General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - December 2018

Dec 2018

Feb 01, 2024

Tamil Nadu Achieves Record with Highest Number of Ramsar Sites in India

Tamil Nadu set a new benchmark in environmental conservation and biodiversity protection by securing two more Ramsar sites, thus achieving the highest number of such designated areas in the country. The addition of the Longwood Shola Reserve Forest in the Nilgiris and the Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary in Ariyalur propelled the state to the forefront of ecological conservation efforts in India. With these new designations, Tamil Nadu now boasts 16 Ramsar sites, a testament to its rich biodiversity and the state government's commitment to preserving it.
Ramsar sites are wetlands of international importance designated under the Ramsar Convention, an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands. These sites are recognized for their ecological significance, biodiversity richness, and the role they play in supporting human life and environmental health.
Following these designations, the Tamil Nadu government, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India, embarked on preparing integrated management plans for its Ramsar sites. This initiative aims to ensure the sustainable conservation of these wetlands, safeguarding their biodiversity and ecological functions for future generations.

Jan 31, 2024

Bhupender Yadav Releases the Status Report of Snow Leopards in India

Union Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, released a significant report on the status of Snow leopards in India. This groundbreaking study, part of the Snow Leopard Population Assessment in India (SPAI) Program, marked the first-ever scientific exercise to assess the population of this elusive species in the country.
The SPAI, a rigorous and systematic effort, reported the presence of 718 Snow leopards in India. This program was coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and supported by snow leopard range states, the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysuru, and WWF-India.
The estimated population distribution is as follows: Ladakh: 477 Snow leopards, Uttarakhand: 124 Snow leopards, Himachal Pradesh: 51 Snow leopards, Arunachal Pradesh: 36 Snow leopards, Sikkim: 21 Snow leopards and Jammu and Kashmir: 9 Snow leopards.

Jan 25, 2024

Odisha to Set up 'Black Tiger' Safari Near Similipal, Announces CM

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced that the state would set up the world's first 'black tiger safari' near the Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) in Mayurbhanj. This visionary project aims to provide tourists and visitors with a rare glimpse of the melanistic tigers, commonly known as black tigers, spotted at the Similipal National Park.

Jan 21, 2024

Solar Power Stations Inaugurated at Egyptian World Heritage Sites

In a landmark initiative for sustainable energy and environmental conservation, Egypt took a significant step forward. In a ceremony at the Manial Palace, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, represented by the Supreme Council for Antiquities (SCA), in collaboration with the Industrial Modernisation Centre and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Egypt, officially inaugurated solar power stations at five renowned Egyptian world heritage sites and museums.
This initiative is part of the Egypt PV project, a groundbreaking effort aimed at fostering the market for rooftop small-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems in Egypt. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the European Union, the project operates under the auspices of the UNDP in partnership with Egypt's COP27 Presidency.
The solar power stations were installed at strategically significant locations:
Giza Plateau's Visitor Centre: A landmark site for Egypt's tourism, the Giza Plateau is home to the iconic Pyramids and the Sphinx.
Manial Palace, Cairo: This historical palace is a fusion of Ottoman, Moorish, Persian and European Rococo styles.
Sharm El Sheikh Museum: Located in one of Egypt's major tourist destinations, known for its beaches and clear waters.
National and Royal Jewellery Museums in Alexandria: These museums are cultural treasures showcasing Egypt's rich history.

Largest Deep-sea Coral Reef to Date Mapped by Scientists off the US Atlantic Coast

Scientists mapped the largest coral reef deep in the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles off the US Atlantic coast.
The reef extends for about 310 miles (499 kilometres) from Florida to South Carolina and at some points reaches 68 miles (109 kilometres) wide. The total area is nearly three times the size of Yellowstone National Park.
The reef was found at depths ranging from 655 feet to 3,280 feet (200 meters to 1,000 meters), where sunlight doesn't penetrate. Unlike tropical coral reefs, where photosynthesis is important for growth, coral this far down must filter food particles out of the water for energy.

Jan 20, 2024

TCS, Macquarie University Jointly Launch New Australian Research Hub

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) partnered with Macquarie University to launch the TCS GoZero Hub, a research and innovation centre to guide Australian organisations in their journeys towards net zero carbon emissions.
This hub will focus on five core themes – energy transition, carbon management, nature positive future, circular economy and sustainable waste management, and climate adaptation and resilience – and how to limit and prepare for future climate change.
The collaboration was finalised with the aim of bringing together multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted approaches and ideas from across industry and academia to drive research and innovation that will help enterprises, governments, regulatory bodies, and communities across Australia develop pathways to accelerate the transition to a net-zero future and beyond, while focusing on nature and people.

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