Wildlife Protection & Biodiversity

Wildlife Protection & Biodiversity

Wildlife Protection Act – Schedules

• Schedule I: Provides the highest level of protection; hunting is prohibited and violations attract the most severe penalties.
• Schedule II: Provides a lower level of protection than Schedule I but includes important species requiring conservation.
• Schedule III: Lists protected plant species by consolidating earlier scattered plant protections into one schedule.
• Schedule IV: Newly created for CITES-listed species to align Indian law with international wildlife trade regulations.
• Schedules V & VI: Eliminated; earlier dealt with vermin species and regulated plants.

Biodiversity Governance

• In India, Biodiversity Management Committees play a key role in realizing the objectives of the Nagoya Protocol.

Sustainable Development – Global Milestones

• 1987: Discussion on Sustainable Development began after the UN report Our Common Future.
• 1968 – Club of Rome: Limits to Growth.
• 1983 – Brundtland Commission: Sustainable Development.
• 1992 – Rio Earth Summit: Agenda 21.
• 2002 – Johannesburg Declaration (Earth Summit): Sustainable Development.

International Environmental & Climate Agreements

Rotterdam Convention

• Signed in 1998 to promote shared responsibility in international trade of hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
• Came into force in 2004.

Talanoa Dialogue

• A process to help countries implement their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) under UNFCCC.
• Launched at COP-23 under the Presidency of Fiji.
• Talanoa means holding a conversation in an inclusive and receptive space in the Fijian dialect.
• It was a traditional dispute-resolution method among Pacific island tribes.
• A global climate initiative under the Paris Agreement to achieve the 1.5°C temperature goal.

Under2 Coalition

• A global initiative focusing on sub-national climate action for emission reduction.

Health & Humanitarian Declarations

Alma-Ata Declaration

• 1978: Emphasizes primary healthcare as a fundamental human right.

Hague Convention

• Deals with laws of war and humanitarian concerns.
• Does not focus on biological or chemical weapons.

Pollution & Environmental Concepts

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

• Compounds with high vapour pressure and low water solubility.
• Concentrations of many VOCs are higher indoors.
• VOCs contribute significantly to ground-level ozone formation.

Air Quality Index (AQI)

• Considers PM10, PM2.5, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃ and Pb.

Environmental Processes & Technologies

Biomining

• The use of microorganisms to extract metals from ores or mine waste.

Incineration

• Burning hazardous materials at high temperatures to destroy contaminants.

Biogeochemical Cycles

• Movement of nutrient elements through various components of an ecosystem.

Aquatic Ecology

Eutrophication

• Natural ageing of a lake due to nutrient enrichment.
• Caused by nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers or sewage.
• Leads to depletion of dissolved oxygen in water bodies.

Euryhaline Organisms

• Aquatic species that can survive across a wide range of salinities.

Ecology & Biodiversity Concepts

Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR)

• Regaining ecological functionality while enhancing human well-being in degraded landscapes.

Trophic Cascade

• Describes the impact of predators on the density and behavior of lower trophic levels.

Indicator Species

• Species that reflect environmental conditions.
• Examples include frogs, lichens, mosses, greasewood, platypus, lobsters and river otters.

Sere

• The entire sequence of communities that successively change in a given area.

Environmental Health

Byssinosis

• A lung disease caused by inhalation of cotton, flax and hemp dust.
• Also known as brown lung disease.

Plastic Pollution

Nurdles

• Small non-biodegradable plastic pellets found in oceanic and coastal areas.

Environment Movements & Climate Facts

• Mitti Bachao Andolan: Started in 1977 in Hoshangabad.
• Without naturally occurring greenhouse gases, Earth’s average temperature would be about −18°C instead of 15°C.
• Methane is the gas emitted from paddy fields that increases Earth’s temperature.

