(d) Both A and R are incorrect.

(a) A is correct R is incorrect.

The benefits of EIA to society
(i) A healthier environment
(ii) Maintenance of biodiversity
(iii) Decreased resource usage
(iv) Reduction in gas emission and environment damage

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing CO₂ which reduces the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere with a goal of reducing global climate change.

(a) Banagudi Shola
(b) Thirukurungudi
(c) Udaiyankudikadu
(d) Sittannavasal

Invasive species are fast growing and are more adapted. They alter the soil system by changing litter quality thereby affecting the soil community, soil fauna, and the ecosystem processes. It has a negative impact on decomposition in the soils by causing stress to the neighbouring native species.

Agroforestry is an integration of trees, crops, and livestock on the named plot of land. The commercial Agroforestry trees are casuarina and Eucalyptus.

The decline in the thickness of the ozone layer over restricted area is called Ozone hole. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) damages the ozone layer to a great extent.

Ozone layer is a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation. The ozone layer is also called as the ozone shield and it acts as a protective shield, cutting the ultra-violet radiation emitted by the sun.

Dobson Unit is the unit of measurement for total ozone. One DU is the number of molecules of ozone that would be required to create a layer of pure ozone 0.01 millimeter thick at a temperature of 0° C and a pressure of 1 atmosphere.

Man-made sources include nylon and nitric acid production, use of fertilizers in agriculture, manures cars with catalytic converter and burning of organic matter.

Casuarina, Eucalyptus, Teak, Malai vembu.

(a) Cloth / Jute bags
(b) Plantain leaves, palmyra plates as plates
(c) Metal cups
(d) Earthen pots or ceramic wares
(e) Paper made flags

(i) Water Packets
(ii) Plastic straws
(iii) Plastic carry bags
(iv) Thermocol cups
(v) Plastic coated paper plates
(vi) Plastic flags.

Chipko movement.

The act of observing and assessing the current state and ongoing changes in ecosystem, biodiversity components, landscape including natural habitats, populations and species. An agricultural drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle applied to farming in order to help increased crop production and monitor crop growth. Agricultural drones let farmers see their fields from the sky. This bird’s eye-view can reveal many issues such as irrigation problems, soil variation and pest and fungal infestations. It is also used for cost effective safe method of spraying pesticides and fertilizers, which proves very easy and non-harmful.

Lakes as storage of rainwater provide drinking water, improves groundwater level and preserve the fresh water bio-diversity and habitat of the area wherein occurs.
In terms of services, lakes offer sustainable solutions to key issues of water management and climatic influences and benefits like nutrient retention, influencing local rainfall, removal of pollutants, phosphorous and nitrogen and carbon sequestration.

Chipko Movement:
The tribal women of Himalayas protested 'against the exploitation of forests in 1972. Later on, it transformed into Chipko Movement by Sundarlal Bahuguna in Mandal village of Chamoli district in 1974. People protested by hugging trees together which were felled by a sports goods company. Main features of Chipko movement were,
(i) This movement remained nonpolitical
(ii) It was a voluntary movement based on Gandhian thought.
(iii) It was concerned with the ecological balance of nature
(iv) Main aim of Chipko movement was to give a slogan of five F's - Food, Fodder, Fuel, Fibre and Fertilizer, to make the communities self-sufficient in all their basic needs.

Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is defined in the Kyoto protocol (2007) which provides project-based mechanisms with two objectives to prevent dangerous climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CDM projects help countries to reduce or limit emissions and stimulate sustainable development.
An example of CDM project activity is the replacement of conventional electrification projects with solar panels or other energy efficient boilers. Such projects can earn Certified Emission Reduction (CER) with credits/scores, each equivalent to one tonne of CO₂, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets

Ozone depletion in the stratosphere results in more UV radiations especially UV B radiations (shortwaves). UV B radiation destroys biomolecules (skin ageing) and damages living tissues. UV - C is the most damaging type of UV radiation, but it is completely filtered by the atmosphere (ozone layer). UV-a contributes 95% of UV radiation which causes tanning burning of skin and enhancing skin cancer. Hence the uniform ozone layer is critical for the wellbeing of life on earth.

(i) Increasing the vegetation cover, grow more trees
(ii) Reducing the use of fossil fuels and greenhouse gases
(iii) Developing alternate renewable sources of energy
(iv) Minimizing uses of nitrogenous fertilizers, and aerosols.

(i) Low agricultural productivity in tropics
(ii) Frequent heat waves (Weeds, pests, fungi need warmer temperature)
(iii) Increase of vectors and epidemics
(iv) Strong storms and intense flood damage
(v) Water crisis and decreased irrigation
(vi) Change in flowering seasons and pollinators
(vii) Change in Species distributional ranges
(viii) Species extinction

(i) They help for detailed floristic and faunistic studies
(ii) These groves provide a number of ecosystem services to the neighborhood like protecting watershed, fodder, medicinal plants and microclimate control

Eichhornia crassipes is an invasive weed native to South America. It was introduced as aquatic ornamental plant, which grows faster throughout the year. Its widespread growth is a major cause of biodiversity loss worldwide. It affects the growth of phytoplankton and finally changing the aquatic ecosystem.
It also decreases the oxygen content of the waterbodies which leads to eutrophication. It poses a threat to human health because it creates a breeding habitat for disease-causing mosquitoes (particularly Anopheles) and snails with its free-floating dense roots and semi submerged leaves. It also blocks sunlight entering deep and the water ways hampering agriculture, fisheries, recreation, and hydropower.

Afforestation Objectives:
(i) To increase forest cover, planting more trees, increases CO₂ production and air quality.
(ii) Rehabilitation of degraded forests to increase carbon fixation and reducing CO₂ from atmosphere.
(iii) Raising bamboo plantations.
(iv) Mixed plantations of minor forest produce and medicinal plants.
(v) Regeneration of indigenous herbs/shrubs.
(vi) Awareness creation, monitoring, and evaluation.
(vii) To increase the level and availability of water table or ground water and also to reduce nitrogen leaching in soil and nitrogen contamination of drinking water, thus making it pure not polluted with nitrogen.
(viii) Nature aided artificial regeneration.

The main ozone depletion effects are:
(i) Increases the incidence of cataract, throat and lung irritation and aggravation of asthma or emphysema, skin cancer and diminishing the functioning of the immune system in human beings.
(ii) Juvenile mortality of animals.
(iii) Increased incidence of mutations.
(iv) In plants, photosynthetic chemicals will be affected and therefore photosynthesis will be inhibited. Decreased photosynthesis will result in increased atmospheric CO2 resulting in global warming and also a shortage of food leading to a food crisis.
(v) Increase in temperature changes the climate and rainfall pattern which may result in flood/drought, sea water rise, imbalance in ecosystems affecting flora and fauna.

Effects of deforestation:
(i) Burning of forest wood release stored carbon, a negative impact just opposite of carbon sequestration,
(ii) Trees and plants bind the soil particles. The removal of forest cover increases soil erosion and decreases soil fertility. Deforestation in dry areas leads to the formation of deserts.
(iii) The amount of runoff water increases soil erosion and also creates flash flooding, thus reducing moisture and humidity.
(iv) The alteration of local precipitation patterns leading to drought conditions in many regions. It triggers adverse climatic conditions and alters water cycle in the ecosystem.
(v) It decreases the bio-diversity significantly as their habitats are disturbed and disruption of natural cycles.
(vi) Loss of livelihood for forest dwellers and rural people.
(vii) Increased global warming and account for one-third of total CO₂ emission.
(viii) Loss of life support resources, fuel, medicinal herbs, and wild edible fruits.
Benefits of agroforestry:
(i) It is an answer to the problem of soil and water conservation and also to stabilize the soil (salinity and water table) reduce landslide and water run-off problem.
(ii) Nutrient cycling between species improves and organic matter is maintained.
(iii) Trees provide a micro climate for crops and maintain O₂ - CO₂ balanced, atmospheric temperature and relative humidity.
(iv) Suitable for dry land where rainfall is minimum and hence it is a good system for alternate land use pattern.
(v) Multipurpose tree varieties like Acacia are used for wood pulp, tanning, paper, and firewood industries.
(vi) Agroforestry is recommended for the following purposes. It can be used as Farm Forestry for the extension of forests, mixed forestry, shelterbelts, and linear strip plantation.

Afforestation is planting of trees where there was no previous tree coverage and the conversion of non-forested lands into forests by planting suitable trees to retrieve the vegetation. Example: Slopes of dams afforested to reduce water run-off, erosion and siltation. It can also provide a range of environmental services including carbon sequestration, water retention.
The Man who Single handedly Created a Dense Forest
(i) Jadav "Molai" Payeng (born 1963) is an environmental activist has single-handedly planted a forest in the middle of a barren wasteland.
(ii) This Forest Man of India has transformed the world's largest river island, Majuli, located on one of India's major rivers, the Brahmaputra, into a dense forest, home to rhinos, deers, elephants, tigers, and birds.
(iii) And today his forest is larger than CentraI Park.

Rain Water Harvesting - RWH (Solution to water crisis - A ecological problem)
Rainwater harvesting is the accumulation and storage of rainwater for reuse in-site rather than allowing it to run off.
Rainwater can be collected from rivers, rooftops and the water collected is directed to a deep pit.
The water percolates and gets stored in the pit.
RWH is a sustainable water management practice implemented not only in the urban area but also in agricultural fields, which is an important economic cost-effective method for the future.


Environmental benefits of Rain Water Harvesting:
(i) Promotes adequacy of underground water and water conservation.
(ii) Mitigates the effect of drought.
(iii) Reduces soil erosion as surface run-off is reduced.
(iv) Reduces flood hazards.
(v) Improves groundwater quality and water table / decreases salinity.
(vi) No land is wasted for storage purpose and no population displacement is involved.
(vii) Storing water underground is an eco- friendly measure and a part of sustainable water storage strategy for local communities.