Animals have swag
The second issue of IndiEnvironment discusses Haryana’s Mesquite trees (Prosopis Juliflora) which have been cut down by the thousands, on the pretext that they are invasive. Should Mesquite be cut down simply to make buildings? Also, a brief look at the problems with writing on human-wildlife conflict. Image and PDF below. Feedback most welcome! … Continue reading
The barometer of India’s leadership in tiger conservation will be both in securing Indian wild tigers in our forests as well as diplomatic heft for Chinese captive tigers. Continue reading
The government is trying to refine its wetland rules. It’s a case of throwing out the baby with the waters.
Wetlands need to be reinforced as more than just open sources of water. How they are identified and conserved requires a rethink Continue reading
Land or wetland?
A waste of land?
A look at our curious bipolarity towards wetlands, which teem with life but are valued more as land than waterbody.
This piece appeared in February this year, since then the National Green Tribunal has called for the re-establishment of the National Wetland Regulation Authority. Continue reading
Verse for vultures:
Silently, vultures watch us.
Their quiet gaze is cautious. Continue reading
What causes a gentle elephant to die on a railway track or go on a ‘rampage’? What stops the tiger from crossing the road?
Little-understood environmental clearances (roads, railways, highways), pigheadedness (making expensive walls elephants can break to keep them in) and an exclusively human-centric approach is increasing human-wildlife conflict throughout India. Continue reading
While the last post looks at how religion, in part, protects wildlife wildlife– even crop-damaging species like Nilgai– this is not a simple issue.
Looking at various moves to use, and abuse, them in rituals in India. Should religion and custom be part of state-sponsored decision-making? Continue reading
