Book by BestCurrentAffairs.com for IAS Prelims 2020
ENVIRONMENT
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The Ministry also coordinates with multilateral bodies such as the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and regional bodies such as Economic and Social Council for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on matters pertaining to environment. Botanical Survey of India (BSI) is the apex research organization under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India for carrying out taxonomic and floristic studies on wild plant resources of the country. It was established in 1890. Sir George King, the then Superintendent of the ‘Royal Botanic Garden’ Calcutta was appointed as first ex-officio Honorary Director of the BSI. After independence the department was reorganized in 1954. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), a premier research institution under the Ministry has completed 100 years of services to the Nation since its inception in 1916. Headquarters are at Kolkata and 16 Regional centres are located at different parts of the country. Established in 1981, the Forest Survey of India succeeded the “Preinvestment Survey of Forest Resources” (PISFR), a project initiated in 1965 by Government of India with the sponsorship of FAO and UNDP. In its report in 1976, the National Commission on Agriculture (NCA) recommended the creation of a National Forest Survey Organization. Consequently, PISFER was reorganized into FSI in June, 1981. After a critical review of activities, the mandate of FSI was refined in 1986 in order to make it more relevant to the rapidly changing needs and aspirations of the country. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is one of the key agreements adopted during the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The objective of CBD are: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources. Ratification of the CBD by India in 1994. India enacted the Biological Diversity (BD) Act in 2002 to give effect to the provision of this Convention. India also prepared a National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) in 2008, and an Addendum to NBAP in 2014 with 20 national targets on biodiversity. The Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit sharing (ABS) adopted under the aegis of CBD in 2010, is aimed at fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. The idea of ‘Biosphere Reserves’ was intiated by UNESCO in 1973-74 under its Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme. The MAB, launched in 1970 by UNESCO. The Indian National Man and Biosphere (MAB) Commitee identifies and recommends potential sites for designation as Biosphere Reserves, following the UNESCO’s guidelines and criteria. There are 18 designated Biosphere Reserves (BRs). Out of 18 Biosphere Reserves, 10 Biosphere Reserves have been included in the world Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO. The scheme on Biodiversity Conservation was initiated during 1991-92 during the 8th Plan period. The main objective is implementation of Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety, UNEP-GEF Supported Capacity building Project on Biosafety (Phase-II) Project and Strengthening of Biosafety Management System. Cartagena Biosafety Protocol (CPB) was negotiated under the aegis of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and adopted in 2000. India is a party to the Protocol. The main objective of the Protocol is to ensure safe transfer. handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effect on the conservation and sustainable use biological diversity, taking into account risk to human health. The present Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) was formulated. There is a Wildlife Division of the Ministry that has two sub-divisions, namely, Project Elephant Division and Wildlife Division. In addition, there are three autonomous bodies. Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for wildlife research and training. Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for conservation and zoo management and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The NTCA has been constituted by converting the Project Tiger Directorate into an autonomous body for tiger conservation. The National Zoological Park in the Capital is also a part of the Wildlife wing of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Wildlife Division of the Ministry provides technical and financial support to the state/Ut governments for wildlife conservation under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats and also through Central Sector Scheme-Strengthening of Wildlife Division and Consultancies for Special Tasks, and through grants in aid to the Central Zoo Authority and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. The Government of India provides financial and technical assistance to the state/UT government for activities aimed at wildlife conservation through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme viz., ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’. The scheme has following three components; support to Protected Areas (national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves); protection of wildlife outside protected areas; and recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) is a statutory multi-disciplinary body established under the Ministry, to combat organized wildlife crime in the country. The Bureau has its headquarters in New Delhi
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The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is the nodal agency for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
India Year Book 2020 Synopsis
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Page No.42
