Ecology and Environment

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An anthropologist visits orans in Rajasthan

Orans are traditional sacred groves found in Rajasthan. These are community forests, preserved and managed by rural communities through institutions and codes that mark such forests sacred. Orans have significance for both, conservation and livelihood. The author visited two orans in Alwar district in Rajasthan and in this article, she writes about her observation.

Ranjita Mohanty

Posted on 26 May, 2023 10:17 PM

It’s a day in late June 2022. The sun is fierce. I am in Rogda village, in the Aravali hills in Rajasthan. As I walk into the village, I see a big pond filled with water; it was like an oasis. I would learn soon that it is johad, a traditional water harvesting system to capture runoff water during monsoon. I keep walking and now I am amidst trees.

Since ancient times, communities in Rajasthan have preserved these orans, and their lives have been inextricably entwined with them. (Image: Ranjita Mohanty)

Urgent need for coordinated effort to put out forest fires in Odisha

There is a strong correlation between forest fires and tendu prevalence in Odisha

iFOREST

Posted on 24 May, 2023 10:08 PM

Leading members of civil society from across Odisha gathered to discuss their concerns and recommendations in a civil society dialogue hosted by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability, and Technology (iFOREST) in Bhubaneswar against the backdrop of the state's increasing number of forest fire incidents.

Forest fires ignited by natural causes, but major contribution of human action cannot be denied (Image: Naveen N K, Wikimedia Commons)

Conservation and collection practices in the sacred Thal Kedar forest of Uttarakhand

Both indigenous and scientific knowledge are equally important to promote biodiversity conservation

Devi Datt Joshi

Virender Singh Rana

Harendra Kharkwal

Posted on 20 May, 2023 06:57 PM

Forests are a primary source of food, water, medicine, fruits, shelter, bedding materials, fuel, fodder, and appliances for agriculture in rural areas, globally. The ‘sacred natural forest sites’ in the Himalayan mountains are a common center of different cultures, social groups, traditions, and beliefs.

The sacred Thal Kedar forest is a common sacred center for people of different cultures, traditions, and beliefs (Image: Mini Mehta, eUttaranchal)

WMO annual report emphasises how quickly climate change is progressing

The WMO State of the Global Climate report 2022 focuses on key climate indicators – greenhouse gases, temperatures, sea level rise, ocean heat and acidification, sea ice and glaciers.

World Meteorological Organization

Posted on 24 Apr, 2023 11:09 AM

According to the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) yearly report, climate change continued to advance in 2022 from the tops of mountains to the bottom of the ocean. Communities on every continent were impacted by droughts, floods, and heatwaves, which cost many billions of dollars.

Ocean heat content reached a new observed record high in 2022 (Image: Maxpixel)

NITI Aayog panel likely to propose incentives for water efficiency

Policy matters this fortnight

Amita Bhaduri

Posted on 15 Apr, 2023 11:32 AM

NITI Aayog panel likely to propose incentives for efficient use of water

Solutions that enable comprehensive reductions in water in agriculture (Image: WallpaperFlare)

Prepaid cards for power to save groundwater

Policy matters this fortnight

Amita Bhaduri

Posted on 01 Apr, 2023 04:49 PM

House panel suggests prepaid cards for power to save groundwater

Over exploitation of groundwater is due to wide cultivation of water guzzler paddy and sugarcane crops (Image: Thamizhpparithi Maari, Wikimedia Commons)

PepsiCo India extends pilot initiative in Punjab to address stubble burning

The company’s Biochar Initiative continues to benefit local farmers while improving air and soil quality

Posted on 21 Mar, 2023 12:39 PM

PepsiCo India has extended its

PepsiCo’s Biochar Program helping farmers manage stubble burning

India’s first round-the-clock solar village angers pastoralists

News this fortnight

Aarti Kelkar Khambete

Posted on 20 Mar, 2023 09:02 AM

India's first round the clock solar power plant in Modhera village Gujarat, threatens livelihoods of pastoralists

Maldharis grazing buffaloes (Image Source: A. J. T. Johnsingh, WWF-India and NCF via Wikimedia Commons)

How to restore India's degraded pond ecosystem

In order to promote a regenerative system for biodiversity protection, the relationship between the pond ecosystem and the circular economy was also evaluated.

