Toxic air and smog choke Delhi as experts at COP29 in Baku warn how dragging feet on fossil fuel reduction can cause catastrophe
Baku/New Delhi: The ongoing air pollution crisis in South Asia is a grim reminder of what is at stake and the urgent need for countries to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, experts observed at the ongoing COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan's Baku amid the deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi triggering an environmental crisis.
The last feral horses of India
The Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Assam is the only place in India with a population of feral horses. These horses are believed to be descendants of war horses from World War II, while other theories suggest they could be descendants of China’s Przewalski’s horses. The horses face threats from smuggling and dwindling grazing grounds and habitat. Mongabay-India correspondent Nabarun Guha reports
Indian savannas: New remote sensing study spotlights misclassification and flawed tree-planting
Regarded as ‘degraded forests’, Indian savannas have been historically misclassified and understudied. A new remote sensing study used tree cover as a metric to examine the drivers influencing the savannas and forests. Understanding these drivers helps prevent unscientific tree plantations that are detrimental to savannas. Mongabay-India writer Nikhil Sreekandan reports
White beluga whale Hvaldimir, dubbed 'Russian Spy', found dead off Norwegian coast
A white beluga whale, which was often suspected to have been trained by Russia to act as its spy but conservationists said had bridged the gap between humans and wild animals in a way that few can, was found dead off the Norwegian coast recently.
Deadstock Textile: The journey from dump yards to designer racks
Deadstock textiles, often discarded or incinerated, are being innovatively repurposed by some Indian designers into sustainable fashion, reducing environmental impact. Mongabay India correspondent Shweta Thakur Nanda reports
Rapidly warming Indian Ocean hurtling towards near-permanent marine heatwave state
Marine heatwaves are events where ocean temperatures rise to extreme levels and hold steady for at least five days. These heat waves, that occur over the ocean, are likely to extend to 220-250 days a year by 2050, warns a new study. With increasing marine heatwaves, cyclones can intensify, putting fisheries and people living along the coastline, at risk, reports Mongabay India writer Nidhi Jamwal
The new Rhino colony
India’s alarmingly low greater one-horned rhino population prompted the government to announce a conservation programme in 2005. Eighteen sub-adult rhinos were translocated from Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas National Park in 2008 to revive the population there. A new study calls the translocation project a success and puts forward recommendations to ensure the future survival of the newly established rhino population at Manas. Mongabay India correspondent Arathi Menon reports
Love is love: More animals show same-sex bonding in new study
A new study adds to a growing list of some 1,500 animal species in which same-sex sexual behaviour is documented. Interest in this research is expanding after a long history of stigma within the field that led some earlier scientists to withhold evidence of same-sex sexual behaviour among animals. Mongabay correspondent Swati Thapa reports
WFUNA Foundation India, Youth of India Foundation drive to boost renewable energy initiatives in Sikkim
In an event poised to shape the future of renewable energy, the WFUNA Foundation and Youth of India Foundation recently hosted a panel discussion titled 'Youth Accelerating Tripling-Up Renewables' at the Sikkim Manipal University.
Days after massive earthquake kills 157, another one hits Nepal today; tremors felt in Delhi
Kathmandu: Days after the massive earthquake in Nepal that killed 157 and injured many, the Himalayan country was hit by another 5.6 magnitude quake on Monday and tremors of which were felt in neighbouring India's Delhi and NCR.
Tribute: Remembering M. S. Swaminathan
M.S. Swaminathan’s greatest strength was his ability to engage and connect with ease with everybody across board, from politicians to bureaucrats, academics, journalists, students and common people. Swaminathan’s primary contribution to the country was his work for the Green Revolution. The Green Revolution was a package that helped India overcome a crisis and was not a long-term sustainable solution. Swaminathan was aware of this and it is obvious from the research-for-development projects being implemented by the Foundation. Mongabay India Managing Editor writer S. Gopikrishna Warrier remembers him
'Green' Energy in Uzbekistan: Prospects of solar and wind power plants
Uzbekistan has a very high potential in the use of renewable energy sources. According to the estimates of the International Energy Agency and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Uzbekistan has a combined renewable energy potential for electricity production of 2,091 billion kWh (30 times higher than annual consumption).
Indias tiger reserves have helped fight climate change
Enhanced conservation management of tiger reserves in India has helped avoid forest loss, preventing one million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. This represents $93 million in ecosystem services from the avoided social cost of emissions. The researchers suggest that biodiversity conservation programmes could generate revenue from carbon credits that could be traded in voluntary carbon markets. Mongabay-India writer Neha Jain reports
A Haryana village resists government buildings to protect iconic trees
The Thaska village in Haryana is known for its enormous and well-branched Salvadora trees. Some village residents are opposing the construction of the government buildings, However, those supporting the proposal claim that newer construction would mean more livelihood opportunities for the village youth. Mongabay-India writer Sat Singh reports
Himalayan glacier thinning: Clear and present danger of outburst floods
The formation of new glacial lakes and expansion of existing ones in the Himalayas can potentially release catastrophic volumes of water and trigger glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), says a new study. GLOFs are natural disasters which can cause devastating impacts downstream, including loss of lives, infrastructure damage, and economic loss. Mongabay India writer Mudassir Kuloo reports how the changing climate has increased glacier thinning and heterogeneous mass loss globally.
