Environment & Ecology Handout-2 (Class-2) by Vaishali Anand

About Anthropocene-
1. It is a proposed epoch that denotes the present geological time interval, in which the
Earth’s ecosystem has gone through radical changes due to human impact.
2. The word Anthropocene is derived from the Greek words anthropo, for “man,” and
cene for “new,” coined and made popular by biologist Eugene Stormer and chemist
Paul Crutzen in 2000.
3. There are numerous phenomena associated with this proposed epoch, such as global
warming, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, mass-scale soil erosion, the advent of
deadly heat waves, deterioration of the biosphere and other types of ecological
degradation.

What is the Geological Time Scale?

 Earth’s history is divided into a hierarchical series of smaller units of time, referred to
as the geologic time scale.
 These divisions, in descending length of time, are called eons, eras, periods, epochs,
and ages.
 These units are classified based on Earth’s rock layers, or strata, and the fossils found
within them.

Current Epoch: Officially, the current epoch is called the Holocene, which began 11000-10000
years ago after the last major ice age or Pleistocene ice age.
Debate: The term Anthropocene has not been formally adopted by the International Union of
Geological Sciences (IUGS), the international organization that names and defines epochs.
The primary question that the IUGS needs to answer before declaring the Anthropocene an
epoch is if humans have changed the Earth system to the point that it is reflected in the rock
strata.
About Wildlife Corridors
1. WL corridor is a relatively narrow strip of any natural habitat, such as a forest, that is
suitable for wild animals for movement between two or more large habitats or forest
blocks.
2. They improve ecological connectivity between fragmented habitats of wildlife due to
increased human pressures on land.
3. A few examples of WL corridors in India-
Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Corridor across Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland
Animals: Large mammals such as tigers, elephants and rhinos
Special Feature: Helps animals survive during floods

National Highway 37 cuts through the low-lying areas of Kaziranga and the hills of Karbi
Anglong. Each year the national park gets flooded during the monsoon, forcing the
wildlife to migrate to Karbi Anglong Hills to take refuge. However, as Karbi Anglong Hills

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 are across the highway, several animals are killed on the road each year by speeding
vehicles.

It is the last remaining area of rich biodiversity in Assam and the corridor helps survive
many animals during the floods.

Terai Arc Landscape In Lower Himalayan Region across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh
and Bihar (also cuts into the low-lying hills of Nepal)
Animals Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, Indian Rhino, antelope, deer, sloth,
Himalayan black bear, yellow throated marten, Indian pangolin, Gangetic dolphin and
gharial
Special Feature: Covers 14 different Protected Areas in two countries

Kanha–Pench Corridor, Satpuda–Maikal Landscape in Madhya Pradesh

Animals: Tiger, wild dog, sloth bear, leopard, hyena, jackal, sambhar and gaur
Practice Question-Which of the following are functions of wildlife corridors?
a) Ease of migration to animals
b) Higher genetic & species diversity
c) Reduced man-animal conflict
d) All of the above

About Invasive Alien Species

1. The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control (known as the “Invasive
Alien Species Report”) finds that more than 37,000 alien species have been introduced
by many human activities to regions around the world.
2. The global economic cost of invasive alien species exceeded $423 billion annually in
2019, with costs having at least quadrupled every decade since 1970.
3. A few examples of globally widespread bio-invasions:
 Water hyacinth- native to South America
 Lantana camara- native to tropical Americas
 Black rat- native to Indian subcontinent

Wildlife Protection Act 1972

The Act provides for the following –
i) protection of ‘wildlife’ (animals, plants & birds)
ii) controlling poaching, smuggling & illegal wildlife trade.
iii) appointment of authorities for wildlife protection in country.
iv) prohibition & regulation of hunting of wild animals (hunting of wild animals is
permitted in certain cases)
v) establishment of Protected Areas (PAs) like Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks

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 vi) management of zoos

A few examples of Schedule 1 species of WLPA-

i. Indian Elephant
ii. Asiatic Lion
iii. Tiger
iv. Cheetah
v. One horned Rhino
vi. Kashmiri Stag
vii. Gangetic Dolphin
viii. Snow Leopard
ix. Leopard
x. Snow Leopard
xi. Great Indian Bustard
xii. Black Buck

About CITES- (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora)

1. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not
threaten their survival.

