Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

Notes:
The Umbrella Group is a loose coalition of non-European Union developed countries. It was formed after the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol. The umbrella group consists of 12 countries although there is no formal membership.

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The Ghats traverse the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
According to the new report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) namely “IUCN World Heritage Outlook 3”, India’s Western Ghats are threatened by population pressure, urbanization and climate change. The site is regarded as of significant concern.

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Sundarbans Tiger Reserve is one of the initial nine tiger reserves constituted at the time of
inception of the Project Tiger Scheme in the year 1973.

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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are nontoxic, non-flammable chemicals containing atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine. They are used in the manufacture of aerosol sprays, blowing agents for foams and packing materials, as solvents, and as refrigerants. Because CFCs contribute to?ozone?depletion in the upper atmosphere, the manufacture of such compounds has been phased out under the Montreal Protocol.

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Basel Convention is an international treaty that was designed to reduce the movements of hazardous waste between nations, and specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries (LDCs). It ultimately aims at biodiversity conservation.

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Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification technology that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from drinking water. It can remove many types of dissolved and suspended species from water, including bacteria, and is used in both industrial processes and the production of potable water (Desalination of marine water). It is most commonly known for its use in drinking water purification plants particularly in countries of middle east.

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Photosynthesis in plants converts radiant energy from the sun into chemical energy in the form of glucose (sugar) using electrons and protons from water. Plants take in water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight and turn them into glucose and oxygen. Water (6H2O) + Carbon Dioxide (6CO2) + Sunlight (Radiant Energy) = Glucose (C6H12O6) + Oxygen (6O2).

Notes:
Lichens are found in both nature and in human-made environments, including rocks, trees, barren earth, metal and concrete. They are sensitive to air pollution because they receive all nutrients from the atmosphere, which makes them valuable as indicator species. The presence of sulphur dioxide force them to perish.

Notes:
Sultanpur National Park is located at Sultanpur, Haryana in Gurgaon District, Haryana. As a bird sanctuary it was the finding of Peter Jackson, famous ornothologist, and Honorary Secretary of the Delhi Birdwatching Society, who wrote to Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, founder of the Society, in 1970 about the need to declare the Sultanpur jheel near Delhi, a bird sanctuary, and she asked him to take her there.

Notes:
The Pantanal Conservation Area, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, accounts for 1.3% of the vast Pantanal wetland in Brazil and spans across 187,818 hectares. It provides shelter for more than 650 bird species, 325 fish species, and 80 mammal species, including giant armadillo and jaguar. The area’s unique ecosystem extends from floodplains to the Amolar Mountains, supporting diverse habitats and maintaining regional fish stocks. Moreover, it is an all-important breeding ground for wetland birds and refuge for globally threatened species like the hyacinth macaw. Additionally, it is a Ramsar Wetland and a UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve.