IUCN Categories & Biodiversity — Set 6
Forest & Wildlife · IUCN श्रेणियां और जैव विविधता · Questions 51–60 of 121
The Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) is listed under which IUCN Red List category?
Correct Answer: D. Critically Endangered (CR)
The Indian Vulture (Gyps indicus) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Its population collapsed by over 97% in the 1990s primarily due to poisoning from diclofenac (a veterinary drug) ingested through cattle carcasses. The drug was banned for veterinary use in India in 2006. Vulture Conservation Breeding Centres have been established to breed and reintroduce vultures into the wild.
The IUCN's 'green status' for species assesses:
Correct Answer: B. Extent of recovery from human impact
IUCN launched the Green Status of Species in 2021 to measure how much a species has recovered toward its 'fully recovered' state, i.e., its abundance and distribution in the absence of human impacts. While the Red List focuses on extinction risk, the Green Status assesses the impact of conservation actions on species recovery. It complements the Red List by showing how species can be restored.
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is located in:
Correct Answer: D. Montreal
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is located in Montreal, Canada. It provides services to both the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA). Although the CBD headquarters is in Montreal, the Executive Secretary's office is also co-located there.
What was the global target set under the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2010-2020) for protected area coverage of terrestrial areas?
Correct Answer: B. 17%
The Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 (2010-2020) aimed to protect at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10% of coastal and marine areas through effectively managed protected areas. The Kunming-Montreal GBF adopted in 2022 raised this target to 30% by 2030 (the '30x30' goal). India's current protected area coverage is approximately 5% of its total geographical area.
The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is listed under which IUCN Red List category?
Correct Answer: C. Endangered (EN)
The Indian Pangolin is listed as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world, primarily for their scales (used in traditional Chinese medicine) and meat. India has two species of pangolins: the Indian Pangolin (found in mainland India) and the Chinese Pangolin (found in Northeast India). Both species are listed on CITES Appendix I.
Which IUCN document describes the criteria for classifying species on the Red List?
Correct Answer: A. Red List Categories and Criteria
The IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria document describes the system for classifying species according to their extinction risk. The current version (Version 3.1) was adopted by the IUCN Council in 2000 and has been used as the basis for the Red List since 2001. Criteria are based on quantitative thresholds for population size, range, decline rate, and probability of extinction.
India's National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) regulates access by which type of entity without requiring prior approval?
Correct Answer: C. Local communities and AYUSH practitioners (post-2023 amendment)
The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Act 2023 exempted local communities, farmers, AYUSH practitioners, traditional healers, and seed producers from prior NBA approval for accessing and using biological resources. This was to reduce compliance burden on traditional users of biodiversity. However, foreign entities and organizations with foreign shareholding still need NBA approval.
The People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) is maintained by which body under the Biological Diversity Act 2002?
Correct Answer: D. Biodiversity Management Committees
People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) are prepared and maintained by Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the local gram panchayat level. PBRs document comprehensive information about all biological resources and traditional knowledge available in each local area. They serve as important records to establish prior art and prevent biopiracy of traditional knowledge.
The Indian Wild Ass (Equus khur) is found exclusively in which sanctuary?
Correct Answer: C. Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat
The Indian Wild Ass (Khur or Ghudkhur) is found exclusively in the Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) in Gujarat, the world's largest wild ass sanctuary. Listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, its population has recovered from about 2,072 in 1976 to over 6,000 currently. The Wild Ass Sanctuary was established in 1972 and covers about 4,953 sq km.
The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), found only in the Western Ghats, is listed under which IUCN category?
Correct Answer: D. Endangered (EN)
The Nilgiri Tahr is classified as Endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, found only in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is the state animal of Tamil Nadu. Its population has declined due to poaching, habitat loss, and disease. Eravikulam National Park in Kerala hosts the largest population of Nilgiri Tahr, approximately 750-900 individuals.