Mongabay series: Environment And Health
A clean environment, and actions to protect the integrity of ecosystems matter to human health and well-being. Every time we mess around with the environment, we feel it. These negative impacts on human health are brought on by a suite of changes such as land-use change, unjust energy transitions, climate change and biodiversity loss that interfere with the benefits of natural ecosystems that make life possible for people (ecosystem services). For example, polluted air, a river in peril, local food systems in decline, rapacious mining and rampant deforestation, harm human health. Climate change through extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and heatwaves, worsens the impacts. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the urgency to protect, conserve and restore wildlife habitats and disappearing ecosystems. In Environment and Health, we probe these linkages and go beyond examining the impacts of the environment on human health to understand how we can shore up our actions to shape a healthier India and a resilient ecosystem.
Gujarat bans exotic Conocarpus tree amid health and environment hazard
Malaria-carrying mosquitoes shift homes from forests to rice fields
[Commentary] Neglecting household biomedical waste management can lead to adverse environmental effects
No magic bullets to deal with snakebites
Six years on, cyclone Ockhi survivors battle lingering mental health impacts
Gig workers in India are exposed to highly polluted air and carcinogens, finds preliminary study
[Explainer] Living with microplastics, is not fantastic
Residents in Haryana point to stone crushing units for their respiratory troubles and drop in crop yield
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
[Commentary] As India faces an egg shortage, can insects be a potential solution for protein and nutrition?
Brahmapuram fumes over waste
Transgender activists highlight the impacts of climate change and environmental issues on the community
Stubble burning is back, smothering north India with concerns for the upcoming winter
Humans are contaminating Earth’s waterways with medicines, pharmaceutical ingredients
Inhaling particulate matter is increasing the prevalence of anaemia among women of reproductive age
Health effects of heat stress will intensify disproportionately without ambitious efforts
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
- Stitching sustainability amidst climate change challenges
- Gujarat bans exotic Conocarpus tree amid health and environment hazard
- Malaria-carrying mosquitoes shift homes from forests to rice fields
- [Commentary] Neglecting household biomedical waste management can lead to adverse environmental effects
India's Iconic Landscapes
- Indrella ampulla’s genetic tapestry unveils colour morphs isolated across the Palghat Gap
- [Commentary] Up close and personal with the fragility of the Himalayas
- Studies reveal impact of land use on species diversity in rock outcrops
- Improved tiger numbers come with hidden messages on invasives, habitat connectivity
Beyond Protected Areas
- Rehabilitating trafficked star tortoises using genetic intelligence
- [Interview] Richie Mehta on addressing the elephant in the room in ‘Poacher’
- Scientists leap beyond Latin to give local flair to species names
- Deaths in human-animal conflict in Wayanad spark protests and debates
Conserving Agro-biodiversity
- Millet tradition loses flavour among Madhya Pradesh’s tribals
- A village nurtures traditional food systems in response to climate change
- Rising air pollution impacts India’s crop yields and food security
- Konkan Railways impacted agricultural lands more than forest cover, finds study
Just Transitions
- Conflict over critical mineral prospecting in Odisha signals need for better community involvement
- Fuel leak in Manipur raises concerns over water contamination
- Has solar energy been deployed to the point of no return? Some researchers think so
- [Video] Rooftop solar, an emerging solution to Bihar’s land shortage that’s stalling renewable progress