Conservation, Water Resources

Gs 3  conservation

* Joint effort by tamilnadu ,Karnataka n kerla to eradicate Senna spectabilis an invasive specie in nilgiri biosphere reserve organised by NTCA. Also to conserve vulture population,Fire, human wildlife conflicts and wildlife related crimes. Radio collected animals details will be shared fir better coordination.

Bandipur TR - largest protected area  and largest habitat of elephants in South asia came in being in 2007 at trijunction of kerla,Karnataka n Tamil nadu. MOYAR river meanders through reserve

Nilgiri biosphere reserve - NAGARHOLE +MADUMALAI + WAYNAD.

* 'JAL HI JIVAN HAI'  by haryana government to encourage farmer to adopt crop diversification n sowing less water consuming seed as with high consuming water crop,is depleting 1 mtr of water table evry year.

Under the scheme 2000rs/acre will b given to farmer (registration 200 n later after sowing of seed after 2 month 1800 transferred to account) alsong with free hybrid seed.Produce will be completely procured by state

* In calcification process lime is deposited n When rain water seeps into it is acted by bacteria n becomes hard calcified lime.

Salabat Khan tomb in Aurangabad,MH is loosing it's shine n beauty like many other monuments in country due to this white deposits on its surface which is very hard to remove.

National museum institute of history,art, conservation n meusology, 1989 conducted study n refered evenly becteria spray deposit for protection of monuments.living organism can b used for both preserving n cleaning n filling cracks of the monuments also called as biocoating.

* Zero day - Bengaluru,udipi n Shimla water crisis like cape Town. 

Shimla -10k visitors daily on peak summer n requires 45 mn per day however due to scanty rainfall N snowfall water n drying up perrenial river came down to b 18 to 27 MLD

Bengaluru- No inflow to netravati river has forced municipality office to Take hard decision for rationing.

Udipi - Swarna river n baje dam main source of water, dead storage declared on dam which means Reservoir that can not b drained by gravity has to b pumped out. Supplying water once in six days

* Puducherry desilt the canal n drainage with the help from locals for better drainage n avoid blocking the water logging in Urban area n provide water to rural area for irrigation. this practice started by pallavas n later cholas n french.

Linking local through MGNREGA whr machinery is not required achieves both cleaning n livelihood to people

* Desalination - Through reverse osmosis desalination plant reduce total dissolved solid (TDS) from 35k ppm (35 grms in 1 ltr water) to 200 - 300 ppm. Anything which is btwn 100 - 600 is considered as fresh water to drink.

* Recent study by "Center for Cellular and Molecular biology's" (established in 1977 as semi autonomous org & later autonomous in 1981-82 under CSIR & also awarded as "center of excellence by Global molecular and cell biology network - UNESCO)  Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) research mentioned that 'Tourism' is causing stress in Tigers in reserves. However Female tigers are more stressed than Male but males are also in tremondous pressure.
Researchers have used "fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolite (fGCM)" – a marker of stress in individual tigers. They collected fecal sample during Tourim and non-tourism period.

* According to results of the Tiger census, the total count of tigers has risen to 2,967 from 2,226 in 2014 — an increase of 741 individuals (aged more than one year), or 33%, in four years. India has achieved doubling the tiger population before the set goal of year 2022 which was set in St. Peterberg in 2010.

Need for tiger conservation –

Tigers are at the top of the food chain and are sometimes referred to as “umbrella species" that is their conservation also conserve many other species in the same area.

• More than 80% of worlds tigers are in India. 
• Top Performers: Madhya Pradesh saw the highest number of tigers (526) followed by Karnataka (524) and Uttarakhand (442). Increase in Tiger population: Madhya Pradesh (71%) > Maharashtra (64%) > Karnataka (29%).

• Worst Performers: Chhattisgarh and Mizoram saw a decline in tiger population.

