Current Affairs - Environment

Assam is home to the Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, where a 12-year biodiversity survey conducted between 2012 and 2024 documented 281 butterfly species. The findings were published in the book Butterflies of Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, released on 20 July 2026. Located in Jorhat district, the 20.98 sq km sanctuary is the only protected area in India named after the Hoolock Gibbon, the country's only ape. The sanctuary, designated in 1997, is known for its evergreen forest canopy and rich biodiversity, making it an important centre for wildlife conservation and ecological research.

Ahmedabad created a Guinness World Record by planting 361,000 saplings in just one hour using the Miyawaki afforestation method. The plantation drive was organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on July 12, 2026, at Bhadaj near the Gota-Godhavi Canal with the participation of more than 25,000 volunteers. Around 35 indigenous tree species suitable for Gujarat's climate were planted to promote biodiversity and ecological restoration. The Miyawaki method enables dense forest growth in smaller areas with minimal maintenance, making it an effective approach for increasing green cover and combating climate change.

The United Nations launched the Global Methane Action Plan under the leadership of Secretary-General António Guterres to address the urgent challenge of climate change. The initiative focuses on reducing methane emissions from the fossil fuel industry, agriculture, and waste management sectors, as methane has a much stronger short-term warming effect than carbon dioxide. The plan also promotes better landfill management, methane capture technologies, and circular economy practices. Alongside this initiative, the UN highlighted the environmental impact of rapidly expanding AI infrastructure and encouraged governments, industries, and technology companies to take coordinated action to achieve global climate goals and limit future warming.

The newly identified forester moth species, Mimeusemia kali, was discovered in the Kali Tiger Reserve located in Karnataka. The discovery was made by researchers from the Zoological Survey of India in collaboration with the Natural History Museum, London. This finding is particularly significant because it represents the first addition to the genus Mimeusemia in nearly three decades. The species belongs to the Noctuidae family and contributes to India's biodiversity records. Forester moths are important ecological indicators and pollinators, helping maintain ecosystem balance. The Kali Tiger Reserve, situated in the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats, provides a vital habitat for numerous rare and endemic species.

Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India and the University of Calcutta discovered a new species of lynx spider named Hamataliwa mawlyngot in Meghalaya. The species was named after Mawlyngot village in the East Khasi Hills, where it was identified. This discovery is significant because it marks the first recorded presence of the genus Hamataliwa in Meghalaya, helping bridge a geographical distribution gap between Southern India, China, and Southeast Asia. The spider is small in size, inhabits tea plantation regions, and functions as an active predator. By feeding on pest populations, it serves as a natural biological control agent and contributes to maintaining ecological balance in agricultural landscapes.