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South Asian Consultation On Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
South Asian Consultation On Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
• The framework must aim to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve
recovery by 2050, which requires additional investment in nature
equivalent to between 0.7 and 1% of annual global GDP.
• Targets in the framework should be measurable, underpinned by science,
and have explicit outcomes.
• The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is a United
Nations-led initiative to tackle its root causes and could have a similar
impact as the Paris Agreement.
• Set to be finalized in early 2022, the GBF’s draft sets out targets for
protecting marine and land habitats, reducing pesticides and plastic waste,
and increasing investments.
• The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) will set 21 targets
and 10 milestones for governments to meet by the end of the decade.
• These include protecting a minimum of 30% of the world’s oceans and
land, reducing pesticide use by at least two-thirds, eliminating plastic
waste, and increasing financial resources dedicated to biodiversity to at
least US$ 200 billion annually.
Other highlights
• Last year the Union Minister of Science & Technology launched state-of-
the-art Heli-borne survey technology for groundwater management,
developed by CSIR-NGRI Hyderabad with Union Minister for Jal Shakti
from Jodhpur
• To start with, the States of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana are
being taken up for this latest heli-borne survey
• The water technologies of CSIR from source finding to water treatment
will benefit millions of people across the country
• The latest state-of-the-art technology is being employed by Council of
Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) for mapping groundwater
sources in arid regions and thus help utilise groundwater for drinking
purposes.
Earthquake Risk Maps
• Union Minister also released Earthquake Risk Maps of Lucknow and
Dehradun Cities and handed over the maps to the Chairpersons or
nominees of UPSDMA and UKSDMA on the occasion.
• CSIR-NGRI has made earthquake risk maps for Lucknow and Dehradun
cities which are vulnerable for future earthquakes in the Indo-Gangetic
plains area.
• The risk maps were prepared by characterising the hazard and its
uncertainty, to serve as input for risk assessment and earthquake resistant
design for different applications
Mahakali River
What’s the NEWS
• The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister has approved the
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Nepal for
construction of bridge over Mahakali River at Dharchula (India)-
Dharchula (Nepal).
Know! about Mahakalai River
• The Sharda River, also called Kali River and Mahakali River, originates
at Kalapani in the Himalayas at an elevation of 3,600 m (11,800 ft) in the
Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand, India.
• It flows along Nepal's western border with India and has a basin area of
14,871 km2 (5,742 sq mi).
• It joins Ghaghra River, a tributary of the Ganges. It takes the name Kali
River from the union of the two streams at Gunji as it flows through the
hills.
• After Brahmadev Mandi near Tanakpur, it enters the Terai plains, where
it is called Sharda River
• It offers potential for hydroelectric power generation. The river is also
proposed as source for one of the many projects in the Himalayan
component of the Indian Rivers Inter-link project.