Blue Flag Certification
- Two Indian beaches, Minicoy Thundi Beach and Kadmat Beach in Lakshadweep, have received the International eco-label ‘Blue Flag’.
- It is an internationally recognised eco-label based on 33 criteria.
- Blue Flag beaches are considered the cleanest beaches in the world
- It is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide tourists and beachgoers with clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities, a safe and healthy environment, and sustainable development of the area.
- In addition to Blue Flag certification, India has launched its eco-label, BEAMS (Beach Environment & Aesthetics Management Services).
- India possesses 12 blue flag certifications
- The Blue Flag certification criteria are divided into 4 major heads namely,
Environmental education and information, Bathing water quality environmental management, Conservation and safety services on the beaches
- The other Indian beaches in the blue list are
Shivrajpur in Gujarat,
Ghoghla in Diu,
Kasarkod and Padubidri in Karnataka,
Kappad in Kerala,
Rushikonda in Andhra Pradesh,
Golden in Odisha,
Radhanagar in Andaman and Nicobar,
Kovalam in Tamil Nadu
Eden in Puducherry
India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023)
- The Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the 18th India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023)
- The ISFR has been brought out by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) on a biennial basis since 1987.
- FSI carries out in-depth assessments of the forest and tree resources of the country
- It is based on the interpretation of Remote Sensing satellite data and field-based National Forest Inventory (NFI)
- The India State of Forest Report 2023 is the 18th such report in the series.
- The top four states showing a maximum increase in forest and tree cover are Chhattisgarh (684 sq km) followed by Uttar Pradesh (559 sq km), Odisha (559 sq km) and Rajasthan (394 sq km)