Biodiversity,IUCN, Red list - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: Red

Explanation:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on Dec 4, 2017 released an updated red list classifying the different species.

According to their website,the IUCN Red List Categories are intended to be an easily and widely understood system for classifying species at high risk of global extinction.

The categories are:

• EXTINCT - the last individual in the species has died.
• EXTINCT IN THE WILD - it now lives only in captivity and not in its natural habitat.
• CRITICALLY ENDANGERED - facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
• ENDANGERED - facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
• VULNERABLE - facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
• NEAR THREATENED - likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
• LEAST CONCERN - it is widespread and abundant in the wild.
• DATA DEFICIENT - inadequate information.
• NOT EVALUATED - not yet been evaluated against the criteria.

ANSWER: Hangul

Explanation:
The magnificent Kashmiri Red Stag or Hangul could finally get some protection with IUCN all set to declare it a critically endangered species.

• Known for its giant antlers bearing 11 to 16 points, Hangul has been hunted over the centuries and its habitat destroyed, leading to its population in the wild plunging to a mere 150
• IUCN is the biggest international body assessing threat levels to flora and fauna
• Merging with two other species red deers from China’s Tarim Mountains has not worked for aiding conservation efforts
• Critically endangered status of the Hangul will most likely to be completed by December 2016
• It is listed under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and the J&K Wildlife (Protection) Act 1978 and has been listed among the top 15 species of high conservation priority by the Government of India
• As per the Bombay Natural History Society, Kashmir’s Hangul population numbered 3,000 to 5,000 around the year 1900
• A 2015 census carried out by Kashmir’s forest department indicated it could be the lowest at 110-130 in Dachigam.

ANSWER: Tamil Nadu

Explanation:
Botanical Survey of India in the last week of Sept 2016 announced almost 1 in 4 flowering plant species in India are endemic to the country.

• Tamil Nadu has the highest number of species with 410
• Tamil Nadu is followed by Kerala with 357 and Maharashtra at 278
• According to scientific data in the currently released book, “Endemic Vascular Plants of India” of the 18259 flowering plants reported in the nation, 4003 are found only in India
• Regarding the geographical distribution of endemic plants, the Western Ghats tops the list with close to 2116 species followed by Eastern Himalayas with 466 species
• Close to 37 species of the black plum Syzygium or jamun are found along with 10 varieties of Musa or banana and 274 species of orchids found only in India
• Four different varieties of roses, 2 herbs and 2 climbers as well as 12 species of jasmine are found endemic to India
• When it comes to species, 45 species of the common black pepper family, 19 species of ginger and 13 species of cardamom were endemic to India
• 40 species of bamboo were also endemic to India
• Some endemic species were restricted only to certain parts of the country like the Nepenthes khasiana found in Khasi hills of Meghalaya
• Close to 58 genera of flowering plants were found endemic to India
• Publication also reveals that of 19365 vascular plants found in India, 4381 are endemic including 4303 angiosperms or flowering plants, 12 gymnosperms and 66 ferns and allied plants under the category of Pteridophytes
• Red sandal wood is found only in Southern parts of Eastern Ghats and is among the most widely exploited endemic plants in India
• This plant is identified as critically endangered under IUCN category

ANSWER: Bibhuti Lahkar

Explanation:
Indian ecological and conservation activist Bibhuti Lahkar on 4th September 2016 became the first Asian to be awarded the prestigious Heritage Heroes Award by IUCN.

• Lahkar received the award at IUCN World Conservation Congress in Honolulu Hawaii
• Indian ecologist was among 5 conservationists across the globe to be nominated for 2016 heritage heroes award
• This award is aimed at recognising outstanding efforts around the globe in making a difference to the conservation of World heritage sites in challenging situations
• Lahkar did his research on the grasslands of Manas National Park in the context of the species called Pygmy hog
• His research work covered Manas National park and Kaziranga National Park in Assam
• He also conducted the first GIS survey of the Royal Manas National park
• Research findings are a critical component in Manas Tiger Conservation Plan

ANSWER: Eastern Gorilla

Explanation:
The largest living primate Eastern Gorilla found in the Congo mountains is now officially critically endangered according to a fresh update of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
IUCN World Conservation Congress made the announcement regarding the same in Hawaii.

