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	<channel>
		<title>Mongabay-India</title>
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		<link>https://india.mongabay.com/by/shanmukha-srija-j/</link>
		<description>India&#039;s environmental science and conservation news</description>
		<lastBuildDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:28:59 +0000</lastBuildDate>
		<language>en-US</language>
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					<title>A recovering tiger population powered by forest corridors</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-recovering-tiger-population-powered-by-forest-corridors/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-recovering-tiger-population-powered-by-forest-corridors/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>12 Mar 2026 12:58:59 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Ayushi Sharma]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Achanakmar Tiger Reserve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[forest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Indravati Tiger Reserve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Tiger Conservation Authority]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Project Tiger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tiger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tiger conservation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wildlife corridors]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/12094918/%40ATR-1-768x512.jpeg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37250</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[The Indian Forest Story]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Chhattisgarh]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Tigers and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[In 2018, a young tigress stopped appearing on camera traps in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. There was no official report of conflict as well as no records of carcass recovery or poaching incidents. This indicated that she had not died within the reserve. However, for nearly three years, there was no photographic trace [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[In 2018, a young tigress stopped appearing on camera traps in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. There was no official report of conflict as well as no records of carcass recovery or poaching incidents. This indicated that she had not died within the reserve. However, for nearly three years, there was no photographic trace of her anywhere in the official monitoring grids of Madhya Pradesh. Then, in 2021, camera traps in Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR) in the neighbouring state of Chhattisgarh captured a tigress moving through the sal forest with cubs trailing behind her. The stripe pattern verification confirmed what the field staff suspected. She was the same tigress. She had crossed over from Madhya Pradesh to Chhattisgarh &#8211; nearly 400 kilometres. Forest officials later named her Jhumri. In official monitoring records, she was catalogued as TK-8. Experts say that when she disappeared from Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, she had reached dispersal age, a stage in a tiger’s life, usually between two and three years old, when remaining in the natal territory is no longer possible. Bandhavgarh is one of India’s most densely populated tiger reserves. In such landscapes, ecological success creates pressure. When prey density is high and breeding females are established, cub survival increases. But territory is finite. Adult males hold defined ranges that overlap with resident females. Sub-adults, once independent, are gradually pushed outward, said Samir Kumar Sinha, head of conservation at the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI). In 2018, a young tigress in Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-recovering-tiger-population-powered-by-forest-corridors/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>India’s first firefly checklist records 92 species, reveals high endemism</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/indias-first-firefly-checklist-records-92-species-reveals-high-endemism/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/indias-first-firefly-checklist-records-92-species-reveals-high-endemism/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>12 Mar 2026 12:23:36 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Arathi Menon]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[fireflies]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/12112150/Abscondita-perplexa-Walker-1858_-scaled-e1773295155601-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37260</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Endemic species, Insects, New species, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[A sparkle of fireflies lighting up the vast expanse of the night sky is what certain nostalgic memories are made of. Despite these bioluminescent beetles dominating our collective imagination and their romanticisation in Indian culture, art and literature, how much do we really know about fireflies? In what could be a first, a new paper [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[A sparkle of fireflies lighting up the vast expanse of the night sky is what certain nostalgic memories are made of. Despite these bioluminescent beetles dominating our collective imagination and their romanticisation in Indian culture, art and literature, how much do we really know about fireflies? In what could be a first, a new paper published in Zootaxa compiles a comprehensive checklist of Indian fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae), documenting 92 species across four subfamilies and 27 genera. The checklist shows very high endemism and a broad but uneven distribution across India’s biogeographic zones. The researchers surveyed available literature on the species from 1881 to October 2025 and found that 60.86% of the Indian firefly fauna is endemic to the country. The lead author, Parvez, shares that the lack of information on most firefly species in India while he was preparing for his Ph.D. is what prompted him to dig deeper into the largely unknown world of Indian fireflies. “Most of the species were not studied after the first detection,” he informs Mongabay-India. Luciolinae is the dominant subfamily with 37 species, followed by Ototretinae with 31 species, Lampyrinae with 17 species, and Cyphonocerinae with one species. Luciolinae and Ototretinae are the most diverse subfamilies, with 11 firefly genera each. The study also lists each species with its current name, original combination, synonyms, literature citations, and distribution within India and other countries. Most species occur in more than one Indian state, and at least 22 states plus