• NITI Aayog unveiled the Greening and Restoration of Wasteland with Agroforestry (GROW) report. 
• Report emphasizes potential of converting wastelands into productive agroforestry zones. 
  • It employed remote sensing and GIS techniques to evaluate the suitability of agroforestry practices across all districts of India and introduced an Agroforestry Suitability Index (ASI) for national-level prioritization.
  • NITI Aayog also launched “GROW-Suitability Mapping” portal on Bhuvan (a geoportal of ISRO) for ensuring universal access to state and district-level data. 

• Wastelands are lands which are unproductive, unfit for cultivation, grazing and other economic uses.
  • According to Wasteland Atlas of India 2019, wastelands constitute 16.96% of geographical area of India in 2015-16.

• Agroforestry is a collective name for land-use systems where trees are managed together with crops and/or animal production systems in agricultural settings. 
  • Presently, agroforestry covers 8.65% of India's total geographical area. 
  • Three main types:
    • Agrisilvicultural systems are a combination of crops and trees.
    • Silvopastoral systems combine forestry and grazing of domesticated animals on pastures or on-farm.
    • Agrosylvopastoral systems where trees, animals and crops can be integrated.

• Significance of Agroforestry
  • Mitigating climate change through microclimate moderation and carbon sequestration
  • Enhancing productivity, soil fertility and conserving soil
  • Optimizing use of arable land.

• Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) recognized as the United Nation World Restoration Flagship. 
• Along with TAL, 6 other initiatives have been recognised (refer to infographics). 
  • Recognized initiatives will be eligible for technical and financial UN support. 
  • In 2022, Namami Gange initiative has been also recognized under it. 

• About Terai Arc Landscape (TAL)
  • A Trans-boundary biodiversity hotspot, launched in 2001.
    • TAL is Critical habitats for tigers, rhinos, elephants, etc.
  • Aims to conserve ecosystems of the Terai and Churia hills. 
    • Covers several protected areas such as Corbett Tiger Reserve, Rajaji National Park etc. 
  • Extend over 900 km from the Bagmati River (Nepal) in the east to the Yamuna River (India) in the west.
    • Stretching across 5.10 million hectares and over seven million people depend on the Landscape. 

• About World Restoration Flagship (commenced in 2022)
  • Recognized under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-30). 
  • Led by UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and other partner organisation.
  • Objective:  Prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean. 
  • Selection Criteria: On the basis of Geographic and probability of success criteria. 
  • Progress is monitored through the Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring.

• First Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council meeting of Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) held in United States.
• GBFF aims to scale up financing for implementation of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
  • Ratified by 186 countries and launched in 2023 at Seventh GEF Assembly in Vancouver, Canada. 
  • Decisions of GBFF Council are to be taken by consensus.
  • World Bank invited to serve as Trustee of GBFF.

• Key highlights of meeting
  • GEF’s member government have agreed to invest $1.1 billion for international action on biodiversity, climate change, nature renewal, and pollution control.
  • They endorsed $203 million for 21 climate change adaptation projects funded by Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund.
  • Spain announced 10 million euros to GBFF, adding to contributions announced by Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan.
  • GBFF Resource Allocation Policy and Project Cycle Policy were approvedto allocate donor funds based on availability.

• About KMGBF
  • Adopted at COP15 (held in Montreal) to UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
  • KMGBF has set 23 targets to be achieved by 2030 which include 30% conservation of land and sea, 50% reduction of invasive species, raising at least $200 billion per year etc.

• STAR metric, developed by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in partnership with other organizations and experts, has been expanded for use in marine areas.
  • It was first unveiled in 2021 for use in terrestrial areas.
• The STAR metric utilizes existing data from IUCN Red List of Threatened Species to quantify extinction risks and threats faced by species.
  • STAR assesses the potential of specific actions at specific locations to contribute to international conservation targets. 
  • STAR estimates the contribution of two kinds of action – threat abatement and habitat restoration.

• Telangana’s State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) approved the corridor area between Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (Maharashtra) and Kawal Tiger Reserve (Telangana) as a conservation reserve.
  • SBWL is established under the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment (WPA) Act, 2002, headed by Chief Minister or Administrator in case of UT. 

