Sand Dune Parks : Daily Current Affairs

Sand Dune Parks

Why in NEWS ?

  • World Bank sanctions Rs 3 crore for Goa to develop India’s first sand dune parks.

About

  • The sand dune ecosystem, so far neglected, is set to get a new lease of life in Goa as World Bank has approved a project proposed by the Goa state biodiversity board that will see India’s first sand dune parks and interpretation centres developed along select stretches.
  • Around Rs 3 crore has been sanctioned to the state under the programme, and will see interventions like interpretation centres to educate locals and tourists on the importance of the sand dune ecosystem.
  • Bridges made of nature-friendly material will also be constructed to reduce trampling on sand dune vegetation.
  • Nurseries of sand dune vegetation will be set up, which will enable its replantation on beach stretches where vegetation has gone extinct.
  • Morjim and Galgibaga beaches, known for their turtle-nesting sites, are among the stretches that will get sand dune parks

Sand Dunes

  • Sand Dunes are geological depositional landforms created by action of winds.
  • Sand dunes are heaps or mounds of sand found in deserts. Generally their heights vary from a few metres to 20 metres but in some cases dunes are several hundred metres high and 5 to 6 km long.
  • Dry hot deserts are good places for sand dune formation.
  • According to the shape of a sand dune, there are varieties of sand dune forms like Barchans, Seifs etc.
  • The crescent-shaped dunes are called as Barchans and they are the most common one.
  • Seif is similar to Barchans but has only one wing or point

World Bank

  • World Bank formed in 1944 with Headquarters at Washington, D.C., is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world.
  • This is not only a bank in the ordinary sense but a unique partnership to reduce poverty and support development.
  • It is responsible for publication of Global Economic Prospects, Ease of Doing Business Index etc.
  • There are 2 goals for the world to achieve by 2030 –
  1. End extreme poverty by decreasing the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3%.
  2. Promote shared prosperity by fostering the income growth of the bottom 40% for every country
  • World Bank Group comprises of 5 institutions managed by their member countries-
  1. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) - Commonly known as the world bank. It is the single largest provider of development loans
  2. International Development Association (IDA) – assists the poorest countries
  3. International Finance Corporation (IFC) – supports private enterprise in developing countries.
  4. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) – offers investors insurance against non-commercial risk and help developing country governments attract foreign investment.
  5. International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) – encourages the flow of foreign investment to developing countries through arbitration and conciliation facilities.
  • Except for ICSID, India is member of other four groups.
  • India is one of the founder members of IBRD, IDA and IFC