CATEGORIES

Climate Services For Farmers In India

The Rise and Ensuing DevelopmentsSince climate variability induced by climate change is so uncertain, climate-informed advisory services can help Indian farmers in managing risks and ensure means of their livelihoods in a better manner. In this article, Mihir Mathur discusses the development of various climate services for farmers in India and also informs that TERI has also been studying climate services system in India through its Indo-Norwegian Research Project on Governance of Climate Services (GovClimServices).

Rare Mineral Vaterite

Discovered in Plants for the First TimeA rare mineral (vaterite) with potential industrial and medical applications has been discovered on alpine plants at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.

Citizen Science: Promoting Active Citizenship

Citizen science is defined as scientific work undertaken by the members of the general public, often in collaboration with or under the direction of professional scientists and scientific institutions. Studies have shown that citizen science has a major impact in research related to biology, conservation, and ecology. Here, Biba Jasmine says that citizen science is a discipline in its own right and has promoted active citizenship around the globe. She also feels that the efforts to consolidate and strengthen citizen science could help support and upscale projects for science, society, education, and environmental policymaking.

Up in Arms Against Noise

Having fought and won several long, drawn-out battles against noise pollution, Sumaira Abdulali, has won many awards and honours for her commendable work for the environment. Though extremely soft spoken, she is a fierce environmentalist who will stop at nothing to take the bull by its horn. Her interview with Namrata Gulati Sapra for TerraGreen is a testimony to her grit and perseverance…

Environmental Impacts On Epidemics: A Case Study Of Dengue

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. It is spread by several species of mosquitoes of the Aedes type, principally A. aegypti. The last few years have seen particularly severe dengue epidemics in the metropolitan cities of India with several deaths due to the different strains of dengue. Here, Dr Rina Mukherji discusses the spread and factors responsible for the rising cases of dengue in India. She highlights that climate change in the form of vagaries in weather patterns (particularly monsoon) have a definite role in the increasing prevalence of dengue as conditions become ideal for the breeding of disease vectors during the post-monsoon period resulting in epidemics in urban and peri-urban areas.

Human–Animal Conflict In Urban Areas

The burgeoning urbanization has intensified the conflict between humans and animals in India's urban areas. Due to increasing population of stray animals, our cities are grappling with canine and simian menace. In this article, Dr Surya Prakash highlights the grave situation of the man–animal conflict in the urban areas and points out that we all must join hands on this serious issue and think beyond translocation, relocation, and sterilization of the stray animals as these measures have neither proved to be effective in controlling the population of these animals nor the menace.

Bring Back Good Food With Organic Seeds

Women warriors don't go to the border to fight wars nor is culture dissemination restricted to the arts. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi talks about women who change bad farming practices and work hard among local farmers to disseminate organic seeds of forgotten vegetable and grain varieties that don't need pesticides and chemical fertilizers to grow. Their effort is to restore heritage plants and get people to eat pure food.

Perceptions Amidst Conflict

People and Voices from the Sundarbans

Students As e-Waste Warriors: Sensitizing About Reducing And Safe Disposal Of E-Waste

The Paris Agreement is perhaps the most well-known agreement on climate change mobilizing all the nations under one pact, but what about efforts at an individual level? How will the world even know about the steps that are being taken to combat the growing problems of climate change and waste management? Acknowledging the importance of rewarding and recognizing such efforts, TERI introduced the ‘Green Heroes Contest’ to honour such initiatives. Kirti Lakhanpal, a ‘green hero’ herself, shares her experience with e-waste management and how being a part of this campaign has been truly rewarding for her. Kirti started a small movement amongst her students who went back to sensitize their parents and neighbourhoods on reducing e-waste and the need for safe disposal. As part of this effort, students have educated nearly 80 ragpickers on the health hazards of unsafe dismantling of e-waste and convinced them to sell it judiciously to the organized sector.

Service Companies For Dog Care

Is it difficult for you to find time to take care of your pet dog? Maneka Sanjay Gandhi suggests a dog walking service company that could help. It is also a good business idea for young people.

Capturing The Wild - Moments And Movements In The Wilderness

A coffee table book on the wildlife of the Indian and the African jungles, Roar is a luxuriously produced tome running into two hundred odd pages that brings together a collection of photographs taken by Kamal Morarka. Keep reading to know more about this book…

Mars InSight Mission - To Be Launched By NASA In May 2018

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has set a new launch opportunity, beginning May 5, 2018, for the InSight mission to Mars. NASA is moving forward with a spring 2018 launch of its InSight mission to study the deep interior of Mars, following final approval by the agency’s Science Mission Directorate.

Conserving Rich Avian Biodiversity - Kerala Agricultural University Shows the Way

We all know that forests, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves are the regular choices for conserving biodiversity. Bhavya Khullar informs us that a study from the Kerala Agricultural University in India has opened the possibility of conserving the rich avian biodiversity of the region on its campus.

The Kaziranga Debate - Wildlife Cringes Or The View From The Fringes?

Nestled in the heart of Assam, Kaziranga National Park was recently mired in a bitter controversy regarding the killing of tribal people in the name of wildlife conservation. To what extent is this kind of security justified, if at all? On their part, the Kaziranga authorities and the government feel they need to strengthen their security, and by no means is Kaziranga the only rhino-bearing area where gun battles between the forest security and well-armed poachers occur resulting in casualties. In this article, Nava Thakuria narrates both sides of the story and gives an account of the series of events and developments that have emerged in this regard.

