Climate Change, COVID-19 Burden India's Fisherfolk: Sustaining Livelihood in Lockdown

Last year, India’s fishing community faced the brunt of cyclones. Most of the cyclones after 1974 happened in 2019. The community was still reeling under the losses from the previous year when COVID-19 hit hard. With the enforcement of social distancing, officials of fisheries departments began mulling how such restrictions could be put in place for the fishing harbour, landing centres, and auction houses. Though fisheries have been exempted from the lockdown rules, there are other looming concerns. With the export sector looking fuzzy, and the warehouses packed, where and how will the fisherfolk sell their catch? In this article, Sharada Balasubramanian shares valuable insights.

Covid-19 In A Water-Stressed Nation

During the present COVID-19 pandemic, we are advised to wash hands frequently with soap and that too for a minimum of 20 seconds. But, have you thought what effect will it have on a water-stressed nation such as India? In this article, Niyati Seth and Sonia Grover highlight that currently, the challenge for the government is not only to combat the pandemic but also of rising water demand during peak summer months. Perhaps, a simple initiative of closing the tap while not in use during washing hands can reduce water wastage; such simple steps undertaken at an individual level can bring about a change which is much needed to face such critical situations.

Ultraviolet LEDs: Prove Effective in Eliminating Coronavirus from Surfaces

As COVID-19 continues to ravage global populations, the world is singularly focused on finding ways to battle the novel coronavirus. That includes the UC Santa Barbara’s Solid State Lighting & Energy Electronics Center (SSLEEC) and member companies. Researchers at SSLEEC are developing ultraviolet LEDs that have the ability to decontaminate surfaces—and potentially air and water— that have come in contact with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

War Against Novel Coronavirus: Weapons to Win this Battle

In this article, Meena Sehgal says that COVID-19 has opened new discussions on funds for the health sector, the equity in availability of resources across urban and rural India and their adequacy within the communities. She wonders whether the new world order of protective and preventive action would last beyond the virulence of COVID-19 and feels that pivotal change, required, would be a marked increase in public expenditure on health as percentage of GDP.

Electric Vehicles: The Future of Mobility

In this article, Rudhi Sundar Pradhan highlights the fact that the recent shift in global automotive technology and an increasing uptake in electric vehicles (EVs) is likely to pose a challenge to the existing automotive market if the country does not plan its transition towards newer mobility solutions and develop the required manufacturing competencies and infrastructure to uplift the market.

Is Nature Healing Itself?: At Least Breathing Peacefully for a While

The coronavirus, needless to say, is proving to be deadly to humanity. However, it did open our eyes to the fact that there are more deadly viruses that we have been perpetrating on the environment. Namrata Gulati Sapra says that we have tormented Mother Earth for a long time, but now due to the worldwide lockdown following the scare of the COVID-19 pandemic the nature is breathing peacefully for a while.

Malnutrition and Susceptibility to Viral Infections: Role of Traditional Indian Medicine to Boost Immunity

In this article, Vaishnavi Barthwal, Roshni George, and Dr Anjali Parasnis try to understand the relationship between malnutrition and susceptibility to viral infections, especially among young children in India. They also discuss the role of traditional Indian medicine to boost the immunity and curing viral infections. During the present COVID-19 crisis, the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India has issued an advisory to the states suggesting ‘addon traditional medicine interventions to conventional care’.

Strange Ways to Earn a Living

People forget that they have only one life. In the pursuit of money, they spend their days doing the strangest, often most dreadful, things. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi gives you a few examples.

Impact of Coronavirus on the Indian Energy Sector: The Short-term and Long-term Impacts

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a radical slowing of economic activity across India, as industries scale-back production, employees work from home, and communities enter lockdown. As a result, we have seen significant impacts on the Indian energy sector. In this article, Will Hall covers both the short-term implications of the response to COVID-19 on the energy sector, as well as some of the possible longer-term impacts that are yet to materialize.

