1. Imp. International Conventions  

1. Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
2. Minamata Convention on Mercury
3. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
4. Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade
5. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer under which Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
6. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change under which Kyoto Protocol On Green House Gases and Paris Accord
7. Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage
8. Ramsar Convention on Wetlands <where is Ramsar?>
9. Bonn convention on  Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals <Capital of East and West Germany?>
10. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Washington Convention
11. Convention on Biological diversity under which Kartagena protocol on biosafety and Nagoya protocol on access and benefit sharing

Discuss – Other imp. conventions I missed

2. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)

1. HQ in Gland, Switzerland
2. observer and consultative status at the United Nations
3. Publishes Red Data Book
4. involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy
5. IUCN does not itself aim to mobilize the public in support of nature conservation but tries to influence the actions of governments, business and other stakeholders

Discuss-Other important environmental organizations, Birdlife International, wetland International

3. Bioamplification, Biomaginification, Bioaccumulation and Bioconcentration

1. Bioamplification or biomagnification are one and the same
2. refers to an increase in the concentration of a substance as you move up the food chain
3. In contrast bioaccumulation occurs within an organism, where a concentration of a substance builds up in the tissues
4. Bioaccumulation often occurs in two ways, simultaneously: by eating contaminated food, and by absorption directly from water
5. This second case is specifically referred to as bioconcentration

Simple – Bioconcentration and bioaccumulation happen within an organism, but biomagnification occurs across levels of the food chain.

Discuss- Why does BioMagnification occur? Characteristics of substances which tend to bioaccumulate.

4. In situ and Ex situ Conservation

1. In situ -conservation in natural habitat, National parks Wildlife sanctuaries, Biosphere reserves
2. Ex situ –  preservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats, botanical gardens, zoos, conservation strands and gene, pollen seed, seedling, tissue culture and DNA banks.
3. Note that difference b/w Wild life sanctuary and national park is that national park allows no human activities inside the buffer or core zone
4. Biosphere reserves cover a larger area of land which may cover multiple National Parks, Sanctuaries and reserves as well. It has core, buffer and transition zone. Demonstrate sustainable living of man and wild life in nature.

• Discuss – Latest Indian Biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s MAB programme? Which state is it in? Tribe in that reserve?
• Discuss- Biosphere reserves, national parks, tiger reserve which are also world heritage site

5. Green house gases, Ozone depleting substances and Air Pollutants 

1. 6 GHGs under Kyoto -carbon-dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
2. Montreal Protocol – Ozone depleting substances- include chlorine and bromine in them <only fluorine containing substances do not deplete ozone> Chlorofluorocarbon Carbons (CFC), Carbon Tetra Chloride, HydroChlorofluorocarbons (HCFC)
3. Note- All these substances are also GHGs but not covered under Kyoto
4. Note 2– HFCs do not deplete ozone but are covered under Kyoto
5. 8 pollutants under National Air Quality Index (AQI) –PM10, PM 2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3 and Pb <note that CO2 and Mercury is not included>

• Discuss – USA wants HFCs to be included under Montreal Protocol, why?
• Discuss – B/w PM10 and PM2.5 which substance is more harmful and why?
• Discuss – Which gas is largest contributor to world’s green house effect?
• Discuss – Largest per capita emission of GHG?