Latest news with #NatureRestorationLaw
Indian Express
09-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on Marine Protected Areas, Miombo woodland and more (Week 109)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Environment and Geography to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for April 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Consider the following statements about Nature Restoration Law: 1. It is the first continent-wide, comprehensive law of its kind released by Europe. 2. It sets non-binding targets to restore degraded ecosystems. 3. It is part of the EU's European Green Deal. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 2 and 3 only Explanation — European Union countries gave final approval to a major and long-awaited plan to better protect nature in the 27-nation bloc. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The Nature Restoration Plan, which aims to restore ecosystems, species, and habitats in the EU, was finally adopted at a meeting of environment ministers in Luxembourg after receiving support from a qualified majority of 15 of the 27 member states and 65% of the EU population. — The Nature Restoration Law is the first law of its sort to apply to the entire continent. It is an important component of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, which establishes binding targets for restoring damaged ecosystems, particularly those with the greatest potential to collect and store carbon, as well as preventing and mitigating the effects of natural disasters. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — The Nature Restoration Plan is part of the EU's European Green Deal, which aims to establish the world's most ambitious climate and biodiversity targets while also positioning the bloc as the global point of reference on all climate concerns. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — The plan requires member states to reach restoration targets for various habitats and species, with the goal of covering at least 20 per cent of the region's land and sea regions by 2030. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. (Other Source: Consider the following pairs with reference to Marine Protected Areas and their region: 1. Dugong Conservation Reserve – Tamil Nadu 2. Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary – Kerala 3. Gahirmatha – Andhra Pradesh 4. Haliday Island – Maharashtra How many of the pairs given above are correct? (a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs (c) Only three pairs (d) All four pairs Explanation — A marine protected area (MPA) is essentially a zone in the ocean where human activities are more rigorously regulated than the surrounding waterways, akin to land-based parks. — Local, state, territorial, native, regional, or national authorities have designated these areas as special protection zones for natural or historic marine resources. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Source: Salal and Baglihar Dams were in the news. These dams are both constructed on: (a) Jhelum (b) Chenab (c) Sutlej (d) Beas Explanation — The Chenab River nearly dried up in Jammu and Kashmir's Akhnoor sector near the Line of Control when the sluice gates of two big dams, Salal and Baglihar, were closed. — According to the IWT, the Chenab is one of three 'Western Rivers' that Pakistan controls, along with the Indus and Jhelum. — However, India has restricted access to the waters of the three Western Rivers for residential, non-consumptive, agricultural, and hydroelectric power generation purposes. — India is permitted to construct run-of-river facilities on the three Western Rivers in order to create hydroelectric power. A run-of-the-river plant generates electricity from the natural flow of water. Salal and Baglihar on the Chenab are run-of-the-river projects. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the slender loris, consider the following statements: 1. They are nocturnal mammals. 2. They act as a biological predator to pests of agricultural crops. 3. It is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — Slender lorises are small nocturnal mammals and are arboreal in nature, as they spend most of their life on trees. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — They are commonly found in the tropical scrub and deciduous forests as well as the dense hedgerow plantations bordering farmlands of Southern India. — These species are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — They act as a biological predator to pests of agricultural crops and benefit farmers. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — The sanctuary would play an important role in conservation of slender loris and yet another milestone in conservation efforts. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. Miombo woodland is a 1. Dryland forest ecosystem 2. It comprises tropical and subtropical grasslands, bushlands, and savannahs. 3. found in Northern Africa Select the correct answer using the codes given below: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1 and 2 only Explanation — The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) have signed two agreements to conduct initiatives aimed at safeguarding the miombo forest and enabling trade along Mozambique's border with Zimbabwe. — The Miombo biome comprises tropical and subtropical grasslands, bushlands, and savannahs. — Miombo woodland is a huge African dryland forest ecosystem spanning almost 2.7 million square kilometres in southern Africa, encompassing Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. 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Agriland
