Butterflies Species of Matheran

• Vaid's ICS, Lucknow
• 25, Nov 2021

In News- Recently, Scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society published a research paper on the forgotten butterflies of Matheran in the community peer-reviewed ‘Biodiversity Data Journal’.

• Scientists found 140 rare species of butterflies, including 77 new ones in Matheran after a long gap of 125 years.
• The last time butterflies have codified in this eco-sensitive zone was in 1894, when a researcher identified 78 species.

Key Points:

• The maximum diversity (125) of butterflies was recorded during winter, while the least (80) during monsoon.
• Bio statistical techniques were used by the team. The team used a barcode system to denote seasons and the activities of the butterflies.
• This system will help biologists studying butterflies present such data concisely and effectively.

Significance:

• A long-term study of butterflies will surely help the scientific community to understand and conserve the health of the ecosystem.

 About Matheran:

• Matheran means “forest on the forehead” (of the mountains) is an eco-sensitive region, declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
• It is one of the smallest hill stations of India and is part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region along the Western Ghats.

What is the Eco-Sensitive Region?

• It is the area which has been notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), as areas around the Wildlife Sanctuaries, National Parks and Protected Areas as requiring more protection due to their fragility.

Purpose-

• To manage and regulate the activities around these areas with the intention of creating some kinds of ‘shock absorbers’
• To provide a transition zone between the highly protected and relatively less protected areas.
• To give effect to Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 which restricts the operation of industries or processes to be carried out in certain areas or to maintain certain safeguards to operate industries.

Facts for Prelims:

International Hydropower Association (IHA).

• NHPC’s 510 MW Teesta-V Power Station located in the Himalayan State of Sikkim has been conferred with the prestigious Blue Planet Prize by International Hydropower Association (IHA).
  • The power station has been built, owned and operated by NHPC.

Teesta-V Power Station

• The power station has been built, owned and operated by NHPC.
• The award has been conferred for its sustainability assessment undertaken by the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP) of IHA.