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)
An organic manure factory for Rs. 800 only
An innovative idea by a farmer in Chennimalai, Tamil Nadu lets farmers create their own liquid manure out of the cow dung and urine available in their own farms. Posted on 19 Aug, 2013 01:22 PM

Nitrogen and phosphorus are essential for plant growth – that is common knowledge for farmers. Cow dung contains nitrogen – that is also common knowledge for farmers. Then why is it that many farmers look for costly solutions rather than use the abundant cow dung they have in their farms as manure? Luckily, one farmer did think of this.

Alagesan with the barrel used to ferment cow dung
Tehri dam nears danger mark
News this week - Tehri dam nears danger mark, Supreme Court stops dams in Uttarakhand and Maharashtra allows coal mining near rivers Posted on 19 Aug, 2013 02:33 AM

Water level in Tehri dam near danger mark

Tehri dam in lean season
Are Olive Ridley turtles nearing extinction in Orissa?
Sea turtles have survived for 66 million years but are dying more incidental deaths now thanks to mechanized fishing. Community-based conservation programmes are the answer to preserving the species. Posted on 17 Aug, 2013 11:00 PM

Sea turtles, a globally endangered species, have been around since even before dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Olive Ridley sea turtles; Source: The Hindu
Invitation to workshop 'Advancing Energy Access in South Asia', Energy Access Practitioners Network, Patna
A forum to bring together practitioners, investors and experts working to deliver decentralized energy solutions across South Asia
Posted on 17 Aug, 2013 08:04 AM

For further information on the workshop please click here

Advancing Energy Access in South Asia
Film: Konkanchi Mega Vaat (Mega 'Vaat' in the Konkan)
The proposed power projects in the Konkan region of Maharashtra have gravely affected people's livelihoods and their drinking water. Why aren't these plants being shut down? Posted on 16 Aug, 2013 06:02 PM

24 power projects are being proposed in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, which has the second highest biodiversity in India. The 9900 megawatt (MW) nuclear power project at Jaitapur is also included in this list of projects. If sanctioned, it could be the largest nuclear power generating plant in the world.

Alphonso mango trees in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra
Invite to International Film Festival on Water, Voices from the Waters - 2013, Bangalore
Voices from the Waters is a film festival to raise awareness about various water issues, by engaging in a process of learning and debate.
Posted on 16 Aug, 2013 05:52 PM

For further details on the invite, please click here

You may download the poster for the festival from below

 

Voices from the Waters 2013
Angioplasty for groundwater or a heart attack waiting to happen?
The Maharashtra Govt plans to invest Rs. 800 crore to extend the 'Shirpur Model' of groundwater recharge across the state. Is it recharge or withdrawal that this model promotes? Posted on 16 Aug, 2013 10:38 AM

“What is in a name? That which we call a rose, would smell as sweet by any other”, goes the line from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. There is quite a lot in a name, Juliet, especially if attaching the wrong terminology to a process is used to appropriate public funds - Rs. 800 crores, in fact.

Shirpur, Maharashtra of the 'Shirpur Model' fame
Invitation to 3rd Delhi Youth Summit on Climate Change, Delhi Greens, Delhi
A summit to bring together the youth from across India and engage, inspire and train them to address the various urban environmental challenges in the wake of climate change
Posted on 15 Aug, 2013 10:59 AM

For further details of the summit, please click here

Applications invited for UN-Water Best Practices Award, United Nations University
An award to promote efforts to fulfill international commitments made on water and water-related issues by 2015 through recognition of outstanding best practices
Posted on 15 Aug, 2013 08:24 AM

Further details of the announcement can be gathered from the link here

Power hub becomes pollution hub
Korba, Chhattisgarh ranks 5th in the ‘critically polluted area’ category according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Why aren't thermal power companies following pollution control mandates? Posted on 14 Aug, 2013 06:32 PM

‘Fly-ash’ refers to fine particles of ash sent up by the burning of solid fuel-like coal. Typically, this is the residue of ash generated by thermal power companies. Due to its toxic nature, the government has mandated that fly-ash must be dumped in ash ponds, which are specially made on vacant lands.

CSEB power plant in Korba
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