For How Long Can the Water Be Trusted? Understanding Water Management in the Hills

The available water resources in the hills should not be taken for granted and the urgency of caution with regard to the exploitation of water – a critical resource – must not be underplayed. It is about time to reflect on these words of WC Fields, “You can’t trust water. Even a straight stick turns crooked in it,” and understand their true meaning in a broader connotation, writes Rajshekhar Pant in this timely and relevant article on water management in the Central Himalayan region.

The Curious Case of the Indian Painted Frog On India's Amphibian Fauna

Many people consider frogs as a nuisance. Little do we know, they are also potential indicators of environmental health. In this article, Amar Kumar Nayak discusses the Indian Painted Frog, which has tree-climbing qualities similar to monkeys and squirrels. The bright red to dull pink-coloured amphibian can be distinguished from other Indian frogs by its short head, fingertips, and colouration.

Responsible Farming and Reliable Food Security Choosing Agrochemicals

India’s agrochemical market is dependent on various factors that include the country’s growing population and demand for foodgrains, reducing per capita availability of arable lands, and production of fertilizers. In an exclusive email conversation with TerraGreen, Rajesh Aggarwal, Managing Director, Insecticides (India) Ltd, discusses the future of agrochemical industry in India.

Faithful Fathers and Crooked Cannibals

Considering that we humans are overly protective of our offspring and most of the care is given by both parents, with differing roles, this article discusses a paper by Dr K.S. Seshadri and Professor David Bickford on a bush frog Raorchestes chalazodes found in the Western Ghats. Dr Marianne Furtado de Nazareth discusses the paper and was surprised to learn that parental care is given by the males alone which is quite widespread among amphibians and fish.

Conserving Scarce Water Resources Dealing with Water Crisis in India

As most of India grapples with drought-like conditions, the situation of water scarcity in the country is predicted to turn worse with an increase in the overall population by 2050. In this article, Dharmesh Kumar Singh and Sonia Grover discuss the short-term and long-term implementation-oriented and evidence-based solutions that must be prioritized in our current water management practices.

Defying Change, Arambol Stays All Natural!

Goa, whose skyline was once legendary for its pristine beaches, churches in the countryside and coconut trees lining every stretch visible, has now been reduced to a parody. Tourism and its dizzying after-effects are having a deep impact on customs and traditions in India’s smallest state. In this article, Gajanan Khergamker talks about how Arambol has succeeded in resisting development and retained its vibrant culture and traditions

Anchoring Dreams with a Sustainable School Empowering Young India

Going to school remains an unfulfilled dream for many children in rural India. In this article, Surmai Kaushik focuses on the dismal quality of education in rural schools of our country and suggests ways of empowering the young minds towards sustainability.

How Should We Save Energy? - Be ‘Energy Wise Energy Rise'

Rapid globalization and urbanization have led to an increase in energy demand and consumption. This thought-provoking analysis aims to address energy-related issues by presenting solutions and ways that can contribute towards creating an energy-secure society, where people will understand the need to adopt energy-efficient choices in their daily lives.

Towards A More Equitable And Sustainable World - India's Efforts And The Imminent Challenges

Biba Jasmine, in this article, focuses on the three global goals, namely sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), water and sanitation (SDG 6), and combating climate change (SDG 13) as the three most transformational challenges facing India.

Reviving The Wetlands Of Karnataka - Bashettihalli

Over the last decade, India has lost 50 per cent of its wetlands. Till over a decade ago, India was rich with fertile landscapes with gushing water systems. The recent water crises across India have been an alarming wake-up call. Here, WWF India and Nokia’s partnership to revive the cascade wetland system of the Bashettihalli wetland in the Bengaluru rural district of Karnataka has been discussed. It is the work of multiple stakeholders coming together, joining hands and successfully implementing better wetland management.

Towards 2030 Goals - Making The Decade Count

In this article, Shailly Kedia, Swati Ganeshan, and Dr Manish Anand discuss the three critical aspects: science, technology and innovation in ensuring sustainable development, role of partnerships and the significance of international cooperation for achieving Agenda 2030. The article elucidates some of the major concerns, challenges and opportunities in these three areas that would be critical to push the faster implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Films, Now, Put Environment In Focus! International Film Festival Of India (IFFI) 2019

Films play a crucial role in Indian society. Cinema is not only an art form but also an instrument of expression through which human feelings are conveyed. Cinema does not exist in isolation but reflects contemporary society, issues, and societal choices and concepts. Manu Shrivastava says that as a welcome trend, the film industry in recent times has shown an increased number of films being made on environmental issues and the recently-concluded International Film Festival of India (IFFI) 2019 in Goa was a testimony to that.

Challenges Of Urban Mobility - Some Possible Solutions Vis-A-Vis DTC Buses

Sarah Berry tells us that a group of students from the Indian School of Public Policy (ISPP) worked on a project related to urban mobility, which was done as part of their policy design assignment. The Group looks at providing information services to allow commuters to utilize the bus system more effectively, and improve public transport through greater information access.

Eco-Conscious Patriotism - Say No To Plastic Flags

January and August are the two months that witness extraordinary patriotic fervour. It is common to find the Tricolour flying high everywhere. However, once January 26 and August 15 come to an end, the same Tricolour that was looked upon by us with respect and pride just the previous day is forsaken on the streets. Most of us just lament the sight of the abandoned flags, but do not bother to do anything about it. Namrata Gulati Sapra highlights that Shruti Dadhich was determined to take the initiative to give a new life to the national flag that will not just keep reminding us of our duty towards the country, but also do good to the environment.

