Notes:
Researchers have documented brumation, a reptilian form of dormancy, in various species during colder months. This period of slowed activity allows reptiles like box turtles and snakes to retreat to sheltered areas, conserving energy and enduring scarce resources. Metabolism significantly decreases, enabling them to go weeks without eating. Brumation is crucial for survival in adverse environmental conditions, allowing reptiles to reemerge in more favorable climates for feeding and reproduction.

Notes:
The Bor Tiger Reserve (BTR) in Maharashtra, declared a tiger reserve in July 2014, recently sought Rs 1 crore for wildlife safari initiatives in Bangdapur and Hingni forest ranges. It is India’s smallest tiger reserve located in Wardha District. Situated amidst various Bengal Tiger habitats, it neighbors Pench, Nagzira Navegaon, Karhandla, Tadoba Andhari, Melghat, and Satpura reserves. The area boasts Dry Deciduous Forest vegetation and includes the Bor Dam drainage basin.

Notes:
NITI Aayog launched the “Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW)” initiative, unveiling a portal for universal access to state and district-level data. Hosted on the Bhuvan website, GROW employs advanced technologies like remote sensing and GIS to assess agroforestry suitability across India. It aligns with national goals, aiming to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 and create a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes. The initiative utilizes a developed Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI) for national-level prioritization, considering parameters like land use, wasteland, slope, water proximity, and soil organic content.

Notes:
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has raised monthly pensions for 36.75 lakh beneficiaries, including elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities, unmarried women, AIDS patients, transgender individuals, orphans, and widows of COVID victims, under Madhu Babu Pension Yojana. The new amounts are Rs 1,000 for those up to 79 and Rs 1,200 for those 80 and above. This move aims to offer vital financial support, ensuring the well-being and dignity of vulnerable groups in the state.

Notes:
The inaugural meeting of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) in Washington DC, United States set guidelines for implementation, proposed during COP15 in 2022. GEF’s member governments committed $1.1 billion for global initiatives addressing biodiversity, climate change, nature renewal, and pollution control. The meeting approved $918 million for 45 projects from the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund and endorsed $203 million for 21 climate change adaptation projects from the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund. The council also approved Resource Allocation Policy and Project Cycle Policy for effective donor fund allocation.