UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The 30×30 target calls for conserving at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water and marine areas by 2030 through well-managed and connected systems of protected and conserved areas. It seeks not just numerical coverage but ecological representation and respect for Indigenous and local community rights. Achieving this is considered crucial for halting biodiversity loss and maintaining ecosystem services that support human well-being. (UNEP - UN Environment Programme)

Option A:
This option correctly states the content of the 30×30 pledge, emphasising both area and ecological quality.

Option B:
This option is incorrect; the framework does not prescribe demographic targets and focuses on changing production, consumption and land-use patterns instead.

Option C:
The framework does not require a fixed budget percentage for forestry alone; finance is to be mobilised across diverse conservation actions and ecosystems.

Option D:
The target is broader than tree planting and stresses appropriate conservation of varied ecosystems, not just planting trees in arbitrary locations.

Statements A, B, C and D are correct as they list key drivers of biodiversity loss and main strands of conservation responses. Habitat change, overuse and invasive species are major pressures, and protected areas, restoration and sustainable use are core strategies. E is wrong because biodiversity loss undermines ecosystem services and human well-being, and F is wrong since climate change is a significant driver shifting species distributions and extinction risks. Thus, the correct combination is A, B, C and D only.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it omits D, thereby ignoring the variety of conservation strategies employed to tackle biodiversity loss. Without D, the answer mentions only pressures and not the policy and management responses.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect since it includes E, which falsely claims that biodiversity loss has no implications for ecosystem services. Accepting E contradicts the central theme that biodiversity underpins services such as pollination, water regulation and cultural values.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect as it includes F, which denies the link between climate change and biodiversity loss, while also excluding A. Dropping habitat destruction, one of the most important drivers, makes the combination incomplete and conceptually weak.

Option D:
Option D is correct as it contains all four accurate statements on drivers and responses while excluding E and F, which downplay consequences and disconnect climate change from biodiversity loss. It matches the integrated understanding presented in the unit.

Statements A, B, D, E and F are correct on emissions, biodiversity loss, human causes, smoke impacts and prevention/control. Statement C is false because prescribed burning is used in some contexts to reduce fuel loads and manage ecosystems. Therefore, the correct set is A, B, D, E and F only.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes all true statements and excludes C, which wrongly claims prescribed burning is never used.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes C (false).

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes C (false) and omits A (true), mixing errors and omissions.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it omits B, underrepresenting biodiversity/ecosystem degradation impacts of frequent uncontrolled fires.

The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework includes 23 targets, one of which calls for conserving at least 30% of land, inland waters and marine areas by 2030. This “30×30” target stresses not just numerical area but also ecological representation and connectivity, so that protected and conserved areas form coherent networks. It aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss while respecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities. Thus, the option that refers to conserving 30% of terrestrial and marine areas in an effective, representative and well-connected way correctly explains the 30×30 goal. (Convention on Biological Diversity)

Option A:
Option A is correct because it reflects both the percentage figure and the requirement that conserved areas be ecologically representative and connected, which are central elements of Target 3 in the framework. It recognises that quality and placement of conservation areas matter as much as quantity for safeguarding species and ecosystem functions. This aligns with official texts and guidance on implementing 30×30.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect; the framework does not contain population-reduction targets of this kind, and such an approach would raise serious ethical and human-rights concerns. Biodiversity policy focuses on changing production, consumption and land-use patterns rather than demographic engineering.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because the framework does not prescribe a uniform budget share for all countries or limit spending to forestry. Financing arrangements are more flexible and cover a broad range of conservation and restoration activities across sectors.

Option D:
Option D misinterprets the target by focusing only on tree-planting numbers and ignoring ecosystem diversity and appropriateness. The framework emphasises protecting and restoring varied ecosystems, including grasslands, wetlands and oceans, not simply planting trees anywhere.