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		<title>Mongabay-India</title>
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		<link>https://india.mongabay.com/by/max-martin/</link>
		<description>India&#039;s environmental science and conservation news</description>
		<lastBuildDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:54:42 +0000</lastBuildDate>
		<language>en-US</language>
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				<item>
					<title>Rules for forest conservation may facilitate diversions [Analysis]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/rules-for-forest-conservation-may-facilitate-diversions-analysis/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/rules-for-forest-conservation-may-facilitate-diversions-analysis/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>30 Apr 2026 17:02:09 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Meenakshi Kapoor]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[afforestation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[compensatory afforestation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment clearance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forest clearance]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/30151517/Image-1_-Sub-tropical-pine-forest-of-Himachal-Pradesh.-Credit-Meenakshi-Kapoor--scaled-e1777542538894-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37958</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Conservation, Deforestation, Ecology, Ecosystem services, Environment, Environmental Politics, Forestry, and Forests]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[“Forest conservation goes beyond tree planting and requires preservation of the entire ecosystem,” said Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&#38;CC), on the occasion of World Forest Day at a national workshop at the Forest Research Institute Dehradun on March 21. While the minister expressed a pro conservation sentiment, certain [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[“Forest conservation goes beyond tree planting and requires preservation of the entire ecosystem,” said Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEF&amp;CC), on the occasion of World Forest Day at a national workshop at the Forest Research Institute Dehradun on March 21. While the minister expressed a pro conservation sentiment, certain legal changes made by the environment ministry do not follow the same sentiment. As per Indian environment law, forest clearance is required to divert land when a project of a non-forestry nature is planned in a forest area. The clearance process involves both the central and state governments. The proponent of the project submits an application to the state forest department, which examines the proposal and, if satisfied, forwards it to the central government with its observations. There, either the Forest Advisory Committee, the Empowered Committee at the regional office, or the head of the regional office of the environment ministry reviews the proposal, mainly to determine whether the project absolutely needs to be located on forest land or can be shifted elsewhere. If the committee agrees with the project&#8217;s need for forest land, the central government grants a Stage I, or in-principle, clearance. Stage I approval comes with certain conditions, including (but not limited to) the need for compensatory afforestation to make up for the loss of trees and payment of net present value to offset the loss of ecosystem services of the forest being lost. Once the project meets these conditions and the&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/rules-for-forest-conservation-may-facilitate-diversions-analysis/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>Himalayan salamander conservationist wins award for grassroots protection of the amphibian</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/himalayan-salamander-conservationist-wins-award-for-grassroots-protection-of-the-amphibian/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/himalayan-salamander-conservationist-wins-award-for-grassroots-protection-of-the-amphibian/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>30 Apr 2026 14:44:47 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Arathi Menon]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Arathimenon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invasive plants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[restoration]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/30134214/barkha-banner-2-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37942</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Global and India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Amphibians, Conservation, Environmental Heroes, Himalayas, Protected Areas, Wetlands, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity, has announced the 2026 Whitley Award for Barkha Subba to lead the first grassroots protection effort for Himalayan salamanders and their wetland habitat in the Darjeeling Himalaya, West Bengal. The award, also known as the Green Oscars, supports grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South. A scientific adviser [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Whitley Fund for Nature, a UK charity, has announced the 2026 Whitley Award for Barkha Subba to lead the first grassroots protection effort for Himalayan salamanders and their wetland habitat in the Darjeeling Himalaya, West Bengal. The award, also known as the Green Oscars, supports grassroots conservation leaders in the Global South. A scientific adviser at the local NGO Federation of Societies for Environmental Protection, Subba’s project is designed to restore Himalayan salamander habitat, remove invasive species, screen for the deadly chytrid fungal disease, as well as engage local people in awareness programmes, promoting sustainable land use and eco-friendly tourism. Talking about her subject of research and conservation, Subba says, “Meeting a salamander feels like meeting a messenger from deep evolutionary time – a reminder of how long nature has endured and how quickly we can lose it.” Endemic to India, Nepal and Bhutan, the Himalayan salamander, which can grow up to 17 cm in length and live for up to 11 years, was once widely distributed across Darjeeling’s wetlands and forest fringes. The species is now listed as Vulnerable on the Red List of the IUCN as wetlands are increasingly drained, filled, polluted or disturbed. Salamanders’ return to their natal sites to breed and lay eggs, a process called philopatry, makes them highly vulnerable to changes in habitat and an indicator of wetland health. With her Whitley Award, Subba aims to focus on seven of the most critical breeding sites of the rare and evolutionarily distinct amphibian. She says&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/himalayan-salamander-conservationist-wins-award-for-grassroots-protection-of-the-amphibian/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/himalayan-salamander-conservationist-wins-award-for-grassroots-protection-of-the-amphibian/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Indian skimmer conservationist wins award for community conservation model</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/indian-skimmer-conservationist-wins-award-for-community-conservation-model/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/indian-skimmer-conservationist-wins-award-for-community-conservation-model/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>30 Apr 2026 14:44:45 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[birding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breeding grounds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[migratory birds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waterbirds]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/30133931/Parveen_Shaikh_banner-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37922</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Global and India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Birds, Conservation, Environmental Heroes, Rivers, and Wetlands]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Scientist Parveen Shaikh has been awarded a 2026 Whitley Award by the UK charity Whitley Fund for Nature, recognising her efforts to protect the endangered Indian skimmer along India&#8217;s rivers. The award comes with funding to expand her community-led conservation model from Chambal river to Prayagraj, where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers converge. The Indian [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Scientist Parveen Shaikh has been awarded a 2026 Whitley Award by the UK charity Whitley Fund for Nature, recognising her efforts to protect the endangered Indian skimmer along India&#8217;s rivers. The award comes with funding to expand her community-led conservation model from Chambal river to Prayagraj, where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers converge. The Indian skimmer is identified by its vivid orange bill and its habit of flying low over water, skimming the surface to catch fish. India holds over 90% of the world&#8217;s population of the bird, with roughly 3,000 individuals, making the country critical to the species&#8217; survival. The birds breed on seasonal sandbars and mid-river islands, making their nests vulnerable to changes in river flow, predators, and human disturbance. When Shaikh, who works with the Bombay Natural History Society, began her &#8220;Guardians of the Skimmer&#8221; initiative on the Chambal river, the local Indian skimmer population stood at around 400 individuals in 2017. As of 2025, the population has grown to approximately 1,000. Nest survival has nearly doubled, rising from 14 percent to 27 percent, a direct result of community involvement and scientific monitoring. “Local guardians help identify new sandbars, monitor nests, and prevent disturbance during the breeding season. Some now proudly refer to the skimmers as “our birds,” which reflects a growing sense of ownership,” says Shaikh. With the Whitley Award funding, her team will now expand to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradash, a place of cultural significance and also home to breeding populations of Indian skimmers, river&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/indian-skimmer-conservationist-wins-award-for-community-conservation-model/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/indian-skimmer-conservationist-wins-award-for-community-conservation-model/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>India’s farms do ecological work that no policy has accounted [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/indias-farms-do-ecological-work-that-no-policy-has-accounted-commentary/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/indias-farms-do-ecological-work-that-no-policy-has-accounted-commentary/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>29 Apr 2026 17:40:47 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Deepanjana SahaG. RavikanthPrasanna N.S.]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[groundwater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paddy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pollination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pollinators]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soil health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water crisis]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/28165937/AP24094531201617-scaled-e1777375917659-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37919</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Agriculture, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Ecology, Ecosystem services, Environmental Politics, Food, Insects, and Water]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[A farm that rebuilds soil carbon, supports pollinators, and conserves groundwater is treated no differently from one that depletes all three. In India’s agricultural economy, this is not a failure of awareness. Rather, ecosystem services have entered the vocabulary of agricultural policy, as in the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), launched under the National [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[A farm that rebuilds soil carbon, supports pollinators, and conserves groundwater is treated no differently from one that depletes all three. In India’s agricultural economy, this is not a failure of awareness. Rather, ecosystem services have entered the vocabulary of agricultural policy, as in the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, which explicitly frames soil health, water-use efficiency, and biodiversity conservation as agricultural priorities. The NITI Aayog’s strategy documents for doubling farmer income reference ecological sustainability. The PM-PRANAM scheme, introduced in 2023, acknowledges that chemical input reduction has landscape-level value worth incentivising. It is a failure of institutional design: the mechanisms that actually determine farm income have never been revised to reflect what policy language now routinely acknowledges. The MSP system began in 1966-67 during the Green Revolution, aiming to stabilise grain output when food was scarce. It worked. Over time, it grew to include 23 mandated crops. However, India built pricing around output and input costs only, so the system measures quantity produced, not how it is produced. To calculate MSP, the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP) uses A2 (direct cost borne by the farmer), A2+FL (family labour), or C2 (A2+FL+rented value of owned land). But it does not consider ecological outcomes, positive or negative. Ecological processes like soil formation, water regulation, pollination, and pest control support every harvest. They are not side effects of farming — they are its foundation. Yet, they are missing from MSP, procurement,&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/indias-farms-do-ecological-work-that-no-policy-has-accounted-commentary/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/indias-farms-do-ecological-work-that-no-policy-has-accounted-commentary/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>The bird of prey that crosses continents</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/the-bird-of-prey-that-crosses-continents/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/the-bird-of-prey-that-crosses-continents/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>29 Apr 2026 15:45:00 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Team Mongabay-India]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[birding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[migratory birds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[raptors]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/29110649/amur-falcon-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37920</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Species File]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Birds, Conservation, Ecology, Migration, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Species File: Exploring India&#8217;s biodiversity, one species at a time. Three Amur falcons tagged in Manipur were recently seen wintering in Africa. The birds covered thousands of kilometres, across land and ocean within days, shows tracking data, highlighting their scale of migration. The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis), a small bird of prey, is found across [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Species File: Exploring India&#8217;s biodiversity, one species at a time. Three Amur falcons tagged in Manipur were recently seen wintering in Africa. The birds covered thousands of kilometres, across land and ocean within days, shows tracking data, highlighting their scale of migration. The Amur falcon (Falco amurensis), a small bird of prey, is found across open forests, grasslands, wetlands and agricultural landscapes. They breed in southeast Russia and northern China, and migrate through India to southern Africa for the winter, covering over 20,000 kilometres every year. During this journey, they stop over in northeastern states such as Nagaland and Manipur, where large flocks roost in large numbers. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Species, the Amur falcon is listed as Least Concern due to its wide range and large population. Estimates suggest there are between 2,00,000 and 7,00,000 mature Amur falcons globally. However, its migratory behaviour makes it vulnerable at key stopover sites. The species is protected under Schedule IV of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. India is also a signatory to the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS) under which it is obligated to provide safe passage and ensure conservation of migratory species. The Amur falcon faces multiple threats, including hunting during migration and habitat loss at roosting sites, and changing weather patterns. These pressures can disrupt migration and reduce survival during long journeys. In recent years, conservation efforts in northeast India have helped transform former hunting grounds into safe stopover habitats,&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/the-bird-of-prey-that-crosses-continents/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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					<title>Rising illegal wildlife trade across Himalayan countries threatens the mountain ecosystem</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/rising-illegal-wildlife-trade-across-the-himalayan-countries-threatens-the-mountain-ecosystem/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/rising-illegal-wildlife-trade-across-the-himalayan-countries-threatens-the-mountain-ecosystem/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>29 Apr 2026 15:26:33 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Vandana K.]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hindu Kush Himalaya]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[poaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wildlife crime]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/28120331/Jiten_170719_MG_6031-scaled-e1777358299720-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37911</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Himachal Pradesh and Himalayas]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Animals, Conservation, Endangered species, Environmental Crime, Himalayas, Pet Trade, Wildlife, Wildlife Trade, and Wildlife Trafficking]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[In February this year, 45 people headed towards jewellery shops in Rohru, a town in Himachal Pradesh. But shopping was not their agenda. The group was a squad of forest rangers, guards and van mitras, on a mission, Operation Clawing Back, to raid shops to seize jewellery allegedly made from claws and teeth of leopards [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[In February this year, 45 people headed towards jewellery shops in Rohru, a town in Himachal Pradesh. But shopping was not their agenda. The group was a squad of forest rangers, guards and van mitras, on a mission, Operation Clawing Back, to raid shops to seize jewellery allegedly made from claws and teeth of leopards and feathers of protected birds. This raid illustrates a wider phenomenon in the Himalayas. Illegal wildlife trade is happening across eight countries in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region and has doubled from 2019 onwards compared to 2018 and previous years, found a study published in January 2026. The research was conducted by Babar Khan and Kesang Wangchuk at the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, Nepal. India and China recorded thousands of seizure incidents, with carnivores, elephants, pangolins, and various endangered animals trafficked for live trade, body parts, and traditional medicine, according to the research. Illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest illicit transnational activity in the world. It remains an attractive business for poachers and smugglers, with Southeast Asia at the epicentre of much of this crime. Over 12,000 species of animals and plants have been traded internationally in recent years. A threat to biodiversity and the mountain ecosystem The HKH stretches over 3,500 kilometres from west to east, spanning either all or part of these eight countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan. The region hosts four global biodiversity hotspots — Himalaya, Indo-Burma, and the&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/rising-illegal-wildlife-trade-across-the-himalayan-countries-threatens-the-mountain-ecosystem/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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					<title>Better preparedness and warning systems needed to deal with ice-rock avalanches</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/five-years-after-the-chamoli-disaster-a-new-study-calls-for-better-preparedness-and-warning-systems/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/five-years-after-the-chamoli-disaster-a-new-study-calls-for-better-preparedness-and-warning-systems/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>28 Apr 2026 13:56:51 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Manish Chandra Mishra]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Climate disaster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disaster]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disaster management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flooding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[planning]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/27200317/AP21041342927537-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37905</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Connections]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Uttarakhand]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation, Environment, Floods, Glacial Lake Outburst Flood, Glaciers, Himalayas, Impacts of Climate Change, Mountains, and Villages]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Five years after the 2021 floods in Uttarakhand, known as the Chamoli disaster, that resulted in the death of more than 200 people, a new study investigates hazard preparedness in the Himalayas. It compares the 2021 Chamoli disaster with the 2025 Blatten avalanche in Switzerland, where a large ice-rock avalanche buried most of the village [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Five years after the 2021 floods in Uttarakhand, known as the Chamoli disaster, that resulted in the death of more than 200 people, a new study investigates hazard preparedness in the Himalayas. It compares the 2021 Chamoli disaster with the 2025 Blatten avalanche in Switzerland, where a large ice-rock avalanche buried most of the village and resulted in one fatality, after residents were evacuated in advance. It discusses how elements of the Swiss early-warning approach, especially integrated monitoring, communication, and community-linked response, can be adapted to Himalayan realities. The study notes that as glaciers retreat, permafrost thaws and extreme precipitation intensifies due to climate change, effective hazard mitigation is essential. Published in the journal Communications Earth &amp; Environment, the study situates Chamoli within a wider pattern of warming-related mountain hazards and discusses that such failures are not isolated and need clearer recognition in risk governance and preparedness frameworks. “Early warning systems must move beyond small pilot projects and become a core element of national disaster preparedness,” it states. Comparing disaster responses in Chamoli and Blatten According to India’s National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) detailed report on the Uttarakhand disaster, the event began at about 10:08 a.m. on February 7, 2021, when a huge rock mass along with a glacieret (small glacier) failed in the upper reaches of the Garhwal Himalaya, triggering an air blast and a massive debris flow through the Raunthi Gadhera, Rishiganga and Dhauliganga valleys. The disaster damaged the hydropower projects at Raini and Tapovan, along with roads&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/five-years-after-the-chamoli-disaster-a-new-study-calls-for-better-preparedness-and-warning-systems/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/five-years-after-the-chamoli-disaster-a-new-study-calls-for-better-preparedness-and-warning-systems/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>India’s rare swamp deer establishes a second home</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/indias-rare-swamp-deer-establishes-a-second-home/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/indias-rare-swamp-deer-establishes-a-second-home/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>28 Apr 2026 11:37:59 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Sneha Mahale]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[deer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tiger reserve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tiger reserves]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[translocation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wildlife translocation]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/27185347/Hard-ground-swamp-deer-are-growing-and-breeding-well-in-their-new-habitat-in-Satpura-Tiger-Reserve.