimilation - This is how plants get nitrogen. They
absorb nitrates from the soil into their roots. Then the
nitrogen gets used in amino acids, nucleic acids, and
chlorophyll.
Ammonification - This is part of the decaying process.
When a plant or animal dies, decomposers like fungi Phosphorus Cycle:
and bacteria turn the nitrogen back into ammonium ▪ Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for animals and
so it can re-enter the nitrogen cycle. plants. It plays a critical role in cell development and
De-nitrification - Extra nitrogen in the soil gets put is a key component of molecules that store energy,
back out into the air. There are special bacteria that such as ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate), DNA and
perform this task as well. lipids (fats and oils). Insufficient phosphorus in the
soil can result in a decreased crop yield.
▪ Here are the key steps of the phosphorus cycle,
Over time, rain and weathering cause rocks to release
phosphate ions and other minerals.
This inorganic phosphate is then distributed in soils
and water.
Sedimentary Cycles: Plants take up inorganic phosphate from the soil. The
Sulphur Cycle plants may then be consumed by animals. Once in the
▪ Sulphur (S) is an element important to ecosystems plant or animal, the phosphate is incorporated
and the climate. The majority of sulphur is stored into organic molecules such as DNA. When the plant
underground, for example under the ocean or in or animal dies, it decays, and the organic phosphate is
rocks. It also occurs naturally in places like swamps returned to the soil.
(where organisms have decomposed) and volcanoes. Within the soil, organic forms of phosphate can be
Humans add excess sulphur into this cycle, usually made available to plants by bacteria that break
through atmospheric pollution caused by fossil fuel down organic matter to inorganic forms of
combustion. phosphorus. This process is known as mineralisation.
Phosphorus in soil can end up in waterways and
eventually oceans. Once there, it can be incorporated
into sediments over time.
Steps of the Sulphur Cycle: Fig: The Phosphorus Cycle.
As rocks are worn down by erosion they release
sulphur that was once stored, becoming Sulphate
once it touches the air.
Plants absorb this sulphur through photosynthesis
and make this sulphur organic.
Animals, specifically herbivores and omnivores
consume the sulphur when they eat the plants.
Sulphur moves through the food chain as secondary
consumers and tertiary consumers eat the primary
consumers.
When animals and plants die, the sulphur dissipates
into the atmosphere as sulphate and also through the
body of the decomposers.

Dissolved Oxygen:
Aquatic Ecosystem Fresh water - 10 ppm. Oxygen enters through air
Ecosystem consisting of water as the main habitat are water interface, and photosynthesis.
known as aquatic ecosystem. It is influenced by temperature - warm water - Less O2
and viceversa.
Classification Based on Salt Concentration: If it falls to 5 ppm or below then organisms will die.
1. Freshwater Ecosystem: 5 ppt (Lakes, ponds, springs,
streams, rivers).
2. Marine Ecosystem: Equals to sea level; approx 35 ppt Transparency:
(Ocean). Turbidity because of suspended particulate matter like
3. Brackish Water Ecosystem: 5-35 ppt; (Estuaries, Salt clay or silt can limit productivity of life.
marshes, mangrove swamps).
Temperature:
Water has higher specific heat than air. So temperature
Aquatic Organisms: change will be slower. Temperature fluctuation can be
Classification on Zone of occurrence and their ability to fatal to aquatic organisms.
cross these zones,
1. Neuston: That rest or swim on the surface e.g. water Eutrophication (Causes, Effects, Mitigation):
striders. Eutrophication is the ecosystem’s response to
2. Periphyton: That are attached or clinging to other addition of artificial or natural substances, mainly
plants or any other surface. E.g. Algae phosphates, through detergents, fertilisers, or
3. Plankton: That float on the surface of the waters e.g. sewage to an ecosystem.
phytoplankton like algae and zooplankton like rotifers. Physical identification: Can see excess growth of
4. Nekton: That swim on the surface e.g. fish green algae on the surface due to enrichment of the
5. Benthos: That are attached to bottom sediments e.g. aquatic system by the addition of nutrients.
sea grass Reason: leaching of phosphates and nitrates
Fig: Different aquatic organisms and their zones of containing fertilisers from agricultural lands into lakes
occurrence. and rivers.
Fig: Eutrophication
Factors limiting the productivity of Aquatic Life:

Sunlight, Oxygen, Transparency, Temperature.
Sunlight: Results in:

1. Photic Zone:
Layer where sunlight penetrates and photosynthesis
Algal bloom - unsustainable population explosion
can takes place. due to nutrient enrichment.
Light penetration: This restricts the penentration of
2. Aphotic Zone:
sunlight.
Layer where sunlight penetration is too low and no
photosynthesis but respiration takes place. Oxygen depletion: resulting in no/less
photosynthesis since decomposition of the dead
www.laex.in Aquatic Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

algae uses more oxygen. This process results in Dissolved oxygen levels that drop below 4.0 mg/L is
suffocation and death of aquatic animals. considered as contaminated.
New anaerobic conditions: Clostridium botulinum,
that produce toxins, come up in these conditions. Biological Oxygen Demand:
Degradation of aquatic ecosystem. It is the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by
bacteria in decomposing the organic wastes present in
Eutrophication can be natural or manmade (waste water.
water effluent, runoff from agriculture). It is expressed in milligrams of oxygen per litre of
Effects: water.
Change in ecosystem - formation of Detritus layer,
since algal blooms die and settle at the bottom Chemical Oxygen Demand:
resulting in marshy land. It is the measure of oxygen equivalent of the
Decreased biodiversity: Algal blooms decrease requirement of oxidation of total organic matter
oxygen availability and reduce penetration of (i.e. biodegradable and non-biodegradable) present
sunlight. in water.
New species invasion: since aerobic conditions give It is slightly better mode used to measure pollution
way to anaerobic conditions. load in water.
Toxicity - Neuro and hepatotoxins, O2, loss of coral
reefs, changes in colour of water, and increases
gelatinous zooplankton (toxic)
Mitigation- buffering, reduce erosion, adoption of

organic farming, sewage treatment.
Dissolved Oxygen:
Dissolved Oxygen is the amount of gaseous oxygen (O2)
dissolved in the water. Oxygen enters the water by
direct absorption from the atmosphere, by rapid
movement, or as a waste product of plant
photosynthesis.
Water temperature and the volume of moving water
can affect dissolved oxygen levels. Oxygen dissolves
easier in cooler water than warmer water.
Adequate dissolved oxygen is important for good water
quality and necessary to all forms of life. Water
pollution results in lower dissolved oxygen in the water.
www.laex.in Aquatic Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Coral Reef Types of Reefs:

These are submarine morphological creatures with organic 1. Fringing Reef: A reef grows out from the land and is connected
calciums structure. to it.
These are very beautiful, natural, wonder and among
world’s oldest, most diverse and most productive
ecosystem.
In terms of biodiversity, they are the marine equivalents of
tropical rainforest.
2. Barrier Reef: A reef which is separated from land by a lagoon
(part of sea which is cut off from rest of sea)
Mutualistic Relationship:
They represent mutualistic relationship between coral
animals and blue green algae called zooxanthellae.
Corals obtain part of their livelihood from seawater and the
remainder comes from the algae that live on the corals
tissue.
The coral provides the algae with a protected environment 3. Atoll Reef: Formed away from coast in deep waters. Generally
and compounds they need for photosynthesis. In return, elliptical or circular in shape as it uses top of sea mountains to
the algae produce oxygen and help the coral to remove grow. Encloses a lagoon in the centre.
wastes. Most importantly, zooxanthellae supply the coral
with glucose, glycerol, and amino acids, which are the
products of photosynthesis. Corals live in huge colonies
and their body is attached to one another.
When corals die, the other corals grow on the dead
calcareous debris.
The coral reefs form along coast, islands or sea mountains, 4. Patch Reef: Patch Reefs are isolated outcroppings (Patches) of
winds provide the foundation. coral that are in close proximity to each other but are
Corals growth depends upon the calcium carbonate physically separated by sand rings. They are typically found in
obtained from the sea. shallow lagoons within a larger collective reef, or atoll.
Coral Bleaching:
Natural disturbances which cause damage to coral reefs
include violent storms, flooding, high and low temperature
extremes, El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, sub
Ideal Conditions for their Growth: aerial exposures, predatory outbreaks and epizootics.
Temperature: 25°C to 30°C limited to tropical belt, Less Coral reef bleaching is a common stress response of corals to
than 18°C or 33°C - Corals tend to die disturbances mentioned above.
Salinity: Corals need saline water. Average salinity 27 - 40 Bleaching occurs when,
PPM (parts per million) The densities of zooxanthellae decline and/or the
Need shallow water, less than 60-65 metres concentration of photosynthetic pigments within the
Need submarine platforms zooxanthellae fall.
Need Sediment free, clear water. If the stress-causing bleaching is not too severe and if it
Water which is disturbed by currents and waves is decreases in time, the affected corals usually regain their
beneficial and it ensures supply of oxygen. symbiotic algae within several weeks or a few months.
If zooxanthellae loss is prolonged, i.e. if the stress continues
and depleted zooxanthellae populations do not recover, the
coral host eventually dies.
Benefits of Corals to Mankind:
Coral reef provide sites for diverse variety of plants and
animals. Causes of coral Bleaching:
It is Storehouse of living resources like fish. Reef fish Increase in Ocean temperature due to climate change is
accounts for about 15% of the worldwide fish catch causing coral bleach.
They are a source of tourism revenue Runoff water and Polluted water can dilute ocean water and
Coral reefs help moderate atmospheric temperature by bleach near shore corals.
removing CO2 from atmosphere Overexposure to Sunlight and irradiance can bleach shallow
Coral reefs protect coastlines from wave erosion. corals
Extreme Low tides causes corals get exposed to air and
bleach.
www.laex.in Coral Reefs www.civilsprep.com




ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
Mangroves Threat from Human Interference:

Approximately 35% of the mangrove area was lost
● Mangroves are various large extensive types of trees
up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline during the last several decades of the 20th century.
coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and The UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) &
subtropics - mainly between latitudes 25 N and 25 S. Hamilton (2013), estimate that shrimp farming
● Mangroves are salt tolerant trees (halophytes) causes approximately a quarter of the destruction
adapted to live in harsh coastal conditions. They of mangrove forests.
contain a complex salt filtration system and Likewise, the 2010 update of the WMA (World
complex root system to cope with salt water Mangrove Atlas) indicated a fifth of the world’s
immersion and wave action. They are adapted to mangrove ecosystems have been lost since 1980.
the low oxygen (anoxic) conditions of waterlogged They are also destroyed for conversion of area for
mud. agricultural purposes, fuel fodder, mining, oil spills,

aquaculture (shrimp), use of fertiliser industrial
Characteristics of Mangroves:
purposes.
Evergreen land plants growing on Sheltered Shores
Fig: Mangrove growing areas in India and around
(deltas, estuaries, bays, creek, and barrier islands)
the world.
Physiological adaptation to salinity stress and to
waterlogged anaerobic mud.
Need abundant sunlight, has the ability to absorb
fresh water from saline water source.
Pneumatophores (Blind Roots): They have special
roots like Prop root, pneumatophores, stilt roots
which help to impede water flow and stabilises the
coastal shores.
They act as breeding ground for fish.
Moderates monsoonal tidal floods and reduces
inundation of coastal lowlands. Prevent coastal soil
erosion.
Protects coastal land from Tsunami, hurricane,
floods etc. “Be an officer like,
Enhances natural recycling of nutrients.
to be an officer “
Supports numerous flora, fauna, and avifauna. Edge
effect can be seen here.
- Dr. Akash AIR 78
Supplies Raw Materials - wood, medicinal plants,
edible plants
Recreation and tourist attractions.
www.laex.in Mangroves www.civilsprep.com

Terrestrial Ecosystem
Sl
Forest Type Distribution Climate Species
No.
Western Slope of Western Ghat

Tropical
1 hills of North East, Andaman >200cms Rosewood, Mahogani, Aini, Ebony
Evergreen Forest
and Nicobar Islands.
Western Slope of Western Ghat Less Rainier

Semi Ever
2 hills of North East, Andaman parts of the White-cedar, Hollocks, Kail
green Forest
and Nicobar Islands.same
Foot hills of Himalayas, Eastern Teak, Sal, Shisham, Hurra, Mau, Amla,
Moist Deciduous
3 slopes of Western Ghats and 100-200cms Seoul, Kusum, Sandal
Forest
Odisha wood
Teak in higher rainfall regions, and

Dry Deciduous Rainier regions of Peninsula,
4 Tendu, Palas, Amaltas, Bel, Khair,
Forest 70-100cms
Axlewood in lower rainfall regions.
Plains of UP and Bihar
Semi-arid regions of South West

Babool, Ber,
Tropical Thorn Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan,
5 Wild date palms, Khair, Neem, Khejri,
Forest <50cms
Palas, Tussocky (Grass >2m)
Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
Uttar Pradesh
Reservoirs of Deccan Plateau,
lagoons of South West Coast,
6 Littoral & Swamp Mangroves, Variety of Birds
Saline expanses of Rajasthan,
Forest
Gujarat, Kutch, freshwater lakes
and reservoirs of Gujarat etc.
“If you are focussed

and determined,
nothing can stop
you”
-Dr. Kiranmayi
AIR 573, 1st attempt,
working mother
www.laex.in Terrestrial Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Wetland Ecosystem Functions of Wetlands:

● Habitat - for a variety of flora and
Wetland: fauna
Is a land area that is saturated with water, either Filters sediments and nutrients from
●
permanently or seasonally, such that it takes on the surface water
characteristics of a Distinct Ecosystem. Nutrient recycling
● Water purification
●
Flood mitigation
Functions of ●
Ramsar Convention Definition: ●
Ground water recharging
▪ Wetlands are areas of marsh, fen, peatland, or water wetlands Controlling rate of runoff in urban
●
whether natural or artificial, permanent, or areas
temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, Buffer shoreline against erosion
Stabilisation of local climate
brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the ●
Tourism, recreation and cultural
depth of which at low tide does not exceed six ●
● heritage.
metres. Conversion of lands for agriculture
▪ It’s an intermediate stage between deep water Overgrazing
habitats and terrestrial habitats. ● Removal of sand from beds
▪ Habitat experience periodic flooding from adjacent ● Aquaculture
deepwater habitat and plants and animals are ● Habitat destruction and deforestation
adapted to shallow flooding. ● Pollution
● Domestic waste
▪ For Ex: Lake littorals, floodplains, marshy, swampy Reasons for ● Agricultural runoff
areas, bogs, fens, mangroves. depletion ● Industrial effluents
● Climate change
● Proper survey and demarcation
● Protectionprocessofnatural
●
regeneration
●
Artificial regeneration
Afforestation
Weed control
Wildlife conservation
● Removal of encroachments
Mitigation ● Eutrophication abatements
measures ● Environmental awareness
●
●
●
●
Characteristics of Wetland:
Covered by water or has waterlogged soil for at least
7 days during the growing season. Make reading a habit, strive
Adapted plant life (Hydrophytes).
Hydric soils (Not enough oxygen for some plant).
for knowledge, results fall in
your way.
Wetland Classification:
Inland Wetland Coastal Wetland - Lalit Aditya AIR 470,
Lakes/Ponds
Oxbow Lakes
Estuaries
Lagoons
Weekend Batch
Waterlogged areas Creeks
Seasonal wetlands Backwaters
Swamps/Marshes Bays
www.laex.in Wetland Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Climate Change Organisation

Sl.
Organisation History Objectives/ Details
No.
● The convention is legally non-binding, but makes
● Came into force from 1994
provisions for meeting called ‘protocols’ where
● Secretariat is located in Bonn,
negotiating countries can set legally binding limits
UNFCCC- Germany
What it does?
United Nation Ratifies : 197 ●
● o It aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in
Framework ● Kyoto Protocol was negotiated under
the atmosphere.
1 Convention on this framework.
Annex I countries: industrialized countries and
Climate Change India is Non Annex party (refers to ● economies in transition
● countries that have ratified or
Annex II countries: developed countries which pay
acceded to the UNFCCC, but are not
● for costs of developing countries
included in Annex )to UNFCC
Non Annex I countries: Developing countries.
to fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas
●
concentrations
●
The Protocol is based on the principle of common
● Adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan but differentiated responsibilities.
● Came into force in 2005 ● Target under this protocol applies to following GHGs:
● Parties : 192 (Canada withdrew) Carbon Dioxide (CO2),Methane (CH4),Nitrous Oxide
● It gave binding targets to Annex I ● (NO2),Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
countries ● Two groups of gases : Hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs),
India has ratified the second Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
● commitment period of Kyoto Kyoto Protocol includes "flexible mechanisms"
● which allow Annex 1 economies to meet their GHG
Protocol known as the Doha
Amendment to the protocol. targets by:
Paris agreement (2015) is not an ● financial exchanges (International Emissions Trading
amendment to Kyoto Protocol but a Scheme)
2 Kyoto Protocol ● from projects which reduce emissions in non-Annex 1
separate instrument altogether.
● countries under the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM),
in other Annex-1 countries under the Joint
● Implementation (JI)
Criticism of Kyoto Protocol
● Under Common but Differentiated Only CDM Executive Board-accredited Certified
Responsibility, many countries were Emission Reductions (CER) can be bought and sold in
allowed to increase pollution. ● this manner.
It excluded most polluting countries The Bali Action Plan (BAP)launched a comprehensive
● like China and India. process to enable the implementation of the
●
Convention through long-term cooperative action up
to and beyond 2012.
All developed country Parties have agreed to
● “Quantified emission limitation taking into account
differences in their national circumstances.”
Developed countries stressed developing also to
undertake some kind of emission cuts.
● COP 13, CMP 3. All countries should pledge voluntary limits (no
3 Bali Meet 2007 ● Launch of the Adaptation Fund ●
binding obligations)
Agrees a “goal” for the world to raise $100 billion
per year by 2020. New multilateral funding for
● adaptation will be delivered, with a governance
structure.
● As per the Cancun Agreements, all Parties to the
● COP 15, CMP 5. Convention (including the developed and developing
● Produced the Copenhagen Accord. countries) have agreed to report their voluntary
Copenhagen ● Agreementbetweendeveloping ●
4
Summit 2009 nations block called BASIC (Brazil,
South Africa, India and China).
● COP 16, CMP 6. ●

Cancun Summit
5 ● An agreement adopted by the COP
2010
called for a large “Green Climate
www.laex.in Climate Change www.civilsprep.com

Fund”,andan“Adaptation mitigation goals for implementation.