Can The East Kolkata Wetlands Be Saved? - Conserving The Wetlands From Encroachment

With the rise of illegal landfills, expansion of real-estate projects, land encroachment and alteration, the ecosystem of the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) is under serious threat. Dr Rina Mukherji discusses the pressing need to have laws, policies, and remedies in place to combat the alarming effects of urbanization and land-use patterns towards the conservation of EKW.

Ocean Microbes Novel Study Underscores Microbial Individuality

A single drop of seawater can contain a wide representation of ocean microbes from around the world revealing novel insights into the ecology, evolution, and biotechnology potential of the global microbiome.

Efficacy of Vehicle Use Restrictions to Curb Pollution

In this article, Madhav Bahuguna looks into the experience of cities in Latin America and China which have put in place vehicle/car use restrictions and its efficacy in achieving the desired result in terms of reduced vehicular pollution and congestion. The evidence reflects mixed outcomes. Enforcing a single type of measure may not reduce the negative externalities (pollution and congestion) of car use. The article further explores the instruments that can be applied to control vehicular pollution and manage mobility and achieve durable sustainable transport outcome.

11th GRIHA Summit ‘Approach to Integrated Sustainability'

The 11th GRIHA Summit 2019, GRIHA’s flagship event was successfully conducted on December 17–18, 2019 with eminent speakers, GRIHA’s partners, development team, and guests gathered on the national platform to pave the way for a sustainable built environment. The collective ideas and shared knowledge will be taken on board by GRIHA with great gusto in an endeavour to continually grow and outperform themselves.

Peacock Tarantula - How Long Will This Beauty Last?

When they say, beauty fades with time, they surely do not mean what the gorgeous Peacock Tarantula is facing: extinction. In this article, Benita Sen finds out more about this beautiful creature.

Stalled Weather Patterns Will Get Bigger - Due To Climate Change

Climate change will increase the size of stalled high-pressure systems that can cause heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather, according to a new study.

Remedial Steps for Force Majeure - Dealing with Natural Calamities

Innovation, creativity and technological know-how can contribute to the development, growth and prosperity of a nation and its citizens, but what happens when disaster strikes? Akash Gupta talks about the broader picture on preparation for natural calamities, disasters, and unforeseen events that can wipe out our accomplishments, creations, and developments.

Zero-waste Cooking - Practising Sustainability with Our Food

Going green can save the planet and by buying misshapen or not-yet-spoiled fruits and vegetables, planning for meals ahead of time, buying and substituting local produce for imported ingredients, consumers can decrease the environmental impact of their consumption. In this article, Anjali Prasad talks about ways in which consumers can reduce the environmental impact of their eating habits, while simultaneously moving towards more healthy dietary practices.

Parali to Pulp: Waste-to-Wealth - Innovative Ideas to Address Crop Burning

The burning of crop stubble remains an enormous challenge, as the plumes of smoke released reduce the quality of air in surrounding states and create a health hazard for residents. In this article, Sanchi Garg talks about Kriya Labs, which converts pulp made from paddy straws into value-added products such as tableware, egg trays, millboards, and bio-foams.

Vegan Dairy Entrepreneurship - The Rise of Vegan Movement in India

After becoming hugely popular in the West, veganism has caught up in India and is growing steadily. Lata Vishwanath discusses the vegan movement and the entrepreneurs, who are staunch believers in veganism. Vegan products have made a big entry into the Indian consumer market.

Mountains Shall Stand Tall - Together We Can Work to Leave No One Behind

In this article, Biba Jasmine discusses the issues and challenges debated at the World Mountain Forum held in Bishkek. With reference to the mountain perspective, better efficiency and consolidation of commitments of stakeholders are the need of the hour to strengthen the links between humanity and nature. The author also touches upon the role and scope of institutions in addressing developmental issues in the mountains, possible partnerships that could be forged between the public and private sectors to improve the sustainability of food systems, and the role of non-governmental organizations in tackling poverty, food systems, and agro-biodiversity issues.

Nomadic Vignettes - from Tsokar, Changthang

Seemingly barren, the cold desert of the Changthang Valley is home to some of the rarest species of wildlife, as well as the nomadic communities who eke out their livelihoods through their livestock. Meenal Pahuja talks about the risks faced by this fragile ecosystem due to global warming and the work WWF has been doing with the nomadic communities for generating sustainable livelihoods and protecting wildlife.

Developing Green Skills Among Youth Through A Residential Programme

In this article, Akif Farooqui and Swarup Mallik talk about a 6-week residential training course conducted by TERI ENVIS Resource Partner to provide vocational skills to the local youth on solar energy technologies, as a part of the Green Skill Development Programme.

Crows are Us - Memory, Planning, the Use of Tools and Facial Recognition

Maneka Sanjay Gandhi writes about the intelligence of corvids shown in recent research studies.

Novel Technique Of Plastic Recycling - For Solving Global Environmental Problems

Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast have pioneered new technique to transform used milk bottles into kayaks and storage tanks.

E-Waste Management In India - Challenges And Opportunities

Growth in the IT and communication sectors has enhanced the usage of the electronic equipment exponentially. Faster upgradation of electronic product is forcing consumers to discard old electronic products very quickly, which in turn accumulates huge e-waste to the solid waste stream. In this article, Akanksha Manish and Dr Paromita Chakraborty discuss the growing problem of e-waste in India and globally while throwing light on the impact of recycling e-waste in the developing world. They succinctly dwell on the challenges and opportunities of e-waste management in India.