EVERY NOW and then, biologist Deepak Barua takes a break from his usual assignments at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, and plans a trip to the 500 km away Sirsi forest. Located in the heart of the Western Ghats, the forest near Sirsi town of northern Karnataka is known for its tree species diversity. This is one of the latest forests that Barua has been monitoring, along with other scientists, to investigate the threat that climate change poses to the tropical tree species of India.
Studies suggest that heatwaves and frequent and intense droughts result in increased tree mortality and forest dieback across the world.
There is also evidence that extreme temperatures threaten the survival of sensitive species, resulting in local extinctions, range shifts and altered vegetation composition.
A 2010 study, published in Forest Ecology and Management, documented 88 events of forest mortality, driven by water or heat stress since 1970. A May 2024 study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that about 37 per cent of the Amazon forest in Brazil is unable to recover due to frequent droughts, suggesting the possibility of mass die-offs in near future.
However, not much is known about how tropical forests in India are going to respond to extreme temperatures and frequent and severe droughts.
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Denne historien er fra September 16, 2024-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
