EnvironmentFlash 🦚

State Bird of Uttarakhand Himalayan Monal Recent study has revealed that human made noise from tourism and traffic is forcing the Himalayan monal to change its vocal calls. Article link 🔗 https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-climate/himalayan-monal-noise-climate-change-habitat-explained-10884302/lite/

Orangutans in Odisha: ➡️ Recently the Odisha Forest department has rescued five baby orangutans, a critically endangered animal, from a forest in Balasore district. ➡️ Orangutans are native to the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia, and the animals found in Odisha are suspected to be from Sumatra. ➡️ All three orangutan species are listed under Appendix I of the CITES. ➡️ CITES came into force in 1975 and India became a party to it in 1976. ➡️ WPA 1972 was amended in 2022 to harmonise it with the treaty. The amendment added a Schedule covering CITES listed species. ➡️ Act calls for consultation with the country of export for the animal’s return. ➡️ Where return is not possible it provides for the animal’s welfare at a recognised zoo or rescue centre. Article link 🔗 https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/orangutans-odisha-exotic-pets-india-cites-wildlife-trade-rules-10879460/lite/

Slumping in Soft Corals: ➡️"Slumping" is a critical environmental threat where soft corals lose their structural integrity, sagging or completely collapsing due to extreme climate stress. ➡️ Unlike hard corals that rely on rigid calcium carbonate skeletons, soft corals depend entirely on internal fluid pressure to stand upright. ➡️ When drastic environmental changes disrupt this internal hydrostatic pressure, the corals fail to sustain themselves, droop, and frequently break off or deteriorate. Article link 🔗 https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/slumping-a-soft-coral-threat/article71442014.ece

Detailed Article on Western Ghats: ➡️The Central Government is moving to finalize the demarcation of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) in a phased, state-wise manner, starting with states like Gujarat where consensus has been achieved. ➡️The Madhav Gadgil Panel (2010–2011): Recommended that the entire Western Ghats extent (1,29,037 sq km) be designated as an ESA ➡️K. Kasturirangan Working Group (2012–2013): Rejected the blanket approach,proposed that only the 60,000 sq km of natural landscape be formally notified as an ESA. ➡️Article also discusses the Importance of Western Ghats: Monsoon , Agriculture , One of 8 Biodiversity Hotspots Article link https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/western-ghats-what-is-the-esa-plan-for-conservation-why-states-are-opposing-it-10752679/

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https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/how-ants-cope-with-disease-outbreaks/article71088090.ece#:~:text=In%20some%20ant%20species%2C%20individuals,has%20some%20protection%20against%20infections.

India designated its 100th Ramsar site on World Environment Day, officially recognizing the Jai Prakash Narayan Bird Sanctuary (commonly known as Surha Tal) in Ballia district, Uttar Pradesh, as a Wetland of International Importance. https://indianexpress.com/article/upsc-current-affairs/upsc-essentials/india-100th-ramsar-surha-taal-wetlands-upsc-knowledge-nugget-10725346/

➡️ India will require $2.5 trillion by 2030 to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions. ➡️ Over the longer term, the cost of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 is estimated at $10.1 trillion ➡️ Union Budget 2024-25: India would develop a climate-finance taxonomy. This is the foundation of the entire ecosystem. ➡️ Federally disaggregated nature: States have neither the borrowing capacity nor the institutional infrastructure to access international climate finance. Four Major Recommendations: ➡️ First, finalise and enact the Climate Finance Taxonomy without further delay. ➡️ Second, the RBI must move from enabling green finance to mandating it -> expanded PSL targets that include climate adaptation alongside mitigation. ➡️ Third, establish a State Climate Finance Facility, capitalised for example to give States and municipalities genuine access to green debt markets. ➡️ Fourth, scale sovereign green bond issuances rapidly and embed them in the SLR framework to deepen the domestic market and attract foreign capital. Article link 🔗 https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/funding-indias-climate-future-the-trillion-dollar-question/article71062224.ece/amp/

Article on Climate Finance:

Need of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA): ➡️EbA uses biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to climate change. ➡️India’s coastline hosts a range of ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs, and wetlands, that act as natural buffers against climate impacts. ➡️EbA offers a promising strategy for reducing climate risk while sustaining the ecosystems that support fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. ➡️In India’s adaptation planning seawalls, groynes, and embankments continue to dominate adaptation spending, even though they can be costly to maintain and sometimes transfer risks elsewhere. ➡️The benefits of EbA: --> In the Sundarbans,over 18,000 women restored 4,600 hectares of mangroves, blunting the devastation of cyclones Amphan and Yaas --> The restoration also streng thened livelihoods through activities such as honey collection and crab farming. --> When Cyclone Dana made landfall near Odisha's coast, the region's mangroves quietly provided a vital natural shield.