Prelims 2015 · archive
MediumWith reference to an organization known as 'BirdLife International', which of the following statements is/are correct?
- 1.It is a Global Partnership of Conservation Organizations.
- 2.The concept of 'biodiversity hotspots' originated from this organization.
- 3.It identifies the sites known/referred to as 'Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas'.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
BirdLife International is a worldwide partnership of national conservation organisations, and it identifies Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs). So statements 1 and 3 are correct. The hotspot concept came from the ecologist Norman Myers and was then adopted by Conservation International, not BirdLife. The answer is (c).
- ✓ 1. BirdLife International is a global partnership of conservation organisations. Today it is made up of 125 such organisations worldwide.
- ✗ 2. The British ecologist Norman Myers introduced the idea in a 1988 paper that identified 10 tropical forest hotspots. Conservation International adopted the concept in 1989. BirdLife did not originate it.
- ✓ 3. The BirdLife Partnership identifies IBAs. These are the most important sites for bird conservation, chosen using standard scientific criteria.
Remember · BirdLife International = global partnership that identifies IBAs. Biodiversity hotspots = Norman Myers (1988), adopted by Conservation International.
Sources
- BirdLife International – Who We Are ↗ · reference work “We’re made up of 125 worldwide conservation organisations, and together we’re the global authority on birds.”
- BirdLife International – Sites (IBAs) ↗ · reference work “Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) are the most important sites for the conservation of birds identified using standard scientific criteria.”
- Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund – Hotspots Defined ↗ · reference work “In 1988, British ecologist Norman Myers published a seminal paper identifying 10 tropical forest “hotspots.””
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2015, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·