Committee” at global level to support
developing countries in mitigation of
GHGs.
COP 17, CPM 7.
● In 2011, parties adopted the “Durban
● ● Parties have agreed to “develop legal instrument or
Durban Platform for Enhanced Action”. an agreed outcome with legal force”. This new
6 COP 17 approved the Governing treaty is due to be adopted at the 21st COP, and
Summit 2011
● Instrument for the GCF. implemented in 2020.
● The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) was

● The Global Environment Facility (GEF), established under the Convention in 2001 to finance
Other projects relating to: adaptation; technology transfer
as an operating entity of the Financial
7 mechanisms of and capacity building; energy, transport, industry,
Mechanism, has been entrusted to
UNFCC agriculture, forestry and waste management; and
operate the SCCF.
economic diversification.
REDD+
8 REDD ● REDD+ (Defined in Bali Action Plan, 2007, CoP13)
● REDD+ (or REDD-plus) = to "reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation in developing
countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable
management of forests, and enhancement of forest
carbon stocks in developing countries"
● REDD = "reducing emissions from deforestation in ● REDD+ is essentially a vehicle to financially reward
developing countries" developing countries for their verified efforts to
● It is under negotiation under UNFCC since 2005 reduce emissions and enhance removals of
● India did not participated in UN-REDD greenhouse gases through a variety of forest
management option
● India favours REDD+
9 Global Environment Facility-GEF (1992) Global Climate Fund- GCF

● It is a fund within the framework of UNFCCC
● It is founded to assist developing countries in
adaptation and mitigation practices to counter
climate change.
● The GEF provides grants for projects related to
Formed in 2010
biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land ● First mention of concept in Copenhagen Accord in
degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic ●
CoP-15
pollutants.
Formally in CoP-16 at Cancun.
The GEF also serves as financial mechanism for the
● following conventions: ● World Bank is chosen as a temporary trustee of the
● fund.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
● HQ : Incheon, South Korea
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
● It is intended to be the centrepiece of efforts to raise
Change (UNFCCC) ●
Climate Finance of $100 billion a year by 2020. This
UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) ●
is not an official figure for the size of the Fund itself,
● Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
however.
● (POPs)
No clarity about from where money will come in this
Minamata Convention on Mercury
fund.
● ● Developed countries even after pledging has
contributed very less to it
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
●
(IPCC) is the international body for assessing the
science related to climate change.
● The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the ● IPCC assessments provide a scientific basis for
World Meteorological Organization governments at all levels to develop climate related
(WMO)andUnitedNations policies, and they underlie negotiations at the UN
10 IPCC Environment Programme (UNEP)
●
Assessment Report (AR) is published
● by IPCC.

Climate Conference – the United Nations Framework

Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
● It deals with greenhouse gases
emissions mitigation, adaptation and ● Holding the increase in the global average
finance starting in the year 2020. temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial
Opened for signature on 22 April 2016 levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature
●
(Earth Day) increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
It has not entered into force yet. India’s proposed targets:
● Indiahassignedit.India's ● Reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35%
● contribution in global greenhouse gas ●
by 2030 from 2005 level.
Paris is 4.10% in 2015. Achieve about 40% electric power installed capacity
11
Agreement The contribution that each individual ● from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030
● country called "nationally determined with help of transfer of technology and low cost
contributions" (NDCs) international finance.
Targets will not be binding as it is not Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion
possible to enforce them. tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest
● NDCs will be revised after 5 years in ● and tree cover by 2030.
2023
● The ISA was launched at the 2015
Paris Climate Change Summit by
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ● It seeks to empower solar-rich countries located
French President Francois Hollande. between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of
Under this alliance, 121 countries that Capricorn to make collaborative efforts to harness
International fall within the tropics have been solar energy to generate the electricity.
12 Solar Alliance invited. Its major objectives include global deployment of
● Headquarters at Gurugram, India. ● over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity and
mobilisation of investment of over US $1000 billion
into solar energy by 2030.
● Adapting to climate change and making farming
● more resilient.
● Climatechangeandresultant Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
increased frequency of extreme Identifying and promoting sustainable agriculture
weather events such as droughts, ●
practices and tools e.g. Organic farming;
floods and storms has put many ●
Climate Smart Agroforestry;
13 developing countries at the risk of Using inputs more efficiently and effectively
Agriculture
growing food insecurity. Increasing the productivity of milk and meat
Sustainably increasing agricultural ● production
● productivity and farmers’ incomes ●
National
Greenhouse ● To provide methods for estimating-national
14 Gas ● The IPCC established the NGGIP, inventories of greenhouse gas emissions to, and
Inventories removals from, the atmosphere.
Programme
● A Green Economy is one whose

growth in income and employment is
driven by public and private ● Three priorities
investments that reduce carbon 1. decarbonise the economy
Green 2. commit the environmental community to justice and
15 emissions and pollution, enhance
Economy equity; and
energy and resource efficiency, and
prevent the loss of biodiversity and 3. Conserve the biosphere.
ecosystems.
Found in 2010
● address the critical challenging of ● The organization is focused on promoting activities,
World Nature ● global threat to soil, oceans, forests, technologies, economies, and renewable energies
16 water and air which are regarded to be environment friendly; and
Organization
reducing the impact of climate change.
It is an international non-governmental, working in
World Wide ● the field of the wilderness preservation, and the
17
Fund for ● Organization founded in 1961

Nature reductionofhumanity’sfootprinton
the environment.
● Purpose of the alliance is to consolidate the voices of
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address
● It is an intergovernmental organisation global warming
of low lying coastal and small island As the existence of many AOSIS states are put at risk
nations. ● by climate change AOSIS has threatened lawsuits
Allianceof
SmallIsland Established in 1990 In Indian ocean 4 states are member :
18 ●
States ●
AOSIS has a membership of 44 states ● Comoros
● India is not a member 1. Maldives
2. Mauritius
3. Seychelles
4. It publishes a quarterly magazine, World Bird watch,
● which contains recent news and authoritative articles
about birds, their habitats, and their conservation
around the world.
● It is world’s largest conservation
It is the official Red List authority for birds, for the
partnerships for conservation of birds
Birdlife International Union for Conservation of Nature.
19 and their habitats.
International It also published important bird areas (IBA)
It was earlier known as International ●
● inventory.
Committee for Bird Preservation.
●
Centrefor ● Non-Profit organisation

● ● CSE works as a think tank on environment-
20 Scienceand Based in New Delhi
● development issues in India
Environment Established in 1980
Intergovernme
ntal Science- ● Itisanindependent ● It was established to strengthen the science-policy
Policy Platform intergovernmental body interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for
21 on Biodiversity ● It was established in Panama City in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,
and Ecosystem 2012 long-term human well-being and sustainable
Services HQ : Bonn, Germany development
●
● It is an UN agency ● UNEP has also been active in funding and

● It was founded as a result of the UN implementing environment related development
ConferenceontheHuman projects
Environment (Stockholm Conference) UNEP has aided in the formulation of guidelines and
●
in 1972 treaties on issues such as the international trade in
United Nations
HQ : Nairobi, Kenya potentially harmful chemicals, trans-boundary air
Environment ●
22 UNEP is also one of several pollution, and contamination of international
Programme ● Implementing Agencies for the Global waterways
(UNEP)
Environment Facility (GEF) and the The International Cyanide Management Code, a
MultilateralFundforthe ● program of best practice for the chemical’s use at
Implementation of the Montreal gold mining operations, was developed under UNEP’s
Protocol. aegis.
The WorldMeteorological
Organization (WMO)is
● an intergovernmental
organization with a membership of ● WMO provides a framework for international
WMO
23 191 Member States and Territories. cooperation in the development of meteorology and
operational hydrology and their practical application.
● SCAR is charged with initiating, developing and

● The Scientific Committee on Antarctic
coordinating high quality international scientific
Research (SCAR) is an inter-disciplinary research in the Antarctic region (including the
24 SCAR committee of the International Council
Southern Ocean), and on the role of the Antarctic
for Science (ICSU).
region in the Earth system.

certain ultraviolet rays that can cause sunburn and

Ozone and Ozone Hole skin cancer.
Ozone is a gas made up of molecules that are formed
by three oxygen atoms. Its molecule formula is O3. How is the Ozone Layer Getting Damaged?
Ozone is formed when the sunlight hits oxygen It turns out that certain types of molecules can cause
molecules (O2) and breaks them up into individual a chemical reaction when they come in contact with
atoms. These individual atoms then join up with ozone molecules. This causes the ozone to break up
O2 molecules and make O3, or ozone. and become unable to absorb ultraviolet light. The
It is present in stratosphere mainly, and in the main molecules that are destroying the ozone layer
troposphere as well. are called chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs.
Tropospheric ozone is only about 10% of the total
amount of ozone contained in a vertical column in the
atmosphere. However, this relatively small amount of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs):
tropospheric ozone has a great impact because it’s Chlorofluorocarbons are a group of chemicals which
important role in the formation of photochemical air are made up of only chlorine, fluorine, carbon,
pollution and its oxidizing impact in the near surface and hydrogen. Eventually they were used in a variety
layer of products including air conditioners, spray cans, fire
Tropospheric ozone is a direct greenhouse gas. extinguishers, and in manufacturing foams.
Ozone abundances in the troposphere typically vary Unfortunately, CFCs can eventually find their way into
from less than 10 ppb over remote tropical oceans up the Earth's atmosphere and the ozone layer. Once
to about 100 ppb in the upper troposphere, and often they get there they destroy ozone molecules and
exceed 100 ppb downwind of polluted metropolitan cause the ozone layer to become depleted or thinner.
regions.
CFCs Get Banned:

In 1974 scientists Sherry Rowland and Mario Molina
discovered the link between the depletion of the
ozone layer and CFCs. CFCs became somewhat
regulated, but it wasn't until 1987 that a treaty was
Ozone Layer: formed called Montreal Protocol to try and stop the
Way up high in the Earth's atmosphere, called the manufacture and use of CFCs throughout the world.
stratosphere, there is a fairly high concentration of CFCs were to be banned and completely eliminated in
ozone molecules that are formed when the sun hits developing countries by the year 2000.
oxygen molecules. This part of the atmosphere is Fig: A hole in the ozone over the Antarctic
called the ozone layer.
Fig: Ozone is formed in the atmosphere from oxygen
molecules.
Effects on Health:
Because CFCs last so long, the ozone layer will likely
continue to thin for some time in the future. This will
cause an increase risk of sunburn and skin cancer.
Skin cancer can be very dangerous. For this reason
you should always wear sunscreen to protect your
skin when you are outside in the sun for a long time.
Importance of Ozone Layer:
Strong ultraviolet rays can also damage your eyes.
Ozone molecules in the atmosphere provide us with You can protect them by wearing sunglasses.
important protection from the rays of the sun.
Specifically, these molecules are good at absorbing
www.laex.in Ozone and Ozone Hole www.civilsprep.com

Facts About the Ozone Layer: Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC) and Ozone Depletion:
The word "ozone" means smelly in Greek because the Polar Stratospheric Clouds present at around 12-22km
gas has a strong odour. above the earth surface contain water, nitric acid
CFC molecules are highly stable and can last for up to and/or sulphuric acid.
100 years. Unfortunately, this gives them plenty of They are formed mainly during the event of polar
time to find their way to the ozone layer. vortex in winter, more intense at south-pole due to its
One chlorine molecule from a CFC can destroy up to lower temperature compared to the arctic.
100,000 ozone molecules. The Cl-catalyzed ozone depletion is dramatically
Ultraviolet rays can also have bad effects on nature. enhanced in the presence of polar stratospheric
They can kill plankton, which is a major source of clouds (PSC)
food in the ocean's food chain. Photo-dissociation of ozone-depletingsubstances
The ozone layer over Antarctica is very thin. It is creates free chlorine atoms that destroys ozone by
sometimes called the "hole" in the ozone layer. dissociating ozone into chlorine oxide and oxygen
molecule.
Ozone is measured using SI unit called Dobson Unit.
Fig: Ozone Layer depletion.
Polar Vortex:
Polar vortex is an area of Low Pressure Arctic Air
normally cantered around north-pole.
It is held in place by a jet stream passing around 65
degrees N, 25000-30000 feet above the ground that
divides the cold air from warm air, bending around
high and low pressure weather systems.
Then how did the polar vortex moved down recently

causing extended winters in USA?
A high pressure and low pressure system from the
pushes the jet stream in a wavy manner leading to the
polar vortex much south than normal.
This brought a portion of the vortex into North
America and caused temperatures in Midwest and
eastern United States to dive below zero. This event
was called Arctic Invasion.
▪ Generally polar vortex slips south when the jet stream
weakens and the temperature difference between
the warm and cold air fronts decrease.
Fig: Polar Vortex
“I believed in
myself, and my
teachers for
success”
Akshay
AIR 207
www.laex.in Ozone and Ozone Hole www.civilsprep.com
Ocean Acidification ○ The result of this reaction increases Hydrogen ions

in the water, and reduces carbonate ions. The
It is the changes in the chemical makeup of all the reaction also leads to a reduction of the pH by
waters in the oceans, as well as its temperature, about 0.1 units. Remember that the lower the pH,
resulting from excess carbon dioxide in the the more acidic the water is.
atmosphere. The changes involve the lowering of Fig: Process of Ocean Acidification
the pH of the water.
Ph factor: Measures the acidity levels in water.
pH of water is the measure of how acidic or basic
water is. The scale is from 0 to 14, and 7 is the
▪ neutral point (pure water). If the pH is closer to 0,
that water is more acidic. If it is closer to 14, the
more basic it is.
“During the last20 years, it has been established
that the pH of the world’s oceans is decreasing as a
result of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions to
▪ the atmosphere.”
Lower pH seas and oceans are known to cause
major problems for marine organisms and
ecosystems.
○ The IPCC forecasts that ocean pH will fall by
"between 0.14 and 0.35 units over the 21st
▪ Century, adding to the present decrease of 0.1
units since pre-industrial times"
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide: Water pH levels are not consistent across the globe.
The concentrations of atmospheric CO2 in the Some places such as the eastern Pacific have lower pH,
atmosphere have increased a lot since the industrial whiles the Arctic Ocean area has a higher pH.
revolution. Humans are burning a lot more fossil fuels ○ Theabove conditions are normal, but
than ever before. Fossil fuels are the main source unfortunately, the earth has seen an increase in
of CO2. It is known that the Amazon, together with Anthropogenic CO2 concentrations since the
other major forests covers are large absorbers industrial revolution. (Anthropogenic CO2 is the
of CO2 from the atmosphere, but in fact, the Oceans, portion of atmospheric CO2resulting from human
are the largest carbon sinks on the planet. activities such as burning fossil fuels). As a result,
more CO2 is absorbed by ocean water, as the
equilibrium point has changed a bit.
Reasons and effects for Ocean Acidification Increase in

