Mapping the reek

The genetic variability of sandalwood trees in India has reduced considerably because of their increased susceptibility to diseases

Why we need better data on clean fuel coverage to tackle air pollution

The level of emissions arising from household cooking is uncertain given the varying data sets used for emission analysis  

Trouble in Dewas

Deforestation, corruption or politics? The killing of four tribals in Madhya Pradesh's Dewas district leaves many questions unanswered

Barring the muck

The Tihar jail exemplifies how efficient waste management not only makes our surroundings clean, but also endows us with economic benefits. What …

Forestland benefits

Under the Lok Vaniki scheme, a farmer can extract benefits from his land by selling its produce, including timber

The secret gardens of Malabar

An English translation has been made exactly 300 years after the Hortus Malabricus was written, new, sinister designs seem to lurking behind it - …

Roundtable on Minor Forest Produce: Introduction

Sunita Narain, Director of the Centre for Science and Environment, discusses the confusion surrounding the Forest Rights Act and forest management.

Industrial blackmail!

Having done precious little to clean up its polluting act in the past 30 years, a Kerala factory is indirectly blackmailing the state government …

Once poachers now guards

At Kerala's Periyar Tiger Reserve, deepa kozhisseri finds local tribal communities happily involved in forest protection and ecotourism

Lethal toxicity vs quantum of pollution in Delhi’s air

Not just quantum of pollution but also toxicity of emissions must be assessed to prioritise action on pollution sources

Greener Shades

The Indian pulp and paper industry reacts positively to the first Green Rating Project conducted by Centre for Science and Environment

Make forestry policies people-centric, says FAO

UN agency’s latest state of the forests report says poverty alleviation and rural employment should be the ulterior driving force in …

Bamboo flowering

People in northeast India fear bamboo flowering. According to an ancient belief when bamboos flower, there is death and destruction.

For common sense

Down To Earth articles on shahtoosh and Veerappan provoke comment. We decided to excerpt them. But first, the editor's rejoinder

More fuelwood = more forests?

In India, where 500 million people out of about 1,000 million depend on forests for their survival, any 'sweet-talk' about wood consumption is …

Phulmai's walk - a day in the life of a headloader

Headloaders - collectors of fuelwood in India's woodlands. On the one hand, seen as forest destroyers, on the other, they are the sole support of …

Forest dept finds irregularities in non-profit’s owl conservation efforts

Wildlife Research and Conservation Society accused of violations including straying from the core area of conservation, banding owl species …

The perfect wood

Destructive logging

Computer update

Wooden monitors to protect environs

Simply Put: Zero emission house

Round logs baked square

Missing the wood for the trees

Stealing timber

No wood is waste

Nano-onions from wood shavings can deliver nutrients to plants