Daily Current Affairs

India joins Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) at COP27

Why in news?

• Calling for integration of mangroves conservation with the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programmes for carbon sequestering, India recently joined the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC).
• India is among the first five countries to join the MAC, at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) at Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
• The others are Australia, Japan, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

 

How it is related to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)?

• The move is in line with India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5- 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent, through additional forest and tree cover by 2030.
• As the mangrove forests can absorb four-five times more carbon emissions than landed tropical forests, creating new carbon sinks from mangrove afforestation and reducing emissions from mangrove deforestation are two feasible ways for countries to meet their NDC targets and achieve carbon neutrality.
• Mangroves can also act as a buffer for ocean acidification and act as a sink for microplastics.

 

What are mangrove forests?

• A mangrove is a shrub or a small tree that grows along the coastlines and has roots in salty sediments, often underwater. They also grow in swamps.
• Mangrove forests can survive extreme weather conditions and require low oxygen levels to survive.
• The mangroves cannot survive freezing temperatures and thus are found mainly in tropical and subtropical latitudes.
• Sundarbans in West Bengal in India is the largest mangrove forest in the world.
• UNESCO celebrates July 26 as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem to raise awareness about mangrove ecosystems and to promote their conservation.

 

What is the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)?

• Spearheaded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in partnership with Indonesia, MAC was launched at the COP27 Summit in Egypt to scale up and accelerate the conservation and restoration of the mangrove forests.
• The alliance will raise awareness about the role of mangroves as a nature-based solution to climate change.
• The alliance will be amplified at the G20 Summit that will be held between November 15 and 16 in Bali under the presidency of Indonesia.
• The MAC seeks to scale up, accelerate conservation, restoration and growing plantation efforts of mangrove ecosystems for the benefit of communities globally, and recognize the importance of these ecosystems for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

 

How are the Mangroves beneficial?

• According to MAC, Mangrove forests can store ten times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. Also, they can store carbon up to 400 per cent faster than land-based tropical rainforests.
• When the mangroves are cut, the carbon stored in these plants gets released into the air. So, preserving them to keep the carbon emissions levels low is necessary.
• Once the plants die, they take the stored carbon into the soil. This is called ‘Blue Carbon’.
• Moreover, Mangrove forests act as natural barriers against rising tides and storms. Each year, they prevent property damages of over $65 billion.
• They also provide breeding grounds for marine biodiversity and 80% of global fish populations depend on healthy mangrove ecosystems.

 

Mangrove distribution:

• Mangroves are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and are found in 123 countries.
• According to the State of the World's Mangroves report 2022, from 2010 to 2020, the human-driven loss represents 62 per cent of total losses of over 600 square kilometres or 60,000 hectares.
• Global mangrove extent in 2020 was 147,359 km2. South Asia comprises 6.4 per cent of the global mangroves cover.
• India accounts for over 50 per cent of total mangrove cover in South Asia.
• The most extensive area of mangroves is found in Southeast Asia, with Indonesia alone comprising a fifth of global total. Together, Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, and Nigeria host almost half the world’s mangroves.
• Some 42 per cent (61,287 km2) of all the world’s remaining mangroves fall within protected areas recognised by the IUCN.

 

What is the relationship between India and mangroves?

• India contributes to nearly half of the total mangrove cover in South Asia.
• According to the Forest Survey report 2021 released in January, mangroves cover in the country is 4,992 square km, which is 0.15 per cent of the country's total geographical area. Since 2019, the cover has risen by only 17 sq km.
• West Bengal has the highest percentage of mangrove cover in India, mainly because it has Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world. It is followed by Gujarat and Andaman, and Nicobar islands.
• Other states that have mangrove cover are Maharashtra, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala.

 

Tamil Nadu notifies Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary as 17th sanctuary

(GS Paper 3, Environment)

Why in news?

• Recently, the Tamil Nadu government has notified the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary on 68,640 hectares as the state's 17th wildlife sanctuary.
• The sanctuary was notified under Section 26-A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Flora & Fauna:

• The sanctuary, covering reserve forest areas in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts, is home to 35 species of mammals, 238 species of birds, Leith's soft shelled turtles, smooth coated otters, marsh crocodile and four horned antelopes, and is a wildlife paradise.
• Grizzled giant squirrel, four-horned antelope, and Lesser Fish Eagle which are exclusively dependent on the Cauvery River and its riverine forest ecosystem, are also found here. These are also red-listed and in urgent need for focused conservation and protection of their habitat.

 

Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary:

• It will connect Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary of Tamil Nadu with the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in neighbouring Karnataka thereby forming a large, contiguous network of protected areas for wildlife.
• This area has unique ecological, faunal, and floral significance and is also an important elephant habitat in Southern India.

 

Tiger Conservation:

• This landscape maintains further continuity to the Nilgiri Biosphere through MalaiMahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary, BilligiriRangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and Erode District, Tamil Nadu. This provides sufficient area for the conservation of the varied and rich biodiversity of the region.
• Efforts taken to conserve tigers in BRT Tiger Reserve and Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve have created a spill-over effect and tigers have begun to occupy their traditional ranges where they had been locally extinct for a few decades.
• The forested areas of the new sanctuary are part of the prey base and the area can support tigers once again as it had in the past.

 

Biodiversity Conservation:

• It will also support conservation of leopards and other red-listed large carnivores.
• Two important and large elephant corridors namely, the Nandimangalam-Ulibanda Corridor and the Kovaipallam-Anebiddahalla Corridor fall in this area.
• Enhanced protection and restoration of habitat will help in reducing soil erosion and siltation of downstream reservoir namely the Stanley Reservoir.

 

Other notified Sanctuaries/Reserves in Tamil Nadu:

Already, the government has notified

• Kazhuveli Bird Sanctuary in Villupuram and Cuddalore districts,
• Nanjarayan Bird Sanctuary in Tiruppur district,
• Kadavur Slender Loris Sanctuary in Karur and
• Dindigul districts and Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay.

 

After the dust, a clearer picture of Agnipaths direction

(GS Paper 3, Defence)

Context:

• Agnipath scheme can now be reviewed in a more mature and pragmatic manner, especially since the first batch of Agniveers are on the way to their training centres.
• The recruitment rallies conducted for the Agniveers have seen a positive response, both among boys and girls.

 

Background:

• The huge uproar that rose following the announcement of the Agnipath scheme has now settled.
• Under this plan, around 50,000 soldiers, or ‘Agniveers’, will be recruited annually, with most leaving the service in four years. Only 25% will be retained in service for another 15 years, as permanent cadres.

 

Change is inevitable:

• Nothing is ever constant and change will always be the order of the day. Therefore, policies also need to change and be aligned with the future.
• In the past there have always been changes in the Human Resources (HR) policies of central government employees.
• In 1998, for example, the retirement age for all central government employees including armed forces personnel was increased across the board, by two years. Even then there was a hue and cry that it would lead to stagnation and so on.
• Talks are going on for raising the age of retirement to 65 years, in keeping with global trends. Similarly, the terms and conditions of service for our soldiers, sailors and airmen have undergone changes from the time to time.

Training Duration:

• The present system of almost one year of training and even more for the technical armswas devised when the standard of education of recruits was low, with an even lower technical threshold; therefore, it required time to drill concepts into them.
• Nowadays, youth are technologically savvy, which includes even those hailing from villages. Everyone has a smartphone; everyone uses digital payment platforms. To continue with old training methodologies is irrational.
• Optimising the training duration is very much a possibility. Given basic training, proficiency can be acquired on the job, and this is how it is done in many armies in the world. 

 

Bonding & esprit de corps:

• Another aspect that has been much discussed is of bonding and esprit de corps, and whether the Agniveers will be able to deliver when the time comes.
• As far as esprit de corps is concerned, the onus is on the units. There is a saying in the Indian Army that “there are no good units or bad units; only good officers and bad officers”.
• The definition of officers can be expanded to include ‘superiors’ — good or bad superiors. If the supervisory staff in a unit is good, they would make the Agniveers feel welcome, mould them and make them a part of the team.
• Prior to the 1971 war, recruits were inducted into units after a curtailed training period; and within months, they were in the thick of battle. Within a month or two they could stand up and deliver and have that esprit de corps.
• Young soldiers have more risk-taking abilities. Most gallantry award winners have had a younger profile.
• For instance, Subedar Major (Honorary Captain) Yogendra Singh Yadav, PVC, was only 19 years old, when he was awarded the Param Vir Chakra, following his specific act of gallantry on July 4, 1999 in the Kargil conflict. He survived despite many injuries.

 

Lateral absorption:

• While formulating the Agnipath scheme, the aspect of lateral absorption into the Central Armed Police Forces, State police and even in other Ministries had been deliberated upon.
• However, it was felt that since this issue would come up only after four years, when the first lot of Agniveers would be due to be re-mustered, it could be considered later.
• Various Ministries would not only have to identify possible vacancies but also have to amend their respective service rules to include aspects such as enhanced ages of induction, ante-date benefits for services rendered and the like. Hopefully, aspects such as pension and medical cover would be automatically addressed.
• Following the announcement of the policy, there was a public outcry on the issue of the resettlement of the demobilisedAgniveers. The Home Ministry and certain State governments straightaway announced 10% lateral induction.
• This was, therefore, not an afterthought, but it will certainly give urgency to the necessity of carrying out the necessary legally tenable and non-discriminatory revisions.

 

Conclusion & Way Forward:

• A United Nations report says that India’s population is among the youngest in the world. However, this demographic point is a dividend only if it is disciplined and imbued with a nationalistic fervour. This is the underlying philosophy of the Agnipath scheme, which will be of benefit to the nation, the Armed Forces and the individual.
• All new schemes have teething troubles and this one too will have its fair share of complaints. As and when these crop up, there will always be room for mid-course corrections.
• Even the Constitution of India has been amended 105 times. It requires collective resolve to make the Agnipath scheme a success.

 

Age of consent for adolescents

(GS Paper 2, Judiciary)

Why in news?

• Recently, the Dharwad Bench of the Karnataka High Court, while dismissing a case filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, said the Law Commission of India would have to rethink the age criteria, to take into consideration the ground realities.
• The aspect of consent by a girl of 16 years, but who is below 18 years, would have to be considered, it said, if it is indeed an offence under the Indian Penal Code and/or the POCSO Act.

What are the terms of the POCSO Act?

• Under the POCSO Act, 2012, and under several provisions of the IPC, whoever commits a penetrative sexual assault on a child (anyone below 18 years of age) can be “imprisoned for a term which is not less than seven years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to [a] fine.”
• Even if the girl is 16 years old, she is considered a “child” under the POCSO Act and hence her consent does not matter, and any sexual intercourse is treated as rape, thus opening it up to stringent punishment.
• There have been several instances in the past few years when the courts have quashed criminal proceedings of rape and kidnapping, after being convinced that the law was being misused to suit one or the other party.
• Often, the offender had been booked under Section 366 of the IPC, Section 6 of the POCSO Act and Section 9 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

 

Is the law being misused?

• In its order, and several other courts have passed similar judgments too, the Karnataka High Court said the effect of such criminal prosecution of a minor girl or boy is causing severe distress to all concerned, including the families. Sometimes, disgruntled parents file a case to foil a relationship between two adolescents.
• In 2019, a study, ‘Why Girls Run Away To Marry – Adolescent Realities and Socio-Legal Responses in India’made a case for the age of consent to be lower than the age of marriage to decriminalise sex among older adolescents to protect them from the misuse of law, sometimes by parents who want to control who their daughters or sons want to marry.
• The study noted that in many cases, a couple elopes fearing opposition from parents resulting in a situation where families file a case with the police, who then book the boy for rape under the POCSO Act and abduction with the intent to marry under IPC or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

 

Vijaylakshmi vs State Rep case:

• In 2021, in the Vijaylakshmi vs State Rep case, the Madras High Court, while dismissing a POCSO case, said the definition of ‘child’ under Section 2(d) of the POCSO Act can be redefined as 16 instead of 18.
• The court suggested that the age difference in consensual relationships should not be more than five years. This, it said, will ensure that a girl of an impressionable age is not taken advantage of by “a person who is much older.”

 

What needs to be done?

• With the courts and rights activists seeking amendment to the age of consent criteria, the ball lies in the government’s court to look into the issue.
• In the meantime, adolescents have to be made aware of the stringent provisions of the Act and also the IPC. The Karnataka High Court Bench directed the Principal Secretary of the Education Department to constitute a committee to formulate suitable education material for adolescents on the law on sexual offences and its consequences.
• Sometimes, a High Court uses its powers under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code “to prevent abuse of the process of any Court or otherwise to secure the ends of justice.”

Way Forward:

• Even as activists are calling for a tweak to the POCSO Act, and raising awareness about its terms, a parliamentary committee is looking into the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 which seeks to increase the minimum age of marriage for women to 21 years.
• Rights activists feel instead of helping the community, raising the age may force vulnerable women to remain under the yoke of family and social pressures.