Ministry of Environment

Monday, April 16 2012, 6:57 PM

Biodiversity
International Framework

1. Genetic diversity vs genetic variability: Genetic diversity refers to the amount of

genetic variations in a species. It is distinguished from genetic variability which describes
the tendency of genetic characteristics to vary. Genetic diversity serves as a way for
populations to adapt to changing environments. With more variation, it is more likely that
some individuals in a population will possess variations that are suited for the
environment. When humans initially started farming, they used selective breeding to pass
on desirable traits of the crops while omitting the undesirable ones which leads
to monocultures with no genetic diversity making crops extremely susceptible to
 widespread disease. Among oceanic plankton, viruses aid in the genetic shifting process.
Ocean viruses, which infect the plankton, carry genes of other organisms in addition to
their own. When a virus containing the genes of one cell infects another, the genetic
makeup of the latter changes.
2. Genetic pollution: It is uncontrolled hybridization and genetic swamping and threatens
specially the endemic species. Genetic pollution leads to homogenization or replacement
of local genomes as a result of either a numerical and/or fitness advantage of an
introduced species. These phenomena can be especially detrimental to rare species that
come into contact with more abundant ones. The abundant species can interbreed with
the rare species, swamping its gene pool.
3. Genetic Use Restriction Technology (GURT): It prevents seeds from germinating in the
next growing season unless treated chemically by the seed company prior to planting.
When seeds of crop varieties (containing this kind of genetic manipulation) are purchased
from the company and planted, they germinate and grow normally but produce seeds that
do not germinate when saved by the farmers for sowing during the following season.

IUCN Red List

Species are classified on the basis of rate of decline, population size, area of geographic
distribution, and degree of population and distribution fragmentation.

1. Extinct (EX) - No individuals remaining.

2. Extinct in the Wild (EW) - Known only to survive in captivity, or as a naturalized population
outside its historic range.
3. Critically Endangered (CR) or Possibly Extinct - Extremely high risk of extinction in the
wild.
4. Endangered (EN) - High risk of extinction in the wild.
5. Vulnerable (VU) - High risk of endangerment in the wild.
6. Near Threatened (NT) - Likely to become endangered in the near future.
7. Least Concern (LC) - Lowest risk.

Biodiversity Hotspot

1. (a) It must contain ≥ 0.5% or 1500 species as endemic and (b) It must have lost at least
70% of its primary vegetation.
2. India's 2 hotspots are W Ghats and E Ghats. #rd one is in NE jointly shared with Myanmar.

Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshwadeep Islands have been named as the new "hope spots" by the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and oceanographer Sylvia Earle of Mission Blue, an
organisation involved in the study of oceans.

A hope spot is an area of ocean that merits special protection because of its wildlife and significant
underwater habitats. The two islands are the first spots in India and part of 31 new hope spots across the
world added to the existing 19 spots.Andamans and Nicobar islands have been declared a hope spot as it
has some of world's unique species of birds and plants. In the case of Lakshadweep, the coral reefs are
quite sensitive to the ocean environment and that needs protection.

Genetic Colonialism

1. It refers to attempt by MNCs to use biopiracy and usurp the traditional knowledge and
 practices of local people. These MNCs then present the product as an invention by them
and get patents and deprive the locals of their right to use such products.

India & Biodiversity

ESZs

1. Proposals for declaring ESZs have been shot down on grounds of impeding development. Further, ESZ
guidelines so far have had a focus around protected areas. It should also include other fragile areas.
2. In 2002, the National Board for Wildlife discussed the concept of the ESZ, the idea being to create a
“shock absorber” or a “zone of transition” around national parks, sanctuaries and protected areas. States
were free to declare such areas in other places as well.
3. Construed by several States as a no go for development, they did not come forward to declare an ESZ
around all their protected areas.
4. In 2006, the Supreme Court reminded the States to declare these zones, saying that non-compliance
would have the Court stepping in to enforce a default 10 kilometre ESZ around protected areas.
5. Still met with a silence, MoEF issued guidelines in 2011. But since then the ESZs so notified focused
mostly around major polluting sources and extractive industries to be kept out from the protected
sanctuaries. Very few notifications tackle deal with places which are not protected areas but are
ecologically sensitive.