Recent Times:
○ Ocean waters are constantly reacting with
environmental gases. In particular, the oceans Effects of Ocean Acidification:
absorb up to half of the carbon dioxide in the The uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide is
atmosphere. They play a key role in the carbon occurring at a rate exceeding the natural buffering
cycle too, by acting as a carbon sink (store). capacity of the oceans creating new problems in
○ In this case, the upper level or layer of the ocean or the form of ocean acidification.
seawater (H2O) absorbs CO2, forming Carbonic acid. Increasing acidity depresses metabolic rates and
○ Here is the chemical equation: immune responses in some organisms.
H2O+CO2=H2CO3 Other chemical reactions are triggered which result
in a net decrease in the amount of carbonate ions
www.laex.in Ocean Acidification www.civilsprep.com

available. This makes it more difficult for marine Those organisms that can survive below the
calcifying organisms, such as coral (calcareous saturation horizon do so due to special
corals) and some plankton (calcareous plankton), mechanisms to protect their calcium carbonate
to form biogenic calcium carbonate. from dissolving.
Increasing acidity accentuates coral bleaching as
corals are very sensitive to changes in water
composition.
As ocean acidification causes this horizon to rise
vertically (upwelling) in the water column so more
and more calcifying organisms will be exposed to
under saturated water and thus vulnerable to
How ocean Acidification Effects Calcifying Ability: dissolution of their shells and skeletons.
Seawater absorbs CO2 to produce carbonic acid, lysocline is the depth in the ocean below which the
bicarbonate and carbonate ions. rate of dissolution of calcite increases dramatically.
The carbonate ions are essential to the
calcification process that allows certain marine
organisms to build their calcium carbonate shells
and skeletons (e.g. hard tropical corals, cold water
corals, molluscs, crustaceans, sea urchins, certain
types of plankton, lobsters, etc.).
However, increase in atmospheric CO2 levels lead
to decrease in pH level, increase in the
concentration of carbonic acid and bicarbonate
ions, causing a decrease in the concentration
of carbonate ions.
“I believed in
Forms of Calcium Carbonate:
Calcite: less soluble and is the mineral form found myself, and
my teachers
in the shells of planktonic algae, amoeboid protists
and some corals.
Aragonite: more soluble form of Calcium carbonate
found on most corals and most molluscs and some
for success”
algae.
Akshay
Saturation Horizons:
Deep, cold ocean waters are naturally under
saturated with carbonate ions causing the shells of
most calcifying organisms to dissolve.
Surface waters are oversaturated with carbonate
ions and do not readily dissolve shells of calcifying
organisms.
AIR 207
The saturation horizon is the level below which
calcium carbonate minerals undergo dissolution.
www.laex.in Ocean Acidification www.civilsprep.com

Wet Deposition:
Acid Rain
Wet deposition of acids occurs when any form of
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation
that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses precipitation (rain, snow, etc) removes acids from the
elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). atmosphere and delivers it to the Earth’s surface. This can
Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulphur dioxide
and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water result from the deposition of acids found in the
molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. raindrops.
pH in general is less than 5.6
Fig: Acid Rain
Dry Deposition:
Dry Weather: Acid chemicals incorporated into Dust
or Smoke and fall to ground through dry deposition -
sticks to ground, buildings, vegetation etc.
Run Off: Later, through rainstorms, they run off into
water bodies. These contribute half of the acid rain.
Characteristics of Acid rain:

Concentrated in the developed countries, especially
industrialized countries of northern hemisphere.
Mountain areas: heavy rain and snow areas with rich
Sources: forest and vegetation cover.

Both Human Interferences and Natural (nitrogen Thin soils and glaciated bedrock.
oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning
SOx, NOx, can be transported to faraway places, away
strikes and sulphur dioxide is produced by volcanic
eruptions) from their point of origin.
Burning of coal, petroleum products, smelting of
metal sulphide, fertilisers, sulphuric acid production
etc. Difference Between naturally and anthropogenically
Sulphur:volcaniceruptions,soilorganic acidified lakes
decomposition
Anthropogenically acidified
Nitrogen: lightning, biological activity, forest fires, oil, Naturally acidic lakes lakes
coal, vehicular exhaust.
Formic Acid: Burning of biomass, forest fires. Brown to yellow colour
causedbyhumic Very clear water caused by
Chlorine, Hydrochloric acid, phosphoric Acid, Carbon
substances. reduced primary productivity.
Monoxide.
Concentrationsof
dissolved organic carbon Dissolvedorganiccarbon
arehighwhile concentrationsarelow.
transparency is low. Whereas the transparency is
Low pH but well buffered. high.
Poorly buffered
Dry and Wet Deposition:
Some of the more sensitive
taxa, such as blue-green algae,
some bacteria, snails, mussels
crustaceans, mayflies and fish
either decrease or / are
Abound with aquatic life. eliminated.
www.laex.in Acid Rain www.civilsprep.com

gradients,moisturegradientsthereby
Biodiversity increasing dissimilarity between communities.
The term ‘Biodiversity’ refers to ‘The variety and Gamma ● Refers to the diversity of the habitats over the
Diversity total landscape or geographical area.
variability among living organisms and the ecological
complexes in which they occur.’ Gradients of Biodiversity:
It can be defined as ‘the totality of genes, species and Biodiversity is not uniform on earth. It varies with
ecosystems of a region’. change in latitude or altitude. Biodiversity increases,
when we move from high to low altitude (i.e. from
poles to the equator).
Levels of Biodiversity: Biodiversity in tropics is higher compared to
The biological diversity includes three hierarchical levels. temperature region which has severe climate.
Fig: Decrease in number of ant species along the
1. Genetic Diversity latitudinal gradient (from low to high altitude).
2. Species diversity Similarly, the species diversity decreases from lower
3. Community and ecosystem diversity to higher altitude on a mountain.
Genetic Diversity
▪ The genetic variation existing within a species is called
genetic diversity. The genetic variation may be in
alleles (different variants of same genes) in entire
genes(thetraitsdeterminingparticular
characteristics) or in chromosomal structures.
▪ A population is able to adapt to its environment and
respond to natural selection due to its genetic
diversity. The evolution of new species i.e. speciation,
depends upon the amount of genetic variation.
Species Diversity: Benefits and Threats to Biodiversity:

▪ Species diversity refers to the variety of species Benefits of Biodiversity Threats to Biodiversity
within a region. The species diversity of a region is 1. Source of food and Improved 1. Destructionof
measured on the basis of two parameters, Varieties: Habitats: a primary
Human food is entirely obtained threatto
Refers to the number of species per unit from living world. We have several biodiversity.
Species thousand species of edible plants, In many parts of the
area. The number of species increases with
Richness but only less than 20 plant species world,natural
the area of the site.
Indicates the evenness in the number of are cultivated to produce about habitats,which
Species 85% of the world’s food. The rest protect natural flora
individuals of a species.
Evenness 15% of world's food is produced by and fauna are being
animals. converted to human
Community and Ecosystem Diversity: settlements, crop-
▪ Refers to the variations in the biological communities Improved varieties of crop plants lands, dams, and
in which species live. There are three perspectives of and domestic animals are the mining sites.
diversity at the level of community. backbone of modern agriculture,
and wild relatives of crop plants
Other classifications of Diversity - Alpha, Beta, Gamma and useful animals are essential for
● Refers to the diversity of organisms sharing the regular production of high yielding
same community or habitat. A combination of and disease resistant varieties.
Alpha species richness and evenness is used to 1. Drugs and Medicines:
Diversity Biodiversityhasmany 2. Habitat
represent diversity within a community or Fragmentation: the
habitat medicinal uses. A number of
substances with therapeutic process where a
Indicates diversity between communities. large,continuous
● properties are obtained from
Species frequently change when habitat or area of habitat is
community changes. There are differences in plants.Forexample,
Beta divided into two or
species composition of communities along Morphine,usedasan
Diversity more fragments. It
environmental gradients like latitudinal analgesic is obtained from
limits the dispersal
www.laex.in Biodiversity www.civilsprep.com

Chinchonaledgeriana tree. andcolonisation National Parks:

potential of species An area which is strictly reserved for the welfare of
and also reduces the wildlife and where activities such as forestry, grazing
foraging abilities of
or cultivation are not allowed.
animals.
3. Disturbanceand
Private ownership right and habitat manipulation are
3. Aestheticandcultural not permitted in a national park.
Pollution: Natural as
benefits:
well as man-made
Biodiversity provides a good
disturbances such as
deal of fun and recreation.
fire,treefall, Wild Life Sanctuaries:
Ecotourism, bird watching,
defoliation, release An area which is reserved for the conservation of
wildlife, gardening etc are
of radiation, oil spill animals only.
some examples of aesthetics
in water bodies, Operations such as harvesting of timber, collection of
rewards of biodiversity.
eutrophication/nutri
minor forest products and private ownership rights
ent enrichments etc
Biodiversity is also related to are allowed provided they do none affect the animals
affect communities
our cultural and religious adversely.
adversely.
beliefs. Plants and animals are There are around 500 Wildlife Sanctuaries in India
Environment
considered to be symbols of
pollution also moves
aesthetic rewards of our
up the food chain
cultural heritage. For example,
and further affects
Ocuimus sanctum (Tulsi) is Sl. National
the rest of the Parameter Wildlife Sanctuary
consideredsacredand No. Park
species in the food
worshiped by many people in Greater
web. Degreeof Lesser than National
India. 1 Protection
4. Introductionof Protection Parks
exoticspecies: Grazingand
Introductionof 2 other activities Prohibited Regulated
4. Ecosystem Services
Biodiversity is essential to keep exotic/alien species
may cause significant State and
natural cycles going and Power to State and Centre
loss to the biological 3 Centre may
making the ecosystem a self Declare may declare
communities. These declare
sustaining unit. Some of the
species, if successful Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves:
services are:
in the new area, may
Maintenanceofgaseous Conservation Reserves:
(i) kill or eat native
compositionofthe Protected areas of India which typically act as buffer
species to the point
atmosphere zones to or connector and migration corridors between
of extinction, or may
Climate control by forests and
(ii) oceanic systems alter the habitat that established national parks, wild life sanctuaries, and
many natives are no reserved and protected forests of India
Natural pest control
(iii) Formation and protection of longerableto First introduced in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment
(iv) soil persist. Act of 2002.
Nutrient cycling etc
(vi)
There are 65 conservation reserves with J&K highest with
Conservation Strategies: 34 conservation reserves.
In-situ
It refers to the conservation of biological diversity in their Community Reserves:
natural habitats through protection of total ecosystem. Similar to Conservation reserves but area held by private
individuals/groups
Protected Areas:
Biosphere Reserves:
● These areas of land and/or sea especially dedicated to
The Man and Biosphere (MAB) program of UNESCO
the protection and maintenance of biological
formulated the concept of Biosphere Reserves in 1975,
diversity, and of natural and associated cultural
which deals with the conservation of ecosystems and the
resources. The protected areas are managed through
genetic resources contained therein.
legal or other effective means.
There are 18 biosphere reserves in India of which 11 are

part of the UNESCO MAB program.

Core or Natural Zone: Norman Myers wrote about the concept

It comprises an undisturbed and legally protected
ecosystem. Criteria:
Must contain at least 05% or 1500 species of vascular
plants as endemics and
Buffer Zone:
It has to have lost at least 70% of its primary
It surrounds the core area, and is managed to
vegetation.
accommodatea greater varieties of resource use
strategies, and research and educational activities.
At world level:
Transitional Zone: There are 35 Biodiversity hotspots throughout the
It is the outermost part of the Biosphere reserve. It serves world
as an area of active cooperation between reserve These sites support nearly 60% of the world’s plant,
management and the local people, wherein activities like bird, mammal, reptiles and amphibian species with a
settlements, cropping, forests and recreation and other very high share of endemic species.
economic uses continue in harmony with conservation
goals.
Fig: The zonation in a terrestrial Biosphere Reserve IUCN Red List or Red Data List:
Criteria for Consideration as Endangered.
IUCN: Founded in 1964, is the world’s most
comprehensive inventory of the global conservation
status of biological species.
Colour Codes used by IUCN:

Pink Pages: Critically endangered species
Green Pages: Formerly endangered, but recovered to a
point where they are no longer threatened.
Sacred Forests or Lakes: Categories:

There has been traditional practice in India to maintain
sacred forests and lakes to protect biodiversity. The
sacred forests/lakes are protected by tribal communities
and local peoples due to religious sanctity accorded to
these forests.
Ex: Khecheopalrilake in Sikkim has been declared sacred
by the people to save aquatic life from degradation.
Ex-situ:
It refers to conservation of biodiversity at places away
from their natural habitat. These include botanical
gardens, zoos, genetic resource centres, pollen grains,
DNA banks etc. Criteria:
Seed Gene Banks/Germplasm Banks: Are the easiest way Critically
Criteria Endangered Vulnerable
to store germplasm of wild and cultivated plants in low Endangered
1. Population 90% in 10 70% in 10 50% in 10
temperature in cold rooms at ultra low temperature years
reduction % in years years years
called cryopreservation.
2. Population size Lessthan Less than
(Numbers) Less than 50 250 10,000
3. Probability of 20% in 20 10% in 100
50% in 10
extinction in the wild years years
Biodiversity Hotspots: years
4. Risk of extinction
Extremely
A biodiversity hotspot is a bio-geographic region with in the wild
high Very high High
a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under
threat from humans

Animal Diversity of India The

5 Himalayan Western Himalayas
Sl. Quail
No Mammals - Critically Pink-headed
Endangered Distribution
. duck
6 Mostly north-east India
Sociable
Is restricted to only a Lapwing
Restricted to the north and
1 Pygmy Hog singlepopulation in 7 Spoon Billed
Manas Wildlife reserve. north-west of the country.
Sandpiper
Been recorded in West Bengal,
Siberian
AndamanWhite- 8 Odisha, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Crane
Both of them found in Keoladeo National Park in
2 toothedShrew, Rajasthan.
9
the South Andaman
JenkinsAndaman
Islands.
3 Spiny Shrew
Sinhagarh Plateau near
Kondana Rat
4
Pune in Maharashtra.
The Large Rock Rat Known only from Eastern
5 or Elvira RatGhats of Tamil Nadu
TheNamdapha Namdapha National Park
6 Flying Squirrelin Arunachal Pradesh.
Malabar CivetWestern Ghats
Extinct in India and only a
7 TheSumatran
small number survive in
Rhinoceros
Java and Vietnam.
8 In Kashmir valley and
Kashmir Stag/Hangul northern Chamber in
Himachal Pradesh.
Birds -
Sl Critically
No. Distribution
Endangered
Nocturnal bird found only in the

1 The Jordan’s
northern part of state of Andhra
Courser
Pradesh in peninsular India.
2 South Madhya Pradesh, in
TheForest
northwest Maharashtra and
Owlet
3 north-central Maharashtra.
Bhutan and north-east India to
The White-
the hills of Bangladesh and north
4
bellied Heron
Myanmar.
The Bengal Uttar Pradesh, Assam and
FloricanArunachal Pradesh
www.laex.in Animal Diversity www.civilsprep.com
ProsopisJuliflora/Mesq
Plant Diversity of India 18
uite
Mexico
19 Townsend Grass Tropical West Asia

Insectivorous Plants of India:
Insectivorous
Sl. Medicinal Plants:
Plants of Miscellaneous information
No.
India
Droseraor Sl
Leaves secrete dew-like drops that Medicinal Plants Uses
1 Sundew No.
trap insects.
The two halves of the leaf bald close Beddomes Cycad / Cure for rheumatoid rarities,
1
2 Aldrovanda trapping the insects. Perita / Kondaitha muscle pains.
Leaves bear jar-like structures in Botanicalorchidswith
which insects are trapped when they property of producing inter
Blue Vanda / Autumn
3 Nepenthes fall in. 2 specific and intergeneric
Ladies Tresses Orchid
Has bladders mouth with sensitive hybrids
bristles or hairs. When an insect
happens to contact these hairs the Kuth / Kustha /
door opens, carrying the insect into 3 Pooshkarmoola / Anti-inflammatory drug
Utricularia or the bladder along with a little Uplet
4
Bladderworts current of water and the door is shut Treat anxiety / insomnia,
when the water fills the bladder. 4 Ladies Slipper Orchid
muscular pain
Sticky leaf. When insects land on the Has demand among orchid
leaf, the leaf margins roll up thus 5 Red Vanda fanciers
trapping the insect. Treatvariouscentral
Pinguicula or nervous system disorders
5 6 Sarpagandha
Butterwort As ornamental plants
7 Ceropegia species As a source of medicinal
Invasive Alien Species: Modi/Indian resin
8 Podophyllum Foodsourceespecially
Sl.
Invasive Alien Species Nativity (needed?) starch in pith
No.
9 Tree Ferns Lytico-Bodig disease
1 Needle Bush Tropical South America To produce steroid products
2 Black Wattle South East Australia 10 Cycads
3 Goat Weed Tropical America 11 Elephant’s Foot
Alternanthera
4 Paronychoides Tropical America
Tropical Central and

5 Prickly Poppy
South America
6 BlumeaEriantha Tropical America
7 Palmyra, Toddy Palm Tropical Africa
Calotropis/Madar,
8 Swallow Wort Tropical Africa
Datura, Mad Plant,
9 Thorn Apple Tropical America
Water Hyacinth
10 Impatiens, Balsam Tropical America
11 Ipomoea/thepink Tropical America
morning glory
12 LantanaCamara/ Tropical America
Lantana, Wild Sage
13 Black Mimosa Tropical America
Touch-Me-Not/Sleeping
14 Grass Tropical North America
4 ‘o’ clock plant
15 Parthenium/Congress Brazil
grass
16 Peru
17 Tropical North America
www.laex.in Plant Diversity www.civilsprep.com

Environmental Impact Assessment o Figures 1 and 2 show that EIA can help reduce the
adverse environmental impact of a particular
● Environmental Protection and Sustainable
project by assessing the impact of the project and
Development has been the cornerstones of the
planning changes and incorporating it in the project
policies and procedures governing the industrial
to reduce such impacts. If the adverse impact is
and other developmental activities in India.
too high and can’t be reduced, the planners may
● What is EIA? One of the tools available to achieve even drop the project.
the goal of harmonising development activities
with the environmental concerns.
● Need for EIA: allows finding out potential harmful

environmental consequences in any project. This
allows for course correction/alteration/cancellation
of project design in early phase of project cycle.
● Objective: to enable the planners to foresee the

potential environmental problems that would arise
out of a proposed development and address them
in the project’s planning and design stage.
o Fig 1: Anticipated environment impact of
development project
o Fig 2: Environment impact rectification after EIA
www.laex.in Environmental Impact Assessment www.civilsprep.com

● Paralyzes or destroys bronchial cilia in air

Environmental Pollution passages of man, lowers resistance to
pneumonia and influenza
● Environmental pollution is defined as unfavourable
● Cause bronchitis, emphysema
alteration of our surroundings, wholly as a by H2S – mottling, defoliation and reduce
●
product of man’s activities through direct or indirect growth,
efforts of changes in the physical, chemical and Released by active volcanoes
biological characteristics of land, air or water that ● Emitted from aluminium, steel and
●
harmfully affect human life or any desirable living electrochemical reduction plants and
thing. superphospate fertilizer industries + coal
Hydrogen burning
Fluoride Fluoride burns tip of leaves, impairs plant
● growth, excessive dropping of bloom and
Types of Pollutants: young fruits, seedless fruits
According to how they persist in environment Anaerobic breakdown of nitrogenous
▪ Primary pollutants- persist in same form, Ex- DDT, ● compounds by bacteria, forest fire,
Plastic lightning and nitrogenous fertilizers
▪ Secondary Pollutants – by interaction among primary Causes bifacial necrosis- collapse of leaves
and fruits, enhancement of green colour
pollutants, Ex- Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) -> NO + Nitrogen ● followed by chlorosis
Hydrocarbons oxides
In humans it causes pulmonary edema
and haemorrhage
● From accidental spills from chemical
manufacturing plants
According to nature of Disposal
● Combustion of coal paper,plastic and
▪ Biodegradable- degraded by microbial action chlorinated hydrocarbons
Ex-Sewage Causes abaxial glazing of leaves caused by
●
▪ Non biodegradable – not decomposed by microbial Hydrogen collapse and plasmolysis of epidermal
action Ex- Plastic, Glass, DDT Chloride cells
●
From organic matter seepage from
natural gas and oil fields
Other types: Ethylene causes yellowing and occasion
▪ Natural and Biodegradable ● necrosis, chlorosis of floral buds,
▪ Quantitative and qualitative pollutants inhibition of terminal growth
Hydrocarbons ● From refrigerator, pre-cooler systems of
cold storages, ammonia fertilizers
Cause bleaching of leaves, rusty spot on
● leaves, reduction of root and shoot
growth, reduce rate of seed germination
Ammonia ● From automobile engines and defective
furnaces
Causes headache, dizziness, inability to
distinguish time intervals
● Firmscarboxyhemoglobinreducing
oxygen carrying capacity
Carbon ● Secondary pollutants formed from
Air Pollution: monoxide primary pollutants
● Air composition- N>O>Ar>CO2>other gases ● Major oxidants- ozone, peroxyacetyl
● Causes- emission from industries, thermal power nitrate PAN
plants, domestic combustion etc ● Causes premature senescence in plants,
● Common Air pollutants reducedgrowth,depressionof
marketable yields
●
Coughing, headache, altered breathing,
Pollutant- Photochemica dry throat disorientation
Description/Source/Effects ● Smoking cigarettes and bidis
Gases l oxidant
● Released by coal combustion Lung cancer, pulmonary and coronary
● High concentration of SO2 cause internal heart diseases
Sulphur and blood damage, necrosis of leaves and ●
Oxides, cellular collapse
Hydrogen Low concentration suppresses the ●
Sulphide ● Tobacco
●
vegetation as well as reproductive growth smoke
and yield
www.laex.in Environmental Pollution www.civilsprep.com

● Generated similar like gaseous fluorides ● Non point source - water pollution happens
but less phyto-toxic not from one single source but from many
Fluoride ● Tip burn in plants different scattered sources. Eg: sewage
● Calcification of bones and teeth called release from many villages into river
fluorosis ● Trans-boundary - pollution that enters the
Chief sources of Tetraethyl lead which is environment in one place has an effect
●
anti knock additive in fuel hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
Lead Chronic exposure leads to stippled red Eg: great garbage patch, oil spills
● cells, circulatory and nervous disorders Chemical indicators – by checking for toxic
Higher pubescence of leaves, formation of Howto 1. chemicals in the water
Cement kiln ● more stomata measure is Biological indicators – by looking at the
andother Increase in number of infertile seeds wateris 2. biological diversity in the water
dust ● From de icing polluted Sewage, excess nutrients, Wastewater from
Sodium ● Cause lead necrosis defoliation ● industries, Chemical waste, Radioactive
chloride ● waste, Oil pollution, Plastics, Invasive
Agriculture Causes species
chemicals ● NOx and SOx cause acid rain Eutrophication is the natural aging of a lake
by nutrient enrichment of its water. In a
●
young lake the water is cold and clear,
Index for Measurement Air Pollution:
supporting little life. With time, streams
● Comprise 12 pollutants, out of which, three draining into the lake introduce nutrients
pollutants namely PM10, SO2 and NO2 are such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which
monitored at 612 locations in 254 cities encourage the growth of aquatic
/towns by Central Pollution Control Board organisms. As the lake’s fertility increases,
(CPCB) in association with various State plant and animal life burgeons, and organic
Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and remains begin to be deposited on the lake
National Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) for bottom
Ambient Air UTs. Effects of
water Bio-magnification refers to increase in
Quality 12 Pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, concentration of the toxicant at successive
Standards ● O3, NH3, and Pb, C6H 6(Benzene), Benzo(a) pollution
trophic levels. This happens because a toxic
(NAAQS) Pyrene (BaP), Arsenic (As), Nickel(Ni) ●
substance accumulated by an organism
It was used to decimate information cannot be metabolised or excreted, and is
● regarding air quality according to Air thus passed on to the next higher trophic
pollution Act level. This phenomenon is well known for
In 2014 Environment ministry gave a new mercury and DDT.
● NAQI Sewage water treatment (STP) before
One Number- One Colour-One Description releasing into water bodies
Technical study was awarded to IIT Kanpur.
● Checking toxic wastes released by
● IIT Kanpur and the Expert Group industries
recommended an AQI scheme. Six AQI ●
Controlling plastic waste dumped into
categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, marine water bodies
Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and ●
Decentralised water conservation and
Severe purification
Remedies
Eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, ●
The National CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term
Air Quality ● (up to 24-hourly averaging period) ●
Index’ (AQI) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are
prescribed.
Sub-index is calculated for each of these List of Diseases associated with Water Pollution:
pollutants. The worst sub-index reflects Disease Associated Pollutant and Description
overall AQI. Due to Arsenic Leaching from soil and
● Black Foot Disease rocks into drinking water
Asbestosis(No Chronic lung disease due to Asbestos
cure) Pollution
Excessof nitratesreactswith
Water Pollution: haemoglobinandmakesmet
● Surface- oceans, lakes, and rivers Blue Baby haemoglobin which impairs oxygen
● Ground- Water stored underground in Syndrome transport
aquifers Iodine 131 from nuclear sites
Types Point source - If pollution comes from a
● contaminate vegetation and passed on to
single location, such as a discharge pipe Iodine131,
human and damage thyroid glands
attached to a factory. Eg: Toxic water from thyroid damage
Cadmium pollution causing lung and liver
a industry
ItaiItai – Ouch

Ouch disease cancer associated with pain ● Nuclear accidents from nuclear plants
Lead contamination can cause anaemia, ● Nuclear Bombs (Weapons of Mass
Lead Anaemia loss of muscle power and bluish lines Destruction)
Causes
around gums ● Use of radioisotopes in medicine and other
Crippling effect due to contamination of applications
Minamata methyl mercury Spillage of radioactive materials in ocean
●
Occupational lung disease due to Radiation tests
Pneumoconiosis/ ●
inhalation due to coal dust ● Cosmic rays
Black Lung Disease Lung disease due to inhalation of silica Genetic Mutation- change of genetic material
●
from sand blasting sites in the future generations
Silicosis
Fluoride contamination causing teeth Diseases like Cancers, leukemia occur due to
deformity, hardening of bones and joint Effects ● radiation
Skeletal Fluorosis pains Soil pollution – which may cause
Due to sulphur oxide contamination from ● biomagnifications. Cell destruction
crude Oil Burns
Yokkaichi asthma ● Proper method of disposal of radioactive
● waste as per international guidelines
Soil Pollution: Labelling of hazardous radioactive materials
and proper usage instructions
● Soil is a thin layer of organic and inorganic materials that ● Banning Nuclear arms tests
covers the earth’s rocky surface Remedies/
Shifting to alternative to nuclear energy
● Soil pollutant is any factor which deteriorates the Measures ● Proper storage of nuclear waste using
quality, texture and mineral content of the soil or ● containers which can absorb the radiation
which disturbs the biological balance of the organisms in ● Reusing the nuclear material and reduce the
the soil. nuclear waste generated
●
● Indiscriminate use of fertilizers, pesticides, E Waste:

insecticides and herbicides ● The discarded and end of life electronic products ranging
causes ● Pollution due to urbanisation
from computers, equipment used in ICT, home
● Dumping large quantities of solid waste
appliances, audio and video products and all of their
● Deforestation and soil erosion
peripherals are popularly known as Electronic waste(e
● Agriculture
o Reduced soil fertility, nitrogen fixation, crop waste).
yield. ● Not hazardous if stored using scientific methods; it is
Increased salinity and erosion. hazardous if recycled in primitive methods.
Effects of
Soil o Health
● Bio-magnification
Pollution
o Leaching and water pollution.
o Pollutant Description
Environment- Ecological imbalance and Source: used in glass panels and soldered
●
reduced vegetation electronic circuits.
Reducing overuse of pesticide and fertilizers – Lead Causes damage to central and peripheral nervous
● instead use bio pesticide and bio fertilizer and system and kidneys.
Organic farming From SMD chip resistors, infrared detectors and
Four R’s – Refuse, Reuse, Recycle, Reduce CRT.
Remedies
Solid waste treatment Cadmium Causes accumulation in body especially kidneys.
●
● From thermostats ,sensors, relays , switches, flat
display panels
Radio Active Pollution: Mercury Damage organs including brain and kidneys
● Radioactivity is a phenomenon of spontaneous emission From corrosion protector in galvanised steel
of proton (alpha particles), electrons (beta particles), plates, Dioxin is released when PVC plastic is
and gamma rays (short wave EM waves) due to burnt. Cause damage to DNA and dangerous to
Chromium environment.
disintegration of atomic nuclei of some elements.
● Radioactive pollution occurs when there is presence or
depositions of radioactive materials in the atmosphere Brominated
From plastic housing of electronic equipment to
or environment, especially where their presence is Flame
Retardants prevent flames. Cause neural disorders
accidental and when it presents an environmental
threat due to radioactive decay. Soft silvery white metal used to protect users
Barium from radiation from display. Causes brain
swelling, muscle weakness.

Found in motherboards and finger clips, copper- ● Composting: Composting is nature’s process of
Beryllium beryllium alloy to strengthen connectors. recycling decomposed organic materials into a
Cause lung cancer, skin disease. rich soil known as compost.
● Useful for the complete destruction of a wide
Bioremediation: Advanta variety of contaminants.
● Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms ges of ● The complete destruction of target pollutants is
(bacteria and fungi) to degrade the bioreme possible.
environmental contaminants into less toxic diation ● Less expensive.
forms. ● Environment friendly.
● The process of bioremediation can be monitored ● Bioremediation is limited to those compounds
indirectly by measuring the Oxidation Reduction that are biodegradable. Not all compounds are
About Disadva susceptible to rapid and complete degradation.
Potential or redox in soil and groundwater,
together with pH, temperature, oxygen content, ntages ● Biological processes are often highly specific.
electron acceptor/donor concentrations, and of ● It is difficult to extrapolate from bench and pilot-
concentration of breakdown products (e.g. bioreme scale studies to full-scale field operations.
carbon dioxide) diation. ● Bioremediation often takes longer time than
● In situ — It involves treatment of the other treatment process.
contaminated material at the site.
● Bioventing: Supply of air and nutrients through
wells to contaminated soil to stimulate the Plastic Pollution:
growth of indigenous bacteria. It is used for ● The plastics waste constitutes two major categories of
simple hydrocarbons and can be used where the plastics – Thermoplastics and Thermoset plastics.
contamination is deep under the surface. ● Thermoplastics constitute 80% and Thermoset
● Biosparging: Injection of air under pressure constitutes approximately 20% of total post-consumer
below the water table to increase groundwater plastics waste generated in India.
oxygen concentrations and enhance the rate of
● The Thermoplastics are recyclable plastics which include;
biological degradation of contaminants by
In situ PolyethyleneTerephthalate(PET),Low-Density
naturally occurring bacteria
bioreme Polyethylene (LDPE), Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC), High-
● Bioaugmentation: Microorganismsare
diation imported to a contaminated site to enhance
Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene(PP),
degradation process. Polystyrene (PS) etc.
Using bioremediation techniques, TERI has ● The Thermoset plastics contains alkyd, epoxy, ester,
developed a mixture of bacteria called melamine formaldehyde, phenol formaldehyde, silicon,
‘Oilzapper and Oilivorous-S’ which degrades the urea formaldehyde, polyurethane, metalized and
pollutants of oil-contaminated sites, leaving multilayer plastics etc.
behind no harmful residues. This technique is
not only environment friendly, but also highly
cost-effective.
● Ex situ — involves the removal of the
contaminated material to be treated elsewhere.
● Land farming: contaminated soil is excavated Change in Plastic Waste Management Rules:
and spread over a prepared bed and periodically ● The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate
tilled until pollutants are degraded. The goal is change amended the Plastic Waste Management Rules
to stimulate indigenous bio-degradative (2016).
microorganisms and facilitate their aerobic ● According to the amendment, manufacturers, suppliers,
degradation of contaminants. and sellers of plastic (and plastic products) across the
● Bio-piles: it is a hybrid of land farming and nation will now be required to phase out, over a period
composting. Essentially, engineered cells are of two years, all such products which have no
Ex. situ constructed as aerated composted piles. alternative use or are non-recyclable and non-energy
bioreme Typically used for treatment of surface
recoverable
diation contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons.
● This move was preceded by a state-wide ban in
● Bioreactors: it involves the processing of
contaminated solid material (soil, sediment,
Maharashtra on the manufacture, usage, sale
sludge) or water through an engineered (wholesale and retail), distribution, storage and import
containment system. of plastic bags and all disposable products made out of
plastic.

