General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - August 2019

Aug 2019

Aug 19, 2019

Iceland Builds Monument To a Glacier Lost

Iceland honoured the passing of Okjokull, its first glacier lost to climate change, as scientists warn that some 400 others on the subarctic island risk the same fate.
A bronze plaque was unveiled in a ceremony to mark Okjokull — which translates to "Ok glacier" — in the west of Iceland, in the presence of local researchers and their peers at Rice University in the US, who initiated the project.
Iceland's prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, environment minister Gudmundur Ingi Gudbrandsson, and the United Nations high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson also attended the event.

Aug 17, 2019

Diamonds Found Near Earth's Core

An ancient reservoir of diamonds that is older than the moon has been discovered near the Earth's core, more than 410 km below the surface.
The diamonds had lain undisturbed for over 4.5 billion years before being brought to the surface by a violent volcanic eruption in Brazil.
Scientists measured helium isotopes in the diamonds to find the ancient reservoir.
Researchers say the diamonds gave them an insight into the tumultuous period shortly after the planet formed.

Rules Eased For Clearance Of Projects Near Buffer Zone

In a move that may weaken protection to wildlife sanctuaries, the Union environment ministry has tweaked the procedure for environmental clearances of developmental activities in the buffer zone, an area that is supposed to reinforce conservation of protected areas.
An office memorandum on August 8, 2019, said projects outside the boundary of the eco-sensitive zone of a sanctuary or park but within 10km radius will not need clearance from the National Board for Wildlife.
An office memorandum (OM) on August 8, 2019, published on the environment ministry website, said that projects outside the boundary of the notified eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a sanctuary or national park but within 10 km radius of the park will not need prior clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
Projects located within the notified ESZ will require the NBWL's nod, which can be applied for together with the initial "terms of reference" application.
Mining will be prohibited within the notified ESZ or within only one km from the boundary of the park, whichever is higher according to the new OM. But in many states, protected areas do not have an ESZ of 10 km as specified by the Supreme Court.

Aug 15, 2019

Giant Penguin's Fossil Found In New Zealand

The fossilised remains of a huge penguin almost the size of an adult human have been found in New Zealand's South Island, scientists announced.
The giant waddling sea bird stood 1.6 metres high and weighed 80kg, about four times heavier and 40cm taller than the modern Emperor penguin.
Named "crossvallia waiparensis", it hunted off New Zealand's coast in the Paleocene era, 66-56 million years ago.

Aug 14, 2019

Northeast States Crowds List Of States With Most Dense Tree, Forest Cover

According to the data by the Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change,a quarter of India's geographical area which is 24.49% is under forest and tree cover.
The lowest forest and tree cover in the country is in Haryana at 6.79 % of its geographical area.Punjab follows with 6.87 %.Further,Rajasthan's forest and tree cover is over 7.26 % of its geographical area.
The highest forest and tree cover in terms of % is at Lakshadweep at 97 %.Among the six states with the highest forest and tree cover,four are in the Northeast which are Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya.
The highest forest and tree cover in terms of geographical area is in Madhya Pradesh with 85,487 sq km.Further,Goa and Kerala are two other states with more than 50 % of their geographical area under forest and tree cover.

Aug 13, 2019

US Overhauls Endangered Species Protections

The Trump administration rolled out some of the broadest changes in decades to enforcement of the landmark Endangered Species Act, allowing the government to put an economic cost on saving a species and other changes critics contend could speed extinction for some struggling plants and animals.
Interior secretary David Bernhardt and other administration officials contend the changes improve efficiency of oversight , while protecting rare species.

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