one Union Territory have documented fireflies,&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/indias-first-firefly-checklist-records-92-species-reveals-high-endemism/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Municipal bonds need more than incentives to fund India’s cities [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/municipal-bonds-need-more-than-incentives-to-fund-indias-cities-commentary/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/municipal-bonds-need-more-than-incentives-to-fund-indias-cities-commentary/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>11 Mar 2026 14:52:06 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Ravikant Joshi]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance Comission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infrastructure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Municipal Bond]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Municipality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Union budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban areas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Urban governance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urbanisation]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/11131415/AP20327500448440-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37238</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Finance]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Cities and Towns, Climate Change, Climate Change Adaptation, Environmental Economics, Environmental Politics, Governance, and Sustainability]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Municipal bonds have become a matter of renewed interest with the announcement of a new incentive scheme by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget for the year 2026-27. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “To encourage the issuance of municipal bonds of higher value by large cities, I propose an incentive of ₹100 crore (₹1 [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Municipal bonds have become a matter of renewed interest with the announcement of a new incentive scheme by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget for the year 2026-27. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “To encourage the issuance of municipal bonds of higher value by large cities, I propose an incentive of ₹100 crore (₹1 billion) for a single bond issuance of more than ₹1000 crore (₹10 billion).” This is in addition to the current scheme under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), which incentivises issuances of up to ₹2 billion and supports smaller and medium towns. This is a welcome initiative, probably prompted by the fact that even after 28 years of the existence of municipal bonds in India, the instrument is still in its nascent stage. In contrast, municipal bonds are a major instrument in the U.S. The question is: Will this incentive scheme work? Is it a lack of incentive structure or larger structural issues that are responsible for its minuscule role? Municipal bonds are debt securities issued by cities and other local governmental entities to finance capital projects such as water systems, roads, or sewer networks. By purchasing these bonds, investors lend money to the issuer in exchange for periodic interest payments and the return of the principal at maturity. Broadly, municipal bonds fall into two categories: general obligation bonds, which are backed by the issuer&#8217;s overall financial strength, and revenue bonds, which are repaid from revenues generated by specific projects, such as&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/municipal-bonds-need-more-than-incentives-to-fund-indias-cities-commentary/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<title>A predator in the grasslands</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/a-predator-in-the-grasslands/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/a-predator-in-the-grasslands/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>11 Mar 2026 13:25:57 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Team Mongabay-India]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[carnivores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grey wolf]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wolf]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wolves]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/11123048/indian-wolf-1-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?post_type=short-article&#038;p=37189</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Species File]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Biodiversity, Conservation, Ecology, Environment, Human Wildlife Conflict, Mammals, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Species File: Exploring India&#8217;s biodiversity, one species at a time. Across India’s semi-arid grasslands and scrublands, a carnivore roams and howls. An apex predator, it keeps herbivore populations in check. But as its habitats shrink and human presence grows, this carnivore is beginning to change how it lives and moves across the landscape. The Indian [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Species File: Exploring India&#8217;s biodiversity, one species at a time. Across India’s semi-arid grasslands and scrublands, a carnivore roams and howls. An apex predator, it keeps herbivore populations in check. But as its habitats shrink and human presence grows, this carnivore is beginning to change how it lives and moves across the landscape. The Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) has been in the news recently after a series of suspected attacks on humans in the Bahraich district, Uttar Pradesh, echoing similar incidents reported in 2024. Understanding wolf behaviour is becoming increasingly important, as shrinking habitats bring people and wolves into closer contact and raise the risk of conflict. The Indian wolf is a genetically distinct subspecies and possibly the oldest surviving wolf lineage. While the data on wolves in India remains insufficient, a 2022 study found that the country’s wolf population could be as small as 2,500 to 3,800 individuals. In India, it is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, providing the highest level of protection, prohibiting trade, hunting and poaching. Researchers also note that limited research on Indian wolf populations hinders effective conservation strategies. The loss of grasslands and scrublands poses a serious threat to the Indian wolf, leading to behavioural changes such as increased livestock predation due to declining natural prey. Wolves have also been observed suppressing their howls near human settlements and interbreeding with free-ranging dogs. In an earlier Mongabay-India story published in 2024, Sougata Sadhukhan, an assistant professor at the Institute of Environment Education&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/short-article/2026/03/a-predator-in-the-grasslands/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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						<item>
					<title>Roadsides, farms may shelter native bees in the northwestern Himalayas</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/roadsides-farms-may-shelter-native-bees-in-the-northwestern-himalayas/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/roadsides-farms-may-shelter-native-bees-in-the-northwestern-himalayas/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>11 Mar 2026 13:03:56 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Hirra Azmat]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Aditi Tandon]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beekeeping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[honeybees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[nature-based solutions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pollination]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pollinators]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/10235239/Amegilla_zonata_in_Sundarbans_National_Park_May_2025_by_Tisha_Mukherjee_03-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37228</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Jammu and Kashmir]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Agriculture, Agroecology, Biodiversity, Environment, Food, Himalayas, Insects, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[On a stretch of roadside in Jammu’s Himalayan foothills, a small patch of wildflowers was buzzing with activity. Blue-banded bees (Amegilla), small carpenter bees (Ceratina), and even large, glossy carpenter bees (Xylocopa) clung to petals, feeding undisturbed as vehicles passed by. The patch was barely a few steps across the busy road, and yet it [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[On a stretch of roadside in Jammu’s Himalayan foothills, a small patch of wildflowers was buzzing with activity. Blue-banded bees (Amegilla), small carpenter bees (Ceratina), and even large, glossy carpenter bees (Xylocopa) clung to petals, feeding undisturbed as vehicles passed by. The patch was barely a few steps across the busy road, and yet it hosted multiple native bee species at once. “It was one of the most surprising moments of our study,” says Yousra Mukhtar, a researcher at Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, (SKUAST), Jammu. The study, published in October 2025, explored how non-honeybee (non-Apis) bee diversity shifts across different environments in the Jammu region of the northwestern Himalayas. The aim was to understand how native bee communities respond to increasing human influence. The team had expected to find rich bee diversity in undisturbed forests or meadows, places with no human interference. However, repeated field surveys told a different story. Over two years of field surveys, Mukhtar and her colleagues repeatedly found that moderately disturbed habitats, including roadside vegetation and agro-ecosystems were drawing in large numbers of native bees, feeding on flowering weeds and plants that had sprung up on their own. “It was a reminder that biodiversity does not always conform to our expectations of ‘pristine’ landscapes,” Mukhtar says. Pollinators play a crucial role in plant reproduction and food production, and the Himalayan foothill region is especially important for them. Where different climate zones and elevations meet, the region supports a mix of habitats, including forests,&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/roadsides-farms-may-shelter-native-bees-in-the-northwestern-himalayas/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>Artists trace the journey of food, environment and livelihoods</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/an-exhibition-traces-food-environment-and-livelihoods-through-art/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/an-exhibition-traces-food-environment-and-livelihoods-through-art/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>10 Mar 2026 15:49:22 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Shilpa Raina]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cattle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dairy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[land management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livestock]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[milk]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/10124129/Image-3-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37216</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Connections]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Agriculture, Animals, Deforestation, Environment, Environmental Economics, Food, and Villages]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Food that reaches our plates undertakes a journey increasingly shaped by environmental change. As populations grow, forests are converted into farmland, cities expand, land-use patterns shift, and accelerated human activity contributes to climate change, which leads to intensifying extreme weather events. These ecological transformations have been reshaping food systems across India, as they impact the [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Food that reaches our plates undertakes a journey increasingly shaped by environmental change. As populations grow, forests are converted into farmland, cities expand, land-use patterns shift, and accelerated human activity contributes to climate change, which leads to intensifying extreme weather events. These ecological transformations have been reshaping food systems across India, as they impact the cycles of production, distribution and the livelihoods they sustain. These shifts form the basis of the exhibition Bitter Nectar, which placed food at its centre while tracing informal dairy economies in Uttar Pradesh, shifting horticultural rhythms in Ladakh, and changing land use patterns in Gujarat’s Gir landscape. Organised by Sustaina India, a collaborative initiative by the think-tank Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), with artist-duo Thukral and Tagra as curatorial leads, the showcase held last month in New Delhi, featured videos, a board-game puzzle and art installations to foreground the ecological and livelihood stress embedded in food production cycles. Artist-educator Mrugen Rathod’s installation from Gir, Gujarat, reflects on the booming Kesari mango economy and its ecological cost. The art exhibition ‘Bitter Nectar’ featured art inspired by food systems and environmental change in Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh, and Gujarat. It was organised by Sustaina India, an initiative by Council on Energy, Environment and Water. Image courtesy of Sustaina India. Invisible changes in the informal milk economy Central to dietary practices and known for its nutritional value and cultural significance, milk has a ubiquitous presence in Indian households. A robust network of corporations and informal milk traders&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/an-exhibition-traces-food-environment-and-livelihoods-through-art/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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					<title>Marine litter traps thousands of hermit crabs</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/marine-litter-traps-thousands-of-hermit-crabs/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/marine-litter-traps-thousands-of-hermit-crabs/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>10 Mar 2026 12:37:07 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Vandana K.]