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Summary
Environment Class 20

THE CLASS STARTED WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS CLASS (05:20 PM)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (05:21 PM)

  • It is a study to predict the effect of the proposed activity on the environment.
  • It compares various alternatives for projects and seeks to identify the one which represents the best combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits.
  • Benefits of EIA:
  • Reduction of pollution.
  • Protection of the environment.
  • To protect the interests of the local community and tribal community.
  • To prevent future conflicts.
  • Prevention of disasters.
  • To make the government accountable towards the people.
  • Optimum resource utilisation.
  • Reduction in the cost of projects.
  • Prevention of internal conflicts.
  • Principles to be used in EIA:
  • Participation.
  • Transparency.
  • Accountability.
  • Integrated Assessment.
  • EIA Process:
  • Stakeholders:
  • Project Developer
  • Assessment Agency.
  • Affected community
  • Decision-making authority.
  • 1) Project Proposal:
  • Its detailed report is to be prepared by the project developer and submitted to the government and assessment agency.
  • 2) Screening:
  • It determines whether the project requires EIA or not.
  • 3) Scoping:
  • It involves detailing the terms of reference for EIA.
  • 4) Impact Analysis:
  • It identifies and predicts the likely impacts of the proposed projects.
  • It involves recommending mitigation to reduce and avoid adverse consequences.
  • 5) Reporting:
  • It involves preparing detailed reports to submit decision-making body as well as other interested parties along with environment management plans.
  • 6) Review and Public Hearing:
  • Review involves the affected community as well as decision-making authority.
  • The community will be given an opportunity to make suggestions.
  • 7) Approval and Decision making:
  • In case of Approval conditions shall be prescribed.
  • 8) Implementation and Followup:
  • I.e. Post monitoring of the project once it is approved.
  • EIA in India:
  • In 1976-77, the Planning Commission asked the Department of Science and Technology to examine the river valley projects from an environmental angle.
  • Till 1994, Environmental clearance from the central government was an administrative decision.
  • In 1994, Based on the powers given under the Environment Protection Act, of 1986 the government promulgated EIA Notification which made environmental clearance mandatory for certain projects in India.
  • EIA Notification 2006:
  • It classifies developmental projects into two categories.
  • 1) Category A:
  • Projects requiring national level appraisal by impact assessment agency and expert appraisal committee.
  • 2) Category B:
  • Requiring appraisal at the state level from the State Impact Assessment Authority and State Expert Appraisal Committee.
  • Category A Projects do not require Screening.
  • In Category B Projects are divided into two:
  • Project B1: EIA is Mandatory.
  • Project B2: EIA not Mandatory
  • Some projects that require Mandatory EIA are:
  • Mining
  • Thermal Power plants, etc.
  • A draft EIA Notification to replace the 2006 Notification was issued in 2020 However, It was put on hold after wide criticism.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS (06:08 PM)

  • Anthropocentrism:
  • It suggests that human beings are the most important living creatures and the other living beings assist in their survival.
  • Non-Anthropocentrism:
  • Which gives value to every living being in nature.
  • Psychocentrism:
  • It holds that human beings have more value in the environment because of better-developed mental capacity.
  • Biocentrism:
  • It gives importance to all living beings in the ecosystem.
  • Deep Ecology:
  • It believes that humans must conserve the ecology for the sake of its intrinsic value.
  • We should radically change our relationship with nature from one that values nature solely for its usefulness to one that recognizes nature has an intrinsic value.
  • Shallow Ecology:
  • Environmental Conservation for the benefit of human beings alone.
  • Social Ecology:
  • Environmental conservation and studies the relationship between people and ecology.

EVOLUTION (06:25 PM)

