Red Seaweed Washes Ashore Along Thoothukudi Harbour Beach, Draws Visitors
Large quantities of red seaweed have washed ashore along coastal stretches near Thoothukudi Harbour Beach in recent days, creating a striking natural spectacle that has drawn the attention of tourists and local residents. Marine enthusiasts said the seaweed, which naturally grows in the Gulf of Mannar marine ecosystem, was likely carried to the shoreline by […]
Lake Restoration in Bengaluru: Why Most Fixes Fall Short
Priyanka Jamwal, a senior fellow at the Water and Society Programme for Bengaluru-based nonprofit ATREE, gives an example of her own intervention. Venkateshwara Lake saw fish kills and water-quality complaints. Her team installed two submerged aerators in the lake, spread over 6.8 acres. “We put this aerator in Venkateshwara Lake because of two things. One, […]
An Unregulated Groundwater Economy Drills Into Trouble
“The water supply department is predominantly shaped by civil engineers who approach and remain largely focused on the development, monitoring, and management of surface water resources. There is a need for hydrogeologists who can understand and map aquifers for sustainable monitoring and management of groundwater resources,” says Sachin Tiwale, a fellow at ATREE, who specialises […]
Droughts Can Drive Antibiotic Resistance in Soil Bacteria, Research Finds
“India is vulnerable because it simultaneously faces several challenges relating to increased frequency of droughts, heavy antibiotic use in humans and livestock, wastewater irrigation, dense human-animal-soil interactions, and heavy agricultural dependence,” G. Ravikanth, senior fellow and convenor, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), Bengaluru, said.
Tamil Nadu: Large Flocks Of Migratory Flamingos Spotted In Thoothukudi Salt Pans; Experts Stress Habitat Protection
Large flocks of migratory flamingos have been spotted inhabiting the salt pans region of Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu, drawing attention to the ecological significance of the coastal habitat and the need for stronger conservation measures during the migration season.
Nature-based Solutions: Hype or Hope?
NbS is not fully understood in the Global South context. Researchers have even questioned the term itself. The phrase “nature-based solutions” is a confusing catch-all that does not specify what problem is actually being solved, says Dr Sharachchandra Lele, distinguished fellow, Environmental Policy and Governance, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).
Invasive Fish Species Threaten Native Biodiversity in Vembanad Lake
A recent study conducted by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) and the ATREE has revealed a significant decline in native fish species in the lake over the past two decades, while the population of exotic fish species continues to rise. Maneeja Murali, senior programme officer at ATREE’s Community Environmental Resource Centre, […]
Ringed Harrier Makes Nemmeli Seasonal Home
Earlier this year, Suzhal Arivom, an environmental research and conservation collective, spotted a ringed adult male Montagu’s harrier (Circus pygargus) at Nemmeli in Chennai. Now it’s been confirmed from the ring number that the bird was originally ringed in Rajasthan by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) under their Harrier […]
No More Prawns in Vembanad Lake This Time; Invasive Fish Take Over the Lake
The invasive fish sucker catfish is spreading in the Vembanad Lake, posing a threat to native fish. Invasive fish species such as sucker fish, pacu and pearl gourami were found during the Vembanad fish census. Although sucker fish have been found in the Vembanad Lake before, it has been found that they are now reproducing […]
