About Nagoya Protocol:

• The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (the Protocol) is a legally binding global agreement that implements the access and benefit-sharing obligations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
• It was adopted by the CBD in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010 and entered into force on October 12, 2014, 90 days after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification. 
• It provides a transparent legal framework for the effective implementation of one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

What are the benefits?

• It establishes a frame­work that helps researchers access genetic re­sources for biotechnology research, development, and other activities, in return for a fair share of any benefits from their use. 
• This provides the research and development sector with the certainty they need to invest in biodiversity-based research.
• Indigenous and local communities may receive benefits through a legal framework that respects the value of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.

What does the Nagoya Protocol cover?

• It applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD, and to the benefits arising from their utilization.
• It also covers traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and the benefits arising from their utilization.

Key Facts about Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):

• CBD, with currently 196 contracting parties, is the most comprehensive binding international agreementin the field of nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.
• It was opened for signing at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. 

It has three overarching objectives:

• The conservation of biological diversity (genetic diversity, species diversity, and habitat diversity).
• The sustainable use of biological diversity.
• The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.

• It covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. 
• The Conference of the Parties (COP) isthe highest political decision-making body of the Convention.
• The Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada. 
• To support implementation of the CBD objectives, two internationally binding agreements were adopted within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• The Cartagena Protocol, which was adopted in 2000 and entered into force in 2003, regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs).
• The Nagoya Protocol, adopted in 2010, establishes a legally binding framework for access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use. 

Q1: What are living modified organisms (LMOs)?

"Living modified organism" means any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology. LMOs are also commonly referred to as genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Source:Cameroon adopts Nagoya Protocol to benefit from its rich biodiversity

About Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs):

• CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun's atmosphere—the corona, that propagate outward into interplanetary space.
• During a CME, the sun releases a colossal amount of material, including electrons, protons, and heavier ions, as well as magnetic fields.

How are they formed?

• They form similarly to solar flares—a result of the twisting and realignment of the sun's magnetic field, known as magnetic reconnection.
• When magnetic field lines "tangle" they produce strong localized magnetic fields which can break through the surface of the sun at active regions, subsequently generating CMEs. 
• CMEs usually take place around sunspot groups and are often accompanied by a solar flare, though the two don't always occur in tandem. 
• CMEs travel outward from the sun at speeds ranging from slower than 250 kilometers per second (km/s) to as fast as 3000 km/s. 
• The fastest Earth-directed CMEs can reach our planet in as little as 15-18 hours. 
• They expand in size as they propagate away from the Sun, and larger CMEs can reach a size comprising nearly a quarter of the space between Earth and the Sun by the time they reach our planet.
• CMEs, like solar flares, are most common during the solar maximum, a period in the sun's 11-year cycle of activity when the star is at its most active.

Impact on Earth:

• Geomagnetic Storms: The interaction between the CME's magnetic fields and Earth's magnetosphere can lead to geomagnetic storms. These can disrupt satellite communications, navigation systems, and even power grids.
• Auroras: CMEs can cause spectacular displays of the Northern and Southern Lights, also known as auroras, by energizing particles in Earth's atmosphere.
• Radiation Hazards: Astronauts in space or passengers on high-altitude flights can be exposed to elevated levels of radiation during a CME event.

Key Facts about Solar Flare:

• It is an intense burst of radiation coming from the release of magnetic energy associated with sunspots.
• Flares are our solar system’s largest explosive events. 
• They are seen as bright areas on the sun, and they can last from minutes to hours.
• In a matter of just a few minutes, they heat the material to many millions of degrees and produce a burst of radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, including from radio waves to x-rays and gamma rays.
• Although solar flares can be visible in white light, they are often more readily noticed via their bright X-ray and ultraviolet emissions.

Effect of Solar Flare on Earth:

• The intense radiation emitted during a solar flare can affect satellite communications, disrupt radio signals, and even pose a risk to astronauts in space.
• Additionally, the increased solar radiation can lead to geomagnetic storms, which may impact power grids and cause auroras (northern and southern lights) at lower latitudes.

Q1: What are Sunspots?

Sunspots are dark, planet-size regions of strong magnetic fields on the surface of the sun. They can spawn eruptive disturbances such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These regions of the sun appear darker because they are cooler than their surroundings.