Medicinal Plants in News 

Protected Areas & Fauna 

• Phtheirospermum lushaiorum – Found in Phawngpui National Park, Mizoram.
• Ligdus garvale – Jumping spider, diurnal, found in Kodagu, Karnataka.
• Oysters – Efficient filter feeders; remove excess nitrogen from water by incorporating it into shells and tissue.
• Garra zubzaensis & Psilorhynchus kosygini – New fish species discovered in Nagaland, highlighting rich biodiversity.
• Exostoma sentiyonoae – Catfish discovered in Dzuleke River, Nagaland.
• Ghost shark species – Newly discovered in Chatham Rise, Pacific Ocean, east of New Zealand.
• Cassowary – Considered the most dangerous bird in the world.
• Emu – Flightless bird native to snowy regions of Australia.
• Amur Falcon – Migratory raptor visiting India.
• Hoolock Gibbons – Only ape found in India; diurnal & arboreal.
• Himalayan Yew – Contains taxol from bark, twigs, roots; used in cancer treatment; found in HP & Arunachal Pradesh.
• Strobilanthes gigantra – New plant species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh, Indian Himalayan Region (IHR).
• Calotes zolaiking – Diurnal lizard species found in Meghalaya.
• Dugong – Marine mammal, vulnerable species.
• Jinchuanloong niedu – Newly identified species (further taxonomic details needed).
• Camptothecin – Anti-cancer drug derived from a herb.
• Sisal Plant – Xerophytic, monocarp, semi-perennial leaf fibre plant; sisal-based material has higher absorption capacity than commercial menstrual pads.
• Eucalyptus Snout Beetle – Leaf-feeding beetle; major defoliator of eucalypts.
• Wang’s Garden Lizard (Calotes wangi) – Found in southern China & northern Vietnam; orange tongue.
• Cigaritis meghamalaiensis – Newly identified butterfly species.
• Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans) – World’s largest flying bird; Southern Hemisphere, Southern Ocean; IUCN: Vulnerable.
• Soda Lake – Found in western Canada.
• Hermit Crabs – Small crustaceans that lack shells and “borrow” from other animals.
• Kanzia Lake – Notable waterbody (location to be specified).
• Pterygotrigla intermedica – Newly identified fish species.
• Caltoris bromus sadasiva – First Bromus swift butterfly species identified.
• Dholes (Cuon alpinus) – Also called the Asiatic wild dog.
• Geckos – Small, nocturnal lizards found in all warm regions worldwide.
• Sea Cow – Marine herbivorous mammal (Sirenia).
• Chamrajnagar, Karnataka – Notable biodiversity hotspot.
• Bargarh, Odisha – Near Hirakud Dam, Mahanadi River.
• Akola – Regional biodiversity/forest reference.
• Uttara Kannada, Karnataka – Known for rich forest cover.
• Rajasthan Biodiversity Zone – Spread across Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar & Chittorgarh districts.
• New Wasp Genus – Discovery of new wasp species (ततैया की नई प्रजाति).
• Ebony – Found in tropical evergreen forests.
• Mahogany – Tropical evergreen tree species.
• Chinchona – Tropical evergreen tree; source of quinine for malaria treatment.

• Lion-tailed Macaque – Found in Western Ghats, endangered primate species.
• Orcas – Large marine mammal, type of whale (killer whale).
• Smallest Wild Pig Species – Critically Endangered, Schedule I under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, nocturnal.
• Torque Macaque – Primate species (details unspecified).
• Ratites – Group of flightless, running birds.
• Biodiversity Tri-junction – Intersection of Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.
• Cannabis Cultivation (HP) – Reference to traditional or regulated cultivation in Himachal Pradesh.

