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BENGALURU — Once known as the "City of Lakes," Bengaluru is in a desperate race against time to save its vital water bodies from a combination of rampant urbanization and the growing threats of climate change. The city, home to India's burgeoning tech industry, has seen its number of lakes plummet from over 250 in the 1960s to approximately 180 today, with many of those remaining in a critical state of neglect. The decline is the result of a multifaceted crisis. Decades of unchecked encroachment for new apartments and city infrastructure have directly consumed lake land. In a stark example of the struggle, fishermen like Sunil Kumar are working with volunteers to clear invasive weeds and debris from the surface of Doddajala Lake. The weeds, fueled by sewage and other pollutants, create ...

A new report from the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has confirmed that the sunken container ship MSC Elsa 3 is leaking toxic substances, causing widespread ecological damage in the southeastern Arabian Sea. The findings, based on a research cruise, reveal that the wreck is now a chronic source of pollution, threatening Kerala's coastal fisheries and marine life. Key Findings of the CMLRE Report The report, which analyzed samples from 23 locations off the Kerala coast, provides a grim picture of the environmental impact since the ship sank on May 25, 2025. • Chemical Contamination: Scientists detected alarmingly high levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including naphthalene, a key indicator of oil contamina...

CHANDIGARH – In a move set to elevate Chandigarh's environmental profile on the world stage, the State Wetland Authority of the Union Territory has officially approved a proposal to designate the Sukhna wetland as a Ramsar site. This landmark decision marks the first time a site in Chandigarh will receive the prestigious international recognition, highlighting the ecological and cultural significance of the Sukhna wetland. The proposal, which will now be sent to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for further action, was sanctioned during the fourth meeting of the State Wetland Authority. The meeting was chaired by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator, Gulab Chand Kataria. The final designation requires consultation with the Ministry of External Af...

UDAIPUR, RAJASTHAN — In a remarkable display of eco-innovation, a special climate-resilient bamboo species from Assam is transforming a once-barren landscape into a thriving green oasis in the arid village of Nichla Mandwa, Rajasthan. The project, named "Bamboo Oasis on Lands in Drought" (BOLD), is successfully combatting desertification and creating new livelihoods for the local community. The initiative, led by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and the Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL), involved transporting 5,500 saplings of 'Jati Bah' (Bambusa tulda) over 2,200 kilometers from Assam. This species was specifically chosen for its unique properties: it requires minimal water, possesses high water-retention capabilities, and grows exception...

SAMOA — A new commentary warns that Samoa’s critically endangered tooth-billed pigeon, locally known as the manumea, is at risk of extinction due to a lack of adequate funding for conservation efforts. Listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2014, the manumea is a unique species with a thick, curved bill, related to the extinct dodo of Mauritius. The Samoa Conservation Society (SCS) and the nation’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) have been leading the conservation efforts. However, the Manumea Recovery Plan for 2020-2029 is only 20% implemented at its halfway point. According to James Atherton, president of the SCS, the most critical need for the manumea’s survival is funding. Key Challenges in Conservation The manumea faces a series of sig...

KOLKATA — While India's green cover is expanding, a new study by scientists at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kharagpur warns that the health of the country's forests is in decline. The research, published in ScienceDirect, claims that trees are becoming less efficient at photosynthesis, a critical process for their survival and the broader ecosystem. The study, titled "Weakening of forest carbon stocks due to declining Ecosystem Photosynthetic Efficiency under the current and future climate change scenarios in India," found that the photosynthetic efficiency of Indian forests declined by 5% between 2010 and 2019 compared to the previous decade. This decline was most significant in "pristine forests" located in the Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats, and the Indo-Gangetic Pla...

Hyderabad recent intense cloudbursts and heavy rain spells aren't just a weather phenomenon they're a consequence of the city's own rapid urbanization, according to scientists from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The city's growing concrete jungle, filled with glass-clad buildings and vast expanses of paved surfaces, is a major contributor to a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years. The Urban Heat Island Effect A key culprit behind Hyderabad's extreme rain events is the urban heat island effect. This phenomenon occurs when urban areas become significantly warmer than their surrounding rural areas. Cities absorb and retain heat from sunlight and human activities. The heat is then slowly released, creating a warm pocket over the city. According to Dr. Ak...

The Caspian Sea the world largest inland body of water, is disappearing before our eyes, and the consequences are staggering. Spanning five countries Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, and Turkmenistan it has long been a vital source for fishing, oil, and a home to unique wildlife, including the endangered Caspian seal. However, a new study published by The Conversation shows that climate change is rapidly altering this critical landscape with experts warning that the ecological and geopolitical fallout could be catastrophic. While the Caspian Sea’s water levels have historically fluctuated, a new and potentially irreversible phase of decline has been underway since the early 2000s. The sea is receding at a rate of up to 30 cm per year in some places, reaching an unprecedented low in...

In a harrowing incident that has shocked residents and environmentalists, a massive, smoldering fire at a dump yard on Minicoy island has exposed the severe waste management crisis threatening the pristine Lakshadweep archipelago. The blaze, which raged for days in the first week of September 2025, blanketed the island in toxic, black smoke and highlighted years of administrative neglect and a flawed development model. A Mountain of Waste on the Brink The fire, which local activists believe was deliberately set, was the culmination of years of unregulated dumping. Minicoy’s dump yard, spanning 1,500 square meters, is a grotesque mix of plastic, e-waste, and discarded appliances. According to the Union Territory forest and environment department nearly 4,000 tonnes of dry waste hav...

In a significant effort to improve sanitation and urban aesthetics, the Tiruchi Corporation has identified approximately 120 garbage-vulnerable points across the city for transformation into green spaces. These locations, which have long been used as informal garbage dumps, are being redeveloped with greenery to prevent littering and open urination, while also improving air quality and beautifying public areas. The initiative, managed by a private waste collection agency, began in September 2023. So far, 61 garbage hotspots have been reclaimed and converted. These new green zones are located in both residential and commercial areas across all five zones of the city, with the highest number of transformations (27) occurring in Zone V. To promote the principles of recycling and r...