UPSC 2017 Environment and Ecology Questions with Answers

Explanation

Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) operates through the existing national and international channels for political cooperation and dialogue. It became the main project of the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) in 2015 with strategic focus on promoting the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its Sustainable Development Goals.

Statement 1 is correct: The Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA) is an initiative of the European Union.

Statement 2 is correct: It was launched to enhance dialogue and cooperation on climate change, this initiative focuses on supporting developing countries, particularly Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which are most vulnerable to its effects. It provides technical and financial assistance to help these nations integrate climate change into their development strategies and budgets.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research organization focused on the intersection of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led community of over 200 sustainable businesses working towards a net-zero, nature-positive, and equitable future. Both WRI and WBCSD drive private-sector sustainability initiatives like the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, but they are not directly linked to the Global Climate Change Alliance (GCCA).

Explanation

Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) is a voluntary alliance of governments, intergovernmental organisations, corporations, academic institutions, and organisations from civil society dedicated to enhancing air quality and defending the environment by taking steps to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the governments of Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States joined forces in 2012 to launch initiatives to handle short-lived climate pollutants as an urgent and collective concern. CCAC is not an initiative of G20 countries.

Statement 2 is correct: CCAC works to reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants which includes black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons. By addressing these pollutants, the coalition aims to achieve near-term climate benefits, improve air quality, and promote public health.

Explanation

TRAFFIC’s mission aligns with the long-term goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, envision-ing a world in harmony with nature. By 2050, it aims to ensure that biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored, and sustainably used, safeguarding ecosystem services, supporting a healthy planet, and providing essential benefits for all.

Statement 1 is incorrect: TRAFFIC is an independent non-gov-ernmental organization and operates as a strategic alliance between the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It is not a bureau under UNEP. TRAFFIC was established in 1976 as a specialist group of the Species Survival Commission of the IUCN. It later evolved into a strategic alliance between WWF and IUCN, focusing on monitoring wildlife trade to support conservation efforts.

Statement 2 is correct: TRAFFIC works to monitor the wildlife trade in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. It operates globally, with a network of offices and projects around the world, working to monitor and influence wildlife trade policies and practices.

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

Option (a) is incorrect: Gharials inhabit deep fresh-water habitats, while crocodile species are found in both fresh-water and saltwater habitats. Bhitarkanika Mangroves is the home of saltwater crocodiles.

Option (b) is correct: Gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) are crocodiles native to the Indian subcontinent, recognized for their narrow snouts. They inhabit freshwater rivers, streams, and wet-lands, with the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh being a prime location to see them. The National Chambal Sanctuary was established to protect and conserve this species, which has a significant population in the river. The Chambal River and its tributaries which flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are one of the best places to see gharials in their natural habitat. The Chambal River is home to a significant population of gharials, and the National Chambal Sanctuary has been established to protect and conserve these magnificent creatures.

Option (c) is incorrect: Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lake or lagoon in India after Chilika Lake while Gharials inhabit deep freshwater habitats.

Option (d) is incorrect: Deepor Beel is one of the largest fresh-water lakes in Assam and the State’s only Ramsar site besides being an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International. Till date no credible information has been found regarding Gharial population in Deepor beel.