Climate change is impacting the world. It is the poorest who suffer the most. Yet often rural Indians are leading the way in sustainable advances and trialling schemes that – if rolled out on a macro scale – can create real change in the environment.
Environment
Bringing the Aravallis back to life
Tree species like sheesham, babool and others planted over 75 hectares of land that was previously mined illegally are helping restore greenery and bring back wildlife
Assam’s wildest jungle safari
Nature lives in its full glory in Dehing Patkai, but illegal logging and coal mining are pushing the virgin jungle to the brink.
How ‘Canal Man’ channelled strength for Odisha village
Daitari Naik’s Talabaitarani village in Kendujhar district is no longer the parched land where people were forced to drink muddied water. The 3km canal he dug almost single-handedly ensures lush crops all year round.
The disappearing wild orchids of North Bengal
Known for their beauty, fragrance and medicinal properties, epiphytic orchids found in the Dooars and Darjeeling hills are dying out because of deforestation in their natural habitat.
Strawberry sweetens deal for Maharashtra farmers
The luscious strawberry is moving beyond its comfort zone of Maharashtra’s Panchgani-Mahabaleshwar region, bringing a smile to farmers in other regions of the state as well.
When livelihoods and disaster relief fall through the cracks in Joshimath
While the land subsidence in Joshimath is a disaster for those who cannot get compensation for their damaged houses because of lack of documents, for many others it is a loss of livelihood.
Will this stag party again?
Hangul, Jammu and Kashmir’s state animal, is critically endangered. While conservation efforts are leading to a small increase in its numbers, the struggle is far from over.
‘Only about 100 great Indian bustards remain now’
Radheshyam Bishnoi, 26, is on a mission to protect the critically endangered great Indian bustard, which is also Rajasthan’s state bird, and the other threatened animals. He tells us about the issues and the solutions.
‘Wildlife conservation isn’t anti-development’
All stakeholders need to make efforts for conservation since the ultimate beneficiary is humanity, says Dr Samir Kumar Sinha, Chief Ecologist at Wildlife Trust of India. Excerpt from an interview: