Gujrat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site: Inland mangrove of Guneri
Context: The Guneri village in Lakhtar tehsil, Kutch district, covering 32.78 hectares, has been declared as Gujarat’s first Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
About Inland mangrove
- Inland mangroves are unique ecosystems found further away from the coastal areas compared to typical mangroves.
- They occur in saltwater-influenced environments such as lagoons, river deltas, and estuaries.
- Inland mangroves are very rare and found in only a few countries:
- Australia, Antigua-Barbuda, Bahamas, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan.
- In India, inland mangroves exist only in Kutch, Gujarat.
- Shravan Kavadiya and Guneri were the only two inland mangrove sites in India.
- Shravan Kavadiya mangrove is now extinct due to the loss of saline water.
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About Inland mangrove of Guneri
- This inland mangrove site is rare and holds great ecological significance.
- Legal Framework
- The declaration was made under The Biodiversity Act, 2002.
- The site has been declared a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS).
- Unlike typical mangroves, it does not depend on direct seawater connection.
- Grows on flat land rather than coastal regions.
- Location and Geography
- Situated in Kutch district, Gujarat.
- Located 45 km from the Arabian Sea and 4 km from Kori Creek.
- Unlike coastal mangroves, this site is never exposed to seawater.
- Spread over a flat, forest-like land with no sludge deposits.
- Role of Limestone in Survival
- Inland mangroves are known to survive in areas with limestone deposits.
- Limestone connects to the seabed, allowing a continuous groundwater flow.
- The Western Kutch region, including Guneri, has rich limestone deposits, supporting this unique mangrove ecosystem.
Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS)
- These are unique and ecologically fragile ecosystems.
- It comprises terrestrial, coastal, marine, and inland water with rich biodiversity.
- Legal framework-
- According to Section 37 of Biological Diversity Act, 2002,
- States can declare biodiversity rich areas as BHS after consulting with local bodies.
- Can frame rules to manage BHS after consultation with the central government.
- Can provide compensation to impacted people due to declaration of areas as BHS.
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‘SwaRail’ SuperApp
Context: The ‘SwaRail’ SuperApp has been released by the Railway Ministry for testing on Google Play Store.
- The app is a one-stop solution offering multiple public-facing services.
- Testing Purpose: The App is available for download for only 1,000 users at first to assess the response and feedback.
- Currently available for both Android and iOS platforms in beta version.
About the App
- Developed By: The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), on behalf of the Ministry of Railways
- Services Offered: The app provides easy access to services like,
- Reserved and unreserved ticket bookings, platform and parcel bookings, train inquiries, PNR inquiries, order food on trains, help through RailMadad
- It integrates several services to provide users with a complete package of Indian Railway services
- Objective: To enhance user experience through a seamless and clean user interface.
- Features:
- Single Sign-On Functionality: It offers single sign-on functionality, enabling users to access all services with a single set of credentials.
- Example: PNR enquiries will also display the associated information about the train.
- Multiple Login Options: Users can also use their existing RailConnect or UTS App credentials to onboard the app. It provides multiple login options, including m-PIN and biometric authentication.
Suzetrigne
Context: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new non-opioid painkiller called Suzetrigine.
About Suzetrigine
- It is a non-opioid pain relief medication used to manage moderate to severe acute pain in adults.
- It is sold under the brand name Journavx.
- The drug is produced by US-based Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
- Common side effects include: Itching, Rash, Muscle spasms, and Increased levels of creatine kinase.
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What Are Opioids?
- Opioids are drugs that come from or imitate natural substances found in the opium poppy plant.
- Common opioids include:
- Oxycodone, morphine, codeine, heroin, and fentanyl.
- They are mainly used as painkillers.
- How opioids work:
- Opioids attach to opioid receptors in the brain.
- This blocks pain signals and creates a feeling of pleasure or euphoria.
- Why are opioids addictive?
- The pleasure they produce can make users want to continue taking them, leading to psychological dependence and addiction.
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