Ecology and Environment

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Featured Articles
September 2, 2024
The promise and pitfalls of India’s BioE3 Policy
The strategic objectives and challenges of India's BioE3 Policy
The transition to a bio-based economy could affect various stakeholders (Image: GetArchive; CC0 1.0)
August 30, 2024
India’s efforts at water pollution control: Legislative frameworks and real-world impacts
This article traces the evolution of the legislative framework for water pollution in India and its implications for wastewater treatment standards in the country. 
Open drains in Alwar (Image Source: IWP Flickr photos)
August 2, 2024
Wayanad landslide tragedy: Balancing nature and development
There is a need for a multi-faceted approach to disaster management, combining advanced monitoring, early warning systems, community preparedness, and sustainable land use practices to mitigate future risks.
Aftermath of a 2022 landslide on Nedumpoil ghat road (Image: Vinayaraj, Wikimedia Commons; CC BY-SA 4.0)
July 10, 2024
A silent crisis in Indian farmlands: The disappearing trees
Millions of trees are fast disappearing from India's farmlands. What are its implications for agriculture and the environment?
Disappearing trees over Indian farmlands (Image Source: WOTR)
June 9, 2024
Environmental tech startups: Powering a sustainable future
India’s funding jumped from $225 million in 2018 to $1.5 billion in 2023, marking a compounded annual growth rate of 140%
Green startups: Powering a sustainable future (Image: Needpix)
June 7, 2024
Misguided ocean carbon capture: Hype outweighs science
Scientists question effectiveness of nature-based CO2 removal using the ocean
Ocean ecosystem (Image: PxHere, CC0 Public Domain)
Fertiliser sector’s bleak record on water use in India
A recent report by CSE rates fertilizer plants on how green the sector is.
Amita Bhaduri
Posted on 06 Aug, 2019 02:09 PM

Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), a New Delhi based non-profit has rated the country’s fertilizer sector on several parameters, in a first of its kind study. The rating, done over an 18-month-long process, covered 28 of the 32 functional fertilizer units in the country.
There is need to improve the environmental performance of the fertiliser sector through multi-directional initiatives (Image: MaDailyGist)
All work and some play
Collective action games trigger conversations around the nature of the invisible and immeasurable common pool resource - groundwater.
Aditi Sajwan
Water Practitioners Network
Posted on 02 Aug, 2019 12:11 PM

India is, by far, the world’s largest groundwater economy. India’s annual withdrawal of fresh groundwater (253 Billion Cubic Metres in 2013) amounts to one fourth of the global total and is more than that of China and the US combined. Over 80% of water extracted is used in agriculture. The share of tubewells in net irrigated area rose from a mere 1% in 1960-61 to over 40% in 2013-14.
Villagers in Magradeh, Madhya Pradesh watching neighbouring farmers play a game. Image credit: Water Practitioners Network
Is the Jalayukt Shivar Abhiyan just a quick fix to manage droughts?
A research paper argues that quick fix solutions to drought management will not work unless they are backed up by proper planning, implementation, monitoring and regulation of water use.
Neha Bhadbhade
Sarita Bhagat
KJ Joy
Abraham Samuel
Kiran Lohakare
Raju Adagale
Posted on 02 Aug, 2019 10:29 AM

Maharashtra is reeling under drought this year too, with the situation in Marathwada particularly bad.
Quick fix solutions to droughts will not work (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
How do farmers perceive soil erosion?
A study in Telangana argues that farmers’ expertise is important while assessing the severity of soil erosion.
Dayakar Peddi
Kavi Kumar
Posted on 01 Aug, 2019 03:24 PM

Regionally and globally, soil erosion is a major contributor to total land degradation.
A farmer in Pochampally (Image:Saurabh Chatterjee, Flickr Commons, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Himalayan states call for green bonus and a separate ministry
News this week
Swati Bansal
Posted on 31 Jul, 2019 05:35 PM

Himalayan states demand green bonus and separate ministry from Centre
The Himalayas (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Global freshwater fish species under grave threat: IUCN
News this week
Swati Bansal
Posted on 24 Jul, 2019 05:01 PM

Alarming decline in global freshwater fish species: IUCN
Freshwater fish species across the world under grave threat (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Dibang hydel project gets approval
Policy matters this week
Swati Bansal
Posted on 24 Jul, 2019 04:27 PM

Cabinet approves Dibang hydel project in Arunachal Pradesh
People protesting Dibang Hydropower Project (Source: SANDRP)
Gender in hydropower development: A long way to go
A study finds that hydropower organisations in India continue to maintain a culture of hierarchy, follow masculine norms and are insensitive to the needs of women and the marginalised.
Gitta Shreshta
Deepa Joshi
Florian Clement
Posted on 22 Jul, 2019 04:44 PM

Large dams, back in the game?
Hirakud, India's oldest dam (Image source: India Water Portal on Flickr)
Rajasthan's ancient yet ever-evolving water heritage
A book documents the enormous range of water harvesting systems still in use in Rajasthan.
Amita Bhaduri
Posted on 21 Jul, 2019 11:10 AM

The state of Rajasthan has an immense range of ancient and ingenious water harvesting systems, like the famous johads or step wells managed by communities in the arid Thar desert, which receives very low rainfall.
The design of Chand baodi (stepwell) in Abhaneri village, Rajasthan, was intended to conserve as much water as possible (Image: Unseen Horizons, Flickr Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)
Budget allocation to Jal Shakti ministry reduced by 9.4 percent
Policy matters this week
Swati Bansal
Posted on 10 Jul, 2019 12:01 PM

Government cuts budget for Jal Shakti Ministry by 9.4 percent; increases funds for rural drinking water mission 
Irrigation well in Randullabad, Maharashtra. Image credit: Manu Moudgil for India Water Portal
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