1. India has only 2.4% of world land area and 4% of fresh water, yet accounts for 7.3% of
recorded species making it 3rd most mega-diverse country (after Brazil and Costa Rica).
Plant species: 45K, animal species: 91K. India's highest concentration of species is in
Agasthymalai Hills in W Ghats.

Sanctuary, National Parks, Conservation Reserves & Community Reserves

1. Conservation reserves & community reserves: They act as buffer zones or connectors between
established national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserved and protected forests of India. Such areas are
designated as conservation areas if they are uninhabited and completely owned by the Government of
India but used for subsistence by communities, and community areas if part of the lands are privately
owned. Administration of such areas is through local people. Community reserves allow communally
owned for-profit wildlife resorts. These categories were added because of sometimes large areas around
national parks were left unprotected.
2. Sanctuaries & national parks: While in sanctuaries some rights of local population are recognized, in
national parks, no such rights are recognized. Removal of any forest produce from national parks requires
the approval of national board for wildlife protection while it is allowed in a regulated way in sanctuaries. A
sanctuary can be converted into a national park on the recommendation of state wildlife board which is
then approved by the national wildlife board and finally MoE and the notification is released. Thus a
 sanctuary is at the state level whereas a national park is at the national level.

Biosphere Reserves

1. Core zone: This is the central area and has to be kept undisturbed of all activities except research
activities (which don't disturb wildlife).
2. Buffer zone: Only some light activities like tourism, fishing, grazing etc. are allowed which don't disturb the
core zone. Research activities are encouraged here.
3. Transition zone: Outmost part and not delimited. Activities have to be harmonious with the biosphere
reserve.

Sacred Groves of India

1. They are communally + NGO protected forests which usually have a significant religious
connotation for the protecting community. Hunting and logging are usually strictly
prohibited but other forms of forest usage like honey collection and deadwood collection
are sometimes allowed on a sustainable basis.
2. Sacred groves did not enjoy protection via federal legislation in India until the introduction
of the protected area category community reserves under the Wildlife (Protection)
Amendment Act of 2002.
3. Myristica swamps: THey are the sacred grove in Kerala which are one of the densest
groves. They are typically found in valleys making them prone to inundation. But they are
being converted into paddy fields. Their water holding capacity is immense and thus their
depletion can lead to floods in rains and dry valley in other seasons.

Western Ghats (Gadgil Panel)

Ecologically Sensitive Zones or Ecologically Sensitive Areas

1. Current system: Currently ecologically sensitive zones owe their existence to initiatives of
civil societies or a resolution of Indian Board for Wildlife in 2002 to protect areas up to 10
km from the boundaries of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Human activities are
restricted here. The activities are classified into 3 types: (a) Prohibited: which include
mining, industries, use of hazardous substances etc. (b) Regulated: which include tourism,
felling of trees etc. (c) Permitted: which include ongoing agriculture by local communities,
rainwater harvesting etc.
2. Mandate: It had a mandate to demarcate areas within the Western Ghats Region which
need to be notified as ecologically sensitive, and make recommendations for
conservation, protection and rejuvenation of the Western Ghats following consultations
involving people and State governments. It was also required to recommend the
modalities for the establishment of the Western Ghats Ecology Authority (WGEA) under
the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA).
3. Panel recommendations: The panel recommended large parts of the Ghats to be
declared ecologically sensitive zones. The zonation will be 3 tiered - ESZ 1 or highest
sensitivity, ESZ 2 and ESZ 3. In ESZ1 all mining has to stop by 2016. In ESZ2 and 3 no
new mining can be allowed. Even this mining has to be subject to extensive regulations.
Total area of W Ghats under ESZ1 and ESZ2 is 75% and under ESZ1 alone is 60%. After
looking at available research and meeting a cross-section of people in over a dozen sites,
the WGEEP concluded that the entire Western Ghats are an ecologically sensitive area.
However, within this overall category, it has defined three types of Ecologically Sensitive
Zones (ESZs). In all three zones, it has recommended that there should be no SEZs, no
 new hill stations, no inter-basin linking of rivers and that dams which have outlived their
utility should be decommissioned. In ESZ 1, the highest sensitive zone, it suggests no new
mines, existing ones to be phased out by 2016, no new polluting industries, existing ones
to be converted to zero pollution, no large storage dams or thermal power plants and no
new railway lines or national highways. New mines will also not be permitted in ESZ 2 but
existing ones can operate under strict conditions. In addition, no new polluting industries,
existing ones to be made zero pollution, no new large storage dams but existing thermal
plants can continue if they eliminate pollution. And in ESZ 3, new mines, new industries
and thermal power plants will be permitted under strict conditions and a social audit.

