biodiversity conservation...to improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative...

CURRENT AFFAIRS BY RAKSHIT CHARAN 1

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

GOVT INITIATIVES –

Green – Ag – Min of Agriculture and Global Environment Facility (GEF).

The government has launched a Global Environment Facility (GEF) assisted project namely, “Green – Ag:

Transforming Indian Agriculture for global environment benefits and the conservation of critical biodiversity

and forest landscapes” in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)

The project would be implemented in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in high-

conservation-value landscapes of five States namely,

(i) Madhya Pradesh: Chambal Landscape,

(ii) Mizoram: Dampa Landscape,

(iii) Odisha: Similipal Landscape,

(iv) Rajasthan: Desert National Park Landscape and

(v) Uttarakhand: Corbett-Rajaji Landscape.

Key missions that will be targeted for strengthening include

1. the National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture;

2. National Livestock Mission;

3. National Food Security Mission;

4. National Initiative on Climate-resilient Agriculture,

5. National Mission for Horticulture and

6. Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana

At least 10 community led initiatives to support conservation of globally important species such as the tigers,

elephants and the Great Indian Bustard.

About GEF:

The Global Environment Facility was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our

planet’s most pressing environmental problems.

It is an international partnership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil society organizations and the

private sector that addresses global environmental issues.

GEF funds are available to developing countries and countries with economies in transition to meet the

objectives of the international environmental conventions and agreements.

The World Bank serves as the GEF Trustee, administering the GEF Trust Fund.

Restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM)

National Bamboo Mission (NBM) was initially started as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme in 2006-07 and was

subsumed under Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) during 2014-15 and continued

till 2015-16.

Restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under National Mission for

Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) and has been approved for the remaining period of Fourteenth Finance

Commission (2018-19 & 2019-20).


The scheme aims to inter-alia supplement farm income of farmers with focus on the development of complete

value chain of bamboo sector linking growers with industry.

It proposed to bring about one lakh ha area under plantation, it is expected that about one-lakh farmers would

be directly benefitted in terms of plantation.

An outlay of Rs.1290 crore (with Rs. 950 crore as Central share) is provisioned for implementation of the Mission

during the remaining period of 14th Finance Commission (2018-19 and 2019-20).

17 States have so far been covered under the Mission and an amount of Rs.111.05 crore has been released (till

31.12.2018) based on the annual action plans.

Since 2006-07, an area of 3.62 lakh ha covered under bamboo plantations

The restructured NBM strives to -

a. To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non-forest Government and private lands to

supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change.

b. To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units,

treatment and seasoning plants, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and

market infrastructure.

c. To promote product development at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.

d. To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India.

e. To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo

sector.

The following steps would be adopted for the development of bamboo sector:

I. The Mission will focus on development of bamboo in limited States where it has social, commercial and

economical advantage with focus on genetically superior planting material of bamboo species of commercial

and industrial demand.

II. Adoption of end to end solution in bamboo sector i.e. complete value chain approach starting from

bamboo growers to consumers would be emphasized.

III. Mission has been developed as a platform for integration of Ministries/ Departments/Agencies with

implementation responsibilities given based on their mandate.

IV. Capacity building of the officials, field functionaries, entrepreneurs and farmers through skill development

and trainings will be emphasised.

V. Focus will be given on Research & Development (R&D) to increase the production and productivity of

bamboo.

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2018

The Union Cabinet has approved the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2018 which were last reviewed

and issued in 2011.

CRZ Notification 2018 is based on the recommendations of Shailesh Nayak committee.

Coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers, and backwaters were declared as CRZs under coastal

zone regulation notification in 1991.

CRZs have been classified into 4 zones for the purpose of regulation:

I. CRZ-I: includes ecologically sensitive and important areas, areas of outstanding natural beauty or historic

importance or genetic diversity, areas which could sink as an effect of rising sea-levels and the area between the

HTL and Low Tide Line (LTL). No construction is allowed except activities for atomic power plants, defense.


II. CRZ-II: includes designated urban areas that are substantially built up. Construction activities are allowed on the

landward side only. Already ‘developed’ areas on or very close to the shoreline i.e. areas that have buildings and

roads right on the beaches.

III. CRZ-III: includes relatively undisturbed areas, mainly rural areas. No new construction of buildings allowed in this

zone except repairing of the existing ones. However, constructions of dwelling units in the plot area lying

between 200-500m of the high tide line is allowed.

IV. CRZ-IV: includes the water area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 nautical miles seaward. Except for fishing

and related activities, all actions impugning on the sea and tidal water will be regulated in this zone. Coastline of

the Indian islands that do not fall into CRZ I or II or III categories.

Salient Features of Notification 2018

Floor Space Index Norms Eased: In CRZ, 2011 Notification, for CRZ-II (Urban) areas, Floor Space Index (FSI) was

frozen as per 1991 Development Control Regulation (DCR) levels.

In the CRZ, 2018 Notification, it has been decided to de-freeze the same and permits FSI for construction

projects to enable redevelopment of these areas to meet the emerging needs.

New Categories for densely populated rural areas: For CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have now

been stipulated as below:

CRZ-III A - These are densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometer as

per 2011 Census. Such areas will have a No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the High Tide Line as

against 200 meters from the High Tide Line stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011.

CRZ-III B - Rural areas with a population density of below 2161 per square kilometer as per 2011 Census. Such

areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL.

Temporary tourism facilities such as toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities etc. have now been

permitted in Beaches. However, a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of

such facilities.

No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters for Islands: For islands close to the mainland coast and for all

Backwater Islands in the mainland, NDZ of 20 m has been stipulated.

Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance: Specific guidelines related to their

conservation and management plans have been drawn up as a part of the CRZ Notification.

Pollution abatement: In order to address pollution in Coastal areas treatment facilities have been made

permissible activities in CRZ-I B area (the area between the Low tide line and High tide line) subject to necessary

safeguards.

Defense and strategic projects are exempted from regulations.

Earlier related Committees

M S Swaminathan Committee 2009

M S Swaminathan Committee 2004 – after Tsunami

D M Sukhtankar Committee 2000

Father Saldanha Committee 1997


Sustainable Catchment Forest Management (SCATFORM)

• Tripura has launched the Sustainable Catchment Forest Management (SCATFORM) project which is

undertaken with the assistance of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)

• The SCATFORM project aims to address issues such as forest cover loss. Forest degradation have been

mainly caused by shifting cultivation, which increases soil erosion risks on hill slopes especially in upper

catchment areas.

• The 80 per cent of the cost is contributed by JICA and the rest would be funded by the state and central

governments.

METHANOL BLENDING

A study, in which methanol (M-15) was blended with petrol and used in the existing BS-IV standard cars, found

that the carbon dioxide emission had reduced substantially.

The study, conducted by Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), also found that

hydrocarbon emission reduced marginally, with a slight increase in nitrogen oxides.

Methanol is clean, cheaper than fossil fuels and a good substitute for heavy fuels. India imports methanol from

Saudi Arabia and Iran at present.

Methanol is a clean-burning fuel that produces fewer smog causing emissions — such as sulphur oxides (SOx),

nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter — and can improve air quality and related human health issues.

Methanol is most commonly produced on a commercial scale from natural gas.

It will help in creating a CO2 sequestration cycle to perpetually burn fuels without polluting the environment at

all. C02 from steel plants, Thermal Power plants, Cement Plants etc. can be tapped in large quantities to produce

Methanol.

Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme

In India, ethanol is mainly produced from sugarcane molasses by fermentation process. Ethanol can be mixed

with petrol to form different blends.

As the ethanol molecule contains oxygen, it allows the engine to more completely combust the fuel, resulting

in fewer emissions and thereby reducing the occurrence of environmental pollution.

Since ethanol is produced from plants that harness the power of the sun, ethanol is also considered as

renewable fuel.

Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) programme was launched in January, 2003. The programme sought to promote

the use of alternative and environment friendly fuels and to reduce import dependency for energy

requirements.

The Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (MoP&NG) vide its notification dated 20th September, 2006 directed

the Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to sell 5% Ethanol Blended Petrol subject to commercial viability as per

Bureau of Indian Standards specifications

It aims at blending ethanol with petrol, thereby bringing it under the category of biofuels and saving millions of

dollars by cutting fuel imports.

The National Policy on Bio-fuels has set a target of 20% blending of biofuels, both for bio-diesel and bio-

ethanol.

Government has reduced the GST rate on ethanol meant for EBP Programme from 18% to 5%.


National Policy on Biofuels – 2018

The Policy categorises biofuels as

“Basic Biofuels” viz. First Generation (1G) bioethanol & biodiesel.

“Advanced Biofuels” – Second Generation (2G) ethanol, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to drop- in fuels, Third

Generation (3G) biofuels, bio-CNG etc.

EBP programme has the annual target of 5 per cent blending with ethanol, while India has targeted a 10 per cent

blending of petrol with the biofuel by 2022, and 20% blending by 2030. At present (April, 2019) we are at 7.2%

blending.

Scope of raw materials:

The Policy expands the scope of raw material for ethanol production by allowing use of Sugarcane Juice, Sugar

containing materials like Sugar Beet, Sweet Sorghum, Starch containing materials like Corn, Cassava, Damaged

food grains like wheat, broken rice, Rotten Potatoes, unfit for human consumption for ethanol production.

