13 smarter ways to fight wildlife crime

Poachers will run out of luck with countries using these promising technological tools to detect wildlife crime and step up law enforcement

What is sixth extinction?

The planet is losing species at an alarming rate. What are the reasons? Are humans to be blamed?

R K Laxman and his love for common crow

Legendary cartoonist who passed away on Monday in Pune had a fascination for the crow, which he thought was a really ‘uncommon’ bird

What is the history of cheetah re-introduction in India?

After several ups and downs, the cheetah is finally making its way back to India. Down To Earth takes you on this journey

Unfounded euphoria

The CSIR may have managed to shoot down one US patent on turmeric but Indian biodiversity needs a strong law to protect it

Dying Kingdom

In the past decade, eight bird species have been confirmed as extinct or close to extinction. Globally, there are more than 16,000 animals on the …

Biodiversity governance: A mix of knowledge and forest management for benefit sharing

People’s biodiversity register a roadmap for forest management plans; it documents knowledge of status, history, ongoing changes and …

Biodiversity governance: Access and benefit sharing and its implications on agricultural resources

A special instrument for access to crop genetic resources, access and benefit sharing (ABS) system, is fraught with challenges  

Tree-planting campaigns can reduce, not improve biodiversity, shows study

Tree plantations can contradict the real purpose of planting trees, according to the study

Kerala prepares data bank on marine biodiversity

Initiative enters second phase; first phase covered 20 km of coastline

World hasn’t met a single Aichi biodiversity target: Leaked UN Report

While there has been progress, it is insufficient, according to the document

Biodiversity—India’s other scandal

CAG slams the national biodiversity authority for allowing questionable patents

Biodiversity technical body meets in Nairobi to gauge progress on Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

SBSTTA-25 meeting till October 19; Indicators for monitoring progress to be discussed

Climate change may cause up to 38% decline of low & mid latitude deodar trees

Droughts and heat stress may also cause infestation in trees, research notes

Why are we sweating in Shillong?

Because temperatures in India’s biodiversity hotspot are on the rise

Meet ‘Omorgus Khandesh’, a newly discovered Indian beetle: It can help forensic science

Their presence can help identify the time of death of an animal or human 

Animal biodiversity loss limits plants’ ability to adapt to climate change globally: Experts

India 

Weasels, not pandas, should be the poster animal for biodiversity loss

Small carnivores don’t typically get as much public attention as larger species

Aravalli Biodiversity Park: How a sand mine was restored to a 350 acre forest

But why is this place called a ‘biodiversity park’?

Climate lore

Krill companies to stop fishing in Antarctic to protect wildlife

Members of the Association of Responsible Krill decided to voluntarily stop fishing for the crustaceans in order to ensure fisheries are …

Patanjali doesn't want to share benefits of centuries-old medicine system

Ramdev's corporate behemoth Patanjali's claim that Indian firms do not have to share benefits for using bio resources is troubling

Great Indian bustard in pics: Mighty, but critically endangered

Losing habitat, vulnerable to predators and power lines, there are fewer than 150 individuals of the state bird of Rajasthan left

Unfounded fears of contagion threaten bat population in Kerala

Destruction of bat habitats and culling is rampant in Kerala despite no evidence linking the animals with disease outbreaks in the state

Chinese hydropower giants are irreversibly damaging biodiversity. A new report explains how

Two Chinese hydropower giants account for construction of half of the world’s dams, which have been causing irreversible damage to …