Madhya Pradesh's Pench Sanctuary and Kerala’s Periyar sanctuary emerged as the best-managed tiger reserves in the country.

World resource Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas listed india on 13th position on Extreme water crisis countries out of 17.

* Baseline Water Stress (BWS) (i.e. water withdrawal) developed as part of Adequate water risk atlas shows that Irrigation, Municipalities and Industries withdraw more than 80% of water resources.

12 out of 17 stressed countries belong to Middle east and North Africa due to their geographical condition.

India – northern india is also under water crisis 1st time due to ground water depletion.

Consequences – Food insecurity (irrigation), Migration (Job loss due to water crisis), Financial stability (World bank- a large part of GDP will be spent due to this crisis)

Recommendation – Water conservation, Efficient Irrigation and Water related data.

• IRDAI had also constituted a committee under Suresh Mathur that made many recommendations including a reduction in the net worth, expansion of the area of operation of IMFs, as well as the basket of products.

* Vulture Conservation - 9 Species of vulture are found in India and there number is increasing though conservation. there IUCN statuses are -

- Oriental White backed vulture, Slender billed vulture, Long billed vulture and red headed vulture - Critically endangered

- Egyptian vulture - Endangered

- Indian giffron vulture - Least concerned

- Bearded vulture, Cinereous vulture, Himalayan vulture - Near threatened

There are total 9 Vulture conservation n breeding center in which 3 are directly under Bombay natural history society. 

* Uttarakhand govt to use bio fencing by growing lemongrass, and other trees to reduce man animal conflict.

* Commission for conservation of Antarctic Marine living resources (CCAMLR) created in 1982 and Secretariat in Australia, Tasmania and Hobart.

consent of all 26 members of the CCAMLR is required for the creation of marine park but China n Russia is blocking the same due to their fishing interest in Antarctic.

* Asiatic wild buffalo ( Wild water buffalo) died in Wildlife sanctuary due to Anthrax and their status in IUCN book is Endangered and schedule 1 of wildlife protection act 1972 and CITES appendix III.

They are direct ancestors of domestic buffalos and has widest horn span among all bovids in the world. 

Pobitra wildlife sanctuary- Highest number of one horned rhinos in the world n 2nd in concentration after Kaziranga ( called as mini Kaziranga due to its same formation etc) 

There are 5 national parks in Assam namely,

• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park,
• Kaziranga National Park,
• Manas National Park,
• Nameri National Park,
• Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park

* Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV) is a rare disease that cause internal bleeding among Asian elephant due to hemorrhage btwn 1 to 12 years.

There is no cure to herpes virus for both human n animal. Can b fatal with short period within 28 to 35 hours.

Symptoms are highly invisible such as Nasal discharge, Swollen glands n reduced appetite.

 

* Jal shakti min has recently constituted Water policy 2019 committee under mihir shah to give suggestions on effectively utilization of water by amending the water policy 2012.

Water policy 2012 features-

1. Integrated water management - all basin, sub basin will b treated as one n managed combined.

2. Maintaining minimum ecological Water flow - minimum water flow must b managed ( Ganga water 2018 min water flow under this act). And min Potable water for community living in area for their needs in household reach.

3. Inter basin transfer - after based on environment n other impact study to help other state for human needs

4. Irrigation n industry uses

 

* Elephant safari is banned in Dudhwa national park (UP n Nepal border). Only place in UP where tiger n rhinos found together. It comprises of 

Dudhwa national park throught which suheli n Mohna steam flows

Kishanpur Wildlife sanctuary through which Sharda river flows.

Katarniaghat Wildlife sanctuary though which Geruwa river flows.

All of it are tributaries of ghaghra river.

 

* Clontridium botulinum bacteria Which releases dangerous toxin can be found in soil, rivers and seawater. Found in low oxygen n warm temperatures which cause mescular paralysis in any living being including human.

Recently birds died due to this toxin in Sambhar lake RJ.

 

*