Burden of beast

Theirs is no romantic tale of the desert. Rather the plight of camel herders of Rajasthan today is that of an endless struggle for survival. Time was when Virma Ram proudly watched his herd of camels stretch in an endless line along the dusty horizon. Today, his gaze has turned into a blank stare as the prospect of maintaining his precious livestock appears bleak.

In favour of wetlands

in semi-arid Africa, the natural floodplains (or wetlands) inundated by seasonal river flows are of strategic economic importance. In many instances, the use of wetlands -- for agriculture, grazing, water supply and other benefits -- are integrated with those of the surrounding drylands. The floodwater is rarely wasted.