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crabs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marine plastic debris]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[plastic pollution]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solid waste]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/10101339/7_Hermit-Crab_Little-Andaman_Vandana-K-scaled-e1773118507251-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
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											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Coast, Ecology, Human Wildlife Conflict, Islands, Oceans, Plastic, Pollution, Waste management, Water Pollution, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[If you stand on the soft silver sand on the aquamarine beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, you can often see plastic waste washed ashore. When you bend down and look closely, you might find a tiny crab trapped inside a bottle. You might try to rescue the crab by shaking it loose, but [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[If you stand on the soft silver sand on the aquamarine beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, you can often see plastic waste washed ashore. When you bend down and look closely, you might find a tiny crab trapped inside a bottle. You might try to rescue the crab by shaking it loose, but chances are that it has already died. This is not an isolated incident. Researchers recorded 4,783 instances from January to July 2024 where hermit crabs were entrapped in marine litter across 28 beaches in the Nicobar Islands, according to a new study published in January 2026. The study was conducted by Mayur Fulmali and Nehru Prabakaran from the Wildlife Institute of India. The researchers surveyed beaches across two island subgroups – Nancowry and Great Nicobar. &#8220;These small crabs are very important for the coastal ecosystem and in most marine litter studies, they are neglected,” said Fulmali. A plastic bottle with a hermit crab trapped inside, spotted on Trinket Island. The bottle orientation makes it possible for the hermit crabs to enter easily but exit becomes impossible due to the slippery inner surface and incline. Image by Mayur Fulmali. Approximately 4-12 million metric tonnes of plastic waste enters oceans annually, causing widespread harm. The study notes that Nicobar Islands are particularly vulnerable to marine debris because they are located near the Malacca Strait, one of the world&#8217;s busiest shipping routes. Various ocean currents transport enormous quantities of plastic waste from neighbouring countries and deposit it on&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/marine-litter-traps-thousands-of-hermit-crabs/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>Why India’s ₹561 billion drainage push must consider a street-nallah-lake network [Commentary]</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/why-indias-%e2%82%b9561-billion-drainage-push-must-think-in-a-street-nallah-lake-network/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/why-indias-%e2%82%b9561-billion-drainage-push-must-think-in-a-street-nallah-lake-network/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>09 Mar 2026 13:11:23 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Surjyatapa Ray]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Kundan Pandey]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance Commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Cities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[State Finance Commission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Swachh Bharat Mission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[urban]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/09110217/AP25248566293155-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37192</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Climate Finance]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[India]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Climate Change Adaptation]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[The Sixteenth Finance Commission’s special infrastructure component grant is one of the most targeted urban water investments in recent years. It allocates ₹561 billion for drainage and wastewater upgrades across 22 cities with populations of one to four million. India has seen large urban water investments before. As per an internal compilation done by Janaagraha [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[The Sixteenth Finance Commission’s special infrastructure component grant is one of the most targeted urban water investments in recent years. It allocates ₹561 billion for drainage and wastewater upgrades across 22 cities with populations of one to four million. India has seen large urban water investments before. As per an internal compilation done by Janaagraha based on union budget documents from 2014-2026, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) allocated around ₹670 billion across two phases, and the Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) about ₹244 billion. But those programmes were spread across hundreds — even thousands — of towns. AMRUT 2.0 alone extended to nearly 4,700 cities and towns. Funding was, by design, dispersed. This is the first clear opportunity under the 16th Finance Commission (FC) grant for the targeted intervention. It concentrates ₹561 billion in only 22 cities. The intensity of funding per city and per capita is therefore far higher than under earlier missions. If distributed evenly across the population, cities such as Pune, Jaipur, and Lucknow could receive upwards of ₹40 billion, while Madurai, Raipur, and Jodhpur could receive around ₹15 billion. The scale is comparable to marquee infrastructure projects. Lucknow’s Phase 1B metro, for example, has received ₹14.50 billion under the union budget, against a total cost of around ₹58 billion. In comparison, its estimated share under the FC grant is around ₹46 billion. The second opportunity lies