• New Damselfly Species – Discovered in Kerala’s southern Western Ghats.
• Pampaphoneus biccai – Prehistoric species, roamed South America.
• Cabomba furcuta (Pink Bloom) – Aquatic plant, noted for massive flowering.
• Dibru-Saikhowa – Largest swamp forest in Northeast India.
• Biodiversity Hotspot Criteria – ≥1500 endemic species, ≥70% habitat loss, 35 hotspots cover 2.3% of Earth’s land surface.
• In Situ Conservation – Natural habitats like Biosphere Reserves, Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks.
• Ex Situ Conservation – Human-managed conservation like aquariums, botanical gardens.
• Black Carbon – Emitted from diesel engines, coal-fired plants, India is 2nd largest emitter globally.
• Brown Carbon – Produced from combustion of organic material.
• A2R Initiative – Climate resilience program.
• CO₂ & Oceans – Increased CO₂ causes ocean acidification.
• Tiger Reserves with <10 big cats – Includes Ranipur (UP), Achanakmar, Indravati, Udanti Sitanadi (CG), Palamau (JH), Bor & Sahyadri (MH), Satkosia (OD), Mukundara & Ramgarh Vishdhari (RJ), Kawal (TS), Kalakad Mundanthurai (TN), Nameri (AS), Dampa (MZ), Pakke, Kamlang, Namdapha (AR), Buxa (WB).
• Trogidae Beetles – Hide beetles, 14 extant species in India, soil-dwelling, diurnal.
• Jumping Spiders – Diurnal and solitary.
• Soliga ecarinata – New wasp parasite species, discovered in deciduous patches of BRT Tiger Reserve, named after Soliga tribals.
• Achanakmar Tiger Reserve – Located in Bilaspur district, Chhattisgarh.
• Pullicate Lake – Second-largest brackish water lake in India, on AP–TN border (mostly AP).
• New Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS), WB – Char Balidanga (Nadia), Namthing Pokhari (Darjeeling), Amkhoi Wood Fossil Park (Birbhum), State Horticulture Research & Development Station (Nadia).
• First BHS, India (2007) – Nallur Tamarind Grove, Bengaluru, Karnataka.
• Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)– Distribution: India, Sri Lanka, southern Nepal; 90% population in India.
  • Conservation: IUCN: Vulnerable; Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule I.
• Sabari River – Main tributary of Godavari.
  • Conservation Status of species: IUCN: Endangered; WLP Act: Schedule I.
• Tiger Population, India (2026) – 3,167, as announced by PM Modi during 50 years of Project Tiger celebration.
• Sea Cows – Largest population in northern waters of Australia.
• Biligiri Rangana Hills (Karnataka) – Fossil discoveries unearthed from forests.
• Marine Biomass – Inverted Pyramid.
• Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)– Rate of organic matter production via photosynthesis.
  • Net Primary Productivity (NPP) = GPP – Respiration (R).
• Community Reserve – Locals allowed to collect non-timber forest produce (NTFPs).
• Lichens – Sensitive bioindicators of air pollution.
• Leachates – Pollutants moving downwards with percolating groundwater.
• Mercury Pollution – Caused by coal-based mining & thermal power generation.
• Rosewood & Rubber – Tropical evergreen species.
• Chickpea – Important legume crop.
• Great Indian Bustard – Found in Desert National Park, Rajasthan.
• Earth Pig – Nocturnal species, IUCN: Least Concern.
• IUCN & Red Data Book – IUCN founded on 5 Oct 1948; first international Red Data Books published in 1964.
• Four Waters Concept – Developed by T. Hanumantha Rao, integrates Rainwater, Soil Moisture, Groundwater, Surface Water; used in Telangana & Andhra Pradesh for watershed development.
• Global Environmental Conventions:
  • Kyoto Protocol – Climate change.
  • Basel Convention – Hazardous waste transfer.
  • Montreal Protocol – Ozone layer protection.
  • Ramsar Convention – Wetlands conservation.
  • Rotterdam Convention (1998, Netherlands) – Trade in hazardous chemicals.
  • Stockholm Convention – Persistent organic pollutants.
• NURDELES – Tiny plastics pollution.
• CRZ Notifications (1991):
  • CRZ-I: Ecologically sensitive (corals, mangroves, turtle nesting, mudflats, NPs).
  • CRZ-II: Built-up areas.
  • CRZ-III: Rural areas.
  • CRZ-IV: Water areas.
• Solid Waste Problems: Landfill gases (CH₄ + O₂), groundwater contamination, bioaccumulation, soil fertility decline.
• Formaldehyde – VOC; found in plywood, foam insulation, wallpaper, paints, synthetic fabrics, cosmetics.
• Fibre – Indigestible carbohydrate.
• Mukurthi National Park – Nilgiri.
• Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve – Kanyakumari, part of Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve.
• GIAHS (2002, Johannesburg, FAO) – Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.
• Species Conservation Status:
  • Gharial – Critically Endangered.
  • Wild Ass, Water Buffalo – Endangered.
  • Hangul Deer (J&K) – Critically Endangered.
  • Wildlife Protection Act Schedules:
    • Schedule I & II: Highest protection (endangered).
    • Schedule III & IV: Protected, not endangered.
    • Schedule V: Huntable species.
    • Schedule VI: Prohibited plants.
• Economic Planning History:
  • Bombay Plan (1944–45) – Blueprint for India’s economic development.
  • National Planning Committee (1938) – Chaired by JLN, presided by SC Bose.
  • FR & Economic Policy Session (1931); Resolution on Economic Policy (Faizpur, 1938).
  • PC Mahalonbis – Set up capital-intensive heavy industries.
  • 2nd Five-Year Plan.
  • Liberalisation – Reduction in state-led economic traits.
• HDI Development – Amartya Sen, Mehbub ul Haq, Gustav Ranis, Lord Meghnad Desai.
• Causes of Poverty in India: Population explosion, unemployment, large family size, income inequality.
• Sarvodaya – Coined by MKG, meaning Universal Uplift.
• MISHTI – Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes.
• Amrit Dharohar Scheme – Optimize wetlands use, enhance biodiversity, carbon stock, eco-tourism.
• Dolphin Species in India – Six recorded: Irrawaddy, Bottlenose, Humpback, Striped, Finless, Spinner.
• Shakti Sitala Park – Tumkur, Karnataka; Kamuthi Park – Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu.
• Kushiyara River MoU – Cabinet cleared water withdrawal agreement with Bangladesh; originates in Assam, tributaries from Nagaland & Manipur.
• UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (India)– Total 18:
  1. Nilgiri (1986) – TN, Kerala, Karnataka
  2. Nanda Devi (1988) – Uttarakhand
  3. Nokrek (1988) – Meghalaya
  4. Great Nicobar (1989) – Andaman & Nicobar
  5. Gulf of Mannar (1989) – TN
  6. Manas (1989) – Assam
  7. Sunderbans (1989) – WB
  8. Simlipal (1994) – Odisha
  9. Dibru-Saikhowa (1997) – Assam
  10. Dehang-Dibang (1998) – Arunachal Pradesh
  11. Pachmarhi (1999) – MP
  12. Khangchendzonga (2000) – Sikkim
  13. Agasthyamalai (2001) – Kerala/TN
  14. Achanakmar-Amarkantak (2005) – MP/Chhattisgarh
  15. Kachchh (2008) – Gujarat
  16. Cold Desert (2009) – Himachal Pradesh
  17. Seshachalam Hills (2010) – Andhra Pradesh
  18. Panna (2011) – MP
• National Parks (India):
  • Kaziranga (1985) – Assam
  • Keoladeo Ghana (1985) – Rajasthan
  • Western Ghats (2012) – Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, TN, Kerala
  • Great Himalayan NP (2014) – Himachal Pradesh
  • Mukurthi NP – Nilgiris
  • Kalakkad Mundanthurai TR – Kanyakumari
• UNESCO World Heritage Sites (India)– Selected:
  • Dholavira (2021) – Gujarat
  • Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, 2021 – Telangana
  • Jaipur City (2020) – Rajasthan
  • Historic City of Ahmedabad (2017) – Gujarat
  • Victorian & Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai (2018) – Maharashtra
  • Red Fort Complex (2007) – Delhi
  • Nalanda Mahavihara (2016) – Bihar
  • Mountain Railways of India (1999) – TN
• Neelgay – Largest Asian antelope, IUCN: Least Concern.
• TRAFFIC (1976) – Joint initiative by WWF & IUCN to monitor wildlife trade.
• Hedgehog – Protects itself by rolling up against predators.
• Copepods – Primary consumers in aquatic food chains.
• Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae) – Primary producers.
• Photosynthesizing algae (Diatoms) – Primary producers; found in all types of water.
• Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) – Oil acts as an effective repellent against mosquitoes & houseflies.
• Phlogacanthus sudhansusekharii – Found in Itanagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh.
• Fruit Bat – Nocturnal species.
• Yellow-Legged Buttonquail – Bird species, notable for conservation interest.
• Salvinia molesta – Alien invasive aquatic fern; origin: South-Eastern Brazil; locally called “Chinese Jhalaar”; controlled using exotic beetles in Betul reservoirs.
• UNESCO Vaquita Habitat (Mexico) – Kept on World Heritage ‘In Danger’ List.
• Sangai Deer – Critically endangered, CITES I, found in Manipur and Southeast Asia.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT) – Established in 2010; handles environmental cases; guided by natural justice; principal seat in New Delhi, benches in Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai.
• Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) – Statutory body under Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; monitors pollution control.
• Carbon fibre – Recyclable material.
• Biofilters (Aquaculture) – Remove uneaten fish feed; convert ammonia to nitrate; manage excess phosphorus to prevent algal blooms.
• Biodiversity Management Committees (India) – Key for implementing Nagoya Protocol objectives.
• Ozone hole (Antarctica) – Caused by polar front, stratospheric clouds, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
• CO₂ absorption – Oceans’ phytoplankton perform photosynthesis, reducing lower atmosphere CO₂ concentration.
• Tropical rainforest soil – Poor in nutrients; hence slower regeneration than tropical deciduous forests.
• Himalayan species richness – Due to confluence of multiple biogeographical zones.
• Harmful algal blooms in India – Caused by estuarine nutrient discharge, land run-off during monsoon, and sea upwelling.
• eLISA – Space-based laser interferometric gravitational wave observatory with three spacecraft in heliocentric orbit.
• Papikonda National Park – Located in Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, within the Godavari basin.
• Gray-chinned Minivet – Bird species.
• Autotrophs / Photosynthesizing organisms – Make their own food using sunlight; found in all water types.