CONVENTION OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
- Adopted in 1992 (In Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil)
- wef 1993
- Parties (Countries): 196 [US not a party]
- Secretariat: Montreal (Canada)
Three aims of CBD
- Conservation of bio diversity
- Sustainable use of its component
- Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of Genetic Resources
NAGOYA PROTOCOL
- Adopted in 2010
- wef 2014
- India is a party, US not a party
- Based on third aim of CBD
It is a supplementary protocol to CBD. It provides for creating a legal mechanism for providing an access to genetic resources & it also provides that the benefits derived from such use of genetic resources shall be shared in fair and equitable manner with the society where these resources originally belong to.
CARTAGENA PROTOCOL
- Adopted in special session of CBD in Columbia in 2000
- wef 2003
- A supplementary protocol to CBD on “Biosafety”
Aim is to protect human helath & environment from the potential negative impact of living modified organisms (LMOs)
LMOS: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS
Organisms having new genetic combination acquired with the use of modern biotechnology
Example: GM Crops like Bt Cotton (1st GM crop of India), Bt Brinjal (1st GM food crop of India)
GM crops may be developed for
- Providing resistance against insects/pests
- Increasing crop yield
- Providing nutritional addition
- Providing resistance aganst a disease or against adverse climatic conditions
RAMSAR CONVENTION ON WETLANDS
Secretariat: Gland (Switzerland)
Wetland is a transitional zone between terrestrial area and water body
As per Ramsar Convention,
Wetlands are the
- Area of marsh, fens, peatlands or water
- Temporary or permanent
- Natural or anthropogenic
- Water may be static or flowing
- Water may be fresh, brackish or saline
As per Millenium Ecosystem Assessment 2005, Wetlands are the most endangered of the ecosystems
6 to 7% of the total global area is Wetlands
As per national Wetlands Atlas, In India,
Maximum area under Wetlands: Gujarat
Maximum percentage area under Wetlands: Lakshadweep
Largest stretch of Wetlands: Indo-gangetic plains
Februray 2 is celebrated as World Wetlands Day
2018 theme: Wetlands for a sustainable urban future
From India, 26 sites are included in Ramsar list. First two being, Chilika (in Odisha) and Keoladeo (in Rajasthan)
26th site: Nalsarovar bird sanctuary (in Gujarat)
Wetland’s significance
- High biodiversity
- Plays important role in water purification
- Provides wood, food, medicinal plants etc.
- Habitat of many species
- Provides protection against natural calamities like floods, cyclones etc.
Montreux Record
It is the list of those Ramsar sites where ecological characteristics have already been changed or are changing or likely to be changed because of anthropogenic activities.
It includes two sites from India
- Keoladeo NP
- Loktak NP
Chilika was earlier included in this list but now it has been removed due to conservation efforts
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature & Natural Resources)
Estd: 1948
Headquarters: Gland (Switzerland)
It is not an agency of UN
Publishes Red Data Book (Official Name: Red List)
(7) under data sufficient are as follows:
- Extinct [[Ex]
- Extinct in wild [EW]
- Critically Endangered [CR]
- Endangered [ER]
- Vulnerable [VU]
- Near Threatened [NT]
- Least Concerned [LC]
According to Red List,
Extint: Stellar’s sea cow, Passenger pigeon, Dodo etc.
Extinct in India: Cheetah (VU), Banteng (ER), Java Rhinoceros (CR), Sumatran Rhinoceros (CR)
Critically Endangered: Indian Vultures, Jerdon’s Courser, Namdapha Squirrel, Kondana rat, Great Indian Bustard, Gharial crocodile, Red crowned roof turtle, Forest owlet etc.
Endangered: Asiatic lion, Tiger, Elephant, Dolphin, Red Panda (Lesser Panda), Snow leopard etc.
