Current Affairs Webinar -

Environment & Ecology - Session 1

April Monthly Current Affairs UCAN - Ecology and Environment

Mukesh Kumar Jha Lesson 1 Apr 2, 2024

UCAN : Environment and Ecology
 Topics
1. Plastic waste amendment rules 2024
2. Global e waste monitor 2024

3. Nature based solutions can help Sundarbans survive

4. India to join U.S.-led carbon market project

5. Captive Elephant Rules 2024

6. Earth Hour
7. Bugun Liocichla Bird

8. Cnemaspis Vangoghi
9. Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
Plastic waste management rules 2024
• The Environment Ministry has introduced the Plastic Waste Management
(Amendment) Rules 2024 to amend the Plastic Waste Management Rules
2016.

• The amended rules make it harder for makers of disposable plastic ware to
label such products as 'biodegradable' and introduce a stipulation that the
makers of disposable plastic must not leave any microplastics behind.
• Biodegradable plastics are now defined as materials capable of
degradation by biological processes in specific environments like soil and
landfill, without leaving any microplastics.

• Microplastics are defined as any solid plastic particle insoluble in water,

with dimensions between 1 micron and 1,000 microns (1 micron is one-
thousandth of a millimetre).
• Expanded Definition of "Importer":
• The definition now includes imports of various plastic-related materials such
as packaging, carry bags, sheets, raw materials, and intermediate materials
used in plastic manufacturing for commercial purposes.
• Earlier, "importer" referred to someone who imported plastic packaging,
products with plastic packaging, carry bags, multilayered packaging, plastic
sheets, or similar items.
• Manufacturers are allowed to produce carry bags and commodities from
compostable or biodegradable plastics, and must obtain a certificate from
the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) before marketing or selling
their products.
Global e-waste monitor 2024
• The world's generation of electronic waste is rising five times faster than
documented e-waste recycling.
• A record 62 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was produced in 2022, Up 82%
from 2010;
• Worldwide, the annual generation of e-waste is rising by 2.6 million tonnes
annually;
• On track to rise to 82 million tonnes, in 2030;
• 13.8 billion kg is documented as 'formally collected and recycled in an
environmentally sound manner',
• This figure was 8 billion kg in 2010.
• 16 billion kg is estimated to be collected and recycled outside of formal
systems in high- and upper-middle-income countries.
• Another 18 billion kg is handled mostly by the informal sector in low- and
lower-middle-income countries.
• The remainder 14 billion kg is likely disposed of as residual waste, the
majority of which is put in landfills worldwide.
 E waste generation vs collection

• The report foresees a drop in the documented collection and recycling rate
from 22.3% in 2022 to 20% by 2030 due to the widening difference in
recycling efforts relative to the staggering growth of e-waste generation
worldwide.
• The report also highlighted the composition of the 62 billion kg of e-waste.
It contained 31 billion kg metals, 17 billion kg of plastics and 14 billion
kg of other materials (minerals, glass, composite materials, etc.)
• A whopping 58,000 kg of mercury and 45 million kg of plastics containing
brominated flame retardants are released into the environment every year.
• Europe has the highest rate of documented formal collection and recycling
of e-waste at 42.8 per cent.
• Meanwhile, Africa generates the lowest rates of e-waste but struggles to
recycle it. The recycling rates of most African countries are below 1 per
cent.
• Europe (17.6 kg), Oceania (16.1 kg) and the Americas (14.1 kg) generated
the highest amount of e-waste per capita in 2022.

• They also had the highest documented per capita collection and recycling
rates (7.53 kg per capita in Europe, 6.66 kg per capita in Oceania and 4.2
kg per capita in the Americas).
 Practice Question

Consider the following statements about the Global e waste tracker 2024 :
1. The report is published by the UNITAR and ITU.
2. The proportion of e waste generated has seen a comparative rise in
waste handling capacities.
3. Highest per capita waste generation is observed in North America.

How many of the above is/are incorrect?

a. One only
b. Two only
c. All three
d. None of the above
Nature based solutions can help Sundarbans survive
• It provides shelter for 84 species of flora, including 26 mangrove
species, 453 species of fauna, 120 species of fish, 290 species of birds,
42 species of mammals, 35 reptiles and eight amphibian species.
• More than 12 million people 4.5 million in India and 7.5 million in
Bangladesh - live in this estuarine ecosystem.
 Issues faced

• Scarcity of Freshwater
• Pollution and contamination
• Sea level rise and Erosion
• Human wildlife conflict
• Lack of employment
 Nature based solutions

• Instead of introducing non-local species like vetiver, cultivating native

grass species such as wild rice (Porteresia coarctata), Myriostachya
wightiana biscuit grass (Paspalum vaginatum), and salt couch grass
(Sporobolus virginicus) can help stabilise streambanks and prevent
erosion.
• Encouraging the cultivation of soil-tolerant paddy varieties such as Darsal,
Nona Bokra, Talmugur, etc and crop cultivation and promoting organic
agriculture practices can enhance agricultural productivity while
minimising environmental impact.

