MCQs on Environmental Conservation Efforts

• The Forest Research Institute (FRI) is an institute of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.
• It is a premier institution in the field of forestry research in India.
• It is located at Dehradun in Uttarakhand.
• In 1991, it was declared a deemed university by the University Grants Commission.
• The Forest Research Institute campus hosts the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), the staff college that trains officers selected for the Indian Forest Service (IFS).

• The International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched by the Prime Minister of India and President of France on 30 November 2015.
• This is an inter-governmental organization which is an alliance of 121 solar resource-rich countries lying in the vicinity of tropic of cancer and tropic of Capricorn.
• Head Quarters- Gurugram, Haryana.
• The first General Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) was held in New Delhi.
• Recently, Eritrea, Saint Kitts has signed ISA Framework Agreement in Nov 2019.

• Tso Kar wetland Complex in Ladakh has been added as the 42nd Ramsar site of India under an International convention.

• It is a high-altitude wetland complex consisting of two water bodies, the Startsapuk Tso and the hypersaline Tso Kar.
• Ramsar Convention- The Convention on Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation of wetlands.
• The convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975.

• BRICS is the acronym coined to associate five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• BRICS Tower headquarters in Shanghai.
• The first BRIC Summit took place in 2009 in the Russian Federation and focused on issues such as reform of the global financial architecture.
• South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.
  • South Africa subsequently attended the Third BRICS Summit in Sanya, China, in March 2011.

• At the Fourth BRICS Summit in New Delhi (2012) the possibility of setting up a new Development Bank was considered to mobilize resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other emerging economies, as well as in developing countries.
• The New Development Bank (NDB), formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank.
• President of BRICS is Marcos Prado Troyjo.

• The 12th BRICS summit (21 Jul 2020 – 23 Jul 2020) was hosted by Russia.
• The 13th BRICS summit will be hosted by India in 2021.
• India hosted two summits 4th (2012) and 8th (2016).

Red Data Book is a public document which contains the data of endangered and rare species including animals, plants, fungi as well as some local subspecies present in the country.

• Red-crowned Crane is the national bird of China.
• Grand Cayman Parrot is the national bird of Cayman Islands.
• Robin is the national bird of Bangladesh.
• Barn Swallow is the national bird of Austria.

• First International Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3- 14, 1992.
• It is also known as the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Rio Summit or Rio Earth Summit.
• It was held on the 20th anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Human Environment or the Stockholm Conference (1972).
• More than 100 countries participated in it, major agreements were signed and important declarations were adopted.
• Following legally binding conventions were signed:
  • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
  • UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
• Following non-binding agreements were also signed:
  • Rio Declaration: It summarised the principles of sustainable development.
  • Forest Principles: These principles guide and bind the nations to the sustainable use of forests.
  • Agenda 21: A comprehensive action plan to be taken up for sustainable growth in the 21st century.
• It came into force on March 21, 1994. The objective of this convention is to "stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system".

• Earth summit was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.
  • It is also called the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
  • It was held in 1992.
  • Representatives from 172 nations convened in earth summit 1992.
• The Earth Summit also led to the establishment of three important treaties namely;
  • Convention on Biological Diversity.
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
  • United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
• The Earth Summit 1992 resulted in the three documents:
  • Rio declaration on environment and development.
  • Forest principles.
  • Agenda 21.
• The United Nations conference on sustainable development (earth summit 2012) was also held in Rio in 2012.

There are 17 Sustainable development goals with 169 targets

• Convention on Biological Diversity:
  • It is a legally binding agreement for the conservation of biological diversity.
  • It is an outcome of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and entered into force in 1993.
• Ramsar Convention:
  • It is a convention on Wetlands of International Importance.
  • It was signed in 1971 at Ramsar in Iran.
  • It is not a legally binding agreement.
• Vienna Convention:
  • It is a convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer and was signed in 1985.
• Kyoto Protocol:
  • It is an international agreement that mandated at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and was signed in 1997.

