Land use changes are driving Himalayan forest bird loss
Land-use changes in the western Himalayan forests, a global biodiversity hotspot with huge numbers of endemic species, have resulted in a massive decline in forest birds in the region, new…
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.
Can biodiversity loss lead to more infectious disease spread?
Do biodiversity losses aggravate transmission of infectious diseases spread by animals to humans? The jury is still out but several scientists say there is a 'biodiversity dilution effect' in which…
Deforestation and disease: How natural habitat destruction can fuel zoonotic diseases
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) pandemic, believed to have been triggered by the transmission of the virus from animals to humans, has brought into sharp focus zoonotic diseases that are…
What shola sky islands say about diseases in wild birds
The shola sky islands are a biologist’s delight. Surrounded by lowlands, these highest reaches of Western Ghats in peninsular India host radically different habitats and species. Covered in montane evergreen…
Genetics shake-up for India’s tiger conservation plans
A recent study, by scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, states that India needs a paradigm shift in its tiger conservation approach. India should stop…
What is preventing the widespread adoption of biopesticides in India?
Biopesticides are yet to take off in a major way in India because of mixed constraints, despite their enormous market potential and the national and state initiatives to promote them…
When and from where did black pepper come to India?
A new study has, for the first time, thrown light on when and from where black pepper (Piper nigrum) had come to India. The species arrived into India from Southeast…
Indian forests may be able to withstand climate change better than feared
Some glad tidings from the bleak field of climate change science. New research from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur, shows that a majority of Indian forests are exceptionally…
Conservation of Sikkim biodiversity needs re-strategising: study
A new study has attempted to work out conservation priorities for plant species in Sikkim, in the face of climate change projections. The existing network of ‘protected areas’ in the…
New frog species discovered in biodiversity-rich Western Ghats
One more new frog species has been spotted in the Western Ghats of India, reconfirming the region’s status as home to one of the richest assemblage of frogs in the…
Study links declining native vegetation to water stress in Kali basin
A novel approach by Indian scientists to assess the water and ecological footprints in Kali river basin in the Western Ghats of peninsular India has revealed declining native vegetation in…
How resilient is India to water-related disturbances?
Less than half of India is resilient to dry conditions and there is a significant reduction in water use efficiency in several districts across the country, new research shows. Out of…
Rainforest coffee better for taste and biodiversity, but needs policy support for farmers’ income
New research findings caution against the ongoing introduction of exotic silver oak tree species into coffee farm systems in the Indian Western Ghats. Scientists say this could become a threat…
Roads reduce conservation effectiveness of protected areas in the Western Ghats
When rich forests in biodiversity hotspots are carved out as protected areas it is presumed that the notification will help conserve them. But high human density, road building and other construction…
Reports say forest cover decreasing, contrary to government claims
Natural forests across India are slowly disappearing, with some serious decline in core forest area and large protected forests, says recent research. These finding are contrary to the government’s claims…
Will the pill work for the elephant and other wild animals?
Amidst rising human-wildlife conflicts in the country, India plans to roll out a pilot experimental research project in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand to test the most appropriate method to…
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
- [Commentary] Complexities of freshwater availability and tourism growth in Lakshadweep
- 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
Beyond Protected Areas
- [Commentary] Indigenous traditions honour muggers amidst modern challenges
- The curious case of a frog and a fungus
- Wildlife rescue operations in Kashmir face an uphill battle with rising human-wildife conflict
- Pathogens find new pathways as agriculture, deforestation intensify
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- Rising temperatures alter insect-crop interactions and impact agricultural productivity
- 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
Just Transitions
- [Interview] “This is in honour of adivasis fighting for their land, water, forest,” says Goldman Prize winner Alok Shukla
- 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
