International Green Warrior Olympiad Class 9 Sample Paper

Q.1

Consider the case study given below and answer the following question:
Case Study: Protecting the Coral Reefs of Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Location: Raja Ampat, a stunning archipelago in Indonesia famed for its thriving coral reefs, biodiversity, and diving tourism.
Challenges:
-Overfishing: Unsustainable fishing practices, including blast fishing and cyanide fishing, have depleted fish stocks and damaged coral reefs.
-Pollution: Plastic pollution, agricultural runoff, and sedimentation from coastal development all threaten the delicate marine ecosystem.
-Climate Change: Rising ocean temperatures and acidification are bleaching and killing coral, the foundation of the reef ecosystem.
Initiatives:
-Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Establishing and enforcing MPAs restricts harmful fishing practices and allows reefs to recover. Raja Ampat boasts one of the largest MPAs in Southeast Asia, covering over 1.5 million hectares.
-Community-Based Management: Local communities play a crucial role in protecting their reefs. The Coral Triangle Initiative focuses on empowering them through sustainable fishing practices and alternative livelihoods like ecotourism.
-Sustainable Aquaculture: Farming fish responsibly reduces pressure on wild stocks and provides alternative income for fishermen. Locally managed fish farms in Raja Ampat demonstrate successful alternatives to overfishing.
-Coral Restoration: Innovative techniques like coral nurseries and transplantation help regenerate damaged reefs and restore marine biodiversity.
Outcomes:
-Fish stocks are rebounding: The Raja Ampat MPA has shown a significant increase in fish biomass within its boundaries, demonstrating the effectiveness of protected areas.
-Improved water quality: Reduced pollution and sedimentation contribute to healthier corals and a more vibrant marine environment.
-Empowered communities: Local involvement in conservation fosters environmental stewardship and provides sustainable economic opportunities.
Raja Ampat serves as a beacon of hope in marine conservation, demonstrating the effectiveness of community-driven, multi-pronged approaches to protecting life below water. By tackling overfishing, pollution, and climate change, we can safeguard the future of these vital ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
In the case study, it is mentioned that coral reefs confront challenges from pollution and climate change. How do these challenges interact to negatively affect Raja Ampat's coral reefs?
1. Pollution weakens coral reefs, making them more susceptible to bleaching and mortality as ocean temperatures rise.
2. Climate change alters ocean currents, causing an increased accumulation of pollutants near reefs, adding to their stress.
3. Pollution can harm reefs, but it doesn't significantly affect their vulnerability to climate change impacts.

Q.2

The graph below demonstrates a 50% reduction in post-harvest food losses achieved by a cooperative of farmers through enhanced packaging and transportation practices. What specific strategies in packaging and transportation could account for this significant success?

Q.3

Which innovative water purification method uses a combination of biological processes involving microorganisms to break down organic matter and remove contaminants from wastewater?

Q.4

An individual is trying to reduce their carbon footprint through their diet. Which action would have the most significant impact on reducing carbon emissions?

Q.5

Satellites have documented the rapid retreat of glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland, contributing significantly to global sea level rise. In addition to coastal flooding, this melting ice could also:

Q.6

A city is expanding its wastewater treatment infrastructure to improve the quality of treated water released into the environment. As part of this development, engineers and environmental experts are reviewing the different stages of wastewater treatment to ensure the most effective processing of sewage.
In the wastewater treatment process, which stage involves the breakdown of organic matter by microorganisms in the absence of oxygen?

Q.7

As an environmental scientist conducting water quality assessments for a local lake used for swimming and boating, you're tasked with monitoring various parameters to ensure the safety and health of individuals engaging in recreational activities.
In this scenario, which of the following parameters would be of concern?
1. Turbidity
2. pH
3. Faecal coliform bacteria

Q.8

You're a wildlife conservationist working in the Himalayas, where a dwindling snow leopard population faces new challenges. Human encroachment has forced wolves into higher altitudes, overlapping with the leopards' territory, while climate change is shrinking their habitat due to melting glaciers.
You propose a conservation plan to address these challenges. Which of the following options is/are the effective and sustainable long-term solution(s), considering ecological balance and ethical implications?
1. Prioritise eliminating the wolf threat to restore the leopards' competitive advantage.
2. Lobby for stricter regulations on human activities near snow leopard habitat.
3. Invest in renewable energy sources to combat climate change.
4. Develop captive breeding programs to supplement dwindling wild populations.

Q.9

You and your friends enjoy a delicious pizza lunch, packed with toppings like pepperoni, cheese, and pineapple. Later, while scrolling through social media, you come across a post highlighting the environmental impact of meat production. This sparks a conversation about your food choices and how they might affect the planet.
Considering the environmental footprints of your pizza toppings, which topping likely had the highest emissions associated with its production?
1. Pepperoni
2. Cheese
3. Pineapple

Q.10

Consider the case study given below and answer the following question:
Case Study: Protecting the Coral Reefs of Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Location: Raja Ampat, a stunning archipelago in Indonesia famed for its thriving coral reefs, biodiversity, and diving tourism.
Challenges:
-Overfishing: Unsustainable fishing practices, including blast fishing and cyanide fishing, have depleted fish stocks and damaged coral reefs.
-Pollution: Plastic pollution, agricultural runoff, and sedimentation from coastal development all threaten the delicate marine ecosystem.
-Climate Change: Rising ocean temperatures and acidification are bleaching and killing coral, the foundation of the reef ecosystem.
Initiatives:
-Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Establishing and enforcing MPAs restricts harmful fishing practices and allows reefs to recover. Raja Ampat boasts one of the largest MPAs in Southeast Asia, covering over 1.5 million hectares.
-Community-Based Management: Local communities play a crucial role in protecting their reefs. The Coral Triangle Initiative focuses on empowering them through sustainable fishing practices and alternative livelihoods like ecotourism.
-Sustainable Aquaculture: Farming fish responsibly reduces pressure on wild stocks and provides alternative income for fishermen. Locally managed fish farms in Raja Ampat demonstrate successful alternatives to overfishing.
-Coral Restoration: Innovative techniques like coral nurseries and transplantation help regenerate damaged reefs and restore marine biodiversity.
Outcomes:
-Fish stocks are rebounding: The Raja Ampat MPA has shown a significant increase in fish biomass within its boundaries, demonstrating the effectiveness of protected areas.
-Improved water quality: Reduced pollution and sedimentation contribute to healthier corals and a more vibrant marine environment.
-Empowered communities: Local involvement in conservation fosters environmental stewardship and provides sustainable economic opportunities.
Raja Ampat serves as a beacon of hope in marine conservation, demonstrating the effectiveness of community-driven, multi-pronged approaches to protecting life below water. By tackling overfishing, pollution, and climate change, we can safeguard the future of these vital ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.
A plastic net washes ashore on the Raja Ampat beach. Trace its potential journey through the marine ecosystem, describing the environmental and ecological consequences it could cause at each stage.
1. Entanglement for sea turtles, fish, and coral, leading to injuries and potential death.
2. Ingestion by marine life, mistaking it for food, causing blockages and internal damage.
3. Breakage into microplastics, accumulating in the food chain and harming higher predators.