Environment and Ecology

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Aspirant Forum presents the Environment and Ecology (GS-3) for the UPSC examinations. Environment and Ecology are a part of the General Studies Paper 3 (GS-3) of the IAS Mains Examination. If covered properly, this section can be a well scoring part of the paper.
This section will provide you various topics and articles on different subjects, that are important from the examination point of view. While we try to put online every article possible, as soon as we can, it would be a pleasure to conduct a healthy discussion on the forum about the topics.
Members can put in their views and perspectives on the issues and thus contribute to a healthy scholarly debate. We welcome the participation from anyone and everyone.

Keep following the blog for more updates and information.

Environment Ecology
1. Origin of Life forms	Origin of Life forms Life on earth
2. Basic Concepts of Ecology	Types of Ecology Ecological Hierarchy Scope of Ecology Habitat & Ecological Niche Deep vs Shallow Ecology Ecological Principles Ecological Community Ecological Succession Range of Tolerance, Maximum Range Difference between Ecology, Environment and Ecosystem
3. Ecosystem functions	Ecosystem Deﬁnitions Functions and Properties of Ecosystem The Structure/Components of Ecosystem Ecosystem Dynamics Biomagniﬁcations Biological Control
4. Population Ecology	Types of species Population Ecology Population Growth Models Methodology of Tiger census Methodology of Lion Census
5. Adaptation of Species and Interactions	Adaptation Homeostasis Interaction between Species Ecotone Endemic Species Keystone Species Indicator Species Invasive Species Allopatric and Sympatric Speciation
6. Terrestrial ecosystems	Terrestrial ecosystem Forest Ecosystem in India Grasslands Tundra Deserts Mountains
7. Aquatic ecosystem	Aquatic ecosystem Factors affecting the productivity of aquatic ecosystems Fresh water ecosystem Marine ecosystem Marine Organisms Plankton Phytoplankton Factors Affecting Phytoplankton Biodiversity Human Modiﬁed Ecosystems
8. Nutrient Cycling	Concept of Biogeochemical Cycle Parts of a Biogeochemical Cycle Types of Biogeochemical Cycle Carbon Cycle Hydrological Cycle Nitrogen Cycle Oxygen Cycle Sulphur Cycle Phosphorus Cycle

Biodiversity
1. Basics of Biodiversity	Biodiversity Types of biodiversity Patterns of biodiversity Bio-geographical classiﬁcation of World Bio-geographical classiﬁcation of India Functions of biodiversity Hotspots of biodiversity Bio informatics Eco Regions Role of Traditional Knowledge in Biodiversity Biopiracy
2. Animal and Plant Diversity	Plant and Animal Kingdom
3. Threats to biodiversity	Causes of Biodiversity losses Effects of Loss of Bio-Diversity Extinction of species Mass Extinction IUCN Red List and Classiﬁcation Scheme
4. Biodiversity Conservation	Scheduled Animals in the Wildlife Protection Act In-situ methods of Conservation Ex-situ methods of Conservation National Parks Wildlife Sanctuaries Biosphere Reserves Species based conservation programmes Important Coastal and marine Biodiversity Areas Global initiative
5.Estuaries	What are estuaries? Types of Estuaries Importance of estuaries Threats to estuaries Major Estuaries in Indian coastal states Monitoring and Prediction of Health of Estuarine and Coastal Waters Difference between Lagoon and Estuary Estuary ecosystem: Adaptations made in organisms Conservation of Estuaries
6. Mangroves	What are mangroves? Mangroves in India Importance of Mangroves Mangroves under threats Legal and Regulatory Approaches for Protection Community based mangrove regeneration
7. Coral Reef	About coral reefs What do corals feed on? Geographical Conditions Types of Coral Reefs Uses of coral reefs Concept of Bio-rock reefs Threats to Coral reefs Conservation of coral reef
8. Wetlands	What are wetlands? Types of wetlands Wetlands in India Importance of wetlands Threats to wetland ecosystems Conservation of Wetlands About Ramsar Convention About Asian Water bird Census

Resource Degradation and Management
1. Land Resource	Causes of land degradation Impact of land degradation Desertiﬁcation Sustainable Land Management
2. Forest resource	Deﬁnition of forests by FSI Types of Forest Cover Forest Survey of India (FSI report 2017) Types of Forests In India Deforestation Causes of Deforestation Consequences of Deforestation on the Wildlife of India Strategies for Reducing Deforestation Government Programmes for Conservation of Forests
3. Soil Resource	Soil Characteristics and Soil formation process Factors Responsible for Soil Formation Soil Forming Processes Soil Proﬁles and Horizons Type of Soils Soils in India Soils in World Soil Erosion Problems due to excessive irrigation Soil Conservation Soil health card scheme Organic Farming
4. Water Pollution	Surface Water Resource Ground Water Resources Sources of Water Pollution Measurement of Water pollution Causes of Water Pollution Harmful effects of water pollution Other terms associated with water pollution
5. Energy Resources	Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Tidal Energy Wave energy Fuel Cell Microbial fuel cell Biofuels Biogas Geothermal Energy Solar Energy New Energy Resources Renewable Energy and Development Petroleum Conservation Research Association Atomic Energy Bill Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill National Electric Mobility Mission Plan National Policy on Biofuels Three Stage Nuclear Power Programme Solar Renewable purchase Obligation Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell New Energy Policy Energy Organisation

