Telegram Web Link
Forwarded from UPSC Editorial analysis
🔆Overfishing: The Threat To Ocean Wealth, Livelihoods

India’s marine fisheries sector has reached its maximum potential yield, however it needs to take decisive steps to ensure sustainable fishing practices, balancing economic growth with marine conservation.

India’s Fisheries Sector
India is the second largest fish producing country with around 8% share in global fish production. 

📍Ecological Damage Through Bycatch and Trawling
🔰Trawling Bycatch Crisis: In trawling, for every 1 kg of shrimp, over 10 kg of bycatch is discarded.
🔰Biodiversity Loss: Bycatch includes juveniles and non-target species, often dead or dying.
🔰Habitat Destruction: Shrimp trawling damages marine biodiversity, reefs, and food webs.

Juvenile Fishing and Mesh Size Issues :Mesh sizes <25 mm allow sub-legal fish into nets, reducing spawning stock biomass.

New Zealand’s Quota Management System (QMS) uses science-based total allowable catches.

#gs3
#environment

@upsc_the_hindu_ie_editorial
🔆 Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh – A Historical Gem

📍 🏛 Historical Significance
Historians are working to restore Srikakulam’s ancient prominence.
Formerly known as Chicacole during British colonial rule.
Part of the Kalinga Dynasty, later under the Gajapati Kingdom.
🔆One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change today launched a nationwide mass mobilisation campaign ‘One Nation, One Mission: End Plastic Pollution’, in the run up to World Environment Day 2025.

This campaign highlights India’s unwavering commitment to environmental protection and sustainability, aligned with India’s flagship initiative—Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment).

📍The Key thrust areas of the Campaign:
Awareness and Advocacy regarding Plastic pollution
Reduced Use and Generation of Plastic waste including Single Use Plastic
Manage Plastic Waste including Single Use Plastic through Segregation, Collection, Disposal and Recycling of Plastic waste.
Promoting development of sustainable alternatives to single use plastic.

#gs3
#environment

Join @PIB_UPSC
@upsc_4_environment
India’s lion population, exclusively concentrated in Gujarat, has risen by 32% between 2020 and 2025, with 891 lions reported, according to a report from the Gujarat Forest Department released

Though the maximum number of lions – 394 – have been observed in the Gir National Park and Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary, considered the ‘source’ population,

📍Challenges and concerns

While a growing lion population is generally positive for conservation, it also presents challenges, especially for areas with human populations.
Increased lion presence outside core areas leads to more human-wildlife conflict, potentially causing economic losses for local communities.
Furthermore, the growing population may strain limited resources and habitats, impacting the overall ecological balance.

#gs3
#prelims
#environment

@upsc_4_environment
Drought in Amazon : decline in biomass, big losses and mortality of the largest trees.


The loss of ~ 40% of the total weight of the vegetation and the carbon stored within....

🔆 What 24 Years of Drought Simulation in the Amazon Revealed

About the Project:
• The Esecaflor project (2000–present) is the world’s longest-running drought experiment in a rainforest.
• Located in Caxiuana National Forest, scientists diverted 50% of rainfall using 6,000 plastic panels to mimic long-term drought.

Key Findings:
• After 8 years, the forest showed a sharp decline in biomass and 40% loss in vegetation weight.
• Large trees suffered high mortality, leading to significant carbon release into the atmosphere.
• The Amazon shifted from a carbon sink to a carbon emitter, losing its ability to absorb CO₂.

Why It Matters:
• Forest trees store the equivalent of 2 years of global carbon emissions.
• Cutting or death of these trees due to drought accelerates climate change.
• In extreme dry years (El Niño + climate change), impacts were most severe.

Next Steps:
• Scientists are now observing if the forest can regenerate and return to baseline post-drought.
• The project helps predict future resilience of the Amazon amid changing climate patterns.

#Amazon #ClimateCrisis #ForestDrought #CarbonSink
Ethics toppers notes & ans copy

Click here to download
City Gas Distribution (CGD) Project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for a ₹1,010 crore City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts of West Bengal, aiming to expand clean energy infrastructure. 

📍City Gas Distribution (CGD) project
The City Gas Distribution (CGD) project, worth over Rs 1010 crore, aims to provide Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to more than 2.5 Lakh households, over 100 commercial establishments and industries .
It will also provide Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to vehicular traffic by establishing around 19 CNG stations in line with the Minimum Work Program (MWP) targets stipulated by the Government.
It falls under the Minimum Work Programme (MWP) targets set by the government to expand India’s gas-based economy.
It will provide convenient, reliable, environment-friendly and cost-effective fuel supply and create employment opportunities in the region.

#gs3 #prelims
#environment #economy #energy

Join @PIB_UPSC
@upsc_4_environment
2025/07/01 23:46:40
Back to Top
HTML Embed Code: