Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of In Re: News Item titled "Nayar river is vanishing - a yatra reveals conservation goes beyond science and policy" appearing in ‘The Down To Earth’ dated 03.06.2025. The original application was registered suo-motu based on the news item titled "Nayar …
A TENTH of the world's known tree species face extinction, according to a recently published global survey called the "World List of Threatened Trees". The three-year survey found that more than 8,750 of the 80,000-100,000 identified tree species are on the brink of extinction. This is mainly due to the …
THE bandicoots living in a predator-proof section of the Woodlands Historic Reserve north of Melbourne, Australia, have declined from 600 to about 20 over the past two years, largely due to over-grazing by an out-of-control population of kangaroos. Animal Hberationists and the state government have been blamed for causing the …
Malaysia's Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) has come up with a novel concept to stabilise the dwindling turtle population: adopt a nest for a fee of rm 200, or a turtle for rm 100. If the proposal sounds appetising, turtle lovers can contact SEATRU at Pulau Redang, Terengganu, in Malaysia …
Some fish species are on the verge of extinction at Natore district in Bangladesh. Defying a government ban, fry are being caught indiscriminately from different rivers. The catching of fry varieties like Kalibaush, Ruhi and Katla up to 23 cm is strictly prohibited by law. But catching of these fishes …
SOME 10 kilometres from the din of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, India, the gharial - a member of the reptile fam-ily - is getting a second lease of life. More than two decades ago, the Gharial Rehabilitation Centre was set up here in the Kukrail reserve forest area. Its aim: …
The Rhinoceros sonda'icus annami-ticus, a rare and threatened sub-species of Javan rhinos unique to Vietnam, are facing certain extinc-tion. A recently-conducted census of the animals' footprints suggests that their population in Vietnam is down to the last five . "They can survive for only two or three more years unless …
The malbhog, considered to be the finest variety of banana found in Vaishali district of Bihar, is on the road to extinction. Soil infertility, fungal diseases, unscientific farming practices have takes their toll on the quality, and even quantities are down. Currently, only 10 hectares (ha) of land are under …
One of the most popular fruits of Mizoram is sapthei, or passion fruit, which looks more like a small mauve brinjal from the outside. The fruit is yellowish in the inside and is scooped out and eaten, seeds et al. People talk about the late Rajiv Gandhi's partiality towards the …
The wetlands of Bihar are home to a unique food crop - makhana (Euryale ferox), the popped seeds of which are a popular non-cereal meal eaten on some religious occasions. "Though the medicinal value of the seeds is documented, the plant has been ignored by scientists," complains Vidyanath Jha of …
Dwindling diversity India holds the distinction of being the world's second largest producer of fruits, both major and minor. But many of the fruits native to India are being less and less savoured Fruits come in all shapes and sizes. Neatly stacked in wooden crates and placed under bright lights, …
MANGO: Known as the king of fruits, India is blessed with mango diversity. Wild forms of Mangifera indica (mango) can be found in the peninsular tract, the evergreen forests in the Northeast and the terai regions. Wild forms of the allied species, M sylatica, are also found in the evergreen …
Besides diversity in minor fruits like aonla, ber, bael, custard apple, jamun, phalsa, tamarind and karonda, there are other tropical fruits that are yet to be exploited and their genetic base explored and enhanced. These include barhal (Artocarpus lakoocha), chironji (Buchanania lanzan), dillenia (Dillenia indica), makhana (Euryale ferox), manasari (Mimusops …
Conservation is a positive step towards preservation, maintenance, sustainable utilisation, restoration and enhancement of the natural environment with its diversity. However, conservation of fruits certainly needs more government attention than what it currently gets. Research institutes lack funds for establishment of gene banks or to carry out conservation programmes. "Through …
• The war of words, and weapons, aside, legend has it that during one of the better phases in Indo-Pak relation-ship, the fate Zia ul-Haq sent a crate of mangoes to the late Indira Gandhi. The taste caught Indira's fancy and she immediately sought information on the mango only to …
ASIA'S once-abundant sea horse population has gone down drastically in recent years, owing to heavy demand for their use in traditional medicines, aphrodisiacs and aquariums, said conservationists. Destruction of their habitat is another major cause for their decline, they say. "We're dealing with a situation where we still have some …
Environmentalists have stoutly opposed the construction of the proposed Dharma port in Orissa. According to Banka Behari Das, an eminent environmentalist in the state, the government should not allow the construction of the port, unless it gets specific clearance from the Union ministry of environment and forests (MEF). Das has …
TACHILEK bustles with activity. A busy tourist market, its streets are thronged by buyers, who have travelled many miles to get here. In smuggling circuits, Tachilek is known for selling everything from US-made Marlboros to Chinese fabric. However, buyers flock to this town, not for American cigarettes or cheap Chinese …
The Broken Arrows The relationships between plants and pollinators took thousands of years to develop. Human intervention has destroyed them in a very short period. Pollinator decline is also affecting the harvest. Therefore, it is vital to conserve them, but research in this field is lacking in India THERE are …
The orang-utan, one of human's closest relatives, may be extinct in the next 20 years if the uncontrolled destruction of Indonesia's forests continues in its present manner, according to a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). The loss of forest habitat and poaching for bush meat are leading to …