-Photo-Credit-L-Krishnamoorthy-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37899</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Almost Famous Species]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Madhya Pradesh]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Conservation, Grasslands, In-situ conservation, Mammals, Protected Areas, Wildlife, and Wildlife Sanctuary]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[A population of hard-ground swamp deer translocated from Kanha Tiger Reserve to Satpura Tiger Reserve, both in Madhya Pradesh, is growing steadily and breeding successfully, according to a new study. The subspecies, once widespread across central India, now survives in just one region, making efforts to establish a second population critical in reducing extinction risk. [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[A population of hard-ground swamp deer translocated from Kanha Tiger Reserve to Satpura Tiger Reserve, both in Madhya Pradesh, is growing steadily and breeding successfully, according to a new study. The subspecies, once widespread across central India, now survives in just one region, making efforts to establish a second population critical in reducing extinction risk. The hard-ground swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii branderi) was once found widely across India, but today survives naturally only in the Kanha. According to the IUCN Red List, the hard-ground swamp deer is categorised as vulnerable and is listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The subspecies declined historically due to habitat alteration, fragmentation of grasslands and hunting. With a single population of roughly 1,100 animals, the species remains vulnerable to disease outbreaks or other threats. “Confining the entire subspecies to Kanha effectively created a single point of failure,” says Neha Awasthi, the study’s corresponding author, and member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission’s Deer Specialist Group. “Small isolated populations face intrinsic risks such as demographic stochasticity [fluctuations in mean growth rate], genetic drift and inbreeding, as well as external threats including disease outbreaks or large-scale environmental disturbances.” The study was conducted by researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India along with the Madhya Pradesh forest department. Kanha also has ecological limits with finite grassland habitat and carrying capacity. “Without opportunities for dispersal into new landscapes, density-dependent pressures could eventually limit population growth,” adds Awasthi. In&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/indias-rare-swamp-deer-establishes-a-second-home/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/indias-rare-swamp-deer-establishes-a-second-home/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>New database captures urban tree diversity</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/new-database-captures-urban-tree-diversity/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/new-database-captures-urban-tree-diversity/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>27 Apr 2026 16:40:29 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Simrin Sirur]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Urban area]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban areas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban biodiversity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban trees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urbanisation]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/27144106/IMG_7164-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37890</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Cities and Towns, Deforestation, Ecology, Ecosystem services, Environment, Plants, and Trees]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[According to the India State of Forests Report, 3.41% of the country’s total geographical area is covered by trees lying outside forest areas. These are trees lining pavements, planted in orchards and in farm woodlots. Little is known, however, about the diversity of these trees — particularly in rapidly urbanising regions at risk of developing [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[According to the India State of Forests Report, 3.41% of the country’s total geographical area is covered by trees lying outside forest areas. These are trees lining pavements, planted in orchards and in farm woodlots. Little is known, however, about the diversity of these trees — particularly in rapidly urbanising regions at risk of developing urban heat island effects in the summer. A new database capturing India’s urban tree diversity attempts to bridge this gap. Generated using existing surveys and literature, the database recorded at least 742 tree species, “representing approximately 15.7% of the 4,734 global urban tree species reported in the latest global urban tree inventory assessment,” the study says. The database is a preliminary collection of plant diversity data in built up areas, stitched together with the objective of documenting their traits, IUCN Red List status, and species prevalence. Some of the more dominant tree species found in built up areas include the Psidium guajava (guava), Ricinus communis (castor oil), and Azadirachta indica (neem) species. It also revealed that most taxa belonged to the IUCN Red List Least Concern list. Around 41% of trees recorded belonged to non-native tree species, while 58% were evergreen. “In urban areas, tree species which are ultimately chosen to grow are often decided by how quickly they grow and how easy they are to maintain, not necessarily based on their ecological importance or potential for ecosystem service,&#8221; said Shyam S. Phartyal, a professor in the Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, and a co-creator&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/new-database-captures-urban-tree-diversity/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/new-database-captures-urban-tree-diversity/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>Environmental issues underrepresented in West Bengal polls</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/environmental-issues-underrepresented-in-west-bengal-polls/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/environmental-issues-underrepresented-in-west-bengal-polls/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>27 Apr 2026 14:54:30 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Nabarun Guha]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[elections]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[human elephant conflict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[leopard]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/27142625/AP141362749490-scaled-e1777280308770-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37882</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[West Bengal]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Elephants, Environment, Environmental Politics, Human Rights, Human Wildlife Conflict, Politics, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[As phased polls continue across West Bengal’s 294 assembly constituencies, the election debate has centred on issues like citizenship, while largely sidelining environmental issues. In the first phase on April 23, the state witnessed record voting. The next phase is scheduled for April 29, and voting will be counted on May 4. Speaking about the [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[As phased polls continue across West Bengal’s 294 assembly constituencies, the election debate has centred on issues like citizenship, while largely sidelining environmental issues. In the first phase on April 23, the state witnessed record voting. The next phase is scheduled for April 29, and voting will be counted on May 4. Speaking about the representation of environment in elections, wildlife biologist and co-founder of The Fishing Cat Project, Tiasa Adhya told Mongabay-India, “The ecological and environmental problems in West Bengal are the conversion of wetlands, decreasing freshwater flow in Sundarbans, indiscriminate sand mining, mining for minerals and ores, and conflict with elephants in both north and south West Bengal. These agendas have consequences for both nature and society and should come up strongly in policy manifestos. These are unprecedented times that require a change in the way we understand &#8216;development&#8217; and an increase in ecological literacy that is linked to human health and well-being.” Negative interactions between humans and wildlife are also a major concern in the state, said environmentalist and co-founder of Human and Environment Alliance League (HEAL), a non-profit based in Kolkata, Suvrajyoti Chatterjee “Negative interactions between humans and elephants cause a lot of fatalities in south West Bengal,&#8221; he told Mongabay-India. &#8220;Many places lack street lights, and the habit of open defecation among people causes fatalities. In north West Bengal districts also, deaths from elephant attacks are rising alarmingly. Those districts are also witnessing negative interaction with leopards. In Sundarbans, a lot of people die from&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/environmental-issues-underrepresented-in-west-bengal-polls/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/environmental-issues-underrepresented-in-west-bengal-polls/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>Plastic litter and ghost nets threaten olive ridley hatchlings</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/plastic-litter-and-ghost-nets-threaten-olive-ridley-hatchlings/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/plastic-litter-and-ghost-nets-threaten-olive-ridley-hatchlings/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>27 Apr 2026 12:26:29 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Phalguni Ranjan]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Renuka Kulkarni]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breeding grounds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[genetics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ghost nets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marine debris]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marine ecosystem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[olive ridleys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plastic pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[turtle]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/27101831/Image-3_Riddle_of_Ridleys-scaled-e1777265683766-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37874</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Odisha]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Cities and Towns, Coast, Coastal erosion, Conservation, Environment, Fishing, Oceans, Plastic, Pollution, Sea Level Rise, Waste management, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[The Rushikulya rookery in Odisha’s Ganjam district is among the most important turtle rookeries in the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) converge here to lay eggs in a synchronous mass nesting event or arribada, with almost 700,000 olive ridleys coming ashore to lay eggs in February 2025 alone. [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[The Rushikulya rookery in Odisha’s Ganjam district is among the most important turtle rookeries in the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of olive ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) converge here to lay eggs in a synchronous mass nesting event or arribada, with almost 700,000 olive ridleys coming ashore to lay eggs in February 2025 alone. However, plastic pollution and its associated problems plague this important 10-km stretch along India’s eastern coastline. A recent study by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa, reports significant presence of plastic waste and discarded fishing nets across four nesting beaches at Rushikulya, reflecting a global crisis of ever-increasing marine plastic pollution. Nesting among plastics Surveys across four nesting beaches — New Podampetta, Purunabandha, Siddhantnagar, and Prayagi — during the peak 2025 nesting season recorded more than 1,100 litter items, over 85% of which were plastic. The presence of plastic bottles, wrappers, and bags indicated both land-based runoff and direct human activity as key sources. Fisheries-related debris, including discarded nets, thermocol, and nylon rope fragments — collectively termed as ‘ghost gear’ or abandoned, lost, and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) — made up 41% of all recorded litter across all sites. Fishing nets alone made up around 32% of the recorded litter at New Podampetta, while thermocol too contributed a little over 31% at Siddhantnagar. Olive ridley turtles being released to the sea at Visakhapatnam. Representative image by Drashokk via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). Concerningly, standardised environmental quality indices like the Plastic Abundance Index&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/plastic-litter-and-ghost-nets-threaten-olive-ridley-hatchlings/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/plastic-litter-and-ghost-nets-threaten-olive-ridley-hatchlings/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>The flame of the forest is fading; can it return?</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/the-flame-of-the-forest-is-fading-can-it-return/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/the-flame-of-the-forest-is-fading-can-it-return/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>24 Apr 2026 15:14:22 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Ashwini Kumar Shukla]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flowers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihoods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Palamu Tiger Reserve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[traditional farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traditional Knowledge]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/24111039/IMG_0269-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37862</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Jharkhand]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Agriculture, Forests, Indigenous Peoples, Plantations, Plants, Trees, Tribes, and Villages]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[“If the flower of the palash is fully bloomed, that means it will be a good summer, and it will rain well that year,” says Sarita Devi, sitting under a tree in front of her home. “And if it does not bloom on time, the rains will not be good either.” Sarita, 40, is a [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[“If the flower of the palash is fully bloomed, that means it will be a good summer, and it will rain well that year,” says Sarita Devi, sitting under a tree in front of her home. “And if it does not bloom on time, the rains will not be good either.” Sarita, 40, is a resident of Kundri village in Palamu district, Jharkhand. She belongs to the Dalit community. For generations, people here have predicted the weather through the palash tree. Their livelihoods also depend on it. The palash tree is used to grow lac, a natural resin produced by the insect Kerria lacca (rangeeni), which farmers harvest and sell in the market. On the palash tree, lac is produced twice a year: once in the rainy season (harvested in October–November) and once in the summer (harvested in June–July). For years, Sarita worked at the Kundri lac farm, widely described by officials as Asia&#8217;s largest lac plantation. Every October, she tied lac-bearing twigs to palash branches. Over the next few months, the resin slowly builds up on the branches and is later harvested and processed. “We used to do all the lac work,” she says. “Putting it on the trees, taking it off, peeling it, collecting it. It gave us very good employment.” In a good season, she, her husband Satnarayan Bhuiyan, 45, and their son Deepak Bhuiyan, 18, would earn between ₹50,000 and ₹60,000. Sarita is a resident of Kundri village in Palamu district who once depended on lac&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/the-flame-of-the-forest-is-fading-can-it-return/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Ramsar wetland tag needs to be followed up with sustained management, say experts</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/ramsar-wetland-tag-needs-to-be-followed-up-with-sustained-management-say-experts/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/ramsar-wetland-tag-needs-to-be-followed-up-with-sustained-management-say-experts/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>24 Apr 2026 11:45:52 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Manish Chandra Mishra]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aquatic life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[freshwater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[migratory birds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ramsar site]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ramsar sites]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waterbirds]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/24094121/Image_5_Sarus_cranes-e1777004765814-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37855</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Uttar Pradesh]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Birds, Ecology, Ecosystem services, Environment, Lakes, Water, Wetlands, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, has been designated a Ramsar site, taking India’s total number of wetlands of international importance to 99 and Uttar Pradesh’s tally to 12. The 40-hectare freshwater wetland in the Upper Gangetic Plain that supports 249 bird species, including 62 water bird and wetland-dependent species. The perennial water [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Shekha Jheel Bird Sanctuary in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, has been designated a Ramsar site, taking India’s total number of wetlands of international importance to 99 and Uttar Pradesh’s tally to 12. The 40-hectare freshwater wetland in the Upper Gangetic Plain that supports 249 bird species, including 62 water bird and wetland-dependent species. The perennial water body regularly hosts more than 20,000 water birds in peak winter and serves as a refuge during dry months, supporting vulnerable species such as sarus crane, common pochard, greater spotted eagle and endangered freshwater turtles. The Ramsar site is characterised by a mosaic of wetlands, grasslands, forests and agriculture lands. The Ramsar official information sheet describes the wetland’s role in groundwater recharge, irrigation support, nature tourism, education and research, while also noting that it is facing pressures from invasive alien species, excess heat and noise, temperature extremes and grazing. The management plan lists several on-ground measures already proposed or taken at the site, including mounds for bird resting and nesting, a nature trail, two watchtowers, weed removal in some areas, afforestation, awareness drives and involvement of local villagers in conservation. India’s Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said, in a press release, that Shekha Jheel acts as “a crucial stopover on the Central Asian Flyway,” providing habitat for migratory birds such as the bar-headed goose, painted stork and various ducks during winter. The Ramsar dossier says Shekha Jheel supports several species of higher conservation concern, including the vulnerable sarus crane, common pochard, greater spotted eagle and river&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/ramsar-wetland-tag-needs-to-be-followed-up-with-sustained-management-say-experts/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>The ‘correction’ clause rewriting Goa&#8217;s landscape</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/the-correction-clause-rewriting-goas-landscape/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/the-correction-clause-rewriting-goas-landscape/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>23 Apr 2026 18:28:14 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Hagen DesaSimrin Sirur]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[city planning]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/23143839/IMG_4344-768x512.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37840</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Goa]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Cities and Towns and Tourism]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[The orchard behind Tushar Gawas’s village in Siridao grows peppers, cashews, and medicinal plants on a hill that was once considered too steep to build on. On January 26, however, the government reclassified the land as a settlement, paving the way for its construction. Gawas filed an objection against the motion, but the government rejected [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[The orchard behind Tushar Gawas’s village in Siridao grows peppers, cashews, and medicinal plants on a hill that was once considered too steep to build on. On January 26, however, the government reclassified the land as a settlement, paving the way for its construction. Gawas filed an objection against the motion, but the government rejected it. They said his objections lacked detail. The orchard in Siridao, in the coastal state of Goa, is one of hundreds of orchards, paddy fields, and hilly slopes — together the size of 133 football fields — to be recategorised as settlements, primed for setting up housing projects, establishments, and other types of infrastructure. The provision allowing for such sweeping changes across Goa’s landscape is Section 39 (A) of the Town and Country Planning Act — a clause the government describes as a tool for correcting errors in existing land use plans. The Town and Country Planning department is led by cabinet minister Vishwajit Rane, who, apart from holding the post of Town and Country Planning Minister, is also listed as a director of Karapur Estates, a real estate firm with a history of applying for zone changes. So far, more than 9.5 lakh (950,000) square metres of land have been re-classified as settlements under 39 (A), bolstered by a steady rise in demand for real estate by migrants from big metro cities. “This government seems to believe that infinite real estate growth is possible in an extremely finite system,” said Solano Da Silva, an&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/the-correction-clause-rewriting-goas-landscape/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/the-correction-clause-rewriting-goas-landscape/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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					<title>Birds are colliding with glass. Few in India are counting.</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/birds-are-colliding-with-glass-few-in-india-are-counting/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/birds-are-colliding-with-glass-few-in-india-are-counting/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>23 Apr 2026 12:59:49 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Kartik Chandramouli]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[buildings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban areas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban birds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urbanisation]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/22225642/EmeraldDove-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37821</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Birds, Cities and Towns, Human Wildlife Conflict, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[A flying emerald dove is a flash of metallic green, weaving low through trees. To the bird, a glass surface reflecting sky or foliage looks like open air. Then comes the impact. Architect and birdwatcher Peeyush Sekhsaria remembers hearing a “blast-like sound” at a tourist lodge in Coorg in 2007 when an emerald dove slammed [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[A flying emerald dove is a flash of metallic green, weaving low through trees. To the bird, a glass surface reflecting sky or foliage looks like open air. Then comes the impact. Architect and birdwatcher Peeyush Sekhsaria remembers hearing a “blast-like sound” at a tourist lodge in Coorg in 2007 when an emerald dove slammed into a window. The building was not a modern glass tower but an ordinary structure. Nearly two decades later, the incident still stays with him. What troubles him more is that India has little systematic documentation of birds dying after colliding with glass. Unlike North America, where building collisions are estimated to kill more than a billion birds annually, India has no national assessment. A dead emerald dove after crashing into a glass window at a tourist lodge in Coorg in 2007. Image by Peeyush Sekhsaria. An invisible hazard Glass creates a danger birds cannot recognise. Transparent panes appear as open flight paths, while reflective surfaces mirror vegetation or sky. Birds attempting to fly through these illusions collide at high speed. Reports surface sporadically. In Gujarat, migratory rosy starlings fell after hitting glass. In Meghalaya, long-tailed broadbills struck an automobile showroom façade. Many incidents circulate