Reporting on Environment from India Together.https://indiatogether.org/en-inhttps://indiatogether.org/material-literacy-environment/https://indiatogether.org/material-literacy-environment/We know surprisingly little about where our stuff comes from and even less about where it goes after we are done using it. And that's making climate change worse, writes Sailee Rane.Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/elephant-food-environment/https://indiatogether.org/elephant-food-environment/A study in northern West Bengal found elephants are selective with their diet, feeding on less than half the species of plants around them. This is contradictory to the prevalent view that elephants are generalist feeders. Nabarun Guha reports.Sat, 14 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/giant-squirrel-environment/https://indiatogether.org/giant-squirrel-environment/The Indian Giant Squirrel is an indicator species; its presence suggests a healthy forest. Its numbers are on the decline though, which is why the conservation of IGS needs a holistic approach where the focus is as much on the habitat as on the animals themselves. Sneha Mahale reports.Wed, 30 Nov 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/mangroves-cyclones-environment/https://indiatogether.org/mangroves-cyclones-environment/Scientists examining satellite images of the Sundarbans mangroves find that frequent cyclone-induced damage slows the recovery of mangroves and changes the forest composition in comparison to other regions that didn't witness many cyclones. Priyanka Shankar reports.Sun, 10 Jul 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/campa-trees-environment/https://indiatogether.org/campa-trees-environment/Global commitments and domestic laws are leading to afforestation of degraded and deforested lands. But scientists and conservationists argue that large scale plantations can do more harm than good if we overlook the nuances, and point out that all that is green is not forest. Abhijit Mohanty reports.Wed, 04 May 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/wind-tn-environment/https://indiatogether.org/wind-tn-environment/Over three decades, the numerous wind farms in the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari have clearly changed the economy and the rhythms of life here. The benefits and drawbacks are inter-twined, and people have mixed feelings about them. Priyanka Shankar reports.Tue, 26 Apr 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/buxa-tiger-environment/https://indiatogether.org/buxa-tiger-environment/An adult male tiger caught on a camera trap after a gap of 23 years suggests that ecosystem restoration activities in the Buxa tiger reserve may be working. With it comes fresh concerns about the relocation of forest villages. Nabarun Guha reports.Mon, 24 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/climate-fem-environment/https://indiatogether.org/climate-fem-environment/From home and hearth, to employment, to disasters, women are bearing the brunt of the climate catastrophe, but are excluded from participating meaningfully in decisions that are impacting their lives more and more. Ambika Vishwanath speaks with Omair Ahmad.Mon, 13 Dec 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/net-zero-environment/https://indiatogether.org/net-zero-environment/There are several problems with the so-called 'carbon neutrality' pledges. These can only be understood properly if they are accompanied by details and given tight accounting norms. Additionally, high emitters should face stricter norms and earlier timelines, writes Rahul Tongia .Fri, 12 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/seaweed-goa-economy/https://indiatogether.org/seaweed-goa-economy/With its potential to supplement incomes of fishermen and other communities along the nation's long coastline, seaweed cultivation is gaining momentum. An added benefit is the potential to mitigate the loss of biodiversity in the oceans. Goa's first pilot farm is about to be launched.Tue, 09 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/green-bonds-environment/https://indiatogether.org/green-bonds-environment/We need to enable finance. At scale. We need to unclog the channels for big- and small-sized finance to reach sustainable destinations. These are the challenges, and the opportunities that India needs to capitalise on, and do so now, says Neha Kumar.Sat, 06 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/elephant-power-environment/https://indiatogether.org/elephant-power-environment/Habitats and corridors for wild elephants are shrinking due to other development priorities of the state. And local communities are growing angrier at the rising number of conflicts. Wildlife advocates say a number of conservation efforts are needed to stem this. Abhijit Mohanty reports.Thu, 28 Oct 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/gib-power-environment/https://indiatogether.org/gib-power-environment/Apart from the loss of their habitat to growing human activity, migratory birds face a new threat from the growing number of renewable energy projects. The Great Indian Bustard, already rarely seen in the country, has seen its numbers drop precipitously. Abhijit Mohanty reports.Mon, 27 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/wild-land-use-environment/https://indiatogether.org/wild-land-use-environment/A research study finds that many landowners around forests would set aside some lands in exchange for payments. Some see this as a promising conservation strategy, but others believe more nuance is needed in presenting such choices, else they would not work. Rishika Pardikar reports.Tue, 14 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/pangolin-poach-environment/https://indiatogether.org/pangolin-poach-environment/Repeated pandemic-induced lockdowns and curfews have been a golden opportunity for wildlife traffickers targeting termite-eating pangolins and other endangered species in Simlipal National Park and adjacent districts. Abhijit Mohanty reports.Fri, 10 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/kl-fish-environment/https://indiatogether.org/kl-fish-environment/Erratic monsoon patterns and other disruptions by climate change are reducing the number of fishing days in the waters of coastal Kerala. Small-scale fishers are quitting, and looking for other livelihood options to support their families. K V A Khadar reports.Fri, 20 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/rural-power-environment/https://indiatogether.org/rural-power-environment/Power connections are now available nearly everywhere across rural India. However, there is a long way to go before people in villages reliably get uninterrupted electricity that can help them live and work better. Dr Debajit Palit explains what's left to be done.Wed, 23 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/degrade-environment/https://indiatogether.org/degrade-environment/Poor governance of natural resources is undermining India's progress in curbing emissions. It is also weakening the resilience of vulnerable people who are affected by climate changes such as desertification and drought, writes Abhijit Mohanty .Thu, 17 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/flexpack-environment/https://indiatogether.org/flexpack-environment/The general challenges of waste collection and recycling management are even more difficult in the case of flexible and multilayer packaging. At different stages of the recycling chain, solutions must be found, writes Sumangali Krishnan.Tue, 15 Jun 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/decentral-wm-environment/https://indiatogether.org/decentral-wm-environment/Urban waste continues to grow, and governments at different levels are responding with a range of approaches. In the current situation in India, choosing decentralisation is critical to reach multiple goals, writes Andrew Almack.Mon, 17 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/mlp-erp-environment/https://indiatogether.org/mlp-erp-environment/Extended Producer Responsibility-based interventions can be designed to ensure that wastepickers and informal workers remain an integral part of the new regime too. SWaCH's experience with multi-layered plastics in Pune shows how to do this, writes Lubna Anantakrishnan .Sun, 02 May 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/democratic-environmentalism-environment/https://indiatogether.org/democratic-environmentalism-environment/Faced with a multiplicity of values, mainstream conservation has tended to retreat to biocentrism, pragmatism or scientism. It would be more tenable to embrace a broad-based and democratic environmentalism, writes Sharachchandra Lele .Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/nbs-cities-environment/https://indiatogether.org/nbs-cities-environment/Heat waves have not received as much attention as other climate risks, but more cities now confront their toll. They are looking to nature itself for answers. But new mechanisms for governance and financing will also be needed.Tue, 30 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/aravali-destruction-environment/https://indiatogether.org/aravali-destruction-environment/The Aravali hills were used to nature's erosion over billions of years, but the assault on them in the last few decades by those eyeing its rich resources was something else. Will the Supreme Court's recent intervention halt this? Ramesh Menon reports.Sun, 06 Sep 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/genetics-tigers-environment/https://indiatogether.org/genetics-tigers-environment/The future survival of wild tigers depends not only on increasing their population size, but also on ensuring that fragmented populations are genetically 'connected' with each other, writes Abheeshta Rao.Thu, 21 May 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/impact-and-clearance-environment/https://indiatogether.org/impact-and-clearance-environment/The framework for assessing the environmental impact of new projects has in the past served to merely facilitate projects getting started. It was hoped that revisions proposed recently would change that, but there is little evidence of a new course, writes Shripad Dharmadhikary.Mon, 04 May 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/discoms-stark-future-environment/https://indiatogether.org/discoms-stark-future-environment/The