Environment & Biodiversity MCQs

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Green Buildings minimize the demand of non-renewable resources and maximizes their utilization efficiency. They maximize reuse and recycling of available resources in the environment. It benefits environment through the utilization of renewable resources.

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Scoping is a process of detailing the terms of reference of Environment Impact Assessment. Quantifiable impacts are to be assessed on the basis of factors like magnitude, prevalence, frequency and duration.

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Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006, divided developmental projects in two categories, i.e., Category A and Category B. Category A’ projects are assessed at national level by the Impact Assessment Agency (IAA) and the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC). Category B projects are assessed at state level.

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There are two components of Environment Impact Assessment, i.e., Comprehensive EIA and Rapid EIA. Rapid EIA is for speedier appraisal process. Comprehensive EIA collects data fwith respect to all four seasons.

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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 Convention on Wetlands, called the Ramsar Convention, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. It is named after the city of Ramsar in Iran, where the Convention was signed in 1971.

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An air pollutant is a substance in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. Because of its role as a greenhouse gas Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been described as “the leading pollutant” and “the worst climate pollution”. Other examples include carbon monoxide gas from motor vehicle exhaust, or the Sulphur dioxide released from factories.

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Forests are home to a large number of plants and animals. They are the “green lungs” and serve as water purifying systems of nature. In a forest, there are various types of interactions that occur between the living and the non-living components. The oxygen released during photosynthesis is used by the animals for respiration. In this way, plants and animals help in maintaining the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Therefore, forests can be considered as a dynamic living entity.

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A greenhouse gas is a gas that absorbs and emits radiant energy within the thermal infrared range, contributing to the greenhouse effect. The essential greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere include:

• Water vapor
• Carbon dioxide
• Methane
• Nitrous oxide
• Ozone

Here, Nitrogen is not considered a greenhouse gas.

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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.