Vulnerable: Mugger crocodile, Dugong etc
Near Threatened: Wild ass
Least Concerned: Rhesus Monkey, Blue bull, Peacock, Saltwater crocodile, Hanuman Langur
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna & flora)
Adopted in 1973 in Washington D.C., hence also known as “Washington Convention”
Appendix I: List of species facing extinction
Appendix II: List of species not facing extinction but may face extinction if illegal trade continues
Appendix III: List of species for which at least which one of the parties (countries) have requested to be included seeking global cooperation
WWF (World Wide Fund for nature)
estd: 1961
Headquarters: Gland (Switzerland)
Emblem: Giant Panda (Black & White Panda)
WWF organizes “Earth Hour” annually on a particular day in the month of March (usually Saturday)
During this event lights are switched off for an hour. The aim of this event is to create awareness for environment protection
Earth Hour 2018: 24 March 2018
Earth Hour 2019: 30 March 2019
Ecological Foot Print
It is a relationship between human consumption demand & the nature’s capacity to regenerate the resources
As per some estimates, presently it is around 1.5 to 1.6
Ecological Over Shoot
The excess of human consumption over the regeneration by nature
Population Over Shoot
Excess of population over the nature’s carrying capacity
Green Peace
estd: 1971, in Vancouver, Canada
Headquarters: Amsterdam
Recently Govt. recommended for deregistration of Green Peace on account of some foreign exchange rules violation
It works in the area of environment including anti-nuclear protest
CMS (Convention on Migratory Species)
Adopted 1979 in Bonn (Germany) aka Bonn Convention
wef 1983
Includes migratory species like mammal, fishes, reptiles, birds, insects
Recently India signed MoU with CMS with respect to “Raptors”
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food & Agriculture
Adopted 2001
aka International Seed Treaty
Includes 64 seeds which provides 80% or more food grain availability
Includes 4 main seeds namely, viz. Rice, Wheat, Maize, Potato. These 4 are known as Big Four
Main aims: Conservation, exchange and sustainable use
International Plant Protection Convention
- Adopted 1951
- wef 1952
- Aim: to protect plant & plant products from pests
World Heritage Convention
- estd 1972
- India is a party
- Divided into three categories, Cultural properties, Natural properties, Mixed properties
- India is a party
From India, 37 sites are there in the list, known as “World Heritage List”. This list is published by UNESCO
29 sites are included in Cultural properties. They are
- Agra Fort
- Ajanta Caves
- Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara at Nalanda, Bihar
- Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi
- Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus)
- Churches and Convents of Goa
- Elephanta Caves
- Ellora Caves
- Fatehpur Sikri
- Great Living Chola Temples
- Group of Monuments at Hampi
- Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram
- Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
- Hill Forts of Rajasthan
- Historic City of Ahmadabad
- Humayun's Tomb, Delhi
- Khajuraho Group of Monuments
- Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya
- Mountain Railways of India
- Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi
- Rani-ki-Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) at Patan, Gujarat
- Red Fort Complex
- Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka
- Sun Temple, Konarak
- Taj Mahal
- The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement
- The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur
- Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai
7 sites are included in Natural properties. They are
- Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area
- Kaziranga National Park
- Keoladeo National Park
- Manas Wildlife Sanctuary
- Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks
- Sundarbans National Park
- Western Ghats
1 site is included in Mixed properties. It is
- Khangchendzonga National Park
Birdlife International
- estd: 1922
- Headquarters: Cambridge
- Focusses on important Bird & Biodiversity areas
Wetlands International
- estd: 1937
- Headquarters: Ede, Netherlands
- Works along with Ramsar Convention for wetlands conservation
Conservation International
- estd: 1987
- Headquarters: Arlington, Virginia
UNEP (United Environment Programme)
- estd: 1972
- Headquarters: Nairobi
- It is under UN
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION & CONSERVATION RELATED CONSTITUTIONAL & LEGAL PROVISIONS
Constitutional Provisions
- Article 21 (Fundamental Right): Right to life includes right to have healthy environment
- Article 48 (DPSP): Agriculture & Animal Husbandry on Modern & Scientific lines & prohibition of slaughter of cows, calves & other milch & drought animals
- Article 48A (DPSP): Protection & improvement of environment & conservation of forest & wildlife
- Article 51A (g) (Fundamental Duties): To protest environment & wildlife
Important laws
- Environment Protection Act, 1986
Ecosensitive zone comes under this law
Ecosensitive zone
- Right to notify ecosensitive zone is with Central govt.
- Eco sensitive zones acts as a shock absorbing zone acting as a buffer to National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries
- In eco sensitive zones, activities are mainly regulated; harmful activities may not be allowed
- Its extension is upto 10 kms from boundaries of NP and WLS
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- Indian Forest Act, 1927
- Forest Conservation Act, 1980
- Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
- Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
National Green Tribunal (NGT)
- estd. under NGT Act, 2010
- wef Oct 2010
- Aim: to provide speedy disposal (within 6 months) to environment related cases
- NGT draws the powers from Article 21
NGT is a statutory body not required to follow
- Civil Procedure Code, 1908
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Chairman: is/has been Supreme Court Judge or Chief Justice of High Court
Principal bench: Delhi
4 other benches at Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Bhopal
NGT replaced National Environment Tribunal estd. by NET Act, 1995
NGT works on the principle of Natural Justice
Before order, NGT to follow
- Polluter pays principle
- Principle of Sustainable Development
- Precautionary principle
Thanks
The Most Comprehensive Exam Prep App!
Comments
write a comment