Civil Service Bytes

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund  (CEPF) is a global program that provides funding and technical assistance to non-governmental organizations and other private sector partners to protect critical ecosystems. They focus on  biodiversity hotspots , the Earth's biologically richest yet most endangered areas. World Wide Fund for Nature The  World Wide Fund for Nature  ( WWF ) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961, working in the field of the wilderness preservation, and the reduction of humanity's footprint on the environment. It was formerly named the  World Wildlife Fund , which remains its official name in Canada and the United States. It is the world's largest conservation organization. Currently, much of its work focuses on the conservation of three biomes that contain most of the world's biodiversity: oceans an...

Solar boat makes its debut in Andhra Pradesh  – Sci-Tech/Environment – The Hindu An eco-friendly solar-powered boat was launched on the pristine waters of River Krishna. There are only a handful of such boats operating on solar power in the country. The solar boat, facilitating clean and efficient cruise, has been imported from China. Solar-powered boats get their energy from the sun. Using electric motors and storage batteries charged by solar panels fitted to the roof, these boats can significantly reduce or eliminate use of fossil fuels. “Unlike conventional boats that operate using diesel engines which are fuel-guzzlers causing air and noise pollution and disturbance to the local habitat endangering the ecological balance of the surrounding areas, the solar boats are uniquely suited to transform light energy into movement.” The first solar boat designed in India was named  Surya ,  a 25-seater, by Kerala -based  TeamSustain in 2008. It operated...

The historic agreement on climate change  marked a milestone (on 22, April 2016), with a record 175 countries, including India, signing it. Paris Agreement on climate change was signed by 175 countries World leaders made it clear that more action is needed and it has to be quickly, to fight a relentless rise in global temperatures. Concerns  – planet heating up to record levels, sea levels rising and glaciers melting The ceremony was held on  Earth Day (April 22, 2016) The world is in a race against time. The era of consumption without consequences is over. Today world countries are signing a new covenant with the future. This covenant must amount to more than promises. The agreement  will come into force once 55 countries representing at least 55 per cent of global emissions formally join it, a process initially expected to take until 2020. But following a host of announcements at the signing event, observers now think it could happen lat...

3rd Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation Has Been Inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi The third edition of Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi to save wild tigers. India is host of this edition of conference in which more than 700 tiger experts, scientists, managers, donors and other stakeholders are participating. Key facts: In this conference main discussion points will be issues related to tiger conservation and anti-poaching strategies. Ministers and government officials from all 13 tiger range countries (TRCs) participating in the conference. These 13 TRCs are: Bangladesh Bhutan Cambodia China India Indonesia Lao PDR Malaysia Myanmar Nepal Russia Thailand Vietnam Participating TRCs In this edition of conferences will share their: Good practices and success stories in conserving tigers Success stories i...

Pluto’s largest moon Charon once had a subsurface ocean which has frozen long ago and expanded, pushing and stretching the natural satellite’s surface like ‘Hulk’ while causing massive fractures, a new NASA image has shown. The new image from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft suggest that Charon’s tectonic landscape shows that, somehow, the moon expanded in its past, and — like the fictional superhero Bruce Banner tearing his shirt as he becomes the Incredible Hulk — Charon’s surface fractured as it stretched, researchers said. ‘Pull apart’ tectonic faults The side of Pluto’s largest moon viewed by NASA’s passing New Horizons in July 2015 is characterised by a system of “pull apart” tectonic faults, which are expressed as ridges, scarps and valleys — the latter sometimes reaching more than 6.5 kilometres deep. The outer layer of Charon is primarily water ice. This layer was kept warm when Charon was young by heat provided by the decay of radioactive elements, as well as Charo...

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has said the Centre will extend all help to protect the brow antlered deer whose numbers in the entire world is just 204, according to a 2013 census. Wildlife enthusiasts feel there is an encouraging ray of hope for the survival of the rare deer on the brink of imminent extinction. The union minister for forest, environment and climate change made the announcement as he visited the 40 sq. km Keibul Lamjao National Park, the natural habitat of the brow antlered deer, locally known as Sangai, on Saturday shortly before leaving for Mizoram after a two-day visit to Manipur. Javadekar said: “As per official information, there are now 90 stags, 86 hinds and 28 fawns. All assistance will be extended for the protection of this endangered species.” There is a slight increase in the deer numbers. There were 180 deer in 2000. Asked if the Centre is thinking in terms of a project on the lines of Project Elephant or Project Rhino, Javedkar said: “Once we get...

