
Mongabay series: Conserving Agro-biodiversity
The Conserving Agrobiodiversity series looks at a gamut of stories from the fields of India -- from technological advances to traditional knowledge, from saving seeds to modifying them -- all focussed towards protecting the diversity of crops and food we eat and efforts to ensure food security for generations to come. In the quest to feed a burgeoning population, India's agriculture is scrambling for ways to keep up production in the face of climate change and livelihood challenges. Whether it is going back to basic natural farming methods, unlocking genetic diversity of primary crops or bringing traditional grains back into vogue, institutions and individuals across the country and working on new and old ways of conserving agrobiodiversity.


Thirunelly’s seed festival celebrates traditional climate-resilient seeds and farm produce

[Explainer] Why is 2023 the International Year of Millets? What do we achieve by celebrating such years?

Nations adopt Global Biodiversity Framework amid concerns over watered-down targets

[Commentary] A renewed CGIAR can better support South Asia to determine its food future

Equitable benefit sharing of digitised genetic information to span across discussions at COP15

Making sense of rainfall changes in Karnataka’s coffee estates through old records

Adivasi honey harvesters demand forest control and criticise ‘unfriendly’ conservation measures

[Commentary] Is agroecological farming a solution for rainfed degraded land?

Farmers fear low fruit production as Kashmir records decline in precipitation

Scientists sequence chickpea genome which could inform crop improvement efforts

[Video Explainer] What is the significance of the Biological Diversity Amendment Bill and why did it face opposition?

Tackling agrobiodiversity loss in Odisha’s Similipal protected area

An indigenous community in Meghalaya offers lessons in climate resilience

Sweet pineapples and a variety of trees nurture each other in this patchwork plantation

How climate change is taking a toll on livelihoods of small-scale fishers in Kerala

Plant Man Miguel Braganza on how Konkan Fruit Fest preserves food biodiversity

Building up carbon sinks in northeast India’s shifting cultivation landscape

Coloured cotton from India on the cusp of commercial release in 2021

Revival and absence of Bengaluru’s traditional crop varieties
Special series
Wetland Champions
- [Commentary] India establishes the largest network of Ramsar Sites in South Asia
- [Commentary] Wetland champions: Promise from the grassroots
- The story of Jakkur lake sets an example for inclusive rejuvenation projects
- Welcome to Tsomgo lake: Please don’t litter

Environment And Health
- As heatwaves projected to worsen across India, do vulnerability assessments and heat action plans suffice?
- Assam’s North Lakhimpur treats 40 years of legacy waste in just nine months
- Varying levels of microplastics detected in sea salt produced across India
- Decline in pollinators linked to half a million premature human deaths every year, shows study

Almost Famous Species
- The gharial attempts a second comeback with help from the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary
- Understanding the role of local communities in the conservation of critically endangered rhino rays
- Citizen scientists help discover a blind catfish species hidden inside Kerala’s aquifers
- Flying is riskier for female katydids, finds India’s first insect radio telemetry study

Eco Hope
- [Interview] Conservation scientist Joli Rumi Borah on integrating traditional knowledge in research
- [Interview] Scientist Ruth DeFries on deforestation: There isn’t one driver, there’s a different context in different places
- India budgets for mangroves and wetlands
- Working with biomaterials to add to the sustainable energy mix

India's Iconic Landscapes
- Experts call for coexistence, sustainable development as tiger population is close to saturation
- Ain’t no mountain high enough: alien invasive plants increasing in higher elevations
- Unplanned, faulty buildings tremble under weather events in the fragile Himalayan regions
- Nourishing soils of Kashmir’s karewas crumble under infrastructure

Beyond Protected Areas
- Call to save rare snake habitat follows red coral kukri sightings in Bangladesh
- Small cats in big trouble: Why we need to save these elusive endangered species
- Rising tiger population is said to aggravate human-tiger conflict in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli
- Questions arise about Project Cheetah as three cheetahs die in 45 days

Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- How a drought-prone village in Maharashtra attained agricultural success with millets
- Thirunelly’s seed festival celebrates traditional climate-resilient seeds and farm produce
- [Explainer] Why is 2023 the International Year of Millets? What do we achieve by celebrating such years?
- Nations adopt Global Biodiversity Framework amid concerns over watered-down targets

Just Transitions
- Bauxite mining in Jharkhand is impacting soil fertility, people’s health
- Incentives to boost demand, increase in e-buses in Tamil Nadu’s latest EV policy
- Electricity transition in India’s renewable-rich states needs to accelerate, says study
- [Interview] Ajay Kumar Rastogi on leading India’s first just transition task force