Acknowledging Our Biodiverse World: Possible Links Between Biodiversity, Deforestation, and Pandemics

How much have we, the human race, neglected our biodiverse world? In this thought-provoking piece, Dr Rina Mukherji discusses the need to recognize the various ways in which our ecological diversity can be saved against exploitative anthropogenic activities, outbreaks and pandemics related to the emergence of deadly viruses, and more.

A Much-needed Break for Nature: As Humans Have Slowed Down

It was 7 a.m. on day 20 of the nationwide lockdown and Siddharth Edake was enjoying a hot cup of tea on the balcony of his 8th floor apartment in Gurugram. On usual days, his view would comprise rows and rows of high-rise buildings that fade away into an increasingly graying horizon. But, what did he see instead that day? Read more to find out…

Covid-19 Lockdown - Showing Possibilities Of Change

To stop the imminent spread of the novel coronavirus, the Government of India imposed a nationwide lockdown between March 25 and April 14, 2020. But, do you know that even during these testing times there is something to feel really cheerful about? Shivang Agarwal and Dr Sumit Sharma say that this complete lockdown has resulted in improvement of air quality in Indian cities, particularly Delhi and Mumbai. The 21-day lockdown in the country has provided us a blessing in disguise to reassess our activity patterns and also shown us the possible impacts of these strategies on air quality.

Lessons From The Covid-19 Response

The global Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has transformed lives all over the world. Nations have been closing their borders. There are lockdowns in some countries and restrictions on public gatherings in others. Businesses have been hard hit with the transport, tourism, hotel and restaurant industries being the worst affected. The world economy is entering a recession. In this article, Ajay Shankar and TCA Avni discuss a few lessons that should be learnt globally from the present crisis engulfing the whole world. Creation of spare healthcare capacities is clearly a necessity across the world. Managing communication would also be an increasing challenge.

‘Sustainable Fashion Is Limited to the Elite'

The marigold flower is fashion designer Nida Mahmood’s new muse that epitomizes all things ‘Indian’. Popularly known as the ‘Queen of Indian Kitsch’, Nida Mahmood talks to Ipshita Mitra about the core of her latest sustainable line of clothing ‘Madam Marigold’, the future of circular fashion, resurrection of age-old techniques and art forms in fashion to ensure sustainability, and why sustainable fashion continues to lag behind in the mainstream market among other things.

Why Don't We Celebrate Earth Day Every Day? - Small Steps Could Go a Long Way

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year. This year will mark 50 years of Earth Day. The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. This year we have two crises: one is the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and the other is, of course, climate change. In this article, Anjali Prasad says that by actually taking small steps in our daily lives, we can make everyday Earth Day. Earth Day 2020 can be the catalyst that spurs an unparalleled global collaboration for protecting planet Earth.

Where Agroforestry Enhances Livelihoods - Telangana Cotton Farmers Take Up Alternative Crops

In an innovative and new agroforestry project aimed at improving green cover and restoring land, cotton farmers in Warangal district of Telangana have taken up mango and teak plantation on their lands. Nitin Jugran Bahuguna tells us about the project, launched by Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), a farm science centre of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), based in Jammikunta district and Centre for People’s Forestry (CPF), a local NGO with support from Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA) and WWF-India is encouraging farmers to get an additional crop by taking up mango plantation, which also checks soil erosion and crop damage.

Regulation Risks Less Sustainable Alternatives to Plastic - Scenario in Europe

Over the past couple of years plastics have become the public face of the waste pollution crisis, prompting an unprecedented consumer and regulatory backlash that shows no sign of stopping. The attached analysis from Mark Victory looks at how some narrowly focused regulation is shifting the problem to other sectors, doing little to improve end-of-life environmental impact or even intensifying the damage.

Microfibre Pollution - from Wearing and Washing Clothes

In a novel study, scientists from the IPCB-CNR and the University of Plymouth compared four different items of polyester clothing and how many fibres were released when they were being worn and washed.

M S Swaminathan Research Foundation

‘150 Years of Science as Seen Through the Pages of Nature’

Celebrating Our Great Home - Earthenware As an Environment-Friendly Option

In this article, N Kalyani says that as we observe Earth Day we can take simple steps to protect our home, the Earth, and celebrate its beauty and richness. Using earthenware as an eco-friendly option is one such step.