only within birdwatching groups or on social media: a stunned barbet beneath a building, or a thud against an apartment window. “We really don’t know the scale of this issue,” says Ashwin Viswanathan, an ecologist at the Nature Conservation Foundation. Collisions occur wherever reflective glass exists, in cities, small towns,&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/birds-are-colliding-with-glass-few-in-india-are-counting/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Striped hyena gets stronger global protection</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/striped-hyena-gets-stronger-global-protection/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/striped-hyena-gets-stronger-global-protection/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>22 Apr 2026 17:45:26 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Manish Chandra Mishra]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hyenas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Threatened species]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/22150831/IMG_9382-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37815</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Almost Famous Species]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Conservation, Mammals, Wildlife, and Wildlife Sanctuary]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[The striped hyena has been given stronger international protection under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals treaty (CMS), with its conservation requiring greater cooperation among range states. This decision was made at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CMS Convention (CMS CoP15), held in Campo [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[The striped hyena has been given stronger international protection under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals treaty (CMS), with its conservation requiring greater cooperation among range states. This decision was made at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CMS Convention (CMS CoP15), held in Campo Grande, Brazil, at the end of March. For India, the significance of this decision is that it puts fresh international pressure on the country to improve monitoring, protect habitats and movement corridors outside protected areas, and pay greater conservation attention to a species that is still poorly tracked across much of its range. The decision has been welcomed by conservation groups globally, which say it could help push stronger protection and cooperation for a species that has long received limited policy attention. The striped hyena is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, and Wildlife Conservation Society says its global population is estimated at fewer than 10,000 mature individuals and is in continuing decline. In India, the species is found across much of the country outside the northeast and wetter southern regions, with records and studies from states including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka and West Bengal showing it survives in agricultural, coastal, scrub and industrial landscapes. Susan Lieberman, Vice President for International Policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society, told Mongabay-India that the decision to include the striped hyena in Appendix I (total protection of the species in the wild) and Appendix II (range&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/striped-hyena-gets-stronger-global-protection/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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						<item>
					<title>Small creatures, big adaptations</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/small-creatures-big-adaptations/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/small-creatures-big-adaptations/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>22 Apr 2026 15:31:13 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Team Mongabay-India]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[gecko]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lizard]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[natural history]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/21162403/gecko-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37744</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Species File]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Animals, Biodiversity, Ecology, New species, Reptiles, Western Ghats, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Species File: Exploring India&#8217;s biodiversity, one species at a time. Did you know that there&#8217;s a gecko named after Jackie Chan? In a study published in 2021 researchers described 12 gecko species from the Western Ghats, ten of which are found nowhere else. The geckos were given some creative names, including a quick and nimble [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Species File: Exploring India&#8217;s biodiversity, one species at a time. Did you know that there&#8217;s a gecko named after Jackie Chan? In a study published in 2021 researchers described 12 gecko species from the Western Ghats, ten of which are found nowhere else. The geckos were given some creative names, including a quick and nimble species named after martial arts superstar Jackie Chan, a couple named after fictional dragons, and one named after the cosmos. Geckos are non-venomous lizards found worldwide (except Antarctica). Mostly insectivorous, geckos maintain ecosystem balance and control pests. Fun fact: Mongabay&#8217;s logo is also a gecko! India has more than 221 known species of geckos, with new ones frequently described. They thrive in diverse habitats. Some, such as the northern house gecko and the bark gecko, are common in urban homes. Others inhabit tree trunks, grasslands and rocky outcrops in wildernesses. Many species are endemic to certain regions, such as the Kalinga rock gecko (northern Eastern Ghats), the Indian golden gecko (central and southern Eastern Ghats), and the Kaziranga bent-toed gecko (Assam). But these creatures face diverse threats. Charismatic species such as the leopard geckos are vulnerable to the illegal pet trade. Some species, like the tokay geckos, are also poached for traditional Chinese medicine. Habitat loss, human disturbances and climate change are serious concerns, especially for endemic species. The Satara gecko is critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) because it is found only on a single, unprotected lateritic plateau in&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/04/small-creatures-big-adaptations/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>Plugging data gaps in global plant diversity using citizen science</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/plugging-data-gaps-in-global-plant-diversity-using-citizen-science/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/plugging-data-gaps-in-global-plant-diversity-using-citizen-science/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>22 Apr 2026 14:44:55 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Anusha Krishnan]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Renuka Kulkarni]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[climate action]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[data]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[data collection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mapping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[maps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[species]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/22093742/54845290113_dbf0dfa29c_o-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37800</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Global and India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Citizen science, Climate Change, Ecology, Ecosystem services, Environment, Forests, Plants, and Trees]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[What does a global map of plant life look like, and what happens when the data behind it is incomplete? A recent study published in Nature Communications in January 2026, describes such a map, built from field surveys, earth observation systems, and millions of observations recorded by citizen scientists around the world. This map now [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[What does a global map of plant life look like, and what happens when the data behind it is incomplete? A recent study published in Nature Communications in January 2026, describes such a map, built from field surveys, earth observation systems, and millions of observations recorded by citizen scientists around the world. This map now offers one of the most in-depth views of how plants function across ecosystems. However, the map also exposes something else. These are large, persistent gaps in the data that scientists rely on to understand the Earth’s vegetation, which means that quite a bit of the world’s plant life is still poorly documented. The study used 31 plant traits such as size, growth strategy, leaf characteristics, wood density, reproductive traits, and resource use to outline a global ‘plant economics’ spectrum. These characteristics, also known as functional traits, can help us understand how plant strategies change in response to climate and ecosystem stress. Currently, most global biodiversity data only tell us what species are found where; they don’t tell us what roles they play in carbon storage and ecosystem dynamics. Mapping these traits on a global scale gives us a spectrum of characteristics spanning fast-growing, nutrient-hungry plants to slow-growing, stress-tolerant ones and how these traits support plant growth, survival, adaptation, and persistence in an ever-changing world. This is especially important for informing models on energy, nutrient, and water cycles which are increasingly being used to plan infrastructure, agricultural, and energy strategies in a world faced with climate&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/plugging-data-gaps-in-global-plant-diversity-using-citizen-science/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Urban finance reforms gather pace, but key gaps persist [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/urban-finance-reforms-gather-pace-but-key-gaps-persist-commentary/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/urban-finance-reforms-gather-pace-but-key-gaps-persist-commentary/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>21 Apr 2026 17:24:09 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Ravikant Joshi]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Climate Finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance Commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban areas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban climate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Urban governance]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/21153931/AP23081265413428-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37788</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Finance]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Carbon Finance, Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation, Climate Change Mitigation, Environment, and Environmental Politics]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[The finances of Urban Local Governments (ULGs) are constrained by multiple structural issues. Since the 74th Constitutional Amendment, the Central Finance Commission (FC) has been mandated to review urban finances and recommend devolution from the centre to ULGs through state governments. The funds and reforms proposed by successive FCs have shaped the evolution of municipal [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[The finances of Urban Local Governments (ULGs) are constrained by multiple structural issues. Since the 74th Constitutional Amendment, the Central Finance Commission (FC) has been mandated to review urban finances and recommend devolution from the centre to ULGs through state governments. The funds and reforms proposed by successive FCs have shaped the evolution of municipal finance in India — sometimes producing unintended outcomes. The XVI FC marks a decisive step toward strengthening ULG fiscal empowerment and accountability. Through systemic incentives — linking grants to own source revenue (OSR) performance, state co-financing, and transparent reporting — the Commission has internalised the logic of fiscal responsibility across tiers. By raising the share of ULGs to 45% that includes 40% grant (60% to rural area) and also special grants of ₹661 billion to urban sector, XVI FC restores balance between tied and untied grants. It supports rural — urban transition, and prioritises environmental infrastructure and sets a new benchmark for cooperative urban federalism. However, it has missed some reforms that could have added depth and dynamism. Enabling local bodies through incentives and reforms A persistent issue across FCs, reiterated by the XVI FC, is the inadequacy of OSR and the underutilisation of property tax, the mainstay of OSR. The Commission noted that heavy dependence on higher levels of government weakens local autonomy and accountability. Among available local tax sources, property tax has the greatest potential but remains severely underexploited. Building on this concern, the XVI FC introduced a major shift in the criteria&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/urban-finance-reforms-gather-pace-but-key-gaps-persist-commentary/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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						<item>
					<title>Experiments with natural dyes and coloured cocoons for Pashmina and silk</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/researchers-experiment-with-natural-dyes-and-coloured-cocoons-for-pashmina-wool-and-silk-fabrics/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/researchers-experiment-with-natural-dyes-and-coloured-cocoons-for-pashmina-wool-and-silk-fabrics/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>21 Apr 2026 15:33:36 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Hirra Azmat]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wastewater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water pollution]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/04/21133828/1-e1776758933773-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37779</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Jammu and Kashmir]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Pollution and Water Pollution]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Colour is at the heart of Kashmir’s textile traditions, especially for the world renowned Pashmina shawls and Kashmir silks. Yet producing these rich hues often comes with an environmental cost to ecosystems. Studies show that many textile industries use synthetic dyes during dyeing and printing processes. When wastewater from these processes is released without proper [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Colour is at the heart of Kashmir’s textile traditions, especially for the world renowned Pashmina shawls and Kashmir silks. Yet producing these rich hues often comes with an environmental cost to ecosystems. Studies show that many textile industries use synthetic dyes during dyeing and printing processes. When wastewater from these processes is released without proper treatment, these chemicals can enter rivers and streams  polluting  water and harming aquatic life. Globally, the textile industry is among the largest sources of water pollution, with the dyeing processes contributing significantly to chemical discharge. Researchers in Kashmir are now exploring alternative ways to colour these fibres using plant-based natural dyes for pashmina and feeding pigment-infused diets to silkworms for them to spin naturally coloured silk. These approaches, they say, aim to reduce textile production&#8217;s contribution to pollution while maintaining the value of high-end natural fibres. Traditional dyeing process for Pashmina textiles. Pashmina yarn is gently submerged and lifted from the dye vat, ensuring even absorption while maintaining low heat to preserve fibre quality. Image by Tayoor Ahmad. Plant-based natural dyes for Pashminas Pashmina from the Ladakh region is considered one of the world’s most luxurious natural fibres. The woollen fibre comes from the undercoat of Changthangi goats raised in the extremely cold, high-altitude Changthang plateau of Ladakh at around 3,500-4,000 metres above sea level. “The global reputation of Kashmiri Pashmina is also closely linked to the traditional craftsmanship of Kashmiri artisans,” Asif Hassan, a professor in the division of Livestock Products Technology, Sher-e-Kashmir University&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/04/researchers-experiment-with-natural-dyes-and-coloured-cocoons-for-pashmina-wool-and-silk-fabrics/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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