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A recent CAG report indicates that 518 lakes, representing 74% of the total, in Jammu and Kashmir have either disappeared or significantly shrunk.
This alarming trend is leading to severe ecosystem degradation and increasing climate insecurity in the region.
Hokersar Lake, a vital high-altitude wetland in Kashmir Valley, known for its rich biodiversity and as a habitat for migratory birds, is among the affected water bodies.
The report underscores the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these crucial natural resources, including prominent lakes like Wular Lake.
Constitutional authority responsible for auditing all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and state governments, including bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government. Its reports are crucial for parliamentary oversight and accountability.
Nodal agency in the administrative structure of the Central Government for the planning, promotion, co-ordination and overseeing the implementation of environmental and forestry programmes.
Both Hokersar Wetland and Wular Lake are designated Ramsar Sites, recognizing their international importance as wetlands. Their degradation impacts India's commitment to the Ramsar Convention.
The findings underscore the effectiveness and implementation challenges of national and state-level wetland conservation initiatives, such as the National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP).
The shrinking of lakes is both a symptom and a contributor to climate change, affecting regional hydrological cycles and increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events.
Wetlands are biodiversity hotspots. Their degradation leads to habitat loss for numerous species, including migratory birds, impacting ecological balance.
Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time during the year, including during the growing season. They include marshes, swamps, bogs, and similar areas. Wetlands provide critical 'ecosystem services' such as water purification, flood control, groundwater recharge, shoreline stabilization, and are vital habitats for a diverse range of flora and fauna, including migratory birds. Their degradation leads to a loss of these services, impacting both environment and human well-being.
Simple Analogy: Think of wetlands as the 'kidneys' of the landscape, filtering pollutants and regulating water flow, much like kidneys filter waste from the body and maintain fluid balance.
GS Paper I (Geography of India - Physical Geography, Water Resources); GS Paper II (Governance - CAG, Government Policies); GS Paper III (Environment & Ecology - Conservation, Environmental Degradation, Climate Change).
General Awareness (Geography - Lakes, Wetlands; Current Affairs - Government Reports, Environmental Issues).
General Awareness (Current Affairs - Environmental News, Government Reports; Static GK - Important Lakes, Wetlands).
General Awareness (Geography - Lakes, Wetlands; Current Affairs - Environmental Issues).
General Awareness (Geography - Important Geographical Features; Current Affairs - Environmental Concerns).
Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over. Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?
Answer: Equatorial
The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of
Answer: Monsoon climate
Consider the following statements: Statement-I : Carbon markets are likely to be one of the most widespread tools in the fight against climate change. Statement-II : Carbon markets transfer resources from the private sector to the State. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Answer: Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
High for UPSC (Environment, Geography, Governance); Medium for other exams (Current Affairs, Static GK).
An area of land that is either permanently or seasonally saturated with water, playing a crucial role in the ecosystem.
A wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental environmental treaty.
The many and varied benefits that humans freely gain from the natural environment and from properly-functioning ecosystems.
The vulnerability of a region or population to the impacts of climate change, often leading to resource scarcity, displacement, and conflict.