• Additionally, promoting organic agriculture can help farmers increase

their income while maintaining environmental health.
• Mangroves can be climate protectors and sources of livelihood. There are
many mangroves such as Bayen, Garjan, Golpata, Hogla, Hetal,
Kankra, Kumbhi, Kayora, Nona Jhau, Posur, Goran, Gewoya, Sundari,
etc. in this area.
• These mangroves have economical as well as medicinal values. Such
fruits of Hetal, Kayora and Golpata can be sold in commercial markets.
• Flowers of Hogla can be used in the food industry to prepare delicious
cuisine and ropes can be prepared from dry leaves.
India to join US led carbon market mechanism
• India has decided to join at least one of the four cooperative work
programmes unveiled last week under the 'clean energy pillar' of the U.S.-
led Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) – the one on facilitating and
promoting carbon-market activities.
• The IPEF, an initiative led by U.S. President Joe Biden, was unveiled in
May 2022, bringing together 14 regional partners - Australia, Brunei, Fiji,
India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the U.S. and Vietnam.
• Four pillars:
• Seen by many analysts as an attempt by the U.S. to counter China's growing
influence in the region, the IPEF aims at having a common set of rules and
standards around four pillars viz.
• connectivity and digital trade;
• resilient supply chains;
• clean energy; and
• corruption-free fair trade.
• India will join the cooperative working group on carbon markets through
the Ministry of Power and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency.
Captive Elephant Rules 2024
• Captive Elephant (Transfer or Transport) Rules, 2024 lays down the
procedure to be followed for the transfer of captive elephants within a
State or between two States.
• The notification authorizes the CWW of States and UTs to permit or reject
the transfer of captive elephants.
• The CWW shall permit the inter and intra-State transfers if the owner of the
elephant is no longer in a position to maintain it or if the animal will have
a better upkeep than in the present circumstances.
• The transfer of captive elephants won't be permissible unless the genetic
profile of the animal has been entered in the electronic monitoring
application of the MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change).

• The application for transfer of captive elephants should be made to the

deputy conservator of forests (DCF), having jurisdiction over the area
where the elephant is registered.

• The DCF will conduct an inquiry and physical verification of the facility
where the elephant is presently housed, and also the facility where the
elephant is proposed to be housed and obtain a certificate of a veterinary
practitioner, and then forward the details to the CWW, who within seven
days will accept or reject the transfer.
Earth Hour 2024
• Organized by World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
• It started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event and
has since grown into a global movement involving millions of people in
over 190 countries and territories. It takes place towards the end of March
every year.
• Founded on 29th April 1961.
• Its precursor organisation was the Conservation Foundation.
• Its original name was World Wildlife Fund.
• WWF Headquarters - Gland, Switzerland.
• Campaigns launched by WWF include Earth Hour and Debt-for-Nature
Swap.
Bugun Liocichla Bird
• Buguns, one of the major tribes, mainly living adjacent to Eaglenest
Wildlife Sanctuary in Singchung sub-division of Arunachal Pradesh's West
Kameng district have donated 1,470 hectares of forest land to the state
forest department... giving a push to efforts for protection of Bugun
Liocichla, a critically endangered songbird.
• This bird is a small babbler, measuring just 20 cm, with olive-grey feathers
and a black cap.

• It is exclusively found in the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary and nowhere

else in the world.
Cnemaspis Vangoghi
• Cnemaspis vangoghi is a new species of lizard discovered from the
Southern Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu.
• It is described as a small-sized gecko and has a distinctive yellow head
and forebody, adorned with light blue spots on the back.
• It prefers living among rocks and can occasionally be found on buildings
and trees.
• These diurnal creatures are mainly active during the cooler hours of early
morning and evening, predominantly found on rocks.

• Their restricted localities present an intriguing case of micro-endemism.

 Geckos

• A gecko is a small to medium-sized lizard belonging to the family

Gekkonidae. Geckos are unique for their remarkable ability to climb
smooth surfaces, thanks to specialized toe pads that allow them to adhere
to even vertical walls and ceilings.
• They are found in warm climates throughout the world and are known for
their vocalizations, which they use for communication.
• Many gecko species are nocturnal, and they have large, sensitive eyes that
help them see in low light conditions.
• Moreover, geckos are also famous for their ability regenerate lost tails, a
defense mechanism against predators.
Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary
• Location: Near the border of Maharashtra, Telangana & Chhattisgarh
• Vegetation: Dry Deciduous Forest
• Fauna: Indian Gour, Giant Squirrel, Tigers, Leopards, Jackals, Sloth Bear
etc.
• Rivers passing through: - Godavari and Dayyam Vagu