Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon (Environment) – May 23, 2020

The National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP) has been merged in February, 2013 with another scheme of National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) to avoid overlap and promote better synergy into a new integrated scheme of National Programme for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-system (NPCA). NPCA aims at holistic conservation and restoration of wetlands and lakes for achieving the desired water quality enhancement, besides improvement in biodiversity and ecosystems through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach and a common regulatory framework.

The INCOIS will set up a Marine Observation System Along Indian Coast (MOSAIC). It will have at least six observatories — three each along the east and west coast. In addition, a network of automated, moored buoys will monitor the quality of the coastal waters and collect other parameters that help sustain fisheries in the region and relay the information to the observatories.

The Noctiluca algae, commonly known as sea tinkle, are a parasite and occur in patches or ‘blooms’ in the Northern Arabian Sea. They glow at night due bioluminescence, and have earned them the nickname ‘sea sparkle’.

The Marine Protected Area Network is a tool for managing natural marine resources for biodiversity conservation and for the well-being of people dependent on the resources. The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991, National Biodiversity Act, 2002 and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 have been enacted by India for conservation of the coastal and marine environment along with the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, which also provides for establishment of wildlife protected areas (PAs) by state governments.

Mangroves.

Statement 1 is correct: The State/UT wise extent of mangrove cover in the three canopy density classes is presented in the given below Table.

Statement 2 is correct: India has a long tradition of mangrove forest management. The Sundarbans mangroves, located in the Bay of Bengal (partly in India and partly in Bangladesh), were the first mangroves in the world to be put under scientific management. The area’s first management plan was implemented in 1892.

PARIVESH is a web based, role based workflow application which has been developed for online submission and monitoring of the proposals submitted by the proponents for seeking Environment, Forest, Wildlife and CRZ Clearances from Central, State and district level authorities. It automates the entire tracking of proposals which includes online submission of a new proposal, editing/updating the details of proposals and displays status of the proposals at each stage of the workflow.

Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve (NNTR) is located in North East of Maharashtra state in Western India region. It is close from Nagpur city of state. It was declared as a 46th tiger reserve of India on 12/Dec/2013. It is spread over two districts of Maharashtra i.e. Gondia district and Bhandara district. Its total area is 1894.944 sq. kms which is divided between core area and buffer area.

Energy Service Companies (ESCOs).

Statement 1 is correct: Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) is a company that offers energy services, usually design, retrofitting and implementation of energy efficiency projects after identifying energy saving opportunities through energy audit of existing facilities. It also includes energy infrastructure outsourcing, power generation and energy supply, financing or assist Facility’s Owners in arranging finances for energy efficiency projects.

Statement 2 is correct: ESCOs operates by providing a savings guarantee, risk management in the implementation of the energy efficiency projects and also performs measurement & verification (M&V) activities to quantify actual energy savings post implementation of energy efficiency projects etc.

For the first time since it became law in 2005, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) will have non-human beneficiaries — the rare golden langur (Trachypithecus geei) in a reserve forest in western Assam’s Bongaigaon district. The district authorities launched a ₹27.24-lakh project under the MGNREGA to plant guava, mango, blackberry and other fruit trees to ensure that the resident golden langurs of the 17 sq.km. Kakoijana Reserve Forest does not have to risk their lives to find food.

Seagrass Meadows.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The major seagrass meadows in India exist along the southeast coast (Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay) and in the lagoons of islands from Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea to Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal. The Tamil Nadu (southeast) coast harbours all 14 species, while 8 and 9 species have been reported from Lakshadweep and Andaman-Nicobar groups of islands, respectively.  The mainland east coast supports more species than the west coast of India.

Statement 2 is correct: Dense seagrass growth traps flowing sediment and nutrients, and creates a world where life can thrive. Seagrasses form the basis of one of the most productive ecosystems of the world, providing food and shelter to a diverse community of animals. The leafy canopies support a bewildering diversity of tiny plants that grow as epiphytes (like moss on trees) and small marine invertebrates, which in turn attract sea anemones and fish, and mega herbivores like green sea turtles and dugongs. The seagrass meadows with their extensive rhizome and root systems, and leaf growth and epiphytic growth together accumulate a huge amount of biomass.