PLACES IN NEWS 19 NOVEMBER 2024

Eco-Tourism in Valmiki Tiger Reserve

1. In October 2024, the government started eco-tourism in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve, showcasing its commitment to balanced development with environmental sustainability.
2. The reserve offers multiple activities for tourists, including jungle safaris, canopy walks, boat safaris, sunset points, river pathways, etc.

About Valmiki Tiger Reserve

1. Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) is located in Bihar, India, and is the state's only tiger reserve. It was declared a tiger reserve in 1994 under Project Tiger, aimed at conserving tigers and their habitats.
2. Spanning an area of approximately 899 sq km, it includes the Valmiki National Park and the Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary, offering a rich mosaic of biodiversity and natural landscapes.
3. Geographical features:

• Valmiki National Park, located in the foothills of the Sivalik Hills, features diverse landscapes including cliffs, ridges, gorges, dense forests, open woodlands, grasslands, and swamps.
• The Someshwar and Dun Hill ranges dominate with steep ridges and valleys.
• The park hosts the Gandak River, forming the Triveni confluence, and rivers like Pandai, Masan, and Burhi Gandak.

4. Flora:

• Sal forests (Shorea robusta)
• Mixed deciduous species like bamboo, teak, and semal (silk cotton tree).
• Extensive grasslands in the Terai region support herbivores and other fauna.

5. Fauna:

• Mammals: Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, Asiatic black bear, Indian elephant, wild boar, sambar, spotted deer, and gaur.
• Birds: Over 250 species, including white-backed vultures, pied hornbills, peafowls, and parakeets.
• Reptiles: Indian python, crocodiles, and various snake species.

New Tirupati Temple Board Prioritizes Laddu Quality, Quick Darshan, and Staff Realignment.

1. The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) is the board that manages Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Venkateswara temple.
2. Under the new chairmanship of B.R. Naidu, the board decided to reduce darshan time, ban political statements, procure superior ghee, and transfer non-Hindu staff at Tirumala temple.

About Sri Venkateshwara Temple, Tirumala

1. The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple, also known as the Tirumala Temple or Tirupati Balaji Temple, is a prominent Hindu shrine located in the Tirumala Hills of Andhra Pradesh, India.
2. Dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, an incarnation of Vishnu, the temple is revered as Kaliyuga Vaikuntha and attracts millions of devotees annually.
3. Location & Geography: Situated on Venkatadri, the seventh peak of the Seshachalam Hills (853 meters above sea level), that represents the seven heads of Adisesha.
4. History & Architecture:

• Built by the Thondaman king around 300 CE, with later contributions from the Cholas, Pandyas, and Vijayanagara rulers.
• Features South Indian architecture with the sanctum sanctorum known as Ananda Nilayam.

5. Management: Managed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), under the Andhra Pradesh government.
6. Riches and Significance:

• The temple holds 10.25 tonnes of gold and fixed deposits worth ₹15,938 crore as of September 2022.
• One of the richest temples in the world, attracting 24 million devotees annually and daily footfalls of over 60,000, peaking during Brahmotsavams and other festivals.

Chhattisgarh revives tiger plans as young visitor walks into sanctuary

1. In March 2024, Chhattisgarh's Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary welcomed a young male tiger after 40 years.
2. The new resident brought in a ray of hope as forest authorities are now planning to get the young male and two female mates in a bid to revive its extinct tiger population.

 About Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary

1. Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1976 under the Wildlife Protection Act, is located in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district.
2. The Jonk River, a tributary of the Mahanadi, flows through the sanctuary, which features tropical dry deciduous forests.
3. Common flora includes bamboo, sal, teak, mahua, tendu, and semal trees.
4. Wildlife comprises tigers, sloth bears, leopards, blackbucks, chinkaras, jackals, wild dogs, gaur, sambar, and cobras. Birds like peacocks, parrots, vultures, drongos, and egrets make birdwatching popular.

