msenvironment-blog

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Environment Current Affairs May 2017.

Purnima Devi Burman and Sanjay Gubbi Wins prestigious Whitley awards.

Sanjay Gubbi of Karnataka and Purnima Devi of  Assam have won the prestigious Whitley Award for their contributions in Wildlife Conservation. Whitley Awards are popularly known as Green Oscar. The two Indians were among the six selected out of 169 applicants from 66 countries.

Purnima Devi Burman has been selected for efforts for the conservation of greater adjutant Stork and its habitat. She created an all-female network in the three villages of Kamrup district to save the adjutant Stork and the habitat.The global population of adjutant Stork is 1200- 1800. Around 800 of them are found in Assam and 115 Bihar.

Sanjay Gubbi has been selected for his contribution to protect Tiger corridors in Karnataka.Gubbi who is wildlife biologist and scientists works with Mysuru -based Nature Conservation Foundation. Gubbi is also a member of the State Board for Wildlife and work actively to mitigate conflict issues. In 2012, he was instrumental in securing the largest expansion of protected areas in India since 1970. He helped to increase the size of the protected areas in Karnataka by 37%

About Whitley Awards:

·         Whitley Award  is instituted by UK registered charity Whitley Fund for Nature.

·         These awards are given annually to recognise national and regional conservationists and supports them in their  endeavour to conserve wildlife and nature.

·         The awards are worth the £ 35000 and particularly seeks to recognise wildlife conservationists from outside the developed world.

                  Climate change: Antarctica is turning green.

Scientists from  the University  of Exeter in the UK, have conducted a study according to which plant life on Antartica is growing rapidly due to climate change. Scientists have observed a sharp increase in biological activity in Antartica in the last 50 years. For ascertaining  the growth, the scientists conducted  tests at 5 cores from 3  sites and have observed the occurrence of biological changes across the entire globe. The scientists make use of 150 years worth of data to arrive at the conclusion. Study has been published in the Journal Current Biology.

According to the scientists, Antarctica will be much greener in the future and the continent’s plants and soil will change substantially even with only modest further warming. The continuous retreat of glaciers will make Antarctica much greener in the future. As per the study, the growth of moss on the continent is a signifier that the region is already undergoing change. At present, the plant life exists only in 0.3% of Antarctica. With increase in land cover occurs decrease in snow and ice cover. The thinner ice cover, permits the penetration of sunlight into the previously dark areas allowing the planktons to grow. This would bring ecosystem shift to Antarctica similar to what has happened in the Arctic.

Story so far:

·         In March 2017, the U.S. Army (scientists had observed that the extent of sea ice at both poles has hit new record lows in the year’s season.

·         Disappearing sea ice comes as the Earth marks three consecutive years of record-breaking heat and temperature rise, raising fresh concerns about accelerating pace of global warming.

·         Also, for the past two years, Antarctica saw record high sea ice extents and decades of moderate ice growth.

·         Recently, the researchers have also found that the Southern Antarctic Peninsula showed no signs of change up to 2009.

·         After 2009, multiple glaciers along a vast coastal expanse suddenly started to shed ice into the ocean.

·         These glaciers measure around 70 km in length and are shrinking nearly at a constant rate of 60 km³ and adding about 55 trillion L of water each year.

·         With this level of shrinking, the region has become the second largest contributor to sea level rise in Antarctica causing small changes in the gravity field of the Earth.

·         Bharti is the name of the third research Station commissioned by India at Antarctica.

·         It will be the third and second active research station along with Maitri (active) and Dakshin Gangotri (abandoned but used a supply base) for the nation.

National green tribunal bans open defecation and waste dumping Yamuna floodplains.

A bench headed by N GT chairperson Justice Swatantra Kumar has banned open defecation and waste dumping on the floodplains of the Yamuna. It has also slapped an environment compensation of Rs. 5000 for people who violated the order. Apart from this, the N GT has constituted a committee under the head of Delhi Jal Board CEO to oversee the cleaning works of the river and ordered it to submit reports at regular intervals. The tribunal has also ordered the Delhi Government and Municipal Corporations to immediately take action against those polluting industries which function in residential areas. These industries are held as the major source of pollution to the river.

N GT orders were issued after hearing a plea on the monitoring of execution of the-“Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017”

Scene behind:

·         The N GT on May 1 ordered inspection of the sewage treatment plants(STP) to make sure that the effluents and treated before it was released into Yamuna.

·         About 67% of the wastewater reaching Yamina are to be treated under the STP’s setup under phase 1 of the “Maili se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalisation Project 2017”.

·         Out of the total 14 STP projects that are to be built for treating wastewater, 7STP  projects will be built by the Delhi Jal Board with its own funds

·         The Central government had sanctioned the Yamuna Action Plan YAP-I and YAP-II schemes of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

·         YAP-III projects which are to be completed by December 2018 and introduced in Delhi  with financial  assistance from Japan International cooperation agency(JICA).

·         The project involves works like sewage/interception and diversion of drain, sewage treatment plants, low-cost sanitation and community toilet complexes, electric and improved wood crematoria among others.

                               Madhya Pradesh bans sand excavation in Narmada River.

The State Government of Madhya Pradesh has put an indefinite ban on the sand excavation in the Narmada River. This announcement has been made by Chief Minister Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan in Bhopal. The government has also set up a committee to suggest the scientific ways of mining the rivers. This committee will submit the report to State Government after exploring ways for sand 22nd may excavation without harming rivers. The government will also promote manufactured sand(made by mixing stones.)

Scene Behind:

·         Illegal sand mining is another serious law and order and environmental issues in several states of India including Madhya Pradesh.

·         The business has flourished mainly because of nexus between sand mafia, officers and politicians.

·         Many people including police officers and activists have lost their lives while making attempts to check this illegal activity.

·         The Chief Minister was has been travelling alongside Narmada River to make “Save Narmada” a people’s movement through his “Namami Narmada Yatra”.

·         However, in Feb. 2017, his government has faced embarrassment when a company belonging to nephew of Chief Minister was alleged to be engaged in illegal mining.

·         The issue of illegal mining in Narmada was sub judice in-state High Court but in July 2015, it was transferred to National Green Tribunal.

·         On the basis of a complaint by Medha Patkar (Narmada Bachao Andolan), N GT had sent a team to investigate the matter.

·         After investigation, NGT had directed state government to take strong measures and report the progress.

About Narmada River:

·         Narmada (giver of  pleasure) is one of the largest rivers of India, originating in Amarkantak Hills and flowing through Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

·         It is the third-largest River after Ganga and Godavari to flow within political boundaries of India.

·         It flows in a rift valley between Satpura and Vindhya ranges and serves as the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh.

·         It’s basin covers large areas in the states of Madhya Pradesh(86%), Gujarat(14%), and a smaller area (2%) in Maharashtra.

·         In the river course of 1,312 km, there are 41 tributaries out of which 22 are from the Satpura range and rest on the right bank are from the Vindhya range.

·         Geologically, Narmada river is older than River Ganges.

·         In Purana, as it has been mentioned as Reva.

·         In Indian history, the river has played role to divide North India from South India.

·         The Chalukya Emperor Pulakeshin -II had defeated Emperor Harshvardhan on the banks of Narmada River, thus forcing him to agree this diver as a southern border after this war.

                                      22 May: World Biological Diversity Day.

Every year, May 22 is observed as International Day for Biodiversity or World Biodiversity Day. The date commemorates the date of adoption of the Agreed Text of the Convention on Biological Diversity at UNEP headquarters, Nairobi 22 May 1992. In 2000, UN General Assembly via resolution 55 / 201 decided to celebrate World Diversity Day on May 22 instead of December 29, which was previously designated as International Biodiversity Day.

Theme:

·         The theme for 2017 for World Biodiversity Day is”Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism”’.

·         The theme is in sync with the observance of 2017 as” International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development”as proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.

��         UN has already declared 2011- 2020 as United Nations Decade on Biodiversity to support and promote reducing the loss of biodiversity.

About Global Biodiversity:

·         The term Biological Diversity was first coined by the wildlife scientists and conservation list Raymond F.Dasmann in 1968.

·         This term became widespread in use during 1980s.

·         Biodiversity refers to the totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region.

·         There are three levels of biodiversity viz species diversity, ecosystem diversity and genetic diversity.

·         The term biodiversity is used to address several problems in conservation of environment including loss of species, destruction of habitats, invasive species, genetic pollution, overexploitation and effects of climate change and biodiversity.

·         The spatial distribution of organisms, species and ecosystems is called Biogeography.

·         Biodiversity is unequally distributed on the Earth and it varies across regions on the basis of climatic and geographical factors.

·         On Earth, highest biodiversity is found in tropics.

·         In comparison to oceans, terrestrial biodiversity is much greater.

·         It is estimated that there are 8 8.7 million species on the Earth of which 2.1 million live in oceans while rest are terrestrial.

·         The terrestrial biodiversity is greater at equator in comparison to poles.

·         Around 90% of the World’s Biodiversity is found in tropical rainforests which occupy less than 10% of Earth’s surface.

·         The Marine biodiversity in highest along the coast in the Western Pacific which is known for highest sea temperature.

·         About 70% of the world species are found in 12 countries viz. Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Congo, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico and Peru.

                                  World Environment Day:June5

Every year World Environment Day(WED) is observed on 5th  June to raise global awareness worldwide for the protection of our environment and the planet Earth. It is a single largest celebration of our environment each year. The celebration of World Environment Day is a global initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP).

2017 theme: connecting people to nature. According to the UN, the theme”implores us to get outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and its importance, and to take forward the call to protect the Earth that we share”’”’.

2017 host country: Canada-

·         Canada is seeking to use World Environment Day to showcase to the world the beauty of its natural environment on land and water.

·         Since 1987, World Environment Day has been hosted by different countries.

·         The official celebrations are held in that host country.

·         Recent hosts include Angola, Italy, Barbados, Brazil, Norway and the United States.

·         World Environment Day(WED) was established by the United Nations General Assembly to mark the opening of United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in 1972.

·         The first World Environment Day was observed in 1973 and since then it is being held every year with different themes.

United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP):

·         The United Nations Environment Programme was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and its headquarters are in Nairobi Kenya.

·         UNEP also has six regional offices in various countries.

·         UNEP, established in 1972 is the voice for the environment within the United Nations system.