in what the grant prioritises: not just wastewater, but drainage. Earlier missions largely focused on wastewater. Flooding, despite&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/why-indias-%e2%82%b9561-billion-drainage-push-must-think-in-a-street-nallah-lake-network/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>Invasive trees, roaming dogs, and the fragile balance of Thar’s desert predators</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/invasive-trees-roaming-dogs-and-the-fragile-balance-of-thars-desert-predators/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/invasive-trees-roaming-dogs-and-the-fragile-balance-of-thars-desert-predators/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>09 Mar 2026 12:01:27 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Sneha Mahale]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Renuka Kulkarni]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[carnivores]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[feral dogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Free ranging dogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invasive plants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[invasive species]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stray dogs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wildcats]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/09100250/Desert-foxes-often-used-the-same-areas-as-free-ranging-dogs-but-shifted-their-activity-to-different-times-of-day-reducing-the-risk-of-encounters.-Photo-Credit-Chet-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37194</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Beyond Protected Areas]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Thar Desert]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Animal Behaviour, Biodiversity, Cats, Ecology, Grasslands, Mammals, Plants, Thar Desert, and Wildlife]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[Grasslands around the world are quietly changing under pressure from overgrazing, cropland expansion, climate change and biological invasions. In India’s Thar Desert, these pressures are reshaping which species survive and how they share space. A new ecological study finds that two invasive forces, fast-spreading mesquite trees and free-ranging dogs linked to human settlements, are changing [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[Grasslands around the world are quietly changing under pressure from overgrazing, cropland expansion, climate change and biological invasions. In India’s Thar Desert, these pressures are reshaping which species survive and how they share space. A new ecological study finds that two invasive forces, fast-spreading mesquite trees and free-ranging dogs linked to human settlements, are changing how native mesocarnivores (medium-sized carnivores) move, hunt and coexist in this landscape. “Wildlife communities of the Thar Desert remain relatively understudied even as the landscape undergoes rapid ecological change,&#8221; says Chetan Misher, a wildlife ecologist at the Wildlife Conservation Trust and the study’s corresponding author. &#8220;Mesquite has become the dominant woody plant, altering habitat structure, while free-ranging dogs function as apex or dominant predators in many areas. Together, these invasives are reshaping native communities through habitat modification, changes in predation, competition and interference, with cascading effects across the ecosystem,” A changing desert landscape The Thar spans about 446,000 square kilometres across western India and southern Pakistan, covering over 200,000 sq km across parts of western Rajasthan and the Kachchh region of Gujarat. To capture ecological variation across this landscape, researchers focused on two contrasting sites for the study: the mesquite-dominated Banni grasslands of Gujarat and the more fragmented, agriculture-influenced grasslands around Bikaner in Rajasthan. Mesquite growing in Gujarat. A new study finds that fast-spreading mesquite trees and free-ranging dogs are changing how native medium-sized carnivores move, hunt and coexist in this landscape. Image by Dinesh Valke via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0). Both regions support similar&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/invasive-trees-roaming-dogs-and-the-fragile-balance-of-thars-desert-predators/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>India’s new waste management rules face old implementation gaps</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/indias-new-waste-management-rules-face-old-implementation-gaps-in-the-capital/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/indias-new-waste-management-rules-face-old-implementation-gaps-in-the-capital/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>06 Mar 2026 14:45:24 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Jyotsnika Tiwari]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Simrinsirur]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[industrial waste]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[solid waste]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toxic Waste Materials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[waste-to-energy]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/06124304/AP20210450913024-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37176</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Delhi]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Air Pollution, Biofuels, Carbon emissions, Energy, Environment, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Pollution, Renewable Energy, and Waste management]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[India&#8217;s environment ministry notified the new solid waste management (SWM) rules of 2026 on January 27, superseding the 2016 rules. The new rules signal a shift towards a more systematic compliance architecture, with a clearer outline of duties for waste generators, a revised definition of Bulk Waste Generators, and higher landfill user fees for mixed [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[India&#8217;s environment ministry notified the new solid waste management (SWM) rules of 2026 on January 27, superseding the 2016 rules. The new rules signal a shift towards a more systematic compliance architecture, with a clearer outline of duties for waste generators, a revised definition of Bulk Waste Generators, and higher landfill user fees for mixed waste to encourage segregation. Well-intentioned as the new rules are, experts caution against gaps in implementation that have dogged solid waste management in India for decades. Illustrating this are the towering landfills in New Delhi — Bhalaswa, Ghazipur and Okhla — symbols of the city’s historical failure to segregate waste at source. Delhi leads all Indian cities, generating approximately 600 grams of