In this issue

SOIL SECRETS - Life below ground is critical to food security in a warming world, and needs to be factored in tools that measure soil health.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT

West Bengal's Bhanga Mela (scrap fair) has pushed the limits of recycling. Organised every January at Mathurapur village in 24 South Parganas district, shops at the fair sell discarded electronic items, antiques and even non-functional goods that are in repairable condition.

2 mins

A wild chase

BASED ON A 2015 PROBE THAT BUST A MAJOR IVORY SMUGGLING RACKET IN INDIA, POACHER PROVIDES A RARE GLIMPSE INTO THE WORK OF FOREST OFFICIALS

3 mins

Suspect claims in Teva's suit against Cipla

The US Federal Trade Commission has warned the Israeli drug firm its patents are wrongful as it sues Cipla aggressively

4 mins

WATER SCARREDCITY

Bengaluru's water crisis was long in the making. The city has grown at the cost of its lakes and ponds that are key to its water security. Over 93 per cent of the city is built-up, which makes groundwater recharge difficult. Inadequate sewage systems pollute the limited water available. Over the decades, the city has become dependent on the Cauvery, 100 km away, for 70 per cent of its water needs. This makes water unaffordable. It's time Bengaluru broadened its water resource base beyond the Cauvery and focused on recharging groundwater and reusing treated wastewater.

10+ mins

On guard

Communities in Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh reduce human-elephant conflicts using technology and proactive on-ground monitoring

4 mins

Overlooked crisis

While there is much talk about climate migration, the world is without a legal framework to protect people displaced by weather disasters

6 mins

Taking charge for water

A young sarpanch in Maharashtra helps his village residents avail drinking water at home

2 mins

International Women's Day Special SHE

In India, women self-help groups have been a source of empowerment, fostering economic independence, social stature and community resilience.

10 mins

MODERATELY YOURS

The crunchy, slightly sweet tubers of shankhalu can be a healthy addition to one's diet

3 mins

TROUBLED TEAK

Farmers need to be sensitised about right planting materials and cultivation techniques to benefit from high-value teak plantations

6 mins

Follow the Chinese way on high tech

Making universities the hub of innovation and churning out scientists adept in frontier technology has put China at the top

4 mins

Stronger resolve

In the face of climate change, countries make a slew of commitments to ensure conservation of migratory species

2 mins

MIND YOUR THOUGHTS

Technologies with potential to read one’s thoughts have grown tremendously in recent years driven largely by artificial intelligence, a develooment that raises ethical and privacy issues

5 mins

Winter Without Snow

Record-low snowfall in the Himalayas is evidence that climate change is speeding up

3 mins

UNDERRATED GREEN

Kohlrabi is a healthy but little used member of the cabbage family

3 mins

Historical hindsight

An encyclopaedic work capturing the breathless changes in Assam’s recent history as well as its struggle for identity and modernity

6 mins

Making jugaad a global success

Frugal innovation is the new concept that companies are adopting to take technology to developing countries

4 mins

Whose debt is it

Many African nations are defaulting on payment of loans they have utilised for funding climate-resilient infrastructure

3 mins

RACE TO REHABILITATE

Every sixth urban Indian lives in slums. With housing-for-all being a key national target, states across the country have taken steps to redevelop slums.

8 mins

At the cost of welfare

The Interim Budget 2024-25 took a cautious approach to reduce fiscal deficit. This prioritisation led to inadequate allocations for key sectors

2 mins

Forced to vanish

The world has its first clear evidence on migratory species facing heightened levels of extinction risk due to human-led pressures

4 mins

That Lonely Feeling

WHO has recognised loneliness as a public health crisis and is trying to devise a way to measure the condition that affects a quarter of the world population

10 mins

Worthy alternative

A new field experiment shows that fertiliser derived from faecal sludge can improve crop yields

3 mins

Narkya and the plunder of biodiversity

Dilution of biological conservation rules and lax enforcement of forest laws are giving free rein to the drug industry and trade

4 mins

Pencil in this shortage

India's 'pencil village' faces uncertain future due to raw material crises

3 mins

Fight for land

From stricter land laws to revising domicile rules, Uttarakhand residents demand government action to stop the sale of agricultural land to outsiders

3 mins

Madagascar faces year's first cyclone

THE FIRST cyclone of 2024 made landfall near Morombe in Madagascar on January 1, affecting around 16,100 people.

1 min

Paddy warriors

A couple in Karnataka is preserving rare native paddy varieties through cultivation

2 mins

Read all stories from Down To Earth

Down To Earth Magazine Description:

Down To Earth is a fortnightly magazine published by the Society for Environmental Comm, a non-profit research and advocacy organization based in New Delhi, India. It is one of the most respected environmental magazines in the country.

The magazine covers a wide range of topics related to the environment and sustainable development, including:

* Climate change: DTE provides in-depth coverage of climate change, including its causes, impacts, and mitigation and adaptation strategies.
* Energy: DTE covers a variety of energy topics, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and fossil fuels.
* Water: DTE covers a variety of water topics, including water pollution, water scarcity, and water management.
* Pollution: DTE covers a variety of pollution topics, including air pollution, water pollution, and soil pollution.
* Biodiversity: DTE covers a variety of biodiversity topics, including forests, wildlife, and conservation.
* Sustainable development: DTE covers a variety of sustainable development topics, including green economy, sustainable agriculture, and sustainable transportation.

Down To Earth magazine is known for its high-quality journalism and its commitment to environmental protection. It is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the environment and sustainable development in India and around the world.