Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

Notes:
Climate change is rapidly melting glaciers on Mount Kenya, Africa’s second-highest mountain. Lewis Glacier, once a major ice mass, has shrunk drastically and may disappear by 2030. The Lewis Glacier is located on Mount Kenya. Mount Kenya is an extinct stratovolcano and Africa’s second-highest mountain after Kilimanjaro. The glacier’s retreat highlights the severe impact of global warming on Africa’s high-altitude ice.

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A rare snake species, Ahaetulla longirostris (long-snouted vine snake), was discovered in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Uttar Pradesh. It was found during a rhino shifting operation in the Palia division of the reserve. Previously, this snake was only recorded in Valmiki Tiger Reserve, West Champaran, Bihar. It has a long, slender body with green or brown coloration, helping it blend into trees. Its distinct long nose (rostral) is a key identification feature. It primarily lives on trees and hides among branches. It is mildly venomous, but its poison is not dangerous to humans.

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Indonesia’s Mount Marapi, an active volcano in western Sumatra, recently erupted, sending ash 1.5 km (4,900 ft) into the sky. It is a stratovolcano, made of hardened lava, ash, and rocks from earlier eruptions. Marapi lies within the Ring of Fire, a seismically active zone around the Pacific Ocean. Standing at 2,891 meters (9,485 feet), it is the tallest volcano in the Padang Highlands. Its summit has the Bancah Caldera, with overlapping craters. A deadly lahar in 1979 killed 60 people. It is often confused with Mount Merapi, a different volcano in Java.

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The wildlife wing of the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department captured the first photographic evidence of the Woolly Flying Squirrel in Miyar Valley, Lahaul and Spiti district. The Woolly Flying Squirrel, scientifically known as Eupetaurus cinereus, is one of Asia’s rarest mammals and is endemic to the northwestern Himalayas. It was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1994, nearly 70 years later. Its habitat is limited to dry conifer woodlands in northern Pakistan and northwestern India. The squirrel is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Notes:
A rare sighting of the Indian Giant Flying Squirrel was reported in Ranikhet, Uttarakhand, bringing attention to this unique forest-dwelling species. The Indian Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) is one of the largest flying squirrels, with a body length of 30–45 cm and a tail up to 60 cm. It has a reddish-brown (rufous) coat, grey underparts, large round eyes, and a gliding membrane from wrist to ankle for tree-to-tree movement. It lives in tropical and subtropical forests, especially near forest edges, and feeds on fruits, nuts, leaves, and bark. It is nocturnal, arboreal, glides up to 60 meters, and gives alarm calls when sensing owls. It plays a vital role in seed dispersal and forest health, making it a keystone species. It is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, and listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

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Forest fires recently broke out in Phawngpui National Park in Mizoram, damaging nearly one-ninth of its total area, according to state forest officials. Phawngpui National Park, also called the Blue Mountain National Park, is in the southeastern corner of Mizoram, close to the India-Myanmar border. It is the highest peak in Mizoram, with an altitude of 2,157 meters above sea level. The park covers 50 square kilometres, overlooks the Chhimtuipui River, and offers views of Myanmar’s hill ranges.

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A new project called SeaCURE has begun on the south coast of England to remove carbon dioxide from the sea. The SeaCURE project is an initiative of the United Kingdom (UK) government. The SeaCURE project is testing if taking carbon directly from seawater can be a low-cost and large-scale way to cut down carbon dioxide in the air. This method is different from usual carbon capture techniques that focus on emissions at their source or pull carbon dioxide from the air. SeaCURE targets the ocean, where carbon levels are up to 150 times higher than in the atmosphere.

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Tissue-cultured teak is being promoted in India as a high-yield, fast-return solution to enhance timber cultivation and trade, sparking discussions on its economic and ecological impact. Teak (Tectona grandis) is renowned for its strength, durability, and resistance to pests and water, earning it the title “king of timbers.” It is a valuable tropical hardwood used in shipbuilding, furniture, and flooring. India holds 35% of the world’s planted teak forests, with Asia contributing over 95% of global teak resources. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra have the largest areas of native teak forests, according to the FAO Global Teak Resources and Market Assessment 2022. Teak is native to South and Southeast Asia and grows mainly in moist deciduous forests.

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Scientists recently studied the offshore breakwater system using geotube technology along the Poonthura coast in Kerala. The study showed that the system led to major positive changes in the coastal landscape behind the breakwater stretch. Geotubes are large, strong fabric tubes filled with sand or dredged material. They are made from high-strength, permeable geotextile, usually polypropylene, which lets water escape while keeping solid particles inside. These tubes are used to build seawalls and barriers that protect coastlines from erosion caused by waves. Geotubes help reduce wave impact and retain sand on beaches, canals, and bays. They can be designed in different sizes and shapes for specific locations.

Notes:
California’s Tulare Lake, which had dried up long ago, reemerged after a gap of 130 years due to powerful atmospheric rivers over the region. Tulare Lake is located in the San Joaquin Valley in California, United States of America. It was once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. The lake disappeared over time mainly due to man-made irrigation systems. In 2023, heavy atmospheric rivers brought record rainfall to California. This rare weather event caused Tulare Lake to reemerge after 130 years. The Kern River, which is fed by snowmelt from the southern Sierra Nevada, helps refill the lake. The Tachi Yokut tribe traditionally depended on Tulare Lake for survival as the region receives very little rainfall.