Environmen and Ecology

INDIA’S FIRST DOLPHIN OBSERVATORY

The Bihar government is setting up India’s first observatory for the Gangetic dolphins in Bhagalpur district The observatory is constructed at Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (VGDS). Observatory will aim to promote ecotourism.

Gangetic River Dolphin

It is among the four freshwater dolphins in the world. Its presence indicates the health of the riverine ecosystem. It is national aquatic animal of India. It is found in Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries IUCN status Endangered.

It is known to make strange sounds when it breathes, earning it the common name 'Susu'. It is also called a blind dolphin because it doesn’t have a crystalline eye lens and uses echo-location to navigate and hunt Threats: dumping of single-use plastic, industrial pollution, fishing and dredging.

The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) 

2020.

 

FRA 2020 examined the status and trends related to the extent, characteristics, condition, management and uses of forest across 236 countries and areas over the period 1990–2020

Findings of the report

Forests provide habitats for 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species and 68% of mammal species. About 60% of all vascular plants are found in tropical forests. Forests cover 31% of the global land area. More than half of the world’s forests are found in only 5 countries Brazil, Canada, China, Russia and US.

Between 2015 and 2020, the rate of deforestation had decreased as compared in the 1990s. The net loss of forest area decreased from 7.8 million hectares per year in the 1990s to 4.7 million hectares per year during 2010–2020. Agricultural expansion continues to be the main driver of deforestation and forest fragmentation

Areas with dense human populations and intense agricultural land use like India are less intact in terms of their biodiversity.

Forest-Specialist index

The Index is developed by World Wildlife Fund which tracks the average change in abundance of thousands of vertebrate populations from around the world Forest-Specialist index has fell by 53% between 1970 and 2014 which highlights the increased risk of species becoming vulnerable to extinction.

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Financial Action Task Force described wildlife trafficking as a “global threat”, which also has links with other organised crimes such as modern slavery, drug trafficking and arms trade. Illegal trade is estimated to generate revenues up to $23 billion a year. At estimated $23 billion per year, wildlife trafficking is the world's fourth largest illicit trade, after narcotics, human trafficking, and trade in counterfeit goods.

Constitutional Safeguard to stop illegal 

wildlife trade

Under Article 51A (g), it is a fundamental duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve natural environment including forests, lake, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.

Statutory Safeguards

Wildlife Protection Act: Prohibition of trade in over 1800 species of wild animals, plants and their derivative Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB): It is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established to combat organized wildlife crime in the country, under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960: It empower authorities to penalize and jail those who harm wildlife. 

Indian Penal Code, 1860: Section 428 and Section 429 reads that killing, poaching, maiming, poisoning or torturing an animal is a cognizable offence and the punishment for such act is rigorous imprisonment which may extend to five years or fine or both.

Herbal Road

In a significant decision to boost herbal and medicinal plants cultivation in the country, the UP government has decided to develop 800Km network roads in the state as a Herbal belt by planting medicinal and herbal trees along both side of the road.

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These roads will have medicinal and herbal trees along with land on their both sides. It will have trees like like Peepal, Neem, Sehjan along with other herb varieties like brahmi, ashvagandha and jatrofa.

Benefits of Herbal roads

The Herbal roads scheme is for development and beauty purposes and to promote biodiversity and cultivation of herbal and medicinal plants. These herbal gardens will help to reduce and control air-borne, bacteria and other diseases. The trees will provide raw materials for the medicine and help in preventing soil erosion by enabling rain water recharging facility at the both end of the road. Help in building immunity and to revive the forgotten Ayurveda culture in the Country.