Climate Change Organisation

Sl.
Organisation History Objectives/ Details
No.
● The convention is legally non-binding, but makes
● Came into force from 1994
provisions for meeting called ‘protocols’ where
● Secretariat is located in Bonn,
negotiating countries can set legally binding limits
UNFCCC- Germany
What it does?
United Nation Ratifies : 197 ●
● o It aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in
Framework ● Kyoto Protocol was negotiated under
the atmosphere.
1 Convention on this framework.
Annex I countries: industrialized countries and
Climate Change India is Non Annex party (refers to ● economies in transition
● countries that have ratified or
Annex II countries: developed countries which pay
acceded to the UNFCCC, but are not
● for costs of developing countries
included in Annex) to UNFCC
Non Annex I countries: Developing countries.
to fight global warming by reducing greenhouse gas
●
● concentrations
The Protocol is based on the principle of common
● Adopted in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan but differentiated responsibilities.
● Came into force in 2005 ● Target under this protocol applies to following GHGs:
● Parties : 192 (Canada withdrew) Carbon Dioxide (CO2),Methane (CH4),Nitrous Oxide
● It gave binding targets to Annex I ● (NO2),Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6)
countries ● Two groups of gases : Hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs),
India has ratified the second Perfluoro carbons (PFCs)
● commitment period of Kyoto Kyoto Protocol includes "flexible mechanisms"
● which allow Annex 1 economies to meet their GHG
Protocol known as the Doha
Amendment to the protocol. targets by:
Paris agreement (2015) is not an ● financial exchanges (International Emissions Trading
amendment to Kyoto Protocol but a Scheme)
2 Kyoto Protocol ● from projects which reduce emissions in non-Annex 1
separate instrument altogether.
● countries under the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM),
in other Annex-1 countries under the Joint
● Implementation (JI)
Criticism of Kyoto Protocol
● Under Common but Differentiated Only CDM Executive Board-accredited Certified
Responsibility, many countries were Emission Reductions (CER) can be bought and sold in
allowed to increase pollution. ● this manner.
It excluded most polluting countries The Bali Action Plan (BAP) launched a
● like China and India. comprehensiveprocesstoenablethe
●
implementation of the Convention through long-
term cooperative action up to and beyond 2012.
All developed country Parties have agreed to
● “Quantified emission limitation taking into account
differences in their national circumstances.”
Developed countries stressed developing also to
undertake some kind of emission cuts.
● COP 13, CMP 3. all countries should pledge voluntary limits (no
3 Bali Meet 2007 ● Launch of the Adaptation Fund ●
binding obligations)
Agrees a “goal” for the world to raise $100 billion
per year by 2020. New multilateral funding for
● adaptation will be delivered, with a governance
structure.
●
● COP 15, CMP 5.
● Produced the Copenhagen Accord.
Copenhagen ● Agreementbetweendeveloping ●
4
Summit 2009 nations block called BASIC (Brazil,
South Africa, India and China).
www.laex.in Climate Change Organisations www.civilsprep.com

● COP 16, CMP 6.

● An agreement adopted by the COP
called for a large “Green Climate ● As per the Cancun Agreements, all Parties to the
Cancun Summit Fund”,andan“Adaptation Convention (including the developed and developing
5 countries) have agreed to report their voluntary
2010 Committee” at global level to support
developing countries in mitigation of mitigation goals for implementation.
GHGs.
COP 17, CPM 7.
● In 2011, parties adopted the “Durban
● Platform for Enhanced Action”. ● Parties have agreed to “develop legal instrument or
Durban COP 17 approved the Governing an agreed outcome with legal force”. This new
6 treaty is due to be adopted at the 21st COP, and
Summit 2011 Instrument for the GCF.
● implemented in 2020.
● The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) was

● The Global Environment Facility (GEF), established under the Convention in 2001 to finance
Other projects relating to: adaptation; technology transfer
as an operating entity of the Financial
7 mechanisms of Mechanism, has been entrusted to and capacity building; energy, transport, industry,
UNFCC agriculture, forestry and waste management; and
operate the SCCF.
economic diversification.
REDD+
8 REDD ● REDD+ (Defined in Bali Action Plan, 2007, CoP13)
● REDD+ (or REDD-plus) = to "reducing emissions from
deforestation and forest degradation in developing
countries, and the role of conservation, sustainable
management of forests, and enhancement of forest
carbon stocks in developing countries"
● REDD = "reducing emissions from deforestation in ● REDD+ is essentially a vehicle to financially reward
developing countries" developing countries for their verified efforts to
● It is under negotiation under UNFCC since 2005 reduce emissions and enhance removals of
● India did not participated in UN-REDD greenhouse gases through a variety of forest
management option
● India favours REDD+
9 Global Environment Facility-GEF (1992) Global Climate Fund- GCF

● It is a fund within the framework of UNFCCC
● It is founded to assist developing countries in
adaptation and mitigation practices to counter
climate change.
● The GEF provides grants for projects related to
Formed in 2010
biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land ● First mention of concept in Copenhagen Accord in
degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic ●
CoP-15
pollutants.
Formally in CoP-16 at Cancun.
The GEF also serves as financial mechanism for the
● following conventions: ● World Bank is chosen as a temporary trustee of the
● fund.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
● HQ : Incheon, South Korea
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
● It is intended to be the centrepiece of efforts to raise
Change (UNFCCC) ●
● Climate Finance of $100 billion a year by 2020. This
UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
is not an official figure for the size of the Fund itself,
● Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
however.
● (POPs)
No clarity about from where money will come in this
Minamata Convention on Mercury
fund.
● ● Developed countries even after pledging has
contributed very less to it
●

● The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

● The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the (IPCC) is the international body for assessing the
World Meteorological Organization science related to climate change.
(WMO)andUnitedNations IPCC assessments provide a scientific basis for
●
10 IPCC Environment Programme (UNEP) governments at all levels to develop climate related
Assessment Report (AR) is published policies, and they underlie negotiations at the UN
● by IPCC. Climate Conference – the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
● It deals with greenhouse gases

emissions mitigation, adaptation and ● Holding the increase in the global average
finance starting in the year 2020. temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial
Opened for signature on 22 April 2016 levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature
●
(Earth Day) increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.
It has not entered into force yet. India’s proposed targets:
● Indiahassignedit.India's ● Reduce emissions intensity of its GDP by 33 to 35%
● contribution in global greenhouse gas ●
by 2030 from 2005 level.
Paris is 4.10% in 2015. Achieve about 40% electric power installed capacity
11 Agreement The contribution that each individual ● from non-fossil fuel based energy resources by 2030
● country called "nationally determined with help of transfer of technology and low cost
contributions" (NDCs) international finance.
Targets will not be binding as it is not Create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion
possible to enforce them. tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest
● NDCs will be revised after 5 years in ● and tree cover by 2030.
2023
● The ISA was launched at the 2015
Paris Climate Change Summit by
● Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ● It seeks to empower solar-rich countries located
French President Francois Hollande. between the tropic of Cancer and the tropic of
Under this alliance, 121 countries that Capricorn to make collaborative efforts to harness
International fall within the tropics have been solar energy to generate the electricity.
12 Solar Alliance invited. Its major objectives include global deployment of
● Headquarters at Gurugram, India. ● over 1,000GW of solar generation capacity and
mobilisation of investment of over US $1000 billion
into solar energy by 2030.
● Adapting to climate change and making farming
● more resilient.
● Climatechangeandresultant Reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)
increased frequency of extreme Identifying and promoting sustainable agriculture
weather events such as droughts, ●
practices and tools e.g. Organic farming;
floods and storms has put many ●
Climate Smart Agroforestry;
13 developing countries at the risk of Using inputs more efficiently and effectively
Agriculture
growing food insecurity. Increasing the productivity of milk and meat
Sustainably increasing agricultural ● production
● productivity and farmers’ incomes ●
National
Greenhouse ● To provide methods for estimating-national
14 Gas ● The IPCC established the NGGIP, inventories of greenhouse gas emissions to, and
Inventories removals from, the atmosphere.
Programme
● A Green Economy is one whose

growth in income and employment is
driven by public and private ● Three priorities
investments that reduce carbon 1. decarbonise the economy
Green 2. commit the environmental community to justice and
15 emissions and pollution, enhance
Economy equity; and
energy and resource efficiency, and
prevent the loss of biodiversity and 3. Conserve the biosphere.
ecosystems.

● Found in 2010 ● The organization is focused on promoting activities,

World Nature ● address the critical challenging of global technologies, economies, and renewable energies
16 threat to soil, oceans, forests, water and which are regarded to be environment friendly; and
Organization
air reducing the impact of climate change.
It is an international non-governmental, working in the
WorldWide ●
Fund for Nature field of the wilderness preservation, and the reduction
17 ● Organization founded in 1961
of humanity’s footprint on the environment.
Purpose of the alliance is to consolidate the voices of
● Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to address global
warming
● It is an intergovernmental organisation As the existence of many AOSIS states are put at risk by
of low lying coastal and small island ● climate change AOSIS has threatened lawsuits
Alliance of nations. In Indian ocean 4 states are member :
18 Small Island Established in 1990
● ● Comoros
States AOSIS has a membership of 44 states
● 1. Maldives
● India is not a member 2. Mauritius
3. Seychelles
4. It publishes a quarterly magazine, World Birdwatch,
● which contains recent news and authoritative articles
about birds, their habitats, and their conservation
● It is world’s largest conservation around the world.
partnerships for conservation of birds It is the official Red List authority for birds, for the
Birdlife and their habitats.
19 International Union for Conservation of Nature.
International It was earlier known as International
● ● It also published important bird areas (IBA) inventory.
Committee for Bird Preservation.
●
Centrefor ● Non-Profit organisation
● ● CSE works as a think tank on environment-development
20 Scienceand Based in New Delhi
● issues in India
Environment Established in 1980
Intergovernmen
talScience- ● It is an independent intergovernmental
● It was established to strengthen the science-policy
Policy Platform body
interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the
21 on Biodiversity ● It was established in Panama City in
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-
and Ecosystem 2012
term human well-being and sustainable development
Services ● HQ : Bonn, Germany
● It is an UN agency
● ● UNEP has also been active in funding and implementing
It was founded as a result of the UN
environment related development projects
Conference on the Human Environment
● UNEP has aided in the formulation of guidelines and
(Stockholm Conference) in 1972
United Nations treaties on issues such as the international trade in
● HQ : Nairobi, Kenya
Environment potentially harmful chemicals, trans-boundary air
● UNEP is also one of several
22 Programme pollution, and contamination of international
Implementing Agencies for the Global
(UNEP) waterways
Environment Facility (GEF) and the
The International Cyanide Management Code, a
MultilateralFundforthe ● program of best practice for the chemical’s use at gold
Implementation of the Montreal
mining operations, was developed under UNEP’s aegis.
Protocol.
The WorldMeteorological
● Organization (WMO)isan inter
governmentalorganization witha ● WMO provides a framework for international
WMO membership of 191 Member States and
23 cooperation in the development of meteorology and
Territories. operational hydrology and their practical application.
● SCAR is charged with initiating, developing and

● The Scientific Committee on Antarctic
coordinating high quality international scientific
Research (SCAR) is an inter-disciplinary
24 SCAR research in the Antarctic region (including the Southern
committee of the International Council
Ocean), and on the role of the Antarctic region in the
for Science (ICSU).
Earth system.

Treaties/Agreements/Conventions
Timeline:
1971: Convention on Wetlands of International Importance ("Ramsar Convention")
1972: Stockholm Declaration
1973: Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild flora and fauna (CITES)
1982: Nairobi Declaration
1985: Vienna convention for the protection of ozone layer.
1987: Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
1987: Our Common Future: Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development
("Brundtland Report")
Agenda 21
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
1992: Convention on Biological Diversity
1992: Protocol to the UNFCCC ("Kyoto Protocol")
1992: Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
1997: International Trade ("Rotterdam Convention")
1998: The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety ("Cartagena Protocol")
Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants ("Stockholm Convention")
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 (‘Nagoya Protocol’)
2000:
United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – RIO +20
2001: Paris Agreement (To replace Kyoto Protocol)
2010: Kigali Amendment to Montreal Protocol.
2012:
2015:
2016:
Sl.
Agreement History Objectives and Details
No.
● Earth Summit 1992, Rio Summit, the Rio
United Nations Conference ● Important legally binding agreements (Rio Convention)
Conference on ● Earth Summit resulted in the following
were opened for signature:
Environment documents:
1 Convention on Biological Diversity
and o Rio Declaration on Environment and
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Development- Development
UNCED o Agenda 21 United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
o Forest Principles
● It is a multilateral treaty ● Convention has 3 main goals :

Convention on ● Entered into force in 1993 o Conservation of biological diversity
2 Biological ● Parties : 196 o Sustainable use of its components
Diversity ● It is legally binding o Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic
● India is a party to convention resources
● The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity

Cartagena
from the potential risks posed by living modified
Protocol on
3 ● Adopted in 2000; Came into force in 2003 organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
Biosafety:
● Genetically Modified Organisms can be regulated under
this protocol
● It deals with access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and

Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization
Nagoya to the Convention on Biological Diversity
● Adopted in Conference of Parties 10
4 Protocol:
(CoP10) (2010) ● It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on
Biological Diversity.
● The Strategic Plan consists of 20 new biodiversity targets
www.laex.in Treaties Agreements Conventions www.civilsprep.com

for 2020, termed the 'Aichi Biodiversity Targets'

● The convention provides the framework for national
Ramsar ● It is an international treaty action and international cooperation for the conservation
5 Convention on ● It was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Wetlands ● In India 26 sites are Ramsar site ● The Ramsar Convention is the only global environmental
treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem
● Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of

● The Montreux Record was established by
wetland sites
Recommendation of the Conference of
● It is a list of Wetlands of International Importance where
Montreux the Contracting Parties (1990).
changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring,
6 Record: ● It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List. or are likely to occur as a result of technological
● In India – Keoladeo National Park and developments, pollution or other human interference.
Loktak Lake. Chilka lake was removed ● Sites may be added to and removed from the Record only
from the list with the approval of the Contracting Parties in which they lie.
● Aims to protect endangered plants and animals.

● Formallycalled:Conventionon
● It classifies plants and animals according to three
International Trade in Endangered
categories, or appendices, based on how threatened :
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
1. Appendix I: It lists species that are in danger of extinction.
● It is also known as Washington
Commercial trade prohibited.
7 CITES Convention
2. Appendix II: They are those that are not threatened with
● Participation is voluntary
extinction but that might suffer a serious decline. Their
● It is legally binding on the Parties, but it
trade is regulated by permit.
does not take the place of national laws.
3. Appendix III: They are protected in at least one country
● Parties : 182
that is a CITES member states.
● Non-governmental organization working globally on trade
in wild animals and plants in the context of both
TheWildlife ● Joint programme of World Wide Fund for
biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Trade Nature (WWF) and IUCN.
● investigates and analyses wildlife trade trends, patterns,
8 Monitoring ● complimentary to CITES
impacts and drivers to provide the leading knowledge
Network ● Founded in 1976, with headquarters now
(TRAFFIC) base on trade in wild animals and plants.
located in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Convention on
● CMS is an international treaty concluded ● CMS aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian
the
under aegis of UNEP. migratory species throughout their range.
Conservation of
9 ● It's also called the Bonn Convention. ● Since its entry into force, its membership has grown
Migratory
Species of Wild ● signed in 1979 steadily to include over 120 Parties from Africa, Central
Animals (CMS) ● Headquarters are in Bonn, Germany. and South America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
Coalition
Against Wildlife ● Aims to focus public and political attention and resources
Trafficking ● Initiated in 2005, CAWT is a unique on ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.
10 ● Reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife by
(CAWT) voluntary public-private coalition
International raising awareness.
Tropical Timber
Organisation ● ITTO is an intergovernmental organization, ● Promoting the conservation and sustainable management,
11 (ITTO)
under UN (1986) use and trade of tropical forest resources.
● main objective to promote “the management,

