Upsc Environment

Guru Ghasidas-Tamor Pingla Tiger Reserve

1. Location: It is located in Chhattisgarh. It is nested in the Chota Nagpur plateau and partly in Baghelkhand plateau.
The reserve spreads across four districts in Chhattisgarh: Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, Korea, Surajpur, and Balrampur.
2. Area: The Tiger Reserve spans a total area of 2,829.38 square kilometers, including a core or critical tiger habitat of 2,049.2 square kilometers that encompasses the Guru Ghasidas National Park and Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary.
3. It also has a buffer zone of 780.15 square kilometers, making it the third-largest tiger reserve in India.
4. Adjacent preserved areas: It also links with the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (Madhya Pradesh) in the west and the Palamau Tiger Reserve (Jharkhand) in the east.
5. Significance: It forms a contiguous landscape with the Sanjay Dubri Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, creating a complex of nearly 4,500 sq. km.
6. Flora: It comprises of blend of sub-tropical and deciduous forests. The park’s primary flora consists of Sakhua or Sal trees.
7. Vegetation: The vegetation includes species like teak, Saja, Salai, Mahua, Sisham, Kari, Gurjan, Achar, Tendu, and Bamboo, among many others.
8. Fauna:  The reserve is home to 753 documented species, including 365 invertebrates and 388 vertebrates. It shelters 230 bird species and 55 mammal species including several threatened species. Its insect diversity, mainly from the class Insecta, contributes to a healthy ecosystem balance.

Hwange National Park:

Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife reserve, recently became the center of attention due to the discovery of three poached lions.
About Hwange National Park:
• Location: Situated in northwest Zimbabwe, near the main road between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
• Size: Covers approximately 14,600 sq. km, making it the largest natural reserve in Zimbabwe.
• History: Established in 1928; formerly known as Wankie Game Reserve.
• Wildlife: Home to over 100 mammal species and 400 bird species, including 19 large herbivores and eight large carnivores. It houses half of Zimbabwe’s elephant population (around 50,000) and over 500 lions.
• Conservation efforts:
◦ Part of the Kavango-Zambezi Trans frontier Conservation Area (KAZA) involving five Southern African nations.
◦ Use of drones and other technologies to combat poaching.

The Emission Gap Report

The Emissions Gap Report, an annual publication of the UN Environment Programme, warned that the Paris Agreement objective of keeping global rise in temperatures to within 1.5 degree Celsius would be “gone within a few years”.
Key Findings of Emissions Gap Report 2024:
• GHG emissions growth: Global GHG emissions increased by 1.3% in 2023, with China and India seeing notable rises of 5.2% and 6.1%, respectively.
• Paris agreement targets in jeopardy: The report emphasizes that without rapid reductions, the goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C will likely become unachievable within a few years, with the world on track for a 2.6-3.1°C rise by the century’s end.
• Ambitious emissions reductions required: To stay on the 1.5°C path, a reduction of 42% in global GHG emissions is required by 2030 and 57% by 2035, with current plans achieving only about a 10% cut by 2030.
• Financial commitment for emissions reductions: Achieving the necessary reductions by 2030 would require investment at $200 per ton of CO₂, which could bridge the emissions gap by 31 billion tonnes.

Rat Tail falls (Thalaiyar falls)

The Rat Tail Falls, located in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu, stands as the state’s tallest waterfall at 947 feet. Recent heavy rainfall has significantly increased its water flow, enhancing its dramatic cascade down the hills.

About Rat Tail falls (Thalaiyar falls):
• Location: Theni District, Tamil Nadu, India.
• Height: Stands at 297 meters (974 feet), making it the tallest waterfall in Tamil Nadu, the sixth highest in India, and the 267th highest globally.
• Water source: The falls form part of the Manjalar River, a tributary of the Vaigai River.
• Visibility: The waterfall can be seen from the Dum Dum Rock viewpoint on the Batalugundu-Kodaikanal Ghat Road, located about 3.6 km away.
• Scenic view: It is recognized for its unique appearance as a long, thin strip of water cascading down a black rock cliff, especially noticeable on clear days.

Z-Morh Tunnel

1. Location: It is located near Gagangir village, Kashmir. It is at an altitude of over 8,500 feet.
2. The Z-Morh tunnel spans 6.4 kilometers and connects the popular Sonamarg health resort with Kangan town in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
3. Purpose: It provides all-weather connectivity to Sonamarg, a key tourist destination on the Srinagar-Leh highway. The name comes from the Z-shaped road stretch where the tunnel is situated.
4. Need of the tunnel: The area is prone to heavy snow avalanches in winter, leading to the closure of the road to Sonamarg for most of the season. The tunnel enables year-round access to the region.
5. Timeline: It was conceived in 2012 by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). After initial delays and retendering, the contract was awarded to APCO Infratech. The project was executed through APCO-Shri Amarnathji Tunnel Private Limited. The tunnel’s soft opening occurred in February 2024.
6. Strategic Importance of the Z-Morh Tunnel:
i) Connection to Ladakh: Part of the broader Zojila tunnel project, which aims to establish all-weather connectivity between Srinagar and Ladakh.
ii) Military Relevance: The tunnel is critical for quick military access to border regions of Ladakh, including Drass and Kargil. It supports Indian defense deployments against Pakistan in Siachen and Chinese forces in Eastern Ladakh.
iii) Air Support Reduction: With improved road access, the Indian Army’s reliance on air maintenance through aircraft for troops and supplies will decrease, reducing operational costs and extending the life of aircraft.

High-Performance Buildings (HPBs)?