Proposed Administrative Architecture

1. Central and state level: It wants to create Western Ghats Ecology Authority as a statutory
authority appointed by MoEF with powers under the EPA, 1986. The body will have
ecologists, scientists, civil society representatives, tribal groups, officials, planning
commission (because western ghat development plan is funded by the FYP), national
biodiversity authority, central pollution control board and state government members and
would administer the ESZs. Correspondingly each state will have a state WGEA which will
interact closely with state planning departments, state biodiversity boards and state
pollution boards and will work with the WGEA.
2. District level: Currently each ESA (ecologically sensitive area) is administered by a high
level monitoring committee appointed only by MoEF which doesn't have any regulatory
powers, financial resources pr human resources. In many ESZs no committee existed for
many years. The panel recommends it to be replaced by District Ecology Committees
which should work in collaboration with zila parishad as well as district planning
committee. It should have authority over location of industry, land use, storage dams etc.
3. It has also recommended “adaptive co-management” where decisions are taken after full
consultation and involvement of the local gram sabhas. A good example of how localised
authorities can be effective is the Dahanu Taluka Ecology Authority in Maharashtra, set up
on directions of the Supreme Court, which has succeeded in protecting the eco-sensitive
nature of that area despite its proximity to Mumbai and pressure from strong political and
business interests.

Implications of Heritage Site Recognition

1. India will have to inform the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of any proposed
infrastructure development, major construction etc. before an irreversible decision has
been taken. Moreover any such permission from the Indian authorities should be granted
only after through EIA.
2. India will also have to ensure proactive sustainable tourism in the areas.

Environment Performance Index

1. Every state will be rated on environment performance to check the illegal mining, coastal
abuse and environment degradation. It would be implemented by 2013 and will be used in
allocating grants.

Social Forestry

1. It means raising fast growing trees near the habited areas so as to serve the needs of the
 local population (timber, fodder etc.) and thus relieve pressure on the forests.
2. Initially the selection of trees was done by the government and had no local inputs. So
eucalyptus were planted and it failed to relieve pressure on the forests. But subsequently
the planning, execution and monitoring was handed over to village panchayats.
3. It can include farm forestry (individual farmers planting trees in their fields to meet
domestic family needs), agro forestry (trees being planted at field boundaries) and area
extension forestry (trees being planted on road sides, canals etc).

Government Norms
Environmental Violation

1. Serious: A violation of this type will immediately lead to the closure of the unit. Example is
non treatment of nuclear waste from a nuclear plant.
2. Not so Serious: The violating unit may get up to 3 warnings to correct its practices.
Example is non treatment of non nuclear waste from a nuclear plant, pollution of nearby
water resources by an industry.

Bharat Stage Emission Norms

1. Bharat 3: Since 2010, Bharat stage III norms have been enforced across the country.
2. Bharat 4: In 13 major cities, Bharat stage IV emission norms are in place since 2010.
3. Bharat norms vs Euro norms: The Bharat Stage norms have been styled to suit specific needs and
demands of Indian conditions. Euro-III is tested at sub-zero temperatures in European countries. In India,
where the average annual temperature ranges between 24 and 28 degree Celsius, the test is done away
Another major distinction is in the maximum speed at which the vehicle is tested. A
with.
speed of 90 km/h is stipulated for BS-III, whereas it is 120 km/h for Euro-III, keeping
emission limits the same in both cases.

Catalytic Converter

1. It was made mandatory for petrol vehicles in 1995 and unleaded petrol was introduced.
2. It is an exhaust emission control device which converts toxic chemicals into less toxic. It has
a catalyst which oxidizes CO and unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and reduces NOx to CO2, N2 and H2O. 2
way catalytic converters used to treat only HC and CO.
3. If the concentration of HC is abnormally high (as in partially burnt fuel), it may lead to high temperatures
and meltdown of the converter.
4. Catalyst poisoning occurs when the catalytic converter is exposed to exhaust containing substances that
coat the working surfaces so that it cannot contact and treat the exhaust. The most-notable contaminant
is lead, so vehicles equipped with catalytic converters can be run only on unleaded fuels. Other
contaminants are S, Mn, P.

Shipping Emissions

1. The sulphur content in fuel of ships has to be reduced to 3.5% from 4.5%. In the Emission
Control Area (ECA), it has to be reduced to 1% from 1.5%.

Forest Classification

1. Very dense forest: Tree canopy density of ≥ 70%. It covers 2.5% of total area.
2. Moderately dense forest: 40% ≤ Tree canopy density < 70%. It covers 9.75% of total area.
3. Open forest: 10%≤ Tree canopy density < 40%. It covers 8.75% of total area.
Largest forest cover is in MP followed by Arunachal Pradesh.

Biochemical Oxygen Demand

1. This is the amount of O2 needed by the aerobic micro-organisms in a sample of water to

break down the organic compounds present in it @ 20º C over 5 days. The limit in India is
3 mg per liter.
2. There are aquatic micro-organisms which break down the organic compounds in the
water into energy for reproduction and food. The higher the number of compounds, the
higher the microbial activity and higher their reproduction. The higher the number, the
higher their demand for dissolved O2 in water which if exceeds the rate of dissolution of
O2 from air into water can lead to depletion of dissolved O2 in water and death of fishes
etc.

Land Use Classification

1. It divides land form class 1 to class 8.

2. Classes 1 to 4 are cultivable with 4 being suitable for only subsistence agriculture (water-
logged soils commercially unusable) and class 3 suffering from erosion etc.
3. Class 5 is suited for moderate grazing while class 6 for limited grazing.
4. Class 7 is suited only for forestry and class 8 for wild life.

Coastal Regulation Zone

1. CRZ-I: Areas that are ecologically sensitive and important, such as national parks/marine
parks, mangroves, coral reefs, areas close to breeding and spawning grounds, areas
likely to be inundated global warming and area between low tide line (low neap tide) and
the high tide line (high spring tide). No new construction shall be permitted except atomic
energy projects and pipelines.
2. CRZ-II: The areas that have already been developed on the shore. Construction and new
activities shall be permitted only on the landward side.
3. CRZ-III: Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those which do not belong to either
Category-I or II. No construction is possible up to 200 m of high tide line. Between 200-
500 m construction is possible only subject to local traditional rights (for residential units)
and government approval (for commercial enterprises).
4. CRZ-IV: Coastal stretches in the Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and small islands,
except those designated as CRZ-I, CRZ-II or CRZ-III. All activities are to be regulated by
government.

Air Pollutants Limits

1. RSPM: 100 µg/m3.

2. CO: 80 µg/m3.
3. SO2: 80 µg/m3.
4. O3: 80 µg/m3.

Government Initiatives
Solar Cities

1. The Solar City programme aims to address the energy problem of the urban areas in a
holistic manner. The various initiatives like promoting solar water heating systems;
 deploying solar cells; designing solar buildings and promoting urban and industrial
biomass to energy projects would be consolidated under the programme.
2. The programme aims at minimum 10% reduction in projected demand of conventional
energy and increasing energy production through renewable energy.
3. It will motivate the local Governments for encouraging and adopting renewable energy
technologies and energy efficiency measures. A total of 60 cities/towns were identified to
be supported for development as Solar Cities during the 11th Plan period.

