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)
River basin governance: Learnings from Cauvery conflict
While the recent ruling of the Supreme court on the Cauvery conflict opens up new possibilities, a push for holistic and interdisciplinary river basin governance is required. Posted on 15 Feb, 2019 01:38 PM

The river Cauvery—an inter-state river shared by the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as well as the Union Territory of Pondicherry—has often been in the news for the fight over its waters between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. What dominates the issue is the conflicting demands for irrigation from the plateau region of Karnataka and the delta region in Tamil Nadu.

Cauvery river at Hogenakal, Karnataka. (Source: IWP Flickr Photos via Claire Arni and Oriole Henri)
After 40 years, Hilsa migrates to Allahabad again
News this week Posted on 13 Feb, 2019 01:29 PM

Navigation lock at Farakka Barrage redesigned for Hilsa migration

Farakka Barrage by Sudip Burman via Google Maps, Feb 2012
Mumbai-Ahmedabad train corridor gets wildlife clearance
Policy matters this week Posted on 13 Feb, 2019 12:53 PM

Wildlife clearance granted to Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed train corridor

Flamingos at Sewri wetland in Mumbai (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Urban Water Challenge Workshop
Do you have an innovative solution that will address the Urban Water Challenges in Bangalore?
Posted on 13 Feb, 2019 10:59 AM

Are you ready to apply the collective brain power of multinationals, startups, innovators and entrepreneurial ecosystem builders to make sustainable change for urban water in India?

Can we gain from changing rains?
While changing rainfall patterns, increased frequency of cyclones, droughts and floods threaten food and water security in India, adaptation strategies to cope with these changes are crucial. Posted on 07 Feb, 2019 12:30 PM

India is undergoing a major transition with changes in rainfall patterns leading to increased frequency of droughts, floods, heat waves amidst fear of a major water crisis in the years to come. Why are these threats increasing?

Changing rainfall patterns in India (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Budget 2019 allocates income support package for farmers
Policy matters this week Posted on 05 Feb, 2019 06:12 PM

Identify farmers for income support scheme: NITI Aayog to states

A devastated farmer in Maharashtra (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Sunderbans tagged under Ramsar Convention
News this week Posted on 05 Feb, 2019 05:41 PM

Indian Sunderbans gets recognition under Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 

Mangroves of the Sunderbans (Source: Nature Environment & Wildlife Society - NEWS)
Time to enact groundwater bill
News this week Posted on 30 Jan, 2019 11:26 AM

Country's groundwater crisis showcases need to enact model groundwater bill

A well in Rajasthan (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Extreme rainfall events need not lead to floods
Many hydraulic factors such as physiography, drainage, catchment size and vegetation cover are critical for peak flood conditions. Posted on 21 Jan, 2019 06:36 PM

It has been reported that extreme rainfall events are increasing over India and widespread floods have increased threefold over the last several decades from an average of two events per year to six events per year. But the link between extreme rainfall events and rising incidence of floods remains tenuous.  

Many hydraulic factors influence occurrence of floods. (Pic: IWP flickr photos)
Irrigation scheme inconsistent: CAG audit
News this week Posted on 15 Jan, 2019 10:59 AM

Inconsistencies in Centre's flagship irrigation scheme, reveals CAG audit

Irrigation canal from the Bhima dam. (Source: Nvvchar on Wikipedia)
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