·         UNEP acts as a catalyst, advocate, educator and facilitator to promote the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment.

·         To accomplish this, UNEP works with a wide range of partners, including United Nations entities international organisations ,national governments, non-governmental organisations the private sector and the civil society.

[msenvironment-blog]

                         Dead mosquitoes can bug more.

Mosquitoes are known to transmit diseases through their bites. According to a study conducted by Delhi University’s Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute the disintegrated portions of the dead mosquitoes are the most common cause of allergic reactions suffering from asthma and allergic rhinitis

.

Flash Points:

       When mosquitoes shed hair, saliva or faecal matter, the disintegrated parts become part of the air that is inhaled.

       Asthma and allergic rhinitis patients suffer from an aggravation of symptoms when they inhale mosquito-affected air because of their high sensitivity.

 Skin Prick Test

       Skin prick test on more than 4,000 asthma and allergic rhinitis patients between August 2008 and July 2016, showed that:

        Insects were the most common aeroallergens at 39%

         Among insects mosquitoes (31%) are the most common allergens after cockroaches (49%).

        Types of house dust mites (12%).

         Weed pollens (12%)

         Dust (11%).

        Fungal spores (6%)

         Tree pollen (6%)

 Cause of allergic reactions:

    A report  published in the Indian Journal of Chest Diseases and Allied Sciences, allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts abnormally to normally harmless substances, present in the environment.

       About Allergic Rhinitis:

         Allergic rhinitis, which is characterised by sneezing, is one of the most common allergic diseases affecting 10% to 25% population and a major reason for visiting primary care physicians.

 About Asthma:

        Asthma is a common, chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that affects people of all ages. The prevalence of asthma has been estimated to be 3-38% in children and 2-12% in adults, being the commonest chronic disorder among children.

      Allergic reaction is a major reason for loss of productivity among the young.

        It is important to know the key allergens and how to stay away from them.

   Mosquitoes,asthma,allergic reactions,pests.

[msenvironment-blog]

            Environment Minister launches “Wood is Good” Campaign 

 Dr Harsh Vardhan inaugurates Conference on “Sustainable Landscapes & Forest Ecosystems: Theory to Practice.

Flash Points: Aim of the conference:

     Dr. Harsh Vardhan launched the “Wood is Good” campaign on the occasion. Wood is a climate-friendly material, as it is a renewable resource, having zero carbon footprint

       The conference aims to increase the country’s forest cover from 24% to 33%. of the geographical area and creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tons of CO2 equivalent in forests, as reflected in Nationally Determined Contribution.

         The target is proposed to be achieved through a number of planned afforestation drives and initiatives

       It was emphasised that innovative ideas are the need of the hour to accomplish this aim and address the problem of weeds.

       To explore issues and opportunities for ecosystem  approach for land management.

       To discuss how appliances and tools developed under FOREST PLUS can be used  to improve forest management in India.

  About Forest Plus:

   The Partnership for Land Use Science (Forest-Plus) is a joint programme by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to strengthen capacity for REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) implementation in India.

  The programme brings together experts from India and the United States to develop technologies, tools and methods of forest management to meet the technical challenges of managing forests for the health of ecosystem, carbon stocks, biodiversity and livelihood.

  Some of the objectives of the conference include – exploring issues and opportunities for ecosystem approach to land management in India.

 Also addresses how the approaches and tools developed under the Forest-PLUS programme can be used to improve forest management in India and to document and disseminate that learning with a wider group.

What is REDD?

  The United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (or UN-REDD Programme) is a collaborative programme of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), created in 2008 in response to the UNFCCC decisions on the Bali Action Plan and REDD at COP-13.

 It should not be confused with "REDD+", a voluntary climate change mitigation approach that has been developed by Parties to the UNFCCC (see below "Difference between REDD+ and the UN-REDD Programme").

  The overall development goal of the Programme is "to reduce forest emissions and enhance carbon stocks in forests while contributing to national sustainable development

    REDD, Forest Plus,Wood is good,

[msenvironment-blog]

Endangered Mouse deer reintroduced for the first time in Telangana Forest.

The TS (Telagana State)Forest Department has re-introduced the ‘mouse deer’ into the forests of Nallamalla in Amrabad Tiger Reserve.It is a novel and unique initiative attempted anywhere in the country.

About Mouse deer:

       It is also called as ‘spotted Chevrotain’ which means –“little goat”.         In Telgu they are called “Jarini Pandi”-meaning deer or pig.

       It belongs to the family Tragulidae

      It is an endangered species usually found in deciduous and evergreen        forests.

       These animals are nocturnal in habitat and because of their small               size they are  also called ‘smallest ungulates’.

       It occupies the status of a primary consumer(herbivore) in the food         chain. They are food for the secondary consumers or carnivores.

       Their number has been decreasing at an alarming rate in recent                  years because of destruction of habitat and poaching.

Story So far:

       The Nehru Zoological Park, in association with LaCONES(Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species ) of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB)  and the Central Zoo Authority, Delhi, had undertaken conservation breeding programme of mouse deer in the Nehru Zoological Park in March-2010.

  After six years, the population of mouse deer has increased to 172 (96 males and 76 Females).

Reintroduction Programme

       The Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR)was chosen for reintroduction              because these animals were earlier wandering in this area.

