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Time of India
22-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Neelakurinji Bloom: No Proposals From Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka to Declare It a Threatened Species
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka have not proposed declaring neelakurinji a threatened species under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, says Botanical Survey of India Despite neelakurinji's famed 12-year bloom cycle and declining populations, Tamil Nadu , Kerala and Karnataka have not proposed declaring it a threatened species under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday. The NGT had in Aug 2024 registered a suo motu case based on a report that neelakurinji (Strobilanthes kunthiana) had been identified as Vulnerable (Criteria A2c) under the IUCN Red List following its first-ever global assessment. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai The NGT noted that the endemic shrub of the southwest Indian montane grasslands was reported to have lost almost 40% of its habitat, with remaining areas threatened by tea and softwood plantations, invasive eucalyptus and black wattle species, urbanisation, infrastructure projects, afforestation programmes, and climate change. Peermade in Kerala was cited as one of the locations where recent blooming was reported. The Tribunal directed BSI, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, and the ministry of environment, forest and climate change to respond and assist in determining whether environmental and biodiversity laws were being complied with in the context of neelakurinji conservation. In its submission on July 15, BSI stated that though neelakurinji has been reported as vulnerable globally, no formal proposal from any state, including Tamil Nadu, has been received to notify it as threatened under national law. BSI disputed reports of a 40% population decline, asserting that no conclusive scientific data exists to support that figure and indicated the need for a comprehensive reassessment across affected habitats. Contrary to the long-held view that neelakurinji grows at elevations between 1,340m and 2,600m, BSI pointed routecent field records show the plant grows at altitudes as low as 1,100m, a habitat shift that warrants closer investigation. BSI also said most subpopulations remain fragmented, with some having fewer than 500 plants, and that factors such as habitat loss, declining pollinator interactions, and the long 12-year flowering cycle continue to threaten the species. It confirmed that neelakurinji occurs in more than 34 locations, many outside protected areas, including on revenue land, further complicating conservation strategies.
India Gazette
03-07-2025
- General
- India Gazette
Manipur's Orange Bowl: Dailong village merges tradition with ecological wisdom
Tamenglong (Manipur) [India] July 3 (ANI): Dailong village, nestled in the lush hills of Tamenglong district in Manipur, has become a symbol of biodiversity and traditional environmental wisdom. Referred to as the 'Orange Bowl of Manipur,' the village is celebrated not only for its thriving orange orchards but also for its long-established conservation practices that have gained national acclaim. In 2017, Dailong was designated a Biodiversity Heritage Site under the Biological Diversity Act, serving as the home of the Rongmei Naga tribe, whose close connection with nature is reflected in their everyday actions and farming methods. The village's abundant biodiversity and untouched ecology have created a haven for rare plants and animals. RH Gonmei, a retired IAS officer, highlighted the importance of Dailong's ecological heritage. 'When this village was working to conserve the forest, the Ministry of Forest, Government of India, became aware that such a forested area existed in this corner of India in Manipur, specifically in Dailong village within Tamenglong district,' he shared. Perched at an altitude of 4,100 feet, Dailong features fertile loamy soil, natural drainage, and a mild climate averaging around 25C, making it optimal for orange farming. With annual rainfall occurring over seven to eight months, the village needs minimal irrigation, promoting sustainable agriculture. The oranges produced here, cultivated from seeds or through vegetative propagation, are of superior quality and have secured the village a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. K John Gonmei, Chairman of Dailong Village, stated, 'They planted between 600 to 700 orange trees. Each year, they have a fruitful harvest, yielding one to two thousand oranges daily from their farm. They earn between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000 annually. Oranges have been a staple in Dailong village since the times of our ancestors. Even today, orange farming suits us very well.' In addition to oranges, Dailong's agricultural landscape includes a variety of other fruits, such as mango, banana, pineapple, avocado, and lemon. Recently, there has been a trend towards mixed farming, signalling an evolving yet environmentally aware agricultural practice. Dailong's approach, grounded in tradition, biodiversity, and sustainability, exemplifies a successful model of rural development that emphasises both economic well-being and ecological harmony. (ANI)
The Hindu
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
India unlikely to ratify ‘High Seas Treaty' at U.N. Ocean Conference
India is unlikely to ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) agreement—also known informally as the 'High Seas Treaty'—at the ongoing United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, sources indicated to The Hindu. Though India signed the agreement in September 2024, formal ratification is pending. Before proceeding, the government is required to amend certain legislations, including the Biological Diversity Act, it is learnt. 'This will probably be taken up after the Monsoon Session (July 12–August 12) and needs to be passed in Parliament. There are other issues that also need to be sorted out,' a person familiar with the negotiations said. As of June 10, 49 countries have ratified the treaty. Once 60 countries complete the process, the treaty will enter into legal force. Union Minister for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh, who is representing India at the conference, which continues until June 13, stated in France that India was in the 'process of ratifying the treaty.' One of the most contentious aspects of the BBNJ is the sharing of resources. The high seas, lying beyond the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of nations, are not under the jurisdiction of any single country. These areas are known to harbour unique and exotic marine life. While commercial extraction remains technically challenging, a clear mechanism for equitable sharing of potential economic benefits is yet to be finalised. In addition to resource sharing, the BBNJ agreement seeks to address long-term conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction. It lays out mechanisms for environmental impact assessments, area-based management tools, and enhanced international cooperation for ocean governance. In his address on June 10, Dr. Singh highlighted India's progress on Samudrayaan, the country's manned submersible mission, which is expected to reach ocean depths of up to 6,000 metres and is slated for a trial dive in 2026. He also referred to India's nationwide ban on single-use plastics and highlighted more than $80 billion in Blue Economy investments. India reiterated its call for a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty and launched the 'SAHAV' digital ocean data portal at the conference, underscoring its growing leadership in global marine conservation efforts. The conference is being co-hosted by France and Costa Rica under the theme, 'Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean.'
Deccan Herald
22-05-2025
- General
- Deccan Herald
India needs to rethink its relationship with nature
India hosts 7-8% of global biodiversity on just 2.4% of Earth's land, supporting food systems, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Yet, extractive development models have led to widespread habitat loss, species decline, and ecosystem halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and move toward a nature-positive world by 2050, the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted in December 2022, calls for transformative and inclusive action across all sectors of society. One of its 23 targets, Target 3, popularly known as '30 by 30', seeks to conserve at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and marine areas through well-connected, equitably managed has aligned its national priorities with global biodiversity targets through the National Biodiversity Action Plan, aiming to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030, and expand protected areas, which currently cover over 18% of land and 1.35% of marine zones. Key initiatives such as project-based conservation initiatives, eco-sensitive zones, biodiversity finance initiative, etc., reflect this commitment. Additionally, integrating access and benefit sharing (ABS) mechanisms ensures fair compensation for communities contributing traditional knowledge and genetic resources, fostering equity and Mission LiFE promotes sustainable lifestyles by encouraging behaviour-driven change, positioning nature as a partner, and shifting consumer demand to support nature-positive products, strengthening corporate action on environmental sustainability. Together, these efforts signal a shift toward inclusive and sustainable biodiversity governance, supported by the Biological Diversity Act (2002).For effective implementation, the KMGBF emphasizes a 'whole-of-government and whole-of-society' approach, urging nations to mobilise public institutions, local communities, indigenous people, the private sector, and civil society in co-ordinated efforts. For India, aligning national policy and resources around biodiversity conservation is a critical the KMGBF's financial mobilisation target, an additional $700 billion per year globally, requires co-ordinated efforts across sectors. This scale of investment can only be realised through a collective approach, with the private sector playing a critical role alongside governments and India, the private sector accounts for over 30% of the GDP, and influences land use, supply chains, and natural resources. Therefore, corporate engagement is essential not just for compliance, but to also access green finance, reduce ecological risk, and align with growing global expectations for ethical and sustainable some companies have begun directing corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds toward nature-based solutions (NbS), the overall adoption remains limited. A 2024 study found that about 70% of India's top 100 companies now integrate NbS into their sustainability strategies, but only 15% have allocated more than 2% of CSR budgets to such initiatives. Regulatory uncertainty, high upfront costs, low short-term returns, and limited capacity in biodiversity risk assessment continue to discourage investment. Meanwhile, greenwashing concerns deter companies from disclosing actions without robust monitoring systems.A sustainable path forward requires all stakeholders — governments, businesses, communities, academia, and civil society — to act in collaboration. National and state governments must strengthen legal frameworks, invest in large-scale restoration, and ensure biodiversity considerations are mainstreamed across all sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, and industry. Fiscal tools such as tax incentives, concessional loans, green credits, and biodiversity-linked credits for companies investing in restoration, sustainable agriculture, and mangrove conservation can help bridge India's $50 billion biodiversity finance private sector must move beyond compliance toward active stewardship, by adopting science-based targets, building nature-positive supply chains, and practicing transparent biodiversity disclosures aligned with KMGBF goals. To enhance green cover and address ecological challenges, pooled financing mechanisms like a biodiversity investment fund can channel CSR and green finance into scalable restoration support for innovative models such as land sharing, leasing, or acquisition for reforestation and wildlife corridors can promote biodiversity conservation, enhance carbon sequestration, and mitigate human-wildlife conflict. To address past inequities, governments and corporates must jointly implement ABS frameworks that ensure fair compensation for local and Indigenous communities, fostering long-term trust and cooperation, as outlined in the Nagoya a globalized world where consumption, finance, and supply chains are interconnected, international cooperation and knowledge sharing are essential. 'Harmony with nature and sustainable development' — the theme of this International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22) — must not remain a theme, it must become a shared commitment. We must shift from using nature for short-term gain to working with it for long-term well-being. Nature is not a backdrop to development; it is our co-architect, our sustainer, and our enduring partner.(Aniruddh Soni is Fellow, and Neha Sharma is Research Associate, Land Resources Division, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).)Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Jnanabharathi Campus to be a heritage site?