“The World Wetlands Day”, being celebrated on 2nd February every year around the world to mark the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands in the city of Ramsar in Iran in 1971. Its a day to promote, create awareness and ensure positive & affirmative action for conservation of wetlands. Water is life, and wetlands are the life support systems that ensure functioning of the water cycle. Wetlands help recharge groundwater aquifers, cleanse polluted waters, protect shorelines and act as sponges to mitigate floods. The extensive food chain and biological diversity in wetlands make them ‘biological supermarkets’. In addition, wetlands have special attributes as cultural heritage of humanity, and have deep connections with our beliefs and practices. They are indeed an important part of our natural wealth and “liquid assets”. The theme of World Wetlands Day this year is ‘WETLANDS FOR OUR FUTURE – SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS’. The theme highlights the value of wetland...

Environment Ministry notifies revised standards for Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) Across industrial clusters-PIB CETP • The concept of common effluent treatment plant has been accepted as a  solution for collecting, conveying, treating, and disposing of the effluents  from the industrial estates. • The effluent include industrial wastewaters and domestic sewage generated  from the estate. • This CETP concept helps small and medium scale industries to dispose of  their effluents. Otherwise it may not be economical for these industries to  treat their wastewaters or there may be space constraints. • Some of these industries may require to give preliminary treatment (for  removal of solids) so that the receiving sewers can be maintained free  flowing. • It may be required to correct pH or removal of specific pollutant before the  industry discharges in CETP. CETP • CETP is designed on the basis of: – Quality and flow rate of the wastewa...

Peak  pollution  controlled despite fog and adverse weather   Load of particulates and nitrous oxides from cars reduced by about 40%   Areas with higher car density recorded more improvement in air quality   Decongestion of roads, leading to better utilisation of vehicles and reduced travel time OTHER POSSIBLE TEMPORARY MEASURES Extending odd-even rule to two-wheelers   Shutting power plants and industries   Declaring school holidays LASTING MEASURES THAT  DELHI  NEEDS Congestion charges on the basis of time and location of travel   Tax benefits for CNG and electric vehicles   Phase out old vehicles   Timely completion of phase-III of Delhi Metro   Remove entry taxes for cabs, autos and buses within NCR cities   Rationalise taxes on buses   Substantially hike car parking charges   Expand bus fleet to 11,000 from around 6,000 at present   Build dedicated lanes for cyclists and pede...

The South Asian Monsoon has been weakening since the 1950s with an increased incidence of extreme rainfall events. Now, a paper in the journal  Climate Dynamics  lead authored by Dr. R. Krishnan attributes this weakening to increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, atmospheric aerosols and land-use changes. Dr. Krishnan is a scientist at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune. The monsoon is mainly driven by thermal contrast between the Indian subcontinent and the adjoining ocean. As the land warms up the air above the land surface is heated and rises up and is less dense than the cool air over the ocean. This contrast in temperatures and densities causes the cool moisture bearing winds from the western Indian Ocean to move into the land mass and bring monsoon rains to the subcontinent. This scenario, however is  changed due to the presence of greenhouse gases, aerosols in the atmosphere or if the land has been subjected to increased deforestation. ...

Species like Indian rollers can be seen all year round in Bharatpur So can the black drongo There are many rare species here - and some we don't see anymore. I last saw a Siberian crane here in 2001. Siberian cranes Also known as the Siberian white crane or snow crane Critically endangered Migrates further than any other crane Eastern population lives in the Siberian Arctic tundra and the western population lives in western Russia Numbers so low because of illegal hunting along migration routes and habitat degradation, especially in the western population Eastern population had 95% of the estimated 3,200 birds in 2010 and migrates in winter to China Western population once migrated to South Asia but now heads to Iran Last sedge of Siberian cranes was seen at Bharatpur in 2001 - unlikely to be seen again in India until numbers rise There are lots of other rare species too - the Siberian rubythroat is very rare here, and there are nightjars. You also find...