       Two males and six females were released into a specially made                 ‘reintroduction’ enclosure of over 2.14 hectares in the Mannunur                range

      The reintroduction enclosure is completely protected by providing                solar fence, with a solar powered borewell for providing water, CCTV          cameras etc.

      After reintroduction, the mouse deer will be kept under observation as       they get adapted to wild conditions for three to four cycles of 15 days         each.

      For the next two months, their behaviour will be monitored constantly        under the supervision of forest department staff and, after every cycle        of 15 days, they will be shifted to another part of enclosure with                  gradual deduction in their diet and also providing ample natural food in      the enclosures.

       Once they are found to have adapted to the wild vegetation, they will be released into the wild with the procedure repeated for the remaining mouse deer bred in the Nehru Zoological Park, adding to the biodiversity of the Tiger Reserve besides increasing the mouse deer population.

[msenvironment-blog]

                    Ganpati Visarjan chokes the water bodies.

 Amidst the chants of “Ganpati Bappa Moraya” Ganpati idols are immersed every year into the water bodies.This severely affects quality of water and survival of aquatic flora and fauna.Ganpati visarjan(immersion) takes place at specific intervals during the 10 days of the festival.It reaches its peak on Anant Chaturdashi(this year on 5th September)

 How does it affect the water body?

       Idols are made of plaster of Paris and painted with toxic paints containing lead, mercury, chromium and cadmium.

       Plaster of Paris does not dissolve easily and idols are seen floating in the water even months after the immersion.

      The solid particles become a part of the river system.

  This is detrimental to the marine life in the river and severely affects the water quality.

      The continued introduction of plaster of Paris idols and lead-based paints into the water affects the dissolved oxygen levels and these are expected to plummet to zero at a number of locations on Anant Chatudashi.

      The area around the immersion site is seen to be strewn with garbage and discarded decorations used by devotees for their idols.

 NGT Guidelines:

·       NGT has banned the use of idols made of Plaster of Paris and lead based paints but these guidelines are violated and not enforced.

      In addition to this it is saddening to see the appalling attitude of the people towards the environment.

What can be done?

        NGT guidelines should be followed and enforced.

        The idols should be made of mud and painted with organic colours.

        The ornaments adorning the idol should be removed before immersion and the immersion site should not littered.

       Small sized idols can be used for immersion purposes.

        It is heartening to see some people immersing small idols in small tubs at the venue itself.

       Awareness towards the environment can a long way in ushering eco –friendly practises.

What is dissolved oxygen?

It is simply the amount oxygen dissolved in the water. This is essential for the survival of the aquatic flora and fauna.

 Plaster of Paris, dissolved oxygen, lead paints,cadmium,chromium eco-friendly practises, NGT

[msenvironment-blog]

         Launch of navigation satellite IRNSS-1H failed:ISRO.

India’s mission to place a navigation satellite into space failed  after the spacecraft carrying it suffered a technical fault on the final leg after a perfect launch.

Flash Points:

      Indian Space Research Agency (ISRO) chairman Kiran Kumar     described the mission as a “mishap” shortly after announcing that the IRNSS-1H satellite was not released by the PSLV-39 rocket as the heat shield didn’t separate from the spacecraft.

       This  is considered a rare failure in India’s space mission involving the PSLV, dubbed as ISRO’s ‘workhorse’, which has had a time-tested record of 39 consecutive successful launches. Before this, its maiden flight failed 24 years ago.

       It was launched from Sri harikota.

What is a heat shield?

       A heat shield is an encasement which protects the satellite in the rocket from ultra-high temperatures, acoustic pressures that the spacecraft experiences while travelling in the Earth’s atmosphere.

      In space shuttles, the heat shield must protect the crew capsule and its precious astronaut crew from temperatures that can melt metal.

       According to NASA these ultra-high temperatures result from friction between the air and the speeding spacecraft.

Heat shield separation and satellite

       Pressures decrease once the spacecraft is outside Earth’s atmosphere, allowing the heat shield to separate in the fourth phase of the launch.

       After the heat shield failed to separate, the IRNSS-1H satellite could not be released into the orbit.

       The eighth satellite was a replacement for IRNSS-1A, one of the seven satellites in India’s navigation satellite constellation, as its three rubidium atomic clocks on board had stopped functioning.

       It was also the first time the private sector was actively involved in assembling and testing of a satellite.

What next?

       ISRO has planned a ninth navigation satellite for the IRNSS system.

        Another satellite may be launched to make up for the loss of IRNSS-1H.

[msenvironment-blog]

                                                World Turtle Day.

       Every year May 23 is celebrated as the World Turtle Day as an annual observance aimed at protecting turtles and tortoises and their rapidly disappearing habitats across the world.

      The celebrations were started in 2000 by the American Tortoise Rescue (ATR).

       Since then it is celebrated every year to create awareness about the world’s oldest living reptiles in the world.

Threats in India :

Smuggling :

      The greatest threat faced by the turtles and tortoises in India is smuggling.

       They are smuggled every year in large numbers to East Asian and Southeast Asian markets. 

      They are smuggled live to these countries.

      Apart from the live specimens, the eggs of sea turtle are dug up and sold as delicacies in the South Asian countries.

