This week’s environment and conservation news stories rolled into one.
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There’s more to Kodagu floods than heavy rains
Experts point to change in rainfall pattern and land-use modification to support tourism as reasons for recurring floods in Kodagu.
Chhattisgarh government’s flip-flop on forest rights
The Chhattisgarh state forest department has been widely criticised for booking forest dwellers for encroachment and ousting people from the forests.
West Bengal fishermen observe fewer shrimp, fish deaths by pollution this year
With tanneries in the nearby areas remaining shut or working in limited capacity for the last four months, pollution in the river is controlled. Fishermen and researchers claim the cleaner water helped fish survive and breed.
SDGs provide direction for sustainable post-COVID recovery
The pandemic may have brought immediate relief to some areas related to Sustainable Development Goal 15 to protect ‘Life on Land’ but the long-term impacts are unclear, experts said.
Lantana invasion threatens 40 percent of India’s tiger habitat, reports study
The species now threatens about 300,000 sq.km of Indian forests. The Shivalik hills, Central India, and Southern Western Ghats are the worst hit.
Elephants in north Bengal more likely to raid crops near fragmented forests
Presence of haaria (local rice beer) breweries in north Bengal also drives conflict because elephants are attracted to the pungent smell of the fermented liquor.
Low-carbon websites to cut emissions
A website’s annual carbon dioxide emission was reduced by more than 95% after it was redesigned to minimise data usage.
Goa destroys green cover to enable infrastructure projects
Thousands of trees at the Mollem National Park and the MOPA airport site, both with hastily passed environment clearances, remain the biggest aggregation of trees facing the axe.
Uttarakhand’s draft ecotourism policy could threaten biodiversity
About 65 percent of the hill state’s area is covered by forests and the policy aims to open large areas for ecotourism activities while aiming to protect wildlife and biodiversity.
Precautionary Principle and its tryst with the Indian judiciary [commentary]
Due to its ambiguity, the precautionary principle has played out differently in different environmental litigations, significantly impacting their outcome.