Environment Pollution
1. Basics of Pollution	Sources of pollution Classiﬁcation of pollutants Pollution Indicator species
2. Mining and pollution	Mining and Environment Sensitivity of Select Ecosystems to Mining Impact of Mining Indirect Impact of Mining International Laws on Mining Main Act or Statue to regulate the impact of Indian Mining Sector Sustainable Mining
3. Air pollution	Causes of air pollution Harmful Effects of air pollution Top-ten gases in air pollution Control of Air Pollution Concepts related to Air pollution
4. Marine Pollution	Sources of marine pollution Effects of marine pollution Concept of dead zone Concept of Ocean acidiﬁcation Oil spill Trash and Other Debris in ocean Microplastics and its impact Coastal Regulation Zone Notiﬁcation, 2011
5. Noise Pollution	Causes of Noise pollution Noise Levels Effects of Noise Pollution on human health Corrective actions
6. Biological Pollution	Sources of biological pollution Harmful effects from biological contaminants Corrective actions
7. Radioactive Pollution	Sources of Radioactive Pollution Harmful effects of Radioactive Pollution Corrective actions
8. Thermal Pollution	Causes of Thermal Pollution Effect of Thermal Pollution Control of Thermal Pollution
9. Waste Management	Solid waste management E-Waste Management Biomedical Waste Management Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 Hazardous waste and its Characteristics Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management & Trans-boundary Movement) Rules, 2016 Treatments Methods in Waste Management Hazardous waste treatment

Climate Change
1. Climate Change Basics	What is Climate Change? What is Global warming? Factors Affecting Climate Change Causes of climate change Urbanization and climate change Impact of agriculture on climate What is greenhouse effect? Non-green House Gases and Aerosols Radioactive forcing and global warming Ecological footprint Carbon footprint Global Warming Potential (GWP)
2. Climate Change Impact	Impacts of the Climate Change Global Warming & Health Climate change mitigation

Environmental Governance
1. Acts and Policies	Constitutional Provisions related to environment Wildlife Protection Act 1972 Environmental Protection Act National Forest Policy Biological Diversity Act 2002 Schedule Tribes and Other Forest Dwellers Act 2006 Coastal Regulation Zone Wetland Rules 2010 National Green Tribunal Ozone Depleting Substance Rules
2. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)	What is EIA? Brief History of EIA in India EIA Process in India The 8 steps of the EIA process Environmental Appraisal Process Drawback in EIA Process Recommendations for Improvement Environment Management EIA in India – Sectorial Analysis
3. International Environmental Governance	UNEP UNDP Centre for Biological Diversity WWF for Nature IUCN – Red List Birdlife International International Conventions / Protocols & their Objectives Sustainable Development Goals Various Indices relate to Environment Climate Change Governance Global Climate Finance Architecture
4. India and Climate Change	India’s Position with regards to policy on Climate Change Observed Climate and Weather Changes in India NAPCC Indian Climate Change Assessment Indian Policy Structure Relevant to GHG Emissions
5. Environment related Institutions in India	Pollution Control Boards National Green Tribunal National Board for Wildlife Animal Welfare Board Central Zoo Authority National Biodiversity Authority Environmental schemes in India6. National Wildlife Action Plan CAMPA Joint Forest Management Social Forestry National Bamboo Mission National Action Plan on Climate Change National Solar Mission Ganga Rejuvenation Plan Beneﬁts of River Ganga Ecomark Scheme Swachch Bharat Mission Swachch Bharat Kosh Grants in Aid Scheme National Afforestation Program National River Conservation Plan National Mission for Clean Ganga National Air Quality Index (AQI) National Action Programme to Combat Desertiﬁcation Pradhan Mantri Sauchalay Yojana UJALA Scheme Bharat Stage Norms Corporate Social Responsibility and Environment Protection
6. Appendix	National Parks Tiger Reserves of India Elephant Reserves in India Mike Sites in India Biosphere Reserves Biosphere Reserves in UNESCO’s Map List Ramsar Wetland Sites Natural World Heritage Sites List of Sacred Groves Mangrove Sites in India Pollution
7. Recent developments	Mobile Tower Radiation Shrinking of Cauvery Delta Use of Garbage to Construct Road Moss as Pollution Monitor Graded Plan for Air Pollution Air Quality Index Polluter Pay Principle Pesticide Poisoning Aerosols Anti-Smog guns Particulate matter Nalanda Model of Water Conservation Wetland Rules, 2017 Permaculture and Monoculture Sand Mining Guidelines Coastal Erosion (Parali Island) Bottom Trawling to Deep Sea Fishing ‘Wadi’ Model Re-greening of Village Commons Project Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage Namami Ganga Programme River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 Smart Ganga City Scheme Ganga Task Force Ganga, Yamuna termed ‘living persons’ National Capacity Building Project for Waste Management NGT Bans Plastic Mission Innovation Tribunal – Dumping Waste in Ganga Ease in Norms for Sewage Plants Organic Waste to Make Green Fuel New Technologies for Waste Management Melting of Antarctic Iceberg Melting of Gangotri Glacier Carbon Capture Black Carbon 30th Montreal Protocol and World Ozone Day El-Nino Caused Record CO2, Spike Glaciers in Asia to sink Tropics emit more Carbon Climate change impact on Natural Heritage Sites – Impact on Sunderbans Marine Diversity in Antarctica under threat Carbon Credit 2nd Kyoto Protocol Green Metro System Negative Emissions Geo-engineering Climate Change Sequestering CO2 Bonn Challenge COP-23 Air Quality Index likely to be added to ‘playing condition” HFCs – India to eliminate use by 2030 Kigali agreement Carbon Neutrality Concept Marrakesh Climate Change Conference International Solar Alliance (ISA) Kyoto Protocol (2nd Commitment 2013-20) Climate Change Performance Index

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