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CHENNAI — Tamil Nadu has launched one of India’s most ambitious mangrove restoration programs, fundamentally shifting its conservation strategy by placing local coastal communities at the forefront of execution and decision-making. This extensive initiative is backed by ₹1,675 crore in World Bank funding under the TN-Strengthening Coastal Resilience and the Economy (TN-SHORE) project. In a significant procedural change, funds earmarked for mangrove plantation, restoration, and bioshields will now flow directly into the accounts of newly constituted Village Mangrove Councils (VMCs). Currently, 34 VMCs have been established across 10 districts, with the state continuing to register more councils to manage local projects. Each VMC oversees procurement, planning, and monitoring through s...

PANCHKULA, HARYANA — A joint committee constituted by the NGT has reported that native forest tree species are largely missing from the 40.34 hectares of forest land diverted to the Radha Soami Satsang Beas (RSSB) in Bir Ghaggar, Panchkula. The report, dated August 28, 2025, followed an inspection of the land, which was handed over in 1998 along with 4,322 trees and 1,128 saplings of native species. Forest Loss and Replacement The committee confirmed that the original native species have been cleared and replaced with commercial tree species such as teak and horticultural crops like citrus fruits and sapota (chiku). While the report confirms that the original forest species were "felled and removed," the exact number of illegally felled trees could not be quantified because the...

NEW DELHI — The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region recorded the highest exceedances of ground-level ozone concentration compared to other urban regions in India. The CPCB report submitted on September 25, 2025, analyzed ozone levels across 178 monitoring stations, applying the 2 per cent exceedance criteria of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Causes and Committee Formation Tropospheric ozone a harmful pollutant, is formed from complex photochemical reactions involving precursors such as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Nitrogen Oxides typically under conditions of high heat and sunlight. The report attributes elevated summer ozo...

ASSAM — The capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) a leaf-eating primate listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN, is rapidly disappearing from its habitats in Assam Upper Brahmaputra Valley according to a new study. Researchers attribute the decline primarily to severe forest fragmentation and food scarcity caused by decades of deforestation. The study published in the Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity, surveyed 40 tropical rainforest fragments and found the langurs in only 11 sites. Critically, the species has vanished from at least seven forest patches where they were previously recorded a decade ago. Food Tree Diversity is Key to Survival The research identified food tree density as the single strongest factor influencing the langurs' presence, even more so than the size of the ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new high-resolution climate study warns that the complete deforestation of the Amazon rainforest would trigger a shift to significantly harsher weather extremes, characterized by longer dry periods, explosive rainstorms, and dangerous heat. The research, which utilized a storm-resolving global model, found that removing the forest would effectively transform the region’s weather, creating a meaner climate even if the annual total rainfall volume remained largely unchanged. The study concluded that deforestation would cause the hourly pattern of precipitation to splinter. Hours with "no rain" would nearly triple, as the absence of the tree canopy makes storm formation more difficult. Conversely, when storms do fire, they become significantly more violent; extreme ...

NEW DELHI — Despite India racing ahead as the world’s fourth-largest economy by Gross Domestic Product, a new policy debate is emerging over why the nation’s children are being left behind. Recent data from the National Family Health Survey (2019-21) reveals a stark double burden: over one-third of children under five are stunted, and two-thirds are anaemic, while urban adolescents are increasingly struggling with lifestyle diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol. Experts argue that the root of both crises under-nourished toddlers and sick teenagers lies in a policy outlook that is "stuck in the past," prioritizing filling stomachs over providing essential nutrition. Old Schemes, New Failures Well-intentioned schemes like the Integrated Child Development Services and the Mid-D...

NEW DELHI — The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Himachal Pradesh government to provide a complete and transparent accounting of its disaster management efforts, environmental policies, and development projects. The order comes in a suo motu case initiated against the backdrop of continuous landslides and flash floods that have devastated the state during the recent monsoon season. