Environmental Conservation

• Environmental legislation protects the environment and natural resources and covers topics like air, water quality, and wildlife protection.
• Environmental legislation is enacted locally to internationally and enforced with fines, imprisonment, and injunctions.
• Environmental legislation protects human health by reducing exposure to air and water pollution that causes respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and cancer.
• Environmental legislation helps to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity by ensuring essential services such as clean air/water, food production, and climate regulation.
• Environmental legislation is important for sustainable development, ensuring that development activities do not harm the environment or deplete natural resources.

Indian Constitution

• Article 48A is a guiding principle that states the government should protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Article 51A(g) is a fundamental duty that states that every citizen of India should protect and improve the natural environment and have compassion for living creatures.
• The Constitution also contains other provisions relevant to environmental protection, such as the right to life and liberty (Article 21) and the right to health (Article 25).

Central and State Pollution Control Boards

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) implement/enforce environmental legislation in India.
• CPCB, established under the 1974 Water Act and 1981 Air Act, is the apex body for pollution control in India, responsible for coordinating SPCB activities.
• SPCBs, established under the 1974 Water Act and 1981 Air Act, implement and enforce environmental legislation within their respective states.
• The responsibilities of the CPCB include advising the central government, planning national programs, coordinating SPCBs, and sponsoring research.
• The responsibilities of the SPCBs include monitoring air and water quality, issuing licenses to industries, inspecting units, investigating complaints, and taking action against polluters.

Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986

• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA) is the umbrella environmental legislation for environmental protection in India, empowering the central government to protect/improve the environment.
• The central government has power under the EPA act to take all measures necessary to protect and improve the environment.
• The establishment of Central and State Pollution Control Boards is enabled to enforce the EPA act and monitor pollution levels.
• The government has power under the EPA act to lay down standards for the quality of air, water, and soil and to regulate the discharge of pollutants into the environment.
• The government has power under the EPA act to prohibit or restrict certain activities that are harmful to the environment.
• The Central and State Pollution Control Boards (CPCB and SPCBs) implement and enforce the EPA act.
• The functions of the CPCB and SPCBs include monitoring air, water, and soil quality; laying down standards for emissions; issuing permits; and taking action against violators.
• The EPA has played a role in protecting and improving the environment in India.
• The EPA has contributed to the reduction in air and water pollution levels and in the protection of endangered species and their habitats, conservation of forests, and promotion of sustainable development.
• Implementing and enforcing the EPA act poses a host of challenges: lack of awareness, inadequate resources, and corruption.

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

• The act aims to prevent, control, and abate air pollution.
• The authority to establish the CPCB and SPCBs to implement provisions of the act is given to the central govt.
• Enables empowers the central government to declare certain areas as air pollution control areas and to prescribe standards for emissions.
• The CPCB is responsible for quality control and coordinating the activities of the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
• The SPCBs monitor air quality and enforce the provisions of the Act.
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, has helped reduce air pollution levels in India, reducing levels of sulfur dioxide and particulate matter in the air.
• The Act promotes cleaner energy and introduces stricter emission standards for vehicles and industries, resulting in the closure of polluting industries.
• Deficiencies remain due to industrialization, use of low-quality fuels, and lack of public awareness about air pollution.

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

• Designed to prevent, control, and abate water pollution, also to maintain or restore the wholesomeness of water.
• The Act establishes the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
• The CPCB and SPCBs are empowered to regulate effluent discharge and set standards for water bodies, prohibiting any discharge without consent.
• Premises inspection and effluent sampling are authorized; actions can be taken against polluters, including closing polluting units and imposing fines.
• The CPCB and SPCBs are responsible for establishing discharge standards, monitoring water quality, inspecting facilities, collecting samples, and taking action against polluters.
• The CPCB and SPCBs enhance public awareness about water pollution through workshops and seminars.
• The Water Act has played an important role in reducing water pollution, pollution levels in India's major rivers and lakes
• It supported a network of sewage/ wastewater treatment facilities as well as increased public awareness about water pollution.
• Challenges persist due to resource limitations, corruption, industrial growth, and urbanization.

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

• Enacted to protect India's wildlife, habitats, and prevent poaching through the establishment of protected areas like national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserves.
• Hunting, trapping, killing, and trade of scheduled animals/plants are prohibited; wildlife is classified based on conservation status via schedules.
• Requires permits for the import, export, and sale of wildlife products to maintain regulated trade.
• Enforcement agencies, such as wildlife wardens and forest guards, are established to enforce the provisions of the Act.
• Central and State Pollution Control Boards maintain environmental standards for the Wildlife (Protection) Act, addressing pollutants that threaten animals and habitats.
• These Boards assess environmental impacts, contribute to governmental planning, and suggest mitigative actions for concerns like project impacts on wildlife.
• Contributed to the conservation of India's wildlife, including protecting endangered species like tigers, elephants, reducing poaching.
• Protected areas now cover 5% of India's geography, challenges remain in terms of resources, corruption, and human-wildlife conflict.

