General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - August 2019

Aug 2019

Sep 10, 2019

Researchers Unearth New Mass-extinction

A team of scientists has concluded that earth experienced a previously underestimated severe mass-extinction event, which occurred about 260 million years ago, raising the total of major mass extinctions in the geologic record to six.
Notably, all six major mass extinctions are correlated with devastating environmental upheavals -- specifically, massive flood-basalt eruptions, each covering more than a million square kilometers with thick lava flows.
Scientists had previously determined that there were five major mass-extinction events, wiping out large numbers of species and defining the ends of geological periods: the end of the Ordovician (443 million years ago), the Late Devonian (372 million years ago), the Permian (252 million years ago), the Triassic (201 million years ago), and the Cretaceous (66 million years ago).
And, in fact, many researchers have raised concerns about the contemporary, ongoing loss of species diversity -- a development that might be labelled a "seventh extinction" because such a modern mass extinction, scientists have predicted, could end up being as severe as these past events.

Sep 09, 2019

Powerful Typhoon Faxai Hits Tokyo

A powerful typhoon landed near Tokyo, killing at least two people and injuring about 40, as well as affecting hundreds of thousands of rush-hour commuters in the metropolitan area.
East Japan Railway Co., also known as JR East, had suspended all lines in the greater Tokyo area as Typhoon Faxai made landfall near the city of Chiba, as one of the strongest typhoons on record in the Kanto region.

Three Animal Species in India Extinct Due To Desertification

According to some researchers, three animal species namely Indian Cheetah, pink-headed duck and Great Indian Bustard have become extinct due to desertification in India.
The study by researchers was put forth at 14th meeting of Conference of Parties to United Nations - Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 14).
The UNCCD COP 14 meeting is being held in national capital from 2-13 September 2019 and is being attended by representatives of 196 countries with almost 5000 participants.
Around 40% of country's land is facing threat of desertification and over 30% of its land area has been degraded through deforestation, over-cultivation, soil erosion and depletion of wetlands, which is causing severe adversities to animals.

Sep 08, 2019

Local And Regional Governments Day Observed On Day 6 Of The COP14

The 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is currently underway at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida.
Keeping in line with the theme of the Conference i.e. "Restore land, Sustain future", host of deliberations were held on matters concerning restoration of degraded land.
In the above backdrop, Network for Certification and Conservation of Forest (NCCF) hosted a side event Panel Discussion on "Certification of Natural Resources to Combat Desertification and Restoring Landscapes", with focus on certification of various constituents of natural resources that enhances the sustainability of forests, agro forests, urban forests and NWFPs, thereby checking land degradation, helping in combating desertification and moving towards the ultimate goal of LDN.
Senior officers from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) – Shri Saibal Dasgupta, Additional Director General of Forests; Shri Jigmat Takpa, Joint Secretary; Ms Bharati, Inspector General of Forests, and eminent experts from notable organisations shared their views on the subject of combating desertification and how certification of natural resources could help address the problem of land degradation world-wide and in India.

Sep 07, 2019

NGT Asks Centre To Prepare Plan For Protection Of The Great Indian Bustard

Noting the high mortality rate of the Great Indian Bustard, the National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre to prepare a time-bound action plan within two months for protection of the birds.
A Bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel also constituted a joint committee comprising officials of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy.
The committee was asked to prepare an action plan for the implementation of suggestions put forth by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
The WII in its report also said steps should be taken to reduce poaching of the specie and other wildlife in the Thar landscape.

Sep 05, 2019

Food Ministry To Ban Single-Use Plastic Products

Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan announced a blanket ban on all types of single-use plastic products in his Ministry and its all PSUs from 15th September.
The decision was taken in a high-level meeting with Secretaries of both the Departments and with other senior officials of the Ministry.
According to an official release, Mr Paswan has asked the officials to make alternate arrangements to ensure that the ban is effective.

Centre To Take Indian Army's Help To Protect, Breed Great Indian Bustard In Rajasthan

The Centre will seek the help of the Indian Army to conserve the population of critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) found in the Pokhran firing range in Rajasthan.
The decision was taken in the second meeting of the steering committee formed under the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican Conservation Breeding and Research Programme held in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Some population of the GIB is found in Pokhran Field Firing Range, Jaisalmer.
It was informed that the population in the firing range is undisturbed and efforts should be made to get support from the Army in conservation efforts for protection of the bird.
According to the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the GIB population has been reduced by 75 per cent in the last 30 years, with only 150 members of the species left.

Lata Mangeshkar Joins List of Celebrities Opposing Proposed Felling Of Over 2,600 Trees in Aarey

Singer Lata Mangeshkar has joined the list of celebrities opposing the proposed felling of over 2,600 trees in Aarey to make way for a Metro car shed.
The Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had recently approved cutting of over 2,600 trees for a Metro car shed in the Aarey Colony adjoining sub-urban Goregaon, which is known as the major green lung of Mumbai.

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