• About Conservation Reserve:
  • A protected area under the ‘Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972’ (added through the WPA Act of 2002). 
  • Acts as buffer zone to or connectors and migration corridors between national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas. 
  • Declared by the State Government, after consulting with the central government and the local communities. 
  • It is administered with the help of the Conservation Reserve Management Committee.

• The UK to leave 'Outdated' Fossil Fuel Friendly Treaty ie. The Energy Charter Treaty. 

• About The Energy Charter Treaty
  • It provides a multilateral framework for energy cooperation that is unique under international law. 
  • It entered into legal force in April 1998. 
  • It is designed to promote energy security through the operation of more open and competitive energy markets while respecting the principles of sustainable development and sovereignty over energy resources.
  • Currently, there are 53 Signatories and Contracting Parties to the Treaty.

• During the winter months, American alligators go into a state of brumation, a type of hibernation.
• Hibernation is a period of inactivity that allows animals to survive when food is scarce and the weather is harsh.

• About Brumation:
  • Period of dormancy exhibited by reptiles and amphibians in colder months. 
  • Reptiles are ectothermic (their body temperature is dependent on their environment), hence require brumation. 
  • In it, reptiles may retreat to underground burrows or other sheltered areas. 

• Other types of hibernation: 
  • Diapause: a state of arrested growth or reproduction of many hibernating or estivating arthropods
  • Aestivation: Summer dormancy in invertebrates and fish
  • Torpor: Short-term physiological state of decreased activity

• World’s first white rhinoceros In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) pregnancy could save subspecies. 
• Scientists has announced the first successful embryo transfer in white rhinoceros using IVF method that could save Critically endangered northern white rhino subspecies from extinction.

• Other biotechnologies to protect species
  • Bio-banks store biological samples (cell, tissues etc.) for research and as backup resource to preserve genetic diversity.
  • Biosynthesis creates substitutes for animal-derived products like safer fungicides from printed DNA to protect endangered species.
  • Gene drive can be harnessed to eliminate invasive species like rats with high efficiency and minimal harm to native wildlife.

• About Rhino
  • Five species of rhino: 2 African (White Rhino, Black Rhino) and 3 Asian [Greater One Horned Rhino (Indian rhino), Sumatran Rhino, and Javan Rhino].
  • Threat: Habitat loss, poaching for horn, climate change etc.

Difference between White Rhino and Indian Rhino

Features	White  Rhino (African Rhino)	Indian Rhino (Asian Rhino)
Size	Second-largest land mammals after elephants	Largest of all Asian rhino species
Appearance	Barrel-shaped with a flat back  2 Horns Wallow in mud	Knobby skin that appears to be armor-plated One Horn Good swimmers
Habitat	Long and short grass savannah areas in grasslands	Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs, and Shrub-lands
Distribution	Namibia, Uganda, Rwanda etc.	India (Assam, West Bengal and Utter Pradesh), Nepal etc.
Conservation status	Near threatened (IUCN) (Southern white rhino subspecies is Near threatened)	Vulnerable (IUCN) Schedule I (Wildlife Protection Act, 1972)
Note: Northern White, black, Javan, and Sumatran rhinos—are categorized as critically endangered under IUCN’s red list.

• India and Bangladesh submit a joint proposal to list Indian skimmers (also known as Indian scissors bill) under the Convention on Migratory Species.

• About Indian Skimmer
  • Indian skimmer is found in the coastal estuaries of western and eastern India. It occurs primarily on larger, sandy, lowland rivers, around lakes and adjacent marshes, estuaries and coasts. 
  • It breeds colonially on large, exposed sand-bars and islands.
  • It feeds on surface-dwelling fish, small crustaceans and insect larvae.

• Protection Status
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
  • CITES: Not listed
  • WPA, 1972: Schedule I

• The Neem Summit has been organized by collaboration with lCAR-Central Agroforestry Research Institute.

• About Neem Tree
  • Native to Indian sub-continent. 
  • Climate: Grow in arid, semi-arid, wet tropical and sub-tropical climates and is tolerant to high temperature up to 49 °C.
  • Type: Evergreen tree (deciduous in drier areas).
  • Benefits:
    • Has a medicinal property. 
    • Act as very efficient, natural air filters trapping dust particles, absorbing gaseous pollutants. 
    • Other- Pesticides, mosquito repellents, fertilizers (neem coated urea), etc.

