Not just groundwater, flouride has poisoned agricultural soil, crops in Bengal
Farmers in Bankura and Purulia rely on groundwater, heavily contaminated with flouride, to cultivate crops
Choking Mahananda: How Siliguri’s waste, water crisis is turning on its people
Rapid urbanisation, inefficient waste management and encroachment have turned the Mahananda into a drain. And farmers are losing livelihoods
Rising air pollution in West Bengal no longer a Kolkata syndrome
Lack of adequate monitoring of polluting industries beyond Kolkata among causes behind the trend, claim activists
India needs to protect its wetland flora
Wetland flora help maintain ecological balance and need to be conserved. However, only 68 wetlands are protected in India so far
Flushing down its traditions
A good society knows how to clean its rubbish. But instead of setting an example for the world through its traditional handling of human excreta,…
Forest fires - a trailblazer
Controlled burning of woodlands can be an effective tool for enriching the land and ecology. Dipanjan Ghosh looks at the possibilities
NASA confirms water on moon’s sunlit surface: What does it mean for lunar science
Water distributed across surface of the moon; can help understand how the solar system evolved
Flash droughts hit nearly 15% rice, maize areas in 1951-2018 monsoons: Study
At least 39 flash droughts occurred in 1951-2018; 82% occurred during the monsoon season, the study found
How communities in China helped keep desertification at bay
A fast-ageing population could deter efforts to achieve the United Nation’s target of zero land degradation by 2030
Thirty Million, a documentary on Bangladesh and that sinking feeling
This documentary by Daniel Price and Adrien Taylor explores the adverse impact of climate change on Bangladesh' landscape, food security and …
Jungle story
How the world's first human-made forest is being sustained by an indigenous community in Assam despite a range of threats
Odisha’s soil leads to landmark discovery about early life evolution
A paleosol from India is telling us that there was a short-lived pulse of atmospheric oxygenation and this occurred considerably earlier than …
MoEFCC revises fly ash notification
Fly ash to be given free of cost for agricultural and construction purposes says MoEFCC official at CSE conference
US environmental body proposes temporary pesticide-free zones to protect honeybees
A large number of bees are exposed to pesticide spraying when growers enter into contracts with beekeepers for pollination services
"Serious study has not yet begun"
R Uma Shankar, Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, speaks to Down To Earth
"We need to be more proactive"
Dr. S. Ramani, senior scientist (Agricultural Entomology), Project Directorate of Biological Control (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), …
"Biological control is the way out"
Dr. R D Gautam, principal scientist and in-charge of the Plant Health Clinic, speaks to Down To Earth
Save and Grow: a guide to sustainable cereal production
The technique focuses on conservation agriculture, maintaining soil health, selecting crops with higher yield potential and greater resistance to …
Invasive Alien Species
Think of an invasion, and the picture that comes to mind is usually that of planes and tanks, machines and men, shells and gunshots. But animal …
Centre eases rules for accessing watershed programme funds
States that are currently facing severe drought are the ones who have spent the least on soil conservation and water conservation
Fancy wall for Sundarbans
Government starts building massive embankments on the fragile delta using untested technology. Experts say the project benefits contractors, …
The great wetland grab
Guwahati allows construction on wetlands, but will not spare poor settlers on hills. A photo narrative by Sayantan Bera
Environet
This column will bring you an update on various groups and individuals working in fields related to environment, development and the sciences. …
A tribute to P R Mishra
P R Mishra used the power of the community to transform the barren landscape of Sukhomajri into a model for forest regeneration
Stray cattle menace: UP farmers refuse to diversify crops over depredation
Abandoned cows prefer new, different crops but losses equally distributed if everyone plants sugarcane, say farmers