Geography: May 2022 Current Affairs - UPSC PDF Download

1. Carbon Sequestration

• Oil India Limited (OIL) signed an MoU with Assam Forest Department for a project on Carbon Sequestration and Restoration of Degraded Forest Land in Upper Dihing Reserved Forest.
• The initiative has been undertaken under OIL’s CSR project Vasundhara.
• Under the project, reforestation, and afforestation in 100 hectare of degraded forest area is planned to be undertaken through plantation of 2,50,000 saplings by March 2025.

About Carbon Sequestration

• It is the process of capturing, securing, and storing of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• The idea is to stabilize carbon in solid and dissolved forms so that it does not cause the atmosphere to warm.
• The process shows tremendous promise for reducing the human carbon footprint.

Types of Carbon Sequestration

• Biological Carbon Sequestration: It is the storage of carbon dioxide in vegetation such as grasslands or forests, as well as in soils and oceans.
• Geological Carbon Sequestration: It is the process of storing carbon dioxide in underground geologic formations, or rocks, also in mature oil and natural gas reservoirs, uneconomic coalbeds, deep aquifers saturated with brackish water or brine (saline), salt caverns

Benefits of Carbon Sequestration

• It can be helpful in achieving Net Zero Emission by 2050 (IPCC report).
• Planting trees and managing their development is a proven way to reduce the number of harmful particulates in the air.
• Less carbon in atmosphere will reduce the greenhouse gas effect and lessen the impacts of climate change.

Way forward

• The Kyoto Protocol under UNFCC allows countries to receive credits for their carbon-sequestration activities in land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) as part of their obligations under the protocol
• New technologies of carbon sequestration which include a geoengineering proposal called carbon capture and storage (CCS).
  • In CCS processes, carbon dioxide is first separated from other gases contained in industrial emissions.
  • It is then compressed and transported to a location that is isolated from the atmosphere for long-term storage. 

To read more information on this topic:

• Shankar IAS: Summary of Environment Pollution
• Environmental Pollution - 1

2. State of The World’s Forests 2022

The 2022 edition of State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) released on day one of the World Forestry Congress.

About The Report

• It is the flagship publication of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, published every two years.
• It presents an analysis of the interaction between forests and people, with a focus on a specific pertinent topic. It explains the importance of forests to the global economy and biodiversity.

Key Findings Of This Report

1. Forest Loss

• Forests cover 4.06 billion ha of the earth’s geographical area. More than 700 million hectares (mha) of forest (18% of total forest area) is in legally established protected areas.
• The world has lost 420 mha, approximately 10% of its total forest area in last 30 years.
• Although the rate of deforestation was declining, 10 mha of forests were lost every year between 2015 and 2020.
• Some 47 mha of primary forests were lost between 2000 and 2020.
• An estimated 289 mha of forests would be deforested between 2016 and 2050 in the tropics alone resulting in the emission of 169 Gt CO2 if additional action is not taken.

2. Increase In Infectious Diseases

• 15% of 250 emerging infectious diseases have been linked to forests and 30% of new diseases, reported since 1960.
• Particularly the tropic’s deforestation has been associated with an increase in infectious diseases such as dengue fever and malaria.

3. Increase in Global Consumption

• Annual global consumption of natural resources is likely to increase to 190 billion tonnes (BT) in 2060 from 92 billion tonnes in 2017.
• Annual biomass extraction was expected to reach 44 BT by 2060, from 24 BT in 2017. Demand for forest-based biomass is expected to rise further, mainly due to construction and packaging Around a billion people in sub-Saharan Africa will keep relying on polluting fuels like charcoal and fuelwood till 2025.

4. GDP Dependence on Forests

• It is estimated that more than half of world GDP (USD 84.4 trillion in 2020) depends moderately or highly on ecosystem services, including those provided by forests.
• The wealth represented by certain forest ecosystem services is estimated at $7.5 trillion, which is 21% of the total wealth in land assets and about 9% of world GDP
  • Ecosystem services: Providing nutritious food and clean water, regulating disease and climate, supporting the pollination of crops and soil formation, and providing recreational, cultural and spiritual benefits

Suggestions Given in the Report

The report suggested 3 interrelated pathways to achieve green recovery & tackle environmental crises Halting deforestation and maintaining forests Restoring degraded lands and expanding agroforestry Sustainably using forests and building green value chains

Way Forward

• We need to act now to keep global temperature increase below 1.5°C and conserve planet’s biodiversity.
• More than 140 countries have pledged, through the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, to eliminate forest loss by 2030 and to support restoration and sustainable forestry.
• Better and more responsible land-use planning to address the underlying drivers of disease emergence.

To read more information on this topic:

• Ecology
• Type of Forest

3. State of the World’s Birds

Recently the State of the World’s Birds, an annual review of environmental resources, was published.

Major Findings of This Report

• About 48% of the existing bird species worldwide were known or suspected to be undergoing population decline.
• While 39% of the species had stable trends, about 7% species had increasing population trends.
• Humans eat 14% of the world’s surviving species of birds.
• Also, humans use 37% of the surviving bird species as common or exotic pets.
• The threat has been attributed to almost half of the 10,994 recognised extant species of birds to the expanding human footprint on the natural world and climate change.
• The study reviewed changes in avian biodiversity using data from the IUCN Red List to reveal the changes in fortunes of all the global bird species.
• By 2050, average dietary energy consumption is projected to increase by about 10% globally to more than 3,000 kcal per capita per day.