● The Economic and Social Council of the conservation and sustainable development of all types of
United Nations (ECOSOC), established the forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment
United Nations UNFF In October 2000, a subsidiary body to this end” based on the Rio Declaration, the Forest
12 Forumon ● The Forum has universal membership, Principles
Forests (UNFF) and is composed of all Member States of ● Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through
the United Nations and specialized sustainable forest management (SFM)
agencies ● Enhance forest-based economic, social and environmental
benefits
● It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field
International ● Founded in 1948 in Fontainebleau, projects, advocacy, lobbying and education.
Unionfor France. ● Over the past decades, IUCN has widened its focus beyond
13 Conservation of ● HQ : Gland, Switzerland conservation ecology and now incorporates issues related
Nature (IUCN) ● It publishes IUCN Red List which assesses

the conservation status of species to gender equality, poverty alleviation and sustainable
worldwide business in its projects.
● IUCN has observer and consultative ● Both Governments and NGOs are its members.
status at the United Nations
● worldwide campaign, common approach, promotion of
● Formed in 1994 with its secretariat at
appropriate programmes and controls to save the
New Delhi, GTF is the only inter-
GlobalTiger remaining five subspecies of tigers in the wild
14 governmental & international body
Forum (GTF) ● Global Tiger Initiative- An alliance of governments,
campaigning to save the TIGER worldwide.
international, agencies, civil society, and the private sector
united to save wild tigers from extinction
● It is an International Environmental
● It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of
Treaty, UN Treaty
persistent organic pollutants
● Became effective in 2004
● Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and
Stockholm ● Parties : 180
the International Programme for Chemical Safety (IPCS)
Convention on ● India is a party to this treaty
prepared a list, known as the Dirty Dozen :
Persistent ● US is not a party to this treaty
15 1. Eight organochlorine pesticides: aldrin, chlordane, DDT,
Organic ● There is provision that developed
dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene;
Pollutants countries provide new and additional
2. Two industrial chemicals: hexa chlorobenzene (HCB) and
financial resources and measures to
the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) group; and
minimise/regulate POPs to developing
3. Two groups of industrial by-products: dioxins and furans.
nations.
● Formally called: The Basel Convention on
the Control of Transboundary Movements
1. minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated,
of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
2. to ensure their environmentally sound management as
● It is an international treaty, UN Treaty
Basel closely as possible to the source of generation, and
● Effective from 1992
16 Convention 3. to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of
● Parties : 183
the hazardous and other wastes they generate
● It does not address the movement of
● Its objective was to stop dumping of hazardous waste
radioactive waste.
from developed countries in developing nations.
● Formally called : Rotterdam Convention
on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure
for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and ● Aims to promote shared responsibilities in relation to
Pesticides in International Trade importation of hazardous chemicals.
Rotterdam ● It is a multilateral Treaty, UN Treaty ● The convention promotes open exchange of information
17 Convention ● Became effective in 2004 between importers-exporters of hazardous chemicals.
● Parties : 155 ● Calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to use proper
● Became effective from 1995 (Canada labelling, include directions on safe handling, and inform
withdrew) purchasers of any known restrictions or bans.
● Parties : 196
● HQ : Bonn, Germany
● It is a convention to Combat Desertification in Those
United Nation ● It is the only convention which stem out
Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or
Convention to from direct recommendations of Rio
18 Desertification, particularly in Africa
Combat Agenda 21.
● It is the only internationally legally binding framework set
Desertification ● It is an international body set up by the
up to address the problem of desertification
terms of the International Convention for
the Regulation of Whaling(Signed in
Washington, 1946) ● Aims to provide for the proper conservation of whale
● In 1982 the IWC adopted a moratorium on stocks and thus make possible the orderly development of
commercial whaling. the whaling industry
International ● Japan,Russiaetc.opposethis ● The IWC allows non-zero whaling quotas for aboriginal
19 Whaling moratorium. subsistence and also member nations may issue
Commission ● designate specific areas as whale sanctuaries;
● prohibit the capture of suckling calves and female whales
accompanied by calves.
● It acts as a framework for the international efforts to
Vienna protect the ozone layer. However, it does not include
● Vienna Convention for the Protection of
Convention for legally binding reduction goals for the use of CFCs, the
the Ozone Layer
20 the Protection main chemical agents causing ozone depletion. These are
of the Ozone ● It is multilateral environmental agreement
● Ratified by: 197 (Universal). laid out in the accompanying Montreal Protocol.
Layer
● It aims to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the
Montreal
21 ● Also called : Montreal Protocol on

Protocol Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer production of numerous substances.
● It is a protocol to Vienna Convention for ● The treaty is structured around several groups of
the Protection of Ozone Layer halogenated hydrocarbons that have been shown to play
● It is an international treaty a role in ozone depletion. All of these ozone depleting
● Came into force in 1989 substances contain either chlorine or bromine
● Ratifies : 197 (Universal treaty) (substances containing only fluorine do not harm the
● It is legally binding ozone layer).
● As a result of the international agreement, ● It aims at phasing out :
the ozonehole in Antarctica is slowly o Chlorofluorocarbons
recovering. Climate projections indicate o Hydrochloro fluorocarbons
that the ozone layer will return to 1980 Hydrofluoro carbons are included under it (HFCs do not harm
levels between 2050 and 2070. so, it can Ozone but are harmful as a Greenhouse gas.) by Kigali
be termed as a successful treaty. Agreement
● India’s Stand: India wants HFCs to be under Montreal
Protocol as it will help India as a part CBDR, and puts less
onus to eliminate HFCs immediately
● It aims to phase out Hydrofluoro carbons (HFCs), a family of

● It amends the 1987 Montreal Protocol potent greenhouse gases by the late 2040s
● Under Kigali Amendment, in all 197 ● Under it, developed countries will also provide enhanced
countries, including India have agreed to a funding support
timeline to reduce the use of HFCs by ● Different timelines:
roughly 85% of their baselines by 2045. 1. First group: It includes richest countries like US and those in
Kigali ● Binding on countries from 2019. European Union (EU). They will freeze production and
Amendment to ● It also has provisions for penalties for consumption of HFCs by 2018. They will reduce them to
22 Montreal about 15% of 2012 levels by 2036.
non-compliance.
Protocol ● NOTE: HFCs (Hydrofluoro carbons) are not 2. Second group: It includes countries like China, Brazil and all
Ozone Depleting Substances but still they of Africa etc. They will freeze HFC use by 2024 and cut it to
20% of 2021 levels by 2045.
are included in Montreal Protocol via
3. Third group: It includes countries India, Pakistan, Pakistan,
Kigali Agreement because they are potent
Iran, Saudi Arabia etc. They will be freezing HFC use by 2028
global warming substances.
and reducing it to about 15% of 2025 levels by 2047.
● One of the seminal issues that emerged from the

● Conference: United Nations Conference conference is the recognition for poverty alleviation for
on the Human Environment protecting the environment.
Stockholm ● It was first declaration of international ● Agreement, and has given a foundation of modern
23 Conference environmentalism.
protection of the environment
1972 ● The United Nations Environment Programme has been
● Held in Stockholm, Sweden from June 5–
16 in 1972. established by the United Nations General Assembly in
pursuance of the Stockholm Conference.
● Declaration adopted in 1982 (10th

● The Declaration envisaged the creation of a special
anniversary of Stockholm)
Nairobi commission to frame long term environment strategies
24 ● The Declaration was endorsed by the
Declaration for achieving sustainable developments upto the year
governing Council of United Nations
2000 and beyond.
Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1987.
● Aims to protect human health and the environment from
anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and
Minamata ● It is an UN Treaty mercury compounds
25 Convention on ● Signed in 2013 1. Phase out and phase down of mercury use in a number of
Mercury ● It has not come into force yet products and processes.
2. Regulation of the informal sector of artisanal and small-
scale gold mining.
● The concept of sustainable development focused
● Formally called: Our Common Future: attention on finding strategies to promote economic and
Report of the World Commission on social development in ways that avoided environmental
Brundtland Environment and Development in 1987 degradation, over-exploitation or pollution, and side lined
26
Report less productive debates about whether to prioritize
● Gaveconceptof"sustainable
development". development or the environment.

Acts and Policies

Sl.
Law History/ Provisions Objective
No.
● Has 6 schedules: Schedule I and part II ● Objective of effectively protecting the wildlife of this country and
of schedule II cover animals which are to control poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife and its
in the category of endangered species. derivatives.
● Schedule V – Vermins wild mammals ● Wild Life Act provides for
Wildlife and birds which are harmful to crops, 1. State wildlife advisory boards, National Board for Wildlife
1 protection Act farm animals or which carry disease, 2. Regulations for hunting wild animals and birds,
1972 can be hunted with permission of chief 3. Establishment of sanctuaries and national parks,
wildlife warden(recently Nilgai, Rhesus 4. Regulations for trade in wild animals, animal products and
Monkey culled under it) trophies, and
● Schedule VI- exotic plant species. 5. Judicially imposed penalties for violating the Act.
● It empowers the central government to
establish authorities under section 3(3)
charged with mandate of preventing
environmental pollution in all its forms ● In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the government of India
Environmental and to tackle specific problems that are enacted the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
Protection Act peculiar to different parts of the ● To protect and improve environmental qualities.
2 1986 ● To establish an authority to study, plan and implement long term
country.
● Central Ground water Board is created requirements of environmental safety.
under EPA. ● To cover all problems relating to environment comprehensively.
National
● Aims to have a minimum of one third of ● Increase tree cover through massive afforestation, especially on all
3 Forest Policy
the total land area under forests. denuded, degraded and unproductive lands.
1988
● Address issue related to access to genetic resources and associated
● Envisages 3 tier structure to regulate knowledge and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from
access to the biological resources utilization of biological resources to the country and its people.
Biological comprising of National Biodiversity Exceptions:
Diversity Act Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity 1. Local people and communities
4 2002 Authority (SBB) and Biodiversity 2. For growers and cultivators of biodiversity of the area and to Vaids
Management Committees (BMC) at and Hakims to use biological resources.
local level. 3. Exemption through notification of normally traded commodities.
4. For collaborative research through.
● Nodal Agency for the implementation is

Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA).
● Act is applicable for Tribal and Other ● National Parks and Sanctuaries have been included along with
Scheduled TraditionalForestDwelling Reserve Forest, Protected Forests for the recognition of Rights.
Tribesand Communities. ● Act recognizes the right of ownership access to collect, use, and
other forest ● Recognition Criteria: Forest dwellers dispose of minor forest produce(MFP- all non timber forest
6 dwellers act for three generations prior to produce like honey, bamboo, tendu leaves) by tribals.
2006 13.12.2005 primarily resided in and ● Gram Sabha has been designated as the competent authority for
have depended on the forests for initiating the process of determining the nature and extent of
bonafide livelihood needs. individual or community forest rights.
● Maximum limit of the recognizing rights
on forest land is 4 ha.
● For effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to

● Statutory body established under the environmental protection and giving relief and compensation for
National Green Tribunal Act 2010. damages to persons and property and for matters connected
● Composition:Onefulltime therewith or incidental thereto.
National Chairperson, ● NGT Deals In The Following Acts
Green ● Not less than ten but subject to 1. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974;
7 Tribunal maximum of twenty full time Judicial 2. The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977;
Members as the Central Government 3. The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980;
may, from time to time, notify. 4. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981;
● It does not deal with Wildlife 5. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986;
(Protection) Act. 6. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991;
7. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
www.laex.in Acts and Policies www.civilsprep.com

● The rules are framed under the

● These Rules set the deadlines for phasing out of various ODSs,
jurisdictionof Environment
besides regulating production, trade import and export of ODSs
(Protection) Act.
and the product containing ODS.
TheOzone ● These Rules prohibit the use of CFCs in
● Other ODSssuchas carbontetrachloride and methyl
Depleting manufacturing various products beyond
chloroform and CFC for metered dose inhalers can be used up to
8 substances 1st January 2003 except in metered
1st January 2010.
Rules dose inhaler and for other medical
● Further, the use of methyl bromide has been allowed upto 1st
purposes.
January 2015.
● Similarly, use of halons is prohibited
● Since HCFCs are used as interim substitute to replace CFC, these
after 1st January 2001 except for
are allowed up to 1st January 2040.
essential use.
● Manufacturer, dealer, refurbisher and Producer Responsibility

● Applicability of the rules has been
Organization (PRO) have been introduced as additional
extended to components, consumables,
stakeholders in the rules. New Rules will bring the producers under
spares and parts of EEE in addition to
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), along with targets.
Ewaste equipment.
● one system of authorization by CPCB for dismantling and
Management ● E-waste rules will now include Compact
processing.
9 Rules 2016 Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) and other
● Deposit Refund Scheme where an extra amount is charged upfront
mercury containing lamps, as well as
and refunded on return.
other such equipment.
● Criticism: ignores the unorganized and small and medium sectors
● Penalty for violation of rules under
where 90 per cent of the e-waste is generated do not recognize
Environment protection Act 1986.
the magnitude of trans-boundary movement of e-waste
● Phase-out the use of chlorinated plastic bags, gloves and blood
● Bio-Medical waste consists of: Human bags within two years
anatomical waste like tissues, organs ● Establish a Bar-Code System for bags or containers containing bio-
Bio-Medical and body parts, hypodermic needles, medical waste for disposal
Waste syringes, scalpels and broken glass. ● Bio-medical waste has been classified in to 4 categories instead 10
10 Management ● Ambit of the rules has been expanded to improve the segregation of waste at source
Rules 2016 to include vaccination camps, blood ● Criticism: It requires technological infrastructure for bar coding
donation camps, surgical camps or any waste bags.
other healthcare activity.
● The Union Ministry of Environment,
Coastal Forest and Climate Change has notified ● The new CRZ norms have been issued under Section 3 of the
Regulation the 2019 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Environment Protection Act, 1986.
Zone norms, replacing the existing CRZ ● The new CRZ norms aim to promote sustainable development
norms of 2011. based on scientific principles.
CRZ 2011 CRZ 2019

Classification: ● Densely populated rural areas to be afforded greater opportunity
● CRZ III- Coastal areas that are not substantially built up, for development: For CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories
including rural coastal areas.- No Development Area upto 1. CRZ-III(A) with population density of more than 2161, the NDZ is
200 metres from High Tide Lane(HTL) reduced to 50 meters from 200 metres from HTL
● CRZ IV- water area from Low Tide Line(LTL) to the limit of ● CRZ-III(B) with less than 2161 the NDZ is 200 meters from High Tide
territorial waters of India Line(HTL)de-freeze the same and permit FSI for construction
● As per CRZ, 2011 Notification, for CRZ-II (Urban) areas, projects, as prevailing on the date of the new Notification
Floor Space Index (FSI) or the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) had ● Temporary tourism facilities have now been permitted in Beaches
been frozen as per 1991 Development Control Regulation in the "No Development Zone" (NDZ) of the CRZ-III areas
(DCR) levels. No Development Zone was free of any ● A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters has been stipulated
infrastructure development. for all Islands
Wetland Rules 2010 Wetland Rules 2017
● MoEF has notified the rules in order to ensure that there ● Management of wetlands has been decentralized powers have
is no further degradation of wetlands. been given to the State governments so that protection and
● The rules specify activities which are harmful to wetlands conservation work can be done at the local level.
such as industrialization, construction, dumping of ● SWA identify and notify the wetlands for protection within
untreated waste and reclamation and prohibit these stipulated time and develop comprehensive list of activities to be
activities in the wetlands. regulated and permitted
● Other activities such as harvesting and dredging may be ● Rules prohibit conversion of wetland for non wetland uses.
carried out in the wetlands but only with prior permission ● National Wetland Committee replaces Central Wetlands
from the concerned authorities. Regulatory Authority (CWRA)
● Central Wetland Regulatory Authority has been set up to ● NWC will be headed by the MoEFCC Secretary
ensure proper implementation of the Rules. ● NWC has merely advisory role
www.laex.in Acts and Policies www.civilsprep.com

Institution and Measures

Many institutions and measures are taken to conserve the biodiversity which is undergoing rapid decline due to
development.
Sl.
Institution History/ Background Objectives
No.
● Mainly to conserve the biodiversity which was declining
because of increased commercial use of natural resources,
the continued growth of human and livestock
National ● Indian board for wildlife adopted it. population.
1. Wildlife Action ● It had strategies and plan for For period – 2017-2031
Plan wildlife conservation. ●
● Focus – 17 key areas(from an integration of climate
change into wildlife planning, conservation of coastal and
marine ecosystems to wildlife health.
Is responsible for promoting afforestation, tree planting,
National ● ecological restoration and eco-development activities in the
Afforestation country, with special attention to the degraded forest areas
2. andEco- ● set up in August 1992 and lands adjoining the forest areas, national parks,
Development sanctuaries
Board
● Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980
requires that non-forest land, ● However, the CAMPA could not be operationalized.
equal to the size of the forest being ● To remove ad-hocism in actions and to give CAMPA a
diverted for developmental work, concrete shape, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act,
is afforested. 2016 was passed.
Torolloutcompensatory will make available more than Rs. 6,000 crores per annum to
● ●
afforestation,theCentral the States/UTs except Jammu and Kashmir
3. CAMPA
Government in exercise of powers Compensatory fund: It establishes Compensatory
conferred under the Environment ●
Afforestation Fund (CAF): The National Compensatory
(Protection) Act, 1986 constituted Afforestation Fund under the Public Account of India, and a
Compensatory Afforestation Fund State Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the Public
ManagementandPlanning Account of each state.
Authority (CAMPA).
● It is aimed to institutionalize participatory governance of

country’s forest resources.
● Formedtorecognize the ● Under JFM, both the forest department and local
JointForest communities come to an agreement to form committee to
4. importance of involving local
Management manage and protect forest.
communities
One of the key objectives is to rehabilitate degraded forest
●
land.
It aims to raise plantation to meet the growing demand for
● food, fuel, etc.
Social forestry can be divided into:
● The national commission on ● Farm forestry – individual farmers were to plant trees on
agriculture first used the term ● their own land to meet their domestic needs.
‘social forestry ‘in 1976. Community forestry – Rising of trees on community land
5. Social Forestry Plantations were carried along
● ● with government support.
river, road side, and canal banks. Extension forestry-Planting of trees on the sides of road,
● canals, railways, and wastelands. It essentially means
increasing the boundaries of forest.
To promote the growth of the bamboo sector through as an
area based regionally differentiated strategy.
● To increase the coverage of area under bamboo in potential
● National Bamboo Mission is areas, with improved varieties to enhance yields.
National renamed as National Agro- ● To promote marketing of bamboo and bamboo based
6. Forestry & Bamboo Mission
Bamboo Mission handicrafts.
(NABM). ●
www.laex.in Institutions and Measures www.civilsprep.com

● Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index – CEPI is a rational number to characterise the

7. CEPI
environmental quality at a given location.
● Energy poor communities to transition from traditional and inefficient energy sources to modern, more
efficient and sustainable energy solutions. Operating through an entrepreneurial model of energy
service delivery.
● Lighting a Billion Lives is a global initiative
by The Energy and Resources Institute
Lighting Billion (TERI) to facilitate clean energy access and ● The initiative enables delivery of clean energy to the
8.
Lives the delivery of last mile energy services for needy
basic and productive use.
● Eco-mark scheme defines as an environmentally
friendly product, any product which is made, used or
● Eco-mark is a voluntary labelling scheme
disposed of in a way that significantly reduces the harm
for easily identifying environment friendly it would otherwise cause the environment.
products. The scheme was launched by the Ministry of
Scheme is one of India’s earliest efforts in ●
9. Eco-Mark ● Environment and Forests, and is administered by
environmental standards, launched in the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), which also
1991, even before the 1992 Rio Summit in administers the Indian Standards Institute (ISI) mark
which India participated. quality label, a requirement for any product to gain the
Eco-mark label.
● Conservation and Survey Division in the Ministry of

Environment & Forest would be overseeing and
● Project was financed by the United Nations coordinating the Project at the country level.
10. USERS
Development Fund(UNDF) and MoEFCC USERS, is aimed at improving basic services like water
●
supply, sewerage and solid waste.
Biodiversity ● Project was negotiated with the World

Conservation and Bank on 2011. ● Conservation and Survey Division in the Ministry of
11. Rural Livelihood ● Implemented by the Forest/Wildlife Environment & Forest would be overseeing and
Improvement Department of the respective State coordinating the Project at the country level.
Project (BCRLIP) Government.
● Launched in Budget 2010-11

● It gets money from clean energy cess on ● Used for funding research and innovative projects in
National Clean coal(carbon tax) produced in India and
12. clean energy technology – example programmes
Energy Fund coal imported in India, currently Rs 400 per under NAPCC, reforestation programmes.
tonne of coal
Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public
National Electric ● ● Aim: Promote electric mobility in the country.
Enterprises.
Mobility Mission ● Reduction of pollution and greenhouse gas emission
13. Cumulative fuel saving of about 9500
Plan (NEEMP) – ● of 2 million tonnes with targeted market penetration
2020
million litres.
of 6-7 million vehicles by 2020.
● Phase V to VII was based on the theme of biodiversity.
● "Science Express Climate Action Special" is As ‘Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS)’. Phase
an innovative mobile science exhibition VIII as ‘Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS)’
mounted on a 16-coach AC train, which highlighted the global challenge of climate change.
14. Science Express has been custom-built for Department of The exhibition is exclusively devoted to information,
●
Science &Technology (DST) by Indian case studies and material related to various aspects of
Railway. climate change, the underlying science, not just for
school students, but also for the masses.
● It is a collaboration between multiple ● The goal is to promote an integrated ocean-wide

partners, including governments, NGO, approach to coastal management and to building
research institutes etc. the resilience of ecosystem-dependent coastal
Mangroves for ● It is co-chaired by the IUCN and UNDP. communities.
15. Member countries: India, Bangladesh, Mangroves are the flagship of the initiative, but MFF
Future ● ●
Cambodia, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, is inclusive of all types of coastal ecosystem, such as
Pakistan, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Thailand, coral reefs, estuaries, lagoons, sandy beaches,
and Viet Nam. seagrass and wetlands.
www.laex.in Institutions and Measures www.civilsprep.com

Environmental Organisations
Sl Organisatio
History Objectives
No. n
● It is a statutory body
● ● It is an advisory body
Well-known humanitarian Smt. Rukmini Devi
● It provides grants to Animal Welfare Organisations.
Animal Arundale was its first chairperson.
● It frames a range of rules on how animals ought to
1 Welfare ● Established in 1962 under Section 4 of
be humanely treated everywhere. It has also
Board The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
frequently litigated to have stricter laws to ensure
Ministry of Environment and Forests
● animals were not unduly harassed or tortured.
HQ Ballabhgarh in Faridabad District.
●
● Autonomous statutory body
● Constituted under the Wild Life (Protection)
Act. ● Main objective: To complement the national effort
Central Zoo Affiliate member of the World Association of in conservation of wildlife.
2. It also regulates the exchange of animals of
Authority ● Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)- umbrella ●
organisation found in 1935 in Gland. endangered category among zoos.
● It performs facilitative, regulatory and advisory

● Established in 2003 to implement India’s
function for the Government of India on issues of-
Biological Diversity Act (2002)
conservation, sustainable use of biological resources
● Statutory, Autonomous Body
National and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out
● Headquarters: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
3 Biodiversity of the use of biological resources.
● Structure: The Authority, Secretariat, SBBs,
Authority Biodiversity Heritage Sites: State Government in
BMCs and Expert Committees ●
consultation with local bodies, can notify, areas of
India Biodiversity Award 2018 was conferred
● by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
biodiversity importance as biodiversity heritage
sites.
Mandated to collect and collate intelligence related
● Statutory multi-disciplinary body under the ● to organized wildlife crime and disseminate it to
Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and state and other enforcement agencies
Climate Change (MoEFCC) to combat organized Assist foreign authorities and international
Wildlife wildlife crime in the country. ● organization concerned to facilitate coordination
Crime Established in June 2007 by amending
4 ● and universal action for wildlife crime control.
Control the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WLPA), 1972 United Nation Environment has awarded Wildlife
Bureau Headquartered in New Delhi and has five Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) with Asia
● ●
regional offices at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Environment Enforcement Awards, 2018.
Chennai and Jabalpur. The scheme aims at holistic conservation and
For conservation of lakes and wetlands, the restoration of lakes and wetlands for achieving the
● Ministry was earlier implementing two separate ● desired water quality enhancement, besides
National
PlanFor Centrally sponsored schemes, namely the improvement in biodiversity and ecosystem through
Conservatio 'National Wetlands Conservation Programme' an integrated and multidisciplinary approach and a
5.
n of Aquatic (NWCP) and the 'National Lake Conservation common regulatory framework.
Ecosystems Plan' (NLCP).
Constituted under Section 3(3) of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
●
The Ministry of Water Resources, River ● It is a planning, financing, monitoring and
Development and Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, coordinating body of the centre and the states
● RD & GR) is the nodal Ministry for the NGRBA Development of a river basin management plan
National ●
Ganga river Chaired by the Prime Minister and has as its ● Regulation of activities aimed at prevention, control
5. basin members the Union Ministers concerned, the and abatement of pollution in Ganga to maintain its
Authority ● Chief Ministers of the States through which water quality
Ganga flows. Maintenance of minimum ecological flows in the
● river Ganga.
● It serves as apex body to review all wildlife-related

● Statutory Organization constituted under the
matters and approve projects in and around
National WPA, 1972.
national parks and sanctuaries.
6. Board For ● It is chaired by the Prime Minister and its vice
● Members include Parliament Members, NGOs,
Wildlife chairman is Minister of Environment.
eminentconservationists,ecologistsand
environmentalists etc.
www.laex.in Environmental Organisations www.civilsprep.com

Programs/Initiatives to Mitigate Climate Change Effects

Climate change and Global Warming can have a wide range of effects from people to agriculture, livestock.
Many Initiatives are Taken in Order to Mitigate Climate Change.
Sl.
Initiatives History Objectives
No.
Indian
Network on ● Govt launched INCCA in 2009 ● It is a network-based programme, which consists of over
1. ClimateChang ● Initiative of MoEFCC 120 institutions and over 250 scientists countrywide.
e Assessment
● National Communication (NATCOM) to the
● National inventory of anthropogenic emissions by sources
UNFCCC has been initiated in 2002 funded by
National and removal by sink of all GHGs not controlled by the
the Global Environment Facility
2. Communicatio Montreal protocol.
● Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) is
n (NATCOM) ● To communicate the following information to the
implementing and executing agency of the
Secretariat of the Conference of Parties.
project
● Promotion of energy efficiency in all sectors, Emphasis on

India’s Policy
masstransport,Emphasisonrenewables
Structure
● The Integrated Energy Policy was adopted in including biofuels plantations
3. Relevantto
2006. ● The Rural Electrification policy 2006 promotes renewable
GHG
energy technology where grid connectivity is not possible
Mitigation
or cost-effective.
● Buildings are one of the major pollutants that
● aim of a green building design is to, Minimize the demand
affect urban air quality and contribute
on non-renewable resources and maximize the utilization
to climate change
4. Green Building efficiency of these resources when in use, and Maximize
● It costs a little more to design and construct a
reuse and recycling of available resources
green building. However, it costs less to
● Utilization of renewable resources.
operate a green building
● To help design green buildings and, in turn, help evaluate

● GRIHA is a Sanskrit word meaning – ‘Abode’.
the ‘greenness’ of the buildings.
5. GRIHA ● Devised by TERI and the MNRE is a voluntary
● GRIHA is a rating tool that helps people assess the
scheme
performance of their building.
● The ICAR has launched National Initiative on
National ClimateResilientAgriculture(NICRA)
during 2010-11 with an outlay of Rs.350 crores ● Strategic research on adaptation and mitigation.
Initiative on
for the XI Plan. ● Technology demonstration on farmers’ fields to cope with
6. Climate
It will primarily enhance the resilience of Indian current climate variability.
Resilient ●
Agriculture covering crops, livestock and ● Vulnerability assessment of major production zones.
Agriculture
fisheries.
Cap Weighted Free-Float Market Capitalization
● weighted Index comprising from the list of BSE- ● gTrade Carbon Ex Ratings Services Private Limited
100 Index. (gTrade) is a company based in India, which has co-
7. BSE Greenex 1st October, 2008 (Base Date) with the base developed the BSE-GREENV Index in close association
● index value of 1000. with the BSE .
Recently Government removed subsidy for
Faster ● mild hybrid vehicles.
Started in 2015 ● Aims to support hybrid/electric vehicles market
Adoption and
The Phase-II of the (FAME-India) Scheme development and manufacturing ecosystem.
Manufacturing ●
proposes to give a push to electric vehicles ● Focus areas: Technology development, Demand Creation,
of (Hybrid &) ●
8. (EVs) in public transport and seeks to Pilot Projects and Charging Infrastructure.
Electric
encourage adoption of EVs by way of market ● FAME India Scheme is aimed at incentivizing all vehicle
Vehicles
creation and demand aggregation. segments i.e. 2 Wheeler, 3 Wheeler Auto, Passenger 4
(FAME) -India
Wheeler Vehicle, Light Commercial Vehicles and Buses.
Programme
● Aims to understand the biophysical and anthropogenic

● Long Term Ecological Observatories (LTEO) for
drivers of ecosystem change in the selected biomes and
LongTerm Climate Change Studies are one of the
their effects on social- ecological responses through a
Ecological components under the ‘Climate Change Action
9. network of scientific institutions.
Observatories Programme’ with an outlay of Rs. 40 crores in
● Assess the change of structure and function in the natural
(LTEO) the 12th Plan Period.
ecosystems, identification of patterns and drivers of
change in the natural ecosystems.
www.laex.in Programs / Initiatives to Mitigate Climate Change Effects www.civilsprep.com

● The fund is meant to assist national and state level

National ● NAFCC was operationalised in 2015-16. activities to meet the cost of adaptation measures in
Adaptation ● This scheme has been taken as Central Sector areas that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse
10. Fundfor Scheme with the National Bank for effects of climate change.
Climate Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) ● The overall aim of the fund is to support concrete
Change as National Implementing Entity (NIE). adaptation activities which are not covered under
ongoing schemes of State and National Government.
To boost power generation from biomass, a renewable
● energy source abundantly available in India
National Bio- ● Biomass from agro and agro-industrial residue
11. Energy can potentially generate 25,000 MW of power Also propose a GIS-based National Biomass Resource
Mission in India. ● Atlas to map potential biomass regions in the country.
India and Climate Change:

NAPCC
The Government of India formulated national plan on water, renewable energy, energy efficiency agriculture and others – bundled
with additional ones – into a set of eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
The plan document elaborates on a unique approach to reduce the stress of climate change and uses the poverty-growth linkage to
make its point. Emphasizing the overriding priority of maintaining high economic growth rates to raise living standards, the plan
“identifies measures that promote development objectives while also yielding co-benefits for addressing climate change effectively.”
Sl.
Sub-Mission Objectives
No.
● To promote ecologically sustainable growth while addressing India’s energy security challenge.
● Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20,000 MW of grid connected solar power by
1 National Solar Mission 2022, which was revised to 1,00,000 MW by 2022 during June 2015.
● The target will principally comprise of 40 GW Rooftop and 60 GW through Large and Medium Scale
Grid Connected Solar Power Projects.
● To strengthen the market for energy efficiency by creating conducive regulatory and policy regime.
● Four New Initiatives
NationalMissionFor a) Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT)
2 Enhanced Energy Efficiency b) Market Transformation for Energy Efficiency
(NMEEE) c) Energy Efficiency Financing Platform (EEP)
d) Framework for Energy Efficient Economic Development (FEEED)
● Promote sustainability of habitats through improvements in energy efficiency in buildings, urban
planning, improved management of solid and liquid waste, modal shift towards public transport
NationalMission On ● Ability of habitats to adapt to climate change by improving resilience
3
Sustainable Habitat ● Ensuring integrated water resource management for conservation of water, minimization of wastage
and equitable distribution developing a framework for optimum water use
National Water Mission
4 ● Primary objective of the mission is to develop a sustainable National capacity to continuously assess
(NWM)
the health status of the Himalayan Ecosystem.
NationalMissionFor ● Enable policy bodies in their policy-formulation functions and assist States in the Indian Himalayan
5 Sustaining The Himalayan Region with their implementation of actions selected for sustainable development.
Ecosystem (NMSHE) ● Increased forest/tree cover on 5 million hectares (ha) of forest/non- forest –lands.
● Improved quality of forest cover on another 5 million ha of non-forest/forest lands.
● Improved ecosystem services including biodiversity, hydrological services, and carbon sequestration.
National Mission For A ● It has identified 10 key dimensions for adaptation and mitigation:
6
Green India 1. Improved Crop Seeds, Livestock and Fish Culture
2. Water Efficiency
3. Pest Management
4. Improved Farm Practices
NationalMissionFor 5. Nutrient Management
7 SustainableAgriculture 6. Agricultural Insurance,7. Credit Support
(NMSA) 8. Markets,9. Access to Information, 10. Livelihood Diversification
To gain a better understanding of climate science, impacts and challenges, the plan envisions a new
Climate Science Research Fund, improved climate modeling, and increased international collaboration. It
also encourages private sector initiatives to develop adaptation and mitigation technologies through
venture capital funds.
NationalMissionon
8 Strategic Knowledge for
Climate Change
www.laex.in Programs / Initiatives to Mitigate Climate Change Effects www.civilsprep.com

