Ecology

In the battle to save Europe's oldest lake, economic development clashes with ecological concerns

Only a few dozen places around the world have won the status for both their nature and their culture, a source of prestige for Lake Ohrid — and a major bonus in marketing the area to tourists.

The spotting of a female gharial's nest in Odisha underlines the state's efforts to revive the critically endangered species

Gharial conservation efforts in Odisha formally began in 1975 with the intervention of FAO and UNDP in collaboration with the state forest department. Between 1977 and 2017, as many as 867 gharials were released into the Mahanadi freshwater system. But only 12 had survived till 2018.

National laws necessary to conserve natural resources, but empowering traditional institutions is difference-maker

Traditional institutions are efficient and speedy in dispensing justice at the community-level as they understand the needs of the people

In search of endangered otters, Iraqi environmentalists persevere with crusade to protect country's marshes

The UN estimates at least 250 square kilometers (96 square miles) of fertile land in Iraq is lost annually to desertification. Rising salinity will likely drive out if not wipe away endemic species.

Green Oscar 2021 winner Nuklu Phom strives to continue connecting indigineous communities and form Biodiversity Peace Corridor

Church worker Nuklu Phom belongs to the Phom indigenous community in Nagaland in northeast India. He is noted for his work in connecting communities to conserve biodiversity and switch to sustainable livelihoods in his ancestral village. The effort led to the increase in congregations of the long-distance migratory bird Amur falcon, and other wildlife, in the community-conserved area centred around his village.

Remembering Sunderlal Bahuguna: How the activist's life and Satyagraha for nature founded India's ecology movement

The Satyagraha for the forest came from a deep love for the forest. Chipko and Sunderlal Bahuguna received the Alternative Nobel Prize in 1987. In 2009, he was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan.

In an artistic intervention, a call to preserve and protect Mumbai's mangroves

Make Art for Mumbai’s Mangroves is a part of a series of dynamic and creative programmes conceptualised by the Ministry of Mumbai’s Magic to create a conversation around Mumbai’s rich wetlands and drive citizen action in favour of Mumbai’s rich biodiversity.

UN report: Huge changes in society, economics, power generation needed for Earth to remain habitable

Changes in governments taxation, how nations assess economic output, generate power, and public transport will be needed, the report says.

Species loss from hunting, habitat destruction is hurting evolution of mammals, study claims

Only one in 10 dramatic population declines end in extinctions, but the other losses have repercussions for ecosystems, which could be more dangerous in the long run.

The Zai Whitaker column | A (second) lockdown despatch from the Madras Crocodile Bank

Though the eight months of lockdown have been challenging (especially financially), the Croc Bank managed to “test positive” and come up with many new ideas and changes.