Environment Quiz: National Institutions & Environmental Organizations |28 Apr, 2021

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was established in 1890 with the objectives of exploring the plant resources of the country and identifying plant species with economic virtue.

• In 1954, the Government reorganized the BSI with the objectives of (1) undertaking intensive floristic surveys and collecting accurate and detailed information on the occurrence, distribution, ecology and economic utility of plants in the country;
• (2) collecting, identifying and distributing materials that may be of use to educational and research institutions;
• and (3) acting as the custodian of authentic collections in well planned herbaria and documenting plant resources in the form of local, district, state and national flora.

Source: https://bsi.gov.in/page/en/brief-history#

The journey of ICFRE was initiated way back towards the end of the nineteenth century with the advent of scientific forestry in India and the establishment of the Forest School in Dehradun in 1878.

• It was on 5th June 1906 subsequently that the Imperial Forest Research Institute was founded by Government of India for taking forward forestry research in the country.
• In 1986 the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education or ICFRE was formed as an umbrella organisation for taking care of forestry research, education and extension needs of the country.
• Finally on 1st June 1991, the ICFRE was declared an autonomous Council under the then Ministry of Environment and Forests and registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
• Presently, ICFRE with its Headquarters at Dehradun is an apex body in the national forestry research system that promotes and undertakes need based forestry research extension.

Source: https://www.icfre.org/history

In 1883, eight nature-loving residents of Bombay decided to exchange notes and exhibit interesting specimens of natural history.

They came together at Bombay’s Victoria and Albert Museum on September 15 and constituted the Bombay Natural History Society. Of them, two were Indians.

Source: https://www.bnhs.org/who-we-are 

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established on 1st July, 1916 to promote survey, exploration and research leading to the advancement in our knowledge of various aspects of exceptionally rich life of the erstwhile British Indian Empire.

• The survey has its genesis in the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875.
• By gradually strengthening its staff and expanding its research program, the Survey has met the challenge of the past and is on its way to meet the demands of the future. It has maintained its primary objectives unchanged from its inception…
• Initially, the Survey acquired the Zoological collections of more than a century old from former Museum (1814 -1875) of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and Zoological Section of the Indian Museum (1875-1916) in Calcutta.
• With the increasing interest in the life sciences and with the advent of country´s Five Year Plans, the expansion programme of the survey was initiated.
• The Survey has established so far 16 Regional and Field Stations, and has developed into a major National Institution.

• It functions as the guardian of the National Zoological Collections, containing over a million identified specimens from all animal groups ranging from Protozoa to Mammals.
• Extensive and intensive field explorations are undertaken by the Survey in different parts of the country for the studies of fauna, systematic zoology, animal ecology, wildlife and zoogeography, animal behavior, animal population and also marine fauna and the results of the explorations and research are published in its own journals as well as National and International periodicals of repute regularly.

Source: https://zsi.gov.in/App/Introduction.aspx?nr=n

As compared to all other previous laws on environment protection, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is a more effective and bold measure to fight the problem of pollution.

• The genesis of the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986, thus, is in Article 48A (Directive Principles of State Policy) and Article 51A (g) (Fundamental Duties) of the Indian Constitution.
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has relaxed the rule of “Locus Standi” and because of such relaxation even a common citizen can approach the Court provided he has given a notice of sixty days of the alleged offence and his intention to make a complaint to the Central Government or any other competent authority.

Source: Shankar page no: 298

The provisions for environmental protection in the constitution were made within four years of Stockholm Conference, in 1976, though the 42nd amendment as follows:

• Article-48-A of the constitution provides: “The state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard forest and wildlife of the country.”
• Article 51-A (g) Provides: It shall be duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.”

Source: Shankar page no: 297

The Preamble of the act provides for the establishment of a National Green Tribunal for the effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources, including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto (The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010).

NGT is mandated to dispose the cases within six months of their respective appeals.

Source: Shankar page no: 310

The first National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) was adopted in 1983, based upon the decision taken in the XV meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife held in 1982.

The plan had outlined the strategies and action points for wildlife conservation which are still relevant.

Source: Shankar page no: 313

While according prior approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land for non-forest purpose, Central Government stipulates conditions that amounts shall be realised from the user agencies to undertake compensatory afforestation and such other activities related to conservation and development of forests, to mitigate impact of diversion of forest land.

Source: Shankar page no: 314

The Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety is an additional agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

• The Protocol establishes procedures for regulating the import and export of LMOs from one country to another.
• The Protocol also requires Parties to ensure that LMOs being shipped from one country to another are handled, packaged and transported in a safe manner.

Source: Shankar page no: 327