⚫ In Vitro Fertilization and Tissue Culture: Eggs can Historic Citizen Movements

be fertilized in vitro, and plants can be propagated

⚫ Sundarlal Bahuguna, an environmentalist
using tissue culture techniques.
known as the Defender of the Himalayas and
⚫ Seed Banks
Environmental Gandhi, led the Chipko and Tehri
 Seeds of various genetic strains, especially of
dam movements.
commercially important plants, can be stored for
extended periods in seed banks. ⚫ The Chipko Movement, starting in 1973, involved
tree hugging to prevent deforestation and led to
 The National Gene Bank at the National Bureau
of Plant Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBPGR), people-sensitive forest policies.
Delhi, is a key institution responsible for long-term ⚫ The Appiko Movement (1983) in Karnataka and
conservation of unique accessions, mainly in seed the Anti-Tehri Dam Protest were inspired by the
form. success of the Chipko Movement.
⚫ Women played a crucial role in the Chipko
INITIATIVES TO PRESERVE BIODIVERSITY Movement, with Gaura Devi leading in Reni Village.
⚫ Wildlife Mitigation Measures - Eco-Bridges ⚫ Sundarlal Bahuguna’s efforts resulted in a 15-year
 Eco-bridges, such as underpasses and overpasses, ban on cutting green trees after a meeting with
are constructed along NH44 to connect tiger Indira Gandhi in 1980.
reserves.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
 Designed to enhance wildlife connectivity,
these bridges vary, including canopy bridges for ⚫ Legally binding multilateral treaty established in
arboreal species, concrete structures for larger 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
animals and amphibian tunnels. ⚫ Aim to achieve sustainable development through 3
 Aim to minimize forest depletion and reduce main goals:
human-animal conflicts.  The conservation of biological diversity.
⚫ Quarantine Centres to check Invasive Species  Sustainable utilization of its components.
 Plant quarantine centers at major entry points are
 Fair sharing of benefits arising from genetic
under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and
resources.
Customs(in coordination with the Directorate
of Plant Protection and Quarantine Storage). ⚫ 196 parties to the Convention- all UN member states,
excluding the United States, have ratified.
 DPPQS of the Ministry of Agriculture and
Farmers’ Welfare is responsible for the control Cartagena Protocol (On Biosafety)
of invasive pests/weeds.
⚫ International agreement adopted in 2000, part of the
 Governed by the Destructive Insects and
CBD. (entered into force in 2003)
Pests Act, 1914, these centers check imported
⚫ Focuses on the safe handling, transport, and use of
agricultural products for phytosanitary certificates.
living modified organisms resulting from modern
 Fumigation with methyl bromide is done if
biotechnology.
needed, and a phytosanitary certificate is issued.
⚫ Preservation of Western and Eastern Ghats: ⚫ Aims to address technology development, transfer,
benefit-sharing, and biosafety issues.
 Western Ghats spans six states, showcasing high
species endemism and is recognized as a UNESCO ⚫ India is a party.
World Heritage Site.
Nagoya Protocol
 Eastern Ghats face threats like deforestation, sand
(On Access and Benefit-sharing)
mining, and human encroachment.
⚫ Adopted in 2010, it is a supplementary agreement to
 The Madhav Gadgil Committee recommended
stringent measures for the conservation of the the CBD.
Western Ghats, but the Kasturirangan Committee ⚫ Focuses on access to genetic resources and the
diluted some proposals. fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from
 October 2018 notification by MoEF aimed to their utilization.
protect the Western Ghats by declaring ~57,000 ⚫ Entered into force in 2014, with 137 parties, including
sq km as ecologically sensitive areas. India.
  Real-Time Monitoring: Forest guards record ⚫ High-altitude ecosystems support endangered species
tracks using GPS, note observations, and upload like the Snow Leopard, Red Panda, and various
geo-tagged pictures, contributing to a central GIS ungulates and birds.
database.
⚫ Advantage: REINTRODUCTION OF CHEETAHS
 Identifies patrolling shortcomings in real-time.
⚫ Over 70 years after extinction, eight cheetahs (five
 Serves as proof of the presence and activities of females, three males) from Namibia reintroduced
forest guards. in Kuno Palpur National Park, MP. Later more
Tiger Corridors Cheetahs are brought.
⚫ Document titled “Connecting Tiger Populations for ⚫ World’s first intercontinental translocation of a
Long-term Conservation” by NTCA and Wildlife carnivore.
Institute of India. ⚫ Kuno Palpur National Park is unfenced, promoting
⚫ Maps out 32 major corridors across India to connect co-existence with buffer zones unlike “fortress
tiger populations. conservation” in South Africa.
⚫ Cheetahs expected to help restore open forest and
Core and Buffer Zones in Tiger Reserves grassland ecosystems in India.
⚫ Core zones are areas freed of human activities; buffer ⚫ Government constituted a Task Force for monitoring the
zones allow co-existence of human activities on a introduction and developing tourism infrastructure.
sustainable basis.
Attribute African Cheetah Asiatic Cheetah
⚫ Forest Rights Act of 2006 recognizes rights of some
forest-dwelling communities in buffer areas. IUCN Vulnerable Critically
Endangered
Tiger Census 2023 CITES Appendix-I Appendix-I