  • Charles Darwin wrote a book 'Theories on the Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection'
  • The basic idea in it is evolution by Natural Selection.
  • According to him, Every species adapts in the ecosystem.
  • There is competition and various other conditions assist in the adaptation process.
  • Geological Time Scale:
  • Pre-Cambrian:
  • The Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) emerged in this time period.
  • It was just feeding on the carbon compounds and later photosynthesis emerged.
  • Through evolution LUCA led to the Blue Green Algae. (BGA)
  • Then the emission of Oxygen increases for a brief period of time.
  • Protozoa started emerging.
  • Volvox emerged afterwards and then multicellular organisms started emerging forming a colony.
  • First complex organisms with multicellular bodies, shapeless survive as single individuals but are made up of multiple small individual cells with the capacity to merge and reorganize at any time.
  • Sponges started emerging
  • Jelly Fish came into existence and it is the first organism to enter the deeper ocean and live on the ocean floor.
  • It is the first organism with a nervous system and muscle fibres. In it, cells have no independent existence.
  • Sea Anemone also emerged.
  • Corals started emerging during this time period.
  • Molluscs:
  • Squids and Octopus were emerged.
  • Cuttlefish can change colour to hide and to communicate messages.
  • Orthropods:
  • Orthropods have exoskeleton
  • They mould their exoskeleton and regrow it.
  • They have jointed appendages.
  • They are the first animals to come on the land.
  • Orthropods presently account for almost 80% of all animals.
  • Trilobite were also among the earliest species.
  • Centipedes and Millipedes emerged.
  • Insects are also anthropods.
  • Three Body Parts:
  • Head
  • Thorax
  • Abdomen
  • Insects are the largest orthropod group.
  • Insects are the first organisms to fly like Dragonfly.
  • Usually insects have either one pair or two pairs of wings, The Antenna is a sensory organ.
  • Crab, Lobster, Shrimp emerged.
  • Ordovician Time Period:
  • Vertebrates:
  • The first vertebrate to evolve was proto-fish.
  • Cartilaginous and Bony fish evolved.
  • Earth has seen five mass extinctions.
  • At the end of the Ordovician first mass extinction happened.
  • Silurian Time Period:
  • The arrival of plants is a characteristic feature of it.
  • In the start, Algae, Bryophytes, and others started emerging, and then vascular plants came up.
  • The lignin development helped to grow the longer and stronger plants.
  • Devonian Time Period:
  • Amphibians started evolving in this time period.
  • Amphibians are mostly cold-blooded, their skin is permeable and they practice external fertilization.
  • The second mass extinction occurs at the end of Devonian time.
  • Carboniferous Time Period:
  • Pangia started to develop.
  • Gymnosperm plants started.
  • Reptiles emerged during this time period.
  • Reptiles were capable of laying eggs with shells.
  • Tough outer layer and tough skin.
  • Reptiles are cold-blooded.
  • They are vulnerable to temperature fluctuations, Crocodiles, etc.
  • The Third Mass extinction came at this time, In terms of the percentages it was the largest mass extinction.
  • It happened due to large-scale volcanic eruptions and a 10-degree rise in temperature.
  • After the Triassic time period fourth mass extinction happened.
  • Dinosaurs survived the fourth mass extinction.
  • The legs of the reptiles were just below the body.
  • Jurassic-Cretaceous Time Period:
  • The emergence of Angiosperm plants.
  • The colourful flowers emerged during this time due to the presence of insects.
  • The animal diversity exceeded the plant diversity.
  • Mammals were also evolved during this time.
  • Platypus, as well as Koala bears, bats, and dolphins, are mammals.
  • The Fifth Mass Extinction due to a large hit of meteorite and large-scale volcanic activity.
  • Apes started evolving and after diversifying Homo sapiens emerged.
  • Characteristics of Apes:
  • Capacity to walk upright.
  • Larger brain size.
  • Facial expressions and tool-making abilities as well as communication skills.
  • The capacity to store the knowledge and transfer it to the next group is a unique aspect of humans.

WILDLIFE: SARUS CRAIN (08:31 PM)

  • It is the state bird of Uttar Pradesh.
  • Habitat: Marshland.
  • IUCN Status: Vulnerable.

WILDLIFE: TURTLES (08:33 PM)

  • Largest is Leatherback Sea Turtle.
  • Olive Ridley Sea Turtle: Found near Great Nicobar
  • Kemps Ridley Sea Turtle and Flatback Sea Turtles we did not find in India.
  • Other turtles:
  • Hawksbill Sea Turtle.
  • Loggerhead sea Turtle.
  • Green Sea Turtle.
  • Arribada is a place where mass nesting of olive ridley turtles happens.
  • Mass nesting also happens on the Mexican coast.
  • Initiatives for Olive Ridley Turtles:
  • Operation Oliva: To provide safe passage to Olive Ridley Turtle.
  • Operation Save Kurma: Implemented by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.
  • Sea Turtle Project: Implemented by WII.

WILDLIFE: CROCODILES (08:40 PM)

  • Three types of Crocodiles:
  • 1) Gharial: Critically Endangered.
  • Mainly found in Chambal
  • 2) Mugger: Vulnerable
  • Fresh water crocodiles found throughout India.
  • 3) Salt Water Crocodile: Least Concerned
  • Chilka Lake, Andaman and Nicobar.

WILDLIFE: GANGETIC RIVER DOLPHINE (08:42 PM)

  • They live in freshwater rivers.
  • It is found in Ganga and Bramhaputra
  • India, Bangladesh and Nepal
  • IUCN Status: Endangered
  • It is National Aquatic Animal.
  • Apart from this Indus River Dolphin is also found in Beas and other rivers.
  • Irrawaddy dolphins are found in Chilka Lake and Sundarban areas.
  • Ganges River Dolphin named as Susu.
  • Indus River Dolphin is Bhulan
  • River Dolphine of Amazon is Botos.

WILDLIFE: VULTURES (08:45 PM)

  • They are scavengers and their numbers are declining due to the heavy use of Diclofenac in the cattle.
  • There are 9 species of vultures in India:
  • Critically Endangered Vultures:
  • 1) Red-headed Vultures
  • 2) White-backed Vulture
  • 3) Slender-billed Vulture
  • 4) Indian Vulture also called Long Billed Vulture.
  • Conservations Efforts:
  • Vulture Action Plan
  • Vulture Safe Zone

WILDLIFE: MAHSEER (08:50 PM)

  • 1) Golden Mahseer:
  • IUCN Status: Endangered
  • Found in Himalayan rivers
  • 2) Blue Finned Mahseer:
  • IUCN Status: Least Concerned.
  • 3) Humped-backed Mahseer:
  • Critically Endangered.
  • It is also called Tiger Fish mostly found in the Cauvery River and its tributaries.

WILDLIFE: COMMON BIRDS (08:52 PM)

  • Black drongo (Jungal Kotwal)
  • Bulbul
  • Cormorant: Live around Water bodies
  • Snake Bird: (Indian Darter)
  • Grey Heron
  • Indian Pond Heron
  • Indian Roller
  • Jungle Babbler (Seven Sisters) (They live around in groups of seven)
  • Painted Stork
  • Plum-headed Parakeet.
  • Purple Sunbird.
  • Robin.
  • Shikhara
  • Sparrow
  • Spot Billed Duck

THE SYLLABUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IS COMPLETED.