Environment & Biodiversity Current Affairs MCQs

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Navegaon Nagzira Tiger Reserve took control of its notified buffer area, strengthening conservation management. It is located in Maharashtra and forms part of the Central Indian Tiger Landscape, which supports nearly one-sixth of India’s tiger population. The reserve was declared in 2013 and is the fifth tiger reserve in Maharashtra. It comprises multiple protected areas, including Nawegaon National Park, Nawegaon Wildlife Sanctuary, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, New Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, and Koka Wildlife Sanctuary.

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The National Green Tribunal (NGT) dismissed a plea against the Musi Riverfront Development Project, clearing a key legal hurdle. The project aims to rejuvenate the polluted Musi River and develop it into an ecological, mobility, heritage, and economic corridor. The Musi River (also called Muchukunda) is a left-bank tributary of the Krishna River. It originates from Anantagiri Hills near Vikarabad and is formed by the confluence of Musa and Esi streams.

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The complete mitochondrial genome of the Madras Hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris) has been analysed for the first time, revealing insights into its evolutionary history. Locally called Mulleli, it is also known as the bare-bellied hedgehog, discovered in 1851. They are found in dry scrublands, thorn forests, grasslands, and farmland edges in peninsular India—mainly Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Karnataka. It is listed as Least Concern in International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list.

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Nagarjunasagar–Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR) is located in the Nallamala hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh and is one of the largest tiger reserves in India. It is named after the Nagarjuna Sagar Dam and Srisailam Dam situated in the region. The reserve comprises two wildlife sanctuaries: Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and Gundla Brahmeswaram Wildlife Sanctuary. The Krishna River flows through the reserve, shaping its ecology and biodiversity. Recently, plans have been revived to establish a tiger enclosure to care for injured, abandoned, or orphaned tiger cubs.

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Scientists at CSIR Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine demonstrated that Apis mellifera can survive sub-zero temperatures, reducing the need for seasonal hive migration. Apis mellifera is the most widely distributed and domesticated honey bee species globally. It is commercially important for honey, wax, propolis production, and crop pollination. It is native to Europe, West Asia, and Africa, it has been introduced worldwide since the 17th century. It thrives in habitats with abundant flowering plants such as meadows, forests, and gardens. It can adapt to diverse environments including grasslands, deserts, and wetlands with adequate resources.

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The Colorado River is a major river of North America, often called the “Lifeline of the Southwest.” It originates in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, United States, and flows about 1,450 miles (2,330 kilometres) into the Gulf of California in Mexico. The river flows through seven U.S. states and two Mexican states, draining a vast arid and semi-arid region. It also forms part of the international boundary between Arizona (USA) and Mexico. It forms major reservoirs such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell, crucial for water supply and hydropower. Recent research highlights changing hydrological patterns, explaining declining water levels in the river system.

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The government of Meghalaya has decided to exclude Lumpongdeng Island located in Umiam Lake from the proposed luxury resort project after protests by local communities and stakeholders. The Umiam Lake, also known as Barapani Lake, is a man-made reservoir located about 15 km north of Shillong and surrounded by the East Khasi Hills. The lake is formed by a dam built across the Umiam River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, with a capacity to generate about 60 MW of electricity.

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The rare, thread-legged assassin bug Myiophanes kempi was recently rediscovered in the limestone caves of the Andaman Islands after nearly a century-long gap. British entomologist William Edward China first described the species in 1924 after finding it in the Siju Cave of Meghalaya. It is a member of the Reduviidae family, a group of insects popularly known as assassin bugs due to their predatory nature. The insect is a specialized cave-dweller that spends its entire lifecycle in complete darkness within subterranean ecosystems. It features a slender body and elongated legs that are specifically adapted for navigating and surviving in cave environments.

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Scientists recorded a rare orchid species named Eulophia picta for the first time in central Andhra Pradesh. It is a medium-to-small, hot-growing terrestrial orchid commonly called the Nodding Swamp Orchid. It is distributed from India to Southeast Asia and Australia, occurring in moist grasslands, sandy coastal areas, and rainforests. It also grows in semi-deciduous and dry lowland forests up to about 1000 m elevation.

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United Nations Environment Programme’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO) announced the expansion of the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) to include coal mines and waste facilities. MARS is the world’s first public global satellite-based methane detection and notification system. It was launched by the UNEP’s International Methane Emissions Observatory (IMEO). The system was announced at the Conference of Parties (COP) 27 in 2022 and entered pilot phase in 2023.