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

Explanation

Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve was established in 2001. It is located near the southernmost tip of the Western Ghats. It includes the following wildlife sanctuaries: Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, and Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It comprises the tropical wet evergreen forests of India, the moist deciduous forests of the South Western Ghats, the montane rain forests of the South Western Ghats, and the Shola forests. The Kanikaran tribe, one of the oldest extant ancient tribes in the world, is also found in Agasthyamalai. In 2016, it was added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO.

Explanation

Pakke Tiger Reserve is also known as "Pakhui Tiger Re-serve". It is situated in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It is one of the key protected areas in the Eastern Himalayas and is renowned for its rich biodiversity. The reserve lies within the Eastern Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, an area known for its diverse flora and fauna. Pakhui is home to a significant population of Royal Bengal tigers, along with Asian elephants, clouded leopards, Hoolock gibbons, and a variety of bird species, including the endangered Great Indian hornbill. For its Hornbill Nest Adoption Program, this Tiger Reserve received the 2016 India Biodiversity Award in the category of "Conservation of vulnerable species."

Explanation

Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) is situated where the Western and Eastern Ghats converge. This region is home to a sizable tiger population and is adjacent to other landscapes dedicated to protecting tigers, including BRT, Bandipur, Mudumalai, and Nagarahole. The Nilgiri-Eastern Ghats Elephant Reserve includes this area as well. Due to its peculiar location, the tiger reserve offers a distinctive ecological landscape containing a wide variety and complex mix of vegetation and animals. The connectivity provided by Sathyamangalam also plays a crucial role in reducing human-wildlife conflict, preserving ecosystems, and supporting conservation initiatives.

Explanation

Keibul Lamjao National Park in the Bishnupur district of the Indian state of Manipur is the only floating park in existence and is a crucial component of Loktak Lake, which lies in North East India. Locally known as "Phumdi," the national park is distinguished by floating decaying plant matter. It was established in 1966 as a wildlife sanctuary to protect the Eld’s deer’s natural habitat, which is in risk of extinction (Cervus eldi eldi). It was declared a national park in 1977. The park is unique in that it is "too shallow to be a lake, too deep to be marsh." The park offers a diverse array of aquatic, wetland, and terrestrial ecosystems and is mostly made up of damp, semi-evergreen forests. Fauna found in the park include the brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi), which is its emblematic species, as well as the Asian Golden Cat, Marbled Cat, Malayan Bear, Hog Deer, Himalayan Black Bear, and others.

Explanation

The Namdapha National Park is located at the inter-national border between India and Myanmar (Burma) in Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh in northeast India. It is known for its unique climate that ranges from tropical to subtropical, temperate, and arctic due to its vast altitude variation. Spanning from 200 meters to 4,500 meters above sea level, the park encompasses a wide range of ecosystems. The lower altitudes experience tropical and subtropical climates with rich biodiversity, including dense forests and diverse wildlife. As you move higher, the climate shifts to temperate, and eventually, at the highest elevations, it reaches an arctic-like climate, hosting snow-covered peaks. This diversity in climate allows the park to support an incredible variety of flora and fauna, including species like the snow leopard, clouded leopard, and tiger.

Explanation

Eco-Sensitive Zones are defined "as areas/zones with identified environmental resources having incomparable values which require special attention for their conservation" because of its landscape, wildlife, biodiversity, historical and natural values.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) stipulates that state governments should declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as eco-fragile zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and not Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The basic aim is to regulate certain activities around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries so as to minimise the negative impacts of such activities on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected area. In Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs), prohibited activities include commercial mining, polluting industries, and large hydropower projects. Regulated activities involve tree felling, hotel construction, and road widening. Permitted activities include ongoing farming, organic practices, rainwater harvesting, and use of renewable energy. Activities such as eco-tourism, education, and sustainable development can take place under the guidelines issued by MoEFCC

Explanation

A Protected Area is a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values. Biosphere reserves, Botanical gardens, National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, Conseravation and Community reserve etc are examples of protected areas.

Option (a) is correct:

Biosphere reserves are legally protected regions where people and the environment can coexist while honouring each other’s needs. These areas might be terrestrial, coastal, or a combination of both. They are recognised under UNESCO’s MAB programme and nominated and established by the relevant nations. They consist of three zones: the core zone, buffer zone, and transition zone. The core zone is strictly protected, while the buffer and transition zones allow for sustainable human activities, ensuring a balance between conservation and livelihood. Unlike national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, which primarily focus on preserving wildlife, biosphere reserves encourage sustainable human activity and help integrate conservation with traditional practices. Therefore, they serve as a model for preserving biodiversity alongside the needs of local communities.

Explanation

Project Tiger was initiated in 1973 under the Wild-life Protection Act, 1972, with the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) overseeing the implementation. The project was launched with the primary goal to protect the Bengal tiger, enhance their population, and safeguard their habitats through the establishment of Tiger Reserves. The project has been highly successful, expanding to include a range of conservation efforts. A Tiger Reserve is a protected area legally designated for the conservation of striped big cats. It can also be classified as a national park or wildlife sanctuary. For example, Sariska Tiger Reserve is also a national park because it was initially established as a na-tional park before being dedicated to tiger conservation.

Explanation

According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, a national park is defined as an area, whether within a sanctuary or not, that can be designated by the state government due to its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphologi-cal, or zoological significance. The purpose of this designation is to protect, propagate, or develop the wildlife and its environment. In National Parks, local people are generally not allowed to collect and use the biomass or any resources for subsistence purposes. The primary objective of National Parks is the protection of biodiversity and preservation of ecosystems. These parks are strictly protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and human activities, including the collection of resources like firewood, grazing, and hunting, are prohibited unless specifically allowed for research or management purposes.

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.