waste per person per day. Nearly 64% of the collected waste is processed, according to the Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB), while the remaining 36% or. 4,241 tonnes, find its way to unsanitary landfills, or dumpsites everyday. These landfills and dumpsites are silent contributors to air pollution through the year as well as to greenhouse gas emissions and heat stress during the summers. Biomass and waste burning are the second largest contributors to particulate matter emissions in Delhi, contributing 23% to PM10 and 24% to PM2.5, according to one source apportionment study. When biodegradable waste accumulates and is left to rot, it produces methane, which has a warming potential 80 times greater than that of carbon dioxide, over a 20-year-period, and is the second-largest contributor to global warming. According to another study, higher&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/indias-new-waste-management-rules-face-old-implementation-gaps-in-the-capital/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<title>A series of disruptions hit tourism in this high altitude desert</title>
					<link>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-series-of-disruptions-hit-ladakhs-tourism-industry/</link>
					<comments>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-series-of-disruptions-hit-ladakhs-tourism-industry/?noamp=mobile#respond</comments>
					<pubDate>06 Mar 2026 11:44:13 +0000</pubDate>
											<dc:creator>
							<![CDATA[Shailesh Shrivastava]]>
						</dc:creator>
										<author>
						<![CDATA[Priyanka Shankar]]>
					</author>
							<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ecotourism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[extreme rainfall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heavy rainfall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihood]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[livelihoods]]></category>
										<enclosure url="https://imgs.mongabay.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2026/03/05175316/Ladakh-tourism.00_05_13_16.Still008-1200x800-1-768x512.jpg" type="image/jpeg" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37166</guid>

											<reporting-project>
							<![CDATA[Just Transitions]]>
						</reporting-project>
					
											<locations>
							<![CDATA[Ladakh]]>
						</locations>
					
											<topic-tags>
							<![CDATA[Activism, Cities and Towns, Climate Change, Environmental Economics, Himalayas, Impacts of Climate Change, Industry, Mountains, and Tourism]]>
						</topic-tags>
					
					
											<description>
							<![CDATA[In 2022, as the COVID-19 cases began falling and travel opened up again, 30-year-old Irshit Ali’s life changed. There was a sudden surge of tourists in his hometown of Ladakh, where he worked ferrying tourists in his van. This was good for business. His monthly income went up from around ₹20,000 in 2022 to ₹1.5 [&#8230;]]]>
						</description>
																					<content:encoded>
							<![CDATA[In 2022, as the COVID-19 cases began falling and travel opened up again, 30-year-old Irshit Ali’s life changed. There was a sudden surge of tourists in his hometown of Ladakh, where he worked ferrying tourists in his van. This was good for business. His monthly income went up from around ₹20,000 in 2022 to ₹1.5 lakhs in 2023. This encouraged Ali to expand his business. He secured a bank loan to purchase two more vehicles. For the next two years, he saw a steady rise in tourists coming to Ladakh. However, 2025 brought Ali, and Ladakh’s entire tourism sector, to the brink of a crisis. A series of events from April 2025 severely impacted the tourism economy of India’s newest union territory, those in the industry report. After a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir that month, there was a slight decline in foreign tourists visiting Ladakh. Then, during the brief armed conflict between India and Pakistan that followed, and even after it, tourist activities completely stopped. People wander the streets of Leh. Though the situation may seem normal from the outside, the tourism industry is facing a severe crisis. Hotels, taxis and small businesses in Ladakh have seen a significant drop in revenue due to repeated disruptions in 2025. Image by Shailesh Shrivastava/Mongabay. Later in August, after record-breaking rainfall, roads were closed and the region was cut off for a few weeks, discouraging tourists from travelling to Ladakh. In September, a protest in Leh demanding full statehood for&hellip;This article was originally published on <a href="https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/a-series-of-disruptions-hit-ladakhs-tourism-industry/" data-wpel-link="internal">Mongabay</a>]]>
						</content:encoded>
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					<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" />
					<guid isPermaLink="false">https://india.mongabay.com/?p=37155</guid>

											<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>
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						<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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					<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>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/new-report-flags-sulphur-dioxide-emissions-from-bokaro-steel-plant/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<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.&#8221;It seems plausible that ADSs result in more regular, organised, and effective driving of elephants than occurs in communities without ADSs, and that 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,&#8221; Sekar said.&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>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/study-finds-counterintuitive-rise-in-elephant-deaths-after-organised-monitoring/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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														</item>
						<item>
					<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>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/pollution-concentrations-soar-higher-above-ground-during-haze/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<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>
										<wfw:commentRss>https://india.mongabay.com/2026/03/sacred-groves-anchor-traditional-healing-study/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
					<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
														</item>
						<item>
					<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>
														</item>
						<item>
					<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>
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					<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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