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

1. It empowers the government to frame rules regarding regulating pollution, setting norms,
industries etc.
2. It creates procedures and safeguards for accidents which may cause environmental
pollution and handling hazardous substances.

National Environment Appraisal and Monitoring Authority (NEAMA), 2011

1. This authority will appraise and monitor the compliance of various projects. It will be a fully
professional, science-based and autonomous body. The Ministry of Environment will
continue approval of the projects based on NEAMA's appraisal.
2. This marks a major improvement over the current system as it separates the appraisal
and approval parts.

Wildlife Habitat Guidelines (Revised), 2011

1. Critical Wildlife Habitats (CWH) are areas which are absolutely essential for survival of
endangered species and hence should be left unviolated. But declaring areas as
CWH conflicts with the interests of the tribals as it displaces them.
2. In the previous guidelines, the decision to declare the area as CWH rested with the forest
officials with token participation of other stake holders. In the new guidelines, a committee
of gram sabha members, forest officials, tribal NGOs and scientists will together take the
decision. For any relocation to be carried out, the free and informed
consent of the gram sabha is necessary.

National Afforestation Programme

1. Its objective is to improve the forests with community participation and specially benefit
people living on the forest-rural fringe.
2. It devolves the forest management and protection responsibilities to decentralized
institutions of Joint Forest Management Committee at village level and Forest
Development Authority at the forest division level. The JFMCs consist of women, SC/STs
etc. and the FDA is an aggregate of JFMC. Funds are dispatched directly at FDA and
JFMC level. Training etc. are also organized for their members.
3. Apart from afforestation activities, emphasis is also on soil and moisture conservation
techniques, fencing, monitoring etc.

National Bamboo Mission

1. Launched in 2006-07, a central assistance of Rs. 8000/- per hectare is provided in order
to harness the potential of bamboo crop for enhancing income of the farmers.
 2. Its aim is to increase yield from 3 tonnes to 20 tonnes per hectare.
3. Components of the scheme include mass production of quality planting material,
improved post harvest management, development of human resources and marketing
facilities.

Pollution in Leather Industry

1. Leather industry in India has become 0 discharge industry as ~80% of the effluents are
treated and recycled back into use and remaining 20% are solidified and their salts used
for other purposes. As a result, Indian leather industry is REACH compliant (EU norms)
and exported $4.5 bio in 2011-12 and the target is $14 bio by 2015-16 (growth rate of
20% p.a.).
2. In 11th FYP, government provided 75% assistance (60% centre + 15% states) for setting
up effluent treatment plants.

National Action Plan on Climate Change

National Solar Mission

1. To increase the share of solar energy in India's total energy pie significantly by creating 20
GW capacity by 2020.
2. To use refractor types technology to setup MW scale solar plants.

(a) Monocrystalline Silicon Technology

1. A single crystal of silicon is prepared and the wafer cut out of that. It has high efficiency (17%) as the
entire lattice is continuous with no grain boundaries (and hence less resistance) but higher costs since a
single crystal is expensive to generate and there is a lot of wastage.

(b) Multicrystalline / Polycrystalline Silicon Technology

1. Here there is no need to cut the wafer entirely out of single crystal. A wafer can have
multiple crystals. This lowers the costs but also lowers the efficiency (to 10%).

(c) Thin Film Technology

1. They are cheaper to manufacture as they use very less material. A thin film of silicon
material is printed between two sheets of other material. But they are less durable.

(d) Concentrated Photovoltaic / CPV Technology

1. It uses mirros and lenses to concentrate sun light and improve efficiency (40%). But challenges are they
don't work in diffused light and need direct sunlight.

(e) Graphene Solar Cells

1. They can be cheaper but have very low efficiencies (3% proven). Recent researches have
been able to increase the efficiency up to 8.5% by treating them with a chemical.
2. When graphene and silicon are put together they form a Schottky junction which helps in
conducting electrons.