Chhattisgarh’s Dhudmaras picked for UN best tourism village upgrade programme

1. A small village in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, Dhudmaras has been selected by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) for its Best Tourism Village Upgrade programme, highlighting its potential for sustainable tourism development.
2. Dhudmaras is situated in the heart of Kanger Valley National Park. Nestled in dense forests with the Kanger River flowing through it, Dhudmaras offers an idyllic setting for eco-tourism. It is known for its natural beauty, biodiversity, traditional lifestyle, and local cuisine.

About UNWTO’s Best Tourism Village Upgrade Programme

1. The UNWTO Best Tourism Village Upgrade Programme was launched in 2021.
2. The Programme works to foster development and inclusion in rural areas, combat depopulation, advance innovation and value chain integration through tourism, and encourage sustainable practices. the villages were evaluated under nine key areas:

1. Cultural and Natural Resources
2. Promotion and Conservation of Cultural Resources
3. Economic Sustainability
4. Social Sustainability
5. Environmental Sustainability
6. Tourism Development and Value Chain Integration
7. Governance and Prioritization of Tourism
8. Infrastructure and Connectivity
1. Health, Safety, and Security

About Kanger Valley National Park:

1. Kanger Valley National Park (also known as Kanger Ghati National Park) is a national park in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh state in India. It derives its name from the Kanger river, which flows centrally through it.
2. It came into existence in July 1982 and covers an area of approximately 200 square kilometres (77 sq mi).
3. The park extends from Teerathagarh Waterfalls to the Kolab River on the Odisha boundary.
4. Flora: Primarily mixed moist deciduous forests with sal, teak, and bamboo trees. Home to over 550 floral species, including rare and medicinal plants.
5. Fauna: Species include tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild boar, rhesus macaques, and crocodiles. Birds like the Bastar hill myna, peacocks, and steppe eagles are prominent.
6. Human settlements in the park and adjoining areas:

• Kanger Valley National Park has two ranges: Kotamsar and Koleng. Kotamsar, with higher human presence, has 48 villages within a 5 km radius, creating significant biotic pressure.
• The Koleng Range, with fewer villages, faces less pressure, and the Zone of Influence is 10 km on the western side and 5 km on the eastern. Only one village, Kotamsar, is inside the park.

Russia vetoes a UN resolution calling for immediate ceasefire in Sudan.

1. Russia vetoed a UN resolution on Monday (November 19, 2024) calling for an immediate ceasefire in the war between Sudan’s military and paramilitary forces and delivery of humanitarian aid to millions in desperate need.
2. Russia’s ally supported the resolution sponsored by the UK and Sierra Leone, along with all other UN Security Council members, but Moscow's veto doomed the measure.

About Sudanese Civil war:

1. Conflict Emergence:

• The Sudanese Civil War that erupted in April 2023 is a conflict between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
• This conflict stemmed from power struggles following the 2019 ousting of President Omar al-Bashir.

2. Key regions affected by Sudan's civil war include Khartoum, Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile, with widespread displacement.
3. International Involvement: Regional and global actors, including the African Union and the United Nations, have called for ceasefires and peace talks, but the conflict remains intense.
4. Humanitarian Crisis: The conflict has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, medical supplies, and basic services, exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population.

Other African countries that are currently facing wars: 

1. Democratic Republic of Congo: Eastern regions, particularly around North and South Kivu, have been plagued by armed conflict involving various militias, exacerbating insecurity.
2. Sahel Region (Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger): The rise of military juntas and the withdrawal of international forces have deepened conflicts, especially in Mali and Burkina Faso. These countries are experiencing violent insurgencies, often involving extremist groups and local militias.
3. Central African Republic: The Central African Republic (CAR) has been embroiled in a civil war since 2013, triggered by clashes between Seleka rebels and anti-balaka militias. The war has devastated the country's infrastructure, displacing millions. Regions such as Bangui, Ouaka, and the north-western and north-eastern territories are severely affected by ongoing violence and instability. The conflict has seen widespread human rights violations and international peacekeeping interventions.
4. Somalia: Although not a full-scale civil war, Somalia faces ongoing violence between the government forces and Al-Shabaab militants, which has destabilized the region for years​.

