Protected Areas for the Biodiversity Conservation: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Environment and Ecology)

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Bhitarkanika National Park is well-known for its population of Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), which are the largest living reptiles in the world. The park is located in the Kendrapara district of Odisha and is home to a significant number of these crocodiles. It also has rich biodiversity, including mangroves and various bird species.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Desert National Park is well-known for being a habitat of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, a large bird species. The National Park is located in Jaisalmer and Barmer district of Rajasthan.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Eravikulam National Park in Kerala is known for its population of Nilgiri Tahr, not the Hoolock Gibbon. The Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is found in parts of Northeast India and in the forests of Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh, not in Kerala.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: National Parks in India are designated under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and their boundaries are clearly defined by legal statutes. This is done to ensure strict protection and conservation of biodiversity, and no human activity is allowed within the park unless specifically authorized.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Biosphere Reserves, designated under the Man and Biosphere Reserves Programme of UNESCO started in 1971 by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoEFCC). Biosphere Reserves are established to conserve biodiversity in its entirety, not just a few specific species. These reserves focus on both species and ecosystems in a sustainable manner, including human communities. They aim for ecological conservation, research, and sustainable use of natural resources.

Statement 3 is correct: In Wildlife Sanctuaries, human activity and biotic interference are allowed in certain circumstances, like grazing or collection of non-timber forest products, as long as they do not harm the wildlife or environment. The level of interference is regulated based on the sanctuary’s management plan.

Explanation

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is an international treaty focused on the conservation and sustainable use of wet-lands worldwide. It promotes the ecosystem approach to con-serve wetland sites while ensuring their sustainable use, aiming to preserve ecosystem services like flood regulation, water purification, and biodiversity habitat, while benefiting local communities economically and socially. The Convention’s mission is to support the conservation and wise use of wetlands through local, national, and international efforts to achieve sustainable devel-opment globally. The Ramsar Convention was signed on February 2, 1971, in Ramsar, Iran. India became a party to the convention and has since designated several wetlands as Ramsar sites to protect and sustainably manage these ecologically important areas.