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		<title>Mongabay-India</title>
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		<link>https://india.mongabay.com/by/avijan-saha/</link>
		<description>India&#039;s environmental science and conservation news</description>
		<lastBuildDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:06:52 +0000</lastBuildDate>
		<language>en-US</language>
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				<item>
					<title>Adivasi women protect private forests as land conversions threaten livelihoods and culture [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/adivasi-women-protect-private-forests-as-land-conversions-threaten-livelihoods-and-culture-commentary/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/adivasi-women-protect-private-forests-as-land-conversions-threaten-livelihoods-and-culture-commentary/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>05 Mar 2026 15:36:52 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Nayantara SiruguriYamini Khedkar]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Arathimenon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food security]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medicinal plants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traditional Knowledge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wild foods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[women]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[women in agriculture]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/05133717/LeafBundle-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
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											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Maharashtra]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Ecology, Food, Forests, Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Rights, Trees, and Tribes]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Jija Darwada leads us through a dense patch of forest behind Mograj village in Raigad district of Maharashtra. She taps on the fissured bark of a tall tree. “This is the Ain tree (Terminalia elliptica),” she tells us, “We use it to build parts of our houses, or even stables for our cattle. We usually [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Jija Darwada leads us through a dense patch of forest behind Mograj village in Raigad district of Maharashtra. She taps on the fissured bark of a tall tree. “This is the Ain tree (Terminalia elliptica),” she tells us, “We use it to build parts of our houses, or even stables for our cattle. We usually let it grow for 25-30 years.” She points to a plant with long leaves and a thick stem, “This is Pevga (Cheilocostus speciosus). In the midrib of its leaves, it contains its own water. When we are thirsty in the forest, we can break the stem and bite into it.” “Ah, look here,” she continues as we walk through the narrow trail covered with a thick layer of wet leaves, “This is Moha (Madhuca indica).” We gasp at the sight of the magnificent tree. “Every part of this plant is useful. We make oil from its seeds. Its wood can be used to build the floors of our houses, the fruits (moh doda) are delicious — cooked and eaten as a side dish with rice or bhakri (flatbread) — and even its flowers are consumed. And of course, one can also make local liquor with it.” About 20 kilometres away from this forest lies a growing town called Karjat, welcoming thousands of tourists a year. Poised to become a part of the “Third Mumbai” developed by the Maharashtra government (the second being Navi Mumbai), both the real estate prices and the population of Karjat are&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/adivasi-women-protect-private-forests-as-land-conversions-threaten-livelihoods-and-culture-commentary/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/adivasi-women-protect-private-forests-as-land-conversions-threaten-livelihoods-and-culture-commentary/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>Farmers revive tung plantations amid market hopes and ecological concerns</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/farmers-revive-tung-plantations-amid-market-hopes-and-ecological-concerns/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/farmers-revive-tung-plantations-amid-market-hopes-and-ecological-concerns/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>05 Mar 2026 11:55:53 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Barasha Das]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crop]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fruits]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[monoculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[oil seed]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/05104703/5.-Tung-seeds-being-segregated-at-Saitual-District-Tung-Growers-Association-PC-Robert-Lalnuntluanga-768x512.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37147</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Mizoram]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Agriculture, Environmental Economics, Himalayas, Mountains, Plantations, Plants, and Trees]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[In 2023, farmers in Mizoram’s Saitual district came together to form the Saitual District Tung Grower Association to streamline the cultivation and post-harvest marketing of a tree-borne oilseed from the tung tree, which has significant industrial applications and commercial potential. What began as a small collective has since expanded rapidly. Today, more than 600 farmers [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[In 2023, farmers in Mizoram’s Saitual district came together to form the Saitual District Tung Grower Association to streamline the cultivation and post-harvest marketing of a tree-borne oilseed from the tung tree, which has significant industrial applications and commercial potential. What began as a small collective has since expanded rapidly. Today, more than 600 farmers across the district have joined the association, hoping to build a viable economic future around a crop that remains largely unfamiliar to most of India. Farmers are now converting several hectares of land to cultivate the tung tree, primarily Vernicia fordii and Vernicia montana, two closely related species whose seeds yield tung oil, a non-edible but highly valuable drying oil. However, experts caution the risks of expanding monoculture plantations on the fragile slopes in the mountain state. Tung oil and its industrial applications Tung oil is primarily extracted from V. fordii, with oil from V. montana occasionally blended in limited proportions. Under favourable conditions, tung trees begin yielding fruit from the third year, though most assessments place the first reliable harvest at around the fifth year. The trees typically remain productive for 24 years, reaching peak yields between 10 and 12 years of age. Tung oil yields generally range from 300 to 450 kilograms per hectare, with the seed containing about 30-40% oil. The oil has been historically used in products from caulk to insulating compounds. Renowned for its capacity to harden into a tough, water-resistant film upon exposure to air, it is widely used&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/farmers-revive-tung-plantations-amid-market-hopes-and-ecological-concerns/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>New report flags sulphur dioxide emissions from Bokaro Steel Plant</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/new-report-flags-sulphur-dioxide-emissions-from-bokaro-steel-plant/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/new-report-flags-sulphur-dioxide-emissions-from-bokaro-steel-plant/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>04 Mar 2026 16:33:02 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Simrin Sirur]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[human health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steel Industry]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/04143355/AP842492653352-scaled-e1772615137987-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37138</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Jharkhand]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Air Pollution, Carbon emissions, Coal, Energy, Environment, Health impacts, Industry, and Pollution]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Decarbonising the steel industry — one of the largest coal consuming industries in India — focuses primarily on reducing carbon dioxide emissions to prevent the greenhouse gas effect. However, industrial