Biodiversity

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/topics/biodiversity

Featured Articles
October 17, 2023 How does barge trafficking/movement affect the ecology and biodiversity of riverine ecosystems? A study explains.
River Hooghly at Kolkata (Image Source: Yercaud-elango via Wikimedia Commons)
May 20, 2023 Freshwater biologists Sameer Padhye and Avinash Vanjare talk about smaller and lesser known animals that live in freshwater ecosystems and the importance of studying them. 
Freshwater ecosystems, under threat (Image Source: Biologia Life Science LLP)
January 25, 2023 This study found large deposits of heavy metals in the tissues and organs of water birds, crabs and fish inhabiting the lake indicating heavy metal contamination of the lake waters.
A view of the Veeranam lake in Tamil Nadu (Image Source: Giri9703 via Wikimedia Commons)
December 4, 2022 What is the status of inland fisheries in India? Read these situational analysis reports to know about inland fisheries, the life of the fisherfolk, governance and tenure in inland fisheries and threats to the sustainability of inland fisheries.
Fishing in an irrigation canal in Kerala (Image Source: Martin Pilkinton via Wikimedia Commons)
August 2, 2022 The frequency and intensity of floods is on the rise in Assam spelling doom for fish biodiversity.
Life during floods in Assam (Image Source: Kausika Bordoloi via Wikimedia Commons)
Indigenous food systems - to cope with malnutrition
Traditional practices such as the jhum cultivation in North East India can help ensure dietary diversity and better nutritional outcomes among populations and need to be preserved. Posted on 18 Feb, 2022 10:01 AM

As India struggles to tackle malnutrition among women and children in the country as the NFHS data reveals, it is increasingly becoming clear that agrobiodiversity has an important role to play in ensuring sustainable and diverse diets and enhance health and nutrition, and may help m

Land cleared for Jhum cultivation (Image Source: Prashanthns via Wikimedia Commons)
Jal Shakti Ministry receives an allocation of Rs 86,189 crore in budget 2022-23
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 16 Feb, 2022 07:48 AM

Budget 2022-23: Allocation to the Jal Shakti Ministry increased to Rs 86,189 crore, from Rs 69,052 crore the previous year

Women fill water from a public tap in Karnataka (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
A water warrior’s fight springs hope for springs!
Shailendra Patel, a passionate water warrior from Pune, is on a mission to save a live spring in the city. It is important that he is heard and action taken!
Posted on 03 Feb, 2022 03:15 PM

Springs, symbols of life, freedom, spontaneity draw unique images in our minds – of a bubbling rush of water rolling boisterously, snaking over rocks, picking up pebbles and sand along its path full of jumping fish, occasional frogs, insects, algae – surrounded by green wild bushes and thick vegetation.

Shailendra Patel, near the Bavdhan spring, Pune (Image Source: Tushar Sarode)
Combining nature, wisdom and science - to tackle climate change
Preserving diversity in nature by combining traditional wisdom with science can greatly help in developing healthy ecosystems to tackle climate change. Posted on 01 Feb, 2022 12:37 PM

Today, rapid industrialisation, economic growth and migration to urban areas have changed how we relate to nature. The interconnection is now clearly exploitative.

Combining nature, wisdom and science to cope with climate change (Image Source: Pankaj Oudhia via Wikimedia Commons)
‘Fleas’ flee the Pashan lake in Pune!
Restoration efforts focusing on desilting and re-contouring of Pashan lake have added to the deterioration of the lake habitat, threatening survival of organisms such as water fleas, warn freshwater biologists Mihir Kulkarni and Sameer Padhye.
Posted on 24 Jan, 2022 11:17 PM

The calm waters of Pashan lake in Pune city, seldom give us an idea of the hidden wonders they support. Freshwater habitats like this, harbour a wealth of biodiversity ranging from very tiny/ microscopic plants and animals to larger ones – that reside in and around the waters and depend on it for their food, reproduction and survival.

Pashan lake, threatened by urbanisation, doomed by restoration (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Reimaging the ecosystem
Ways of conserving mangroves and preserving butterflies Posted on 28 Dec, 2021 07:38 PM

Butterflies conjure up several emotions in us - of love, elegance and splendour.

Common Indian crow butterfly (Image: Abhilash A K Abhialeena)
Activists urge Chhattisgarh CM to rethink expansion of mining in Hasdeo Arand forest
News this fortnight Posted on 20 Dec, 2021 06:52 PM

Reconsider decision to expand mining in Hasdeo Arand forest: Activists to Chhattisgarh CM

A devastated forest at a coal mining site. Photo for representation only (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Government gives a boost to PMKSY, Renuka ji, and Lakhwar hydro projects
Policy matters this fortnight Posted on 20 Dec, 2021 04:00 PM

Centre approves Rs 93,000 crore to PMKSY, Renuka ji and Lakhwar

Yamuna flows under (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Mangroves - Wetlands or forests?
Mangroves were treated and managed as forests in colonial times, although they are much similar to wetlands. This led to extensive degradation of mangrove ecosystems in India. Posted on 21 Nov, 2021 07:40 PM

Have you noticed short trees or bushes along coastlines with a dense tangle of roots hanging out that makes them look like they are standing on stilts? These are mangroves. Mangroves can be trees, shrubs, ferns and palms that occupy the boundary between the land and the sea.

Mangrove forest at Pichavaram, Tamil Nadu (Image Source: Shankaran Murugan via Wikimedia Commons,  CC BY-SA 3.0)
Balancing water security with saving biodiversity in the river Beas
Will it be possible to achieve tradeoffs between meeting water needs of people and retaining river waters to sustain the rare and beautiful, but endangered Indus River Dolphin in the Beas river? Posted on 25 Oct, 2021 02:22 PM

Ensuring water security Vs conserving biodiversity: The challenge

Beas river at Kullu, Himachal Pradesh (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
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