What ails the hills
Himalaya’s towns urgently need carrying capacity-based development plans
Cat on the Roof of the World: Pallas’s cat DNA found on Mount Everest
The cats share their territory with the red fox. Their main prey on Everest are pika, a cousin of the rabbit and mountain weasel
New poster released to highlight threat to orchids from illegal trade
The poster was released ahead of Save the Himalayas Day 2022 and depicted 11 species protected under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
Sound planning in the Himalayas
Aspects to consider while determining carrying capacity, development of Himalayan towns
Himalayan calamity
The Himalayan region accounted for 44 per cent of all the disasters reported in India
Sikkim, the land blessed by Guru Rinpoche, is being destroyed by anthropogenic activity: Yishey Doma
The author of several books on Sikkimese religion, folklore and culture speaks with Down To Earth in the light of the South Lhonak Lake disaster
Northeast India can prosper through smart, youth-centric agriculture
By blending traditional wisdom with modern technologies, the region can build a resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape
ICIMOD report rings warning bells for rivers of East, Northeast India
Rivers in the Eastern Himalayas get less water from glacial melt; Still, the perennial nature of several rivers could be lost, say experts
Experts seek more protected areas in Sikkim
Sikkim harbours many endemic plant species and studies have predicted that about 17-18 per cent of endemic plants may get wiped out by 2050 …
After central, now eastern Himalayas? Glacial lake outburst in North Sikkim sparks alert across the state
Downstream areas such as Darjeeling and north Bangladesh to be affected as water travels in the Teesta river
‘Climate change may increase risk of glacial lakes bursting, Sikkim-like disasters may spike’
Down to Earth spoke to Kalachand Sain, director, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, to understand the causes of the Sikkim glacial …
Sikkim: Threat of South Lhonak lake bursting was forewarned by researchers two years ago
Twenty-one other glacial lakes in the Teesta river basin show potential threat
Can mountains of Himachal Pradesh bear weight of heliports and helicopters?
To protect the state from natural disasters, the government should seek the opinion of environmental experts, geologists and local people before …
The disappearing wild orchids of North Bengal
Known for their beauty, fragrance and medicinal properties, epiphytic orchids found in the Dooars and Darjeeling hills are dying out because of …
After dry spell, heavy rains damage trans-Arunachal highway
Despite a rain deficit, connectivity is affected due to heavy landslides on critical roads connecting the remote Himalayan state with the rest of …
Chamoli disaster: Why proposed glaciology centre in Uttarakhand was shelved
A glaciology centre was approved for construction in the Himalayan region in 2009; in 2020, it was merged with another institute there
White Death: Search, rescue operations called off at Sikkim’s Nathula road
All victims had been accounted for, according to the Gangtok district collector
Glacial lakes in the Himalayas: A ticking time bomb
There are 39 glacial lake and water bodies across India, China and Nepal that have recorded more than 40 per cent increase in the water spread …
A bigger, stronger earthquake is in the offing
New study reveals how small and medium earthquakes in turn trigger giant Himalayan earthquakes
White Death: Avalanche strikes near Sikkim’s Nathula Road for the first time; seven tourists killed, 13 rescued
NDRF to arrive tomorrow for further rescue operation
Promote insect-eating to benefit indigenous peoples
Ethnic communities are traditional custodians of entomophagy. They must not be sidelined as policymakers and industry ready plans to promote …
Himalayan plunder: Nature-friendly & participatory initiatives are the only hope for recovery, says Madhav Gadgil
Projects such as the giant Tehri dam also play a role in exacerbating effects of disasters, as seen during the 2021 Chamoli flash floods
When exactly did the tiger colonise the Indian subcontinent?
Down To Earth popped the question to geneticists, historians and experts on the cat superstar. Here is what we were able to deduce
Floods, earthquakes, landslides: Why Arunachal’s Etalin hydel project can be a worry
Formation of glacial lakes driven by climate change and sesimic risks pose threat to nature and life; project’s environmental …
Himalayan plunder: Hydroelectric plans in Arunachal will effect downstream Assam too
Arunachal Pradesh is highly susceptible to landslides; debris flowing downstream will change river behaviour, fear experts
