Coastal Regulation Zones
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Coastal Regulation Zones

Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) notification, 1991: Under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, notification was issued in 1991 for regulation of activities in the coastal area by MoEF. It defined the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) as: Coastal land up to 500m from the High Tide Line(HTL) and A range of 100m along banks of creeks, estuaries,…

Environmental Impact Assessment
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Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment is a process whereby people’s views are taken into consideration for granting final approval to any developmental project or activity. The MoEFCC uses Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 2006, issued under relevant provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, as a major tool for minimizing the adverse impact of rapid industrialization on the environment and…

Littoral & Swamp Forests
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Littoral & Swamp Forests

Wetland:  Definition (Ramsar) Areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water,  whether natural or artificial,  permanent or temporary,  with water that is static or flowing,  Fresh, Brackish or salt water, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed 6m. Types of Wetlands:  Coastal Wetlands: found in the areas between land…

Land Degradation And Desertification
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Land Degradation and Desertification

Desertification & Land degradation  Desertification is the process by which the biological productivity of drylands (arid and semiarid lands) is reduced due to natural or manmade factors.  Land degradation:  a process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land.   Causes of Desertification/Land Degradation:  Impacts of Desertification Status…

Birds
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Birds

Bonn Convention Bonn Convention or Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS), 1979: an intergovernmental treaty, concluded under the aegis of the UNEP The only global and UN–based intergovernmental organization established exclusively for the conservation and management of terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range. The legal instruments under CMS may range from…

Big Cats
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Big Cats

Lions:  Asiatic Cheetah (acinonyx jubantus):  World’s fastest land mammal =112kmph.  Tree-climbing clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa):  Snow Leopard (2009):  Only 7,500 estimated to be surviving in 2 million sqKm Himalayan & Central Asian mountains.  Conservation status: Leopard: Small Cats: Project Tiger  Tiger day: 29th July. Indian Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris) are critical for…

Wildlife Conservation In India
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Wildlife conservation in India

Remember Normal Species: Population level considered normal for survival. For example, Cattle, sal, pine, rodents, etc. Endangered species: Danger of extinction. (due to negative factors) For example, Black buck, crocodile, Indian wild ass, Indian rhino, lion tailed macaque, sangai (brow anter deer in Manipur) Vulnerable Species: Population has declined, likely to move into endangered category…

Conservation Areas Of India
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Conservation Areas of India

BIOSPHERE RESERVES:  A few Unique and representative ecosystems of terrestrial and coastal areas are internationally recognised within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme. The Biosphere Reserve aims at achieving the three objectives as depicted: There are 18 Biosphere Reserves in India of which, four Biosphere Reserves are recognized by the World Network…

Forests Of India
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Forests of India

Forests are large ecosystems dominated by trees, plants, and wildlife.  They cover about 31% of Earth’s land area.  They provide oxygen, store carbon, regulate climate, and support biodiversity.  They play a crucial role in ecosystem balance, water cycles, and livelihoods. Forests are classified into tropical, temperate, and boreal types. For example, Trees occupy the top…

Biodiversity
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Biodiversity

The prefix ‘bio’ literally refers to something related to life and diversity refers to the variety. Biodiversity is the number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region. This term popularised by the American socio-biologist Edward Wilson. It refers to varieties of plants, animals and micro-organisms, genes they contain and the ecosystems they…