An agroforestry scientist’s notes on Kodagu, coffee and climate change
As southwest India finally has a respite from the recent heavy rains, the discussions have now turned to what went wrong. In the district of Kodagu, nine days of non-stop…
She guards Mumbai’s defence against climate change
Fifty-six-year-old Seema Adgaonkar glides through swampy mangroves in ankle-deep muck. The fragrance of Avicennia marina (the grey mangrove), the most widely-spread mangrove species in Mumbai, makes the trail pleasant despite…
Private sector gets go ahead for assisting rehabilitation of degraded forests
The forest panel of the Indian government’s environment ministry has approved guidelines that would allow private industries to be involved in plantation on degraded forest land. In the June 27,…
A forest to my name
When Taimur Ali Khan, the son of Bollywood celebrities and Indian paparazzi’s favourite muse, was gifted a mini forest on his first birthday, it made headlines. Ordering a full-fledged forest…
Govt modifies compensatory afforestation rules for ease of business
States with high forest cover, seeking diversion of forest land for non-forestry projects, can now carry out compensatory afforestation in other states, as per a new guideline by the environment…
Environment gets voted into party manifestos
Who will win India’s parliamentary elections, will be known only on May 23 when the results are announced. But for now, there is a small win for the people of…
With forest rights in focus ahead of elections, proposed changes to Forest Act draw attention
Over 90 years after the enactment of the Indian Forest Act (IFA) 1927, a proposed amendment now plans to give more powers to the forest authorities, encourages large scale afforestation…
India’s forest cover target influenced by colonial policies rather than scientific basis, says study
India’s target to bring 33 percent of its total land under the forest cover is more a result of colonial hangover rather than backed by science, said a study which…
For communities living around forests, nature is the fundamental insurance
Communities that live around protected areas (PAs) in India have long been held responsible for a substantial percentage of forest and biodiversity degradation. And largely, most of these communities are…
Vidarbha simmers over man-tiger conflicts this summer
The memorial in the middle of the farm reads: ‘Chetan Dadarao Khobragade. Birth: 8/8/1995. Death: 13/5/2018’. It wasn’t an age to die. It wasn’t a way to die. Death probably…
