Current Affairs January 2020 - Environment
1 - India first time ranked among top ten in Climate Change Performance Index
India, for the first time, was ranked among the top ten in the Climate Change Performance Index, CCPI, which goes further to prove that all efforts and activities being currently undertaken by the government are setting a tone of vast improvements. Government aimed to increase the share of non-fossil fuels to 175 GigaWatt by 2022 and further take it to 450 GW.
India is among few countries in the world where forest cover is consistently increasing. The total forest and tree cover rises to over 24% of the total geographical area of the Country.
2 - Total tree, forest cover increased by 5,188 square kilometres in two years
The total tree and forest cover increased by 5,188 square kilometres since 2017 and it has covered around 25% of the geographical area of the country. Karnataka topped the forest survey of India report of states followed by Andhra Pradesh and Kerala in terms of increase in forest cover.
The aim of the Paris Agreement is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping global temperature rise this century well below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. India is among the few countries where the forest and tree covers have increased.
3 - Palau became 1st nation to ban ‘reef toxic’ sun cream
The Pacific nation of Palau became the first country to ban "reef-toxic" sunscreens that contain chemicals which affect the health of coral reefs and fish and is harmful to corals and sea life. It is done with an aim to protect its coral reefs and UNESCO World Heritage site. A lagoon in Palau's Rock Islands is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Sunscreen contains 10 ingredients, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are known environmental pollutants. Toxic sunscreen chemicals were found throughout Palau's critical habitats, and in the tissues of our most famous creatures.
4 - Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park Census unveiled an increase of 15 saltwater crocodiles
Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park Census survey unveiled following observations −
The population of the saltwater or estuarine crocodile increased in the water bodies of Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, an increase of 15 saltwater crocodiles.
620 hatchlings, 325 yearlings, 288 juveniles, 185 sub-adults (six to eight feet long) and 339 adults (more than 8 feet long) reported in 2020.
12 albino crocodiles and four giant crocodiles more than 20 feet long were sighted in the water bodies of Bhitarkanika.
5 - Turtle Rehab Centre in Bihar-First of its kind
A first-of-its-kind rehabilitation centre for freshwater turtles was set up in Bihar's Bhagalpur forest division. The rehab centre will provide shelter to 500 turtles at a time and prevent them from smuggling. The rehab center will help in proper upkeep of turtles before being returned to their natural habitat.
Turtles play a significant role in the river by scavenging dead organic materials and diseased fish, controlling fish population as predators and controlling aquatic plants and weeds.
6 - Forest Survey of India 2019 report unveiled
Forest Survey of India released the 2019 report on Forest Fires. FSI identified fire-prone forest areas across India.
Key findings are:
Over 21% of forest cover is fire prone.
An increase of mangrove cover in India by 54 sq km (1.1%).
Extremely fire prone areas account for 3.89% of total forest cover.
Central Indian States recorded a high number of forest fire alerts.
One of the major reasons for forest fires in the north-east is slash-and-burn cultivation.
7 - Centre notified new Wetland Conservation Rules
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notified the new Wetland Conservation Rules which prohibit setting up or expansion of industries and disposal of construction and demolition waste within the wetlands. A wetland is a land area that is saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, and it takes on the characteristics of a distinct ecosystem.
Each state and Union Territory will have to set up an authority that will define strategies for conservation and wise use of wetlands within their jurisdiction.
8 - Australian Koalas set to become endangered in bush fires
The Australian government has decided to declare koalas as an endangered species after the bushfire crisis. The bushfire crises killed many people, burned over 10 million hectares of land, destroyed over 2,000 homes and pushed many species towards extinction. It has been reported that over 1.25 billion animals were dead due to bushfires. Australian government committed A$50 million for emergency wildlife recovery program.
Bushfires have destroyed 30% of the koalas habitat. The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia.
9 - Wildlife census conducted in Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve
The annual wildlife census was conducted in the Kalakkadu - Mundanthurai tiger sanctuary in Tamil Nadu. The survey was conducted in the entire 60,000-hectare area of the sanctuary. The first part of the survey took count of carnivores like tiger, jackals etc, while the second phase involved the enumeration of herbivores like elephants, deer etc.
More than three hundred personnel, including forest officials, wildlife experts and college students were involved in the exercise. The census findings will be included in the annual State of Wild Life Population report of the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment.
10 - India achieved complete phase out of one of the most potent ozone depleting chemical
India has successfully achieved the complete phase out of Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-141 b, which is a chemical used by foam manufacturing enterprises and one of the most potent ozone depleting chemical after Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). (HCFC)-141 b is used mainly as a blowing agent in the production of rigid polyurethane (PU) foams.
The phase out of HCFC-141b from the country has twin environmental benefits of assisting the healing of the stratospheric ozone layer and towards the climate change mitigation due to transitioning of foam manufacturing enterprises at this scale under HPMP to low global warming potential alternative technologies.
