Gods’ Gardens
In Tamil Nadu, the relationship between humans and plants extends beyond utility into culture, tradition, and religion. Tree worship is among the earliest known forms of human devotion. In Sangam literature, the heroine of Natrrinai addresses the punnai tree (Alexandrian laurel) as her sister. Trees like neem, banyan, peepul, fig, and palmyra are still worshipped […]
Traditional Fishers Turn Rescuers in a Win for Declining Marine Wildlife
Coastal fishers in Tamil Nadu are forgoing hunting practices and instead increasingly rescuing dolphins, turtles, and dugongs during nearshore fishing operations…
Forest governance
This opinion piece examines decentralisation in forest governance and the role of the Forest Rights Act in empowering community forest management.
What an Edible Insects Stall Revealed About Acceptance, Normal Food
Despite their nutritional and environmental benefits, insect-based foods are losing popularity. Urbanisation has created cultural distance from traditional practices.
Market Gaps Reshape Farming and Economy in the Mountains
Poor connectivity, weak price discovery, and dependence on intermediaries undermine farm viability in the Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas.
Revitalising Open Natural Ecosystems Through India’s National Red List Assessment Initiative
Open Natural Ecosystems cover nearly 10% of India’s land area and support rural livelihoods. This article explores India’s National Red List initiative to assess and conserve them.
Institutional expertise meets judicial confusion in the Aravalli hills definition case
Down To Earth | 30 December, 2025 Sachin Pernacca Sashidhar, Milind Bunyan, Kripa MK, Abi T Vanak The Supreme Court’s now-stayed definition of the Aravalli Range relies on a 100-metre height threshold that could exclude most of the landscape. Scientists and environmental groups warn the move ignores decades of ecological research on how the Aravallis […]
The Indian Wolf’s Survival Depends on How We Classify Land
The Indian wolf’s future is tied to how India recognises and manages its savanna grasslands and predator–people relationships.
The Legal Hoodwinking of Adivasis
An examination of how legal processes have undermined community forest rights in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo Arand forests.
Vanishing Chirps: Rapid Urban Growth Pushes Bengaluru’s Birds to the Brink
Urban growth and habitat change are reshaping bird populations in Bengaluru, with species responses linked to habitat dependency.
