The goat gamble

It has been a slow and steady shift over decades. Forced by declining returns from farming in ecologically fragile areas, small farmers have been …

International community lauds China's efforts towards greening of Kubuqi Desert

Could the Sahara and Sahel initiative draw lessons from the Kubuqi International Desert Forum?

Sahara, the largest hot desert, expanded by 10 per cent in the 20th century

Climate change is causing the expansion of the desert into once arable land, says a study

Cold desert regions need special attention: Experts

The expanse of deserts in these regions appears to be growing because of progressive melting of glaciers due to climate change

Need to restore 10 million hectares a year to prevent desertification in Africa

The Food and Agriculture Organization presented a map of restoration potential along Africa's Great Green Wall

Desert creatures may cope with climate change better than expected

Researchers took Gehyra variegate, a gecko, as the sample species and found that it does not shy away from heat and can maintain its population …

The dictum on desertification: UNCCD CoP14 presents an opportunity

Land is at the core of fighting climate change that is sure to hurt all sections eventually

Cyclone Hudhud: experience from Koraput

The storm damaged houses, crops and livestock of people in the tribal belt but government has not even taken note of it

Humans may have transformed the Sahara from lush paradise to barren desert

The world's biggest desert used to be green, lush and full of hippos. A new theory suggests humans could have tipped the environment over the edge

Will the deserts retreat?

The first conference of parties for the Convention to Combat Desertification held in Rome took some important decisions to save the parts of the …

Sea that isn't

In just 50 years, the Aral Sea - once the fourth largest inland water body - has turned into world's newest desert 

5 billion people globally exposed to toxic trans fat linked to heart disease: WHO

Trans fat has no known benefit but is associated with huge health risks that can burden health systems, says WHO director-general

Rising to the climate call: How to tackle the impact

A series of interactive infographics to explore the 21st Century's toughest development challenge: The planet's changing climate

Climate-smart agriculture: an answer to climate change

Sustainably increasing agricultural production, adapting to climate change and reducing emissions are the main points of climate-smart …

A drought of up-to-date data

Nearly 27 per cent of India has undergone a climatic shift since the last study on drought areas

Reverse land use change to prevent zoonoses like COVID-19: UNCCD

Land use degradation creates ground for zoonotic disease like COVID-19 as the interaction and physical distance between animals and humans …

Postponed

Issues concerning the earth's future took a backseat as unseemly politics ruled the day at the just concluded Earth Summit II SUPRIYA AKERKAR …

Spread of GM plants out of control in many countries, says report

German-based non-profit says transgenes from species such as bentgrass, oilseed rape and cotton have already escaped permanently into the …

B: High drama

The forest convention was the most controversial issue at the Summit. However, the G-77, a strident opposer, failed to act as a united force

Odisha village takes up tendu trade, but finds no buyers

Government does not provide market linkages or support price after deregulating trade in the minor forest produce. It's a conspiracy, say activists

MERS virus may spread to India post Haj

Researchers predict spread of acute respiratory syndrome that originated in the Middle East by studying population movements; Mumbai, Kozhikode …

Deserts not deserted, but full of floral, faunal activity

These unforgiving lands may appear lifeless only to the unacquainted, but they are a unique and living ecosystem

Desertification has increased in 90 per cent of states in India

Increased drying of soil will further precipitate the agrarian crisis in the country

Coming of a desert

Plantation mirage

RajasthanÔÇÖs tree planting spree might not check desertification