NTCA's recommendation to declare Nugu Sanctuary as Bandipur's core area is yet to be implemented.

1. The recommendations of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), made a year ago, to notify the entire Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary as core and critical area of Bandipur Tiger Reserve is yet to be implemented.
2. NTCA Assistant Inspector-General of Forests, Harini Venugopal, conducted a site visit and submitted a report on November 17, 2023.
3. The report stated that taking into consideration the ecological significance of Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary which is inviolate and an ideal habitat for tigers and elephants, the State government may consider to propose and notify the entire sanctuary as core and critical area of Bandipur Tiger Reserve in the long-term conservation of wildlife, its habitat and ecological corridors.

About Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary

1. Nugu Wildlife Sanctuary is located north of Bandipur National Park, in Mysore District, Karnataka.The northern part is occupied by Nugu Reservoir.
2. Flora and Fauna: Home to species like elephants, wild pigs, spotted deer, leopards, and jungle cats.
3. Conservation: Declared an eco-sensitive zone by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change due to its dense elephant population and commercial tourism activities.
4. Significance: Focused on conserving wildlife, especially elephants.

About Bandipur Tiger reserve

1. Geography:

• Bandipur Tiger Reserve is located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, India, and forms part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
• It features a mix of undulating terrain, hills, and valleys.
• The Kabini River flows through the reserve, enhancing its ecological diversity.
• The terrain consists of dry deciduous forests, interspersed with grasslands and scrub.

2. Flora:

• The forest is predominantly made up of dry deciduous and moist deciduous species.
• Teak and sandalwood are abundant in the northern regions, with mixed forest types of trees like bamboo and rosewood found throughout the reserve.
• Grasslands are found in pockets, providing a varied landscape and habitat.

3. Fauna:

• Bandipur is famous for its population of tigers and has one of the highest tiger densities in India.
• Other significant wildlife includes elephants, leopards, wild boars, sloth bears, and several species of deer like chital, sambar, and nilgai.
• The reserve is also home to a variety of birds, including peafowls, eagles, and vultures, and reptiles like cobras and pythons.
• Bandipur is a critical corridor for wildlife migration, connecting the Western Ghats with the Eastern Ghats and facilitating genetic diversity across ecosystems.

24 coastal villages in Odisha recognised by UNESCO as 'Tsunami Ready'

1. Twenty-Four coastal villages in Odisha were recognised by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO as 'Tsunami Ready'.
2. The recognition was given during the 2nd Global Tsunami Symposium held in Indonesia on November 11, a statement said.
3. These villages are located in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam districts, it said.

Tsunami Ready Programme

1. The Tsunami Ready programme aims to enhance community preparedness for tsunamis, reducing loss of life, livelihoods, and property through awareness and mitigation efforts.
2. Key features include:

• Goal: To improve coastal communities’ readiness for tsunamis via preparedness strategies.
• Collaboration: Involves local and national agencies, scientists, leaders, and the public working together.
• Recognition: Communities that meet specific indicators of preparedness are recognized as “Tsunami Ready,” though this does not guarantee specific performance during an actual event.
• Voluntary Programme: Performance-based recognition is granted to communities that adopt mitigation measures for tsunami risks.
• Implementation in India: Managed by the National Tsunami Ready Board, which links to national and regional exercises, and has recognized two Indian villages.
• Multiscale Programme: Requires local and global efforts for successful implementation and to save lives.
• Support and Resources: UNESCO/IOC has published guidelines for effective implementation and created a Tsunami Ready Viewer to map recognized communities.

3. The programme focuses on building resilience through active community participation, ensuring that vulnerable areas can minimize the impacts of tsunamis.

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