The Vanishing Grasslands of India: A Threat to Biodiversity

It has been ten years since the Planning Commission Task Force on grasslands suggested various policy initiatives on saving these critical habitats, as well as communities dependent on them. Today, India’s ecologically-fragile grasslands remain degraded and more areas are falling prey to anthropogenic activities. Subir Ghosh highlights the reasons why grasslands are highly important ecosystems and the current status of these ecologically-fragile habitats, particularly in India.

New Discovery by Spitzer

Largest Batch of Earth-Size, Habitable-Zone Planets around Single Star Revealed by NASA Telescope.

Sushant Kalra

Parwarish Institute of Parenting.

The Myntdu and Lukha Blues: The Acidic Rivers of Meghalaya

As indicated by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board in 2008, the bluish hue accumulating in the Myntdu and Lukha rivers, although picturesque, is anything but benign. Having destroyed the aquatic life, the toxic waters have resulted in ruining the livelihoods of the communities living in the surrounding areas. Jonathan Donald Syiemlieh points out that these contaminated rivers are unfit for sustenance or consumption, and have, therefore, emerged as a formidable health and national challenge.

Sustainable Future Starts with Sustainable Habitats

Shri Rajeev Kapoor, Secretary, MNRE, GoI, at the 8th GRIHA Summit.

GRIHA Rating For Existing Buildings- Enhancing Resource Efficiency In EBs

Whilst there is a lot of focus on making the new construction resource efficient and sustainable, the potential opportunities to save energy and water in the existing building stock remain largely unexplored. In this article, Ar. Namrata Mahal and Ms Shabnam Bassi talk about the need for transforming existing buildings through ‘GRIHA for Existing Buildings’ that has been developed by the GRIHA Council as a cohesive tool to evaluate performance of the existing building and at the same time provide solutions for energy and water efficiencies, enhanced thermal and visual comfort, and reduced operational and maintenance costs.

Live A Green Life - Advantages Of Energy-Efficient Appliances

Amongst the barrage of technological advancements, home-improvement appliances constitute a considerable portion demanding its own share of investors and consumers. While there is no denying the numerous advantages that have indeed facilitated a better standard of life, the flip side, however, is rather grim. In our urgency to outdo ourselves by creating faster gizmos that hardly seem to take any time to complete tasks, not all is well and balanced in this technologically driven cityscape. Sadly, our environment is at the receiving end of this story, and, in this article, Guy C Noronha draws our attention to the damage caused to our environment on a daily basis. He also suggests some methods or practices by which we could try and improve the energy efficiency of our gadgets, such as refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners.

Sacred Groves

For Conservation of Ecosystems

Killing Animals For Superstition - It Needs To Be Stopped!

A superstition is any irrational belief or practice that arises from ignorance or fear of the unknown and faith in magic or luck. Thousands of animals are killed every year . Maneka Sanjay Gandhi says that we must do something about it very soon.

‘Protectors Of The Environment'

Connecting Children with Nature

Is India Ready to Protect Urban Biodiversity?

Is India Ready to Protect Urban Biodiversity?

Enabling Suaba with Light and Education

It is hard to find the Suaba village of Odisha on maps. Suaba had little access to electricity for a long time and the only school in the village had been dysfunctional for years. Paromita Pain highlights the pioneering efforts of Varun Sharma who helped the residents of this remote village to gain access to basic needs, such as education and electricity. Keep reading to know more…

Marine Species And Deep-sea Mining - The Related Threats

Underwater mining poses a great danger to animals inhabiting the seafloors. A new research study describes the most abundant species, a sponge, which can now be used to regulate mining operations and help us better understand their environmental impacts.

Microplastic Pollution In Coastal Ecosystems - A Serious Threat To Human Health And Marine Ecosystems

Microplastics, oceanic contaminants, are widely distributed in the marine environment. In this article, Dr Fraddry D’Souza and Ms Sanam Gaonkar investigate the abundance of microplastics in various coastal ecosystems of Goa and raise the issues of potential impacts on marine organisms and environment.

Inspired By Nature - Indian Scientists Converting Water Into Hydrogen

Recently, researchers at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)–National Chemical Laboratory in Pune were in spotlight for developing an artificial leaf that is capable of absorbing sunlight and using it to turn water into hydrogen. The research team is led by Dr C S Gopinath, Senior Principal Scientist at Catalysis Division and Center of Excellence on Surface Science, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory in Pune. Here, he is in an exclusive email conversation with Abhas Mukherjee, for TerraGreen.

Sand Mining In The River Ganga​ - Destroying Ecology, Devastating Environment

Sand mining in riverbeds is a practice that is used to extract sand through mining from riverbeds. Sand mining is a direct cause of erosion and also impacts the local wildlife. Here, Dr Rakesh Agrawal ‘Ridh’ points out the adverse impacts of sand mining in the River Ganga on the ecology and environment of Uttarakhand and particularly low-lying regions such as Haridwar. Excessive instream sand and gravel mining causes the degradation of rivers. He also highlights the struggle undertaken by the religious leaders of a Haridwar-based Ashram, Matri Sadan, to protest against the sand mining activities imposed by the State Government.