×

UPSC Courses

DNA banner

DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

  • 01 April, 2021

  • 4 Min Read

National Award for Excellence in Forestry

National Award for Excellence in Forestry

The National Award of Excellence for Outstanding Research in Forestry for the year 2019 has been awarded to Kannan C S Warrier, a scientist at the Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB). This award is conferred by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).

The award has been awarded to Kannan C S Warrier for releasing three salt-tolerant productive clones of Casuarina that are suitable for salt-affected soils, for the first time in the country. India has 6.73 million hectares of salt-affected land and is also the largest producer of Casuarina in the world which makes the production of these clones a significant achievement.

ICFRE is an apex body in the national forestry research system. ICFRE was recently declared as the Centre for Excellence in addressing issues related to land degradation by the Prime Minister.

Casuarina

  • Casuarina, also known as kattadi and savukku, is a plant genus with over 17 species with Casuarina equisetifolia was introduced in India in the 19th century.
  • They have a role in nitrogen fixation in symbiotic association with the bacteria Frankia.
  • They provide fuel wood, and pulp for paper making and of late are a preferred choice for biomass-based power generation.
  • They are also used at construction sites for scaffolding.
  • They are used as shelterbelts in coastal areas and windbreaks for protecting agricultural crops and banana plantations.
  • They also play a key role in reclaiming mined areas and afforesting nutrient-poor sites.
  • Warrier has also done extensive work on the conservation of endangered sacred groves in Alappuzha district of Kerala.

Sacred Groves

  • Sacred groves are communally protected forests which usually have a significant religious connotation for the protecting community.
  • In India, there are over a lakh sacred groves across different states called by different names like Kaavu in Malayalam, Koyil kaadu in Tamil, Orans in Rajasthan, Devara kaadu in Karnataka, and Sernas in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Many rare and endemic species, and species having medicinal and economic value can be found here, thus making them Biodiversity Hotspots. They house gene pools of some critically endangered plant species.
  • They are often associated with religious beliefs and the felling of trees in sacred groves is considered taboo.
  • Sacred groves have been legally protected under ‘community reserves’ in the Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act, 2002.

Source: PIB


Formation Day

On 1st November, eight Indian states—Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu—along with five Union Territories—Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Delhi, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry—celebrate their Formation Day. This date marks an important milestone in India

Turtle (Kachhua) Wildlife Sanctuary

The Turtle Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as the Kachhua Sanctuary, is located in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh. It is recognised as India’s first freshwater turtle wildlife sanctuary, established to conserve endangered turtle species and support the ecological health of the Ganga River. Location and Extent The sanctuary co

Introduction of AI and Computational Thinking (CT) in

The Ministry of Education plans to introduce Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Computational Thinking (CT) from Class 3 onwards in the 2026–27 academic year. This initiative is part of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 and aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The aim is to prepare student

Sal Tree

Scientists from the Environment Department of Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) in Shimla have recently revealed that the Sal tree (Shorea robusta) is the most effective natural air purifier for combating rising pollution levels. Their findings highlight the tree’s superior capacity to trap dust, absorb gases, and cleanse the air compared

US Resumes Nuclear Weapon Testing

The President of the United States has ordered the resumption of nuclear weapon testing after a gap of 33 years, the last test being in 1992. This decision marks a significant shift in global nuclear policy and has far-reaching implications for geopolitics, the environment, and international security. Status of Global Nuclear Weapon Testing

DNA

03 Dec,2025

Toppers

Search By Date

Newsletter Subscription
SMS Alerts

Important Links

UPSC GS Mains Crash Course - RAW Prelims Answer Key 2024