Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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India has identified the Northeast as the next saffron cultivation hub after Jammu & Kashmir’s Pampore. Mission Saffron was launched in 2010-11 to promote saffron farming with financial, technical, and infrastructural support. Since 2021, the initiative expanded to the Northeast (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya) under the “Saffron Bowl Project” by NECTAR (North East Centre for Technology Application and Reach). The Northeast offers suitable agro-climatic conditions for saffron cultivation.

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The Government of India is drafting the National Wildlife Health Policy (NWHP) to strengthen wildlife disease surveillance, research, and diagnostics. The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) initiated the program to improve wildlife health and manage zoonotic diseases. NWHP is a key part of the National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) and follows the One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health. The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-31) includes 103 conservation actions, 250 projects, and standard disease surveillance protocols for tiger reserves and protected areas.

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A study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests Fijian iguana ancestors traveled 8,000 km across the Pacific on floating vegetation from the Americas. Iguanas are large, stout lizards mainly found in tropical regions of the Americas. They have scaly skin with warts, spines along their back, and a dewlap under their necks. They exhibit color variations like green, blue, and grey. Iguanas are herbivores and adapt to diverse habitats, from deserts to rainforests. They are native to Central and South America but have established populations in Florida, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. They are the largest lizards in the USA.

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Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling, West Bengal, is India’s first zoo to preserve DNA samples of wildlife from snowy regions. The DNA preservation is part of the Cryogenic Preservation Initiative in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad. The initiative aims to protect genetic material for research and conservation in case of species extinction. Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) is India’s highest-altitude zoological park. It is known for its conservation programs for the Snow Leopard and Red Panda.

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Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary hosted the first-ever ‘Indian Bison Fest’ to raise awareness about conservation. The sanctuary is located in Bargarh district, Odisha, near the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River. It has historical significance as freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai used ‘Barapathara’ within the sanctuary as his base during his rebellion against the British. Debrigarh was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1985. The event highlighted the ecological importance of the Indian Bison and the need for its protection.

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The Odisha government’s proposal to construct a dam at Pipalapanka in Ganjam district has sparked protests from environmentalists and local communities. The project is criticized for prioritizing industrial interests over environmental and human concerns. Rushikulya River is a major river in Odisha, flowing through Kandhamal, Ganjam, and Boudh districts. It originates from the Daringbadi hills in the Eastern Ghats at about 1000 meters elevation. The river runs for 165 kilometers and empties into the Bay of Bengal near Ganjam. Unlike other rivers, it does not form a delta. Major tributaries include Baghua, Dhanei, and Badanadi.

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The rare Pale-chinned Flycatcher (scientific name Cyornis poliogenys) was recently spotted in the Nong Loung forest area of Namsai district, Arunachal Pradesh. It is a small, sparrow-sized insect-eating songbird from the Muscicapidae family, known for its shy nature and love for shady forest interiors. This bird is found in parts of India like the Eastern Ghats, Northeast states, Eastern Himalayas, and West Bengal, as well as in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Southeast Asia. It prefers dense, moist evergreen or semi-evergreen forests with thick undergrowth. Its conservation status is listed as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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Asiatic lions, also called Persian Lions or Indian Lions, belong to the subspecies Panthera leo persica and are found only in India, mainly in Gir National Park, Gujarat. Once spread across West Asia and the Middle East, they are now extinct outside India, making Gir their last home. As per the 2020 lion census by the Gujarat Forest Department, there are 674 lions across 30,000 sq km in nine districts and 53 talukas of Saurashtra. Lions are now moving beyond Gir, even reaching Diu Island, showing healthy range expansion. International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed them as Endangered since 2008, improved from Critically Endangered in the 1990s due to successful conservation.

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Recently, herpetologist Fred Kraus discovered a new species of snake, Dendrelaphis anthracina, also known as the coal black tree snake, in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea. This 4-foot, 8-inch snake was found on Sudest Island, highlighting the area’s biodiversity. Kraus’s research also identified three other new snake species. These include Dendrelaphis atra on Misima Island, Dendrelaphis melanarkys on Rossel Island, and Dendrelaphis roseni on Woodlark Island. The coal black tree snake was observed during a dramatic encounter with a goshawk, demonstrating its defensive behavior. The atra tree snake is adaptable, living in human-altered environments.

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The 2025 Conferences of the Parties (COPs) of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions will be held in Geneva from April 28 to May 9. The conferences aim to address hazardous chemicals like chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos is a pesticide classified as ‘moderately hazardous’ by the World Health Organization. Despite being banned in over 40 countries, it is still approved for use in India on 18 crops. The chemical is linked to neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, irreversible brain damage in unborn children, and environmental contamination due to its mobility.