Tag: Environment and Ecology

Environment and Ecology Major cause of elephant deaths in Tamil Nadu According to the data made public by the Forest Department from its Elephant Death Audit Framework in Tamil Nadu, electrocution has been the main reason for the death of elephants than old age or starvation put together. The data show that 1,505 elephant deaths have been recorded since 2010, and 159 of them, or 10.5% of all mortalities, were caused by humans or humanrelated activities.  

Environment and Ecology New species of gecko discovered in Western Ghats A new species of gecko named cnemaspis rashidi (Rashid’s dwarf gecko) has been discovered at an altitude of 1,245 m at Kottamalai estate in Western Ghats near Rajapalayam. So far, 93 species of gecko had been documented and this is the 94th species.

Environment and Ecology October rainfall: ‘sixth lowest’ since 1901 IMD announced that the rainfall during the northeast monsoon has been the “sixth lowest” since 1901 so far. In September, the agency had forecast ‘normal’ rainfall for Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, but October rainfall saw a 60% rainfall deficiency in these regions. About IMD Formation – 1875 Director General - M. Mohapatra Ministry – Ministry of Earth Sciences

Environment and Ecology Peak heat in September! The European Union's Climate Observatory has reported that the world's average temperature reached a new record high in September. The average temperature of the global atmosphere in September was recorded at 16.38 degrees Celsius (61.5 degrees Fahrenheit). This heat is the highest monthly average temperature ever recorded.Earlier it was registered in the year 2020 The maximum mean temperature was The new peak, now recorded in September, is 0.5°C higher than the previous peak. About the Paris Agreement In 2015, the annual UN conference held in the French capital Paris to control climate change. A historic agreement was struck at the conference. In that agreement, 195 countries, including India, agreed to limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to gradually reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Environment and Ecology Pune researchers found new Damselfly Species in Western Ghats, Kerala Researchers from MIT-World Peace University (MIT-WPU) in Pune, Maharashtra have discovered Protosticta Armageddonia (Armageddon Reedtail), a new species of damselfly in the southern Western Ghats of Kerala. The name “Armageddon” symbolizes the global crisis of habitat loss and climate change affecting insect populations. The new damselfly species, P.Armageddonia belongs to the genus ‘Protosticta‘ in the family Platystictidae and is endemic to Western Ghats in India. About Kerala Capital – Thiruvananthapuram Chief Minister - Pinarayi Vijayan Governor - Arif Mohammed Khan

Environment and Ecology Chennai top node in tortoise trafficking network The study titled, ‘From pets to plate’ was published in the edition of Oryx, the International Journal of Conservation. The study found that the trafficking of soft shell turtles for meat was predominantly domestic in nature. The international trafficking of the reptile from or to India almost restricted to Bangladesh. Chennai is the highest ranked node in the tortoise and hard shell turtle trafficking network. Note Indian star tortoise Native to India. IUCN Status – Vulnerable. Indian flapshell turtle Freshwater species of turtle found in South Asia IUCN Status – Vulnerable.

Environment and Ecology Tamil Nadu added 24 reserve forests in past two years. Tamil Nadu has added 24 reserve forests, covering an area of 3,585.3 hectares, in the past two years, according to the Forest Department. Under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission, which aims at increasing tree and forest cover from 23.69% to 33%. The State had notified reserve forests in eight districts – Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Namakkal, the Nilgiris, Kallakurichi, Sivaganga and Theni in 2021-2023 under Section 16 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882. The State had also established over 250 nurseries to nurture seedlings. “In addition, the mission helps create thousands of green jobs, especially for rural women”. Note: The focus could also be on agroforestry, wherein tree plantation could be done on private cultivable land. Urban reserve forests have to be improved as there are a lot of developmental activities taking place. As urban areas expand, there will be water issues. Forests can augment groundwater supply. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 An Act to provide for the conservation of forests and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto.

Environment and Ecology T.N. wetlands mission Ecological restoration of the Otteri lake located inside the Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Vandalur, was initiated at the launch of Tamil Nadu Wetlands Missions to mark the World Environment Day. Forests Minister M. Mathiventhan inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Wetlands Mission, under which 100 wetlands have been identified to be mapped and ecologically restored. The objective of the ecological restoration is to increase the water storage capacity. The mission seeks to engage local communities and NGOs and has roped in 187 iranila nanbargal (friends of wetlands) so far. Note Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Also known as "The Convention on Wetlands". An Intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 in Ramsar, Iran by UNESCO. Came into force - 1975. Out of 75 in Nation, 14 Ramsar sites are in Tamil Nadu.

Environment and Ecology National Tiger Conservation Authority’s (NTCA) fifth cycle of the Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) for 2022. The Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) and the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR) ranked fifth and eighth among the 54 tiger reserves in the country, besides improving their ranking from ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’. The two are among the 12 tiger reserves in the ‘excellent’ ’ category. The Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) and the Kalakkad and Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) continued to be in the ‘very good’ category Srivilliputhur Megamalai Tiger Reserve, which underwent its first MEE assessment after being declared a tiger reserve in 2021, was adjudged to be ‘good'. Periyar Tiger Reserve: The Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala is the country's best-maintained tiger reserve, according to the 5th cycle of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) carried out by the Centre. About Periyar Tiger Reserve: It is located in the Western Ghats of Kerala. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. It gets its name from the River Periyar, which has its origin deep inside the reserve. Two main rivers, Pamba and Periyar, drain the reserve. Bandipur Tiger Reserve: Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka has secured the second place. However, it shares the second slot with Satpura Tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. The government has been using the MEE to assess tiger reserves across the country since its inception in 2006. The MEE report is prepared based on conservation management plans, activities, process, and results. This helps formulating a mechanism for preserving the forest system by making good use of local resources. National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): It is a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. It was established in 2005. It was constituted under enabling provisions of the Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972, as amended…

Environment and Ecology Aravalli Green Wall Project Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupendra Yadav inaugurated the 'Aravalli Green Wall Project' in Tikli village of Gurugram district, Haryana.  The Aravalli Green Wall Project aims to green a buffer area of about 5 km of the Aravalli mountain range spread over five states. The Aravalli Green Wall Project will not only increase the green cover and biodiversity of Aravalli through afforestation, reforestation and restoration of water sources, but will also improve soil fertility, water availability and climate of the region.