Pricey guests: Urban invasive species cost the world billions every year
New research shows that invasive species taking over urban areas resulted in a total cost of US$ 326.7 billion, at the very least, in the past five and half decades.…
Articles by T. V. Padma
T. V. Padma is a science and environment correspondent based in New Delhi.
Her reports have been published in a mix of international and national
publications including Nature, New Scientist, Chemistry World, India Climate
Dialogue and The Wire.
Microplastics, mostly fibres, found in mangroves in southwestern India
A new study from India describes the type and distribution of microplastics detected in a mangrove in south-western India, offering fresh insights into the extent of infiltration of these contaminants,…
Alpine plants may alter height or leaf size to cope with early snow-melt conditions
Early snow-melting triggers complex responses in alpine plant species, influencing traits like leaf composition and resource acquisition strategies, a recent study finds. The study analysed species’ response to experimentally induced…
As heatwaves projected to worsen across India, do vulnerability assessments and heat action plans suffice?
Killer heatwaves are projected to worsen across India, warn recent reports, cautioning that the current method of analysing the impacts of these extreme events needs to be improved. The country’s…
Livestock and wild herbivores impact soil carbon differently
Domestic livestock differ from wild herbivores in their impacts on soil carbon, and ultimately on climate, a new study shows. And given the increasing use of veterinary antibiotics on domestic…
Pinpointing priority areas for mangrove conservation in the Sundarbans
A new study published in Scientific Reports has mapped priority areas in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve (SBR) that are highly suitable for mangrove conservation and restoration. The Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve…
India budgets for mangroves and wetlands
India's finance minister has announced two major programmes for mangrove plantation and wetlands conservation in the country's latest annual budget, drawing a mixed response among the conservation academics who welcomed…
India garners international support to save two endangered freshwater turtles
India has scored a notable success in mobilising international support for the conservation of two of its endangered freshwater turtles, but there is a huge ground work ahead to translate…
Top invasive species are blooming in India despite climate change
Climate change will worsen the spread of invasive species that tend to show a robust resilience to warming and spread across landscapes, scientists report. A team from the Institute of…
Large grass-munching herbivores can stabilise soil carbon
Large grass-eating mammals such as yak and ibex play a crucial role in stabilising the pool of soil carbon in grazing ecosystems that are a big part of the Earth’s…
Coconut-based integrated farming could help sequester carbon, improve farm productivity: study
Coconut-based integrated farming, which allows for other agricultural crops to grow under the canopy, not only offers scope for improving crop biodiversity and farm productivity, but also a means to…
Successful model of development in tandem with mangrove restoration
A model for an effective melange of mangrove conservation and development has emerged in a new study along the coast of the western state of Gujarat in India, which offers…
Exploring biochar as a nature-based solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Biochar, charcoal produced from plant material and stored underground for a long time, can emerge as a nature-based solution that could help in climate mitigation and address sustainable development goals,…
Himalayan medicinal plants under threat due to climate change
Medicinal plants in the Himalayas are under threat due to climate change, which calls for reviewing current conservation strategies, including protected parks in the mountain ranges, new research shows. The…
Scientists sequence chickpea genome which could inform crop improvement efforts
Researchers have prepared an extensive genome map of the protein-rich chickpea, by sequencing its genetic material, which helped confirm its origin and migration and discover new genes to aid crop…
Scientists raise caution as mangroves erode faster along the Bengal coastline
India’s mangroves along the Bengal coastline, already at risk due to climate change, sea-level rise and land-use changes, are beginning to fast erode, new research shows. West Bengal contributes the…
Using citizen science to track illegal wildlife trade in the Himalayas
Citizen apps that help residents collect data, usually with smartphones, could help plug information gaps and track illegal wildlife trade in the biodiversity-rich Himalayas, a new paper says. Investments in…
Asia’s first mulberry fossil unearthed in Rajasthan’s lignite mines
Scientists have unearthed Asia's first fossil record of mulberry from the Gurha lignite mines near Bikaner in western Rajasthan, a finding that they say, indicates the existence of a warm,…
Integrated farming systems emerge as possible climate adaptation solution
A "whole-farm" approach or integrated farming systems that supplement traditional crops with farming vegetables, fruits, poultry or fish is re-emerging as a nature-based solution to boosting productivity in climate-stressed regions.…
India’s ancient underground fish species under threat due to poor water governance
India's treasure-house of ancient underground Gondwana fishes, in the global biodiversity hotspot of Western Ghats, are under threat due to over-exploitation of its groundwater and poor water governance. The problem…
Special series
Wetland Champions
- [Commentary] India establishes the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia
- [Commentary] Wetland champions: Promise from the grassroots
- The story of Jakkur lake sets an example for inclusive rejuvenation projects
- Welcome to Tsomgo lake: Please don’t litter
Environment And Health
- Marine plastic pollution is not just a waste problem; reducing production is needed too
- Stitching sustainability amidst climate change challenges
- Gujarat bans exotic Conocarpus tree amid health and environment hazard
- Malaria-carrying mosquitoes shift homes from forests to rice fields
India's Iconic Landscapes
- Majuli’s shrinking wetlands and their fight for survival
- Saving India’s wild ‘unicorns’
- Indrella ampulla’s genetic tapestry unveils colour morphs isolated across the Palghat Gap
- [Commentary] Up close and personal with the fragility of the Himalayas
Beyond Protected Areas
- Wildlife rescue operations in Kashmir face an uphill battle with rising human-wildife conflict
- Pathogens find new pathways as agriculture, deforestation intensify
- Measuring the scavenging value of vultures
- New rules spell giant troubles for jumbos
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- Pricey guests: Urban invasive species cost the world billions every year
- [Commentary] GROW with agroforestry, a step towards sustainable land management
- Millet tradition loses flavour among Madhya Pradesh’s tribals
- A village nurtures traditional food systems in response to climate change
Just Transitions
- How unplanned coal mine closures in India are affecting dependent communities, especially women
- Green Credit Scheme’s ‘methodology’ doesn’t inspire confidence among experts
- Conflict over critical mineral prospecting in Odisha signals need for better community involvement
- Fuel leak in Manipur raises concerns over water contamination