      The state of West Bengal has emerged as one of the focal points of turtle smuggling.

       Despite efforts of the government, turtle smuggling remains as a lucrative business in India. Other Threats :

      Turtles  are also threatened by several man made issues.

      One of the major threat is habitat destruction.

       The turtles which are found in Ganges and other major rivers in the country faces habitat destruction as these rivers are increasingly getting polluted.

      Sea turtles also suffer from the pollution of seas and beaches.

       Many turtles are dying every year by eating plastics.

[msenvironment-blog]

    Paris agreement's 1.5C target 'only way' to save coral reefs- Unesco.

 UNESCO finds that:

       The first global scientific assessment of the impacts of climate change on the 29 world heritage-listed coral reefs found that the frequency, intensity and duration of heat-stress events had worsened with increasing global warming, with massive consequences for the 29 world heritage sites.

       According to the first global assessment of climate change impact on world heritage-listed reefs,  local efforts are ‘no longer sufficient’ to save them.

   Greater emissions reductions and delivering on the Paris climate agreement are now “the only opportunity” to save coral reefs the world over from decline.

       Analysis of recent studies and newly-developed data from the US national ocean and atmospheric administration (NOAA) coral-reef watch showed that 13 of the 29 listed reefs had been exposed to levels of heat stress that cause coral bleaching, on average more than twice per decade from 1985 to 2013.

       Bleaching had occurred more frequently in recent years than in decades prior, with coral mortality during the third global bleaching event from mid-2014 to mid-2017 “among the worst ever recorded”.

   Twenty-one listed sites had suffered severe and/or repeated heat stress in the last three years.

       The UNESCO report found that local efforts to increase reefs’ resilience “remain necessary but are no longer sufficient” without complementary national and international efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels – the most ambitious target set by the Paris agreement, and understood to be the maximum possible to secure coral reefs’ long-term survival.

       The report found that, if emissions were to follow their current trajectory and not decline– 25 of the 29 world heritage reefs (68%) would suffer severe bleaching twice per decade by 2040, rapidly killing most corals present and preventing successful reproduction necessary for their recovery.

What are coral reefs?

       Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals.

   Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine water that contain few nutrients

       . Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups.

Where are the coral reefs located?

       Coral reefs are located in tropical oceans near the equator.

        The largest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

        The second largest coral reef can be found off the coast of Belize, in Central America.

        Other reefs are found in Hawaii, the Red Sea, and other areas in tropical oceans.

  Why are coral reefs important?

   Coral reefs are the most diverse ecosystems on the planet..

        Coral reefs provide a buffer, protecting our coasts from waves, storms, and floods.

       Corals form barriers to protect the shoreline from waves and storms.

        The coral reef structure buffers shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.

      They provide habitats and shelter for many marine organisms.

Coral reefs are important tourist locations providing economic benefits

[msenvironment-blog]

Climate Change Is Resulting In Depleting Of Mangrove Forest Cover In The Sunderbans  

Flash Points:

        Mangrove Forest Cover Changes in Indian Sundarban (1986-2012) Using Remote Sensing and GIS, a publication by the School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, reveals that from 1986 to 2012, 124.418 sq. km. mangrove forest cover has been lost.

        The total forest cover of the Indian Sunderbans as assessed by remote sensing studies for the year 1986 was about 2,246.839 sq. km., which gradually declined by 2,201.41 sq. km. in 1996, then down to 2168.914 sq km in 2001 and to 2122.421 sq km in 2012. The loss in the mangrove forest in the Indian Sunderbans is about 5.5 %.

       The paper also notes that the mean sea level rise at the Sagar Island Station, measured from 1985 onward till 2010, shows a rise by 2.6-4 mm a year, which can be considered a driving factor for coastal erosion, coastal flooding, and an increase in the number of tidal creeks.

       The publication highlights a time series of the erosion of at least 18 mangrove forested islands of the Indian Sunderbans from 1986 to 2012. For instance, the loss in mangrove cover at Gosaba has been about 20%, down from 517.47 sq km in 1986 to 506.691 sq km in 2012.

       Significant losses

       In Dulibhasani West, the loss of mangrove cover has been about 9.7% — from 180.03 sq. km. in 1986 to 163.475 sq. km. in 2012. The mangrove forest cover of Dalhousie, another island, has depleted by 16%, from 76.606 sq. km. in 1986 to 64.241 in 2012. Bhangaduni has one of the highest erosion levels of mangrove forest land, from 40.4 sq. km. in 1986 to 24.9 sq km in 2012, taking the loss to over 37%.

       Jambudwip, one of the smallest uninhabited islands at the mouth of the sea, also has reduced forest cover from 6.095 sq. km. in 1986 to 5.003 sq. km. in 2012, or about 10%.

       Other islands like Sajnekhali North, Matla and Bulchery have also suffered significant mangrove loss.        

       This depletion is because there is less fresh water flow and sediment supply in the western (Indian) part of the delta, so we have starvation of sediment and the rate of sea level rise is higher than sediment supply.

       The eastern (Bangladesh) side of the delta is gaining land because of the huge amount of sediment and water flow from the Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers. The loss of forest cover occurs despite significant addition of forest land as plantations.

