Biodiversity

Featured Articles
December 4, 2022
Small scale inland open water fisheries of India
What is the status of inland fisheries in India? Read these situational analysis reports to know about inland fisheries, the life of the fisherfolk, governance and tenure in inland fisheries and threats to the sustainability of inland fisheries.
Fishing in an irrigation canal in Kerala (Image Source: Martin Pilkinton via Wikimedia Commons)
August 2, 2022
Floods in Assam - a boon or a bane for fish diversity?
The frequency and intensity of floods is on the rise in Assam spelling doom for fish biodiversity.
Life during floods in Assam (Image Source: Kausika Bordoloi via Wikimedia Commons)
June 27, 2022
Poisoned wetlands, toxic fish
Heavy metal pollution is poisoning the East Kolkata wetlands, affecting fish and posing a threat to the health of humans who depend on this fish for their food. Urgent action is needed!
Fishermen use wastewater in Kolkata to rear fish (Image Source: India Water Portal)
June 15, 2022
Damned by pollution, doomed by beautification
The River Front Development project planned by the PMC is nothing but a cosmetic makeover for the already choked Mula Mutha river in Pune, argues Dr Gurudas Nulkar while speaking to the India Water Portal.
The highly polluted and encroached Mula Mutha river in Pune (Image: Alexey Komarov via Wikimedia Commons)
June 4, 2022
Conserving India’s freshwater ecosystems: A shared vision
Freshwater ecosystems in India are in peril. We invite comments on this vision document by TNC-India, FES and Ooloi labs that highlights future actions needed to save them.
Freshwater ecosystems, in peril! (Image Source: The Nature Conservancy, India)
May 10, 2022
India’s fantastic freshwater fauna and where to find them
Freshwater ecosystems are not mere sources of water, they are treasure troves of biodiversity. Know more about the fascinating and diverse animal species that inhabit freshwater habitats in India.
Freshwater ecosystems, treasure troves of biodiversity (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Abolish manual scavenging: SC
Policy matters this month: SC directs all states to abolish manual scavenging; MoEF reduces ESA in its new draft notification on Western Ghats; Maharashtra all set to clean its rivers.
Swati Bansal
Posted on 31 Mar, 2014 11:14 PM

Abolish manual scavenging: SC
A manual scavenger in Chennai (Namathu Blogspot)
Deepor beel: Entangled in a net of dangers
Banning fishing in the beel has not only affected the sustenance of the Keot fishing community in Guwahati but it is also threatening the beel's very existence.
Usha Dewani
Posted on 25 Mar, 2014 08:52 PM

“Posua botah”, he said. “The wind is blowing from the west now so we cannot take you to the beel to show you how we catch fish. This wind cleans the water and we won’t get fish. 'Bhatial botah', when the wind blows from the east, the water turns muddy and the fish come up to the surface to breathe. That’s the best time to fish”, he explained.
Deepor Beel awaits a fresh gush of life
Their land lost to a dam, 2,000 farmers take to fishing -- in cages
The rush for caged fish culture of one variety has created a glut in the market, crashing prices. How will the farmer-fishermen cope?
Makarand Purohit
Posted on 25 Mar, 2014 08:28 PM

The Chandil dam reservoir is located 30 kms from Jamshedpur on the Subernarekha river in Jharkhand. While this dam is a 'tourist hotspot', its construction has resulted in the displacement of more than 20,000 families from 116 surrounding villages. “We lost our farmlands because of the project and now, to support our families, we have to take any job available", says Narayan Gope. 
Modular cages used for cage culture in Chandil
Invite to the course on 'Spring Protection', Grampari, Panchgani, Maharashtra
The goal of the course is to build awareness and capacity within the Western Ghats to protect spring ecosystems and ensure safe, sustainable drinking water.
Posted on 11 Mar, 2014 11:14 AM

Get more information on the course 'Spring Protection'.

Know more about Grampari.

Download the invite to the spring protection course from below.
MoEF accepts Kerala's recommendations on Western Ghats
Policy matters this week: MoEF approves Kerala's demands on Western Ghats; Committee finds Singrauli pollution a matter of serious concern; Panels set up to manage those displaced by Alamatti dam.
Swati Bansal
Posted on 09 Mar, 2014 05:17 PM

MoEF accepts Kerala's recommendations on Western Ghats
A view of Western Ghats (Source: Wikipedia)
People's institutions managing natural resources in the context of a watershed strategy - A paper by MYRADA
This paper presents concerns and issues in the context of watershed projects promoted by government and NGOs and the role envisaged for Panchayat Raj Institutions in Hariyali guidelines.
Aloysius P. Fernandez
Posted on 08 Mar, 2014 02:18 PM

This paper attempts to analyse the impact of several government guidelines related to watershed management on the People's institutions that have emerged in watershed programmes where NGOs have a role. 
People's institutions managing natural resources
Wildlife Board approves controversial irrigation projects in Maharashtra
Policy matters this week: Maharashtra's controversial irrigation projects approved; DJB asked to discard metal pipes; SC notice to Centre, UP and Haryana over flow in Yamuna and Ganga.
Swati Bansal
Posted on 05 Mar, 2014 11:23 PM

Maharashtra's controversial irrigation projects get a green signal
Irrigation canal in Maharashtra (Source:Wikipedia)
Invite to 'Save Ganga & Save Himalayas Meeting- cum- Panel Discussion', Save Ganga Movement, New Delhi
The event will celebrate the 84th anniversary of Gandhji's Dandi March in the form of discussion on the course of action to be undertaken to save Ganga and Himalayas.
Posted on 27 Feb, 2014 01:27 PM

Venue & Timings:

Save Ganga & Save Himalayas Meeting-cum-Panel Discussion will be at Gandhi Darsan, Rajghat, New Delhi on 12th March, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Know more about Save Ganga Movement.
Call for Abstracts for the seminar on 'Impacts of Mining on Ecological Sustainability in Eastern Ghats’, Samata, India
Samata is organizing a seminar on the theme of ‘Impacts of mining on ecological sustainability in Eastern Ghats’ and seek participation from graduate students and young scholars.
Posted on 25 Feb, 2014 03:30 PM

About Samata:
Scrap 15 out of 40 dams across Siang in Arunachal: CWC
Policy matter this week: CWC report warns against dams proposed in Siang; MoEF eases norms to clear dams in Sikkim; Karnataka all set to constitute groundwater authority.
Swati Bansal
Posted on 24 Feb, 2014 04:17 PM

CWC recommends scrapping of 15 dams planned across Siang
A river in East Siang (Source: Wikimedia)
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