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Did the moody monsoon shrink forests in peninsular India?
A study finds that while forests existed in peninsular India, they were replaced by savanna grasslands over time. And the weakening monsoon was the culprit! Posted on 04 Jul, 2021 04:26 PM

Vegetation in peninsular India is dominated by large tracts of grasslands, mainly savanna vegetation.

Savanna grasslands at Nannaj Bustard Sanctuary, Solapur, Maharashtra (Image Source: Raju Kasambe via Wikimedia Commons)
Aspirational Districts Programme, a successful model of local development, says UNDP report
India’s tap water supply increases four-fold in 117 aspirational districts Posted on 30 Jun, 2021 11:09 PM

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India released an independent appraisal report on the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) recently. The report captures the progress of the flagship initiative and recommendations for further improvements.

UNDP India released an appraisal report on transformation of 112 most backward districts recently (Image: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)
A just energy transition roadmap
iFOREST looks at challenges and opportunities for a post-coal future in its new report Posted on 30 Jun, 2021 11:15 AM

In the run-up to COP 26, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST), the Delhi-based environmental organization, launched India’s first ‘Just Transition’ Centre at a virtual event on June 29, 2021.

How the demand for coal is transforming the environment and the people who depend on it (Image: Wilson-Centre, Environmental Change and Security Program, Flickr Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Climate change likely to affect agricultural productivity in Maharashtra
Climate analysis predicts mismatch in rainfall and temperature patterns with crop phenology: Soybean, Cotton, Wheat and Gram crops at risk, finds Institute for Sustainable Communities study across three major regions of Maharashtra. Posted on 30 Jun, 2021 09:28 AM

Maharashtra faces an increasing risk from climate change which is likely to impact the production of four major crops - Soybean, Cotton, Wheat and Gram, grown in the State according to a study by the Institute for Sustainable Communities.

Maharashtra faces an increasing risk from climate change which is likely to impact the production of four major crops - Soybean, Cotton, Wheat and Gram.  (Image: BAIF Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Urban waterbodies, treasure troves of biodiversity
A study on the Mula-Mutha river stretches in Pune reveals rich biodiversity with presence of a large number of freshwater invertebrate species, including a few reports to the region! Will preserving biodiversity help save the river? Posted on 25 Jun, 2021 12:32 PM

Rivers, lakes, ponds and streams – natural freshwater ecosystems are a precious resource, not only because freshwater is limited, but also because of the rich biodiversity they support and the valuable ecosystem services they provide.

Mula-Ram river confluence stretch at Aundh-Baner link road, Pune (Image Source: Jeevitnadi)
East Kolkata Wetlands – fast turning death traps for aquatic ecosystems?
Freshwater ecosystems in India are known to harbour rich biodiversity, but their health is being increasingly challenged in recent years. And the East Kolkata Wetlands are no exception! Posted on 24 Jun, 2021 10:43 AM

While freshwater ecosystems in India are known to harbour rich biodiversity, their health is being increasingly challenged in recent years. And the East Kolkata Wetlands, one of the important Ramsar sites in India, and the largest wastewater fed aquaculture systems in the world that provide fish and support paddy and vegetable cultivation, are no exception.

Fishermen use wastewater from Kolkata to rear fish (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Toxic chemicals: A barrier to safe drinking water
Nonylphenol and its ethoxylates in drinking water: A health challenge Posted on 22 Jun, 2021 04:22 PM

A drinking water quality, testing, monitoring and surveillance framework was released by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in March 2021 as a part of the government’s flagship Nal se Jal scheme.

Water treatment facilities are incapable of removing many chemical compounds and need to be upgraded (Image: PxHere)
Delhi Govt gets stricter in tackling Yamuna river pollution
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 22 Jun, 2021 04:16 PM

Yamuna pollution: Delhi Govt bans soaps and detergents not meeting latest BIS standards

Yamuna flows under (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
It is June, and 49 of 130 major reservoirs are brimming with water!
News this fortnight Posted on 22 Jun, 2021 04:15 PM

Even before the monsoon sets in, collective stock in 130 major reservoirs 27 percent of total capacity

Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Living with droughts
Special report on drought calls for new management approach Posted on 20 Jun, 2021 11:02 AM

As per a Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction: Special Report on Drought 2021, released by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UND

Drought resilience partnerships at the national and local levels will be critical to managing drought (Image: Pixabay; hbieser)
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