Context:
2025 United Nations World Water Development Report published by UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in the theme ‘Mountain and Glaciers – Water Tower’
Mountain Ecosystem:
- Ecosystem Composition – Mountain regions globally consist of approximately 40% forests.
- Higher altitudes are dominated by grasslands and alpine tundra.
- Water Regulation – Around 2/3rd of the world’s irrigated agriculture relies on mountain runoff contributions.
- Carbon Storage – Mountain soils (with permafrost) store approximately 66 petagrams (Pg) of soil organic carbon, contributing to 4.5% of the global carbon pool.
- Biodiversity Hotspots – Mountains contain 25 of the 34 global biodiversity hotspots, preserving high endemic biodiversity and vital agricultural/medicinal plant gene pools.
Vulnerabilities of Mountain Ecosystems:
- Glacier Loss – Rapid glacial melting jeopardizes water security.
- e.g., Andes (30–50% loss since 1980s) and Hindu Kush Himalayas (projected 50% loss by 2100),
- Watermelon Snow Effect – Red algae blooms on snow surfaces reduce albedo (reflectivity), accelerating snowmelt.
- Urbanization Impacts – Urbanization disrupts the hydrological cycle, overuses resources, and destabilizes ecological balance, heightening disaster risks.
- Atmospheric Pollution – Long-range transport of pollutants such as black carbon (evidenced in ice cores and lake sediments) exacerbates climate and ecosystem stress.
Source: UN
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: According to the United Nations World Water Development Report, 2022, India extracts more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater withdrawal each year.
Statement-II: India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world’s groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world’s population living in its territory.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.
(b) Both Statement-1 and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II is not the correct explanation for Statement I.
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect.
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct.
Answer: (c)
Explanation:
Statement 2 is incorrect. India uses about 89% of this groundwater for irrigation. Major share of total groundwater extracted by India is utilized for irrigation purposes and not for drinking and sanitation purposes.