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Agriland
Farm org claims assurance on nature restoration is ‘misinformation'
A farm organisation has claimed that the assurance that there is sufficient state owned-land to meet Ireland's obligations under the Nature Restoration Law is 'misinformation'. The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA) has called on Minister of State for nature, Christopher O'Sullivan, to 'clarify the ongoing misinformation relating to the suggestion that the state has the necessary land to deliver on our obligations under the Nature Restoration Law'. According to INHFA president Vincent Roddy, some public representatives 'continue to push the narrative that the state can deliver the necessary land to meet all our obligations'. Roddy claimed that this is 'clearly not true'. 'This narrative is clear miss-direction because the state obligation they are referring to only relates to commitments for rewetting detailed under article 11 of the Nature Restoration Law and will include approximately 100,000ha,' he said. 'While this is helpful, we must understand that this is a tiny element in the overall land area and commitments required, under a law that will impact at least 1.6 million hectares,' Roddy added. The INHFA, along with other farm organisations and stakeholders, are currently part of an ongoing process to develop a nature restoration plan for Ireland, which is required under the law. The organisation's president called for 'honesty' in this process. 'Starting this process on a lie as obvious as this is a major red flag and does get you wondering what else is being spun, lied about or withheld,' Roddy commented. According to the INHFA president, the state may own enough land to meet rewetting obligations under Article 11 of the Nature Restoration Law, but Article 4 of the law covers restoration of existing habitats and re-establishment of lost habitats, which, Roddy suggested, will take in more land than the state can provide for itself. 'Farmers, landowners, and rural communities continue to be misled through clever manipulation into believing that there isn't a direct threat to their property,' he claimed. 'It is time that the minister publicly clarifies that the state had not near enough land to meet all the obligations that will be required though the NRL,' Roddy said.
Irish Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Fine Gael short of friends in European grouping
The get-together of politicians and party leaders in Valencia was described as a 'reunion of friends' by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen . The German was speaking at the congress of the European People's Party , the grouping of centre-right parties that dominates EU politics. It hasn't been the friendliest place lately for its Irish member, Fine Gael . The EPP has the most seats in the European Parliament and the most national leaders sitting around the table at regular EU summits. It counts the parties of Polish prime minister Donald Tusk and incoming German chancellor Friedrich Merz among its number. The EPP leadership had decided that landmark European Union reforms to tackle climate change had gone too far Behind the scenes, it wields significant influence over the political agenda of the European Union, driving a recent rightward shift on migration and climate policy. READ MORE In the European Parliament this has left Fine Gael's four MEPs looking isolated, on the more centrist, liberal wing of the group. This drift came to a head last year. The EPP leadership had decided that landmark EU reforms to tackle climate change had gone too far. Farmers were taking to the streets to protest and the 2024 European elections were fast approaching. The pushback was led by the EPP's leader in the parliament, Manfred Weber, a conservative German MEP. The group opposed legislation that would require EU states to reverse biodiversity and nature loss. However, Fine Gael broke ranks in a crunch European Parliament vote, defying their EPP colleagues to help pass the Nature Restoration Law. 'That's remembered in the EPP,' said one source in the grouping this week. Weber is certainly unlikely to forget it. Simon Harris taking over as Fine Gael leader also offered a chance for a reboot Efforts have been made to repair relations and improve Fine Gael's standing in the group over the past year. The greater focus now put on Europe's economic competitiveness has helped, as that's a topic where Fine Gael comfortably aligns with the rest of the group. 'On the economy, we're 100 per cent in line with the EPP,' said Sean Kelly MEP. Simon Harris taking over as Fine Gael leader also offered a chance for a reboot. He was an unknown entity on the European stage when he became taoiseach. His predecessor, Leo Varadkar, had a network built up within the EPP over many years, something Harris has had to work to cultivate over the last 12 months. A lot of the horse trading that goes on in Brussels takes political affiliation into account. So having a good relationship with other leaders and players in the EPP camp can help influence decisions. Working this informal EPP circle will be important for Harris as Minister for Foreign Affairs, to win others around to the Republic's thinking on how the EU should respond to US president Donald Trump's trade tariffs. The Fine Gael contingent in the European Parliament has picked up an eagerness from Harris to improve relations inside the EPP and with the party's MEPs. 'There has been a difference, Harris does want to engage more', said one source. At the congress in Valencia this week, former EU commissioner and Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness was elected to be one of the EPP's 10 vice-presidents A mark against him was his absence at a meeting bringing together party leaders in Berlin earlier this year, organised by Weber and Merz. The EPP's 'leaders' retreat' took place in mid-January, when Harris was tied up selling the Coalition deal underpinning the current Government to his party members. At the congress in Valencia this week, former EU commissioner and Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness was elected to be one of the EPP's 10 vice-presidents. Fine Gael has traditionally always held one of the vice-president positions. Helen McEntee was the last Irish politician in the role, elected for a three-year stint in 2019 when she was minister of State for European affairs. Eyebrows were raised in the EPP when Fine Gael failed to nominate anyone to run to take over from her. The party wanted to win the position back this time. Out of 12 candidates, McGuinness finished ninth in the internal election, taking the second-last vice-president spot. The conference also gave Fine Gael some insight into what to expect from Merz, the leader of the Christian Democratic Union, who will take over as German chancellor next week. Speaking to delegates in Valencia, Merz said Germany would drive European politics again. 'I know that many of you expect more German leadership than we have seen in the last years, both in the EU and on the international level ... We will and we have to invest a lot more energy into moving Europe forward,' he said. The conservative politician is on the right flank of the EPP and made it clear that this is the direction he hopes to steer things. In his conference speech, Merz said the EU should take a much tougher approach to asylum seekers, expand as a defence and military power, and roll back 'nonsense' regulations. When Harris got up to speak on Wednesday, he talked about the EPP fighting the rise of populism from a 'progressive and compassionate' centre ground. The majority of the EPP favours Merz's vision. Fine Gael will either have to follow him to the right or get comfortable remaining out of step with their European colleagues.
Irish Times
24-04-2025
- Science
- Irish Times
Pollination: How to bringing the buzz back into our countryside, towns and cities
Taking action to reverse the degradation of nature is no longer a 'nice to have'; it is mandated in the Nature Restoration Law , which came into effect in 2024. The law includes the need to tackle biodiversity loss across all of our land and sea systems, but one particular group of animals, the pollinators, is called out explicitly. Ireland, as a member state of the EU, must improve pollinator diversity and reverse the decline of pollinator populations by 2030. We have just five years to reverse serious and ongoing declines in the tiny beasts that keep nature ticking over. One-third of our 99 wild bee species are at risk of extinction. Pollination is one of the most fascinating, colourful and economically important interactions between plants and animals. The 'birds and the bees' elegantly aid reproduction of 90 per cent of plant species on Earth. Hundreds of pollinator-dependent crops provide us with healthy diets and not so healthy treats. Strawberries, apples and cocoa are all highly dependent on animals to move pollen around to stimulate the production of fruit. In addition to the crops, hundreds of thousands of wild plants are critically dependent on pollinators. READ MORE Pollinators are animals that visit flowers, usually attracted by the promise of sugar-rich nectar and protein-rich pollen. When the pollinator visits another flower, some of the pollen gets deposited on a sticky stigma within the flower. If the pollen is the right species, and even the right kind of individual, the pollen grain germinates and burrows its way to meet the ovule of the recipient, fusing to create an embryo, the seed of a new plant. Worldwide, many different kinds of animals act as pollinators, including beetles, bees, butterflies, birds and bats. In Ireland, we lack the exotic hummingbirds and sugar gliders of the tropics and subtropics, but we have a diverse range of bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths that quietly go about their essential work servicing the flowers. In 2015, Ireland led the world in developing the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, a blueprint for actions to help reverse the decline in pollinators. Ecologists