Issues on Environment, Biodiversity & Climate Change (Part-I)

Total Questions: 50

1. Consider the following programmes: [1996]

1. Afforestation and development of wastelands

2. Reforestation and replantation in existing forests

3. Encouraging the wood substitutes and supplying other types of fuel

4. Promotion of wide use of insecticides and pesticides to restrict the loss of forest area from degradation caused by pests and insects.

The National Forest Policy of 1988 includes:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3

Solution:National Forest Policy, 1988 describes the protection of forest and development of forest. It does not describe the use of insecticide and pesticide in forest areas.

The principal aim of National Forest Policy, 1988 was to ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which are vital for sustenance of all life forms, human, animal and plant.

2. Within biological communities, some species are important in determining the ability of a large number of other species to persist in the community. Such species are called : [2000]

(a) Keystone species
(b) Allopatric species
(c) Sympatric species
(d) Threatened species

Correct Answer: (a) Keystone species

Solution:A keystone species is a species that play a critical role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community and whose impact in the community is greater than would be expected based on its relative abundance or total biomass.

3. Consider the following animals of India: [2003]

1. Crocodile

2. Elephant

Which of these is/are endangered species?

(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (a) Only 1

Solution:Only crocodile is kept in the Red book or endangered species list.

4. Consider the following statements: [2005]

1. Kyoto protocol came into force in the year 2005.

2. Kyoto protocol deals primarily with the depletion of the ozone layer.

3. Methane as a green house gas is more harmful than carbon dioxide.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 1 only
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer: (b) 1 and 3

Solution:The protocol was initially adopted on 11th December 1997. But it entered into force on 16th February 2005, after Kyoto, Japan. So, it is called Kyoto protocol. Kyoto protocol deals with reducing the green house gases emission to a level at least 5% below 1990 level. Methane is more effective or harmful green house gas than carbon dioxide.

5. Consider the following statements: [2008]

1. Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in respect of carbon credits is one of the Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms.

2. Under the CDM, the projects handled pertain only to the Annex-I countries.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 & 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only

Solution:The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is indeed one of the Kyoto Protocol Mechanisms. The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty established under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to address global climate change. The CDM was created as one of the flexible mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol to help developed countries meet their emission reduction targets by investing in emission reduction projects in developing countries. Under the CDM, the projects handled pertain to non-Annex-I countries, not Annex-I countries. Annex-I countries are the developed countries that have emission reduction targets under the Kyoto Protocol. The CDM allows these Annex-1 countries to invest in emission reduction projects in non-Annex-I countries, which are typically developing countries.

6. The concept of carbon credit originated from which one of the following? [2009]

(a) Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro
(b) Kyoto Protocol
(c) Montreal Protocol
(d) G-8 Summit, Heiligendamm

Correct Answer: (a) Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro

Solution:The Kyoto Protocol invented the concept of carbon emissions trading, whereby carbon credits were a "flexibility mechanism". Under this flexibility mechanism Annex 1 (developed countries) could use the carbon credits to meet their emission reduction commitments.

7. Due to their extensive rice cultivation, some regions may be contributing to global warming. To what possible reason/reasons is this attributable? [2010]

1. The anaerobic conditions associated with rice cultivation cause the emission of methane.

2. When nitrogen based fertilizers are used, nitrous oxide is emitted from the cultivated soil.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2

Solution:Methane and nitrous oxide are the two green house gases emitted from rice field. In rice field, flooding cuts off the oxygen supply from atmosphere resulting in anaerobic condition which emits methane and nitrogen fertilizer which generally used in rice field for high production, emits nitrous oxide by reacting with atmospheric oxygen.

8. Consider the following statements: [2010]

1. Biodiversity hotspots are located only in tropical regions.

2. India has four biodiversity hotspots i.e., Eastern Himalayas, Western Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Solution:Statement 1 is incorrect because biodiversity hotspots are not only found in tropical regions. Biodiversity hotspots refer to geographical areas that contain high numbers of endemic species; hence they are not strictly restricted to tropical regions. Examples include the Mediterranean Basin and the California Floristic Province which are outside of the tropics. Statement 2 is also incorrect. While India is home to significant biodiversity, it has only three recognized hotspots. These hotspots are the Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Western Himalayas are not considered as a separate biodiversity hotspot.

9. A pesticide which is a chlorinated hydrocarbon is sprayed on a food crop. The food chain is: Food crop-Rat-Snake-Hawk. In this food chain, the highest concentration of the pesticide would accumulate in which one of the following? [2010]

(a) Food crop
(b) Rat
(c) Snake
(d) Hawk

Correct Answer: (d) Hawk

Solution:Biomagnification is the phenomenon of increasing concentration of compound in the tissue of organism, as the compound passes up a food chain, usually as a result of food intake. In this case, the concentration of compound will increase with increasing the tropic level. Biomagnifying pollutants which increases in concentration from producers.

→ Primary consumers → Secondary consumers
→ Tertiary consumers → Top consumer. Hawk is the top
consumer, so the pesticide concentration will be highest in Hawk.

10. As a result of their annual survey, the National Geographic Society and an international polling firm Globe Scan gave India top rank in Greendex 2009 score. What is this score? [2010]

(a) It is a measure of efforts made by different countries in adopting technologies for reducing carbon footprint.
(b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in different countries.
(c) It is an assessment of programmes/ schemes undertaken by different countries for improving the conservation of natural resources.
(d) It is an index showing the volume of carbon credits sold by different countries.

Correct Answer: (b) It is a measure of environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour in different countries.

Solution:In the third annual survery of National Geographic Society and Globe Scan, Indian top ranked in Greendex 2009 due to environmentally sustainable consumer behaviour.

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