Daily News Analysis

Snow leopard

stylish_lining

Context: Sadyr Zhaparov, the president of Kyrgyzstan signed a decree to declare the snow leopard as the national symbol of Kyrgyzstan.

About Snow Leopard:

  • Scientific Name: Panthera uncia
  • Indicator Species: Snow leopards serve as crucial indicators of the mountain ecosystem's health due to their role as the top predator in the food web.
  • Habitat: Found in the mountains of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, their habitat spans elevations from approximately 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) in winter to about 5,500 meters (18,000 feet) in summer.
  • Geographical Range: The snow leopard's range covers twelve countries, including Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • Geographical Range in India:
    • Western Himalayas: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh.
    •  
    • Eastern Himalayas: Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
    • Hemis National Park (Ladakh): Recognized for its significant snow leopard population, Hemis National Park is also known as the Snow Leopard Capital of the world.
    • IUCN status: vulnerable

Global Conservation Initiatives for Snow Leopards:

  • Project Snow Leopard (PSL): Initiated in 2009, PSL aims to foster an inclusive and participatory approach to safeguarding snow leopards and their habitats.
  • Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change Recovery Program: Snow leopards are included in the list of 21 critically endangered species designated for the recovery program led by the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change.
  • SECURE Himalaya:Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), SECURE Himalaya focuses on conserving high-altitude biodiversity and reducing the reliance of local communities on the natural ecosystem.
  • Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection (GSLEP) Programme: India has been actively participating in the GSLEP Programme since 2013, emphasizing global collaboration for snow leopard conservation.
  • Flagship Species Designation:The Government of India has recognized the snow leopard as a flagship species for the high-altitude Himalayas, indicating its significance in conservation efforts.

About Kyrgyzstan

  • Kyrgyzstan is a landlocked country in Central Asia.
  • Bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the south, and China to the east and southeast.

Understanding the Auditing of Local Bodies

Why is it in the News? The International Centre for Audit of Local Governance (iCAL) was recently inaugurated in Rajkot, Gujarat. This marks a significant step towards setting global standards for
Share It

Bavikonda Monastery: A Historical and Cultural Gem

Current Status Maintenance Issues: Due to recent budget constraints, maintenance and repairs at Bavikonda Monastery have been less than optimal. Tourism Circuit: Bavikonda is part of the '
Share It

CITES Report on Rosewood: “CITES Rosewoods: The Global Picture”

The recently released CITES report titled “CITES Rosewoods: The Global Picture” provides a comprehensive analysis of rosewood species listed under the Convention on International Trade in
Share It

Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC)

Recent Developments  India recently took part in the 86th session of the Executive Committee (CCEXEC) of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) held in Rome. India’s Support: Sp
Share It

Naturally Existing DNA Editing Tool: Bridge Recombinase Mechanism (BRM)

The Bridge Recombinase Mechanism (BRM) is a newly discovered naturally occurring DNA editing tool. It utilizes mobile genetic elements, commonly known as "jumping genes," to perform DNA mani
Share It

The Delhi Urban Land and Immovable Property Records Bill, 2024

The Delhi Urban Land and Immovable Property Records Bill, 2024, aims to create a unified system for managing urban land and immovable property records in Delhi. This system will be overseen by the Del
Share It

Gig Economy and Recent Developments in Karnataka

Why in the News? The Karnataka government recently published the draft Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, which aims to address the welfare and rights of gig w
Share It

India-Japan Joint Carbon Crediting Mechanism

India and Japan are set to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) to establish a Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under the framework of Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement. This mechanism will facilita
Share It

Green Revolution in maize

Context: India has seen significant success with the green revolution in maize production. This success has been primarily driven by the private sector. Over the past 20 years, maize production in Ind
Share It

Captain Supreetha C.T. – First Woman Officer from Corps of Army Air Defence at Siachen Glacier

Name: Captain Supreetha C.T. Hometown: Mysuru, Karnataka Achievement: Captain Supreetha C.T. has become the first woman officer from the Corps of Army Air Defence to be operationally deployed a
Share It

Newsletter Subscription


ACQ IAS
ACQ IAS