ABCs An Emerging Hope for Sustaining Agriculture

Over 4500 farmers of Prakasam and Guntur districts in Andhra Pradesh have become self-reliant as they can bargain better price for their produce. M N Kulkarni, V Suresh and S Gopal Reddy discuss the benefits Agri-Business Centres (ABCs) have brought to the lives of the farmers as today they could get the agricultural inputs and equipment at their doorsteps on lower rental charges in their village. They can also hire costly equipments at nominal hire charges for completing agricultural operations on time.

How Plant And Animal Species Could Be Gone In 50 Years

One in three species of plants and animals may face extinction from climate change by 2070. Projections of species loss depend on how much climate will warm in the future, reveals a new study.

21st Century The Age of Deforestation?

The year 2019 witnessed depletion of forests to an unprecedented extent. Wildfires, deforestation, illegal logging, mining and other such factors, for which man is responsible, reduced the green cover. World Wide Fund came up with a list to forewarn the world about the regions that are already seeing extreme forest loss and could spiral out of control by 2030 if not addressed at the earliest. On this International Day of Forests, celebrated on March 21, Namrata Gulati Sapra sheds light on these forests that are bearing the brunt of selfish human deeds, demanding urgent attention.

Turning the Tide on Plastic Pollution India's Youth Lead the Way

We are living in an age of plastics. Even though they have the advantage of being lightweight, relatively cheaper, and long-lasting, they cannot degrade, thereby polluting our planet. The present scenario is – remnants of plastic bags get consumed by animals, microplastics enter our food chain, and the city streets are littered with plastics. This article discusses the growing menace of plastic pollution and suggests various ways of adopting sustainable lifestyle choices for a greener future.

For How Long Can the Water Be Trusted? Understanding Water Management in the Hills

The available water resources in the hills should not be taken for granted and the urgency of caution with regard to the exploitation of water – a critical resource – must not be underplayed. It is about time to reflect on these words of WC Fields, “You can’t trust water. Even a straight stick turns crooked in it,” and understand their true meaning in a broader connotation, writes Rajshekhar Pant in this timely and relevant article on water management in the Central Himalayan region.

The Curious Case of the Indian Painted Frog On India's Amphibian Fauna

Many people consider frogs as a nuisance. Little do we know, they are also potential indicators of environmental health. In this article, Amar Kumar Nayak discusses the Indian Painted Frog, which has tree-climbing qualities similar to monkeys and squirrels. The bright red to dull pink-coloured amphibian can be distinguished from other Indian frogs by its short head, fingertips, and colouration.

Responsible Farming and Reliable Food Security Choosing Agrochemicals

India’s agrochemical market is dependent on various factors that include the country’s growing population and demand for foodgrains, reducing per capita availability of arable lands, and production of fertilizers. In an exclusive email conversation with TerraGreen, Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) Ltd, discusses the future of agrochemical industry in India.

Faithful Fathers and Crooked Cannibals

Considering that we humans are overly protective of our offspring and most of the care is given by both parents, with differing roles, this article discusses a paper by Dr K.S. Seshadri and Professor David Bickford on a bush frog Raorchestes chalazodes found in the Western Ghats. Dr Marianne Furtado de Nazareth discusses the paper and was surprised to learn that parental care is given by the males alone which is quite widespread among amphibians and fish.

Conserving Scarce Water Resources Dealing with Water Crisis in India

As most of India grapples with drought-like conditions, the situation of water scarcity in the country is predicted to turn worse with an increase in the overall population by 2050. In this article, Dharmesh Kumar Singh and Sonia Grover discuss the short-term and long-term implementation-oriented and evidence-based solutions that must be prioritized in our current water management practices.

Defying Change, Arambol Stays All Natural!

Goa, whose skyline was once legendary for its pristine beaches, churches in the countryside and coconut trees lining every stretch visible, has now been reduced to a parody. Tourism and its dizzying after-effects are having a deep impact on customs and traditions in India’s smallest state. In this article, Gajanan Khergamker talks about how Arambol has succeeded in resisting development and retained its vibrant culture and traditions