Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
The southern bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered a halt on all construction within one kilometre of the Pallikaranai Marshland until a scientific study identifies its zone of influence. The order came in a suo motu case based on reports of landfilling and construction in Perumbakkam wetland, which is hydrologically linked t Pallikaranai. Pallikaranai Marshland is a freshwater marsh and partly saline wetland located about 20 km south of Chennai, Tamil Nadu. It acts as an aquatic buffer for the flood-prone Chennai and Chengalpattu districts.

Notes:
A Dragonfly survey at Yamuna Biodiversity Park, Delhi recently recorded Yellow-tailed Ashy Skimmer (Potamarcha congener) for the first time. It is a species of dragonfly and belongs to the family Libellulidae. It is also called common chaser or swampwatcher. It is found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania, including India, Indonesia, China, Australia, and Vietnam. It is classified as Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
A new wasp species named Nesolynx banabitanae was recently discovered in Salt Lake, West Bengal. It was found in Central Park, locally known as Banabitan, after which it was named. This discovery marks only the seventh wasp species identified in India. It belongs to the Eulophidae family, known for parasitic behaviours. Nesolynx banabitanae is a hyperparasitoid, meaning it parasitises other parasitoid wasps.

Notes:
The Madras High Court recently ordered action against illegal resorts and tourist lodges within the prohibited zone of Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR). Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve is located in the Erode District of Tamil Nadu. It lies at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The reserve covers an area of over 1,400 square kilometres. It connects with Mudumalai, Bandipur, and Biligiri Ranganatha (BR) Tiger Reserves, forming a large tiger landscape.

Notes:
Scientists from Arunachal Pradesh recently discovered a new Begonia species in Basar, Leparada District. It is named ‘Chowna Buku Chulu (Aryarakta)’, meaning “Noble Red”, in honour of Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein. The plant is known for its striking red leaves and natural growth in the region’s habitat. Begonia is a genus of perennial flowering plants from the Begoniaceae family. In cooler regions, they are cultivated outdoors in summer for their bright flowers with sepals but no petals.

Notes:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has for the first time evaluated the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) separately. It is a subspecies of the Grey Wolf found in the Indian subcontinent and Southwest Asia. The Indian wolf is primarily found in India and Pakistan, historically confined south of the Himalayas. Its current range spans 16 Indian states, with major populations in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Karnataka. It is listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Notes:
The Delhi government has declared nearly 41 square kilometres of the Southern Ridge area as a reserved forest. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated the move aims to protect the national capital from pollution and promote sustainable environmental practices. The government will plant indigenous trees on open land within the forest to maintain soil fertility and strengthen the environment. The priority is to make Delhi a modern, pollution-free, green, and environmentally balanced capital. The declaration supports long-term ecological conservation and urban environmental health.

Notes:
Six new species of dragonflies and damselflies were recently discovered in Silent Valley National Park during an odonate survey. The park is located in the southwest corner of the Nilgiris, Kerala. It is one of India’s last undisturbed tropical rainforests and a core part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is nourished by the Kunthipuzha River and is called “silent” due to the absence of cicadas. The forest hosts four vegetation types, over 1000 flowering plant species, and rare medicinal plants.

Notes:
A rare Malabar Gliding Frog was recently spotted at Hirebagewadi near Belagavi, Karnataka. Its scientific name is Rhacophorus malabaricus. It is endemic to the rainforests of the Western Ghats in India. The frog lives on tree leaves near streams or riverbanks and breeds on overhanging trees above water bodies. It can glide through the air using the webbing between its toes, leaping up to 9–12 metres, nearly 115 times its body length. It grows up to 10 cm, with males smaller than females. It has a bright green back, pale yellow belly, and orange-red webbed toes. It is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Notes:
The Bombay High Court has formed a high-powered committee to protect and preserve Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) from encroachments. The committee is led by a former Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court (HC). SGNP is a protected forest and national park located in Maharashtra. It is one of the few national parks located inside a metropolitan city in the world. The park acts as a crucial ecological buffer for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).