       According to Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS), an NGO that has been working in the Sunderban ecosystem,  a critical minimal inflow of freshwater is necessary for the luxuriant growth of mangroves.

       When freshwater inflow is missing, there is a change in mangrove succession, and freshwater loving species of mangroves are replaced by salt-water loving ones. 

       Immediate impact of salinity will be on the fishing community, where commercially sought after fish species will be replaced by fish that does not have as much market value.

       According to a report by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), presented to NGT the Sunderbans has lost 3.71% of its mangrove and other forest cover, while losing 9,990 hectares of its landmass to erosion in one decade.

       While earlier studies also expressed concerns over the fragile ecosystem of the Indian Sunderbans that, other than being home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, also harbours a population of 4.5 million people, this study presents definite proof of the loss of land and mangrove cover.

About Sunderbans:

The Sundarbans mangrove forest,  one of the largest such forests in the world (140,000 ha), lies on the delta of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers on the Bay of Bengal. It is adjacent to the border of India’s Sundarbans World Heritage site inscribed in 1987. The site is intersected by a complex network of tidal waterways, mudflats and small islands of salt-tolerant mangrove forests, and presents an excellent example of ongoing ecological processes. The area is known for its wide range of fauna, including 260 bird species, the Bengal tiger and other threatened species such as the estuarine crocodile and the Indian python. On May 21 1992 it was ascribed the status of Ramsar Site.

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[msenvironment-blog]

                            US approves first gene therapy against cancer.

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The United States has approved the first gene therapy against cancer — a treatment that uses a patient’s own immune cells to fight leukemia — opening a new era in the fight against one of the world’s top killers.

Flash Points:

      The treatment is made by Novartis and is called Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel).

       This type of anti-cancer immunotherapy, known as a CAR-T cell therapy, was known by CTL019 until now.

       This marks the first ever CAR-T cell therapy to be approved anywhere in the world.

      It uses a new approach that is wholly personalized by using a patient’s own T-cells.

       Kymriah was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for children and young adult patients up to age 25 with a form of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)

       The FDA described the approval as “a historic action” that would usher “in a new approach to the treatment of cancer and other serious and life-threatening diseases.

Procedure of treatment:

       To qualify for treatment, patients must have B-cell precursor ALL that is refractory, or the patient has relapsed at least twice.

       The treatment is not a pill or a form of chemotherapy, which can weaken the body’s natural defenses.

       Instead, it harnesses a patient’s own immune cells, called T-cells and white blood cells, to recognize and fight cancer.

       The patient’s immune cells are removed with a special blood filtration process, sent to a lab, and genetically encoded with a viral vector to be able to hunt down cancer cells.

      These re-engineered T-cells are then transfused back into the patient, where they can begin attacking leukemia.

      Studies have shown that 83 percent of patients responded to the treatment, achieving remission within three months.

Viability:

       According to Novartis the price of Kymriah — which is delivered to a patient just once — is $475,000.

       Patients who do not respond to the treatment within the first month would not be expected to pay, he told reporters.

      The more common treatment for leukemia — bone marrow transplants — can cost between $540,000 and $800,000 the first year in the United States.

       Meanwhile, outside analyses set a cost-effective price for Kymriah between $600,000 and $750,000.

      Most patients who fit the criteria for treatment would likely be covered by insurance, since they are under 25 and would either be on their parents’ insurance or covered by Medicaid.

Breakthrough therapy.

       The treatment was pioneered by Carl June at the University of Pennsylvania.

       Its most high-profile patient is Emily Whitehead, now 12, who six years ago was the first child to receive what was widely considered a risky treatment.

       She has been cancer free ever since.

       In 2014, US regulators designated CTL019 as a “breakthrough therapy” and put the experimental immunotherapy agent on the fast track to market approval.

      It was the first cancer immunotherapy to receive the breakthrough designation.

     About two dozen centers in the United States are expected to be able to treat patients seeking Kymriah, with as many as 35 up and running by the end of the year.

[msenvironment-blog]

                                             Butterfly Park in Delhi Zoo.

                                              Delhi Zoo is likely to get its own butterfly park which is likely to take wings in February 2018.

Flash Points:

        Delhi zoo is all set to start work on a butterfly park soon and the park is likely to wings in February 2018.

        School children will carry out the first plantation of flowers and shrubs.

        These flowers and shrubs will be planted in the shape of a butterfly using over 22 species of plants.

        Butterfly park is part of the master-plan 2031 and will have 1.5acres of dedicated area.

       The park will have a caterpillar house of 20x 10 feet which will help protect the caterpillars from the birds.

       The park is said to be operational from February 2018.

Flowers and Shrubs used:

        Bedelia,Yellow kaner, China orange,Kari patta, Amaltas, Lantana, Rohelia Gardenia,Tecoma.

Ecosystem value of butterflies:

       Butterflies and moths are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems.

       Areas rich in butterflies and moths are rich in other invertebrates.

       These collectively provide a wide range of environmental benefits, including pollination and natural pest control.

[msenvironment-blog]

Biosensor developed by IIT team detects disorders in a few minutes

Researchers from The Indian Institutes of Technology, Bombay and Indore, have jointly developed a biosensor that makes it possible to detect kidney disorders in less than eight minutes.

Flash Points:

          Researchers are Rashmi Chaudhari,Abhjeet Joshi and Rohit Srivastav.

       The biosensor can accurately measure both the pH and urea                        concentration with a single drop of urine.

       According to these researchers it will help make a point-of-care test to        determine whether the kidneys are functioning normally.

      For a kidney function test, doctors need an estimate of pH and urea as       most kidney disorders result in reduced pH and higher concentration         of urea.

Conventional Methods:

       Available methods to detect urea require patients to undergo two                  tests for accuracy.

         There is the problem of contaminating components in urine such as             calcium, chloride, ascorbic acid, sodium and potassium.

How the biosensor works:

      The biosensor  can detect both ph and urea.

        It is made by encapsulating an enzyme urease and a molecule FITC-          dextran in alginate microspheres.

       The combination glows in response to a chemical reaction with urea           and changes in pH when urine is added.

       The fluorescence reduces when the pH is acidic and increases when         it is alkaline.

       The changes in fluorescence intensity are measured, which helps to          calculate the values of pH and urea.

Key Features of Biosensor:

       It is made using alginate which is safe and non-toxic to handle.

       It can work in the ideal pH range of 4-8.

        It is able  to detect even low concentrations of urea up to 50                        millimolar.

       Bio sensors tested on patients has shown 97% accuracy.

       The biosensor is stable for up to a month in a refrigerator and gives             results that are unaffected by other components in urine samples

       . It will help make a rapid and accurate point-of-care diagnostic test               for kidney disorders.

What is ph?

It is a numerical figure expressing acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a logarithmic scale on which 7 is neutral,lower values are acidic,higher values are alkaline.

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                                      Mosses act as pollution indicators.

Mosses have been used as pollution indicator from decades.

Flash Points:

      Delicate mosses found on rocks and trees in cities around the world can be used to measure the impact of atmospheric change and could prove a low-cost way to monitor urban pollution, according to Japanese scientists.

      Mosses are common plants and can be used as potential bioindicators.

      The “bioindicator” responds to pollution or drought-stress by changing shape, density or disappearing, allowing scientists to calculate atmospheric alterations. These could also reflect changes in the ecosystem.

      This method is very cost effective and important for getting information about atmospheric conditions.

       Humid cities where moss thrives could benefit most from using bryophytes (moss– as bioindicators.

         These  mosses could be monitored in their natural environment or cultivated.

      Effect of nitrogen pollution: According to Japanese scientists drought stress occurs in mosses in areas with high level of nitrogen.

 What is a bioindicator?

A bioindicator is any species (an "indicator species") or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment.

What is Moss?

Mosses are small flowerless plants that typically grow in dense green clumps or mats often in damp or shady locations. The individual plants are usually composed of simple leaves that are generally only one cell thick attached to stem that may be branched or unbranded and has only a limited role in conducting water and nutrients. Mosses belong to the division Bryophyta.

[msenvironment-blog]

NGT declares 100m from edge of Ganga as No-development Zone.

 The National Green Tribunal today passed a slew of directions to rejuvenate River Ganga, declaring as 'No-Development Zone' an area of 100 metres from the edge of the river between Haridwar and Unnao and prohibiting dumping of waste within 500 metres from the river.

Flash Points:

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also declared that an environment compensation of Rs 50,000 will be imposed on anyone who dumps waste in the river.

       The apex environment watchdog directed all authorities concerned to complete various projects including setting up of a sewage treatment plant and cleaning drains within two years.

       It also said the Uttar Pradesh government should be "duty-bound" to shift tanneries within six weeks, from Jajmau in Kanpur to leather parks in Unnao or any other place it considers appropriate.

      The NGT also directed the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments to formulate guidelines for religious activities on the ghats of Ganga or its tributaries.

       The tribunal also appointed a supervisory committee, headed by the secretary of the Water Resources Ministry and comprising IIT professors and officials from UP government to oversee implementation of the directions passed in its 543- page verdict.

       It also asked the committee to submit reports at regular intervals.

       The NGT said the concept of zero liquid discharge and online monitoring of affluents should not be applied to industrial units.

       It said that all industrial units falling in the catchment area of river Ganga should be stopped from indiscriminate extraction of groundwater.

       The green panel has divided the work of cleaning the river in different segments Gomukh to Haridwar (Phase-I), Haridwar to Unnao (termed as segment B of Phase-I), Unnao to border of Uttar Pradesh, border of Uttar Pradesh to border of Jharkhand and border of Jharkhand to Bay of Bengal.

       It has already delivered the verdict in December 2015 with regard to first phase between Gomukh to Haridwar.

       The verdict came on a 1985 PIL of noted environment activist M C Mehta which was transferred to the NGT from the Supreme Court in 2014.

Groundwater extraction

       The Bench further noted that all industrial units falling in the catchments of the Ganga should be stopped from indiscriminate groundwater extraction.

       The green court reiterated its earlier order of ban on mechanical mining in the Ganga and said no in-stream mechanical mining is permitted and even the mining on the floodplain should be semi-mechanical and preferably more manual.

    NGT, Ganga,

[msenvironment-blog]

            NABARD inks AMA with Green Climate Fund.

NABARD became the first Indian entity to get direct access entity status allowing to access Green Climate Fund easily.

