Why a proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone around Gir forest is facing protests Sub: Env Sec: Protected Areas Context: On September 18, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) proposed notifying 3,328 sq km around the Gir forest in Gujarat as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). A week later, the area was reduced to […]
Brains and brawn Sub: Env Sec: Species in news Halari Donkeys The Halari donkey is a beautiful and endangered breed found in the Halar region of Gujarat. Fewer than 500 Halari donkeys remain, making them a rare and important part of the semi-arid landscapes of Jamnagar and Dwarka districts in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region. […]
How elephants are counted Sub : Env Sec: Species in news Context: The Environment Ministry has delayed the release of the “Status of Elephant in India 2022-23” report, citing incomplete census data from the Northeast. The report for other regions is ready but will not be released until June 2025. Decline in Elephant […]
Odisha’s leopard population jumps by 22% to 696 Sub: Env Sec: Species in news Context: The All Odisha Leopard Estimation 2024 has been released. Current Population Status in Odisha: Latest count (2024): 696 leopards (range: 668-724) 22% increase from 2022 (568 leopards) Still below 2018 levels (760 leopards) National Context: India’s total leopard […]
Indian elephants lost genetic vigour as they moved north to south, 5 distinct populations exist: Study Sub : Env Sec: Species in news Context: A team of researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, has discovered that Indian elephants migrated from the north […]
Declining Swallowtail Butterflies in Assam: A Call for Conservation Sub: Env Sec: Species in news Why in the News A recent study highlights the alarming decline of swallowtail butterflies in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region, primarily due to habitat loss and overexploitation of their host plants. The findings underscore the need for urgent conservation […]
Only 10% of nations fulfil their biodiversity commitments ahead of COP16, reveals NBSAP tracker Sub :Env Sec: Int Conventions COP16 Biodiversity Conference: Scheduled for October 21 to November 1, 2024 Location: Cali, Colombia First major meeting since the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Current Progress: Only 10% of nations have met their […]
Tsetse fly present in 34 countries in Africa, confirms FAO atlas Sub: Env Sec: Species in news New Atlas Reveals Tsetse Fly Distribution in Africa: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published a new atlas showing the presence of tsetse flies in 34 African countries. This is a […]
Karnataka’s Rejection of Eco-Sensitive Area Notification for Western Ghats Sub : Env Sec: Environmental legislation Why in News On September 26, 2023, the Karnataka government formally requested the withdrawal of a draft notification from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which aimed to designate parts of the Western Ghats […]
Supreme Court Criticizes Delhi Government Over Neglect of Capital’s Green Cover Sub :Env Sec: Ecosystem Why in News The Supreme Court reprimanded the Delhi government’s Forest Department for its lack of action in improving the city’s green cover. This rebuke comes after the department failed to submit a report detailing comprehensive steps taken […]