Source:IIA develops new model of internal thermal evolution of coronal mass ejections

About Messinian Event:

• Also known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), the Messinian event was a geological event during which the Mediterranean Sea went intoa cycleof partial or nearly complete desiccation (drying up).
• It was one of the most severe ecological crises in the Earth's history.
• The MSC began approximately 6 million years ago (MYA) and lasted until around 5.3 MYA.

How has it unfolded?

• It began when the connection between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea was cut off.
• This occurred due to a combination of lowered sea levels in the global oceans and collision between the European and African plates that caused the land to lift. 
• Normally, there is much more evaporation than precipitation over the Mediterranean Sea. This means that much more water is leaving than entering the sea.
• Without a significant source of water from the Atlantic Ocean, this led to the evaporation of much of the Mediterranean Sea.
• o A large underground canyon formed, and rivers made deep incisionsinto the bottom of the basin. This canyon was much larger than the Grand Canyon and had a depth of up to 2,000 meters (6562 feet).
• As the water in the Mediterranean evaporated, the salt that was in the water was left behind and began to build up in layerson the floor of the Mediterranean. 
• Two major salts that were deposited on the floor were Halite and Gypsum. Some of the salt deposit areas were 800 meters (2,500 feet) deep.
• However, the salt in the Mediterranean did not deposit on the floor as quickly as the water was evaporating. This means that whatever water was left in the Mediterranean became very salty. 
• This high amount of salt in the water (also known as salinity) caused the Mediterranean to become deadly to all marine life.
• The Mediterranean continued to dry up until there was almost no water left. 
• It ended with the Zanclean flood, when the Atlantic reclaimed the basin.

What is a Deep-sea Canyon?

• Deep-sea canyons are steep-sided valleyscut into the seafloorof the continental slope, sometimes extending well onto the continental shelf.
• These submarine canyons vary in size, shape, and morphological complexity; some were scoured by the flow of rivers during past low sea level periods, but most formed viaother erosional processes, such as mud slides, debris flows, and turbidity currents.

Q1: What are the countries bordering the Mediterranean sea?

22 countries and one territory (Gibraltar - a British Overseas Territory) have coasts on the Mediterranean Sea. The European Countries are Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, and Greece. The West Asian (Middle Eastern) countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea are Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, the Palestine Gaza Strip and the divided island of Cyprus. Five North African nations have coasts on the Mediterranean Sea: Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.

Source:Israeli scientists find new underwater canyon near Cyprus

About Aldabra giant tortoise:

• It is the second-largest species of land tortoise in the world, after the Galapagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra).
• It can live for 100 years and has a fascinating history.
• This tortoise evolved from the ancestors of Aldabrachelys abrupta, one of two giant tortoises that inhabited Madagascar for 15 million years.
• Four million years ago, the Aldabrachelys abrupta lineage migrated, likely via a combination of drifting with floating vegetation and assisted by their natural buoyancy and good swimming abilities, to the Seychelles.
• These are endemic to the Aldabra Atoll of the Seychelles, an archipelago nation in the western Indian Ocean about 930 miles east of Africa and northeast of Madagascar.
• Habitat:

o Theseare terrestrial and occur in a wide variety of habitats, including scrub forests, mangrove swamps, and coastal dunes and beaches, each with their respective vegetation.

o The largest populations of tortoises are found on grasslands called "platins."

o Due to prolonged periods of heavy grazing, a habitat known as “tortoise turf”, consisting of a variety of grasses, has developed in certain areas.

• Conservation status

o IUCN: Vulnerable

o CITES: Appendix II 

 Q1:What is an atoll?

It is a ring-shaped coral reef, island, or series of islets. An atoll surrounds a body of water called a lagoon. Sometimes, atolls and lagoons protect a central island. Channels between islets connect a lagoon to the open ocean or sea.

Source:Madagascar: giant tortoises have returned 600 years after they were wiped out

About Thrips Parvispinus: 

• It is an invasive pest species.
• It is a polyphagous pest, which can also grow and multiply on alternate hosts like drumstick, pigeon pea, chickpea, papaya, mango and weed species like Parthenium, Cleome viscosa, Prosopis sp., Lantana camera, Calotropis sp., Tecoma sp. and wild solanum plants.
• It has been reported from Thailand, Australia and Europe.
• The last two decades witnessed a drastic extension in the geographic distribution and it is now known to occur in France, Greece, Hawaii, Mauritius, Reunion, Spain, Tanzania and the Netherlands, besides India
• In India, this species was first reported on Papaya from Bengaluru in 2015.
• Thrips parvispinus adults mainly colonize on flowers and underside of leaves whereas larvae suck sap from undersurface of the leaves.
• Infestation causes heavy flower drop and thereby reduces fruit production.
• Its infestation increased during heavy rainfall of North East monsoon in contrast to other thrips species.

