[Book Review] The stories of our roots
Reading Cities and Canopies is like sitting through an Indian family gathering. There's the know-it-all uncle, the remedy-ready grandmother and the botany graduate cousin, who all have something to share…
Forest fires impact typical Himalayan trees
The western Indian Himalayas, spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, have always been known for their pines, cedars and oaks. These trees are so typical to the…
Will urban outrage over environmental apathy reflect in voting?
Whether it was the intense public protest in Delhi last June, over the proposed cutting of thousands of trees, or protests in Bengaluru since 2017 against tree felling for a…
Quest for black diamond leaves Korba breathless
This is the second article in a three-part series on the role of environment in the upcoming elections at Chhattisgarh. Part One describes the paradox of development in the resource-rich…
Greening with pollution-gobbling trees doubles benefits
As India chokes on a cocktail of toxic fumes and particulate matter, researchers are zeroing-on air pollutant-gobbling plant species, that could be marshalled for green belt development along roadsides, thermal…
Respecting the environment crucial to rebuild a safe Kodagu
Heavy, incessant rainfall is a fact of life for the people of Kodagu (the erstwhile Coorg district) in Karnataka. “For the old timers here in Coorg, the last few months…
Trees or real estate: Delhi citizens battle to save their green cover
Till a few years ago, the decision to remove 16,500 trees from the heart of Delhi, for the purpose of development, would perhaps have not raised any eyebrows. Now, thanks…
Mango database for plant breeders at the click of a button
Amid concerns over a dip in mango production this year due to climate change and pest woes, a mango database developed by Indian scientists aims to help plant breeders select…
State of Forest Report says that India’s forest and tree cover has increased by 1 percent
India has recorded a one percent jump (8,021 square km) in overall forest and tree cover between 2015 and 2017 despite population and livestock pressures, even as the green footprint…
Agroforestry increases crop bounties, invites biodiversity
For the tough, weather-beaten farmers in the rural heartland of West Bengal, agroforestry is an age-old tradition that even finds mention in their folklore. In the remote village of Bhattadighi,…
