Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – April 4, 2020

Today, most of the smog we see is photochemical smog. Photochemical smog is produced when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) in the atmosphere. Nitrogen oxides come from car exhaust, coal power plants, and factory emissions. VOCs are released from gasoline, paints, and many cleaning solvents. When sunlight hits these chemicals, they form airborne particles and ground-level ozone—or smog.
Ozone can be helpful or harmful. The ozone layer high up in the atmosphere protects us from the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet radiation. But when ozone is close to the ground, it is bad for human health. Ozone can damage lung tissue, and it is especially dangerous to people with respiratory illnesses like asthma. Ozone can also cause itchy, burning eyes.

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) aims to protect world plant resources, including cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of plant pests and promoting the appropriate measures for their control. The convention provides the mechanisms to develop the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), and to help countries to implement the ISPMs and the other obligations under the IPPC, by facilitating the national capacity development, national reporting and dispute settlement.
The Secretariat of the IPPC is hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The International assistance scheme under the World Heritage Fund deals with the protection of cultural sites (monuments, groups of buildings, historic cities, and archaeological sites) and natural sites inscribed on the World Heritage List. Priority is given to the most threatened properties, especially those inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Sites inscribed on national Tentative Lists may also receive assistance, but only for the preparation of a nomination file.

Spread over a region of 262 sq km, Pamed is one of the essential wildlife sanctuaries in Bastar. Set up in 1983 to accommodate the overabundance population of the wild bison, this sanctuary is also home to the tiger, panther, chital and different types of fauna. Chhattisgarh is one of the essential places in the tourism guide of the nation. A major portion of the state is covered with forests. A considerable measure of rare trees is to be found in the forests. You can also find some of the rare types of creatures in the national parks and the wildlife Sanctuaries. Pameda Wildlife Sanctuary, Chhattisgarh is one of the vital sanctuaries and attracts the travelers who have an adventurous blend of mind. Pameda wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh in India is located in Dantewada District of Chhattisgarh. Andhra Pradesh border is close to the sanctuary. The aggregate area is 260 sq km and there is a mixed deciduous forest.

India is one of the mega-diverse countries in the world and home to nearly eight percent of the world’s total recorded species of plants and animals. Across the country, people, communities and governments have played an outstanding and innovative role in conserving India’s rich heritage. Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in association with UNDP India, therefore, started the India Biodiversity Awards in 2012, to recognise excellence in biodiversity governance across the country. The first round of Awards was launched in 2012 during India’s Presidency of the Eleventh Meeting of Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The award selection process is conducted in partnership with the National Biodiversity Authority of India.