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- The Prime Minister recently participated in a lion safari at the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh, Gujarat, to mark the occasion of World Wildlife Day.
- About World Wildlife Day:
- World Wildlife Day is celebrated annually on March 3 to raise awareness about the vital role of both flora and fauna in our ecosystems. The day aims to encourage individuals to support wildlife conservation, adopt sustainable lifestyles, and promote harmony between humans and nature.
- History:
- The United Nations established World Wildlife Day in 2013, following a proposal from Thailand to create a day dedicated to wildlife conservation. On December 20, 2013, the UN General Assembly officially proclaimed March 3 as World Wildlife Day, with the first observance held in 2014. The date was selected in recognition of the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) on March 3, 1973. CITES is a global treaty designed to ensure that international trade in wildlife does not endanger species.
- World Wildlife Day 2025 Theme: Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet
- The Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs recently introduced the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3).
- About Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3):
- The Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3) is a global initiative aimed at fostering city-to-city collaboration, knowledge exchange, and private sector partnerships. It was unveiled at the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific, held in Jaipur. The coalition is designed to act as a driving force for resource efficiency and the promotion of a low-carbon economy, enhancing cooperation among policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers to shape a sustainable future.
- Key Details of the 12th Regional 3R and Circular Economy Forum in Asia and the Pacific:
- Theme: Realizing Circular Societies Towards Achieving SDGs and Carbon Neutrality in Asia-Pacific
- Venue: Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Organized by: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (India), United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), and Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
- Supported by: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Japan’s Ministry of Environment, and various other international and regional organizations
- The forum will adopt the Jaipur Declaration (2025-2034), a non-political and non-binding agreement that will serve as a roadmap for the next decade’s efforts toward enhancing resource efficiency and sustainable urban development.
- What is a Circular Economy?
- A circular economy is a system in which materials never turn into waste and nature is regenerated. This model ensures that products and materials remain in use through activities like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, recycling, and composting. The circular economy approach addresses global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution by reducing the reliance on finite resources and promoting sustainable economic practices.
- Madhya Pradesh, home to the largest population of wolves in India, is conducting an ecological study on these animals at the Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary.
- About Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location: Spread across three districts—Sagar, Damoh, and Narsinghpur in Madhya Pradesh.
- Establishment: Declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1975.
- Size: Covers approximately 1,197 square kilometers, making it the largest wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
- Geography: Located on a plateau within the upper Vindhyan range, it serves as a corridor connecting Panna Tiger Reserve and Satpura Tiger Reserve, while also indirectly linking Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve via Rani Durgawati Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Biogeographic Region: Classified under the Deccan Peninsula biogeographic region, the sanctuary is part of both the Ganga and Narmada basins.
- Drainage:
- The sanctuary is divided into two major drainage basins: three-fourths of the area lies in the Ganges basin, specifically in the Yamuna River's tributary, the Ken River, while one-fourth falls in the Narmada basin.
- The main rivers flowing through the sanctuary include the north-flowing Kopra, Bamner, Vyarma, and Bearma Rivers, which are all tributaries of the Ken River.
- Vegetation:
- The sanctuary predominantly features dry mixed-deciduous forests.
- Flora:
- The sanctuary is home to a variety of trees, including teak, saja, dhawda, sal, tendu (Coromandel ebony), bhirra (East Indian satinwood), and mahua.
- Fauna:
- It supports diverse wildlife, with key species including Nilgai, Chinkara, Chital, Sambhar, Black Buck, Barking Deer, Common Langur, Rhesus Macaque, freshwater turtles, and a range of bird species such as cranes, egrets, lapwings, and spotted grey creepers.