Natures Hints In Kerala And Balochistan: Road To Extinction
Human greed is causing destruction of forest covers in India's Kerala and Pakistan's Balochistan exposing the regions to future climate disasters. Sai Kiran from from India's Thiruvananthapuram and Tanveer Ahmed from Quetta in Pakistan report in a cross-border journalism project
Tigers burn bright in India under the shadow of human-animal conflict
According to the latest census, 3,167 tigers have been recorded in India. Tiger population in India is close to saturation, note experts, prompting discussions on sustainable development amid rising human-animal conflict. Mongabay India writer Saurabh Katkurwar reports
Kolkata Trams: Streetcars of desire fight losing turf battle
As Kolkata's trams celebrate 150 years of their rollercoaster journey in the eastern metropolis, the city's signature streetcars fight a grim survival battle despite all ado over heritage. Sujoy Dhar reports
Uttarakhand's sinking town: What went wrong in Joshimath
Nearly 700 buildings in Joshimath, a culturally and historically important holy town in Uttarakhand, have developed cracks. Local authorities are evacuating residents. Joshimath is ecologically fragile as it is built on an ancient landslide site. It always had a low bearing capacity. The unplanned construction of dams, tunnels, and roads has led to the current problem. Mongabay India correspondents Satyam Kumar and Shailesh Shrivastava report
India-Pakistan Water Management: Thirsty Nations
India and Pakistan can better manage water resources to reduce impacts of climate disasters. Raksha Kumar, Khuldune Shahid and Ghulam Mustafa report from across the border
Floods of Fury Crush Tourism Earners in India and Pakistan
Fatalism and hope hang heavy in the air as Pakistan and India battle nature’s fury dealing a big blow to the small-scale earners in the tourism industry. Iffat Hasan Rizvi, K Rajendran and Sai Manish report from the two sides of the border
Urban Heat Stress
Researchers explore the relationship between heat stress and carbon emissions, and why heat waves are felt strongly in urban areas, be it the USA or India. SPAN writer Jason Chiang reports
Record number of forest fires imperil Himachals ecology
Himachal Pradesh recorded 2,763 incidents of forest fires this year from April 1 to June 30, which is the highest figure recorded by the states Forest Protection and Fire Control division, since 2007. While three forest officers lost their lives, over 23,000 hectares of forest area were affected. Senior forest officers state that dry weather spells and human negligence or wilful destruction could be the reasons for the fires. The local people see it as an outcome of large scale development projects. Mongabay India correspondent Vivek Gupta reports
How a village in Maharashtra is helping vultures make a big comeback
In the 1980s, India was home to around 40 million vultures. By 2017, it declined to 19,000. However, Chirgaon, a village in Maharashtras Raigad district, has been working on reviving its local vulture population. The village's vulture population has gone up from 22 in 1999-2000 to 249 this year. Mongabay-India writer Sneha Mahale reports
For Vidya Balan-starrer Sherni the makers used academic rigour to study the topic of conservation
Recently-released Sherni featuring Vidya Balan as an IFS (Indian Forest Service officer) has been lauded for its realistic and empathetic portrayal of the forest and its surrounding communities as well as for bringing the topic of wildlife and conflict into a mainstream film. Mongabay-India writer Srikant Chaudhary spoke to Shernis director Amit Masurkar and writer Aastha Tiku on the choice of the subject, the characters and the films attempt at portraying reality
Groundwater preservation the key
Climate researcher Madhumita Sahoo works to identify solutions and approaches to manage groundwater resources to the advantage of people everywhere. SPAN writer Michael Gallant reports
Waste not
Reducing food wastage can help conserve resources and the environment, says Debasmita Patra, food waste researcher teaching in an American university. SPAN writer Candice Yacono reports
The case of northeast Indias Malayan giant squirrels
The Malayan giant squirrel is predominantly arboreal and lives in the tropical and subtropical montane evergreen and dry deciduous forests of Sikkim, north Bengal and northeast India. Logging, habitat loss and forest fragmentation are common threats to the species while dearth in scientific research means that targeted conservation action for the Malayan giant squirrel is also lacking, Mongabay-India correspondent Aathira Perinchery reports.
Land use changes in Himalaya: Clear and Present Danger to birds
Scientists have recorded a drastic loss in forest birds due to land-use changes in the western Himalayas. TV Padma of Mongabay India reports
Top Headlines
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Environment
Toxic air and smog choke Delhi as experts at COP29 in Baku warn how dragging feet on fossil fuel reduction can cause catastrophe
November 19, 2024
-
Environment
The last feral horses of India
November 11, 2024
-
Environment
Indian savannas: New remote sensing study spotlights misclassification and flawed tree-planting
September 16, 2024
-
Environment
White beluga whale Hvaldimir, dubbed 'Russian Spy', found dead off Norwegian coast
September 02, 2024
-
Environment
Deadstock Textile: The journey from dump yards to designer racks
August 29, 2024
-
Environment
Rapidly warming Indian Ocean hurtling towards near-permanent marine heatwave state
May 06, 2024
-
Environment
The new Rhino colony
March 28, 2024
-
Environment
Love is love: More animals show same-sex bonding in new study
January 25, 2024
-
Environment
WFUNA Foundation India, Youth of India Foundation drive to boost renewable energy initiatives in Sikkim
November 10, 2023
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Environment
Days after massive earthquake kills 157, another one hits Nepal today; tremors felt in Delhi
November 06, 2023