• Eastern Gorillas have suffered a devastating population decline of more than 70 percent in 2 years with the population estimated to be lower than 5000
• Four of the six great apes- Eastern Gorilla, Western Gorilla, Bornean Orangutang, Sumatran Orangutang are now listed as Critically Endangered
• Two remaining-Chimpanzee and Bonobo are under considerable threat of extinction and are listed as Endangered.
• Latest IUCN Red List also reports the decline of the Plains Zebra due to illegal hunting and growing extinction threat to Hawaiian plants used by invasive species.
• 38 of the 415 endemic Hawaiian plants assessed for this update as listed as Extinct and four other species have been listed as Extinct in the Wild meaning they only occur in cultivation
• The IUCN Red List now includes 82,954 species of which 23,928 are threatened with extinction.
• Eastern Gorilla (Gorilla Beringe) is now made up of 2 subspecies. One of the subspecies Grauer’s Gorilla has lost 77 percent of its population since 1994 declining from 16,800 to just 3,800 in 2015.
• Mountain Gorilla another subspecies is around 880
• The Plains Zebra has moved from Least Concern to Near Threatened. Population has been reduced by 24 percent in past 14 years from 660,000 to 500,000.
• 3 species of antelope found in Africa - Bay Duiker (Cephalophus dorsalis), White-bellied Duiker (Cephalophus leucogaster) and Yellow-backed Duiker (Cephalophus silvicultor) - have moved from Least Concern to Near Threatened.
• However, the good news is that the Giant Panda and the Tibetan Antelope are now listed as Vulnerable and Near Threatened respectively from Endangered status.
• Other conservation successes include the Greater Stick-nest Rat (Leporillus conditor) and the Bridled Nailtail Wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata).

ANSWER: Only 2

Explanation:

• The IUCN Council is the principal governing body of IUCN.
• The Council provides strategic direction for the activities of the Union, discusses specific policy issues and provides guidance on finance and the membership development of the Union.
• The Council is composed of the President, four Vice Presidents (elected by the Council from among its members), the Treasurer, the Chairs of IUCN's six Commissions, three Regional Councillors from each of IUCN's eight Statutory Regions and a Councillor from the State in which IUCN has its seat (Switzerland).
• IUCN's current President is Zhang Xinsheng.
• The Council appoints a Director General, who is responsible for the overall management of IUCN and the running of the Secretariat. Inger Andersen is IUCN Director General since January 2015. She succeeded Julia Marton-Lefèvre.

ANSWER: Both 1 and 2

Explanation:

• World Conservation Congress formerly was known as the IUCN General Assembly.
• The World Conservation Congress (Members’ Assembly) is IUCN’s highest decision-making body. The Congress convenes every four years, most recently in Jeju, South Korea, in 2012.
• It elects the Council, including the President, and approves IUCN’s work program and budget.
• This year in 2016, it is meeting at Hawai?i Convention Center, in the Hawaiian capital, Honolulu. It is being hosted by the State of Hawai?i with the support of the Department of State of the USA.

ANSWER: Plight of island nations due to rising seas

Explanation:

• The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s World Conservation Congress is held every four years in a different location around the globe.
• This year, the conference theme of "Planet at the Crossroads" is aimed at exposing the plight of island nations that are at risk of disappearing in the coming decades due to rising seas.
• Arguments are expected on hotly debated issues such as what to do about domestic ivory markets which lead to the killing of elephants for their tusks, and how to feed the world's growing population without exhausting its natural resources.

ANSWER: Plant

Explanation:

• Scientists at the Malabar Botanical Garden and Institute for Plant Sciences, Kozhikode, have taken up a mission to save an endangered aquatic plant facing extinction in its only known natural habitat in Periya village, Kasaragod.
• The plant, Crinum malabaricum and known locally as Kanthanga, is restricted to a population of approximately 1,000 along the shaded stretch of a seasonal stream running through the Periya village.
• The IUCN Red List of Species has classified C. malabaricum as critically endangered. According to IUCN, the trees lining the stream were being cut down for farming and access, pushing the aquatic plant to the verge of extinction.
• Endowed with large, flat, strap-shaped leaves, C. malabaricum resembles a water lily.

ANSWER: Telipogen diabolicus

Explanation:
A colourful orchid species which has a devil’s head in its heart and therefore called Telipogen diabolical was discovered.

• It was discovered by Marta Kolanowska and Dariusz Szlachetko, both affiliated with the University of Gdansk, Poland, together with Ramiro Medina Trejo of Colombia,
• The new orchid grows a stem measuring between 5.5-9 cm in height.
• The orchid is assigned as a Critically Endangered species in the IUCN Red List.