Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Recently, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) adopted Motion 007 on Soil Security Law, the world’s first model legal framework for soil protection. The motion was co-sponsored by Save Soil (Isha Outreach) and the Global Center for Environmental Legal Studies, with support from Aurora, an Australian soil think tank. It marks the first global recognition of soil security as vital for food, water, biodiversity, and climate resilience. IUCN will now form a working group to draft an international convention on soil protection. Sadhguru called it a historic step toward global soil conservation.

Notes:
Seven countries have received $5.8 million from the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to promote nature-friendly agriculture. The seven countries are Cook Islands, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Uganda. It is a Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) launched in 2021 during Part 1 of COP 15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It aims to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) at all governance levels.

Notes:
Continuous floods at the Prakasam Barrage on the Krishna River have forced the closure of Bhavani Island and suspension of boat services, affecting tourism revenue. Bhavani Island, located near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, is one of India’s largest river islands. The Krishna River, 1,400 km long, originates near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra and flows through Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh before entering the Bay of Bengal. Its basin covers about 2.59 lakh sq. km, the second largest in peninsular India after the Godavari.

Notes:
A new species of jumping spider named Pilia malenadu was recently discovered in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It was found in Madhugundi, located in Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru district. The species belongs to the Pilia genus of jumping spiders. It was named “Pilia malenadu” to honour the region where it was discovered. This is a historic find as the last Pilia species was recorded 123 years ago in 1902 in Kerala. For the first time, researchers found both male and female spiders of this genus.

Notes:
The Asiatic Caracal was recently spotted in Ramgarh, Rajasthan, showing its rare presence in India. The Caracal (Scientific Name: Caracal caracal) is an elusive medium-sized wild cat species. It is called the desert lynx but is more closely related to the African golden cat and the Serval. In India, it is known as Siya Gosh, meaning ‘black ear’ in Persian. It is native to Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, northwestern India, and arid Pakistan. Only about 50 remain in India, mostly in Rajasthan and Gujarat. It lives in semi-deserts, savannahs, shrublands, steppes, forests, and dry woodlands. Its IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) status is Least Concern.

Notes:
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district of Assam is recording an early arrival of migratory birds with winter beginning. Birds are coming from Europe America and the Tibetan region attracting wildlife lovers. Pobitora is located in the eastern region of Guwahati, Assam, and lies near Mayong village known as the Black Magic capital of India. The sanctuary was established in 1998 and covers 48.81 sq km area. It includes Rajamayong Reserve Forest and Pobitora Reserve Forest. The region was once part of the Brahmaputra River floodplains and is known for rich flora and fauna

Notes:
Bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis spinipes) has been rediscovered in India after 72 years, in Karnataka and Odisha. The rediscovery was by researchers from Centre for Climate Change Studies, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai. Bamboo shrimp are filter feeders, using fan-like limb structures to capture edible particles from flowing water. It is a medium-sized freshwater shrimp native to Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

Notes:
Bioremediation means “restoring life through biology” using microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants to clean polluted land and water. These organisms break oil, pesticides, plastics, and heavy metals into safer products like water and carbon dioxide. In situ bioremediation treats pollution at the site, while Ex situ bioremediation treats removed soil or water in a facility. India needs it due to severe river, soil, and industrial pollution and the high cost of traditional cleanup methods. It is cheap, eco-friendly, job-creating, but needs strict safety rules for genetically modified (GM) microbes.

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A rare Striated Grassbird was recorded for the first time in Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary, marking a major range extension in Maharashtra. Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. The sanctuary lies between the Markhanda and Pedigundam hills with the Pranhita River along its western side. It is located near the confluence of the Wardha and Wainganga rivers.

Notes:
A nest of the Rock Eagle Owl led the Telangana Forest Department to stop quarrying for over one month to protect the species. It is also called the Indian eagle-owl or Bengal eagle-owl. It is a large horned owl found in hilly scrub forests and rocky areas. The bird is brown-grey with a white throat patch and black stripes. It is mainly found in South Asian countries like India, Nepal, and Pakistan. Its status is Least Concern under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).