processes in steel-making also cause air pollution, releasing sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, all of which adversely impact public health. A new analysis [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Decarbonising the steel industry — one of the largest coal consuming industries in India — focuses primarily on reducing carbon dioxide emissions to prevent the greenhouse gas effect. However, industrial processes in steel-making also cause air pollution, releasing sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter, all of which adversely impact public health. A new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) tracked air pollution emissions disclosures from the Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) in Jharkhand. It found that even though BSL met existing regulatory limits, pollution from the plant led to around 273 low birthweight births, and 284 preterm births each year. India’s installed crude steel capacity is projected to reach between 260 million and 280 million metric tons by 2035, keeping up pace with growing demand from the automotive, renewables, and defence sectors. It currently accounts for 10-12% of India’s carbon emissions, making it a key sector for decarbonisation on the way to net-zero emissions. The use of blast furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces in additional steel capacity could lock in a carbon-intensive process. Until innovations on how to replace coal in steel-making become viable, investing in better air monitoring and filtration could help reduce the impacts of air pollution caused by the same process, the CREA report suggests. “The emissions by the industry are self-reported or reported by a third party hired by the industry. The reported emissions for compliance are always below the standard, whether it is BSL, Bhillai Steel Plant, IISCO [Indian&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/new-report-flags-sulphur-dioxide-emissions-from-bokaro-steel-plant/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Study finds counterintuitive rise in elephant deaths after organised monitoring</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-counterintuitive-rise-in-elephant-deaths-after-organised-monitoring/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-counterintuitive-rise-in-elephant-deaths-after-organised-monitoring/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>04 Mar 2026 14:26:20 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Manish Chandra Mishra]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crop loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[human elephant conflict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tea estates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tea gardens]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/03222211/A_herd_of_wild_elephants_in_a_Tea_Garden-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37132</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Assam]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Agriculture, Elephants, Forests, Human Rights, Human Wildlife Conflict, Plantations, Villages, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[A new study analysing two decades of organised crop-guarding efforts to deter elephants from entering farms has found a counterintuitive outcome: villages with active monitoring recorded two to three times more elephant deaths. The elephant monitoring squads were set up in 2004 in Assam’s Sonitpur district where human-elephant conflict had led to high fatalities on [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[A new study analysing two decades of organised crop-guarding efforts to deter elephants from entering farms has found a counterintuitive outcome: villages with active monitoring recorded two to three times more elephant deaths. The elephant monitoring squads were set up in 2004 in Assam’s Sonitpur district where human-elephant conflict had led to high fatalities on both sides. The aim behind setting up the squads was to keep elephants away from human habitation to reduce conflict and hence reduce deaths. The study set out to find whether this intervention was indeed effective in decreasing deaths, but found increased elephant mortality instead. The study findings however, need to be viewed with caution. While they show an association between an increased number of Antidepredation Squads (ADSs) and increased elephant deaths, they are not a direct proof of causation, notes WWF-India which helped set up these squads in Sonitpur. The data shows that there are more elephant deaths in areas where ADSs have been deployed. The reason for increased deaths, says study author Nitin Sekar, could be that ADSs result in more regular, organised, and effective driving of elephants than occurs in communities without ADSs. “Elephants being chased in this way are less attentive to their surroundings (especially since drives often happen in the dark) and are more likely to run into an electric wire or fall into a trench,” he said. He cautioned that there could be other explanations too to why the findings showed increased mortality. “We have pretty strong evidence that&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-counterintuitive-rise-in-elephant-deaths-after-organised-monitoring/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>Pollution concentrations soar higher above ground during haze</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/pollution-concentrations-soar-higher-above-ground-during-haze/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/pollution-concentrations-soar-higher-above-ground-during-haze/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>03 Mar 2026 14:51:34 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Manish Chandra Mishra]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[aerosol chemistry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[air quality modelling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[air quality monitoring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[AQI]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[atmospheric science]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[boundary layer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Delhi air pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drone monitoring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[high-rise exposure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[particulate matter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PM2.5]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pollution forecasting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[public health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[secondary aerosols]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban air pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban climate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[vertical pollution profile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[winter haze]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/03142922/AP25314257198720-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37114</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Innovations and Environment And Health]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Delhi and India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Air Pollution, Carbon emissions, Cities and Towns, Coal, Energy, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Industry, Pollution, and Technology]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[On hazy winter mornings in Delhi, the air people breathe at street level may not tell the full story. A new peer-reviewed study published in Nature npj Clean Air reports that PM2.5 concentrations were up to 60% higher at around 100 metres above ground compared to surface levels during severe haze episodes. The findings suggest [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[On hazy winter mornings in Delhi, the air people breathe at street level may not tell the full story. A new peer-reviewed study published in Nature npj Clean Air reports that PM2.5 concentrations were up to 60% higher at around 100 metres above ground compared to surface levels during severe haze episodes. The findings suggest that pollution can accumulate not only near roads and traffic corridors, but also higher up at an altitude where many residents and office workers in high-rise buildings spend much of their time. Using a custom-built drone equipped with low-cost particulate matter sensors, researchers conducted multiple flights over South Delhi in March 2021. On one hazy morning, PM2.5 levels reached around 160 micrograms per cubic metre at 100 metres, compared to roughly 100 micrograms per cubic metre at ground level. Ajit Ahlawat, Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology and lead author of the study said about the finding, “This indicates that ground-based monitoring alone substantially underestimates actual exposure to pollution in the lower urban boundary layer, especially during haze episodes.” Traditional air quality monitors typically measure pollutants around five to ten metres above the ground. “This misses vertical gradients in shallow nocturnal boundary layers that trap pollutants aloft,” Ahlawat said, referring to the different heights in the layer of air close to the ground that forms at night which can go up to 300 metres or higher. He added that hygroscopic particle growth, where particles absorb moisture and grow, and secondary aerosol formation often occur&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/pollution-concentrations-soar-higher-above-ground-during-haze/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>Sacred groves anchor traditional healing: study</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/sacred-groves-anchor-traditional-healing-study/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/sacred-groves-anchor-traditional-healing-study/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>03 Mar 2026 12:54:02 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Shradha Triveni]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Arathimenon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disease]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[human health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[indigenous knowledge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medicinal plants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sacred groves]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traditional Knowledge]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/03090742/Kabi_Lungchok_Sacred_Groves_at_Kabi_village_in_North_Sikkim_India_26-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37106</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Indigenous Knowledge]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Himalayas, Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Rights, Plants, Tribes, and Villages]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[The sacred groves of India’s Himalayan region are home to a vast repository of medicinal plants. These culturally safeguarded spaces function as informal conservation areas, preserving medicinally important species while reinforcing community-led stewardship of biodiversity. Yet, despite their importance, both the ecological base and the knowledge systems associated with these groves remain largely undocumented and [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[The sacred groves of India’s Himalayan region are home to a vast repository of medicinal plants. These culturally safeguarded spaces function as informal conservation areas, preserving medicinally important species while reinforcing community-led stewardship of biodiversity. Yet, despite their importance, both the ecological base and the knowledge systems associated with these groves remain largely undocumented and are increasingly vulnerable to erosion. A recent study by botanists at Sikkim’s SRM University documents 70 medicinal plant species used by Lepcha, Bhutia, Nepali, Limbu and Tibetan communities to treat 35 ailments. Conducted between July 2022 and June 2024, the study recorded the ethnomedicinal practices of Indigenous communities and traditional healers across West Sikkim. Biswajit Bose, the corresponding author of the study and Associate Professor of Botany at the university, says the documentation shows how culturally protected forest patches such as sacred groves, Gumpa forests and monastery Gumpa forests function as community-led conservation units for medicinal plant diversity in West Sikkim district. The village commons that preserve these groves demonstrate how traditional knowledge systems operate as conservation reserves. He adds that the study also offers “a baseline dataset for future pharmacological research”. A recent study in Sikkim documents 70 medicinal plant species used by Lepcha, Bhutia, Nepali, Limbu and Tibetan communities to treat 35 ailments. Image by Reena Chhetri. Locally called manay, this structure rotates with the force of naturally flowing water or wind, and is believed to protect the forests from natural calamities and to keep water and wind clean. Image by Reena Chhetri.&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/sacred-groves-anchor-traditional-healing-study/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>The world&#8217;s longest venomous snake</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/the-worlds-longest-venomous-snake/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/the-worlds-longest-venomous-snake/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>03 Mar 2026 10:48:19 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Team Mongabay-India]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cobra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[IUCN]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[king cobra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Snakes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[species]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/02231108/king-cobra-1-e1772473665932-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37030</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Species File]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Animals, Biodiversity, Ecology, New species, Reptiles, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Species File: Exploring India&#8217;s biodiversity, one species at a time. King cobras are hitching rides on trains in Goa. A recent study reported repeated instances of the species being found on trains in the coastal state, drawing attention to how habitat fragmentation and linear infrastructure can bring large snakes into unexpected human-dominated areas. The king [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Species File: Exploring India&#8217;s biodiversity, one species at a time. King cobras are hitching rides on trains in Goa. A recent study reported repeated instances of the species being found on trains in the coastal state, drawing attention to how habitat fragmentation and linear infrastructure can bring large snakes into unexpected human-dominated areas. The king cobra is a reptile found primarily in tropical forests and distributed widely across South and Southeast Asia. Its average length is about 10 to 13 feet &#8211; vertically, that&#8217;s about half as tall as a giraffe. The cobra is the world’s longest venomous snake. It feeds mainly on other snakes, including other cobras, which is how it earned the &#8216;king&#8217; in its name. In India, the king cobra is typically found across northern, eastern and northeastern regions, including forested habitats and the Andaman Islands. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a global body assessing species&#8217; extinction risk, lists the king cobra as vulnerable to extinction in the wild. It population is declining, mainly because of habitat loss and forest degradation. In India, it is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which means hunting, capturing, or trading the species is a punishable offence. In 2024, a landmark study, led by wildlife biologist P. Gowri Shankar, found that the king cobra is not a single species, as previously thought, but rather four genetically distinct species: Northern king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah); Sunda king cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus); Western Ghats king cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga); Luzon&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/the-worlds-longest-venomous-snake/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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					<title>Study finds urban nature-based solutions overlook biodiversity</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-urban-nature-based-solutions-overlook-biodiversity/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-urban-nature-based-solutions-overlook-biodiversity/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>02 Mar 2026 13:56:12 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Aisiri Amin]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Arathimenon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban areas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban biodiversity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Urban forest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban lakes]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/02121059/3-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37089</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Nature-based Solutions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Cities and Towns, Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation, Natural Resources, and Nature-based Climate Solutions]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[As the world looks for long-lasting solutions to environmental challenges, nature-based solutions (NbS) are often presented as a promising pathway. A new study assessing the benefits to biodiversity from NbS in urban areas of the Global South aims to better understand how effectively these interventions address urban challenges. The study, published in Ecological Indicators, found [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[As the world looks for long-lasting solutions to environmental challenges, nature-based solutions (NbS) are often presented as a promising pathway. A new study assessing the benefits to biodiversity from NbS in urban areas of the Global South aims to better understand how effectively these interventions address urban challenges. The study, published in Ecological Indicators, found that biodiversity is rarely the primary focus of NbS projects in urban areas. The researchers from the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) explain in the paper that most projects prioritised societal benefits, such as flood control or heat reduction, over climate mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Ambiguity around nature-based solutions According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), nature-based solutions (NbS) are “actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems” while addressing societal challenges, to deliver human well-being and biodiversity benefits. The term is relatively recent and Western in origin. “The government of India prefers the term ‘ecosystem-based adaptation’, a subset of NbS that engages directly with climate-related challenges,” says corresponding author Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Dean at the School of Environment and Sustainability at the Indian Institute for Human Settlements. Because the term NbS is not widely used in India, many initiatives go underreported, particularly in global research, he adds. Yet interest is growing, especially in urban adaptation and resilience, notes Aarathi Kumar of WRI India. Indian examples exist even if not labelled specifically as NbS, including multifunctional wetlands&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-urban-nature-based-solutions-overlook-biodiversity/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-urban-nature-based-solutions-overlook-biodiversity/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>Data-driven visitor management is vital for protected areas [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/data-driven-visitor-management-is-vital-for-protected-areas-commentary/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/data-driven-visitor-management-is-vital-for-protected-areas-commentary/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>02 Mar 2026 13:17:14 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Pradeep Mishra]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ecotourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forest management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[habitat degradation]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/02102811/Indore-City-View-from-Shikargah-of-Ralamandal_photo-shared-by-Ritesh-Kabia-scaled-e1772427529703-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37081</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[The Indian Forest Story]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Madhya Pradesh]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Cities and Towns, Forests, Human Wildlife Conflict, Protected Areas, Tourism, Wildlife, and Wildlife Sanctuary]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Across India, protected areas are witnessing a steady rise in visitors. From sprawling national parks to small wildlife sanctuaries on the fringes of major cities, nature tourism is booming. This growth is often celebrated as a sign of increasing public interest in conservation. But beyond the headline of visitor numbers, a quieter and a more [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Across India, protected areas are witnessing a steady rise in visitors. From sprawling national parks to small wildlife sanctuaries on the fringes of major cities, nature tourism is booming. This growth is often celebrated as a sign of increasing public interest in conservation. But beyond the headline of visitor numbers, a quieter and a more complex question remains largely unexamined: what happens to ecosystems when popularity turns into pressure? Ralamandal Wildlife Sanctuary, located on the outskirts of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, offers a revealing case study. Spread across an area just over 2 square kilometres, Ralamandal is one of the smallest wildlife sanctuaries in the state. Yet its proximity to the rapidly expanding Indore city makes it one of the most heavily visited forest landscapes in the region. The sanctuary’s history dates to the Holkar period, when the hill forest served as a royal hunting ground, or shikargah. Today, a hilltop structure built in 1905 serves as a museum, offering panoramic views of Indore, Bilawali Tank, and the surrounding mountain hills such as Devguradiya, Umrikheda, Datuni, Renuka and Rann Bhawar. This blend of nature and history attracts a diverse crowd — from fitness enthusiasts and students to weekend tourists. However, forest department data has revealed that the average revenue generated per visitor has stagnated or declined. Visitor data from the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department shows that a large share of this footfall is concentrated between May and September. During these months, daily visitor numbers rise sharply, placing heavy pressure on&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/data-driven-visitor-management-is-vital-for-protected-areas-commentary/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Community-led water conservation revives groundwater</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/community-led-water-conservation-revives-groundwater/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/community-led-water-conservation-revives-groundwater/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>27 Feb 2026 13:31:50 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Anjana V.]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[groundwater recharge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rainfall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water crisis]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/27105532/3.1.testing-for-microplastic-elements-in-the-well-water-at-Vidhya_s-residence-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37070</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Connections]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Kerala]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Community based conservation, Ecology, Environment, Groundwater, Rivers, Sustainability, Villages, Water, and Wetlands]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[On a January morning in Thuruthikkara, a village in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, 53-year-old Vidhya Manjush stands beside her open well, checking the water level. Unlike in previous years, the water level remains steady. A community-driven push for rainwater harvesting and water testing ensures that the water from Manjush’s roof is filtered and directed into the well, [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[On a January morning in Thuruthikkara, a village in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, 53-year-old Vidhya Manjush stands beside her open well, checking the water level. Unlike in previous years, the water level remains steady. A community-driven push for rainwater harvesting and water testing ensures that the water from Manjush’s roof is filtered and directed into the well, helping recharge groundwater throughout the year. A few years ago, this wasn&#8217;t the case. As soon as the rains would end, groundwater recharge would slow down and the wells in the village would start drying up. The people would have to wait two to three days for a tanker to bring drinking water, Manjush recalls. And even then, it wouldn&#8217;t be potable. &#8220;The water often had black particles. I filtered it through a cloth and boiled it every time,&#8221; she says. The Ernakulam district typically receives very high rainfall, about 3000 mm annually, primarily between March and October. However, in Thuruthikkara, soon after the rains, the wells begin drying up and run dry by January, forcing households to depend on water tankers. To overcome this seasonal dependence on tankers, the village residents set up systems for rainwater harvesting, rainfall tracking and water quality testing, to make better use of the rainfall and reduce their water woes. In 2018, volunteers trained at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) conduct chemical testing on well water in Thuruthikkara. Image by Suresh Thuruthikkara. When the residents came together Thuruthikkara falls under the Mulanthuruthy grama panchayat and is bordered&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/community-led-water-conservation-revives-groundwater/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>The environmental price of India&#8217;s new trade push [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/the-environmental-price-of-indias-new-trade-push-commentary/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/the-environmental-price-of-indias-new-trade-push-commentary/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>27 Feb 2026 12:21:32 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[S. Gopikrishna Warrier]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[S. Gopikrishna Warrier]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World Trade Organisation]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/27114641/AP25239165084841-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37064</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Environomy and Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Global and India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Environmental Economics, Environmental Law, Environmental Politics, and Politics]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Never has the world been so concerned with discussions on international trade and tariffs as in the past six months. The last time there were such focussed discussions in the media and the public on trade was when the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was agreed upon in April 1994. Even in those heady days, trade [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Never has the world been so concerned with discussions on international trade and tariffs as in the past six months. The last time there were such focussed discussions in the media and the public on trade was when the World Trade Organisation (WTO) was agreed upon in April 1994. Even in those heady days, trade negotiation news was in the inside pages of newspapers, and not the lead story across all the countries in the world. In the past decades, national governments engaged in autopilot mode to develop and polish bilateral, multilateral and regional trade agreements, while the citizens went about their lives independent of these diplomatic exercises. All it needed was a capricious leader as the head of the biggest trading nation, and trade continues to hit headlines since months. This has been especially so in India, a country which stood to lose heavily due to the penal tariffs applied to goods exported from India to the US. With two back-to-back trade agreements — with the European Union and with the United States of America — the attention to trade news has almost been all pervading in the country. With the US Supreme Court recently striking down reciprocal tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, another round of turmoil and confusion has been unleashed. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and European Council President Antonio Costa after reaching free trade agreement between India and EU in New Delhi on Jan. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/the-environmental-price-of-indias-new-trade-push-commentary/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Agropastoral landscapes as refuge for wildlife</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/agro-pastoral-landscapes-as-refuge-for-wildlife/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/agro-pastoral-landscapes-as-refuge-for-wildlife/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>26 Feb 2026 13:20:22 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Arathi Menon]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[land management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[land use]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihoods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pastoralism]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/26122619/Image7-768x512.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37059</guid>

					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Karnataka]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Agriculture, Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, Grasslands, Habitat Loss, Human Wildlife Conflict, and Mammals]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Studies have examined the role of multiple landscape types, such as open natural ecosystems, in supporting biodiversity and species conservation, with findings debunking the long-held assumption that only intensively managed protected areas have the capacity to aid and further the conservation of terrestrial biodiversity. Adding to this narrative is a new study from a semi-arid, [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Studies have examined the role of multiple landscape types, such as open natural ecosystems, in supporting biodiversity and species conservation, with findings debunking the long-held assumption that only intensively managed protected areas have the capacity to aid and further the conservation of terrestrial biodiversity. Adding to this narrative is a new study from a semi-arid, open-canopy human-use landscape in Koppal district in North Karnataka, which finds that such ecosystems, even with intermittent human use, can provide habitats for globally threatened species and support their conservation. Researchers used key informant interviews with pastoralists and a single-season, single-species occupancy modelling framework to examine the distribution of three species: striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), and blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). The study revealed that hyena, sloth bear and blackbuck occupied 52%, 26% and 63% of the landscape, respectively. Indian gray wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) was found in at least 76% of the landscape. “These landscapes in the Deccan Peninsula, with very few protected areas, are seen merely as agricultural landscapes both in the public imagination and in policies. But we found pockets of natural habitats, which we have called refugia in the paper, surrounded by agriculture that wildlife frequents. These are shared landscapes; these refugia are the reason that animals can partition spatially and temporally from humans,” says lead author of the study, Iravatee Majgaonkar. The study refers to “hallas” as one such refugium potentially supporting blackbuck populations in the district, despite intermittent human activity. Hallas are alluvial streams, part of the&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/agro-pastoral-landscapes-as-refuge-for-wildlife/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Climate stress, market gap weaken traditional bamboo craft [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/climate-stress-market-gap-weaken-traditional-bamboo-craft-commentary/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/climate-stress-market-gap-weaken-traditional-bamboo-craft-commentary/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>26 Feb 2026 12:28:57 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Kulesh Bhandari]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Arathimenon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[artisans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bamboo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[indigenous knowledge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihoods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[traditional crafts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Traditional Knowledge]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/26110228/Bhandari_JharkhandBamboo_03.-Edited-e1772084373594-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37048</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Indigenous Knowledge]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Jharkhand]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Ecology, Environment, Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous Rights, and Villages]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[At sunrise, the courtyards of Mohuli village, an artisan hamlet in Dumka district of Jharkhand, resonate with the rhythmic rasping of dry bamboo being sliced. Buddhan Mohuli (65) sits cross-legged on a fraying jute sack, his toes gripping a curved blade. With each steady pull of his hand, a bamboo strip thins into fine, uniform [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[At sunrise, the courtyards of Mohuli village, an artisan hamlet in Dumka district of Jharkhand, resonate with the rhythmic rasping of dry bamboo being sliced. Buddhan Mohuli (65) sits cross-legged on a fraying jute sack, his toes gripping a curved blade. With each steady pull of his hand, a bamboo strip thins into fine, uniform threads. The village is known for a traditional bamboo slicing method using feet. “We start around 4 am,” he says, eyes fixed on the strip. “By afternoon, the fingers stop listening.” A full day’s work earns him ₹100–₹200. Similar scenes play out across other villages such as Kathikund, Ramgarh and Thengi More in Jharkhand. Senior artisans Gultan Mohuli and Khoda Mohuli  say that the foot-based slicing technique wastes almost nothing. The bamboo splits clean, yielding fine, flexible slivers that bend without breaking. Artisans learn to control these movements over the years, shaping the rhythm of the craft with their bodies before their hands fully master it. “This kind of work can only be understood with the feet,” Arjun Mohuli, a senior artisan from Thengi More, explains. The artisans make diverse bamboo products: large winnowing trays for sorting grains; flat trays to dry mahua flowers; big baskets to store vegetables; thick-rimmed baskets to carry heavy loads; and curved mats line kitchen shelves. Each object reveals deep traditional knowledge shaped over time. Women sell tokris and soops (bamboo crafts) at a weekly haat in Godda district. Artisans in Mohuli village, Dumka district, Jharkhand, make diverse bamboo products&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/climate-stress-market-gap-weaken-traditional-bamboo-craft-commentary/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>Old kilns, new blocks, uncertain futures</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/old-kilns-new-blocks-uncertain-futures/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/old-kilns-new-blocks-uncertain-futures/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>26 Feb 2026 11:40:36 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Tanvi Bhatia]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brick industry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brick kiln]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[construction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihoods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[manufacutring]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/26101535/AP20081304327460-e1772081488710-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37042</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Uttar Pradesh]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Alternative energy, Carbon emissions, Clean Energy, Coal, Energy, Environmental Economics, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Industry]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[With expanding cities, rising housing demand, and large-scale infrastructure projects, India is witnessing one of the world&#8217;s fastest construction booms. Under the government&#8217;s urban housing scheme, over a period of 10 years, 11.8 million houses were sanctioned, 11.4 million grounded for construction, and over 8 million completed as of 2024. Meanwhile, under the rural housing [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[With expanding cities, rising housing demand, and large-scale infrastructure projects, India is witnessing one of the world&#8217;s fastest construction booms. Under the government&#8217;s urban housing scheme, over a period of 10 years, 11.8 million houses were sanctioned, 11.4 million grounded for construction, and over 8 million completed as of 2024. Meanwhile, under the rural housing scheme the government plants to construct 20 million houses by 2029. Every year, the country constructs millions of buildings, reflecting both the scale and pace of this growth. The construction sector is a critical contributor to climate change. According to the World Green Building Council, buildings and construction together account for 39% of global energy-related carbon emissions, with materials and construction alone contributing 11%. The growing construction demand has increased the demand for bricks and the brick industry is growing. India is the world’s second-largest producer of bricks, after China. Yet, much of the sector is unorganised, widely dispersed, and largely informal. Traditional brick-making methods rely on coal-fired, energy-intensive kilns, resulting in higher emissions from fired clay bricks used in construction. The brick industry is one of the largest (coal) energy users and a source of GHG emissions from India. But it also employs some of the largest workforces in India, after agriculture. Kanpur, an industrial city in Uttar Pradesh, has a well-established brick manufacturing industry. Its peripheral regions host numerous traditional brick kilns that fuel the city’s rapid construction growth. At the same time, several enterprises here are experimenting with low-carbon alternatives such as&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/old-kilns-new-blocks-uncertain-futures/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>Kumaon lakes have become sinks for microplastic pollution</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/kumaon-lakes-have-become-sinks-for-microplastic-pollution/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/kumaon-lakes-have-become-sinks-for-microplastic-pollution/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>25 Feb 2026 14:28:16 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Simrin Sirur]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[high altitude]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[high-altitude ecosystems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[microplastics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plastic pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[water crisis]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/25111011/Nainital_lake_uttarakhand_india-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37038</guid>

					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Uttarakhand]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Himalayas, Lakes, Plastic, Pollution, Waste management, Water, Water Pollution, and Wetlands]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Microplastics have been found in three lakes in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, with concentrations increasing in more urbanised areas, a new study has found. High altitude lakes are especially vulnerable to the accumulation of microplastics because they react quickly to changes in the watershed. Three high altitude lakes in Kumaon were chosen for the [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Microplastics have been found in three lakes in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, with concentrations increasing in more urbanised areas, a new study has found. High altitude lakes are especially vulnerable to the accumulation of microplastics because they react quickly to changes in the watershed. Three high altitude lakes in Kumaon were chosen for the study – Nainital lake, Garudtal lake, and Bhimtal lake. The researchers looked not only at levels of pollution in the lakes, but also whether land use types had a role to play. Of the three, Garudtal was the most remote, with no permanent residential areas around the lake. By contrast, Nainital had a watershed population of 26,859 people, and Bhimtal 8,413 people. A total of 24 samples were collected across all three lakes, which were filtered using a 90 micrometre sieve. The extent of microplastic pollution was characterised using three parameters: Contamination Factor (CF), which quantifies the level of contamination associated with each polymer, Pollution Load Index (PLI), which provides an integrated measure of microplastic pollution loads across all sampling sites, and Polymer Hazard Index (PHI), which assesses the potential ecological impacts of microplastic pollution based on each polymer abundance and its hazard score. Concentrations ranged from 200 to 1,300 items per metre cubed in Nainital Lake, 60 to 960 items per metre cubed in Bhimtal Lake, and 40 to 320 items per metre cubed in Garudtal lake. The “result reveals that the microplastic concentration of these lakes varies from each other mainly due to&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/kumaon-lakes-have-become-sinks-for-microplastic-pollution/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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						<item>
					<title>Cottony coats and comebacks</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/cottony-coats-and-comebacks/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/cottony-coats-and-comebacks/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>24 Feb 2026 15:37:04 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Anusha Krishnan]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plants]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/24133321/Image-3_Neuracanthus_after-surface-fire-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37025</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Western Ghats]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Drought, Ecology, Monsoons, Plants, and Western Ghats]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[The northern part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO-recognised biodiversity hotspot known for its remarkable diversity of seasonal herbs, has a dramatic landscape. During the monsoon months between June and September, it experiences intense rainfall. Its open grasslands and rocky plateaus become awash in verdant green and then erupt into colour as seasonal plants leaf [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[The northern part of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO-recognised biodiversity hotspot known for its remarkable diversity of seasonal herbs, has a dramatic landscape. During the monsoon months between June and September, it experiences intense rainfall. Its open grasslands and rocky plateaus become awash in verdant green and then erupt into colour as seasonal plants leaf and flower across its terrain. But once the rains withdraw in October, the terrain turns harsh, and until May, all the plants in this area face intense heat, drying winds, and recurring surface fires. Some plants have an unusual strategy to survive these extreme seasonal cycles, finds a recent study. They wrap their dormant buds in dry, cottony coats to help them survive the inhospitable months. Researchers have named this adaptation ‘Xerocoma’, deriving it from the Greek words ‘xero’ (dry) and ‘kóma’ (tuft). These structures occur as dry, cottony balls that form at the rootstock — the area where the shoot and root meet, either just above or just below the soil surface. What is Xerocoma? Just before monsoon sets in, as the plant&#8217;s buds begin to grow, the Xerocoma also elongates with the growing buds to completely envelop them during this critical period. Eventually, as young leaves emerge, the cottony mass of the Xerocoma loosens to allow the expanding leaves to grow. Mandar Datar, who is a professor at the Agharkar Research Institute in Pune, and an author in the paper, emphasises that Xerocoma is a distinct plant organ rather than a fungal association&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/cottony-coats-and-comebacks/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Pre-monsoon storms intensify with thunder and flash floods</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/pre-monsoon-storms-intensify-with-thunder-and-flash-floods/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/pre-monsoon-storms-intensify-with-thunder-and-flash-floods/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>24 Feb 2026 13:27:19 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Max Martin]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[extreme rainfall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heavy rainfall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[non-monsoon rains]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[thunderstorm]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/24105637/AP22192397871178-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37016</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Connections]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Kerala]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Cities and Towns, Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events, Floods, Impacts of Climate Change, and Monsoons]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[On a late evening in the first week of February, after what passed for a usual balmy afternoon, the night sky clouded over the fringes of the Kochi metropolitan area. Thunder cracked, lightning followed, and within minutes a burst of rain flooded roads, slowing traffic to a crawl in several stretches. Those caught without umbrellas [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[On a late evening in the first week of February, after what passed for a usual balmy afternoon, the night sky clouded over the fringes of the Kochi metropolitan area. Thunder cracked, lightning followed, and within minutes a burst of rain flooded roads, slowing traffic to a crawl in several stretches. Those caught without umbrellas could not walk a few yards to the nearest bus stop, while autorickshaws refused to ply because water was rapidly pooling on the streets. The downpour did not last long, but it was intense enough to overwhelm drains and leave behind pools of water. This rain was isolated and quite early, before the summer season of March to May. However, fast-forming thunderstorms are becoming an increasingly familiar risk in Kerala, especially during the pre- and post-monsoon months, explained Abhilash S, head of the department of atmospheric sciences at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). A recent study by his team mapping lightning strikes, wind gusts, and short-duration rainfall across Kerala state shows they cluster in distinct hotspots — causing flash floods in cities and landslides in the hills. Rapidly building thunderstorms Convective storms — the fast-building thunderstorms that often arrive with little warning — are a familiar feature of Kerala’s pre-monsoon weather. These are associated with thunder, lightning, heavy rain, hail, strong winds, and sudden temperature changes. They can occur year-round, but are most common in the summer. However, these storms are posing a triple threat — bringing intense rainfall, dangerous lightning, and&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/pre-monsoon-storms-intensify-with-thunder-and-flash-floods/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>A zoonotic disease in the Himalayas that needs a closer look [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/a-zoonotic-disease-in-the-himalayas-that-needs-a-closer-look-commentary/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/a-zoonotic-disease-in-the-himalayas-that-needs-a-closer-look-commentary/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>23 Feb 2026 13:20:04 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Saurabh GurungSunita Pradhan]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiversity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[environment and health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Himalayas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mountains]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zoonotic disease]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/23111134/Image-2-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=36999</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Connections and Environment And Health]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Himalayas and India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity and Health impacts]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Maya Rai, 38, is a tea garden worker in a pristine Darjeeling estate. Her days, which start at 4:30 a.m., are often a chaotic brew of cleaning, cooking, livestock care and readying her children for school. After a busy early morning, she walks to the tea garden to pluck leaves from 8 a.m. to 4 [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Maya Rai, 38, is a tea garden worker in a pristine Darjeeling estate. Her days, which start at 4:30 a.m., are often a chaotic brew of cleaning, cooking, livestock care and readying her children for school. After a busy early morning, she walks to the tea garden to pluck leaves from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. As a daily wage earner, she toils for long hours for less than ₹300. After this she also must carry firewood for her hearth and fodder from the nearby forest and agricultural land for her cattle and goats. Maya, like most women in the region , cannot afford to stop working. For her, every febrile illness is ‘just another fever’. One monsoon, fever hit her hard. She assumed it would pass with some rest and a few home remedies, but soon, she was too weak to work. At the local Public Health Center (PHC), with no clear diagnosis, she was sent home with painkillers. But her condition did not improve. Fever persisted, along with cough, nausea, breathlessness and discomfort. Seven wage-less days later, she was taken to a private hospital in town, hours away from the village. There, a rapid test confirmed ‘scrub typhus’ , an infectious disease caused by a bacterium called Orientia tsutsugamushi. She was prescribed antibiotics and rest. Maya survived, unlike many others. Late diagnosis of scrub typhus often progresses to complications including acute respiratory distress, liver inflammation, kidney failure and multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). Although Maya missed her wages, she&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/a-zoonotic-disease-in-the-himalayas-that-needs-a-closer-look-commentary/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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						<item>
					<title>How frequent forest fires can lead to ecosystem changes</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/how-frequent-forest-fires-can-lead-to-ecosystem-changes/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/how-frequent-forest-fires-can-lead-to-ecosystem-changes/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>23 Feb 2026 12:23:04 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[T. V. Padma]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fires]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Forest Fires]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forests]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wildfires]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/24120901/AP19151430145770-e1771915189900-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=36984</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Connections and India's Iconic Landscapes]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Forest Fires and Forests]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Concerns about rising forest fires in India, with reports of Himalayan forests catching fires outside their typical season, are supported by recent research from India’s biodiversity hotspots, the Himalayas and Western Ghats, which warn of their ecosystem-level impacts. Scientists in India are increasingly reporting about the potential risk to ecosystems caused by more frequent forest [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Concerns about rising forest fires in India, with reports of Himalayan forests catching fires outside their typical season, are supported by recent research from India’s biodiversity hotspots, the Himalayas and Western Ghats, which warn of their ecosystem-level impacts. Scientists in India are increasingly reporting about the potential risk to ecosystems caused by more frequent forest fires. These include two recent studies, one in the western Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, in the journal Trees Forests and People, and research on the impacts on a savannah system, using the example of Satyamangala Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats, published in the journal Next Sustainability. A separate September 2025 study in Environmental Sciences Europe says the forest fire season has expanded in India, with events occurring during the dry pre-monsoon period from February to June, peaking in March and April. Spatial patterns indicate an increased vulnerability to forest fires due to dense forest cover and increasing climatic variability, in central India, the Himalayan foothills, the Western Ghats, and the Eastern Ghats, it says. Another 2024 report in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change describes loss of carbon stocks due to forest fires in Uttarakhand. A forest fire in Uttarkashi in 2016. Image by PJeganathan via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0). The recent Uttarakhand study in Trees Forests and People, “moves beyond general observations by providing precise, depth-wise quantification of nutrient loss across different forest types,” says Himanshu Bargali, scientist studying the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity under a UNEP-funded project at the Indian Institute&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/02/how-frequent-forest-fires-can-lead-to-ecosystem-changes/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Climate change adds 30 extreme-heat days a year to India&#8217;s coffee farms</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/climate-change-added-30-extra-extreme-heat-days-each-year-to-indias-coffee-farm/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/climate-change-added-30-extra-extreme-heat-days-each-year-to-indias-coffee-farm/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>23 Feb 2026 11:23:44 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Manish Chandra Mishra]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Biodiversity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[climate change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[climate change impact]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[extreme weather events]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/02/23111957/Meghamalai_Coffee_Plant-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=36988</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Connections]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Agriculture and Climate Change]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Climate change added an average of 30 extra days of harmful heat annually to India’s coffee-growing regions between 2021 and 2025, according to new data from Climate Central.]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Climate change added an average of 30 extra days of harmful heat annually to India’s coffee-growing regions between 2021 and 2025, according to new data from Climate Central, an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report on climate change and its impacts. India recorded about 118 days per year (between 2021 and 2025) above 30°C, the temperature threshold beyond which the heat harms the coffee plants. Roughly 30 of those days were driven by climate change, the analysis shows. It arrived at this by modelling the number of days each year that would have recorded maximum temperatures below 30°C in a world without carbon pollution but were pushed over the threshold due to carbon pollution, representing the coffee-harming days attributable to climate change.  India accounts for 3.5% of global coffee production. State-level data highlights the impacts in key coffee regions of the country. Kerala experienced an annual average of 65 additional extreme-heat days linked to climate change. Tamil Nadu saw 43 extra days each year, while Karnataka, India’s largest coffee-producing state, recorded 32 additional harmful-heat days annually. Parts of the northeast also showed rising heat stress, with Tripura recording 47 extra days and Telangana 44. Temperatures above 30°C reduce yields, affect bean quality and increase plant stress, particularly for arabica coffee, which is more heat-sensitive than robusta. India grows both varieties, though primarily robusta, largely across the Western Ghats. Farmers say these changes are already visible. Sohan Shetty, who manages biodiversity-rich shaded organic coffee farms in the Western&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/02/climate-change-added-30-extra-extreme-heat-days-each-year-to-indias-coffee-farm/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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