What are Thrips?

• Thrips are an important group of sucking pests which cause significant economic losses both as pests and vectors of serious plant viruses in several horticultural crops.
• There are reports on the outbreak of sucking pests like thrips in different regions due to changes in crop production patterns, pesticide usage and climate change. 

Q1:What is an Invasive Species?

An invasive species is an organism that is not indigenous, or native, to a particular area. Invasive species can cause great economic and environmental harm to the new area.

Source: Invasive thrips caused 80% damage to chilli crops, Rajya Sabha told

About Black-necked Crane: 

• The Black-Necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) is classed as a medium-sized member of the crane family.
• Habitat: The high altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau are the main breeding ground of the species. These wetlands with small mounds provide an excellent habitat to the birds for breeding.
• Distribution: This species is found in India, China and Bhutan and breeds in high altitude wetlands in the Tibetan plateau at elevations of 2950-4900 m above mean sea level.
• Threats: Habitat loss and degradation related to climate change, changes in agriculture practices, pollution and environmental contamination.

• Conservation status
  • IUCN: Near Threatened
  • The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • CITES: Appendix I

• The important steps taken by government of India to protect bird species include:
  • The important habitats of Black-necked Crane have been notified as Protected Areas, for example, Changthang Sanctuary, Ladakh.
  • The Tso Kar Wetlands Complex, an important foraging and breeding ground for Black-necked Crane, has been designated as a Ramsar Site in December 2020.
  • The National Wildlife Action Plan (2017-2031) released by the Ministry in October 2017 provides for specific Chapters and priority actions on various aspects of wildlife conservation.
  • The Central Government provides financial assistance to State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ for management of wildlife and its habitat in the country.
  • The Government of India has initiated Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) programme, that aims to generate public awareness about the environment, and conservation. 

Q1:What is LiFE Mission?

Mission LiFE, or Lifestyle for Environment, is an India-led global mass movement to nudge individual and community action to protect and preserve the environment. It was launched by the Indian Prime Minister at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow in November 2021.

Source:Black-necked Crane

About Mera Gaon Mera Dharohar programme: 

• It is a pan-India initiative of the Ministry of Culture under National Mission on Cultural Mapping and was launched on 27th July 2023. 
• It seeks to compile comprehensive information detailing the life, history, and ethos of Indian villages and to make the same available to virtual and real-time visitors.

Under the MGMD, information is collected under seven broad categories as given below-

• Arts and Crafts Village
• Ecologically Oriented Village
• Scholastic Village linked with Textual and Scriptural Traditions of India
• Epic Village linked with Ramayana, Mahabharata and/or Puranic legends and oral epics
• Historical Village linked with Local and National History
• Architectural Heritage Village
• Any other characteristic that may need highlighting such as fishing village, horticulture village, shepherding village etc.

Objective: 

• The main objective of the project is to culturally map India's 6.5 lakh villages, spanning 29 States and 7 Union Territories, on a comprehensive virtual platform.
• Through MGMD, people will get an opportunity to immerse themselves in the diverse and vibrant cultural heritage of India.
• The core idea behind this project is to encourage appreciation for India's culture and traditions, paving way for economic growth, social harmony, and artistic development in rural communities.
• Financial outlay of Rs.353.46 Crore is approved under the scheme of Financial Assistance for Promotion of Art and Culture consisting 08 scheme components namely;
  • Financial Assistance to Cultural organizations with National Presence
  • Cultural Function & Production Grant (CFPG):
  • Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Cultural Heritage of the Himalayas:
  • Financial Assistance for the Preservation & Development of Buddhist/Tibetan Organization
  • Financial Assistance for Building Grants including Studio Theatres
  • Financial Assistance For Allied Cultural Activities
  • Scheme for Safeguarding the Intangible Cultural Heritage

Q1:What is the National Mission for Cultural Mapping?

It was launched in 2017 by the Union Ministry of Culture with a aim to develop a comprehensive database of art forms, artists and other resources across the country. The government has identified and documented distinctive features of more than one lakh villages across the country.

Source:MERA GAON MERI DHAROHAR