1 HPBs are buildings designed to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and operational costs while improving occupant well-being.
2 These buildings minimize energy and water consumption through climate-adaptive designs, contributing to climate mitigation and adaptation.
3 HPBs address urban and climate challenges as the construction industry contributes 39% of energy-related CO2 emissions globally.

increase in plant cover on the Antarctic

new study indicates a dramatic increase in plant cover on the Antarctic Peninsula, attributed to rising temperatures, signalling significant ecological changes.
About Antarctic warming:
• Warming rate: Antarctica is warming at a rate between 0.22°C to 0.32°C per decade, double the global average of 0.14-0.18°C per decade.
• Antarctic peninsula: This region is warming five times faster than the global average, with temperatures now nearly 3°C higher than in 1950.
• Extreme heatwaves: The continent has faced record-breaking heatwaves, with temperatures in July 2024 reaching up to 28°C above normal and a peak heatwave in March 2022 showing a rise of 39°C above average.
• Sea ice loss: Antarctica’s sea ice extent in 2024 was the second smallest on record, closely following the record low in 2023.
Recent study findings:
• Increased vegetation: The extent of plant cover on the Antarctic Peninsula has increased 14 times over the past 35 years, expanding from less than 1 sq km in 1986 to nearly 12 sq km by 2021.
• Greening rate: The rate of greening increased by over 30% between 2016 and 2021, with vegetation like mosses and lichen thriving due to warmer conditions.
• Impact on ecosystem: Rising temperatures and increased plant life may lead to soil formation, creating conditions conducive to invasive species, potentially threatening native flora and fauna.
• Albedo effect: More plant life could reduce the peninsula’s albedo (reflectivity), absorbing more solar energy and further increasing temperatures, potentially accelerating global warming.
Significance:
• Indicator of climate change: The expansion of plant cover highlights the profound impact of climate change even in the most remote and extreme regions.
• Global repercussions: Increased temperatures and ice loss in Antarctica contribute to rising sea levels, affecting coastal areas worldwide.
• Ecological shifts: The greening of Antarctica raises concerns about altering its ecosystem balance, paving the way for non-native species and impacting native biodiversity.

India’s Bio-Bitumen Initiative

i) India is actively exploring large-scale production of bio-bitumen from biomass or agricultural waste.
ii) This innovative approach aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imported bitumen which is commonly used for road asphalting, while also addressing the persistent issue of stubble burning.
iii) India currently imports about half of its annual bitumen requirement. The goal is to replace these imports with bio-bitumen over the next decade.

About Bio-Bitumen
i) Bio-bitumen is a sustainable alternative to traditional fossil-fuel-based bitumen. It is petroleum-free and manufactured from organic materials such as bio-char, bio-oil, and similar substances. It is also known as bio-asphalt.
ii) Bio-bitumen can be used to supplement bitumen or to reduce the amount of bitumen in binder mixtures.

How is Bio-Bitumen Made?
i) Bio-bitumen is an asphalt mixture made from lignins which are natural biopolymers found in the plant cell wall. Lignins provide structural support and aid in plant growth.

ii) The production process involves heating the waste mixture to around 500°C without oxygen in a process known as pyrolysis. This method is similar to the production of charcoal and biochar and is also used in biofuel manufacturing.

Benefits of Bio-Bitumen
i) Economic Impact: Bio-bitumen production from biomass could lead to substantial savings in foreign exchange by reducing the need for imports. It would also make India self-reliant in bio-bitumen production.
ii) Environmental Impact: This initiative provides an effective solution to the problem of stubble burning, promoting the sustainable use of agricultural waste and biomass.

slag

1 Slag is a by-product of steelmaking, composed of metal oxides and silicon dioxide.
2 It is a key part of artificial ground, contributing over 316 million tonnes of sedimentary material to oceans in 2015.
3 Slag undergoes lithification, hardening into sedimentary rock, and releases sediments into the environment as it weathers.
How human waste, like slag from steelmaking, creates new sedimentary rocks? 
1 Human waste, like slag from steelmaking, is transforming into new sedimentary rocks through lithification.
2 Lithification is the process that transforms industrial waste, such as slag, into rock. This happens when slag hardens and turns into sedimentary rock, which then releases sediments into the environment when it weathers.
3 Two main lithification processes occur in slag: calcite cement precipitation, which captures carbon dioxide, and calcium-silicate-hydrate (CSH) cement precipitation.
What is the significance of slag in the environment? 
1 Carbon Capture Potential: Slag can store carbon dioxide through mineral carbonation. The study on slag in the U.K. revealed that calcite cement, formed by reacting calcium from slag with atmospheric CO2, aids in carbon sequestration.
2 Soil and Water Impact: Lithified slag releases toxic metals, such as vanadium and chromium, which can contaminate the environment. However, slag is also able to neutralize acidity and store greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide through a process called mineral carbonation, which mimics natural weathering.
3 Formation of New Rocks: Researchers documented the formation of a new type of rock made from coastal slag deposits in the U.K., highlighting how slag lithifies into sedimentary rocks.
4 Coastal Protection: Hardened slag can help prevent coastal erosion, offering a dual benefit of waste management and environmental conservation.
5 Resource Recovery: The analysis of slag suggests potential for recovering valuable resources, contributing to the reuse of materials in the steelmaking process.

Living Planet Report 2024

The World-Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2024 reveals a 73% decline in monitored wildlife populations from 1970 to 2020. This report highlights the significant impact of habitat loss, climate change, and over-exploitation on global biodiversity.
Key data points
• Wildlife population decline: 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations from 1970-2020, up from 69% reported in 2022.
• Ecosystem-specific declines:
◦ Freshwater ecosystems: 85% decline
◦ Terrestrial ecosystems: 69% decline
◦ Marine ecosystems: 56% decline
• Main threats to wildlife: Habitat loss, degradation, over-exploitation, invasive species, and diseases.