Brief about Environmental Conventions

1. Ramsar Convention
It is called the Convention on Wetlands.
It was adopted in the city of Iran, Ramsar in 1971.
It came into force in 1975.
2. Stockholm Convention
It is a convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
It was adopted in 2001 in Geneva, Switzerland.
It came into force in 2004.
3. CITES
It is a convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora.
It was adopted in 1963.
It came into force in 1975.
4. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
It is a convention for the conservation of biological diversity.
It was adopted in 1992
It came into force in 1993.
5. Bonn Convention
It is a convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.
It was adopted in 1979.
It came into force in 1983.
7. Montreal Protocol
It is an international environment protocol on substances that deplete the Ozone
Layer.
It was adopted in 1987.
It came into force in 1989.
8. Kyoto Protocol
It is an international protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
It was adopted in 1997.
It came into force in 2005.
9. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
It is an international environmental treaty governing actions to combat climate
change through adaptation and mitigation efforts directed at control of
emission of GreenHouse Gases (GHGs) that cause global warming.
It was adopted in 1992.
It came into force in 1994.
10. Rio Summit
It is a United Nations Conference on Environment and Development.
It was held in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
11. UNCCD
It is a United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
It was adopted in 1994.
It came into force in 1996.
12. Basel Convention
It is a convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes
and their Disposal.
It was adopted in 1989.
It came into force in 1992.
13. Cartagena Protocol
It is an international environmental protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on
Biological Diversity.
It was adopted in 2000.
It came into force in 2003.
14. UN-REDD
It is a United Nations Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation
and Forest Degradation.
It was created in 2008.
15. Nagoya Protocol
It is an international environment protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and
the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to
the Convention on Biological Diversity(CBD).
It was adopted in 2010.
It came into force in 2014.
16. COP24
It is the 24th meeting of the conference of parties (COP) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
It took place in 2018.
17. COP21
It is the 21st meeting of the conference of parties (COP) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change.
It took place in 2018.
18. Kigali Agreement
It is an amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
It was adopted in 2016.
It came into force in 2019.
19. Minamata Convention
It is an international environmental treaty intended to protect health and the
environment from the adverse effects of mercury.
It was adopted in 2013.
It came into force in 2017.
20. Rotterdam Convention
It is an international environmental convention on Prior Informed Consent
(PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in
International Trade.
It was adopted in 1998.
It came into force in 2004.
21. COP25
It is the 25th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
It took place in 2019.
 GREEN HOUSE GASES
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are a group of gases in the Earth's atmosphere that
absorb and emit heat, trapping thermal energy and warming the planet. They
are an important topic in the UPSC syllabus on the environment and ecology.
Some major greenhouse gases include:
Carbon dioxide (CO2): A very important gas that is transparent to incoming
solar radiation but opaque to outgoing terrestrial radiation.
Methane (CH4): A colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas produced from
the decomposition of animal wastes and biological matter.
Nitrous oxide (N2O): Released from agricultural and industrial activities, as well
as during the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass.
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)
Ozone: A major greenhouse gas
 What is Wildlife Conservation?
Wildlife conservation is the practice of protecting wild plant and animal species
and their habitat.
Wildlife conservation aims to ensure that nature will be around for future
generations to enjoy and recognise the importance of wildlife and wilderness
for humans and other species alike.
Wildlife conservation holds significance as wildlife is essential in balancing the
ecosystem and stabilising different natural processes.
Wildlife conservation has become even more important in the present times
due to the negative effects of human activity on wildlife.
Still, many species are not protected from being illegally traded or over-
harvested.
 Need for Wildlife Conservation Projects in India
The need for Wildlife Conservation Projects in India is as follows:
According to various surveys and reports, our planet has lost more than 58% of
its wildlife since 1970 and is experiencing the sixth mass extinction.