⚫ Released in April 2023, announced by PM Modi on Population 6,500-7,000 Around 40-50
the 50th year of Project Tiger in India. (Africa) (Iran)
⚫ Tiger Population in India (2023): 3,167 tigers. Size Bigger Smaller, paler
⚫ Population Growth: Increase of 200 tigers in
Habitat Africa Historical range
the last four years (2,967 to 3,167). Significant
near Sal forests of
improvement from the 1973 census, indicating the
success of conservation efforts. Chhattisgarh
⚫ India houses more than 75% of the global tiger Eyes Normal Red (usually)
population, growing at a rate of 6% annually.
⚫ Top 10 states with the highest number of tigers CONSERVATION OF LIONS
are Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttarakhand,
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, Rajasthan, Asiatic Lion
Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. ⚫ Restricted to India, specifically Gir National Park and
⚫ India now has 53 tiger reserves, covering over Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat.
2.4% of the country’s total geographical area. ⚫ IUCN Red List: Endangered | CITES: Appendix I | WPA:
⚫ The 2023 census reflects India’s commitment to tiger Schedule I.
conservation and marks a significant achievement.
International Big Cat Alliance Project Lion
⚫ Launched by PM Modi to safeguard and conserve ⚫ Landscape ecology-based conservation in Gir
seven significant big cat species. landscape, Gujarat.
⚫ Includes tigers, leopards, lions, snow leopards, ⚫ Aims to secure and restore lion habitats, manage
jaguars, pumas, and cheetahs. growing population, scale up livelihood generation,
⚫ Celebrated on the 50th anniversary of Project Tiger. and involve local communities.
⚫ Announcement of the book “Amrit Kaal Ka Tiger
Vision” outlining tiger protection strategy for the CONSERVATION OF ELEPHANTS
next 25 years.
Ecological Importance of Elephants
PROJECT SNOW LEOPARD ⚫ National Heritage Animal of India, elephants are
keystone species, creating an umbrella effect for
⚫ Launched in 2009 to conserve high-altitude wildlife diverse ecosystems.
populations and habitats. ⚫ Landscape architects, seed dispersal agents, nutrient
⚫ Identified landscapes include Hemis-Spiti, Nanda providers, water providers, and contributors to the
Devi–Gangotri, and Khangchendzonga–Tawang. food chain.
  These contain enough energy to excite the atoms decommissioned reactors, protective clothing worn
and molecules of the medium through which they by persons working with radioactive materials or
pass, causing them to vibrate faster but not strong working in nuclear establishments.
enough to ionize them.  High-level radioactive wastes (HLW): resulting
 Have low penetrability and affect only those from spent nuclear fuel rods and obsolete nuclear
components which absorb them. weapons.
 Health impact: Damage eyes due to reflections ⚫ Safe Disposal of Nuclear Wastes: Presently, waste
from sand and snow (snow blindness) and directly fuel rods are stored in unique storage ponds at reactor
looking towards the sun during an eclipse; injure sites or sent to reprocessing plants. Even though
the cells of skin and blood capillaries producing reprocessing is more expensive, some countries use
blisters and reddening called sunburns. it as an alternative to waste storage. In the US, nuclear
 Impact of Non-Ionizing Radiation from Cell waste is buried deep underground in insulated
Phone Towers: containers.
⬥ Thermal effects of EMR: May cause cellular
& psychological changes in human beings, HEAVY METAL POLLUTION
genetic defects, effects on reproduction
and development, Central Nervous System ⚫ Heavy Metals: Metallic elements with a relatively
behaviour etc. high density compared to water. These are harmful
⬥ Non-thermal effects of EMR: Fatigue, nausea, (toxic/poisonous) to the environment, humans and
irritability, headaches, loss of appetite and other organisms, even at low concentrations. [UPSC
other psychological disorders. 2013]
⬥ The current exposure safety standards are ⚫ Water-soluble heavy metals: arsenic, cadmium, lead,
purely based on the thermal effects majorly. mercury, barium, chromium, platinum, palladium, and
⚫ Impact on Birds: silver.
 They absorb more radiation as the surface ⚫ Most of them are not broken down by biological
area of birds is relatively larger than their body degradation. They bioaccumulate and biomagnify
weight in comparison to the human body. Also, the posing danger to organisms at the top of the food
fluid contained in the body of the birds is less due chain.
to the small body weight, so they get heated up
quickly. ⚫ Heavy metal poisoning (toxicity) is the result of
exposure to heavy metals which enter the human
 The magnetic field from the towers disturbs birds’
navigation skills; hence when birds are exposed body systems and bind to cells preventing the normal
to EMR, they become disoriented and begin to functioning of organs. It can cause irreversible damage
fly in all directions and die from collisions with and can be life-threatening in some cases.
telecommunication masts. ⚫ Heavy metals can be carried to places far away from
⚫ Types of Radioactive Wastes: their source of origin by winds when they are emitted
 Low-level radioactive wastes (LLW): which in gaseous form or form of fine particulates. Rain
include civilian applications of radionuclides in ultimately washes the air having metallic pollutants,
medicine, research and industry, materials from and brings them to the land and water bodies.

Metal Sources Health Effects

Lead Major Sources: mining, lead-acid batteries, battery Carcinogen of the lungs and kidneys; affects
scrap recycling, paints and pigments (used for quick many organs, especially developing foetuses
drying), fly ash, and plastic toys (lead softens plastic). causing stillbirths and miscarriages; it
Minor Sources: lead-soldered food cans, cosmetic lip can cause irreversible behavioural, and
products, lead in water (from leaded pipes), leaded neurological damage and other developmental
petrol (phased out worldwide), glass (added to melt problems in children; can get mixed up with
them during manufacturing), ayurvedic medicines, water and food and create lead poisoning
etc. causing neurodegenerative diseases and
dysfunctions of the central nervous system.
E-waste Sources: lead rechargeable batteries, solar
Maternal exposure to lead during pregnancy
panels, transistors, lithium batteries, PVC, solder in can cause developmental reprogramming,
PCBs, glass panels and gaskets in computer monitors, which can lead to higher risk and early onset
etc. of Alzheimer’s disease in later life.
Macronutrients Essential for Plants
Nutrient Source Functions in Plants
Carbon (C) CO2 from atmosphere Major component of biomolecules (proteins, starches, cellulose)

Hydrogen (H) Water (H2O) Component in biomolecules used in photosynthesis

Oxygen (O) CO2 from atmosphere Used in cellular respiration during night time
Nitrogen (N) Absorbed from soil Base element in cells, proteins, hormones, chlorophyll
Phosphorus (P) Absorbed from soil Essential for DNA, RNA, ATP production and energy transfer
Potassium (K) Absorbed from soil Regulates water uptake, enzyme activation, photosynthesis
Calcium (Ca) Absorbed from soil Structural component in cell walls and enzyme activation
Sulfur (S) Absorbed from soil Essential for amino acid production and protein synthesis
Magnesium (Mg) Absorbed from soil Component of chlorophyll and enzyme activation

Micronutrients Essential for Plants

Nutrient Functions in Plants
Iron (Fe) Constituent in compounds regulating growth and is crucial for chlorophyll and protein
synthesis
Manganese (Mn) Aids in photosynthesis and overall growth
Copper (Cu) Essential in plant enzymes and regulates respiratory activity
Zinc (Zn) Facilitates hormone production for stem and leaf expansion
Boron (B) Assists in cell wall formation in growing tissues and is crucial for calcium uptake
Molybdenum (Mo) Vital for synthesis of enzyme- nitrate reductase and aiding N-fixing bacteria in legumes
Nickel (Ni) Required in small amounts for N-fixing plant species and prevents urea toxicity
Chlorine (Cl) Contributes to growth, osmotic regulation, stomatal function, and disease resistance
All of the above Micronutrients are absorbed from the soil.

Fertilizer Subsidies and Consequences ⚫ Nutrient Based Subsidy (NBS) Scheme:

⚫ Urea is a solid nitrogenous fertilizer with the highest  Implemented since 2010 by the Department of
nitrogen content among solid fertilizers and offers a Fertilisers, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers.
low transportation cost per unit of nitrogen nutrients.  Fertilisers are provided at subsidized rates based
Upon application, urea breaks down in the soil and on the nutrients they contain, including Nitrogen
converts into ammonium (NH₄⁺). (N), Phosphate (P), Potash (K), and Sulphur (S).
 Additional subsidies are given for fertilisers fortified
⚫ Urea Subsidy Scheme:
with secondary nutrients and micronutrients
 Sold at a statutorily notified uniform Maximum
(sulphur, zinc, boron, iron, manganese, and copper).
Retail Price (MRP). The Centre provides a subsidy
 The government announces a fixed rate of subsidy
to the urea manufacturer/importer, covering the
(in ₹ per Kg basis) on nutrients (N, P, K & S) annually.
difference between the delivered cost of urea to
Urea-based fertilisers are not included in NBS.
the farmer and the net market realization by the
urea units. Issues with Fertilizer Subsidy Schemes
 Subsidies are transferred to fertiliser companies ⚫ Imbalanced Use of Fertilisers
through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), with the  Urea is under price control, while non-urea
ultimate beneficiary being the farmer who pays fertilisers under NBS are decontrolled, leading to
MRPs below market-determined rates. higher retail prices for non-urea fertilisers.