Úna Fitzpatrick from the National Biodiversity Data Centre and Jane Stout from Trinity College Dublin recognised something needed to be done to stem the loss of insects from our landscapes, farms and wild places. They created a plan with more than 80 actions that individual people, communities, local authorities and businesses could put in place to help reverse pollinator declines. Over the past 10 years, two All-Ireland Pollinator Plans have been produced and have become the go-to example of pollinator habitat and species restoration planning in Europe, inspiring pollinator plans in several other countries. All local authorities in Ireland have signed up to the plan. Areas left wild and unmown for pollinators have become a common sight in parks, along roadsides and in gardens. Action for pollinators is well embedded in our communities, with the Tidy Towns competition having a special award for pollinator-friendly measures. Over the years, we have learned to appreciate lawns studded with golden dandelions and muted lemon-yellow cowslips. 'Weeds' became 'pollinator friendly plants' and lawnmowers were parked up for months at a time. Wild orchids popped up on roadside verges outside suburban houses and bumble bees found new places to nest in wildlife-friendly gardens. Our aesthetic senses have been retrained to better appreciate the wild and messy. Ireland has a 10-year head-start to the kind of action we need to restore pollinators, but it is clear that increased efforts are needed as pollinators continue to be threatened by pesticides, habitat destruction and climate change. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is due for renewal for 2026-2030 and this is the perfect time to increase ambition. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan has grown from grass-roots involvement and people are being asked to contribute ideas for the next version of the plan. See the consultation page on the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan website to contribute your ideas to bring back the buzz into our countryside, towns and cities. Pollinators need bigger, better and more joined up areas in which to thrive. Prof Yvonne Buckley is co-director of Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water, Trinity College Dublin, and board member of the National Biodiversity Data Centre
Agriland
23-04-2025
- General
- Agriland
Dept seeks tenders for Ireland's nature restoration plan
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is seeking tenders for technical support services for Ireland's national nature restoration plan. Under the European Union's Nature Restoration Law, all member states must prepare a national restoration plan (NRP). This plan will set out the specific restoration targets for the habitats, species and ecosystems, as well as the measures required to reach those targets. The department said that the successful tenderer will assist the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) in quantifying habitats and species targets and identifying necessary measures to meet the requirements of the plan. Nature restoration According to the tender documents, preparation is underway on National Conservation Assessments (NCAs) for 59 habitats and 68 species or species groups listed in the Habitats Directive. Any habitat or species that is reported as being in less than favourable conservation status will come into scope of the NRP, requiring restoration measures to be put in place and specific targets to be met. The NPWS is currently developing templates in order to record information for relevant habitats and species, which will then feed into the NRP. The deadline for the submission of Ireland's draft NRP to the European Commission is September 2026. Nature restoration The successful tenderer will be required to review the results of the NCAs and develop an understanding of the underlying datasets. They will closely work with the NPWS to finalise the standardised templates for quantifying targets and setting out how to achieve them. The tenderer will participate in workshops/meetings with NPWS 'in order to explain and develop approaches, encourage collaboration and disseminate results'. The documents state there will be 'a degree of flexibility in relation to days/hours worked per week' and that the contractor should provide pricing for 200 days between quarter two (Q2) 2025 and quarter four (Q4) 2026. The deadline for the submission of tenders is 5:00p.m on Monday, May 12, 2025. Nature credits Meanwhile, the European Commission today (Wednesday, April 23) hosted a 'high-level roundtable' meeting focused on developing biodiversity certification and nature credits as tools to finance nature restoration. European Commissioner for the Environment Jessika Roswall met with environmental, business, and financial stakeholders in Brussels. The meeting explored the need to develop a sound and credible methodology, innovative strategies to grow the nature credits market, as well as ways to boost private sector investment and biodiversity conservation. The roundtable also examined key drivers of demand for nature credits in the corporate and financial sectors. The outcome of the meeting will feed into the process of developing EU action on nature credits.
