It’s official: Australia is set for a hot, dry El Nino. Here’s what that means for the flammable continent
Australia, with its wealth of scientific knowledge and long history of Indigenous land management, should be well placed to manage fire …
‘Govt is cheating us, destroying traditional agriculture’
Farmers living in tribal areas in Jharkhand alleged that industrialists and the government are conspiring to ruin diverse traditional seeds and crops
Science or Snake Oil: can turmeric really shrink tumours, reduce pain and kill bacteria?
Turmeric is often reported to have anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties, but there is not sufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions
Sweet ’n’ sour
Moringa and tamarind are popularly known as the trees of life for Indians. Moringa is in fashion as the world eyes India to feed its frenzy for …
Community management of ponds has been a success'
Mohit Kumar Ray, convener of Kolkata-based non-profit Vasundhara Foundation, says the city has been losing nearly 200 ponds each year for the …
Which way out?
Industry and people's rights organisations in India are at loggerheads over the shaping of the biodiversity bill and amendments to the existing …
Green lore
Environment has been intrinsic to our oral traditions much before we developed writing. But it is only in the past decade or two that …
Kenya's struggle to modernise traditional medicine is far from won
In the last two decades, neglect of traditional medicine has been replaced by renewed focus and a raft of policies and new laws
These 9 smart foods are often overlooked
They are good for human and environmental health but have been ignored due to a lack of awareness, research, policy support and market oppurtunities
The fire-fighting children of the Khasi Hills and the decline of traditional farming in north-east India
In North-east India, children of the Khasi Hills (Meghalaya) learn slash and burn cultivation, an intergenerational yet controversial indigenous …
Rice for kings
Black rice is indigenous to the Northeast, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Odisha. In Manipur, it is considered food as well as part of traditional …
Natural embrace
Are we ecological serial killers or benevolent conservationists? Muriel Kakani narrates some refreshing perspectives of camel herders in Rajasthan
Without a trace
Medicinal plant biodiversity is rapidly vanishing in India and the government has still to come up with a plan of action
Hunters turn protectors
Traditional hunters Phase Pardhis are part of an initiative to save critically endangered lesser floricans
Green buildings: it’s common sense
Frenzied growth in real estate and changing lifestyle in Indian cities are inciting resource guzzling. Architects have innovative ideas to build …
Bamboo flowering
People in northeast India fear bamboo flowering. According to an ancient belief when bamboos flower, there is death and destruction.
The secret garden
Want to know about a lost variety of rice or a cure to asthma? Answers lie in the notebooks of schoolchildren and women of the Sundarbans and …
Solo Performances
Besides the communities who have done exemplary work in the field of environment, several individuals are making a difference in the lives of …
Hamlets reborn
Although Bhaonta-Kolyala village walked away with the Down To Earth-Joseph C John Award, the judges came across several such communities worthy …
Awarded : Bhaonta-Kolyala
... for reviving the Arvari river, for showing that a healthy ecology and good water management mean prosperity, for proving that drought is a myth
TRAMPLED DESTINIES
What happens if conservation is based on half-baked knowledge? Ask a person rendered homeless by wildlife managers "No conservation strategy …
WORKING IN ISOLATION
A mutual lack of trust and understanding between forest officials and wildlife scientists may be responsible for the mismanagement of India's …
CONSERVATION TO DEATH
Misguided conservation efforts are leading to depletion of biodiversity and exploitation of poor people
We must explore India’s forgotten recipes, switch to good food culture: experts
In an era of convenience food and TV dinner, it’s a challenge to rediscover our traditional foods
Back in f(l)avour
Entry of high yielding hybrid rice has spelt doom for traditional diversity in the Konkan belt. Thanks to a science academy, the ancient legacy …