Category: Environment

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on February 16 cleared the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar mega infrastructure project, citing its “strategic importance” and noting that adequate safeguards were incorporated in the environmental clearance. Project Overview Great Nicobar Island spans 910 sq km and hosts India’s southernmost point, Indira Point.The government envisions transforming the island into a major economic and defence hub built on four pillars: Initially conceptualised by NITI Aayog, the project Read More …

The Chhattisgarh Forest Department has initiated the process of establishing six “hornbill restaurants” in the Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve (USTR) located in Gariaband district. The move aims to provide a permanent habitat for the rare Malabar Pied Hornbill and support natural forest expansion in the region. The concept of “hornbill restaurants” refers to designated forest patches enriched with fruit-bearing trees to ensure an abundant supply of the bird’s primary diet—fruits. Read More …

In a major conservation move, the apex body of Nagaland’s Sangtam community, United Sangtam Likhum Pumji, has passed a resolution to protect pangolins within its jurisdiction, marking a significant step against wildlife trafficking along the India-Myanmar border. Key Highlights Why Pangolins Are Targeted Pangolins are the world’s most trafficked wild mammals, hunted for: Two species found in India are: About Pangolins Significance The resolution is crucial because a large share Read More …

The ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has successfully achieved induced breeding of the mangrove clam (Geloina erosa) under captive conditions, marking a major breakthrough for conservation and sustainable utilisation of this ecologically significant bivalve species. Mangrove clams, commonly known as mud clams, are distributed across mangrove and estuarine ecosystems of South and Southeast Asia. Despite their declining availability in the wild, they remain a valued local delicacy in several Read More …

A giant female reticulated python discovered deep in the forests of Sulawesi, Indonesia, has been officially recognised as the longest measured snake in the world, the Guinness Book of World Records has confirmed. The snake, a Malayopython reticulatus, measures an extraordinary 7.22 metres (23 feet 8 inches) in length. Named Ibu Baron, meaning “The Baroness”, the python was found late last year and has now set a new global record. Read More …

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), in collaboration with international experts, have discovered two new species of marine worms (polychaetes) from the coastal regions of West Bengal, highlighting the rich but fragile biodiversity of India’s northern Bay of Bengal coastline. The discoveries were made in the Digha and Bankiput areas of Purba Medinipur district. The newly identified worms have been described as ecological “bio-warriors” due to their ability Read More …

Mud beneath the wetlands of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has yielded new scientific insights into how the habitat and residence of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros have evolved over time under the influence of climate change, vegetation shifts, invasive species and herbivore activity. Northeast India, which forms part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, is home to several endangered species facing a high risk of extinction. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Read More …

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav highlighted that wetlands nurture not only ecosystems, but also communities, culture and livelihoods, underlining their multifaceted importance for sustainable development. To mark World Wetlands Day 2026, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change organised a special event at the Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary on the theme “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage.” The event emphasised the Read More …

A team of researchers from Nagaland University has recorded a new plant species in the high-altitude forests of Nagaland, reinforcing the Northeast as a major biodiversity hotspot and highlighting the crucial role of community-managed forests in conservation. The newly documented species, named Hoya nagaensis, was discovered during botanical surveys in remote forest areas that have remained largely unexplored by scientists. Significance of the Discovery Nagaland’s forests are distinctive because a Read More …

Wetlands in Kutch (Gujarat) and Etah (Uttar Pradesh) have been recognised as Ramsar Sites, bringing them under a global framework for wetland conservation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the inclusion of the Patna Bird Sanctuary in Etah and Chhari-Dhand Conservation Reserve in Kutch as wetlands of international importance. With the latest additions, India now has 98 Ramsar Sites, reflecting the country’s growing emphasis on wetland conservation. Patna Bird Sanctuary, Uttar Read More …

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has issued a notification declaring the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan’s Aravalli mountain range as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). The notified ESZ extends from zero to one kilometre around the sanctuary. The move aims to conserve the region’s rich biodiversity while also supporting indigenous and local communities living in and around the protected area. Located about 80 km north of Read More …

Odisha’s estuarine (saltwater) crocodile population has increased by 32, reaching 1,858, according to the latest annual census conducted by the State Forest and Environment Department. This year’s estimation marked a significant shift with the introduction of a pilot drone-based survey, improving coverage and accuracy. Census Details The annual estimation of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) was carried out from January 8 to 10, 2026, covering major crocodile habitats, including: Odisha continues Read More …

A forest fire has continued to rage inside Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary in Sikkim, along the Indo-China border, for the past two days, officials said. The blaze, which broke out on January 20, is burning at an altitude of around 13,000 feet. Extent of Damage The fire has already affected nearly 12 hectares of forest land, raising concerns over fragile high-altitude ecosystems and wildlife habitats in the region. Geographical Significance The Read More …