/topics/ecology-and-environment
Ecology and Environment
The economic impact of forest hydrological services on local communities - A case study from the western ghats of India by South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE)
Posted on 16 Jun, 2011 03:38 PMThe paper informs that the conventional wisdom that ‘more forest is always better’ has dominated policy making in the management of forested watersheds. In the context of the supposed hydrological regulation service provided by forest ecosystems, however, hydrologists have debated this assumption for more than two decades.
Of soils, subsidies and survival - A report on living soils by Greenpeace India
Posted on 15 Jun, 2011 09:54 AMSoil is one of the basic natural resources that supports life on Earth. It is an ecosystem, which is a home to several living organisms, which make the soil alive and give it a good structure and texture.
A living soil ecosystem nurtures and nourishes plants by providing a healthy medium to take roots through a steady supply of nutrients. Use of chemical fertilisers disturbs the natural soil ecosystem and its indiscriminate use has resulted in the degradation of soil. A total neglect of ecological/organic fertilisation by policy makers, extension officers and farmers during the peak Green Revolution period has also added to the soil health crisis.
This report pools together scientific literature as well as farmers’ views on this issues as many a times, while studying issues related to soil health or while making policies related to it, the farmer, who is the most important stakeholder, is seldom consulted. The report has made an effort to rectify this grave inadequacy by including the farmer's perspectives in the academic processes like the social surveys, public hearings and workshops and in this final report. Every section of the report has a component from the existing scientific literature available and another one on the farmers’ opinion on the same area.
Changing with the seasons: How Himalayan communities cope with climate change - A report by Peoples’ Science Institute
Posted on 14 Jun, 2011 10:51 PMMountain areas and communities are susceptible to climate change. This work also yielded evidence of the coping strategies developed by the communities to deal with an unprecedented and only partially understood threat. This paper describes these strategies and attempts to assess the vulnerability of the communities in each valley.
Taking action in India on downstream impact of dams - Report of the workshop held by International Rivers and Save Western Ghats Movement at Jog Falls, Karnataka in May 2011
Posted on 14 Jun, 2011 05:17 PMJog falls in Western Ghats
These dams have had a profound negative impact on communities and ecology upstream and downstream. While promised benefits of these dams (irrigation, hydro-power or flood control) have been overstated, numerous interrelated and complex negative impacts have simply not been studied or documented. Nonetheless, communities and ecosystems continue paying huge prices of these impacts.
CSE's bootcamp on 'Covering India: Where journalism meets environment' - Apply by 15th September, 2011
Posted on 14 Jun, 2011 03:49 PMThe Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi. CSE researches into, lobbies for and communicates the urgency of development that is both sustainable and equitable.
This certificate course is designed as a hands-on 'boot-camp', and targets those interested in a career in mainstream or niche news media, development communication, civil society campaign and advocacy initiatives, and industry CSR, among others.
Sagar - A pocketbook on oceans with special reference to waters around India
Posted on 13 Jun, 2011 03:12 PMThe pocket book provides an overview of the oceans,their formation, characteristics, and the dynamics that determine their evolution. It also contains information on how the interested reader can pursue these topics further through books and websites.
The pocket book is divided into the following chapters:
IIFM invites applications for one year M.Phil. Programme in Natural Resource Management – Apply by July 14, 2011
Posted on 13 Jun, 2011 03:05 PMThe Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) is a sectoral management institute, which constantly endeavours to evolve knowledge useful for the managers in the area of Forest, Environment and Natural Resources Management and allied sectors.
Darter Photography conducting 'Rainforest Rendezvous' - A photography tour of Agumbe, 24th - 26th June 2011
Posted on 13 Jun, 2011 02:59 PMRainforest Rendezvous is a great opportunity to photograph the less photographed creatures. Under the guidance of renowned herpetologist, researcher and conservationist Gowri Shankar, learn a great deal about the elusive wildlife in the depths of the Western Ghats. He would share his extensive knowledge about the rainforests and their conservation and lead us on the trail to discover the myriad forms of life. If there’s a rescue call from a nearby village, we’ll even accompany him on the mission to relocate the snake to its natural habitat.
Tearing through the water landscape: Evaluating the environmental and social consequences of POSCO project in Odisha, India - Release of a study by ESG
Posted on 09 Jun, 2011 08:03 PMArticle courtesy: Environment Support Group
On 2nd May 2011, Indian Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh finally approved the diversion of over 3,000 acres of forest land, of the 4,000 acres demanded, for a steel-power-port complex of the POSCO India project.
Earlier, on 31 January 2011, Ramesh had approved the environmental and coastal regulation zone clearances that the project had secured in 2007, even though all these clearances were obtained by fraud, and thus illegal, as proved by two independent investigative committees that he appointed last year.