Regional Differences 

• Regional differences in access to food mean that nearly 500 million people are projected to remain at risk of going hungry.
• Globally about 70 million more people will be at risk from hunger because of climate change, including more than 28 million in East and Southern Africa. 

4. IFPRI

It was established in 1975, which provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

Pantanal Is At Risk Of Collapse

According to a team of scientists the Pantanal in South America, is at the risk of collapse due to a series of local and minor decisions.

About Pantanal

• It is the world’s largest wetland and the world’s largest flooded grasslands.
• It is located mostly within Brazil and extends to some portions of Bolivia and Paraguay.
• It is fed through the Paraguay River and tributaries.
• It was designated a Ramsar Site of International Importance in May, 1993.
• Keystone Species: The apple snail is a keystone species in Pantanal’s ecosystem.

Why Pantanal is Collapsing?

• Approximately 99% of the land in Pantanal is privately owned for the purpose of agriculture and ranching.
• Uncontrolled tourism, overuse of natural resources and the pollution from gold mining operations and agro-industry is another reason for collapsing.
• Pollution from sewage systems and pesticides leach into the soil or run-off to flood plains of the Pantanal.
• Infrastructure development is also a particular concern and it affects the hydrology of the region, and therefore impact the ecosystem.
• Forest Fires is also a major concern. In late 2020, a quarter of the wetland was destroyed by an unprecedented fire.
• It is also threatened by climate change, current predictive climate models indicate a progressive increase in the frequency of extreme events like extreme rainfalls and extended. 

To read more information on this topic:

• Forest Policy of India
• Vegetation

5. UNCCD Conference of Parties (COP15)

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed the 15th session of the COP15 of the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Cote d'Ivoire (Western Africa). The Drought in Numbers, 2022 report was released at the CoP15.

About COP15 of UNCCD

• It is a key moment in the fight against desertification, land degradation and drought.
• Drought, land restoration, and related enablers such as land rights, gender equality and youth empowerment are among the top items on the Conference agenda.
• It aims to move from commitments to action, placing land degradation neutrality (LDN) front and centre.
• It will build on the findings of the 2nd edition of the Global Land Outlook and offer a concrete response to the interlinked challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
  • The Global Land Outlook (GLO), the UNCCD flagship publication, underscores land system challenges, showcases transformative policies and practices, and points to cost-effective pathways to scale up sustainable land and water management.

Significance of COP15

• It will bring together leaders from governments, the private sector, civil society, and other key stakeholders from around the world.
• It is expected to galvanize sustainable solutions for land restoration and drought resilience, with a strong focus on future-proofing land use.

Findings of Drought in Numbers Report Global Assessment

• Slow-onset disaster: Droughts account for 15% of natural disasters but resulted in the highest human toll, with approximately 650,000 deaths. More than a billion people around the world were affected by drought in 2000-19, making it the second worst disaster after flooding.
• Alarming increase: There has been a 29% increase in the frequency and duration of droughts worldwide since 2000.
• Geographical spread: Africa was the worst hit, with 134 droughts, of which 70 occurred in East Africa. The largest increase in drought losses is projected in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic regions of Europe.
• Worrisome future: If predictions of global warming reaching 3°C by 2100 are true, drought losses could be five times higher than today’s levels.
• Water Scarcity: Almost 3.6 billion people are living in water scarce regions as of today.
• Climate Change and Population: UNCCD assessment recognized that within the next few decades, 129 countries will experience an increase in drought exposure primarily due to climate change alone (IPCC also noted same), 23 primarily due to population growth and 38 primarily due to the interaction between climate change and population growth.
• Additional Factors: Water scarcity, declining crop productivity, rise in sea levels, and overpopulation could aggravate the impact of droughts.
• UNCCD Forecast: UNCCD's second Global Land Outlook, released recently estimates about 16 million square kilometres of land (the size of South America) will be degraded if current trends continue. According to this estimate, up to 40% of all ice-free land has already been degraded.
• WHO findings: Globally, approximately 55 million people are directly affected by droughts annually, making it the most serious hazard to livestock and crops.
• WMO estimates: It reveals that weather, climate and water hazards have accounted for 50% of all disasters and 45% of all reported deaths since 1970.

India Specific Findings

• Increase in area: India's drought-prone area has increased by 57% since 1997. Drought affected nearly two-thirds of the country from 2020 to 2022.
• Increase in intensity: Over the last decade, one-third of India's districts have experienced more than four droughts, and drought affects 50 million people each year.
• Comparison with Africa: Drought vulnerability in India is comparable to that of Sub-Saharan Africa 
• ISRO evaluation: According to the Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India, released in 2021 by the Space Applications Centre of ISRO, 97.85 million hectares i.e., nearly 30% of the country's land was degraded during 2018-19.
• Flash Droughts: According to the paper published recently in Nature Communications, India is a hotspot for flash droughts and this could have major implications on the country’s crop production.
• Flash droughts have been defined in two ways, either as a short-lived yet severe event where soil moisture completely depletes or a multi-week period of rapid intensification toward drought.
  

To read more information on this topic:

• Shankar IAS: Summary of Environmental Organizations
• Environmental Organizations