This week’s environment and conservation news stories rolled into one.
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Environment ministry unlocked many protected areas during the lockdown
India’s environment ministry recently cleared multiple infrastructure projects in protected areas. This could be damaging for several important habitats, species and lead to other consequences too.
Elephants become collateral damage in the fight against crop-raiding boars
In the absence of easy permissible measures to ward off the wild boar threat, farmers look for alternatives that are often illegal.
Fire at oil well after gas leak threatens life, livelihood and biodiversity in Assam
A gas leak from an oil well near Baghjan village in Assam turned into a fire on June 9. The site of the well is less than a kilometre from the Dibru Saikhowa National Park and wetland Maguri-Motapung Beel.
How Mumbai’s fishers adapted in the lockdown, kept their sales alive
A fishing cooperative society has joined hands with a data analytics firm to educate fishers about various aspects of sustainable and ‘smart’ fishing.
The great Indian bustard has a new ally: its human neighbours
A project by a wildlife biologist couple to involve the local community in the conservation of the great Indian bustard, which also indirectly gives them monetary benefit, has had a ripple effect on a larger section of the local community.
African Swine Fever kills thousands of pigs in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
The pig farming sector in Assam has been hit hard by African Swine Fever which is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both domestic and wild pigs.
The Yobin wait for a road amid encroachment claims in Namdapha forests
For decades, the Yobin have remained cut-off for want of a road to their villages. Now, with the government approving a new road, they see a ray of hope.
Can Sharavathi river survive another hydropower project?
Heavily dammed Sharavathi river contributes to 40% of the total hydropower generation in Karnataka. Now, a new underground pumped storage project is planned on the river.
Forest official who complained about legal violations in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands loses duties
A senior forest officer in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was left with no duties in the reallocation of work among officials, following his complaint about the work on the Andaman Trunk Road being in violation of India’s Forest Conservation Act 1980.
[Commentary] India’s Biological Diversity Act finally shows progress due to NGT
The Biological Diversity Act (BDA), 2002 is built on objectives for conservation of biological diversity, its sustainable use and to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilisation of biological resources and associated knowledge.
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