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)
Dew as a source of drinking water
Indian scientists develop technology for harvesting water from dew. Posted on 06 Sep, 2017 03:34 PM

We often notice dew drops on leaves, grass and some sloping surfaces in the morning hours. These dew drops can actually be a source of drinking water. 

A view of the dew harvesting plant at Kothara.
Let the river flow
A video tells us why it is important to study the Ken river and its flow properly before implementing any project on it so the ecosystem and biodiversity are not harmed. Posted on 04 Sep, 2017 05:08 AM

One of the tributaries of the Yamuna, the Ken, is a major river of the Bundelkhand region of central India and flows through two states, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. River Ken regulates groundwater recharge and provides vegetation found on its banks.

Ken river gorge (Source: By Syed Zohaibullah, www.commons.wikimedia.org)
Can grey and green coexist on urban landscape?
As cities spread wide, grey infrastructure projects flout green norms to provide affordable housing for all. Posted on 31 Aug, 2017 03:03 PM

Far in the distance, towards the edge of Noida and Greater Noida flows the Hindon river amidst clusters of modern highrise buildings. A few years ago, the landscape here was more countrified and quite distinct from the low rise neghbourhoods of Delhi dotted with its numerous parks and abundant institutional spaces. 

Building bye-laws mandate that builders adhere to environmental norms and install energy-saving mechanisms like solar installations, water harvesting and waste recycling methods.
Ganapati idol immersion continues despite ban
News this week Posted on 30 Aug, 2017 05:28 AM

Despite ban, immersion of Ganpati idols made of PoP continue in Bengaluru lakes

Ganesh Visarjan (Source: Wikimedia commons via Chetan Gole)
Regional Conference: Peri-urban ecosystems for enhancing urban resilience
The conference will examine various themes including urbanization, managing the peri-urban spaces, etc. and governance issues exacerbating due to the inevitable drift of cities into peri-urban areas.
Posted on 27 Aug, 2017 05:46 PM

A Regional Conference on “Peri-Urban Ecosystems for Enhancing Urban Resilience” is being organized by Gorakhpur Environmental Action Group (GEAG), Gorakhpur and ICLEI –Local Governments for Sustainability, South Asia in collaboration with ACCCRN.NET, UNICEF India and School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi India with the support of the Rockefeller Foundation, on 18th and 19th Sep

Mangroves: The green coast guard
Mangroves in the country are under threat from rapid development. A video tells us how investing in nature can reverse this ecological crisis. Posted on 23 Aug, 2017 07:09 PM

In our effort to make space for infrastructural developments, India's green cover is declining at an alarming rate. The overall mangrove cover in the country stands at 4,740 sq. km., which is 0.14 sq. km of India’s overall geographical area. 

Mangrove nursery (Source: India Water Portal)
Heavy downpour halts lives
As floods ravage the eastern and northeastern parts of the country, lives and properties are lost. Here's a video that shows the extent of devastation in Bihar. Posted on 23 Aug, 2017 04:00 PM

The eastern and the northeastern parts of the country including states like Assam, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal are witnessing heavy downpour and floods for the last few weeks. The rain is wreaking havoc with rivers breaching embankments and flooding roads and destroying houses and bridges.

A man wades through knee-deep water with his belongings. (Source: 101Reporters)
UP's religious smart city plan gets rejected
Policy matters this week Posted on 22 Aug, 2017 09:55 PM

Committee rejects UP's plan for a religious hi-tech smart city 

Ganga at Garhmukteshwar (Source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Floods ravage Bihar, Northeast
As rain continues unabated in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country, river embankments get breached displacing lakhs of people. Posted on 18 Aug, 2017 10:30 AM

Torrential downpour in the eastern part of the country over the past week has resulted in many rivers flowing above the danger level and causing flood along their course. While the flood situation in Assam is said to be the worst in 13 years, its neighbouring states, Arunachal Pradesh and Bihar are also submerged.

Parts of Gopalganj district in Bihar remain submerged. (Photo by Manoj Pandey)
Budgeting every water cup
Marathwada village comes up with a novel idea to tackle water scarcity—water budget for each household. The result is for everyone to see. Posted on 17 Aug, 2017 04:10 PM

Till about a year ago, 52-year-old Kisan Jite would often wake up to his wife Sarla and other village women squabbling over who would fill their buckets first from the only well in Golegaon village.

The gram panchayat office of the Golegaon village where all the action takes place. (Source: 101Reporters)
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