Studies highlight the local perception of ecosystem services Subject : Environment Section: Ecosystem Context: Ecosystem services are conventionally evaluated only by ecological and economic values. Now, two studies investigate what local communities perceive as sociocultural values of ecosystems. Details: Recent studies are proposing adding a new dimension to the conventional evaluation of ecosystem […]

    SC gives 4 more weeks to the Centre for assessment of the carrying capacity of the Himalayan Region Subject: Environment Section: Ecosystem  Context: The Supreme Court on Monday gave four additional weeks to the Centre to respond to a petition seeking an assessment of the carrying capacity and master plans of the Indian […]

    SC asks Centre to respond on plea to protect 2.31 lakh wetlands mapped in country Subject: Environment Section: Ecosystem Context: The Supreme Court on July 10 recorded that the number of wetlands in the country has expanded from 2.01 lakh to 2.31 lakh since 2017, and sought the Centre’s response on a plea […]

    In Varanasi, turtles help clean the Ganga Subject : Environment Section: Species Concept : Since 2014, the Namami Gange Programme has been working to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga river network, and marine life, particularly turtles, has played a crucial role. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Ministry of Forest, in […]

    Global tropical primary forest cover continued decline in 2022 Subject: Environment Section: Ecosystem Context: According to research by World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Global Forest,  Tropical areas lost 4.1 million hectares of forest cover – equivalent to losing an area of 11 football fields per minute – in 2022. Details: This forest loss produced […]

    Objections overruled, Forest Bill goes to House unchanged Subject : Environment Section: Environment law Context: A Parliamentary committee, set up to examine controversial proposed amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, has endorsed the amendment Bill in its entirety. Key features: Provisions Act of 1980 Proposed Bill of 2023 Name Forest (Conservation) Act […]

    Govt to make India a global hub for ‘circular textiles’ Subject: Environment Section: Sustainable development In News: Government has initiated work on drafting policies to make India a global hub for sourcing sustainable and circular textiles and garments. Key Points: The Textiles Ministry is set to start the mapping of the textile waste […]

    How Amazon deforestation rates have fallen since Bolsonaro Subject :Environment Section: Climate Change Context: After four years of rising destruction in Brazil’s Amazon, deforestation dropped by 33.6 per cent during the first six months of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s term, according to government satellite data. Details: From January to June the […]

    United Nations International Maritime Organization agrees to reach net zero “by or around” 2050 Subject :Environment Section: Climate Change Context: Maritime countries upgraded their Greenhouse House Gas (GHG) emissions strategy to reach net zero “by or around” 2050 without specifying a definite year and taking into account different national circumstances, at the conclusion […]