This week’s environment and conservation news stories rolled into one.
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Much ado about a highway
The fate of NH 766, a bone of contention between Kerala and Karnataka for long, hangs in the balance. The highway slices through the ecologically sensitive Bandipur Tiger Reserve.
New species remain hidden in the myristica swamps of the Western Ghats
Myristica swamps are an ancient ecosystem dominated by evergreen trees of the Myristica genus. The swamps of Kerala are a haven of species endemic to the Western Ghats.
Why the ancient Myristica swamps need more protection
The swamps play a key role in maintaining perennial stream flow and possess higher potential to store carbon than nearby non-swamp forests in the central Western Ghats.
How the chocolate you’re eating could be harming orangutans in Indonesia
Nestlé, Kellogg’s and Hershey are among several global brands sourcing some of their palm oil from an illegal plantation in an Indonesian forest that’s home to orangutans, a report says.
Birds vs hydropower project in Arunachal Pradesh: Who will win?
The proposal for the 3,097 MW Etalin hydropower project in the Dibang valley of Arunachal Pradesh is once again postponed for lack of clarity on its environmental impact.
Rajasthan villages fight to protect their common lands from mining activities
In July this year, the Rajasthan High Court put a stay on any mining activity in Bhilwara district. The lands lie unoccupied by activity for now but the cattle have a place to graze.
India needs to double rate of forest cover expansion to achieve Paris Agreement target
An analysis of pledges made by countries in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement ranks about 75 percent of them as “insufficient” to tackle climate change impact.
Feni river agreement offers hope, but water sharing remains contentious
India and Bangladesh have agreed to share waters of the transboundary Feni River. In this commentary, Soumya Sarkar argues that India’s poor record of environmental protection has raised concerns.
Crops under shifting cultivation hit in Mizoram villages: Study
A study reports the decline in production of principal crops under shifting cultivation (jhum) in 16 Mizoram villages beleaguered by challenges of a changing climate and population pressure.
[Commentary] India needs to look at its heritage and replicable local efforts for water conservation
One needs only to look to our traditions to draw on the viable and sustainable water conservation practices that had evolved in those times, writes Sarosh Bana in a commentary.