Current Affair 1:

Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP)

 

News:

As per the report submitted under the Global Tiger Recovery Program (GTRP) 2.0 overall tiger population increased 60%.

GTRP was launched by the World Bank in 2010 under the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI) to double wild tiger populations by 2022, with commitments from Tiger Range Countries (TRCs).

The overarching goal was to reverse the rapid decline of wild tigers and to strive to double the number of wild tigers across their range by 2022. The Tiger Range Country's (TRCs) as a group is ready to take on this challenge although not all TRCs individually will be able to achieve this goal. To solve the tiger crisis, which represents the larger Asian biodiversity crisis, the TRCs, international organizations, and civil society have come together on a collaborative platform within the framework of the Global Tiger Initiative (GTI). The GTI Secretariat, based at the World Bank

The first GTRP helped to pull focus to wild tiger conservation and secure a collective commitment from TRCs. It was endorsed in the St Petersburg Declaration in 2010 which saw 13 tiger range countries committing to reverse the decline of the species population.

The 13 tiger range countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

What is GTRP 2.0?

Global Tiger Recovery Programme (GTRP) 2.0 was released at Thimphu on 29 July International Tiger Day 2023. It has been firmed up by tiger range countries through the intergovernmental platform of the Global Tiger Forum along with collaborators like the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF).

It emphasizes on strengthening tiger governance, enhancing resources and protection, while addressing contemporary challenges like Human-Wildlife Conflict.

It aims to pave the way for tiger conservation from 2023-2034.

Current Affair 2:

Red Sanders

 

Red Sanders is a flora-species that is endemic to a distinct tract of forests in Eastern Ghats region of Andhra Pradesh and fall under ‘endangered list’ in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Red Sanders is also listed in Appendix-II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus), also called Red Sandalwood, is a species found in the southern tropical dry deciduous forest of Andhra Pradesh (AP). The tree reaches an average height of 10 to 15 metres.

Red Sanders known for their rich hue and therapeutic properties, are high in demand across Asia, particularly in China and Japan, for use in cosmetics and medicinal products as well as for making furniture, woodcraft and musical instruments.

The red dye obtained from the wood is used as a colouring agent in the textiles, medicine and food industries.

Under the foreign trade policy of India, the import of Red Sanders is prohibited, while export is restricted.

According to the recently released communiqué titled “RED SANDERS: Factsheet on India’s Red Sanders in illegal wildlife trade”, China remains the largest importer with more than 13,618 tonnes of the products, followed by Hong Kong (5,215 tonnes) and Singapore (216 tonnes).

 

Current Affair 3:

Phreatomagmatic (Hydrovolcanic) Eruptions

 

News:

A new island near Japan's Ogasawara Island chain was formed by phreatomagmatic eruption.

An eruption that involves both magma and water, which typically interact explosively, leading to concurrent ejection of steam and pyroclastic fragments.

Current Affair 4:

Mycena chlorophos

 

News:

A team of researchers and the forest department have found a rare bioluminescent mushroom in the Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary (KKWLS).

It is a bioluminescent fungus primarily found in subtropical Asia. It is characterized by a pristine white disc with a shallow depression in the center and emits a bright, greenish light in the dark.

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