Biodiversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted in 1992 and was opened for signature at the Rio Earth Summit that year. The year 1991 relates to the negotiation period, whereas 1997 is associated with the Kyoto Protocol. Exam tip: Remember CBD with the Rio Earth Summit, 1992.

India passed the Biological Diversity Act in 2002. It provides for conservation of biological resources, their sustainable use, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from them. The year 2000 is not the year in which this Act was passed. Exam tip: Remember the Biological Diversity Act with 2002 and the National Biodiversity Authority.

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was established in 2003 under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The year 2002 refers to the enactment of the Act, not to the establishment of the Authority. Exam tip: Distinguish between the year an Act was passed and the year a body created under it was established.

Nilgiri was India’s first biosphere reserve and was declared in 1986. The year 1988 is a close distractor because Nilgiri was included in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1988, not declared as India’s first reserve that year. Exam tip: remember 1986 as the year of Nilgiri’s declaration as a biosphere reserve in India.

The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve was declared in 1988. It is associated with conserving high-altitude Himalayan biodiversity in Uttarakhand. An option such as 1994 may seem plausible because of later environmental developments, but the declaration year of the reserve is 1988. Exam tip: Memorise biosphere reserves along with their state and ecosystem type.

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) was established in 1916. Its main role is the survey, classification and scientific study of India’s faunal diversity. Although 1927 may appear in other Indian wildlife-related contexts, it is not the establishment year of ZSI. Exam tip: Remember ZSI with 1916 and the study of India’s fauna.

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was established in 1890. Its main role is to survey, identify, classify, and document India’s plant diversity. 1954 is not the year of its establishment. Exam tip: associate BSI with the study and documentation of India’s flora.