Environment and Ecology

Environmental conservation and sustainability, respecting ecological integrity and limits

This section relates to initiatives that promote the principles of ecological integrity and limits. These are initiatives which envision models of decentralized conservation of land, water and biodiversity, based on a respect for both local and modern knowledge, and considering environment as an integral part of life and work. It also highlight attempts at linking livelihoods to ecological regeneration and restoration at local and landscape level. It will feature innovative attempts to deal with problems of pollution and waste. Overall, this section will try to work towards an understanding of the ecosystem which includes sociological, historical and geographical considerations while deciding on the path that local urban/ rural communities and the larger society take towards well-being.

Arunachal monastery declares forest near Bhutan as protected zone for red pandas

The monastery officially declared about 85 sq.km of its forest land as the Mon-Lhagyala Community Conservation Area (MLCCA).

This Village in Rajasthan Plants 111 Trees for Every Girl Child Born. Thanks to One Man’s Vision.

Piplantri villagers in Rajasthan encourage empowerment of women and environment conservation, along with increasing employment opportunities.

Forest Conservation and Management in Pachgaon

A small village called Pachgaon, in the Chandrapur district of Maharashtra has done commendable work on forest management and livelihood generation.

Go organic to beat drought, says seed reviver

"Farmers need spend only a little on input costs and can get good returns on their investment if they grew traditional varieties of paddy"

From garbage dump to garden of Eden: How locals transformed one of Mumbai’s dirtiest beaches

Mumbai city news: Here’s how Versova residents spent 85 weeks on the world’s largest beach clean-up

Mumbai group spends 5 Sundays clearing 1.47-lakh kg garbage from Poisar river

“We used all our resources to gather like-minded people and started cleaning it.”

How a Spring Revival Scheme in India’s Sikkim Is Defeating Droughts

51 springs and four lakes in 20 drought-prone Gram Panchayats of Sikkim have been revived so far

An organic farm that nurtures life and spirit

This story of transformation of a barren landscape into a bustling organic farm offers hope to the despondent and inspiration to the struggler

Saving the sholas: To overcome drought, Nilgiris’ forest communities return to traditional wisdom

The drought has provided the trigger for people to think and act to conserve the shola-grassland ecosystem, and some of the water sources.