In this Article, We would like to study about Eco Sensitive area and their Importance.Eco sensitive area in India are being identified and notified since 1989.
In the 21st meeting of NBWL, on 21st January, 2002, wildlife conservation strategy-2002 was adopted,in point number 9 of which eco-fragile zone has been conceived and it has been decided that 10 km boundary of any National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary will be called eco fragile zone.
It has also been accepted in the National Wildlife Action Plan 2002-2016 that the area around the protected area is eco-sensitive and to protect the biodiversity of the protected area, Eco-fragile zone should be declared under Environment Protection act,1986.
The Gadgil Committee and the Kasturi Ranjan Committee in their separate reports agreed that there should be an area around the protected area in which the government can regulate the human activities. ESZs are declared as per section 3(v) of the Environment Protection Act 1986.
Activities in Eco sensitive area are divided into three parts
1. Prohibited Activity
2. Regulated Activity
3. Permitted Activity
MCQs on Eco sensitive area
Q1. In how many states are the Western Ghats spread?
i) 4
ii) 5
iii) 6
iv) 7
Q2. With whom is the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) related?
i) Kasturirangan Committee
ii)Gadgil Committee
iii) Rajan Committee
iv) Tendulkar Committee
Q3. When did the Gadgil Committee submit its report to the Government of India?
i)31st August, 2011
ii) 1st July, 2011
iii) 1st April, 2012
iv) 27th August, 2011
Q4. Gadgil Committee divided the Eco Sensitive Area (Zone) into how many parts?
i) 4
ii) 3
iii) 5
iv) 6
Q5. For which type of ecologically sensitive zone, Gadgil committee was reported not to build new dams on the basis of large scale storage?
i) esz-1
ii) esz-2
iii) esz-3
iv) esz-4
Q6. The Gadgil Committee specifies that…?
i) Bottom to top approach Governance
ii) Decentralisation of power
iii) More power to local authorities
iv) All the above
Q7. Which committee recommended the establishment of the Western Ghats Ecology Authority?
i) Kasturirangan Committee
ii) Tendulkar Committee
iii) Dr. Maharaj Muthoot Committee
iv) Gadgil Committee
Q8. Kasturirangan Committee is related to whom?
i) Forest Conservation
ii) Forest Certification
iii) Ecological sensitive zone
iv) Forest Plantation
Q9. According to the report of the Kasturi Ranjan Committee, what percentage of the total area of the Western Ghats was recommended to be declared as eco-sensitive area?
i) 100%
ii) 37%
iii) 64%
iv) 51%
Q10. In which state the percentage of Eco Sensitive Area (Zone) is more?
i) Tamil Nadu
ii) Karnataka
iii) Maharashtra
iv) Kerala
Q11. According to the report of the Kasturi Ranjan Committee, how much area is to be declared as eco-sensitive zone?
i) 50,000 square kilometers
ii) 60,000square kilometers
iii) 65,000 square kilometers
iv) 37,000 square kilometers
Q12. Kasturi Ranjan Committee was formed in the year?
i) 1971
ii) 1990
iii) 2012
iv) 2011
Q13. Eco-sensitive zone is located within how many kilometers of the protected area?
i) 2km
ii)10km
iii) 5km
iv) 7km
Q14. Under which act the eco sensitive Area (zone) is declared?
i) Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
ii) Environment protection act, 1986
iii) Water protection act, 1974
iv) Solid waste management act
Q15. Which ministry declares eco-sensitive zone?
i) Ministry of tribes
ii) Ministry of Environment, Forest, and climate change
iii) Home Ministry
iv) Science and Technology Ministry
Q16. How many sites of Western Ghats got World Heritage Status in 2012?
i) 99
ii) 51
iii) 33
iv) 39
Q17. The Gadgil Committee had proposed to declare what percent area of Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Area?
i) 37%
ii) 61 %
iii) 100%
iv) 10%
Q18. In the Gadgil Report, what percentage area of Western Ghats was kept in ESA-1 or ESA-2?
i) 100%
ii) 64%
iii) 37%
iv) 33%
Q19. Which of the following are regulated activities in the Eco sensitive Zone?
i) Rain water harvesting.
ii) Organic farming.
iii) felling of trees
iv) Establishment of large hydroelectric projects.
Q20. Which of the following are prohibited activities in the eco sensitive zone?
i) Use of pesticides.
ii) Widening of roads.
iii) Commercial mining.
iv) Agriculture and Horticulture.
Q21. Which of the following are the permitted activities in the Eco-Sensitive Zone?
i) Rain water harvesting.
ii) Organic farming.
iii) Agriculture and Horticulture.
iv) All the above
Q22. What is the main reason for the opposition of the Ecological Sensitive Zone by various State Governments?
i) The livelihood of the regional people is dependent on this region
ii) Families living in the area were forced to relocate
iii) Government’s income from mineral resources
iv) all of the above
Q23. Into how many parts are the activities in the Eco Sensitive Zone divided?
i) 2
ii) 3
iii) 4
iv) 5
Q24. How many biodiversity hotspots are there in India?
i) 2
ii) 3
iii) 4
iv) 5
Q25. Which of the following is not a biodiversity hotspot?
i) Deccan Plateau
ii) Himalayan region
iii) Sundaland
iv) Western Ghats
Q26. When was Sundaland declared as World Biosphere Reserve by United Nation?
i) 2002
ii) 2013
iii) 1986
iv) 1971
Q27. Establishment of hotels and resorts are placed in which type of activity of eco-sensitive zone?
i) Prohibited
ii) Regulated
iii) Permitted
iv) Semi regulated
Q28. Establishment of big hydroelectric projects is placed in which type of activity in eco sensitive zone?
i) Prohibited
ii) Regulated
iii) Permitted
iv) Semi regulated
Q29. Agriculture and Horticulture are placed in which type of activity in he Eco sensitive Zone?
i) Prohibited
ii) Regulated
iii) Permitted
iv) Semi regulated
Q30. Consider the following activities
a. Commercial mining
b. Organic farming
c. widening of roads
Which activities are permitted in the Ecologically Sensitive Zone?
i) Only a and b
ii) Only a
iii) Only b and c
iv) Only c
FAQs on Eco sensitive area
Q. Which of the following committees are related to ESA?
Answer: Pronab sen committee, Hill Station Committee, and Mohan Ram Committee
Q. When did Pronab Sen committee submit its report to MoEF&CC?
Answer: September, 2000
Q. In which year was the Pronab Sen Committee constituted to decide the criteria for declaring ESA?
Answer: 1999
Q. What was the title of the report in which the criteria for declaring a region as an ecologically fragile area was first talked about?
Answer: Parameters for determining ecological fragility.