Ecology and Environment

Featured Articles
December 16, 2022 Soil research must focus both on technology development and implementation
The ability of soils to support soil functions or services is decreasing (Image: Katrin Park/International Food Policy Research Institute)
November 25, 2022 These maps at the watershed scales have been made to not only ensure inclusion of different freshwater ecosystems, their connectivity and hydrological processes, but can also provide a spatial context for conservation decisions.
A stream at Anini, Arunachal Pradesh (Image Source: Roshni Arora)
November 16, 2022 Adoption of hybrid solutions - grey and green structures appropriate for resilience building
Healthy wetland ecosystems help in reducing disaster risks and managing climate risks (Image: Pxhere)
October 30, 2022 This book by Dr. Mitul Baruah presents a fascinating, ethnographic account of the challenges faced by communities living in Majuli, India, one of the largest river islands in the world, which has experienced immense socio-environmental transformations over the years, processes that are emblematic of the Brahmaputra Valley as a whole. This is an excerpt from the book.
Floods are recurrent phenomena in Assam (Image: Mitul Baruah)
October 6, 2022 Rapid urbanisation and faulty land use policies are rapidly destroying forests, grasslands and wetlands in Jammu and Kashmir, India and the ecosystem value services they provide. Can these valuable ecosystems be saved?
Deteriorating ecosystems of Jammu and Kashmir, India (Image Source: tkohli at Flickr via Wikimedia Commons)
July 14, 2022 The river is faced with the dual problem of flood plain encroachment and growing levels of water pollution
Illegal transverse check dams (Badhals) built on Ichamati near a village in Basirhat (Image: Prithviraj Nath @ TheWaterChronicles)
Coastal coal plants choke Chennai water resource hub
Dead fish floating on the Ennore water creek are the least of the locals worries. Toxic metals, which are poisonous, radioactive and cancerous are a far greater concern. Posted on 07 Sep, 2014 01:03 AM

Chennai's Fort St.George, built in 1644, was the first English fortress to be built in India. It laid the foundation for further settlements around it and the city of Madras gradually expanded around the fort over the years. 

The NTPC Power Plant in Ennore
Mysore golf course goes green by reusing treated wastewater
Use of treated wastewater for landscape irrigation of areas such as golf clubs is a promising enterprise, which can lead to huge economic and environmental benefits. Posted on 06 Sep, 2014 04:46 PM

Expansive, lush green spaces and golf courses go hand in hand. Quite often, these courses are laid out in pristine surroundings that offer a stunning backdrop. However, the amount of water required to maintain such spaces in such a condition, is no joke.

Use of treated wastewater for landscape irrigation

The Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar Golf Club, Mysore
Well revival effort sees many other benefits
A community drive to revive wells in Mokhla talab near Udaipur results in water security for longer periods of time as well as making leaders out of women. Posted on 05 Sep, 2014 12:59 PM

The name of a place can tell one much about its history. Take Mokla talab, a village 62 km southeast of Udaipur for example. Mokla means sufficient in Rajasthani and talab means pond. The village was named after its overflowing talab. But what happens when the talaab is overflowing no more?

Well lining has improved water availability
Sparkle in the mountains: The indigenous 'Hydroger'
Villages of Nagaland that aren't connected to the electricity grid have been given hope by a new source of power. Posted on 04 Sep, 2014 10:50 PM

It is a labour of love. For 10 years, the team at Nagaland Empowerment of People through Economic Development (NEPeD) held this experiment close to their hearts- a daunting task that is lighting up lives in far-off villages in the mountains of Nagaland today. The hydroger has made way for many to diversify their income through new activities and reduced women’s day-to-day drudgery.

Hydroger machine at Logwesunyu village, Nagaland
This scientist turned farmer does it all!
Dr. John Fernandez, a scientist with the National Institute of Oceanography is successfully managing his Khazan land in Batim, Goa. He rears shrimp, fish & pigs and even makes salt! Posted on 04 Sep, 2014 05:35 PM

Khazans are a unique man-made ecosystem that give Goa its traditional form of farming. Khazan lands are reclaimed lands from the river or sea.

Dr. John's Khazan next to the Zuari river
Ken-Betwa river link to divert 6,000 hectares of Panna Tiger Reserve
News this week Posted on 01 Sep, 2014 10:06 PM

Ken-Betwa river link to take away 10% of MP's Panna Tiger Reserve

Map showing Ken-Betwa river link (Source: Shannon)
Increased subsidy for toilet construction
Policy matters this week Posted on 01 Sep, 2014 03:33 PM

Higher monetary incentives for toilet construction and delinking sanitation mission from MGNREGS

Toilet under construction in Karnataka
Invitation for abstract submission & participation for '8th World Aqua Congress (VIII WAC 2014)- Balancing Development and Environment (Economic Growth with Environmental Sustainability)', Aqua Foundation
VIII WAC is aimed to bring together experts and specialists in food, water, climate change and energy, development partners, civil societies, academia, and environmentalists.
Posted on 26 Aug, 2014 07:36 PM
Aqua Foundation is pleased to announce VIII World Aqua Congress (WAC-2014) on November 20-21, 2014, New Delhi, India. At present development partners and environmentalists have taken extreme positions.
8th World Aqua Congress
Coca Cola scraps plan to expand bottling plant at Varanasi
News this week Posted on 25 Aug, 2014 10:43 PM

Coca Cola to look for other options within state for plant

Coca Cola bottling plant (Source: S. Subramanium)
3 major decisions to revive the Ganga within 3 years
Policy matters this week Posted on 25 Aug, 2014 10:27 PM

Government identifies 11 states along Ganga for sewer link

Ganga river at Kachla, Uttar Pradesh
×