Biodiversity

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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)
Valuing mountain ecosystems
Mountain ecosystems in Ladakh provide a range of vital ecosystem services such as freshwater, food, fodder and fuel to people living in the region. Valuing these ecosystem services is crucial for their conservation. Posted on 11 Oct, 2022 08:43 AM

Ecosystems, crucial for human survival

Landscapes of Ladakh (Image Source: Reflectionsbyprajakta via Wikimedia Commons)
India's plastic ban fails to curb plastic pollution
News this fortnight Posted on 09 Oct, 2022 07:49 PM

Experts call India’s single use plastic ban weak, argue that it targets the most vulnerable

Plastic menace in Kufri, Himachal Pradesh (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Protected orchids of India
Orchids are one of the most threatened flowering plants in the world Posted on 08 Sep, 2022 11:25 AM

India's orchids are under pressure from illicit harvesting and exploitation for illegal trade. Of the vast diversity of 1256 orchid species recorded in India, 307 are endemic to our country, and only 11 species are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Orchid size can range from a pencil head to a vigorous two tonne shrub (Image: Geoff Mckay, Wikimedia Commons)
Bring back the vulture
Poster launched to safeguard the endangered species, on International Vulture Awareness Day Posted on 06 Sep, 2022 11:37 AM

WWF India launches a poster on vulture species in India with conservation information on each species, on International Vulture Awareness Day (which is celebrated on 3rd September).

White-rumped vulture (Gyps bengalensis) (Image: Lip Kee, Flickr Commons)
Heavy metals being discharged into coastal waters
Assessing heavy metals in the coastal environment is a critical challenge Posted on 22 Aug, 2022 12:26 AM

In recent years, the impact of the wastes discharged in the Bay of Bengal has been significant due to high effluent inflow from secured sources. It was observed that the heavy metal concentrations in the Bay coast sediments were considerately high and varied among sampling points.

Heavy metal contamination causes significant harm to marine ecology and aquatic life, including humans (Image: Priyadarshi Chaudhuri)
Andaman mega projects: CERD seeks government response on tribal concerns
News this fortnight Posted on 03 Aug, 2022 03:54 PM

CERD seeks government response on impacts of development projects in Andaman

Havelock, Andaman Island. Photo for representation only (Source: Vikramjit Kakati from Pixabay)
Floods in Assam - a boon or a bane for fish diversity?
The frequency and intensity of floods is on the rise in Assam spelling doom for fish biodiversity. Posted on 02 Aug, 2022 11:42 PM

Floods are becoming a frequent occurrence in India and according to the National Flood Commission (1980), 12 percent of the land in the Indian subcontinent is prone to floods. The North East experiences devastating floods every year with Assam being the most flood affected and one of the top five affected states of the country.

Life during floods in Assam (Image Source: Kausika Bordoloi via Wikimedia Commons)
Need to consider multiple values of nature in policy decisions
Decisions based on a narrow set of market values of nature underpin the global biodiversity crisis Posted on 18 Jul, 2022 09:24 PM

The way nature is valued in political and economic decisions is both a key driver of the global biodiversity crisis and a vital opportunity to address it, according to a four-year methodological assessment by 82 top scientists and experts from every region of the world.

More than 50 methods and approaches exist to make visible the diverse values of nature (Image: Pixnio)
Harmful chemicals found in tap water samples: Study
News this fortnight Posted on 18 Jul, 2022 03:47 PM

Study finds harmful chemicals in tap water samples

Harmful chemical is tap water samples (Source: IWP Flickr album)
Poisoned wetlands, toxic fish
Heavy metal pollution is poisoning the East Kolkata wetlands, affecting fish and posing a threat to the health of humans who depend on this fish for their food. Urgent action is needed! Posted on 27 Jun, 2022 12:23 PM

The East Kolkata Wetlands, often referred to as the ‘Kidneys of East Kolkata’, are located on the eastern periphery of Kolkata Metropolitan area and cover 12,500 hectares of area.

Fishermen use wastewater in Kolkata to rear fish (Image Source: India Water Portal)
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