India Needs to Foster Research and Innovation in Environmental Science
Gautam Aredath, Abi Tamim Vanak India’s impact on the environment is undeniable and set to increase in the medium-term. The third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases behind China and the USA, it recorded the highest emissions increase among top contributors in 2022.
Reintroduce Rural Wild Vegetables to Urban Food Basket
Harisha RP, Namratha Murali Deccan Herald | January 2, 2024 In cities, hypermarkets are swamped with produce sourced from distant corners of the world, transforming shopping aisles into a year-round harvest spectacle. Our diets are calorie-rich and nutrient-poor, as a repercussion of ease of access, globalisation, industrialisation, and commercialisation of our food systems.
How to strategically align CSR funds to meet India’s sustainability goals
Anuja Malhotra, Abi Tamim Vanak The evolving landscape of CSR presents a unique opportunity for corporate India to drive positive change and restore balance between socio-economic progress and environmental stewardship, write the authors of this commentary. Optimising the potential of CSR funding towards the environmental sector needs a longterm strategy, collaboration with local communities and […]
Re-imagining Bengaluru lakes as living beings
The lakes we have around the city are all man-made. They were historically interconnected irrigation tanks with embankments against the flow of water, resulting in a deep end and a shallow end.
Amendments in the Forest Conservation Act Enable Community-led Recognition of Forests
Gautam Aredath Mongabay | November 23, 2023 The 2023 amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act exclude the category of ‘deemed forests’ which was an important safeguard for large swathes of forest and forest-like ecosystems. However, the amendments may hold the key to an alternative – that of community-led recording of forests – because they recognise […]
Don’t water down quality for beauty
Priyanka Jamwal Deccan Herald | November 22, 2023 Lakes offer various direct and indirect services, including groundwater recharge, biodiversity enhancement, recreational space, and storage for rainwater and excess treated wastewater from apartment complexes. Over the past two decades, lake ecosystems have suffered significant degradation due to rapid urbanisation, migration, and population growth. Although the city […]
Even after backfire, Gambusia fish remain popular to beat mosquitoes | Explained
Nobin Raja, G. Ravikanth The Hindu | November 21, 2023 In the last few months, various government and non-governmental organisations in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Punjab have released mosquitofish into local water bodies to address a mosquito menace that locals have complained about. In fact, officials in Visakhapatnam are set to release an additional six […]
Greening ‘wastelands’ doesn’t guarantee a greener India
Abi Tamim Vanak, Sanjana Nair The Times of India | November 12, 2023 In pursuit of India’s net-zero goals, wastelands are being repurposed for renewable energy and afforestation projects. This poses a threat to the diverse ecosystems they encompass and the communities dependent on them.
The hidden danger
Priyanka Jamwal Bangalore Mirror | Novermber 6, 2023 The latest study regarding the detection of high levels of heavy metals in the vegetables sold in the supermarkets across Bengaluru has generated a sense of apprehension among the urban population. This study was conducted by Environmental Management Policy & Research Institute (EMPRI), a reputed state agency […]
Greening India ≠ Green India: Let wastelands be
Abi Tamim Vanak, Sanjana Nair National Herald | November 6, 2023 In 2019, the ministry of rural development published the latest edition of the Wasteland Atlas of India, which categorised approximately 17 per cent of India’s terrain as wastelands, that is, the land that appears barren or degraded. According to the ministry, these are areas […]
