Current Affairs - Environment

The rare dragonfly species Crocothemis erythraea has been reconfirmed in the Western Ghats, specifically in the high-altitude Shola forests and montane grasslands of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This rediscovery is significant because the species, usually found in Europe, Central Asia, and the Himalayas, was earlier misidentified due to its resemblance to the more common Crocothemis servilia. Scientists believe it may have reached South India during the Ice Age and survived in cooler highland habitats. The finding emphasises the Western Ghats’ status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots, highlighting urgent conservation needs.

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) partnered with the Maharashtra Water Resources Department through an MoU to restore the Ujani reservoir wetland. Located on the Bhima river in western Maharashtra, this man made wetland at Bhigwan is an important ecological zone. It has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) under the Central Asian Flyway, serving as a crucial habitat for migratory birds. Apart from ecological importance, the wetland also plays a vital role in supporting agriculture, hydropower generation, drinking water supply, and fisheries in the region, making its restoration a priority for sustainable development.

The first major Atlantic hurricane of 2025 was named Erin. It reached peak intensity as a Category-5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 240 km/h before being downgraded to Category-4 by the US National Hurricane Center. Positioned just north of the Caribbean Islands, Erin posed significant threats of heavy rainfall and severe weather across the northern Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. As the initial major storm of the hurricane season, Erin underscores the critical importance of preparedness, monitoring, and early warnings in minimizing risks to human life and infrastructure in vulnerable coastal regions.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has partnered with IIT Guwahati to pioneer biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics. As part of this initiative, eco-friendly compostable bed-roll bags have been introduced on trains, replacing traditional plastic bags used for distributing linen. The material, developed at IIT Guwahati’s R&D facility, is fully biodegradable, compostable, and designed to meet operational standards while ensuring environmental safety. This collaboration demonstrates how academic research can provide practical solutions to environmental challenges, particularly in sensitive ecosystems like the Northeast. By reducing plastic waste, this initiative supports India’s mission to phase out single-use plastics and promote sustainable practices.

The United States has directed NASA to prepare for the early termination of OCO-2 and OCO-3, satellites designed to monitor atmospheric carbon dioxide and crop health. These satellites provide critical data on CO2 sources and sinks, seasonal and regional variations, and plant growth worldwide. By operating in polar and ISS orbits, OCO-2 and OCO-3 help track the impact of forests and other carbon sinks on climate systems, providing information essential for climate policy and mitigation strategies. The decision reflects the US’s role in leading Earth observation and climate research initiatives.