Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Madhya Pradesh will establish Nauradehi Sanctuary as the third home for cheetahs, after Kuno National Park and Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary. Cheetahs will be brought from Namibia (Africa) and released into Nauradehi to expand conservation efforts. The state is actively working on wildlife conservation, including releasing six crocodiles (four females, two males) into the Indira Sagar Dam on the Narmada River. A gharial conservation campaign is ongoing, and some gharials will be sent to Assam on request. Plans are underway for a new Omkareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 61,407 hectares across Khandwa and Dewas districts.

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A photographer in Spain recently spotted the world’s first-ever white Iberian lynx, a rare sighting. The Iberian lynx is a carnivorous species endemic to Europe. It is one of the world’s most endangered wild cats, recognized by its pointy ears, long legs, and spotted fur. It is nocturnal, mainly hunting rabbits, its primary prey. It is found only in southwest Spain on the Iberian Peninsula, west of the Pyrenees.

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India has extended support to Afghanistan to build a dam on the Kunar River, shared between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The move comes amid tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan over water sharing. The Kunar River, also called the Kama River, is about 480 km long. It flows through eastern Afghanistan and northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The river originates in the Hindu Kush mountains, fed by melting glaciers and snow. In Pakistan, it is known as the Chitral River. It is a tributary of the Kabul River, which later joins the Indus River, forming part of the Indus watershed.

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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.

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The Forest Department is set to begin the next tiger census in the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR). Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is located in the Nallamala hill ranges, an offshoot of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh. It is one of India’s largest tiger reserves, covering 3,728 square kilometres. It supports the largest tiger population in the Eastern Ghats landscape. The reserve is named after the Nagarjuna Sagar and Srisailam Dams. It includes Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary (GBM).

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The Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change recently launched the Declaration on Information Integrity on Climate Change at COP30. The initiative was first announced at the G20 Leaders Summit 2024 as a multilateral effort among countries and global organisations. It aims to fund research and actions that promote truthful and reliable information on climate issues. A Global Fund for Information Integrity on Climate Change has also been launched. The Declaration states that climate misinformation has become a climate crisis. It defines climate misinformation as false or misleading content about climate change, its causes, impacts, or solutions

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Sewage and untreated water are being released into the Pazhayar River in Nagercoil, raising serious concern among local residents about pollution. Pazhayar River is a major river in Kanniyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. It originates from Mahendragiri hills at 800 m above Mean Sea Level (MSL) and flows southwest.

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Cuban scientists are working to restore Cuba’s Zapata Swamp to save the Cuban gar from extinction. The Cuban gar (Atractosteus tristoechus), also called manjuarí, belongs to the Lepisosteidae family. Gars are an ancient fish family, existing for about 100 million years. It is a tropical freshwater species that can also live in brackish water. The IUCN conservation status of the Cuban gar is Critically Endangered.

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Migratory birds like stork cranes, pelicans, painted storks and bar-headed geese have returned to Keoladeo National Park after heavy monsoon rains. The park is located in Bharatpur district, Rajasthan, and was earlier called Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. It is one of the world’s most important bird breeding and feeding grounds. It was established in the late 19th century by Maharaja Suraj Mal as a hunting reserve.

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The Union Environment Ministry reconstituted the Delhi Ridge Management Board (DRMB) with statutory powers under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, as directed by the Supreme Court of India. DRMB replaces the 1995 board and becomes the single authority to give permissions, remove encroachments, and oversee afforestation in the 7,777-hectare Delhi Ridge. The statutory status strengthens enforcement, coordination, and environmental protection for Delhi’s “green lungs”, which face pressure from construction and encroachments.