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Q78 (IAS/2014) Environment & Ecology › Climate Change & Global Initiatives › Multilateral environmental agreements Official Key

Consider the following international agreements : 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification 3. The World Heritage Convention Which of the above has/have a bearing on the biodiversity?

Result
Your answer:  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

All three international agreements have a bearing on biodiversity.

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture has conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources as its main objectives, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity[1], directly linking it to biodiversity conservation.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification defines desertification as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry-sub-humid areas resulting from various factors including climatic variations and human activities[2], and climate change can have adverse effects on desertification and biodiversity[3], establishing its connection to biodiversity.

The World Heritage Committee provides technical co-operation under the World Heritage Fund to safeguard the selected sites of great biodiversity importance[4], and the convention defines sites that can be considered for inscription including ancient monuments, museums, biodiversity and geological heritage[5], clearly demonstrating its bearing on biodiversity.

Therefore, all three conventions (1, 2, and 3) have a bearing on biodiversity, making option D the correct answer.

Sources
  1. [1] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > IntErnatIonal trEaty on Plant gEnEtIc rESourcES For Food and agrIculturE, 2004. > p. 11
  2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > dESErtIfIcatIon or dESErtISatIon. > p. 16
  3. [3] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Rio Conventinns > p. 427
  4. [4] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > World HerItAge sItes. > p. 37
  5. [5] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > 15.14. WONTO HERITAGE SITES > p. 224
How others answered
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following international agreements : 1. The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2. The…
At a glance
Origin: From standard books Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 10/10 · 0/10

This is a classic 'Scope & Mandate' question found in every standard Environment text (Shankar/Majid). It tests the fundamental interconnectedness of environmental treaties rather than obscure clauses. The key is recognizing that 'biodiversity' is a broad umbrella covering genes (Statement 1), ecosystems (Statement 2), and protected areas (Statement 3).

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Does the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (an international agreement) have a bearing on biodiversity?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > IntErnatIonal trEaty on Plant gEnEtIc rESourcES For Food and agrIculturE, 2004. > p. 11
Presence: 5/5
“Tis treaty covers all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. It specifcally covers 64 crops. Te main objectives of the treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefts arising out of their use, in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly states the treaty covers all plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and 64 crops.
  • Lists main objectives as conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources and fair & equitable benefit-sharing.
  • Specifies the treaty works 'in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity', linking it directly to biodiversity goals.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > Three main goals: > p. 391
Presence: 4/5
“• The conservation of biodiversity • Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity • Sharing the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way The Convention acknowledges that substantial investments are required to conserve biological diversity. It argues, however, that conservation will bring us significant environmental, economic and social benefits in return.”
Why this source?
  • Summarises the three main goals relevant to biodiversity: conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing.
  • These goals mirror the treaty objectives, showing conceptual alignment with biodiversity policy.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > Z. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) > p. 390
Presence: 4/5
“r CBD is a legally binding Convention recognized for the first time, that the conservation of biological diversity is 'a common concern of humankind' and is an integral part of the development process. The agreement covers all ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.”
Why this source?
  • Explains that the Convention on Biological Diversity covers ecosystems, species and genetic resources.
  • Provides the broader biodiversity framework to which the plant genetic resources treaty is linked.
Statement 2
Does the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (an international agreement) have a bearing on biodiversity?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Rio Conventinns > p. 427
Presence: 5/5
“• Three environment conventions, two of which were adopted at the 1992 "Earth Summit" in Rio de Janeiro: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), while the third, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), was adopted in 1994. The issues addressed by the three treaties are related -- in particular, climate change can have adverse effects on desertification and biodiversity -- and through a Joint Liaison Group, the secretariats of the three conventions take steps to coordinate activities to achieve common progress.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly groups UNCCD with UNFCCC and CBD and states the issues addressed by the three treaties are related.
  • Mentions that climate change, desertification and biodiversity interact and that secretariats coordinate via a Joint Liaison Group — indicating institutional linkage and relevance to biodiversity.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > dESErtIfIcatIon or dESErtISatIon. > p. 16
Presence: 4/5
“Desertifcation is a term coined by the French forester Abbeville in 1949 to describe land degradation. A number of defnitions have been given of desertifcation but the approved defnition was given by Tomas and Middleton in 1994. In 1995, the UN Convention to Combat Desertifcation (CCD) was signed; it has since been ratifed by the governments of over 150 countries. In the Convention to Combat Desertifcation (CCD), desertifcation is defned as land degradation in arid, semi-arid, and dry-sub-humid areas resulting from various factors including climatic variations and human activities. Te problem is therefore confned to the susceptible drylands, with land degradation regarded as soil erosion, internal soil changes, depletion of groundwater reserves and irreversible changes to vegetation communities.”
Why this source?
  • Defines desertification as causing irreversible changes to vegetation communities.
  • Implied loss or alteration of vegetation communities indicates a direct impact on components of biodiversity.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 1992 "l > p. 321
Presence: 3/5
“United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change along with two sister Conventions, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention to Combat Desertification, adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) in Rio De Janeiro.”
Why this source?
  • Identifies UNCCD as one of the sister conventions adopted alongside the Convention on Biological Diversity at the Earth Summit.
  • Institutional co-location at Rio suggests thematic overlap and mutual relevance to biodiversity concerns.
Statement 3
Does the World Heritage Convention (an international agreement) have a bearing on biodiversity?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > World HerItAge sItes. > p. 37
Presence: 5/5
“Te World Heritage Site as an institution was established in November 1972 at the 17th General Conference of UNESCO under the terms of the convention concerning the protection of world culture and natural heritage. Te main responsibility of the World Heritage Committee was to provide technical co-operation under the World Heritage Fund to safeguard the selected sites of great biodiversity importance. Te World Heritage Sites of India have been given in Table 4.9.”
Why this source?
  • States the World Heritage Committee's main responsibility was to provide technical cooperation and use the World Heritage Fund to safeguard selected sites of great biodiversity importance.
  • Directly links the World Heritage institutional mechanism to protection of biodiversity-rich sites.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > 15.14. WONTO HERITAGE SITES > p. 224
Presence: 4/5
“t I 1 I \ ) I I 't • This Convention, which was adopted by the UI{ESCO in 1974 (and enforced in 1975) provides a framework for international cooperation in preserving and protecting cultural treasures and natural areas throughout the world. • The convention defines the kind of sites which can be considered for inscription of the World heritage list (ancient monuments, museums, biodiversity and geological heritage etc.) at least one of the ten criteria. The criteria are given below.”
Why this source?
  • Describes the Convention adopted by UNESCO as providing a framework for preserving cultural treasures and natural areas.
  • Specifically lists 'biodiversity' among types of heritage the Convention covers.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > World HerItAge sItes. > p. 56
Presence: 4/5
“World Heritage Sites mean 'sites any of various areas inscribed on the list of United Nations Educational, Scientifc and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Te heritage sites are designated as having outstanding universal value under the Convention on Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972 (enforced 1975).”
Why this source?
  • Notes heritage sites are designated under the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, implying natural (including biodiversity) values are within its scope.
  • Supports the view that the Convention covers natural heritage as well as cultural heritage.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC frequently tests the 'inter-linkages' between conventions. They want you to know that land degradation (UNCCD) destroys habitats, and heritage sites (WHC) often preserve critical ecosystems. The pattern is 'Integration over Isolation'.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hits in Shankar IAS (Chapters on International Conventions) and Majid Hussain. No current affairs required.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Rio Conventions' triad (CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD) and the broader framework of International Environmental Law.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Map the 'Biodiversity Cluster' treaties: CBD (General), CITES (Trade), CMS (Migratory Species), Ramsar (Wetlands), WHC (Natural Sites), and ITPGRFA (Agro-biodiversity). Contrast these with the 'Pollution Cluster' (Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Minamata).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not study treaties in isolation. Always ask: 'Does this treaty protect Genes, Species, or Ecosystems?' If it touches any of these three levels, it has a bearing on biodiversity.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Scope and objectives of the ITPGRFA (plant genetic resources)
💡 The insight

The statement concerns the Treaty’s coverage of plant genetic resources and its conservation/use objectives, which are given explicitly in the references.

High-yield for environment/legislation questions: explains what types of resources the treaty targets and why that matters for biodiversity policy. Connects to topics on agro-biodiversity, gene banks, and policy instruments. Prepare by memorising treaty scope, objectives, and examples (e.g., crops covered) and linking to national institutions (e.g., gene banks).

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > IntErnatIonal trEaty on Plant gEnEtIc rESourcES For Food and agrIculturE, 2004. > p. 11
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 9: Indian Biodiversity Diverse Landscape > 9.3.3. Crop genetic diversity > p. 158
🔗 Anchor: "Does the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agricultur..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 CBD’s three objectives: conservation, sustainable use, benefit-sharing
💡 The insight

Multiple references state these three goals and the treaty is described as operating 'in harmony' with the CBD, showing direct conceptual overlap.

Core concept for UPSC biodiversity questions: often tested in policy and ethics contexts (access & benefit-sharing, sustainable use). Links international law to national action and treaties (Nagoya, ITPGRFA). Study by mapping objectives to specific agreements and examples of implementation.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > Three main goals: > p. 391
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > Biodiversity convention, nagoya 2010 > p. 8
🔗 Anchor: "Does the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agricultur..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Benefit‑sharing & genetic resources governance
💡 The insight

The treaty emphasizes fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resource use—a key mechanism linking genetic resources policy to biodiversity outcomes.

Frequently arises in questions on international agreements, biodiversity economics, and rights of countries/communities. Understanding benefit‑sharing clarifies disputes over access, biotech, and conservation incentives. Learn landmark instruments and how benefit‑sharing is operationalised (ABS frameworks).

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Legislations > IntErnatIonal trEaty on Plant gEnEtIc rESourcES For Food and agrIculturE, 2004. > p. 11
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > Objective > p. 392
🔗 Anchor: "Does the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agricultur..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Rio Conventions & institutional linkages
💡 The insight

UNCCD, UNFCCC and CBD are presented as sister conventions with coordinated secretariats, showing institutional links between land, climate and biodiversity issues.

Frequently tested: UPSC asks about international environmental conventions and their interrelationships. Understanding the trio (CBD, UNFCCC, UNCCD) helps answer questions on multilateral environmental governance and cross-cutting impacts. Prepare by memorizing the three conventions, their primary foci, and mechanisms for coordination (e.g., Joint Liaison Group).

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > Rio Conventinns > p. 427
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 24: Climate Change Organizations > 1992 "l > p. 321
🔗 Anchor: "Does the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (an international a..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 UNCCD scope: desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD)
💡 The insight

The UNCCD specifically addresses desertification, land degradation and drought and links environment to sustainable land management.

High-yield for polity/environment papers: questions often focus on objectives and thematic areas of major conventions. Knowing UNCCD's DLDD mandate aids answers on land policies, sustainable management, and national action programmes. Study official convention summaries and national implementation examples.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > 28.17. UNCCD > p. 407
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > UNCCD COP r4 > p. 408
🔗 Anchor: "Does the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (an international a..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Desertification impacts on vegetation and biodiversity
💡 The insight

Evidence links desertification to irreversible changes in vegetation communities, indicating effects on biodiversity.

Important for environment and ecology topics: linking processes (desertification) to ecological outcomes (loss/alteration of vegetation and species) is commonly asked in mains and interviews. Learn cause–effect chains and mitigation measures (afforestation, watershed management) for application in policy questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 6: Environmental Degradation and Management > dESErtIfIcatIon or dESErtISatIon. > p. 16
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 3: Terrestrial Ecosystems > Control measures > p. 31
🔗 Anchor: "Does the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (an international a..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 World Heritage Convention covers natural heritage including biodiversity
💡 The insight

References state the Convention protects cultural and natural areas and explicitly includes 'biodiversity' among inscribable site types.

High-yield for UPSC as questions often ask which international agreements protect ecological values; links UNESCO's World Heritage regime to biodiversity protection, helping distinguish it from purely cultural treaties. Prepare by memorising scope (cultural vs natural) and examples of biodiversity relevance.

📚 Reading List :
  • Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 15: Protected Area Network > 15.14. WONTO HERITAGE SITES > p. 224
  • Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > World HerItAge sItes. > p. 56
🔗 Anchor: "Does the World Heritage Convention (an international agreement) have a bearing o..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Joint Liaison Group' (JLG). Since UNCCD, CBD, and UNFCCC are the three 'Rio Sisters', they have a formal mechanism called the JLG to coordinate activities. A future question might ask which conventions comprise the JLG or test the 'Synergy' initiatives between them.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the 'Inclusive Phrase' Heuristic. The question asks what has a 'bearing on' (impact/relevance to) biodiversity. This is a very low threshold.
1. 'Plant Genetic Resources' = Genes (Level 1 of Biodiversity).
2. 'Desertification' = Habitat loss (Level 3 of Biodiversity).
3. 'World Heritage' = Natural sites like Kaziranga (Conservation).
Unless a treaty is strictly industrial (e.g., Double Taxation Avoidance), any environmental treaty likely has a 'bearing'. Mark All.

🔗 Mains Connection

Link ITPGRFA to GS3 Agriculture & IPR. This treaty is the global counterpart to India's 'Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Act, 2001'. It balances Intellectual Property Rights (breeders) with Farmers' Rights (traditional conservation), a critical theme for Mains.

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