World Crocodile Day 2024: In 50th year of India’s saurian conservation

The human-crocodile conflicts that are impacting the local residents are getting worse as a result of the successful Crocodile Conservation Project in Bhitarkanika National Park.

About the Crocodile Conservation Project

• Launch and Goals: In 1975, Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha hosted the inaugural Crocodile Conservation Project. Given the poor survival rate of hatchlings in the wild, the primary goals were to preserve the crocodiles’ native environment and increase the population through captive breeding.
• Historical Background: hardly three years had passed since the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972 was passed. The project was started because of the serious habitat degradation and threat of extinction from indiscriminate killing for economic gain.
• Implementation and Success: Under HR Bustard’s direction, 34 sites in several Indian states were established as breeding and rearing centers for saltwater crocodiles, muggers, and gharials. The most successful project was initiated by Sudhakar Kar and HR Bustard in Bhitarkanika, where the population grew from 95 in 1975 to 1,811 according to the most recent reptile census.
• Continuing Efforts: Even after retiring, Sudhakar Kar still contributes his technical know-how and technique to the yearly saltwater crocodile census. Kar describes crocodile conservation as a lifetime endeavor.

About the Issues Faced by Bhitarkanika

• Human-Crocodile Conflict: As the crocodile population grows, so do the conflicts between humans and crocodiles. Sudhakar Kar voiced his worries about the confrontations and advised the community to stay out of waterbodies such as rivers and creeks where estuarine crocodiles can be found.
• Effect on Local Communities: Since 2014, 50 people have died as a result of conflicts. Politicians have been under fire from the local people for failing to sufficiently address safety concerns, which has an impact on political results.
• Preventive measures: To stop crocodile attacks on people, forest officials in and around Bhitarkanika have built barricades along 120 river ghats.
• Political Implications: Villagers’ discontent with incumbents stems from safety worries about crocodile attacks, which has affected local political dynamics as a result of the human-crocodile conflict.

Build and maintain stronger defenses against water bodies, like safe river ghats and reinforced barricades. In order to reduce the possibility of crocodile attacks, it is also advisable to define safe spaces for water-related activities.

How does biodiversity vary in India? How is the Biological Diversity Act,2002 helpful in the conservation of flora and fauna? (2018)

EU Environmental Council adopts nature restoration law in historic win for continent’s environment

On June 17, 2024, the EU Environmental Council approved the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), marking a significant victory for environmental conservation across the continent.

Law for Nature Restoration (NRL):

• Goal and Purpose: The NRL seeks to maintain and protect ecosystem health and biodiversity throughout Europe. It addresses a broad spectrum of habitats, including freshwater, terrestrial, marine, woodland, agricultural, and urban settings. Covered are particular ecosystems including marshes, grasslands, woods, rivers, lakes, and marine habitats like coral reefs and seagrass beds.
• Objectives and Schedules: By 2030, member states must restore a minimum of 20% of the land and sea areas inside the EU. This covers every ecosystem that has been determined to require restoration. The law establishes a longer-term objective for the full repair of all Europe’s damaged ecosystems.

About the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030

Objective:

• The goal of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 is to stop the loss of biodiversity and rebuild ecosystems throughout Europe. It establishes challenging goals to guarantee that biodiversity is preserved, appreciated, and restored for both the benefits it offers to people and the environment.

Targets and Actions:

• The policy outlines specific goals for 2030, including repairing damaged ecosystems, including biodiversity considerations into agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and urban planning, and safeguarding at least 30% of EU land and marine areas, with 10% subject to rigorous protection.
• In order to support biodiversity, it highlights how crucial it is to advance green infrastructure, sustainable land use, and improved ecosystem services.

Policy Instruments and Implementation:

• The plan incorporates biodiversity concerns into important EU policies and areas, such as regional development, forestry, agriculture, fisheries, and climate change.
• To accomplish its objectives, it promotes the use of creative funding methods, alliances with stakeholders, and global collaboration.

Monitoring and Review:

• A strong monitoring system is part of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which allows for the tracking of targets and evaluation of the efficacy of interventions.
• To make sure the approach stays current and flexible in the face of evolving scientific knowledge and difficulties, regular evaluations and modifications are planned.

Challenges in Nature Restoration Law (NRL)

• Implementation Complexity: One of the main obstacles is how difficult it will be to apply the NRL across all of the EU member states’ varied ecosystems and landscapes. It can be difficult to adopt uniformly because every nation has different capabilities, resources, and environmental circumstances already in place.
• Cost and Funding Requirements: By 2030, 20% of the EU’s land and sea areas must be restored, which will cost a substantial sum of money. The NRL includes expenses for monitoring, enforcement, restoration programs, and stakeholder involvement. Although difficult, obtaining sufficient money and guaranteeing long-term financial support are essential.

Environmental Impact Assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before a project is cleared by the Government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at coal pitheads. (2014)

Formula for Flapping Frequency across Flying and Swimming Animals

• Scientists at Denmark’s Roskilde University have found a formula that links an animal’s mass and size of wings and fins to how frequently it flaps.
• The technique works for a wide variety of species, including robotic ornithopters, insects, birds, bats, penguins, whales, and more.

Formula for Flapping Frequency

• When animals flap their wings to keep airborne, Newton’s second law—F= mass x acceleration—was applied, yielding the formula.
• Air density, wing size, and the forces produced by wing movements were among the factors taken into account in the derivation.

Research Methodology

• The formula was theoretically constructed by the researchers from Newton’s second law, which links the animal’s mass, the motion of its wings and fins, and the dynamics of the air and water to the force required to keep afloat or submerged.
• To account for changes in flight kinematics and particular shape, they integrated empirical observations into a constant C.

Application and Validity

The formula’s validity was tested across various animals:

• 176 insect data points (e.g., bees, moths, dragonflies)
• 212 bird data points (from hummingbirds to swans)
• 25 bat data points

Formula Extension to Swimming Animals

• The formula also predicts the frequency of fin/fluke movements in swimming animals.
• Adjustments are made for water density and buoyancy effects, excluding fish with swim bladders.

The organisms “Cicada, Froghopper and Pond skater are: [2024]

(a) Birds

(b) Fish

(c) Insects

(d) Reptiles