Q161. A direct positive effect of successful Joint Forest Management in a region is usually:
Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development: RAS Prelims MCQs
179 RAS Prelims MCQs on biodiversity, conservation of natural resources and sustainable development cover the levels of biodiversity, hotspots, conservation bodies, wildlife law and climate instruments. Alpha diversity, Norman Myers, the IUCN Red List, the Wildlife Amendment Act 2022, the CBD protocols and carbon market ideas like cap and trade and additionality are asked as facts and statements.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 161–170 of 179 questions
Q162. All of the following are challenges faced by Joint Forest Management, EXCEPT:
Explanation
Joint Forest Management faces several challenges, including inadequate benefit-sharing, lack of legal tenure for committees, and conflicts between traditional knowledge and modern forestry. However, an "over-abundance" of funds is not a recognized challenge; in fact, many programs struggle with insufficient financial support. This lack of resources often hinders the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of community-based forest protection efforts.
Q163. Find the odd one out regarding community conservation practices in India.
Explanation
Sacred groves, the environmental traditions of the Bishnoi community, and Joint Forest Management are all examples of practices that prioritize the protection and sustainable management of natural resources through community involvement. Commercial clear-cutting, however, involves the total removal of trees for immediate profit, which destroys the ecosystem. This destructive industrial practice is the opposite of conservation and the odd out.
Q164. Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) can be best defined as:
Explanation
Traditional Ecological Knowledge is a cumulative body of knowledge, practice, and belief that has evolved through adaptive processes over generations. It concerns the complex relationships between living beings and their natural environment. Deeply rooted in indigenous cultures, TEK provides a holistic understanding of ecosystems and is passed down through oral traditions, offering valuable insights for sustainable resource management and conservation.
Q165. Which community in Rajasthan is world-renowned for their centuries-old tradition of protecting the environment, particularly the Khejri trees and Blackbucks, even sacrificing their lives for it (e.g., the Khejarli massacre)?
Explanation
The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is world-renowned for its deep-rooted commitment to environmental protection. Following the teachings of Guru Jambheshwar, they consider the protection of trees, particularly the Khejri, and wildlife, especially the Blackbuck, as a sacred duty. This tradition was tragically illustrated by the Khejarli massacre, where many Bishnois sacrificed their lives to prevent the felling of forest trees.
Q166. Identify the correct statement regarding the role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in modern conservation.
Explanation
Far from being irrelevant, Traditional Ecological Knowledge is increasingly recognized by the global scientific community as a vital resource for modern conservation. Indigenous and local practices offer unique insights into ecosystem dynamics, species behavior, and sustainable harvesting. By integrating TEK with modern science, conservationists can develop more effective and culturally appropriate strategies for climate change adaptation and biodiversity protection.
Q167. Traditional water harvesting structures in Rajasthan, such as Johads, Bawaris, and Tankas, represent the application of TEK primarily for:
Explanation
In the arid landscape of Rajasthan, local communities have long utilized Traditional Ecological Knowledge to manage scarce water resources. Structures like Johads, Bawaris, and Tankas are ingenious examples of traditional rainwater harvesting. Their primary purpose is to capture every drop of rainfall and store it securely for use during long dry periods, ensuring water security for humans and livestock alike.
Q168. Read the following statements and select the correct option:
Statement I: The Biological Diversity Act of 2002 mandates the documentation of traditional ecological knowledge through People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).
Statement II: PBRs are prepared at the local level by Biodiversity Management Committees to protect TEK from biopiracy.
Statement I: The Biological Diversity Act of 2002 mandates the documentation of traditional ecological knowledge through People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).
Statement II: PBRs are prepared at the local level by Biodiversity Management Committees to protect TEK from biopiracy.
Explanation
The Biological Diversity Act of 2002 mandates the creation of People’s Biodiversity Registers to document local biological resources and associated traditional knowledge. These registers are prepared by local Biodiversity Management Committees to ensure that this knowledge is formally recorded. This documentation is a critical step in protecting TEK from biopiracy and ensuring that communities receive fair benefits from its utilization.
Q169. The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) is an Indian initiative aimed primarily at:
Explanation
The Traditional Knowledge Digital Library is an Indian initiative designed to protect the country’s ancient medical knowledge from misappropriation. By digitizing and translating information from traditional systems like Ayurveda and Unani, the TKDL provides patent examiners worldwide with evidence of "prior art." This prevents foreign companies from obtaining invalid patents on traditional practices that have been known for centuries.
Q170. What is the effect of integrating TEK with modern scientific forestry?
Explanation
Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge with modern scientific forestry produces a more comprehensive and effective approach to land management. By combining scientific data with local insights, managers can develop co-management strategies that are both ecologically sound and socially acceptable. This synergy respects the rights and wisdom of local communities while ensuring that forest conservation is grounded in the best evidence.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 161 | (a) Regeneration of degraded forest cover and improved livelihood security for local communities |
| 162 | (c) Over-abundance of funds preventing proper budget utilization. |
| 163 | (d) Commercial clear-cutting |
| 164 | (c) Adaptive body of knowledge and beliefs about relationships between beings and environment. |
| 165 | (b) Bishnoi |
| 166 | (d) Valuable insights for climate adaptation and biodiversity conservation. |
| 167 | (c) Capturing and storing rainwater for security in desert ecosystems. |
| 168 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 169 | (d) Preventing invalid international patents on traditional knowledge. |
| 170 | (b) It leads to better, more sustainable co- management strategies that are socially acceptable and ecologically sound. |
Key facts from Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development
- Genetic diversity is the variation of genes and alleles within a species; alpha diversity is the diversity of species within a habitat.
- Norman Myers proposed the concept of biodiversity hotspots; the Nicobar Islands are part of the Sundaland hotspot.
- The IUCN maintains the Red List of Threatened Species; the Amazon rainforest is called the lungs of the planet.
- The Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 2022 removed the vermin schedule; the Centre can declare vermin by notification.
- The Cartagena Protocol, Nagoya Protocol and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework belong to the CBD; the Kyoto Protocol does not.
- Cap and trade sets an emission limit and allows trade of surplus allowances; one carbon credit equals one tonne of CO₂; additionality means reductions must be real.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development?
This page has 179 practice MCQs on Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Development (Health, Environment and Agriculture). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Who proposed the concept of biodiversity hotspots?
The ecologist Norman Myers. A hotspot is a region with a very high number of endemic species that has lost most of its original habitat, such as the Western Ghats and Sundaland.
What is cap and trade?
A mechanism that sets a limit (cap) on total emissions and issues allowances to firms. Firms that emit less than their allowance can sell the surplus to others, which gives a market price to carbon.
What does additionality mean in carbon offsets?
That the emission reductions must be real and would not have happened without the revenue from carbon credits. A project that would have gone ahead anyway does not earn credits.