Biodiversity Conservation & Protected Areas

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture focuses on ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. This directly impacts biodiversity as it aims to protect the variety of plant species crucial for food security and ecosystem health. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification addresses land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas. Desertification can significantly reduce biodiversity by destroying habitats and reducing plant and animal life. By working to combat desertification, this convention indirectly protects biodiversity. The World Heritage Convention focuses on preserving cultural and natural heritage sites. Conservation natural heritage sites may contribute to biodiversity conservation.
Thus 'D' is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is correct: Prevention of soil runoff IWDP promotes practices that reduce soil erosion, protecting valuable topsoil and improving land fertility. Statement 2 is incorrect: Linking perennial and seasonal rivers While water resource management is a part of IWDP, it doesn't focus on physically linking separate river systems. The National River Linking Project is a separate project to interlink rivers. Statement 3 is correct: Rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge IWDP encourages rainwater conservation techniques, allowing more water to infiltrate the ground and replenish aquifers. Statement 4 is correct: Regeneration of natural vegetation IWDP often involves planting trees and promoting sustainable land management practices, leading to increased vegetation cover.

Wetlands International is a global organisation that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity. Statement 1 is incorrect: It is an independent, not-for-profit, global organisation, supported by government and NGO membership from around the world. Statement 2 is correct: Wetlands International is dedicated to maintaining and restoring wetlands for their environmental values as well as for the services they provide to people. It works at the field level to develop and mobilise knowledge and use this practical experience to advocate for better policies.

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a pan-India wildlife research organization, has been promoting the cause of nature conservation since 1883. Statement 1 is incorrect. BNHS Vision: Premier independent scientific organization with a broad-based constituency, excelling in the conservation of threatened species and habitats. Statement 2 is correct. BNHS Mission: Conservation of nature, primarily biological diversity through action based on research, education, and public awareness. Statement 3 is correct. It organizes and conducts nature trails and camps for the general public.

Major reef formations in the Indian Seas occur in:
- Gulf of Mannar, - Palk Bay, - Gulf of Kutch, - the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and - Lakshadweep. Coral reefs are marine ecosystems and cannot exist in the Sundarbans, which is a mangrove forest in the Ganges Delta and a brackish water ecosystem.

Pair 1 is correct: The Harike Wetland is formed at the confluence of the Beas and Sutlej rivers in Punjab, India. Pair 2 is incorrect: Keoladeo Ghana National Park, also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is not located at the confluence of these rivers. It's a man-made wetland in Rajasthan, located on the confluence of River Gambhir and River Banganga. Pair 3 is incorrect: Kolleru Lake is a freshwater lake in Andhra Pradesh and is not located where the Musi and Krishna rivers meet. It lies between the Krishna and Godavari deltas. Thus, only pair one is correctly matched.

The Gond and Korku tribes, residing in Madhya Pradesh's Betul and Harda districts, celebrate a festival called "Hari Jiroti" during the monsoon season. This month-long festival involves planting saplings of fruit-bearing trees, reflecting their deep connection to nature and sustainable practices.

The Montreux Record is a register of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution, or other human interference. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

GEF is an independently operating financial organization. The GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants. The GEF serves as a financial mechanism for five conventions, which are - Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
- Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), - UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), - and the Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Eco-Sensitive Zones are not under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, of 1972. They are notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. While they often surround protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries and national parks established under the Wildlife Act, they are a separate mechanism. Statement 2 is incorrect: Eco-Sensitive Zones do not prohibit all human activities. The purpose is to regulate and manage specific activities to minimize their impact on the sensitive ecosystem. Some sustainable activities like agriculture, local communities' traditional practices, and eco-tourism may be permitted with regulations.