National Aquatic Biodiversity Week Celebrated

Context:
India observed National Aquatic Biodiversity Week with events and awareness drives across states. The focus was on conserving riverine and coastal biodiversity in the face of increasing environmental threats.

Key Highlights

• The week-long initiative aimed to raise awareness about the importance of aquatic ecosystems, including rivers, lakes, wetlands, estuaries, and coastal waters.
• Activities were coordinated by various institutions including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), State Biodiversity Boards, research bodies, and NGOs.
• Educational workshops, biodiversity mapping, and local river clean-up events were part of the programme.

Major Issues Highlighted

• Industrial pollution and discharge of untreated effluents into rivers.
• Spread of invasive alien species in aquatic ecosystems.
• Impact of climate change on fish migration, wetland ecology, and coral bleaching.
• Urbanization and encroachment leading to wetland degradation.

Conservation Focus

• Promotion of community-based conservation for rivers and coastal zones.
• Strengthening aquatic biodiversity registers under State Biodiversity Boards.
• Restoration of critical wetlands and mangroves under the National Mission on Biodiversity and Climate Change.
• Promotion of sustainable fisheries and habitat protection under the Blue Economy framework.

Relevance for UPSC

Prelims:

• Aquatic biodiversity, invasive species
• National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards
• Coastal and riverine ecosystems

Mains (GS Paper 3):

• Threats to aquatic biodiversity and policy interventions
• Wetland and river ecosystem management
• Climate change and marine ecology
• Role of civil society and community stewardship in conservation

Sample MCQ

Q. Which of the following is a major threat to India’s aquatic biodiversity as discussed during the National Aquatic Biodiversity Week?
A. Earthquakes and tsunamis
B. Electromagnetic pollution
C. Industrial discharge and invasive species
D. Overuse of vaccines in aquaculture

Answer: C

Explanation:
The event highlighted threats like industrial pollution, invasive species, and climate change, which severely affect aquatic ecosystems.