Unlike previous extinction events caused by natural phenomena, the sixth mass
extinction is driven by human activity, primarily (but not limited to) the
unsustainable use of land, water and energy use, and climate change.
According to the Living Planet Report, 30% of all land that sustains biodiversity
has been converted for food production.
Agriculture is also responsible for 80% of global deforestation and accounts for
70% of the planet’s freshwater use, devastating the species that inhabit those
places by significantly altering their habitats.
Important Wildlife Conservation Projects in India
Over the years, the governments, along with various Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) and international bodies, have launched several wildlife
conservation projects in India.
Some of the most important wildlife conservation projects in India include:
Project Tiger
Project Elephant
Project Lion
Project Snow Leopard
Project Cheetah
Project Hangul
Project Crocodile
Project Crocodile
Project Great Indian Bustard
Project Dolphin
Project Tiger
It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
The Indian tiger population at the end of the 20th century was estimated at
20,000 to 40,000 individuals.
The first country-wide tiger census in 1972 estimated the population to
comprise a little more than 1,800 individuals, indicating a significant reduction.
Project Tiger was launched in Jim Corbett National Park of Uttarakhand in 1973,
and various tiger reserves were created in the country based on a ‘core-buffer’
strategy.
Project Elephant
Project Elephant is a centrally sponsored scheme initiated by the Government
of India in 1992 to safeguard the Indian elephant population and their habitats.
Administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, the
project aims to enhance elephant conservation by establishing elephant
reserves, anti-poaching measures, habitat management, and community
engagement.
By protecting both the elephants and their habitats, Project Elephant seeks to
address challenges such as human-wildlife conflict and habitat fragmentation,
ensuring the long-term survival of this iconic species.
Project Lion
It aims to develop habitats and use modern technologies in lion management.
It focuses on addressing disease and Human-Wildlife conflict.
It engages local communities and provides livelihood opportunities.
It utilises advanced research and veterinary care for holistic species
conservation.
Note:
Scientific Name: Panthera leo persica
Current Range: Restricted to Gir National Park and surrounding areas in
Gujarat, India.
Known As: “Indian lion” and “Persian lion”.
Status:
a. Listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
b. Appendix I of CITES
c. Endangered on the IUCN Red List
Morphological Character: Features a longitudinal fold of skin along its belly.
Project Snow Leopard
Project Snow Leopard is a dedicated initiative to conserve the snow leopard, a
critically endangered species found in the high-altitude regions of the
Himalayas and Central Asia.
The project was launched to address the severe threats facing this elusive big
cat. It focuses on habitat preservation, reducing human-wildlife conflict, and
combating poaching.
By promoting sustainable land use and involving local communities in
conservation efforts, the project seeks to secure the snow leopard’s habitat
while enhancing the protection of its prey species.
Project Cheetah
Under Project Cheetah, the Prime Minister of India released wild cheetahs in
Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The cheetah had become extinct in
India.
The cheetahs introduced in Kuno National Park have been brought from
Namibia.
This is the world’s first inter-continental wild carnivore translocation
project.
There are five female and three male cheetahs among the eight. Under the
project, India will receive 20 cheetahs, 12 from South Africa and 8 from
Namibia.
Project Hangul
Project Hangul was initiated in 1970 by the Kashmir Government with support
from WWF.
The project faced several challenges, including a lack of local participation
from communities such as Gujjars, Bakarwals, and Nambardars.
It focused on the Dagwan area and was hampered by the establishment of
cement factories and unscientific limestone extraction, creating death traps
for the animals.
The onset of militancy further disrupted conservation efforts. Rebranded as
“Save Kashmir’s Red Deer Hangul” in 2009, the project included efforts such as
captivity breeding and opening conservation breeding centres.
Despite a marginal increase in the Hangul population to 261, according to the
latest census, continued efforts are necessary.
Key measures include enlarging Dachigam National Park, relocating Hangul, and
hiring experts for relocation sites. Government efforts like patrolling, habitat
maintenance, planting fruit-bearing trees, and creating water holes have led to
positive results in Hangul conservation.
