BASICS OF ECOLOGY AND ECOSYSTEM
Basic Terms: Function of Ecosystem, levels of organism, categories, components, and features of environment, biotic and abiotic factors, energy flow, food web, the food chain, ecotone, permaculture, niche, ecological adaptations, and ecological succession.
Biogeochemical Cycle: Nutrient Cycle, Sedimentary Cycle, Gaseous Cycle
Types of Ecosystems: Terrestrial Ecosystem, Aquatic Ecosystem
Changes in the Ecosystem
Ecosystem Conservation
Important for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024
Basic Terms: Ecological Niche; Natural services; Natural Capital; Difference between conformers and regulators; Types of Biotic Interactions
Biogeochemical Cycle: Difference between Gaseous and sedimentary Cycles
Ecosystems: Decreasing order of productivity for common ecosystems like Grassland, tropical forests, oceans etc
BIODIVERSITY AND ITS CONSERVATION
Terminology: Biodiversity types, services, level, and measurement; Flora and Fauna Diversity; Indian Wildlife; Indian Bio-Geographical regions Classification
Species: Threatened Species of India; Critically Endangered Species of India; IUCN Red Data Book Categories
Biodiversity Conservation in India: Protected area network: Wildlife sanctuaries, National Parks, Sacred Grooves, Biosphere Reserves, Biodiversity hotspots
Conservation efforts: Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Hangul, Ganges Dolphin, Crocodile conservation
Important for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024
Terminology: Basics of Protected Area Network; Shrinking biodiversity; Biogeographic Regions and Species Found in the region.
Species: One Horn Rhino; Pangolins; Sea Horse and Critically Endangered species in News like Great Indian Bustard; Invasive species like Lantana Camara; invasive Vs. exotic species
Biodiversity Conservation in India: Cheetah translocation; Project Tiger and Tiger Census; National Parks in News ➔ Will be covered in current affairs classes.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING
Basic Phenomena: Greenhouse Gases and Green House Effects; Global warming and its Potential; Ozone
Depletion; Ocean Acidification; Carbon Sequestration.
• Indian Initiatives:
- Climate Change in India: Impact of climate change, India’s position on Climate change;
- Initiatives: Mitigation Strategies; NICRA, Green Buildings, NAPCC ; Ozone depletion etc.
• Global Initiatives: UNFCCC, Kyoto protocol, IPCC; REDD/REDD+; Mitigation strategies: Carbon
Sequestration, Carbon sink, Carbon credit, Carbon offsetting, Carbon tax;, Green Economy
Important for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024
• Basic Phenomena: Warming potential sequence of major Greenhouse Gases along with their sources
from nature and human activity.
• Indian Initiatives: National Action Plan on Climate change: Schemes associated with Each Plan; Mission
Life; Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes: MISHTI etc.
• Global Initiatives: Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC); Emissions Gap Report 2023
GLOBAL INITIATIVES
UNCHE 1972, STOCKHOLM CONFERENCE
BRUNDTLAND REPORT & DEFINING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
UNCED 1992, EARTH SUMMIT (RIO SUMMIT): Rio Declaration, Forest Principles, Agenda 21,
Global Environmental Facility, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD),
UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Cartagena Protocol, Nagoya Protocol, Aichi
Biodiversity Targets, UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Earth Summit 2002 & World Summit on
Sustainable Development
POLLUTION AND ITS CONTROL
Types of Pollution: Air pollution, noise pollution, plastics pollution, radioactive pollution, soil pollution,
thermal pollution, water pollution etc
• Land Degradation: Soil conservation, problems due to excessive irrigation, soil erosion, sustainable land
management, desertification, causes and impact of land degradation, sand mining, bioremediation etc
• Waste Management: Biomedical waste, e-waste management, hazardous waste, solid waste
management, fly ash, steel slag etc.
Important for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024
• Types of Pollution:
- Various types of pollution and their major causes/ effect on humanity/India.
- Sequence of Contribution of Pollution (Ascending).
- Cloud Seeding and Artificial Rains.
- BS VI roll out and HEPA Filters.
- Chemical Pollutants released by Major Industries Including Paper, Power Plants, Nuclear Fuel etc.
• Land Degradation: Soil Health Card Parameters; UNCCCD
• Waste Management:
- Single use plastic Ban; Biodegradable and Compostable Plastic Difference; Recyclable Plastics and Non
Recyclable Plastics etc.
- Latest Solid Waste Management Rules.
IMPORTANT ACTS, RULES AND REGULATIONS
Wildlife protection act
• Environment protection act
• Biological Diversity act
• Scheduled Tribes & other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006; Forest policy
• National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• Other rules: Wetland rule, Ozone-depleting substance rule, Solid waste Management Rules, e-Waste Management Rules
Important for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024
• Prevention of cruelty to Animals Act 1960
• Biodiversity Act 2002.
• Amendment to Forest Conservation Rules; Forest Rights Act
• Malaimadu and grazing of Cattle issue.
• Amendment to WPA 1972
• Linkage of CITES In-Situ and Ex-Situ Management of Crop Residue.
IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL INSTITUTIONS, AUTHORITIES & NGOs
Animal Welfare Board
• Central Zoo Authority
• CAMPA
• National Green Tribunal (NGT)
• Wildlife action plan
• National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board
Important for UPSC CSE Prelims 2024
• Prevention of cruelty to Animals Act 1960
• Bird Life International
• Soil Association
• National Biodiversity Authority
• Wildlife Crime Control Bureau
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