Category: Environment

The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), headquartered in Chennai, has sanctioned ₹82 lakh to the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board for the conservation of the endemic plant species Red Sanders (Pterocarpus santalinus). Sapling Distribution Initiative Under this initiative, one lakh Red Sanders saplings will be raised and later distributed to farmers, contributing to the Trees Outside Forests (ToF) programme. The move is expected to not only aid conservation but also encourage community Read More …

Two wetlands from Bihar — Gokul Jalashaya (Buxar) and Udaipur Jheel (West Champaran) — have been designated as Ramsar Sites, wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. With this, India’s tally has risen to 93 Ramsar Sites, covering an area of 13,60,719 hectares. Bihar’s Growing List of Ramsar Sites This highlights Bihar’s increasing importance in wetland conservation and biodiversity protection. About the Ramsar Convention Importance of Wetlands (Source: (PIB)

The Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve in Himachal Pradesh has been inducted into the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves, marking a significant recognition of India’s biodiversity and sustainable development efforts. The announcement was made at the World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China. About the Reserve Spanning nearly 7,770 sq km in the Western Himalayas, the Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve is characterised by rugged terrain, alpine meadows, and unique Read More …

Nairobi, Kenya, Sept 23, 2025: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) announced the winners of the 2025 Young Champions of the Earth award, recognising three individuals from India, Kenya, and the United States for pioneering solutions to urgent environmental challenges. Award Details Indian Winner – Jinali Mody Other awardees are: Joseph Nguthiru from Kenya and Noemi Florea from the US. The Young Champions of the Earth programme, launched in 2017, continues Read More …

Chandigarh, Sept 25, 2025: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 8th consecutive edition of its environment accounts publication, “Environmental Accounting on Forests – 2025”, during the inaugural session of the 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO). This is the first dedicated publication on forest accounting, compiled in line with the UN System of Environmental Economic Accounts (SEEA) framework, adopted by MoSPI in 2018. Read More …

Researchers from the National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Kochi have discovered a new species of finless snake eel off the Colachel coast in Tamil Nadu’s Kanniyakumari district. Scientific Naming The newly identified species has been named Apterichtus kanniyakumari, in honour of Kanniyakumari’s cultural, linguistic, historical and geographical significance. The discovery has been formally described in the international peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. About the Genus and Species Significance of the Read More …

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has formally adopted a motion recognising India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu. The resolution, proposed by the Omcar Foundation and adopted at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 in Abu Dhabi, received overwhelming global support — with 98% of governments and 94.8% of NGOs, research institutions, and organisations voting in favour. Innovative Restoration Efforts Praised The reserve was Read More …

A major milestone in global ocean protection was reached on September 19, 2025, when Morocco became the 60th nation to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, triggering its entry into force next year. The High Seas Treaty, negotiated under the framework of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), is the first international legal framework dedicated to protecting biodiversity in international waters — areas Read More …

In harvester ant colonies, reproduction follows a clear structure — female queens give birth to offspring, male drones provide sperm, while sterile female workers take charge of nest building, childcare, and other responsibilities. A study led by Romiguier and colleagues has revealed an unusual twist in this system. The researchers discovered that all workers of the species Messor ibericus were hybrids, with nearly half of their DNA matching that of Read More …

Queensland, Australia — In a landmark development for wildlife conservation, regulators in Australia have approved the world’s first vaccine to protect koalas from chlamydia, a disease responsible for infertility, blindness, and death in the endangered species. Breakthrough in Koala Conservation Threats to Koalas Significance This vaccine approval marks a critical step in saving Australia’s most iconic marsupial, offering hope to conservationists battling to protect dwindling populations. (Source: TH)

The Union Environment Ministry has approved the capture of eight tigers from the Tadoba-Andhari and Pench reserves for their translocation to the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in western Maharashtra. The effort is aimed at reviving the big cat population in the northern Western Ghats, where breeding tigers have so far not established themselves. Conditions for Capture and Translocation The ministry’s Wildlife Division granted permission to the Maharashtra Chief Wildlife Warden, subject Read More …

A recent survey conducted by WWF-India in 2024, with support from the Forest Department, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, and guidance from local communities, has recorded the first-ever photographic evidence of the elusive Pallas’s cat in Arunachal Pradesh. The work was part of WWF-India’s project “Reviving Trans-Himalayan Rangelands – A Community-led Vision for People and Nature.” Significance of the Record About Pallas’s Cat (Manul) (Source: WWF-India)

A new study has traced the origins of the Indian monsoon system to the formation of Antarctica around 34 million years ago, revealing a surprising global connection between polar ice growth and tropical rainfall. Fossil Evidence from Nagaland Researchers discovered well-preserved fossil leaves from the Laisong Formation in Nagaland, dating back about 34 million years. These fossils indicated that the region once had a warm and wet climate, much wetter Read More …