National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency

 1. The objective was to save 10 GW by 2012 and 19 GW by 2015 (~100 MT CO2
reduction). It has achieved it through star labeling. Star labeling is an energy efficiency
rating scheme in electrical appliances and buildings. Scale is 1 to 5 stars with more stars
meaning more efficiency. The idea was to develop standards and to make consumers
aware while making the purchasing decision. But it remains voluntary.
2. Perform, Achieve, Trade scheme: To induce market based energy savings. All institutions
will be given a emissions savings target. Ones achieving more savings will get carbon
credits which can be sold to the non performers or else penalties. It is mandatory for all
large industrial units. During the first cycle of PAT scheme i.e. from 2012-13 to 2014-15,
eight energy intensive sectors such as thermal power, iron & steel, cement, fertilizer,
aluminum, textile, pulp & paper, chemicals have been included. 685 accounts in these
sector account for about 165 million tonnes oil equivalent of energy consumption annually
(~35% of India's energy consumption). Savings will be 6.6 MToE by 2015. The penalty will
be a fixed amount (only Rs. 10 lac) + target savings unachieved * cost of 1 tonne of oil
equivalent (thus little incentive to cut cost)!
3. Green technologies: Fiscal support, innovation, easier financing for green technologies.
4. Coal plants: This includes encouraging super critical thermal plants (60% of coal plants in
12th FYP and 100% in 13th FYP will be super critical), shifting of freight from road to
railways and Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (converting coal into gas and
removing impurities).
5. Residential lighting: The penetration of CFLs in the domestic sector has been relatively
limited because of the high costs. The Bachat Lamp Yojana (BLY) provides CFLs to
households at the cost of incandescent bulbs. Discoms select qualified investors to sell
high quality CFLs in their region. The investors earn carbon credits due to the lower
energy use by the CFLs.
6. Energy efficiency in agricultural pumping: Replacement of inefficient agricultural pumps by
efficient pumps is enabled through the performance contracting mode. Pumps are
evaluated for their current energy consumption, and then the existing pumps are replaced
with efficient pumps. The resultant energy savings are evaluated, and the replacer is paid
a share .
7. Development in technology for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) need to be carefully
monitored to assess the suitability and cost effectiveness of this technology for Indian
conditions. A major effort must be made to expand energy from clean energy sources.
The share of new renewable energy in total commercial energy use at this juncture is
around 10.0 per cent with conventional hydro-electricity accounting for another 20 per
cent. The share of new and renewable energy could go up to 15.0 per cent by 2020.

National Mission on Sustainable Habitat

1. The objective is sustainable urban development. It will be accomplished through: (a)

Promoting the Energy Conservation Building Code. (b) Encouraging shift to public
transport. (c) Better urban waste management by higher recycling and to invest in R&D
thereof.

National Water Mission

1. To increase water use efficiency by 20%.

2. To meet the urban needs mostly through recycled water and coastal needs through low
temperature desalination of ocean water.
National Mission for Green India

1. To increase the forest cover from 23% to 33%.

2. To increase community participation in afforestation.
3. To setup Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and
campa funds.

National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem

1. To share information on Himalayan Ecology with neighbors.

2. To setup monitoring centers for Himalayan ecology.
3. To keep 67% of Himalayan land under forest cover and to include community in it.

National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture

1. To develop climate resistant crop varieties.

2. To develop alternate cropping patterns.
3. To use traditional knowledge along with modern.
4. To make rain fed agriculture more resilient.

National Mission for Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change

1. An open source platform will be maintained and all information would be shared.
2. Increasing research by a Climate Science Research Fund as well as private research.

National Watershed Management Programme

Objectives

1. Developing wastelands/degraded lands, drought-prone and desert areas on watershed

basis. A watershed is a unit of 500 ha which drains into a common point.
2. Mitigating the adverse effects of extreme climatic conditions.
3. Restoring ecological balance.
4. Encouraging village community for community action and local traditional knowledge.

Activities

1. It will cover projects like soil treatment, erosion check, afforestation, local embankments
etc.
2. It will have greater role of PRIs and village forest committees.

