Current Affairs 24 October 2020 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 24 October 2020 2020 focuses on Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
- Landscape Restoration For Snow Leopard Habitat
- Sustainable Processing of Solid Waste
Landscape Restoration For Snow Leopard Habitat
Why in News ?
Government of India has been conserving snow leopard and its habitat through the Project Snow Leopard (PSL). Landscape Restoration For Snow Leopard Habitat is under processing. India reiterated on the occasion of International Snow Leopard Day 2020.
About Snow Leopard
- It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
- The global population is estimated to number less than 10,000 mature.
- snow leopards usually live above the tree line on mountainous meadows and in rocky regions at altitudes from 2000 to 6,000 m based on the season
- It is threatened by poaching and various development process.
- Reduction in alphine zone due to green house gases reduces their habitat threatens the population.
India on Snow Leopard Conservation
- In India, their geographical range encompasses a large part of the western Himalayas including the states and UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Protecting the snow leopard and its habitat ensures protection of the major Himalayan rivers that support the teeming millions downstream.
- It also ensures that the ecological balance is maintained in these fragile ecosystems.
- This multi-lateral programme comprises of 12 snow leopard range countries and they have developed national priorities and identified large landscapes to support viable populations of snow leopards.
- During the virtual meet community volunteer programme “HimalSanrakshak” was launched by Shri Supriyofollowed by the release of origami notebook based on the theme of combatting illegal trade in wildlife.
- The Government of India has identified the snow leopard as a flagship species for the high-altitude Himalayas.
- India is also party to the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme since 2013.
- India hosted the 4th Steering Committee of the GSLEP program in October 2019 at New Delhi.
- This meeting resulted in the New Delhi Statement of strengthening the resolve of the snow leopard range countries towards conservation of the mountain ecosystems of Central and South Asia.
- First National Protocol was also launched last year on Snow Leopard Population Assessment which has been very useful for monitoring populations. This aims at
- Developing landscape-based management plans,
- Habitat restoration plans, livelihoods improvement
- Mitigation of wildlife crime and illegal trade in wildlife
- Human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategies
- Improving awareness and communications strategies.
Source : PIB
GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Sustainable Processing of Solid Waste
Why in News ?
With an ever increasing population and rapid pace of urbanization, the country is facing a huge challenge of waste management.
What is issue ?
- The volume of waste is projected to rise from the present 62 million tonnes to about 150 million tonnes by 2030.
- Indiscriminate dumping of garbage at the current rate without appropriate scientific treatment, would impose huge requirement of landfill area per year.
- This necessitates the importance of scientific solid waste management.
- Municipal Solid Wastes generated in India mostly consists of alarge fraction (> 50%) of organic wastes.
- Unscientific disposal of organic waste produces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissionsand other air pollutants.
- The ineffective processing of MSWalso is the root cause of many diseases as the dumped landfills transform into Contamination Hubs for Pathogens, Bacteria and Viruses.
- The most commonly used processing composting also does not yield impactful economic returns for the entrepreneurs as it requires more land space, more labour, pasteurization for effective disinfectionand has restricted utilization due to presence of heavy metals.
- During the rainy season managing composting becomes difficult due to the presence of excessive moisture.
Various Methods for Solid Waste Management
- Solid Waste treatment and disposal utilizing plasma arc gasification process
- An option for eco-friendly solid waste management in which large volume reduction of waste up to 95% is possible.
- The plasma gasification process uses electricity to generate high temperature plasma arc inside the plasma reactor which converts the waste into syngas.
- The produced syngas when passed through a series of gas purification system comprising of catalytic converter, redox reactor, cyclone separator, scrubber and condenser is ready for use in gas engines for generation of electricity.
- The residual ash can be mixed with cement for preparation of recycled bricks for usage in construction.
- This technology is not economically viable
- Biomass Waste Disposal
- Biomass waste such as dry leaves, dead branches, dry grass etc. are disposed of by first shredding it to suitable size followed by mixing with the slurry of the biogas digester.
- This mixture is feedstock for briquette, which is utilized as fuel for cooking.
- Polymer Waste Disposal
- The polymer waste consisting of plastics, sanitary waste etc. is being disposed of through two main processes i.e. pyrolysis and plasma gasification.
- Sanitary Waste Disposal
- sanitary items including masks, sanitary napkins, diapers etc. are disposed-off utilizing high temperature plasma.
Source : PIB
GS III : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Current Affairs 24 October 2020 : Our major Sources for the Current Affairs are The Hindu, Indian Express, PIB, Down To Earth etc. For more queries and mentor-ship please contact us.