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Biodiversity+Conservation

Environment · 10 Questions
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Question 1

Consider the following statements about Sacred Groves in India:

  1. They are patches of primeval forest conserved by local communities driven by religious and cultural beliefs.
  2. All sacred groves in India are automatically recognized and protected as 'Community Reserves' under the Wildlife Protection Act.
  3. The 'Kavus' of Kerala and 'Devarakadus' of Karnataka are well-known examples of Sacred Groves.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A 1 and 2 only
  • B 2 and 3 only
  • C 1 and 3 only
  • D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. Sacred groves are community-protected forests, and 'Kavus' and 'Devarakadus' are local names in Kerala and Karnataka, respectively. Statement 2 is incorrect. While the Wildlife Protection Act (Amendment 2002) introduced 'Community Reserves' to provide legal backing to community-conserved areas, sacred groves are not automatically recognized as such. A formal notification process is required by the state government.
Question 2

Consider the following statements regarding Invasive Alien Species:

  1. Prosopis juliflora is an aggressive invasive species that has severely affected the native biodiversity of the Banni grasslands in Gujarat.
  2. Globally, invasive alien species are widely considered the second biggest threat to biodiversity after habitat loss.
  3. The 'Global Invasive Species Database' is managed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • A 2 and 3 only
  • B 1 and 2 only
  • C 1 and 3 only
  • D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct; Prosopis juliflora is an invasive weed heavily impacting the Banni grasslands. Statement 2 is correct; invasive species are a primary driver of biodiversity loss globally. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Global Invasive Species Database (GISD) is managed by the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission, not UNEP.
Question 3

Which of the following National Parks are correctly matched with the rivers flowing through them?

  1. Jim Corbett National Park : Ramganga River
  2. Kaziranga National Park : Brahmaputra River
  3. Silent Valley National Park : Periyar River

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

  • A 1 and 3 only
  • B 2 and 3 only
  • C 1 and 2 only
  • D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Explanation: Statement 1 is correct; Ramganga flows through Corbett NP. Statement 2 is correct; the Brahmaputra borders and flows through Kaziranga. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Kunthipuzha River (a tributary of Bharathappuzha) flows through Silent Valley National Park in Kerala, not the Periyar.
Question 4

Consider the following statements regarding Biodiversity Heritage Sites (BHS):

  1. State Governments have the power to notify Biodiversity Heritage Sites in consultation with local bodies.
  2. They are declared under the specific provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
  3. Majuli, the river island in Assam, was the first Biodiversity Heritage Site declared in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • A 1, 2 and 3
  • B 1 and 3 only
  • C 2 and 3 only
  • D 1 and 2 only
✓ Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Section 37 of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 allows State Governments, in consultation with local bodies, to notify areas of biodiversity importance as BHS. Statement 3 is incorrect. The first BHS declared in India was the Nallur Tamarind Grove in Bengaluru, Karnataka (2007). Majuli is a BHS, but it was declared much later (2017).
Question 5

 Consider the following pairs of threatened species and their natural habitats:

  1. Lion-tailed Macaque : Tropical evergreen forests of the Western Ghats
  2. Sangai Deer : Floating phumdis of Keibul Lamjao National Park
  3. Snow Leopard : Alpine and subalpine zones of the Himalayas

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

  • A 1, 2 and 3
  • B 1 and 2 only
  • C 1 and 3 only
  • D 2 and 3 only
✓ Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation:
endemic to the rainforests of the Western Ghats. The Sangai (dancing deer) is endemic to the floating biomass (phumdis) of Keibul Lamjao National Park in Manipur. The Snow Leopard inhabits the rugged alpine regions of the Himalayas and Central Asia.
Question 6

With reference to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), consider the following statements:

  1. It is a statutory advisory body established under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
  2. It functions under the administrative jurisdiction of the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
  3. Shrimati Rukmini Devi Arundale pioneered the setting up of the AWBI.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • A 1 and 2 only
  • B 1 and 3 only
  • C 2 and 3 only
  • D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Explanation: All statements are correct. The AWBI was established in 1962 under the PCA Act, 1960. While it used to be under the Environment Ministry, it now falls under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. The well-known humanitarian and theosophist Rukmini Devi Arundale was instrumental in its founding and served as its first chair.
Question 7

Consider the following statements regarding Conservation Reserves and Community Reserves:

  1. These categories were introduced to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 through an amendment in 2002.
  2. Conservation Reserves are typically declared on privately owned lands, whereas Community Reserves are on government-owned lands.
  3. The traditional rights of people living inside a Conservation Reserve are not affected by its declaration.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A 1 and 2 only
  • B 1 and 3 only
  • C 2 and 3 only
  • D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct Answer: Option B
Explanation:
Explanation: Statements 1 and 3 are correct. The 2002 amendment created these categories, and the rights of people inside a Conservation Reserve remain unaffected. Statement 2 is incorrect because the descriptions are swapped. Conservation Reserves are declared on government-owned lands (usually linking protected areas), whereas Community Reserves can be declared on private or community lands where the community volunteers to conserve wildlife.
Question 8

Consider the following statements about the Montreux Record:

  1. It is a register of wetland sites maintained as part of the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
  2. It highlights sites where adverse changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur due to human interference.
  3. Currently, Chilika Lake and Keoladeo National Park from India are listed in the Montreux Record.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • A 1 and 3 only
  • B 2 and 3 only
  • C 1 and 2 only
  • D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct Answer: Option C
Explanation:
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct definitions of the Montreux Record, which operates under the Ramsar Convention. Statement 3 is incorrect. Currently, only Keoladeo National Park (Rajasthan) and Loktak Lake (Manipur) are in the Montreux Record from India. Chilika Lake was placed in the record in 1993 but was successfully removed in 2002 following impressive ecological restoration efforts.
Question 9

Consider the following statements regarding the levels of biodiversity:

  1. Genetic diversity helps a population adapt to changing environments and resist specific diseases.
  2. The Western Ghats have a greater amphibian species diversity than the Eastern Ghats.
  3. 'Alpha diversity' refers to the overall diversity of species across a large geographic region or landscape.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • A 1 and 2 only
  • B 2 and 3 only
  • C 1 and 3 only
  • D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct Answer: Option A
Explanation:
Explanation: Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Genetic diversity provides the basis for natural selection and adaptation. The Western Ghats is a global hotspot renowned for its high amphibian endemism and diversity. Statement 3 is incorrect. The diversity across a large geographic region or landscape is called Gamma diversity. Alpha diversity refers to diversity within a particular area or ecosystem, while Beta diversity is the comparison of diversity between ecosystems.
Question 10

Consider the following statements regarding the Global Environment Facility (GEF):

  1. It was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle our planet's most pressing environmental problems.
  2. It serves as a financial mechanism for the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
  3. The World Bank serves as the GEF Trustee, administering the GEF Trust Fund.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  • A 1 and 2 only
  • B 2 and 3 only
  • C 1 and 3 only
  • D 1, 2 and 3
✓ Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation:
Explanation: All statements are correct. The GEF was established in 1992. It serves as a financial mechanism for five major conventions: the CBD, UNFCCC, Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, UNCCD, and the Minamata Convention on Mercury. The World Bank acts as the GEF Trustee.

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