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare have initiated the Weather Information Network and Data System (WINDS) to generate long-term, hyper-local weather data.

About WINDS

• It set up a robust mechanism to integrate weather data, pooled from different weather observation systems in the country, into a single national level WINDS portal. 
• Under this programme, more than 2 lakhs ground stations will be installed, 
  • which can help in enhancing weather data utilisation and thus in improving weather predictions and decision making.

About Hyperlocal Weather Forecasting

• Hyperlocal weather forecasting provides granular and localized weather predictions, 
  • It enables farmers to make informed decisions about planting, irrigation, and harvesting based on real-time weather data specific to their location.
• This approach utilizes advanced technology, such as high-resolution weather models, weather sensors, and data analytics.

Why is hyperlocal weather forecasting required in India?

• Monsoon Variability: Tropical climates are more unpredictable and thereby more difficult to predict, as opposed to US and UK which have more systematic weather systems
• Disaster Preparedness and Response: Predicting rain, cyclones, heatwaves and drought accurately are critical to informed decision making on disaster management.
• Urban Heat Island Effect: Where urban areas experience higher temperatures compared to surrounding areas. This localized heating complicates temperature forecasting and require localized forecasting.

• Union Cabinet approves continuation of Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP)
• FMBAP continuation has been approved for period of 5 years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. 
  • It was initially launched during Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007–2012). 
• FMBAP aims to supplement the efforts of the State Governments to protect human life, land and property from flood fury by providing technical guidance and financial assistance. 
  • Also, promotes bilateral co-operation in the field of water resources with neighboring countries. 

Key Features of Scheme

• Type: Centrally sponsored Scheme
• Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti
• Sub-components: 
  • Flood Management Programme (FMP) 
    • Covers critical works related to flood control, anti-erosion, drainage development and anti-sea erosion, etc.
    • Funding Pattern: 90%:10% between Centre and 8 North-Easter States and Hilly States (For rest state 60%:40 %).
    • 427 projects have been completed under it which have benefitted 4.99 mha of land and provided protection to 53.57 million people. 
  • River Management and Border Areas (RMBA): 
    • Covers flood control and anti-erosion works on common border rivers with neighbouring countries.
    • Hydrological observations and flood forecasting. 
    • Investigation & pre-construction activities of joint water resources projects (with neighbouring countries) on common border rivers.
    • Funding Pattern: 100% central assistance.

• California (the USA) has been hit by two back-to-back Atmospheric River storms.

• Atmospheric Rivers
  • Atmospheric Rivers indicate narrow, elongated corridors of concentrated moisture transport associated with extra-tropical cyclones.
  • Typically located within low-level jet, an area of strong winds in lower levels of atmosphere, ahead of cold front in an extra-tropical cyclone.
  • These are largest transport mechanisms of freshwater on Earth.
  • Strong landfall by interacting with topography, can deposit significant amounts of precipitation in short periods of time leading to flooding and mudslides.

• Researchers developed an early warning indicator for the breakdown of the AMOC.
  • AMOC has been labeled as one of the tipping elements in the climate system.

• About AMOC
  • The AMOC circulates water from north to south and back in a long cycle within the Atlantic Ocean. 
    • This circulation brings warmth to various parts of the globe and also carries nutrients necessary to sustain ocean life.
  • It is driven by differences in temperature and salt content.
  • It is being eroded by faster than expected melt-off of Greenland’s glaciers and Arctic ice sheets. 
  • Implications of AMOC collapse: Rise in Atlantic Sea levels; Flipping of wet and dry seasons in the Amazon; More erratic fluctuations in temperatures; warmer southern hemisphere. 

• Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) and ISRO to monitor and issue operational forecast alerts of rip currents.

• About Rip Currents
  • A strong flow of water running from a beach back to open ocean, sea, or lake. 
  • They can be as narrow as 10 or 20 feet in width though they may be up to ten times wider.
  • Prevalent along East, Gulf, and West coasts of U.S., as well as along shores of Great Lakes.
  • They do not pull people under water rather they pull people away from shore.