Daily News Analysis

Chapter 5: Wonder in the West

stylish_lining

Introduction

•    Gujarat is fortunate to have a diverse ecosystem that supports a large number of wildlife species. The State is home to numerous migrating birds, unique and endangered species of flora and animals, and many ecological hotspots. 
•    The presence of 7,500 species of flora and fauna, of which 2,550 are angiosperms and 1,366 are vertebrate species, demonstrates Gujarat's biodiversity's richness. (of which the 574 are bird species and the rest  are the mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, etc.). 
•    The state of Gujarat is home to various biodiversity hotspots, including the Northern Western Ghat in South Gujarat, the Little Rann of Kutch, the Greater Rann of Kutch, Jamnagar's Marine National Park, the marshes and woods of Porbandar's Barda Sanctuary, and the Velavadar, Thol Lake, and Nalsarovar grasslands.
•    The last remaining population of Asiatic lions in the world resides in the Gir National Forest.
•    Gujarat includes four Ramsar sites, including the Wadhvana wetland near Vadodara, the Khijadia Sanctuary near Jamnagar, and the Nalsarovar and Thol Bird Sanctuaries close to Ahmedabad.

Gujarat Ecological Research and Education (GEER)

•    A Natural History Museum opened in Gandhinagar in 1977. Later, this was incorporated into the June 1982-founded Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation.
•    Given the knowledge of the GEER Foundation, the Long Term Ecological Observatories (LTEO) Project which was given under the Climate Change Action Program. 
•    In Paris in December 2015, during the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UNFCC, this LTEO project was unveiled.
•    This project's primary goal is to understand the biophysical and human-caused drivers of ecosystems in a few different biomes, as well as how they affect social-ecological responses.
•    Additionally, the GEER Foundation contributed to the development of the "Cactus Garden" near the Kevadia "Statue of Unity." It is described as a "Grand Architectural Greenhouse" with 450 kinds of cacti and succulents from 17 different nations, including India.

Conclusion:

•    The balance between technological advancement and nature is more important than ever because industrialization has ruined ecosystems all over the world, which has an effect on humanity. Any intentional or unheard-of imbalance in biodiversity disrupts its surrounds, causing an ecosystem to become unbalanced, which consequently affects food chains and the food web. Several governments have deliberated and developed policies to safeguard the biodiversity of their respective areas after realising the sensitivity of the overall impacts.

Local Governance in India

The Panchayati Raj system and municipal bodies serve as the first point of contact between citizens and the state. However, grassroots governance in India often struggles with inaccessible, detail
Share It

China’s Mega-Dam on Brahmaputra

China is constructing a massive 60,000 MW hydropower project on the Yarlung Zangbo River (called the Brahmaputra in India and Jamuna in Bangladesh), located in Tibet near Gelling in Arunachal Prad
Share It

India Hosts 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave

India recently hosted the 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam, focusing on enhancing maritime connectivity and sustainable development across the Bay of Bengal region. This event underscor
Share It

Manipur Crisis

The ongoing crisis in Manipur, which has now lasted for over two years, has resulted in over 250 deaths and widespread displacement, yet it has not received the same level of national priority as
Share It

Road Safety in India

India is at a pivotal moment in its mobility transformation. While the country’s growing road infrastructure and urbanization offer numerous opportunities, they also present significant chal
Share It

India Africa

India and Africa are building a robust and evolving partnership, particularly in the realm of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), which holds tremendous potential to boost socio-economic developm
Share It

Mangrove Ecosystems

The International Day for Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems, observed annually on 26th July, serves as a vital reminder of the urgent need to protect mangroves, which are disappearing at an alar
Share It

Food Security and Nutrition

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report presents a mixed picture of global progress in combating hunger, highlighting both positive trends and pressing challenges,
Share It

The ‘Rising Northeast

The Investor Summit 2025’ organized by the Ministry of Development of North-Eastern Region (DoNER) in New Delhi is a major event aimed at showcasing the immense investment and trade potentia
Share It

India's Smart Cities Mission (SCM)

Launched in 2015, India's Smart Cities Mission (SCM) was conceived to tackle urban challenges using technology and sustainable development practices. The mission has witnessed significant inve
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS