Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon(Environment) 3rd October 2020

Young Champions of the Earth aims to celebrate and support individuals aged between 18 and 30 who have outstanding potential to create a positive environmental impact.
• In 2020, seven young people – selected from every global region – will be named Young Champions of the Earth.
• These winners receive seed funding, intensive training and tailored mentoring to bring their big environmental ideas to life.
• We’re looking for artists, scientists, economists, communicators and entrepreneurs from all walks of life who have big, bold ideas – for the environment, for humanity, for a greener future.
• Shortlisted finalists from every region will be selected following an open call for applications.
• A Global Jury will then choose seven winners. Each winner is expected to implement their big idea and keep UNEP updated on their progress by producing videos and blogs that we will share on our website.
• Winners will also be given funding to support their communication efforts throughout the year, so that they can produce high-quality materials to share with our audiences.
Source: UNEP

Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) is published by Germanwatch, Climate Action Network International and the NewClimate Institute, annually.
It aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and enables comparison of climate protection efforts and progress made by individual countries.
The ranking results are defined by a country’s aggregated performance in 14 indicators within the four categories:
• GHG Emission- 40%
• Renewable Energy – 20%
• Energy Use- 20%
• Climate Policy- 20%
Source: The Hind

The Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC) is a voluntary initiative that catalyzes action towards the successful implementation of carbon pricing around the world.

• The CPLC brings together leaders from government, business, civil society and academia to support carbon pricing, share experiences and enhance the global, regional, national and sub-national understanding of carbon pricing implementation.
• The CPLC Secretariat is administered by The World Bank Group. From India, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and Indian Railways are the government level partners.

Source: The Hindu

Statement 1 is correct: The Government of India has launched the ‘Project Tiger’ in 1973. From 9 tiger reserves since its formative years, the Project Tiger coverage has increased to 50 at present, spread out in 18 of our tiger range states.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The tiger reserves are constituted on a core/buffer strategy. The core areas have the legal status of a national park or a sanctuary.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The buffer or peripheral areas are a mix of forest and non-forest land, managed as a multiple use area. The Project Tiger aims to foster an exclusive tiger agenda in the core areas of tiger reserves, with an inclusive people oriented agenda in the buffer.
Source: THE MOEFCC

Lawalong Wildlife Sanctuary was set up in 1978 to the southwest of Hazaribagh in the Chhotanagpur plateau area.

• It covers an area of about 211 sq. kms.
• The terrain is undulating and dissected by rivers and streams.
• Located in the south-west part of Chatra district, Lawalong sanctuary has a rich wildlife, including tiger and bison.
• Different spices of birds and serpents are also found here.
• A variety of wildlife including Tiger, Panther, Hyena, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar, Nilgai are available in this sanctuary.

Source: The HINDU

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a group of chemicals possessing the following characteristics:

• They are highly toxic to humans and wildlife (harmfulness);
• They can last for many years in the environment before degrading into less dangerous forms (persistence);
• They bio-accumulate in the food chain (bio-accumulation);
• They are transported over large distances through air and water and can be found worldwide (long-range transport).

Source: Rotterdam Convention

Nitrogen is a critical limiting element for plant growth and production.

• It is a major component of chlorophyll, the most important pigment needed for photosynthesis, as well as amino acids, the key building blocks of proteins.
• It is also found in other important bio-molecules, such as ATP and nucleic acids.
• Even though it is one of the most abundant elements (predominately in the form of nitrogen gas (N2) in the Earth’s atmosphere), plants can only utilize reduced forms of this element.

Plants acquire these forms of “combined” nitrogen by:

• the addition of ammonia and/or nitrate fertilizer (from the Haber-Bosch process) or manure to soil,
• the release of these compounds during organic matter decomposition,
• the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into the compounds by natural processes, such as lightning, and
• biological nitrogen fixation.

Source: National Geographic Channel

Himalayan tailless bush blue, Arhopala ganesa ganesa, is a butterfly that is usually present in the elevation between 1200 meters and 2400 meters in the states of Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand.

• It later recorded an altitude 3577 meters in Askot Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttarakhand.
• Researchers believe that these butterflies have migrated in search of a suitable climate where the climates in several Himalayan mountain ranges have already noticed significant changes.

Source: The Hindu

National park is an area which is strictly reserved for the betterment of wildlife & biodiversity.
• Activities like developmental, forestry, poaching, hunting and grazing on cultivation are not permitted.
• Even private ownership rights are not allowed in these parks. Their boundaries are well marked and restricted.
There are 6 national parks in Kerala and are as follows :
• Anamudi Shola National Park which is located in Idukki.
• Eravikulam National Park in Munnar
• Mathikettan Shola National Park at Udumbanchola taluk in Idukki.
• Pampadum Shola National Park at Marayoor Village in Idukki.
• Periyar National Park in Thekkady.
• Silent Valley National Park in Palakkad
Source: The Envis