The global cost of disasters is growing: The economic burden of disasters is intensifying. While the direct costs of disasters averaged $70–80 billion a year between 1970 and 2000, between 2001 and 2020 these annual costs grew significantly to $180–200 billion. But the real cost is far higher. Disaster costs …
Dugong (Dugong dugon), also called 'Sea Cow', occurs in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, and Gulf of Kutch in India. These marine mammals are herbivores which spend their full life in the sea. They are the only extant species of the family Dugongidae. All existing members …
In India diurnally subperiodic filariasis (DspWB) is prevalent only in the Nicobar district of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Studies undertaken at different points of time indicate that this form of filariasis is restricted to a small region in Nancowry group of islands where it is transmitted by mosquito Downsiomyia nivea, …
The environment and forests ministry Monday introduced in the Rajya Sabha major amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 that seek heavier penalties to check wildlife-related crimes and aim to make Indian laws consistent with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The Wildlife …
The Unesco has designated Nicobar Islands as a world biosphere reserve under its ‘Man and the Biosphere Programme’. Member countries establish these reserves and the world body recognizes them under this programme to promote sustainable development based on the efforts of the local community and sound science. These regions are …
Looking for new ways to deal with the rising ecological challenges in urban areas of the state, the Omar Abdullah government is sending out delegations of MLAs on study tours across the country. In the first such tour, CPM legislator M Y Tarigami left on a two-week tour of West …
Mangroves are salt tolerant plants that occur between 32°N and 38°S latitudes. Mangroves play an important role in stabilizing shoreline and protect the coast against storm surges and heavy tides. Though the mangrove inventory has been done earlier in India using satellite data but no systematic attempts has been made …
The Coast Guard has started looking for an alternative site to deploy its coastal radars in Andaman and Nicobar Islands after the Environment Ministry red-flagged its plan to put them up at Narcondam to save rare bird “hornbill”. The agency was planning to set up radars as part of a …
To save the habitat of an endangered species of bird, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan has rejected the Navy’s proposal to set up a missile testing site at Tillanchong Sanctuary in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Navy has said it would ask the ministry to reconsider. Natarajan said on Friday …
Calcutta, Aug. 1: Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered a new bird on the Great Nicobar Island, the second report of a bird species previously unknown to science in independent India. ZSI scientists S. Rajesh Kumar and C. Raghunathan spotted the species, named the Great Nicobar …
The Lakshadweep group of islands, one of the most biologically diverse and fragile environments in India, is under pressure from population, urbanisation, development of tourism, unregulated construction, pollution, and land use changes. A study on the state of the environment of the union territory, conducted by the Kerala State Council …
A Recent Study Notes 13 Direct Sightings Of The Mammal In Gulf Of Kutch Ahmedabad: The rare dugong, also known as ‘sea cow’, is happily grazing underwater off the Gujarat coast. Until now, wildlife experts had known about the existence of the marine mammal largely through carcasses being washed ashore …
The earthquake and tsunami of 2004 resulted in the devastation of marine and coastal ecosystems across the Indian Ocean. However, without adequate baseline information it has been difficult to properly gauge its full impact. The reefs of the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal lie on a path that …
KOLKATA, 22 APRIL: Tsunami devastated their lives eight years ago, but they are yet to get compensation announced by the Centre. And now the administration tells the 321 tsunami-hit families of South Andaman and Nicobar Islands not to be swayed by “rumours” that the compensation money ~ Rs 130 crore~ …
KOZHIKODE: Showing signs of improvement in the mangrove cover across the state, the Annual Report of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) 2011-12, which was released recently, notes that the mangrove cover in Kerala has increased for the first time since 2005. According to the report, the total mangrove …
Move triggered by earthquake of 8.9 magnitude that has been felt in Indonesia The state-run Nuclear Power Corporation (NPC) would soon shut down the two units each of 220 MW at the Kalpakaam nuclear project. The step has been taken as a precautionary measure in the wake of a tsunami …
With the presence of 1,168 bird species recorded in the country, India has been ranked 9th in the global list of bird wealth. While a majority of Indian species belonged to the Least Concerned category indicating that they were relatively safe from threats, the country was ranked 6th in terms …
ONE OF the many miracles of India is that it has maintained one-fifth of its area under forest cover since Independence. The population has jumped three-and-a-half times since 1947 and with it the demand for agricultural land. During 1951-80, India diverted 42,380 sq km forest land, 62 percent of it …
Pointing to the rich biodiversity of the Andaman and Nicobar islands, a team of researchers from the city has identified a new species of earthworm. Jaya Manazhy and Aja Manazhy, senior research scholars in the Department of Zoology, Mar Ivanios College, under the guidance of K. Vijayakumaran Nair, identified the …
New Delhi: The Indian Navy’s plans to test fire missiles from Andaman and Nicobar Islands appear to have hit a hurdle with the environment ministry concerned over the impact of the exercise on an endangered bird species found only in the ecologically sensitive area. The environment ministry, examining the Navy …
The Environment Ministry is considering the idea of developing bioshields comprising mangrove and non-mangrove species in coastal areas adjoining critical infrastructure projects such as power plants and oil storage depots. The idea of promoting mangroves and other biological shields to provide a