2. CITES entered into force in 1975.

3. It has 3 Appendices-

a. Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in specimens of these

species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.

b. Appendix II includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which
trade must be controlled.

c. Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country, which has
asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the trade.

4. COP 19 of CITES was held in Nov 2022 at Panama City.

a. India’s proposal for induction of fresh water turtle Batagur kachuga (Red Crowned
Roofed Turtle) earned wide support of the parties in CoP 19 of CITES.

b. India proposed to upgrade it from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES. It was widely

appreciated by the parties and well accepted when introduced.

Wildlife Protection Amendment Act 2022

It seeks to give effect to India's obligations under the Convention on International Trade on
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora ('CITES').
The new Act reduces the number to schedules to 4-

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 Schedule Description
Schedule I Animal species that will enjoy
the highest level of protection
Schedule II Animal species that will be subject to
a lesser degree of protection
Schedule III Protected Plant species
Schedule IV Specimens listed in the Appendices
under CITES (scheduled specimens)

Penalties: The Act prescribes imprisonment terms and fines for violating the provisions of
the Act. The Bill increases these fines.
Type of Violation 1972 Act 2022 Amendment
General violation Upto Rs 25000 Upto Rs 1 lac
Specially protected Atleast Rs 10000 Atleast Rs 25000
animals

About Illegal Wildlife Trade in India-

1. India is not only a major source, but also a transit, and destination country for
trafficked wildlife and wildlife products, a large number of species are illegally
transported out of and into the country.
2. According to the Smuggling in India report 2020–21, the DRI’s (Directorate of Revenue
Intelligence) most common wildlife and wildlife products that were seized from being
smuggled out of India are ivory, turtles and tortoises (especially the Indian star
tortoise), and red sandalwood (red sanders or lalchandan).
3. Lately, there has been a decline in rhino horn trading from India; however, the country
is fast becoming a major hub for pangolin poaching and trafficking.
4. The trade in tiger parts also seems to be continuing unabated.

A few Anti-Trafficking Initiatives

1. Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, a statutory body under the Union Environment
Ministry- Established to combat organized wildlife crime, the Bureau collects and
disseminates intelligence related to such activities. It operates a centralized wildlife
crime data bank, collaborates with foreign authorities, and conducts awareness
programs and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen enforcement agencies.
2. Anti-poaching squads in regions like Assam have contributed significantly to curbing
poaching activities, protecting animals such as one-horned rhinos from illegal trade.
These squads train law enforcement officers and forestry personnel to combat wildlife
trafficking and provide legal assistance where needed.
3. One notable project in India's anti-trafficking initiatives is "Operation Soft Gold," which
focuses on curbing the illegal trade of Tibetan antelope (Shahtoosh).

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 4. India's enforcement regime, governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, prohibits
the illegal capture, killing, buying, and selling of animals and their parts. Violations can
result in imprisonment or a fine or both.
5. Supporting these efforts is TRAFFIC India, a wildlife trade monitoring network under
the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF India). Since 1991, TRAFFIC India has
collaborated with national and state governments to study, monitor, and combat illegal
wildlife trade through awareness campaigns, coordination efforts, capacity-building,
and training initiatives.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Category Description

Critically Endangered (CR) When population size reduction of 90% over the last 10
years or three generations, whichever is longer; OR

When population size estimated to number fewer than 50

mature individuals

(There are other criteria as well)

Endangered (EN) When population size reduction of 70% over the last 10
years or three generations, whichever is longer; OR

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 When population size estimated to number fewer than 250
mature individuals

(There are other criteria as well)

Vulnerable (VU) When population size reduction of 50% over the last 10
years or three generations, whichever is the longer; OR

Population size estimated to number fewer than 1,000

mature individuals

(There are other criteria as well)

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

A) CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora)

B) Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)

1. It is the only global convention specializing in the conservation of migratory species, their
habitats and migration routes.

2. It came into force in 1983.

3. It has 2 Appendices-

a. Appendix I- Species which are ‘facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the
near future and therefore, enjoy highest degree of protection under CMS.

b. Appendix II- Species given lesser degree of protection than Appendix I.

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