National Lake Conservation Programme

1. Prevention of pollution from point sources which includes water treatment.

2. In situ measures of lake cleaning such as de-silting, de-weeding,
bioremediation, aeration, bio-manipulation.
3. Catchment area treatment which may include afforestation, storm water drainage,
silt traps etc.
4. Prevention of pollution from non-point sources by providing low cost sanitation.

National Wetland Conservation Programme

Activities
 1. Wetlands in India are disappearing @ 2-3% p.a. Major threats are conversion into paddy
fields and encroachment by real estate developers. India is a party to Ramsar convention
which was based on the 'wise use (sustainable development)' principle. Yet there is no
legal framework to conserve wetlands. So a draft framework is being prepared to notify in
EPA, 1986.
2. The identification of wetlands is done on the basis of ecological importance, level of
endangered species being supported etc. So far 115 wetlands have been so identified.
3. Programmes covered are catchment area management, point source pollution treatment,
weed control, inventorization etc.

Role of Wetlands

1. Wetlands aid in water filtration by removing excess nutrients, slowing the water allowing
particulates to settle out of the water which can then be absorbed into plant roots. Studies
have shown that up to 95% of nitrogen can be removed from passing water through a
wetland. Wetlands also let pollutants settle and stick to soil particles, up to 70% of
sediments in runoff. Some wetland plants have even been found with accumulations of
heavy metals more than 100,000 times that of the surrounding waters concentration.
2. Through wetlands ability to absorb nutrients, they are able to be highly biologically
productive. Freshwater wetlands are even comparable to tropical rainforests in plant
productivity

National Green Tribunal

Powers

1. It investigates matters related to pollution, diversion of forest land to non-forest use,

environmental clearances granted to projects under EIA notification 2006, environment,
biological material, traditional knowledge etc. It replaced National Environment Appellate
Authority in 2010.
2. It was established under the Art 21 and also under India's commitments under the Rio
Summit to provide a forum for judicial and administrative remedies for environmental
damage.
3. The Tribunal is not guided by Code of Civil Procedure 1908 but is guided by the
principles of natural justice. Also being a dedicated tribunal it is expected to regulate
emissions (thus helping in carbon markets) and provide speedy justice.

Composition

1. It contains experts from environment and related sciences + administration + judicial

appointees. This lends an expert color to NGT.
2. It has a central bench in Delhi and 4 regional benches @ Bhopal, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune.

Expert Group on Low Carbon Strategies for Inclusive Growth

1. Power: In the power sector, it has suggested action both on supply and demand side. On
the supply side, we need to adopt super-critical technologies in coal. Gas being in limited
supply, its best use is not in base load power, but in combined heat and power systems in
large establishments. We need to invest in renewable technologies, particularly solar,
wind, hydel and second generation bio-fuels. On the demand side, we need to accelerate
 adoption of super-efficient electrical appliances and pump sets through a combination of
market and regulatory mechanisms. We need to modernize our transmission and
distribution systems.
2. Transport: On the transport front, we need to increase the share of rail. This is not possible
unless we drastically improve the efficiency of rail freight transport, and also make it price
competitive by bringing down the levels of cross subsidization between freight
and passenger transport. Completion of dedicated rail corridor must be taken up on top
priority. We need to improve the fuel efficiency of our vehicles through both market based
and regulatory mechanisms.
3. Industry: The Expert Group has identified major sources of industrial emissions and made
specific recommendation for sectors like Iron & Steel and Cement, which account for over
60% of industrial emissions. It is important that green-field plants in these sectors
adopt best technology; while existing plants, particularly, small and medium ones,
modernize.
4. Buildings: India is fortunate that most of our commercial buildings that will be extant in
2030 are yet to be built. We need to both evolve and institutionalize Green Building
Codes.
5. Forestry: Up to the Eleventh Plan, our focus was on increasing area under forest and tree
cover. Given the scarce land availability, achievement in this front has been limited.
However, there is a tremendous scope for increasing the stock and quality of
existing forests. ‘Green India Mission’ is being designed to regenerate at least 4 million
hectares of degraded forest; increase density of cover on 2 million hectares of moderately
dense forest; and overall, increase the density of forest and tree cover on 10 million
hectares of forest lands, waste lands and community lands.