heritage site declaration Jnanabharathi Campus Bangalore University The Jnanabharathi campus is Bengaluru's biggest lung space, in 2002-2003, we planted seven lakh trees belonging to 700 species, which are today acting as the biggest carbon sink –Dr AN Yellappa Reddy, an environmentalist urban mini-forests Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre has instructed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Forestry, Ecology and Environment to submit a proposal for declaring the Bangalore Universityas a heritage site under the Biological Diversity Act (BDA), step is being taken after various proposed development activities have been declared in the recent past, posing a threat to the campus's proposal highlighted that there are many large trees on theJnanabharathi Campus, and underscored the department's responsibility in safeguarding its rich biodiversity. It emphasised the need to protect the campus's green belt, ensuring its preservation for future generations and contributing to the city's environmental sustainability. 'However, efforts are being made to cut down these trees to undertake various construction works, it is hereby directed to submit a proposal in the file, if it is possible to declare this green campus of Bangalore University as a heritage site under the Biodiversity Act, 2002,' read the letter by the Minister. The Minister also clarified that the step is being taken after an appeal from environmentalists to protect biodiversity on the Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar's pet project – South Asia's tallest skydeck, is also planned on 25 acres of land at the campus that is teeming with to renowned environmentalist Dr AN Yellappa Reddy, who created the forest cover and bioparks on the campus nearly two decades ago, all the proposed development projects on the campus, including the skydeck, should be scrapped and the campus should be declared a heritage site on the lines of Nallur Tamarind Grove in Devanahalli.'The Jnanabharathi campus is Bengaluru's biggest lung space. In 2002-2003, we planted seven lakh trees belonging to 700 species, which are today acting as the biggest carbon sink,' he said. He highlighted that contour bunds were also created to preserve rainwater on campus, which has led to an improvement in the groundwater table by nearly ten feet. 'The campus is home to hundreds of birds and other flora and fauna. All these measures were then taken with public contribution, and all native species of the Western Ghats are growing ex-situ on the campus. It is only apt that the campus is declared a heritage site,' he said that if taken forward, the move will ensure that the educational campus does not turn into a tourism center.'Plantation across the campus was taken up systematically more than two decades ago. A yoga center proposed a few years ago was vehemently opposed to ensure that the green cover is intact,' said Dattatreya Devare, trustee of Bangalore Environment Trust, noting that today, the native forest on the campus, along with its biodiversity, are thriving, and declaring it a heritage site is a step in the right the Biodiversity Act (section 37), areas of biodiversity importance can be notified as heritage sites, and measures can be taken for the management of such sites. Such areas are notified based on the recommendations of the State Biodiversity Nishant, a member of Bengaluru's Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), said that the benefits of biodiversity parks on the campus and ecosystem services provided to the environment and society are unmatched. 'BMC has been looking at analysing ecosystem services that the Jnanabharathi forest provides to the citizens of Bengaluru. Theseshould be conserved and not subjected to any developmental activities. In case a developmental activity cannot be avoided, it should be done vertically. We will soon meet the BU administration to discuss the living resources on the campus and the important role they play as Bengaluru's lung space,' said Nishant.
