Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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The Environment Ministry’s Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) approved the use of Extended Reach Drilling (ERD) technology for research inside Dibru Saikhowa National Park. Dibru Saikhowa is both a National Park and a Biosphere Reserve in Assam, located on the south bank of the Brahmaputra River. It is bordered by the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers in the north and the Dibru River in the south. The park consists of moist mixed semi-evergreen and deciduous forests.

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The International Bird Festival will be held from February 16-18 during Maha Kumbh 2025, Prayagraj, to promote environmental conservation. It aims to raise awareness among environmentalists, ornithologists, and devotees about rare bird species. More than 200 species of migratory and local birds, including Indian Skimmer, Flamingo, and Siberian Crane, will be showcased. Birds from 10+ countries like Siberia, Mongolia, and Afghanistan have arrived at the Ganga-Yamuna banks. Experts will hold discussions on bird migration, climate change, and ecological balance. The festival blends Indian culture, spirituality, and scientific awareness, inspiring future environmental conservation efforts.

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FAO launched a seven-year project in Somalia to improve climate adaptation for vulnerable communities. The $95 million project, named “Ugbaad” (meaning hope), will address climate change and strengthen agriculture. The project was approved in October 2024 and aims to restore landscapes and empower local communities. Agriculture is critical in Somalia, involving 65% of the population and contributing 75% to GDP. Somalia faces severe climate risks, with frequent weather shocks harming agriculture and livelihoods. Drought and flooding between 2020-2023 affected millions dependent on seasonal rains.

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A pair of rare, endangered white-winged ducks (Deo Hanh), Assam’s state bird, was recently spotted in Dihing Patkai National Park by conservationists and forest officials. White-Winged Duck (Asarcornis scutulata) is large, rare, and endangered. It is found in freshwater wetlands and tropical forests of South and Southeast Asia. It is found in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries.

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India’s first bio bank will be set up at Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park in West Bengal, in collaboration with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB). This facility will preserve cell and tissue samples from endangered animals, including reproductive cells from deceased ones. The samples will be used for future research and could help in efforts to revive critically endangered or extinct species.

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A faunal survey by the Forest Department in Parambikulam Tiger Reserve recorded 15 new species. The reserve is located in Kerala’s Palakkad and Thrissur districts and covers 391 sq. km. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in 2009 under Project Tiger. The Parambikulam, Sholayar, and Thekkady rivers flow through the reserve, supporting its biodiversity. The reserve is home to four tribal communities—Kadar, Malasar, Muduvar, and Mala Malasar—living in six colonies within the protected area.

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Scientists discovered deadly brine pools beneath the Red Sea that kill or stun marine life. Brine pools are hypersaline, oxygen-lacking lakes on the seafloor, denser than surrounding ocean water. They are also called “underwater lakes” because their high salt content prevents mixing with seawater. The Orca Basin in the Gulf of Mexico has the deepest known brine pool, 2,200 meters below sea level. This pool is 8 times saltier than the Gulf, with a salt content of 300 g/liter. Most sea life cannot survive in these pools, but some specialized organisms thrive.

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Human activities outside protected areas are causing biodiversity loss. Extinction filtering removes species sensitive to human disturbances, leaving only those that adapt to degraded habitats. Species evolved in high-disturbance environments are more likely to survive habitat loss and fragmentation. In tropical forests, human overpopulation has driven sensitive mammals to local extinction, while adaptable species persist. This process leads to less diverse and more uniform species in forests. Over time, it weakens ecosystems and reduces their ability to recover from environmental changes.

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Countries around Lake Tanganyika launched a five-year project to tackle biodiversity threats. Lake Tanganyika is an ancient lake in East Africa. It borders Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. It is the world’s longest and one of the deepest lakes, stretching over 400 miles. It is located in the Western Rift Valley, steep land rises along its shores. It marks the division between East and West African floral regions, with oil palms on its shores.

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Barda Dungar Sanctuary has been officially declared the second habitat for Asiatic lions under Project Lion. 17 lions, including six adults and 11 cubs, now inhabit Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. The idea of Barda as a lion habitat was proposed in 1993 during a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) workshop. Project Lion, launched on August 15, 2020, aims to conserve and expand the Asiatic lion population. The 10-year project has a budget of Rs 2,927.71 crore and focuses on habitat management and community participation.