Courses, Toolkits, Manuals, Guides and Handbooks
Of soils, subsidies and survival - A report on living soils by Greenpeace India
Posted on 15 Jun, 2011 09:54 AMSoil is one of the basic natural resources that supports life on Earth. It is an ecosystem, which is a home to several living organisms, which make the soil alive and give it a good structure and texture.
A living soil ecosystem nurtures and nourishes plants by providing a healthy medium to take roots through a steady supply of nutrients. Use of chemical fertilisers disturbs the natural soil ecosystem and its indiscriminate use has resulted in the degradation of soil. A total neglect of ecological/organic fertilisation by policy makers, extension officers and farmers during the peak Green Revolution period has also added to the soil health crisis.
This report pools together scientific literature as well as farmers’ views on this issues as many a times, while studying issues related to soil health or while making policies related to it, the farmer, who is the most important stakeholder, is seldom consulted. The report has made an effort to rectify this grave inadequacy by including the farmer's perspectives in the academic processes like the social surveys, public hearings and workshops and in this final report. Every section of the report has a component from the existing scientific literature available and another one on the farmers’ opinion on the same area.
Changing with the seasons: How Himalayan communities cope with climate change - A report by Peoples’ Science Institute
Posted on 14 Jun, 2011 10:51 PMMountain areas and communities are susceptible to climate change. This work also yielded evidence of the coping strategies developed by the communities to deal with an unprecedented and only partially understood threat. This paper describes these strategies and attempts to assess the vulnerability of the communities in each valley.
Monitoring systems for incentive programmes - Learning from large scale rural sanitation initiatives in India
Posted on 14 Jun, 2011 03:45 PMSagar - A pocketbook on oceans with special reference to waters around India
Posted on 13 Jun, 2011 03:12 PMThe pocket book provides an overview of the oceans,their formation, characteristics, and the dynamics that determine their evolution. It also contains information on how the interested reader can pursue these topics further through books and websites.
The pocket book is divided into the following chapters:
Solid waste management initiatives in small towns - Lessons and implications - A WSP report
Posted on 10 Jun, 2011 05:12 PMThese efforts were developed and launched through urban local bodies and which transformed service levels and helped improve compliance with the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, in a context where the state of MSW services in most of the Indian towns has been far from sati
Tearing through the water landscape - Evaluating the environmental and social consequences of POSCO project in Odisha - A report by ESG
Posted on 08 Jun, 2011 03:34 PMBased on evidence from this inquiry, the study presents a critical analysis of the environmental and social impact information of POSCO's steel-power-port components to expose the fact that regulatory agencies have inadequate information on the short term and long term impacts of the project on the basis of the information that the company supplied to them. It also provides historical evidence
ADB funded hydro projects in Himachal Pradesh: Disastrous experience - Press release by Him Dhara, SANDRP and HLJM
Posted on 06 Jun, 2011 06:07 PMReport questions ADB funded projects under the 'Himachal Clean Energy Development Programme'.
- ADB loans for four hydroprojects at eco-fragile zones
- Livelihood concerns and environmental issues un-addressed
- Section 17/4 – Urgency clause being used by HPPCL for forced acquisition of land
- Poor EIA reports and non compliance to environmental norms
Recently, a Public Hearing for the World Bank funded Luhri Hydro Electric had to be cancelled after public protests making it clear that the environmental and social impacts of Hydropower projects as well as the increasing gap between their promise and performance, especially in the Himalayan region have become issues of serious concern. And yet these projects continue to be promoted in the garb of renewable and clean energy. So much so that governments are borrowing millions of rupees from international banks and financial institutions to fund these so called 'green' projects.The four ADB financed hydro power projects being constructed by HPPCL include the 195 MW Integrated Kashang Stage I, II and III and the 402 MW Shongtong-Karccham in Kinnaur. The other two projects are the 111 MW Sawara-Kuddu hydropower projects in Shimla district and the 100 MW Sainj hydropower project in Kullu District.
Integrated River Basin Planning – Experience on policy and practice in Pamba River Basin in Kerala – A report by APSF Environment Project
Posted on 30 May, 2011 09:50 PMThe Pamba Pilot Project’s aim was to deliver “Policy Support to Integrated River Basin Management” and to contribute to the continuing EU-India policy dialogue in the water sector.
Guidelines for extending green revolution to eastern India - Document prepared by Department for Agriculture and Cooperation (2011)
Posted on 27 May, 2011 07:50 AMThe states of Assam, Bihar, eastern U.P, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bengal, Orissa were allocated extra funds in the last year for this purpose.
Guidelines for rainfed area development programme - Document prepared by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (2011)
Posted on 27 May, 2011 07:47 AMRainfed areas account for nearly 57 per cent of the agricultural land in India. These areas assume special significance in terms of ecology, agricultural productivity and livelihoods for millions. With proper management, rainfed areas have the potential of contributing a larger share to food grain production.