Shweta Yadav

V C Goyal

Posted on 11 Mar, 2023 09:41 AM

Healthy pond ecosystems are critical for achieving several sustainable development goals (SDG) through numerous ecosystem services (e.g., flood control, nutrient retention, and carbon sequestration).

Temple pond in Kerala (Image: Sreekanth V, Wikimedia Commons)

Instruments to facilitate long-term lending critical for green transition

Long- term financing, restructuring of institutions needed to allow green finance to flow

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

Posted on 23 Feb, 2023 10:17 AM

The 22nd edition of the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)—the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS)—is being held from 22-24 February 2023 in New Delhi.

There is a need to reform the global financial system to achieve sustainable development (Image: MaxPixel)

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May 14, 2024

जलवायु परिवर्तन का मानव स्वास्थ्य पर प्रभाव एवं वर्तमान प्रदूषण रहित चुनौतियां (भाग 2)

May 14, 2024

जलवायु परिवर्तन का मानव स्वास्थ्य पर प्रभाव एवं वर्तमान प्रदूषण रहित चुनौतियां (भाग 1)

जलवायु परिवर्तन से मिट्टी पर पड़े प्रभाव का सीधा असर मानव स्वास्थ्य पर पड़ता है। जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण तापमान में वृद्धि होती है और वाष्पीकरण का संतुलन खराब हो जाता है व हमारी मिट्टी की आर्द्रता असंतुलित हो जाती है। इसके परिणाम स्वरूप हमें सूखे की मार झेलनी पड़ सकती है। अगर यह स्थिति लगातार बनी रही तो मिट्टी मरुस्थल में तब्दील हो जाती है। मिट्टी एक समय ऊसर व बंजर हो जाती है। अर्थात हमारे पास भोज्य पदार्थ के उत्पादन के लिए पर्याप्त उर्वर भूमि नहीं बचेगी और हमें भूख व कुपोषण की चपेट में आकर अपनी जान गंवानी पड़ेगी। हालांकि यह स्थिति अभी भी बनी हुई है। लेकिन जलवायु परिवर्तन के कारण इसका स्वरूप और विकराल हो सकता है।

May 12, 2024

Atal Bhujal Yojana: Bridging ambition with reality

Rethinking community engagement in the Atal Bhujal Yojana

Towards sustainable groundwater management (Image: IWMI)

May 12, 2024

भारत में सार्वजनिक स्वास्थ्य पर जलवायु परिवर्तन का प्रभाव

बढ़ते तापमान और मौसम में बदलाव से गर्मी की लहरों और चरम मौसम की घटनाओं की आवृत्ति और तीव्रता बढ़ रही है, जिससे बीमारी, चोट और मृत्यु का खतरा बढ़ जाता है। साथ ही जलवायु-संवेदनशील रोगजनकों के फैलाव में बदलाव आता है, जिससे डेंगू और डायरिया जैसी बीमारियाँ कुछ क्षेत्रों में अधिक आम हो सकती हैं। जलवायु परिवर्तन से फसलों की पैदावार में कमी, खाद्य कीमतों में वृद्धि, खाद्य असुरक्षा और अल्पपोषण का खतरा बढ़ता है। इससे जल सुरक्षा भी प्रभावित होती है। ये परिवर्तन गरीबी, मानव प्रवास, हिंसक संघर्ष और मानसिक स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं को बढ़ा सकते हैं। Rising temperatures and climate change are increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves and extreme weather events, increasing the risk of disease, injury, and death. It also changes the spread of climate-sensitive pathogens, which could cause diseases like dengue and diarrhea to become more common in some areas. Climate change increases the risk of reduced crop yields, increased food prices, food insecurity and undernutrition. This also affects water security. These changes may increase poverty, human migration, violent conflict, and mental health problems.