Forest Conservation Act, 1980

• Aims to protect and preserve India's forest resources.
• The Act bans the use of forest land for non-forest purposes without central government's approval, requiring compensatory afforestation for diverted land.
• Additional provisions include the creation of a National Advisory Council, Forest Development Fund, and limits felling trees in national parks/ wildlife sanctuaries.
• The CPCB creates national forest conservation guidelines, while SPCBs uphold them at the state level.
• The impact of conversion projects on forest lands are evaluated by CPCB and SPCBs, then approval or denial recommendations are made to the government.
• Credited with achievements such as reducing deforestation rates by over 50% since passage.
• Resources / staffing shortages create challenges in effectively monitoring and enforcing, also political pressure to reroute resources to other areas.

Solid Waste Management Act, 2016

• A comprehensive legislation that aims to manage solid waste using environmentally sound manners.
• This Act superseded the outdated Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, of the year 2000.
• Includes source segregation, mandates waste separation into three categories: wet, dry, and hazardous waste.
• There is a requirement for door-to-door waste collection service for residences and commercial establishments.
• Mandates the regulated processing and treatment of waste via prescribed standards, also sanitary waste disposal via environmentally conscious methods.\
• Standards for solid waste management are developed by CPCB/SPCBs, including rules for the disposal, treatment, processing, and collection of waste.
• Monitoring and compliance are roles of the CPCB/SPCBs. Inspections, proper notice, and legal actions are taken to achieve this. Assistance is provided by CPCB/SPCBs to local bodies and other relevant parties regarding waste concerns.
• This legislation supports understanding/awareness about responsible solid waste practices, leading to better segregation, transportation, and collection.
• There have also been improvements in processing/treatment and disposal practices.
• Challenges persists due to resource limitations, public awareness, and corruption.

International Agreements

• Also referred to as Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), a crucial tool for approaching environmental concerns that go beyond borders.
• Environmental issues are addressed with goals, cooperation frameworks, and commitments for signatory countries.
• Kyoto, Montreal, and CBD agreements.
• The Kyoto Protocol, adopted on December 11, 1997, in Kyoto, Japan, addressed climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Montreal Protocol phases out the production of substances harmful to the ozone layer.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) promotes biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and equitable sharing of genetic resource benefits..

Nature Reserve

• An area of land meant for natural area conservation, including wildlife.
• Nature reserves provide habitat for scientific research/education, preserve ecosystems, and are important for protecting biodiversity
• Wildlife Refuges: Conserve wildlife populations
• Forest Reserves: Conserve forests, plants, and animals
• Grassland Reserves: Conserve grasslands, plants, and animals
• Marine protected areas conserve marine ecosystems, such as reefs and kelp forests.
• The Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Florida, USA, a massive refuge protecting many habitats and a wide variety of wildlife.
• The Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, well known for its annual wildebeest migration, along with other species.
• India's Kaziranga National Park protects the world's biggest population of rhinos, and other wildlife.
• Komodo National Park in Indonesia is home to monitor lizards and other animals.
• The Monarch Butterfly in Mexico/California protects monarch butterflies.
• The Adirondack Park Forest Reserve in New York offers home to black bears, deer, and moose.
• The Amazon Forest Reserve, Brazil is home to 2 million square miles and contains plant species.
• The Sinharaja Forest Reserve in Si Lanka has a UNESCO heritage site with endemic plant and animal species.
• Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (USA), is a region with various animals, and contains rare tallgrass.
• Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is known for large animal migrations and grasslands.
• The Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is notable for plains animals, such as elephants and lions.
• Churchill Downs is a wetland that is home to birds, and polar bears.
• The Falkland Islands are comprised of unique grassland ecosystems and endemic flora/fauna.
• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Australia): the world's largest mass area of reef supporting biodiversity. -. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects seagrass, mangrove and reef systems. Galapagos Marine Reserve (Ecuador), an MPA surrounding the Galapagos Islands protecting various habitats and wildlife studied documented by Charles Darwin.
• Weddell Sea Marine Protected Area (Antarctica), a feeding zone for penguins and seals.

Tribal Population and Rights

• Tribal communities can be referred to as indigenous peoples.
• Tribal cultures often have distinct languages, cultural practices, and ways of life.
• There is a variety of tribal communities.
• The world estimates indicate more than 370 million tribal people, spread across borders including over 70 countries.
• It is estimated that over 370 million tribal people are spread across more than 70 countries.
• The key of tribal rights involves the right to control, preserve, and hold tribal lands.
• Self-determination enables them to govern social, economic, and cultural development.
• To protect self-governance, customs, and languages for tribes
• Development of tribal rights ensures that tribes' customs, laws and values are not harmed by cultural values.

Human-Wildlife Conflict

• Due to shrinking or fragmenting habitats, animals are being displaced and forced to look closer to towns/ farms for food.
• Changes in farming practices/animal species have resulted in an increase in species population of species in some areas by shrinking habitats.
• This conflict leads to an increase in fatalities/livestock loss.
• Results from loss of animals/crops results in retaliatory poaching for many species.
• Includes Elephants who are vulnerable to habitat loss
• As a result crops are raided, leading to farmers who are sometimes at odds with the raids.
• Tiger populations have encountered rise, especially in border zones.
• Predators kill livestock that poses risks to humans.

Assess your understanding of international environmental agreements like the Kyoto and Montreal Protocols. Learn about nature reserves, species protection efforts (e.g., Komodo dragons), and the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 in India.