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