Ecology and Environment

Featured Articles
December 16, 2022
Healthy soil critical to human health and for achieving SDGs
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
Categorising watersheds for freshwater ecosystem conservation in India
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
Improving community resilience in ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction in India
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
Slow disaster: Political ecology of hazards and everyday life in the Brahmaputra valley, Assam
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
Deteriorating landscapes and threatened ecosystems of Jammu and Kashmir
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
Ichamati: River of poetry is dying a slow death
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)
The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules by Ministry of Environment and Forests (2010)
Ensuring better conservation and management and to prevent degradation of existing wetlands in India, Ministry of Environment and forests notifies Wetlands Rules
Ministry of Environment and Forests (Government of India)
Posted on 10 Dec, 2010 07:27 AM

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules was notified in December 2010 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to ensure better conservation and management and to prevent degradation of existing wetlands in India. Wetlands are critical for human development and wellbeing, especially in India where a large number of people are dependent on them for drinking water, food and livelihood. Despite their immense importance, wetlands are one of the most degraded ecosystems globally.

Wildlife Wetlands Photography Contest & Young Environmentalists Programme
Posted on 09 Dec, 2010 10:48 AM

Wildlife Wetlands Photography Contest by WWF & Young Environmentalists Programme in association with Meluha-The Ferns ecotel, Hiranandani Gardens Powai, Mumbai-400076 on 2nd February 2011.

World Wetlands Day Photography Submissions

A brand new photography international competition is here, the WWF & YEPT in association with Meluha-The Ferns ecotel awards celebrates and recognizes the talents of photographers of all nationalities highlighting the great wealth and diversity of wetlands and wildlife on Planet Earth.

On the brink: Water governance in the Yamuna river basin in Haryana
Water situation in the Yamuna river basin in the state of Haryana, currently threatened from poor management of surface water, over draft of groundwater, water misuse, waste and pollution,.
Amita Bhaduri
Bhim
Hardeep Singh
Manoj Misra
PEACE Institute Charitable Trust
Prem Prakash Bharadwaj
Pushp Jain
Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development
Posted on 08 Dec, 2010 10:07 PM

This study attempts to develop a case study of the Western Yamuna Canal Command in Haryana with the purpose of developing a general picture of the institutional environment and arrangements related to water resource development and use in the State of Haryana. It is based on a review of water law, policy and administration and helps draw conclusions on whether the existing governance systems are meeting the current needs and suggests alternate options. The study has attempted to test the following hypothesis –

Glimpses of Ladakh - An exhibition of photographs, LEDeG, New Delhi
Posted on 08 Dec, 2010 04:15 PM

Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG)Organizer: Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG)
Degraded and wastelands of India - Status and spatial distribution
Integrating the work on degraded and wastelands in India, with a detail on the nature and cause of degradation, extent of damage with right management strategies to bring them to 'productive health'
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS)
Posted on 07 Dec, 2010 10:16 PM

This book by NAAS and ICAR builds-on and integrates work done by different institutes of the ICAR and the Department of Space in the area of degraded and wastelands in India. NRSA had already published the state level and country level information earlier. In addition, the nature and causes of the land degradation, and the degree and extent of damaged lands needed to be determined, so that appropriate management strategies could be designed and implemented in a defined time-frame to bring these lands to ‘productive health’. 

Guidelines for Assessing the Risk to Groundwater from On–Site Sanitation (ARGOSS)
Guide to assess and reduce the risk of contamination of groundwater supply from on-site sanitation systems and help plan low cost water and sanitation schemes
A G Howard
A R Lawrence
British Geological Survey
Department for International Development (DFID)
D M J Macdonald
K M Ahmed
Makerere University
M H Barrett
M Nalubega
Robens Centre for Public and Environmental Health
S Pedley
University of Dhaka
Posted on 05 Dec, 2010 05:37 PM

These "Guidelines for Assessing the Risk to Groundwater from On–Site Sanitation (ARGOSS)" were developed to provide guidance on how to assess and reduce the risk of contamination of groundwater supplies from on–site sanitation systems and are aimed at those responsible for planning low cost water supply and sanitation schemes. The manual developed by the British Geological Survey has been field tested between 1999 and 2003.   

Climate change and India - A sectoral and regional analysis for 2030s by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA)
Assessment of impact of climate change on himalayas, western ghats, coastal areas and the north-east in 2030s
Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA)
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) (Government of India)
Posted on 05 Dec, 2010 10:45 AM

This report prepared by the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) provides an assessment of impact of climate change in 2030s on four key sectors of the Indian economy, namely agriculture, water, natural ecosystems & biodiversity and health in four climate sensitive regions of India, namely the Himalayan region, the Western Ghats, the Coastal Area and the North-East Region. This is the for the first time that such a comprehensive, long term assessment has been undertaken based on rigorous scientific analysis for the 2030s (all previous assessments were for the 2070s and beyond). 

The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 notified by the MoEF
Wetland Conservation and Management Rules ensure better management, conservation and prevention of degradation of existing wetlands
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)
Posted on 04 Dec, 2010 01:01 PM


Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)The Ministry of Environment and Forests today notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010. These Rules have been drafted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests to ensure better conservation and management and to prevent degradation of existing wetlands in India.

Water security for India: The external dynamics - An IDSA Task Force Report
India to be 'water-stressed' by 2025 and 'water scarce' by 2050; what forces drive the demand and political dynamics? What are the hindrances & opportunities?
Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
Posted on 01 Dec, 2010 08:44 PM

The report by Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses is premised on the fact that India is facing a serious water resource problem and is expected to become 'water stressed' by 2025 and 'water scarce' by 2050. It raises fundamental questions about the forces driving water demand and the political dynamics of riparian relations, both in terms of hindrances and opportunities, amongst states in the subcontinent. Rivers, a crucial source of water resources, physically link upstream and downstream users and at the same time create barriers.

NASA study finds earth's lakes are warming
In the first comprehensive global survey of temperature trends in major lakes, NASA researchers determined Earth's largest lakes have warmed during the past 25 years in response to climate change.
The Nasa Earth Observatory
Posted on 01 Dec, 2010 11:14 AM

Lake Tahoe, seen here from Emerald Bay, was one of the primary validation sites for the global lake study. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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