Viability gap funding:

With a thrust on Advanced Biofuels, the Policy indicates a viability gap funding scheme for 2G ethanol Bio

refineries of Rs.5000 crore in 6 years in addition to additional tax incentives, higher purchase price as compared

to 1G biofuels.

Boost to biodiesel production:

The Policy encourages setting up of supply chain mechanisms for biodiesel production from non-edible oilseeds,

Used Cooking Oil, short gestation crops.

Classification of Biofuels:

1st generation biofuels are also called conventional biofuels.

They are made from things like sugar, starch, or vegetable oil. Note that these are all food products. Any biofuel

made from a feedstock that can also be consumed as a human food is considered a first-generation biofuel.

2nd generation biofuels are produced from sustainable feedstock. The sustainability of a feedstock is defined

by its availability, its impact on greenhouse gas emissions, its impact on land use, and by its potential to threaten

the food supply.

No second-generation biofuel is also a food crop, though certain food products can become second generation

fuels when they are no longer useful for consumption. Second generation biofuels are often called “advanced

biofuels.”

3rd generation biofuels are biofuel derived from algae. These biofuels are given their own separate class

because of their unique production mechanism and their potential to mitigate most of the drawbacks of 1st and

2nd generation biofuels.


PARIVESH (Pro-Active and Responsive facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous and Environmental Single-window Hub)

PARIVESH is a Single-Window Integrated Environmental Management System

He said that the system has been designed, developed and hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and

Climate Change, with technical support from National Informatics Centre, (NIC), New Delhi.

The main highlights of PARIVESH include - single registration and single sign-in for all types of clearances (i.e.

Environment, Forest, Wildlife and CRZ), unique-ID for all types of clearances required for a particular project

and a single Window interface for the proponent to submit applications for getting all types of clearances (i.e.

Environment, Forests, Wildlife and CRZ clearances).

PARIVESH enables project proponents, citizens to view, track and interact with scrutiny officers, generates

online clearance letters, online mailers and alerts to state functionaries in case of delays beyond stipulated time

for processing of applications

ECO NIWAS

Ministry of Power has launched the ECO Niwas Samhita 2018, an Energy Conservation Building Code for

Residential Buildings (ECBCR). The code was launched on National Energy Conservation Day 2018.


To benefit the occupants and the environment by promoting energy efficiency in design and construction of

homes, apartments and townships.

Implementation of this Code will have potential for energy savings to the tune of 125 Billion Units of electricity

per year by 2030, which is equivalent to about 100 million ton of CO2 emission.

National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated every year on 14th December by Ministry of Power in

association with Bureau of Energy Efficiency.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE):

A statutory body under Ministry of Power created in March 2002 under the provisions of the nation’s 2001

Energy Conservation Act.

To implement policy and programmes in energy efficiency and conservation.

To reduce energy intensity in our country by optimizing energy demand and

To reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), responsible for global warming and climate change.

India has committed to reduction of 33-35% GHG emission by 2030 as part of the document submitted to

UNFCCC.

Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP)

The Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) has been conceptualised and developed in MoEF&CC in

consultation with the National Skill Development Agency.

The number of people to be covered under GSDP will be 80,000 during 2018-19, 2.25 lakh during 2019-20 and

about 5 lakh people by the year 2021.

The government has launched GSDP- ENVIS mobile app to begin enrolments in 30 expert course under its Green

Skill Development Programme (GSDP).

The Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

(MoEF&CC) is an initiative for skill development in the environment and forest sector to enable India's youth to

get gainful employment and/or self-employment.

The programme endeavours to develop green skilled workers having technical knowledge and commitment to

sustainable development. It will help in the attainment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs),

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs), as well as Waste Management

Rules (2016).

Green Good Deeds

BRICS Ministerial on Environment has agreed to include “Green Good Deeds” in its official agenda in the next

Ministerial in Brazil and then in Russia.

The campaign has been launched by the Environment Ministry to sensitise the people and students, in

particular, about climate change and global warming. The objective of the campaign is to restore and return the

clean and green environment to the next generation.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change had drawn up a list of over 500 Green Good Deeds and

asked people to alter their behaviour to Green Good Behaviour to fulfil their Green Social Responsibility.

Andhra Pradesh and Telangana – State Symbols

• Four years after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the government of the residual state has announced its state

symbols.


• State bird: Rama Chiluka (psittacula krameri) or rose ringed parakeet.

• State animal: Blackbuck (antilope cervicapra) or Krishna Jinka.

• State tree: Neem (azadirachta indica) or Vepa Chettu.

• State flower: Jasmine (Jasminum)

State symbols of Telangana:

State bird: Palapitta.

State animal: Jinka or spotted deer.


State tree: Jammi Chettu (prosopis cineraria).

State flower: Tangidi Puvvu (senna auriculata)

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