Flash Points:

        India’s National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) signed an Accreditation Master Agreement (AMA) with the Green Climate Fund .

       India has laid down ambitious goals under the climate agreement but these are contingent upon receiving low-cost finance from sources like the GCF. Till now, only one project Installation of Groundwater Recharge System in Odisha is underway using funds from GCF amounting to $34 million. Several projects have been proposed and are in the pipeline.

       Several of the mitigation and adaptation targets, articulated in India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), to meet the international climate obligations are aligned with the Fund’s strategic impact areas - viz clean energy, energy efficiency, cities, transport, forestry, agriculture, water health and ecosystems.

        India’s NDC is among the few that make specific reference to the GCF specifically with regard to its role as a source for low-cost finance for its 40% non-fossil fuel based power target.

        India, with numerous climate change and developmental challenges, needs to engage more purposefully and actively with GCF. The accredited entities need to proactively engage with GCF to take advantage of the available opportunities. 

       India has nominated a total of five direct access entities for accreditation by the GCF.

       Two of these from the public sector and three from the private sector for accreditation by the GCF.

      The public sector entities are NABARD and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI).

       The private sector entities nominated are YES Bank, IDFC Bank and IL&FS Environmental Services.

      So far, NABARD and SIDBI have been accredited by the GCF. 

  About Green Climate Fund

       The GCF was set up in 2010 under the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism to channel funding from developed countries to developing countries to allow them to mitigate climate change and also adapt to disruptions arising from a changing climate.

        It was central to the Paris climate agreement signed in 2015, that the world’s largest historical emitter, U.S, announced it would leave.

       One of the sticking points for the U.S. is the funding that has been promised to developing countries like India through UNFCCC’s financial mechanism.

[msenvironment-blog]

                                       Do you know?

Rafflesia is the world's largest, the heaviest, the rarest of the flowers.It smells like rotting flesh and hence the name “meat flower” or” corpse flower”.

Interesting facts about Rafflesia:

       It is a holoparasite of vines of the genus Tetrastigma(Vitaceae).It spreads its absorptive organ the haustorium inside the tissue of the vine.The only part of the plant that can be seen outside the host vine is the five-petalled flower.

       The plant has no stem,leaves or true roots.

     The flowers are endemic to South-East Asia-Indonesia,Malaysia,Thailand and Phillipines.

       The largest and the heaviest is Rafflesia arnoldii measuring upto 100cm in diameter and weighing upto 10kgs.The smallest species is R.balatei 12 cm in diameter.

       Discovered by Stamford Raffles in 1818 and the species R.arnoldii is named after him.

      The foul odour attracts insects like carrion flies which help in pollination.

       Tree shrews and other forest mammals are known to disperse the seeds.

       It is the official state flower of Indonesia,Thailand.

       Rafflesia grows to a diameter of one meter plus with five cabbage look alike,leather-textured,dull-red spotted petals with bowl like center once a year.

       It may take up to nine months to spring from seed to pod and flower but it stays in bloom for just a week.

Rafflesia is an endangered or threatened genus.

Rafflesia     arnoldii does not have chlorophyll, as all the green     plants have and so it cannot undergo photosynthesis.

What is a holoparasite?- It is a organism that cannot complete its life-cycle without exploiting a suitable host.If it cannot obtain a host it cannot reproduce.

What is a haustorium?- A slender projection from the root of a parasitic plant enabling the parasite to penetrate the tissue of the host and absorb the nutrients from it.

 meat flower,corpse flower,Rafflesia, Stamford Raffles,haustoria,holoparasite.

[msenvironment-blog]

                                            International Tiger’s Day.

International Tiger Day is celebrated on July 29 with an aim of increasing awareness towards the conservation of tigers worldwide.

Flash Points:

     This day was first started and celebrated in 2010 at the Saint Petersburg Tiger Summit.

     Its an annual event.

     It was conceptualized when experts realized that tigers were very close to extinction.  

     The main goal of Tiger Day is to make sure that the protection and expansion of wild tiger habitats is promoted well.

      This can happen only with the right awareness for tiger conservation.

·     The summit also declared to double global Tiger population by 2022.

 Reasons for decrease in number of tigers

     Climate change- Rising sea levels threaten the existence of forests and their wildlife habitats including tigers.

      Poaching.

       Urbanization.- Urbanization leads to forests shrinking and prey becoming scarce for tigers. This makes the tigers hunt in nearby villages for domestic livestock and in retaliation by humans the tigers are killed.

According to some reports tigers will become extinct in another 15 years.

     India itself had its dark phase when in 2006 it was discovered that there were just a little over 1,411 tigers left in the country.

     It was after this that the government and NGOs took serious note of the problem. In the last 10 years, India has seen a steady rise in the number of tigers. 

Project Tiger-  

     Is an Indian Government initiative.

     Aims :

 Limit any factor that leads to the reduction of tiger habitats.

 Rectify and repair any damage done to these habitats to keep the balance of our eco system.

 Ensure that population of tigers maintained for ecological values

 Main Habitats falling under Project Tiger:

     The North East conservation unit,

     Sunderbans conservation unit,

      Sariska conservation unit 

     The Western ghats conservation unit among several others.

              Theme for 2017-Fresh ecology- for tiger’s protection.