• Metal:
  • Metals such as aluminum, steel, and iron have one of the highest recycling potentials among household waste materials.
  • The recycling process for metals involves melting down the metal objects and reforming them into new products.
  • This process can be repeated numerous times without degrading the quality of the metal, making it a highly sustainable option.
  • Recycling metals saves significant amounts of energy and reduces the need for mining new raw materials.

• Vegetable scraps:
  • Vegetable scraps are excellent for composting but not suitable for traditional recycling processes.
  • Composting involves biological decomposition which turns vegetable waste into nutrient-rich soil, benefiting gardening and farming.
  • While beneficial, this does not fall into the same category as recycling materials like metals, which can be used repeatedly in manufacturing new products.
• Plastic:
  • Plastics have diverse recycling potentials, but not all plastics are recyclable, and the quality often degrades after each recycling cycle.
  • The recycling process for plastics can be complex and varies depending on the type of plastic.
  • Issues like contamination and the presence of different polymers in plastics make recycling less efficient compared to metals.
• Rubber:
  • Rubber, such as used tires, can be recycled, but the process is challenging and less common than metal recycling.
  • Recycled rubber is often ground into crumbs to be used in new rubber products, asphalt, or artificial turf.
  • While useful, the recycling potential of rubber is limited compared to metals and is not as environmentally efficient.

• Recycling metals is crucial for reducing environmental impact and conserving energy resources
• Aluminum recycling saves up to 95% of the energy required to produce aluminum from raw materials.
• Steel is the most recycled material globally, significantly reducing the ecological footprint of steel production.
• Consumers are encouraged to separate metal waste from other types and dispose of it in designated recycling bins.

• International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN), is an international organization (NGO) working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
  • Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland.
• Red List
  • The IUCN compiled and published the IUCN Red List which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide.
• Grouping of three categories
  1. Lower Risk
  2. Threatened
     • Vulnerable
     • Endangered
     • Critically Endangered
  3. Extinct
• Nine groups of IUCN Red List
  • Extinct: No known individuals remaining.
  • Extinct in the wild: Known only to survive in captivity
  • Critically endangered: Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Endangered: High risk of extinction in the wild.
  • Vulnerable: High risk of endangerment in the wild.
  • Near threatened: Likely to become endangered in the near future
  • Least concern: Lowest risk
  • Data deficient: Not enough data to assess its risk
  • Not evaluated: has not yet been evaluated against the criteria.
• Some Critically endangered species of India
  • Pygmy Hog
  • White-backed Vulture
  • Gharial

• The IUCN Green List offers locally relevant expert guidance to help achieve fair and effective nature conservation results in protected and conserved areas.
• The IUCN Blue List is a list of indigenous species or subspecies that are vulnerable in their local area. The purpose of the Blue List is to provide early warning to regional and federal governments.

• The Wildlife Protection Act came into existence in the year 1972.
• The Indian Parliament enacted the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972, which provides for the safeguard and protection of the wildlife (flora and fauna) in the country.

• Its aim is to provide protection and proper management of wild animals, birds and other species.
• The Act lays down restrictions on hunting of many animal species.

• The Wildlife Protection Act came into existence in the year 1972.
• The Indian Parliament enacted the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 1972, which provides for the safeguard and protection of the wildlife (flora and fauna) in the country.
• Itsaim is to provide protection and proper management of wild animals, birds, and other species.
• Among other things, the Act lays down restrictions on the hunting of many animal species.
• The Act was last amended in the year 2006.

• The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was enacted in 1974.

• This act is also called the Water Act.
• This act provided for the establishment of the Central Pollution Control Board and separate State Pollution Control Boards.
• This act was last amended in 2003.

• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act was enacted in 1981 for the betterment of air quality.
• The Environment Protection Act was enacted in 1986.
• The separate Ministry of Environment and Forest was created in 1985.