energy sector is undergoing a massive transformation, with large customers opting for direct access from producers, and those in the middle looking for decentralised storage and consumption. Between these forces, the old distribution business faces serious risk, says a report from the Prayas Energy Group.Tue, 18 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/regulations-delayed-are-regulations-denied-environment/https://indiatogether.org/regulations-delayed-are-regulations-denied-environment/Efforts to rein in massive emissions of pollutants, and to reduce volumes of water consumed by coal-based thermal power plants have been thwarted by endless delays in implementing the regulations that were to take effect last year. Shripad Dharmadhikary reports.Mon, 01 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/kosi-and-gandak-economy/https://indiatogether.org/kosi-and-gandak-economy/The Centre gears up to take national control of the Kosi and Gandak rivers in north Bihar and turn them into commercial waterways, leaving many important questions unanswered or ignored. Shripad Dharmadhikary and the Manthan team report on findings from a recent visit to the region.Sun, 05 Aug 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/unheard-and-unknown-they-lead-women/https://indiatogether.org/unheard-and-unknown-they-lead-women/Issues that affect underprivileged women have not got enough attention in the mainstream feminist movements in India. Yet women from rural areas and from lower classes and castes have been leading struggles for their rights, says Navya P. K.Sat, 07 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/icbs-flicker-environment/https://indiatogether.org/icbs-flicker-environment/Recent research by the Prayas Energy Group shows that notwithstanding a big spike in demand for LEDs in recent years, more steps are needed to phase out incandescent bulbs.Thu, 05 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/concrete-riverfronts-or-ecological-rejuvenation-environment/https://indiatogether.org/concrete-riverfronts-or-ecological-rejuvenation-environment/A two-day dialogue on urban rivers held in Pune recently focused on the plight of urban rivers. Shripad Dharmadhikary reports and presents his views.Wed, 02 May 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/waiting-for-compliance-patiently-environment/https://indiatogether.org/waiting-for-compliance-patiently-environment/Himanshu Upadhyaya examines a CAG audit report to point out the blatant non-compliance of environmental laws largely by the Forest officials.Tue, 24 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/violating-laws-making-losses-damaging-environment-environment/https://indiatogether.org/violating-laws-making-losses-damaging-environment-environment/Teesta Urja’s penchant for getting into trouble and illegalities continues unabated. Soumik Dutta reports.Sun, 08 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/setback-for-optimal-river-basin-planning-environment/https://indiatogether.org/setback-for-optimal-river-basin-planning-environment/Shripad Dharmadhikary explains why setting up a tribunal to resolve the Mahanadi Water Dispute will not help the people or the river.Wed, 28 Mar 2018 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/major-problems-of-our-time-are-all-interconnected-environment/https://indiatogether.org/major-problems-of-our-time-are-all-interconnected-environment/Recently Darryl D’Monte interviewed the famous physicist Fritjof Capra at the annual meet of Greenaccord international environmental journalists in Italy. Here he reports on Capra’s separate remarks about the environment, along with quotes from his books and blogs.Wed, 13 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/forget-politics-focus-on-smog-science-media/https://indiatogether.org/forget-politics-focus-on-smog-science-media/It’s not the crop burning, stupid; it’s vehicles that create smog. The media should do its job in educating the public about this rather than helping foster the political blame game. Anup Kumar explains.Wed, 22 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/more-money-for-more-dust-environment/https://indiatogether.org/more-money-for-more-dust-environment/Harapriya Nayak and Santosh Dora share their experience of working with the tribals of a small village in Odisha, who were suffering because of heavy mining happening in their area and how they brought about a change.Wed, 18 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/will-biting-the-bullet-train-leave-us-with-no-teeth-op-ed/https://indiatogether.org/will-biting-the-bullet-train-leave-us-with-no-teeth-op-ed/Darryl D'Monte analyses why the proposed Bullet Train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is not the need of the hour, nor worth the cost.Fri, 13 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMThttps://indiatogether.org/indira-gandhi-s-elite-environmentalism-reviews/https://indiatogether.org/indira-gandhi-s-elite-environmentalism-reviews/Darryl D’Monte reviews Indira Gandhi: A Life in Nature , a new book focussing on the former Prime Minsiter as a naturalist.Sun, 10 Sep 2017 00:00:00 GMT