What are cloudbursts? Should we be prepared for more frequent occurrences?

A cloudburst is a sudden spell of localised, heavy rainfall where the amount of rainfall over a particular area exceeds 100 millimetres in an hour

Ecological well-being of Jammu & Kashmir stands at a critical juncture

Impending deforestation, shrinking lakes and potential lithium mining pose significant environmental challenges

Book Excerpt: Jerusalem, the isolated hill town high in the Judean Hills

‘Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades’ presents a broad yet detailed account of how Jerusalem …

What are Western Disturbances? How do they impact rain and snowfall in India?

It is a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern that induces low pressure systems in the lower layers of the atmosphere; this, ultimately, causes …

Simply Put: Joining hands

Simply Put: Warming hills

The secret world of rhododendrons: A plant more ancient than the Himalayas

Rhododendrons have a history intertwined with poison, medicine and folklore.

Fight for land

From stricter land laws to revising domicile rules, Uttarakhand residents demand government action to stop the sale of agricultural land to …

Our oceans are in deep trouble — a ‘mountains to sea’ approach could make a real difference

An ecosystem approach can potentially reconcile conflicts between different user groups

Walk in the Nilgiris

The various chapters of The Nilgiri Hills, edited by anthropologist Paul Hockings, do not just discuss the culture and biodiversity of the …

Chipko a distant memory

The women who led the landmark environmental movement 50 years ago, speak to Down To Earth

The high and mighty Himalayas: A biodiversity hotbed facing significant challenges

The warming rate in the Himalayas is three times higher than the global average

Apogee of the mountain lore: Abiding sway of village deities tie together ecological conservation & spirituality

Uttarakhand's folk traditions play a major role in conserving its forests amid unbridled development push in the hills