Land rush and sustainable food security by MS Swaminathan

M.S. Swaminathan (Chairman, MSSRF, and Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha) Managing our soil and water resources in a sustainable and equitable manner needs a new political vision, which can be expressed through the proposed Land Acquisition Bill and the recently formed Global Soil Partnership. […] It has been estimated that 50 million to 80 million … Read more

Wildlife and changing lifestyles in the “biodiversity hotspots” of the Nilgiri hills (Western Ghats) – Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Tarsh Thekaekara,  New Delhi, Sun Jul 15 2012 I grew up in a small town on the border of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, cradled in the Nilgiri hills. I now work as a conservationist in the same area. Gudalur sits at the start of the mountains, at the edge of the Mudumalai Reserve. Till about … Read more

Old seeds festival “a pleasing sight and important”: Traditional farming methods not forgotten – Andhra Pradesh

Amazing variety of seeds protected by tribal people of Agency | Read the full article >> For people living in the plains variety is a few types of vegetables, paddy and millets and one believes that chemical fertilizers and pesticides alone can increase the yield and protect the crops. But a visit to the annual … Read more

Gond dance – Madhya Pradesh

Villagers at Sawra have decided to revive their traditional dances in an effort to preserve and showcase their rich culture. Satpuda Foundation (a wildlife conservation NGO working in central India) is encouraging this and other community initiatives. | Learn more >> From the inspiring love legends of Mandu to the formidable regality of Gwalior, from the … Read more

The changing character of sacred groves (kaavu): Tiny oases rich in floral and faunal biodiversity converted due to urbanization – Tamil Nadu & Kerala

Many small towns across India also have sacred groves. The kaavus of Kerala are managed by the government, temple trusts, local community, or even privately. In Thrissur, there are as many as 970 such kaavus in the district, of which 220 are in the heavily populated urban taluk of Thrissur. These kaavus are tiny oases … Read more