Conservation Efforts
Global wildlife populations have fallen by 58% since 1970 and if the trend continues then two-thirds of wild animals may
go extinct by 2020. Therefore many conservation efforts are taken to safeguard the wildlife and attain viable
Population.
Sl.
Program History/Context Goal/ Initiatives
No.
● For conservation of endangered species Indian
Tiger (Pantheratigris). ● Project aims at ensuring a viable population of Bengal
● Centrally sponsored scheme launched in 1973. tigersin-situ conservation of wild tigers in designated
Project ● Tiger population reduced from 40000 in 1900 tiger reserves.
1
Tiger to 1800 in 1972- Karnataka> Uttarkhand> Tiger Reserve consists of Core zone and Buffer zone
●
Madhya Pradesh. National Tiger Conservation Authority was created for
●
Tiger census- pugmark technique, camera implementing conservation efforts.
● trapping, DNA fingerprinting -4 years once.
● Launched in 1992 a centrally sponsored ● 88 Elephant corridors were set up to enhance species
scheme. survival and birth rate.
Project ● Mainly implemented in 13 states ie., Andhra ● Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE)
2
Elephant Pradesh, Arunachal, Assam, Jharkhand, programme under CITES.
Kerala, Karnataka etc., E-50:50 forum for ● Haathi Mere Saathi by MoEF in partnership with Wildlife
international conservation of elephants. trust of India.
● Decline of vultures first seen in Keoladeo
● Ban on usage of Diclofenac and usage of alternative drug
Ghana National Park.
Meloxicam
● Red-headed Vulture, Slender billed Vulture and
3 Vulture Long billed vulture are Critically endangered. ● Vulture Safety Zones.
Diclofenac is the cause which are used for ● Vulture Restaurants by Maharashtra and Punjab.
● ● SAVE- Save Asia’s vultures from Extinction for White
ailing inflammation in livestock causing renal
failure in vultures. backed, slender billed and Long billed Vulture.
One ● Rhinos are poached for their Horns ● Indian Rhino Vision 2020 by Dept of Environment and
4 horned ● Last Male White Northern Rhino Sudan died forest, Assam. The Bodo autonomous council, WWF-
Rhinocerous last year bring its species closer to India, International Rhino Foundation (IRF) support it.
extinction. ● To increase rhino population from 2000 to 3000 by 2020.
An Indian initiative started in Jan 2009 for ● Global endangered species found in Himalayan and
●
strengthening wildlife conservation in Central Asian mountains.
Project Himalayan High altitudes. Most snow leopards are found in China followed by
5 Snow Conservation above 3000 metres in western ● Mongolia and India.
Leopard ● and trans Himalayas, above 4000 metres in In India its found in all 5 Himalayan states above 3000
eastern Himalayas. ● metres altitude.
● SECURE project aims at securing livelihoods, conservation,

● Started in 2017 is a six-year project
Secure sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan
6 ● 4 states- J&K, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Himachal
Himalaya ecosystems.
Pradesh. Focus areas of the project is protection of snow leopard and
By MoEFCC in association with UNDP. ●
● other endangered species and their habitats.
● Olive Ridley turtle visits India coasts during
● Vulnerable in IUCN Red List and is listed in Appendix I of
winter for hatching.
Sea Turtle CITES.
7 ● MoEFCC with collaboration with UNDP started
Project the project in 1999. ● Conservation of Olive Ridley turtles is done in the Krishna
Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun is the Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS), Andhra Pradesh.
● Yanadi tribe are directly involved in the conservation bid.
implementation agency. ●
Indian Crocodile Conservation Project has
● pulled back the once threatened crocodilians
from the brink of extinction and place them on ● To protect the remaining population of crocodilians in
a good path of recovery. their natural habitat by creating sanctuaries.
Crocodile To build up a level of trained personnel for To rebuild natural population quickly through ‘grow and
8 ●
Conservation ● better continuity of the project through release’ or ‘rear and release’ technique.
Project training imparted at project-sites and through
● Gharial is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red
the (erstwhile) Central Crocodile Breeding and
List.
Management Training Institute, Hyderabad.
www.laex.in Conservation Efforts www.civilsprep.com

● Kashmir stag also called Hangul is a

subspecies of Central Asian Red Deer native ● State of Jammu & Kashmir, along with the IUCN and the
Project to northern India. WWF prepared a project for the protection of these
9 State animal of Jammu & Kashmir animals.
Hangul ●
● Found in Dachigam National Park at ● Population increased to over 340 by 1980 from 150 in
elevations of 3,035 meters 1970.
Started in 1970’s.
●
Ministry of Environment and Forests notified
●
the Ganges River Dolphin as the National ● Among the four “obligate” freshwater dolphins found in
Aquatic Animal. the world — the other three are the ‘baiji found in the
River Dolphin inhabits the Ganges- Yangtze River (China), the ‘bhulan’ of the Indus (Pakistan)
● Brahmaputra-Meghna and Karnaphuli-Sangu and the ‘boto’ of the Amazon River (Latin America).
10 Dolphin riversystemsof Nepal,India, and
● Threatened by river water pollution and siltation,
Bangladesh. accidental entanglement in fishing nets and poaching for
Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection their oil.
● Act (1972). Chinese River Dolphin was declared functionally in 2006.
SAWEN is regional intergovernmental ●
wildlife law enforcement support body
India ●
launched in January, 2011 in Paro, Bhutan. ● India's motive: strengthen its ties with the member
adopts Regional intergovernmental body to combat countries for controlling the trans-boundary wildlife
SAWEN- wildlife crime. crimesthroughcoordination,communication,
11 South Asia ● Comprises of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, collaboration, cooperation and capacity building in the
Wildlife Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and region.
Enforceme ● Maldives. SAWEN was established for mutual collaboration for
nt Network ●
harmonising as well as enforcing the wildlife protection.
● Snake -Katraj Snake Park, Pune

● Captive breeding means that members of a
● Crocodile -Madras Crocodile Bank, Chennai
wild species are captured, then bred and ●
Captive Lion -Devaliya Safari Park, Gujarat
raised in a special facility under the care of ●
Breeding Gharial -National Chambal Sanctuary, Chambal
12 wildlife biologists and other expert. ●
Programs Vulture -Ramanagara Vulture Sanctuary, Karnataka.
● Bringing an animal into captivity may ● Dolphin –Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary,
represent the last chance to preserve a
Bhagalpur.
species in the wild.
Macaque- Arignar Anna Zoological Park, Chennai.
●
List of Biosphere Reserves in INDIA

Biosphere Reserves Location
Part of Wynad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and Madumalai, Nilambur, Silent Valley and
Nilgiri(Included in MAB list of UNESCO)
Siruvani hills in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.
Nanda Devi (Included in MAB list of UNESCO) Part of Chamoli, Pithoragarh and Almora districts in Uttarakhand.
Nokrek (Included in MAB list of UNESCO) Part of East, West and South Garo Hill districts in Meghalaya
Part of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Kamprup and Darang districts in
Manas Assam.
Part of delta of Ganges & Brahamaputra river system in West Bengal.
Sunderban (Included in MAB list of UNESCO) India part of Gulf of Mannar extending from Rameswaram island in the North to
Kanyakumari in the South of Tamil Nadu. There are 21 Islands.
Gulf of Mannar (Included in MAB list of UNESCO) Southernmost island of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It incorporates two
national parks Campbell Bay National Park and Galathea National Park.
Great Nicobar (Included in MAB list of UNESCO) Part of Mayurbhanj district in Orissa.
Part of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts in Assam.
Similipal (Included in MAB list of UNESCO) Part of Upper Siang, West Siang and Dibang Valley districts in Arunachal Pradesh.
DibruSaikhova Satpura Hills runs across it. Covers three protected areas – Satpura National Park,
DehangDibang Bori and Pachmarhi Wildlife Sanctuary.
Pachmarhi (Included in MAB list of UNESCO)
Khangchendz onga (Included in MAB list of UNESCO) Part of North and West districts in Sikkim.
Covers Peppara and Shendurney wildlife sanctuaries and parts of the Neyyar
Agasthyamala i (Included in MAB list of UNESCO)
sanctuary in Kerala and the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu.
Achanakmar Amarkantak (Included in MAB list of Maikala hills of Satpura range passes through it. It separates the rivers that drain




ADMIN1: ADMIN2:
UNESCO) into the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The reserve is also source of three rivers:
Narmada, Son and Johila.
Kachchh Part of Kachchh, Rajkot, Surendranagar and Patan districts in Gujarat.
Pin Valley National Park and surroundings; Chandratal & Sarchu; and Kibber
Cold Desert Wildlife sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh.
Seshachalam hill ranges in Eastern Ghats.
Seshachalam Part of Panna and Chhattarpur districts in Madhya Pradesh
Panna
Ramsar Wetlands Sites in India:

Sl.
Ramsar Site Location
No.
1
Chandertal Land (Freshwater) Himachal Pradesh
2
Pong Dam Lake (Freshwater) (Reservoir) Himachal Pradesh
3
Renuka Wetland (Freshwater) (Natural) Himachal Pradesh
4
Chilika Lake (Bracking Water) (Natural Lagoon) Orissa
5
Bhitarkanika Wetlands (Mangrove Swamps) Orissa
6
Deepor Beel (Freshwater) (Natural) Assam
7
East Calcutta Wetlands West Bengal
8
Sundarban Wetland West Bengal
9
Harike Lake (Freshwater) (Man-Made) Punjab
10
Kanjli (Man-Made reservoir) (Freshwater) Punjab
11
Ropar (Freshwater Lake) (Manmade) Punjab
12
Keoladeo National Park (Freshwater Swamps) (Manmade) Rajasthan
13
Sambhar Lake (Saline) (Natural) Rajasthan
14
Kolleru Lake (Freshwater) (Natural) Andhra Pradesh
15
Loktak Lake (Freshwater) (Natural) Manipur
16
Nalsarovar (Freshwater) (Natural) Gujarat
17
Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary (Coastal Swamps and salt pans) Tamil Nadu
18
Sasthamkotta Lake (Freshwater lake) (Natural) Kerala
19
Vembanad-Kol Wetland (Natural) (Brackish) Kerala
20
Ashtamudi Wetland (Brackish) (Natural) Kerala
21
Surinsar-Mansar Lakes (freshwater) (Natural) Jammu & Kashmir
22
Wular Lake (Freshwater) (Natural) Jammu & Kashmir
23
Hokera Wetland (natural) (Freshwater) Jammu and Kashmir
24
Tsomoriri (Freshwater to brackish) Jammu & Kashmir
25
Bhoj Wetland (Freshwater) (Man-made) Madhya Pradesh
26
Upper Ganga River (Freshwater) (Riverstretch) (freshwater) Uttar Pradesh
27
Rudra Sagar Lake (Freshwater) (Natural) Tripura
List of National Parks:

Sl. Andhra Pradesh
Name of State / Protected Area 1 Papikonda NP
No.
2 Rajiv Gandhi (Rameswaram) NP
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
3 Sri Venkateswara NP
1 Campbell Bay NP
Arunachal Pradesh
2 Galathea Bay NP
Mouling NP
3 Mahatama Gandhi Marine (Wandoor) NP 1 Namdapha NP
4 Middle Button Island NP 2 Assam
5 Mount Harriett NP
Dibru-Saikhowa NP
6 North Button Island NP
1 Manas NP
7 Rani Jhansi Marine NP
2 Kaziranga NP
8 South Button Island NP
3 Nameri NP
9 Saddle Peak NP
4 Rajiv Gandhi Orang NP
5

51
Bihar -Maharashtra-
1 Valmiki NP 1 Chandoli NP
Chhattisgarh 2 Gugamal NP
1 Guru Ghasidas (Sanjay) NP 3 Nawegaon NP
2 Indravati (Kutru) NP 4 Pench (Jawaharlal Nehru) NP
3 Kanger Valley NP 5 Sanjay Gandhi (Borivilli) NP
Goa 6 Tadoba NP
Mollem NP Manipur
1 Gujarat Keibul-Lamjao NP
Vansda NP 1 Nokrek Ridge NP
1 Blackbuck (Velavadar) NP 2 Mizoram
2 Gir NP Murlen NP
3 Marine (Gulf of Kachchh) NP 1
4 Haryana 2
Kalesar NP Phawngpui Blue Mountain NP
Sultanpur NP Nagaland
1 Himachal Pradesh 1 Intanki NP
2 Great Himalayan NP
Odisha
Inderkilla NP
Khirganga NP 1 Bhitarkanika NP
1 2 Simlipal NP
Pin Valley NP
2
Simbalbara NP Rajasthan
3
Jammu & Kashmir 1 Mukundra Hills NP
4
City Forest (Salim Ali) NP 2 Desert NP
5
Dachigam NP 3 Keoladeo Ghana NP
Hemis NP 4 Ranthambhore NP
Kishtwar NP 5 Sariska NP
1
Jharkhand
2 Sikkim
Betla NP
3
Karnataka 1 Khangchendzonga NP
4
Anshi NP Tamil Nadu
Bandipur NP 1 Guindy NP
1 Bannerghatta NP 2 Gulf of Mannar Marine NP
Kudremukh NP 3 Indira Gandhi (Annamalai) NP
Nagarahole (Rajiv Gandhi) NP 4 Mudumalai NP
1 Kerala Mukurthi NP
2 5
Anamudi Shola NP Telangana
3 Eravikulam NP Kasu Brahmananda Reddy NP
4 Mathikettan Shola NP Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali NP
1
5 Pambadum Shola NP Mrugavani NP
2
Periyar NP 3 Tripura
Silent Valley NP Clouded Leopard NP
1 Madhya Pradesh Bison (Rajbari) NP
2 Bandhavgarh NP 1 Uttar Pradesh
3 Fossil NP 2 Dudhwa NP
4 Indira Priyadarshini Pench NP Corbett NP
5 Kanha NP Govind NP
6 1
Madhav NP 2 Nanda Devi NP
Panna NP 3 Rajaji NP
Sanjay NP 4 Valley of Flowers NP
1 Satpura NP West Bengal
5
2 Van Vihar NP Buxa NP
6
3 Dinosaur NP Jaldapara NP
4 Neora Valley NP
5 Singalila NP
1
6 Sunderban NP
2
7 Gorumara NP
3
8
4
9
5
10
6

Environment Ready Reckoner 2019

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Environment Ready Reckoner 2019

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

FREE BOOKS, NOTES & VIDEOS FOR CIVILSERVICES

EBOOKS & UPSC PRELIMS USPC MAINS VIDEO FOR DAILY

SECUREIAS UPSC PRELIMS UPSC MAINS DELHI CIVILSERVICES

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS BOOKS, STATE PCS, SSC, BANKING

LA EX MAINS MENTORSHIP INCLUDES,

Optional Mentorship Program:

OPTIONAL- TEST SERIES AND VALUE ADDITION COURSE:

A 3. Aquatic Ecosystem ................................................................................ 8-9

7. Wetland Ecosystem ............................................................................... 13

8. Climate Change ................................................................................. 14-17

9. Ozone and Ozone Hole ..................................................................... 18-19

11. Acid Rain ................................................................................................ 22

Animal Diversity ..................................................................................... 26

C 14. Plant Diversity ....................................................................................... 27

16. Pollution ........................................................................................... 29-32

18. Treaties/Agreements/Conventions .................................................. 37-40

20. Institutions and Measures ................................................................ 43-44

Programs/Initiatives to Mitigate Climate Change Effects................... 46-47

R 23. Conservation Efforts ......................................................................... 48-51

Environment and Ecology

Levels of Organisation in Ecology:

Organism “Be an officer like,

- Dr. Akash AIR 78

www.laex.in Environment and Ecology www.civilsprep.com

Eco system consists of Abiotic and Biotic components:

Abiotic components are- They include the climatic and

www.laex.in Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

dungbeetles. The 2. Pyramid of Biomass:

6 Neutralism (0) (0)

Succession is a universal process of Directional change in

Stages of Ecological Succession:

Pioneer community —> Seres (or) Seral Stage —>

It can upright (Grassland) or inverted (forests). As it is

www.laex.in Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Types of Succession: Types of Niche:

Bioaccumulation and Bio-magnification:

www.laex.in Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Moving Carbon into the Atmosphere:

www.laex.in Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

www.laex.in Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Factors limiting the productivity of Aquatic Life:

Sunlight: Results in:

www.laex.in Aquatic Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Mitigation- buffering, reduce erosion, adoption of

www.laex.in Aquatic Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Coral Reef Types of Reefs:

www.laex.in Coral Reefs www.civilsprep.com

EBOOKS & UPSC PRELIMS USPC MAINS VIDEO FOR DAILY

SECUREIAS UPSC PRELIMS UPSC MAINS DELHI CIVILSERVICES

OPTIONAL SUBJECTS BOOKS, STATE PCS, SSC, BANKING

Mangroves Threat from Human Interference:

adapted to live in harsh coastal conditions. They of mangrove forests.

mud. agricultural purposes, fuel fodder, mining, oil spills,

www.laex.in Mangroves www.civilsprep.com

Western Slope of Western Ghat

Western Slope of Western Ghat Less Rainier

Teak in higher rainfall regions, and

Semi-arid regions of South West

“If you are focussed

www.laex.in Terrestrial Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Wetland Ecosystem Functions of Wetlands:

www.laex.in Wetland Ecosystem www.civilsprep.com

Climate Change Organisation

● COP 16, CMP 6. ●