• The Meaning of the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Individuals' collective actions can make a tremendous impact on waste issues and give us the sense to be eco-friendly.
• These are the three essential components of environmentally-responsible consumer behavior.
• The goal of the 3 R's is to educate people on how to prevent excessive and unnecessary waste and to limit the consumption of non-renewable resources.

The list of National Parks located in these states is as follows-

Rajasthan

• Keoladeo National Park
• Sariska National Park
• Ranthambore National Park
• Mukundra Hills (Darrah) National Park

Maharashtra

• Sanjay Gandhi National Park
• Chandoli National Park
• Navegaon National Park
• Tadoba National Park
• Gugamal National park

Madhya Pradesh

• Bandhavgarh National Park
• Pench National Park
• Kanha National Park
• Panna National Park
• Madhav National Park
• Mandla Plant Fossils National Park
• Pench National Park
• Sanjay National Park
• Satpura National Park
• Van Vihar National park
• Kuno National Park

• Cochin was declared as the world’s first airport to be fully powered by solar energy.
• The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has recognized Cochin International Airport Limited, Kerala as the fully solar energy-powered airport.
• It is India’s first airport to be constructed in public-private partnership (PPP).
• It is the largest and busiest airport in Kerala.
• The airport has handled more than 5 million passengers/year.
• The airport has a 15 MWp solar power plant.
• It consists of 46,150 solar panels across 45 acres.

• The Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion.
  • It is a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer.
  • It was agreed on 16th September 1987 and entered into force on 1st January 1989.
• Bretton Woods conference relates to the IMF and the World Bank.
• Kyoto Protocol is about cutting emissions of greenhouse gases.
• Nagoya protocol is about benefit-sharing from the gains by genetic resources.

• Project Elephant was launched in 1992 by the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to provide financial and technical support of wildlife management efforts by states for their free-ranging populations of wild Asian Elephants.
• The objective of the project was to carry out performance evaluation of Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Project Elephant’ for the period of 2007-08 to 2011-12 in the four Wildlife Divisions of Meghalaya viz. Khasi Hills Wildlife Division, Jaintia Hills Wildlife Division, East & West Garo Hills Wildlife Division, and Balpakram National Park Division.

• The Earth Summit 1992 is also known as The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held at Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

The Outcome of Earth Summit 1992 -

Agenda 21 -

• It is a non - binding action plan of the United Nations related to sustainable development.
• It is the outcome of Earth Summit 1992.
• The number 21 refers to an agenda for the 21st century.
• Since 2015, Sustainable Developments goals are included in the Agenda 2030.

​Landmark Agreement -

• An agreement on the climate change convention which in turn led to the Kyoto Protocol and The Paris Agreement.
• Convention on Biological Diversity -
  • ​The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the international legal instrument for "the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources" that has been ratified by 196 nations.
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification -
  • UNCCD is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs (NAP).
  • It is the only internationally legally binding framework set up to address desertification.

Sustainable Development Goals -

• To bring sustainable developments in the mainstream United Nations Launched the 2030 Agenda for sustainable Developments and SDG.
• Highlights -
  • 17 Goals
  • 169 targets
  • Target to achieved by 2030
  • SDGs are not legally binding

• The National Action Plan on Climate change (NAPCC) identifies measures that promote development objectives while also yielding co-benefits for addressing climate change.
• There are 8 “National Missions” which form the core of the National action plan.
• They focus on promoting understanding of climate change, adaptation and mitigation, energy efficiency, and natural resource conservation.”
• The 8 missions are :
  • National Solar Mission
  • National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
  • National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
  • National Water Mission
  • National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
  • National Mission for a Green India
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
  • National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

• In September 2015, the General Assembly of the United Nation adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Building on the principle of “leaving no one behind”, the new Agenda emphasizes a holistic approach to achieving sustainable development for all
• The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world:
  • GOAL 1: No Poverty
  • GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
  • GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • GOAL 4: Quality Education
  • GOAL 5: Gender Equality
  • GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
  • GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • GOAL 13: Climate Action
  • GOAL 14: Life Below Water
  • GOAL 15: Life on Land
  • GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
  • GOAL 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goal