Project Crocodile
The Indian Crocodile Conservation Project has successfully improved the
status of crocodilian species that were once on the brink of extinction. The
major objectives of the Project Crocodile are:
Protect the remaining population in their natural habitat by creating
sanctuaries.
Rebuild populations through ‘grow and release’ or ‘rear and release’
techniques.
Promote captive breeding, where wild species are bred and raised in special
facilities.
Conduct research to enhance management practices.
Train personnel for project continuity through programs at project sites and
the Central Crocodile Breeding and Management Training Institute, Hyderabad.
Involve local communities in the conservation efforts.
Mugger or Marsh Crocodile
The Mugger Crocodile is an egg-laying and hole-nesting species known to be
dangerous.
It is primarily found in the Indian subcontinent, inhabiting various freshwater
habitats such as rivers, lakes, and marshes.
Additionally, it can be found in coastal saltwater lagoons and estuaries.
The species is already extinct in Bhutan and Myanmar.
Threats to the Mugger Crocodile include habitat destruction, fragmentation,
transformation, fishing activities, and using crocodile parts for medicinal
purposes.
Note: IUCN List of Threatened Species: VulnerableCITES: Appendix IWildlife
Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Estuarine or Saltwater Crocodile
The Estuarine Crocodile is considered the Earth’s largest living crocodile
species and is globally infamous as a known maneater.
It is found in Odisha’s Bhitarkanika National Park, the Sundarbans in West
Bengal, and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands.
Additionally, it is present across Southeast Asia and northern Australia.
Threats to the population include illegal hunting, habitat loss, and antipathy
toward the species due to its reputation as a man-eater, which continues to
pressure the population.
Note: IUCN List of Threatened Species: CITES: Appendix I (except the
populations of Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, which are included
in Appendix II).Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Gharial
Gharials are Asian crocodilians distinguished by their long, thin snouts, which
resemble a pot (ghara in Hindi). Gharials are a type of Crocodile that also
includes crocodiles, alligators, caimans, etc.
The population of Gharials, a relatively harmless fish-eating species, is a good
indicator of clean river water.
Habitat: Gharials are mostly found in fresh waters of the Himalayan rivers. The
Chambal River on the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains ( Madhya
Pradesh) is their primary habitat.
Other Himalayan rivers, like the Ghagra, Uganda, Grow, Ramganga, and Son
rivers, are secondary habitats for gharials.
Threats: Illegal sand mining, poaching, increased river pollution, dam
construction, massive-scale fishing operations and floods.
Note:
a. IUCN List of Threatened Species: Critically Endangered
b. CITES: Appendix I
c. Wildlife Protection Act,1972: Schedule I
Project Great Indian Bustard
Project Great Indian Bustard was launched in 2013 to conserve the critically
endangered Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), also known as Godawan,
which is the state bird of Rajasthan.
Despite being listed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972, the species
remained poorly protected.
Key threats include habitat loss due to conversion of grasslands,
anthropogenic disturbances, and poaching.
Historically, the population has declined from over 1,000 individuals to just
125 in 2013.
The project focuses on habitat protection through measures such as intensive
patrolling, intelligence networks, and check posts.
Firefly bird diverters are being developed to prevent collisions with power
lines.
Additional steps include planting grasses, providing water facilities, and
involving local communities in conservation efforts.
The project also emphasises mass awareness and continuous monitoring of
both the species and its habitat.
Indian One Horn Rhino Vision-2020
IRV 2020 is a conservation initiative launched in 2005 by the Forest
Department of Assam, in partnership with WWF India, the International Rhino
Foundation, and other organisations.
The aim was to increase the rhino population in Assam to 3,000 by establishing
populations in new areas. Rhinos are currently found in four Protected Areas:
Pabitora Wildlife Reserve,
Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park,
Kaziranga National Park, and
Manas National Park.