More than a fifth of the world's migrating species are at risk of going extinct as a result of climate change and human encroachment, according to this report by the United Nations. Migratory species globally are facing critical challenges, with nearly half in decline and over 20 per cent threatened …
Joseph Wright and Helene Muller-Landau suggest that regeneration of tropical forests might lead to far less species loss than is feared by most tropical biologists (12 May, p 42). There is currently very little reason to think so.
Home-garden-system is an ecosystem of different kind and a common feature of most suburban landscape in many rice farming tropical countries. If these kinds of ecosystems are well maintained, well-developed and used most sustainably; they can contribute a lot to the conservation of biological diversity by lessening the destructive use …
The Western Ghats and Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, with its unique assemblages of plant and animal communities and endemic species, is globally important for conserving representative areas of the Earth
Freshwater basins are vulnerable to human-induced change for a number of reasons. The change detection study of Ansupa lake, Orissa was carried out by using multi-temporal satellite data clearly indicates the decrease in wetland area. Due to high anthropogenic pressure, the wetland is shrinking day-by-day. Finally, for restoration efforts to …
Vindhyan region is very rich in plant biodiversity because of its variety of geology, land shapes like plateau, plane, valley and hill areas. There are variety of climate and altitudinal variations compiled with varied ecological habitants. Because of various known and unknown reasons biodiversity of the area has been declining …
This report provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date scientific assessment of the impacts of climate change, the vulnerability of natural and human environments, and the potential for response through adaptation. It evaluates evidence that recent observed changes in climate have already affected a variety of physical and biological systems and …
This study presents information on fire in greater depth than was possible in FRA 2005, including its incidence, impact and management in different regions of the world. It recognizes that not all fires ware destructive and that fire management is an essential part of sustainable forest management. Indeed, some ecosystems …
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) is a ground-breaking study on how humans have altered ecosystems, and how changes in ecosystem services affect human well-being, both now and in the future. Integrating findings at the local, regional, global scales and from alternative intellectual traditions, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment presents a stark …
The Economic Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet of Pakistan approved the proposal of the Diamond Bar Island City in October 2006. The project, to be built on the 4,856-hectacre (ha) Buddo and Bundal islands located off the southwestern tip of Karachi coast, is facing stiff resistance because it poses …
WEST Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee signed a much-hyped deal with the Salim Group of Indonesia for investments up to Rs 20,000 crore in infrastructure development on July 31. Billed the "New Kolkata International Development Project," the deal includes expressways, bridges, special economic zones, industrial hubs and health and knowledge …
It is practically axiomatic that rainfall is redistributed as throughfall, stemflow and canopy interception in forest ecosystems. The redistribution pattern in the present study was observed in the fifteen years old block plantations of Aegle marmelos, Emblica officinalis, Syzgium cumini, Tamarindus indica and Terminalia bellerica at JNKVV Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, …
The programme of Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) in India has been one of the most ambitious ideas ever, of any government till date. It is an idea that has conjured up visions for the common Indian
Secondary succession in tropical areas following recent human disturbances is becoming more common. This is particularly evident in regions of tropical rainforests, long valued by conservationists for their remarkable species diversity. In Southeast Asia, as in the neotropics, central Africa and South Asia, tropical forests have been logged for timber, …
This document is intended to provide an overview of the major components of surface and ground water quality and how these relate to ecosystem and human health. Local, regional, and global assessments of water quality monitoring data are used to illustrate key features of aquatic environments, and to demonstrate how …
the us has rejected key clauses of a un declaration on debt, trade, human rights, global security and terrorism, to be signed by heads of state at the Millenium+5 summit, a pivotal un conference to be held in New York on September 14-16, 2005. It has proposed over 400 last …
A vast ecosystem recently discovered below Antarctica's floating ice shelves could offer a completely new understanding of the origin of life in extreme environments. The sunless habitat was found beneath the collapsed Larsen Ice Shelf in northwestern Weddell Sea. "This is definitely the biggest thing I've ever been involved with …
a major global study of the planet's ecosystems released on March 31, 2005 warns that human actions are depleting the Earth's natural capital at a pace that threatens the planet's ability to sustain future generations. The study is expected to provide scientific inputs for international conventions, mainly ecosystem-related conventions on …