Rotterdam Convention:

• Rotterdam Convention is a legally binding but voluntary convention which endeavours to limit the use of toxic chemicals.
• It was signed on September 10, 1998, in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
• It entered into force on February 24, 2004, after 50 signatory nations ratified it.
• India signed the treaty in May 2005 but has still not ratified it.
• The convention sets the rules for the exchange of information between the parties trading in harmful chemicals.
• The exporting party needs to inform the importing nation about the harmful effects of the toxic chemical being traded on, before the exchange (prior consent).
• It will also help the poor and developing countries to handle toxic chemicals and pesticides.

• National Clean Air Programme was launched by the Central Government in the year 2019.
• The programme was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• It was directed by The National Green Tribunal.
• It is a long-term, time-bound, national-level strategy which focuses to tackle the air pollution problem across the country in a comprehensive manner with targets to achieve 20% to 30% reduction in Particulate Matter concentrations by 2024
• The base year for the comparison of concentration is 2017.

• The National Air Quality Index (AQI) in India was launched in September 2014 in New Delhi under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
• Air Quality Index is calculated using eight pollutants namely particulate matter (PM) 10, PM2. 5, Ozone (O₃), Sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb) and ammonia (NH₃).
• As per Central Pollution Control Board air quality standards, AQI is categorised into six parts.
  • AQI between 0-50 is considered ‘good’,
  • Between 51-100 ‘satisfactory’,
  • Between 101-200 ‘moderate’,
  • Between 201-300 ‘poor’,
  • Between 301-400 ‘very poor’
  • Between 401-500 ‘severe’.

The correct answer Third.

• Third National Wildlife Action Plan for 2017-2031 was unveiled by India spelling out the future road map for wildlife conservation.
• It was released by the then Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on the inaugural day of the Global Wildlife Programme conference.
• The motive of the plan is to pave the future road map for wildlife conservation.
• It concerns relating to climate change impact on wildlife and focused on integrating actions that need to be taken for its mitigation and adaptation into wildlife management planning processes.
• First National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP-1) came in 1983.

• The World Energy Outlook is a leading source of strategic insight on the future of energy and energy-related emissions.
• International Energy Agency
  • It is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organization established in the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in 1974.
• World Economic Forum
  • It is an NGO, based in Geneva(Switzerland).
  • founded in 1971
• Agenda
  • To improve the state of the world by engaging, business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agenda.
• The report issued by the World Economic Forum
  • Global Gender Gap Report
  • Social Mobility Index
  • Global Competitiveness Report

• The e-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 recognizes producers‘ liability for recycling and reducing e-waste in the country.
• The e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011 introduced 'extended producer responsibility'.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is the responsibility of any producer of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) for collection and channelization of e-waste from the end of life product to an authorized dismantler/recycler.
• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been given the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) authorisation under the new e-waste rules.

• Number of Green Gases, as recognized by the Kyoto Protocol, is 6.
• The targets for the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol cover emissions of the six main greenhouse gases, namely:
  • Carbon dioxide (CO2);
    Methane (CH₄);
    Nitrous oxide (N₂O);
    Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs);
    Perfluorocarbons (PFCs); and
    Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆)
• The Kyoto Protocol operationalizes the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by committing industrialized countries to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in accordance with agreed individual targets.
• The Kyoto Protocol was adopted on 11 December 1997.
• Owing to a complex ratification process, it entered into force on 16 February 2005.
• Currently, there are 192 Parties to the Kyoto Protocol.

• Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF) set up in 1977 as the implementing agency for dairy development programs in Rajasthan.
  • It is registered as a society under the Rajasthan cooperative societies act 1965.
  • The Federation is a State level apex co-operative organization.
  • The Federation has a board of directors that has overall responsibility for the planning policies, financial resource mobilization and management, member and public relations as well as liaison with agencies of the state and central government, financing institutions, etc.
  • The Federation has a chief executive designated as Managing Director.

