Environmental Conservation Practice Questions

Correct answer: Wetlands

The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation of wetlands. It was signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar.

Correct answer: Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement in 1977 to combat deforestation and soil erosion. She became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.

Correct answer: Ramsar Convention

The Montreux Record is a list of wetland sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred or are likely to occur. It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.

Correct answer: Endangered species of plants and animals

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, often called the Red Data Book, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. It categorizes species into groups like 'Critically Endangered' and 'Vulnerable'.

Correct answer: Rio de Janeiro

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Summit, was a major conference held in Brazil. It resulted in key documents like the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Correct answer: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

CITES is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

Correct answer: Chipko Movement

The Chipko Movement was a forest conservation movement in India where people hugged trees to prevent them from being cut down. Sunderlal Bahuguna was one of the prominent leaders who coined this slogan.

Correct answer: Greenhouse gas emissions

Adopted in 1997, the Kyoto Protocol committed industrialized nations and economies in transition to limit and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. It set binding emission reduction targets for these countries.

Correct answer: Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park, located in the United States, was established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1872. It is widely held to be the first national park in the world.

Correct answer: To protect migratory species of wild animals

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention, aims to conserve terrestrial, marine, and avian migratory species throughout their range.

Correct answer: Mercury

The Minamata Convention on Mercury is named after the Japanese city that suffered a devastating incident of mercury poisoning. It regulates the use, trade, and disposal of mercury.

Correct answer: Foundation for Environmental Education

The Blue Flag is a voluntary eco-label awarded by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). It is based on compliance with 33 stringent criteria across categories like water quality and environmental management.

Correct answer: Protecting the Ozone Layer

Finalized in 1987, the Montreal Protocol was designed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances like CFCs. It has successfully led to the gradual recovery of the Earth's ozone layer.

Correct answer: A region with high levels of species endemism that is under threat

A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is threatened by human habitation. To qualify, a region must contain a high percentage of plant life found nowhere else on the planet.

Correct answer: UN Convention to Combat Desertification

The GEF provides funding to assist developing countries in meeting the objectives of international environmental conventions. This includes the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Correct answer: Botanical Gardens

Ex-situ conservation involves the maintenance of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats. Examples include botanical gardens, zoos, and seed banks, whereas the others are 'In-situ' methods.

Correct answer: 1972

The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, provides the legal framework for the protection of various species of wild animals and plants in India. It also regulates the establishment of National Parks and Sanctuaries.

Correct answer: The Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest plays a critical role in the global carbon cycle by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. Its dense vegetation releases significant oxygen through photosynthesis, supporting global climate stability.

Correct answer: Excess nutrient runoff into water bodies

Eutrophication is primarily caused by excess nutrient runoff, such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers, entering water bodies. This nutrient enrichment triggers excessive algal growth, which upon decomposition depletes the water's dissolved oxygen and harms aquatic life.

Correct answer: Living modified organisms

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an appendix to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It aims to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology.