Prelims Focus – 16th March 2024

1.World Monuments Fund Watch 2025

Recent News: 

Conservationists intend to suggest the Kazhuveli watershed area in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, as a candidate for the World Monuments Fund Watch 2025 program.

Details:

• Conservationists are planning to propose the Kazhuveli watershed region in Tamil Nadu, India, for inclusion in the World Monuments Fund Watch 2025 program. 
• The World Monuments Fund is an organisation founded in 1965 with the goal of conserving important cultural and architectural sites worldwide. 
• It is based in New York and has offices and affiliates in several countries. 
• The organisation works with local communities, funders, and governments to preserve cultural heritage and address modern challenges such as climate change and tourism. 
• The World Monuments Fund has been active in India since 1996, starting with the inclusion of the Taj Mahal on the World Monuments Watch. 
• WMF India was founded in 2015 in accordance with India’s Companies Act, as part of the country’s efforts to incorporate heritage preservation into corporate social responsibility initiatives.
  

2.Atapaka Bird Sanctuary

Recent News:

The Atapaka Bird Sanctuary at Kolleru Lake has been attracting nature enthusiasts and tourists as thousands of migratory birds have made their way to the area.

• According to forest authorities, more than 150,000 migratory birds have visited wetlands in Andhra Pradesh this winter. 
• Among the different sanctuaries in the region, Kolleru Lake had the highest count of nearly 50,000 birds, followed by Coringa Sanctuary with 43,130 birds, Pulicat Lake with 37,150 birds, Nelapattu with around 16,000 birds, and Uppalapadu with 8,000 birds. 

Details about the Sanctuary:

• Atapaka Bird Sanctuary, located in Kolleru Lake, was officially declared a sanctuary in 1999 and is known as a bird’s paradise. 
• However, the sanctuary faces threats such as habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.
• It is home to various flora and fauna, including mangroves and bird species like Spot-billed Pelicans and Painted Storks. 
• The sanctuary plays a crucial role in conserving avian biodiversity and has potential for ecotourism.

3.World Monuments Fund

In News: Kazhuveli watershed region in Tamil Nadu was recently proposed for nomination to World Monuments Fund Watch for 2025.

• It is a New York-based non-profit organisation committed to preserving and protecting endangered ancient and historic sites around the world.
• It works with local partners around the world to offer monetary and technical support.
• It has raised over $300 million and leveraged extra than $400 million from other agencies.
• Since its inception, the WMF has conserved over seven hundred sites and endorsed for more than 800 treasured places.
  

4.Adopt a Heritage 2.0

In News: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has recently launched the Revamped Website and Sign MoUs for Monuments Adoption under Adopt a Heritage 2.0.

• ASI launched the “Adopt a Heritage 2.0” programme in 2023.
• The programme seeks to foster collaboration with company stakeholders through which they are able to make contributions to protection of the monuments for the next generation.
  • ASI has 3696 monuments under protection, which are spread throughout the country.
• The selected stakeholders will broaden, provide and hold services in hygiene, accessibility, safety and information categories.
• The time period of the appointment could be for a period of 5 years first of all, which may be further extended up to five years.
  

5.Svalbard Global Seed Vault

In News: Svalbard Global Seed Vault got seeds from more new contributors than ever before.

• The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is located in permafrost caverns on an island positioned in the European mainland and the North Pole.
  • It is built to preserve global crops from extinction.
• The facility was established 16 years in the past through a partnership between the Nordic Genetic Resource Center, the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Crop Trust.
• It was designed to keep over 2 billion seeds and guarantee their availability for future generations.
• It houses over 930,000 styles of food crops.
  • Acting as a massive safety deposit box, it carries the world’s largest collection of agricultural biodiversity.
• Svalbard is one of the most remote places on Earth, located far north where commercial airlines reach their limits.

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