• Objectives of the federation:
  • To carry out activities for promoting production, procurement, and marketing of milk and milk products for the economic development of animal husbandry/farming community.
  • Organize and provide technical inputs.
  • Development and explanation of such other allied activities as may be conducive for the production of the dairy industry.
  • Imparting training and orientation to dairy cooperative members.
  • Undertake audit and accounts supervision.
  • Encourage fodder production etc.

• The Vienna conference was the first global conference on the depletion of the ozone layer, held in Vienna, Austria in 1985.
  • It was held after a hole as large as the size of the US was discovered in the ozone layer.
  • At this conference, the Vienna Convention for the protection of the Ozone layer was agreed upon.
• Hence option 4 is correct.

• The Saving the Ozone Layer Conference was an international meet, which was organized jointly by UNEP and the British Government in 1989.
  • It was to draw attention to the global problem created by the developed world, which was trying to dictate its terms to the developing countries for CFCs pollution.
    • It stressed upon the final withdrawal of all Ozone-depleting CFCs and other chemicals.
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) entered into force on 21 March 1994.
  • The 197 countries that have ratified the Convention are called Parties to the Convention.
  • The UNFCCC is a “Rio Convention”, one of three adopted at the “Rio Earth Summit” in 1992.
  • Its sister Rio Conventions are the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification.
  • The ultimate objective of the Convention is to "stabilize (and not eliminate) greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system."
• At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for “sustainable development” — meeting our needs while ensuring that we leave a healthy and viable world for future generations.
  • One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity.
  • The Convention on Biological Diversity is the international legal instrument for “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources” that has been ratified by 196 nations.

• India had successfully achieved the complete phase out of hydrochloroflurocarbon- HCFC-141b. It is stated by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Hence option 1 is correct.

​HCFC-141b

• It is a chemical used by foam manufacturers.
• It is used mainly as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane foams.
• It was one of the potent ozone depleting chemical after Chloroflurocarbons.

In Dec, 2019 Ministry of Environment and Forest prohibited the import licence for HFC-141b under Environment Protection Act, 1986.

What are HCFCs?

• They are large group of compounds whose structure is very close to that of CFCs but including one or more hydrogen atoms.
• HCFCs do no usually dissolve in water but do dissolve in organic solvents.

• Carbon Fertilization:
  • It is the artificial enrichment of the atmosphere of greenhouses with carbon dioxide
  • It is the phenomenon that the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases the rate of photosynthesis in plants.
  • Impact of carbon fertilization:
    • Increase in the photosynthetic rate
    • Increases the water use efficiency
    • Plants distribute a greater proportion of photosynthate to roots under a high concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
    • The reproductive biomass growth, as well as vegetative biomass growth, is usually increased by elevated carbon dioxide.

• Sustainable Development Goal 10 aims at reducing inequality within and among countries.
• This SDG calls for reducing inequalities in income as well as those based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic status within a country.
• To bring about sustainable development, the United Nations (UN) launched the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs.
• There are 17 goals and 169 specific targets to be achieved by 2030.
• SDGs are not legally binding.

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 6: Clean Water & Sanitation
• SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy
• SDG 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption & Production
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
• SDG 15: Life on Land
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Iceland:
  • The world’s first ‘negative emission carbon-capture plant’ begins its operations in Iceland and successfully turning carbon dioxide into stone.
  • It is an Island country in Europe.
  • Reykjavik is the capital of Iceland.
  • Guoni Thorlacius Johannesson is the current President of Iceland.
• China:
  • China is the world's most populous country.
  • Xi Jinping is the current president of China.
  • Beijing is the capital of China.
• Japan:
  • It is the 62nd largest country in terms of area.
  • It is an island country in East Asia.
  • Tokyo is the capital city of Japan.
  • Shinzo Abe is the current PM of Japan.
• Germany:
  • It is a country in Western Europe.
  • Berlin is the capital of Germany.
  • Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the current President of Germany.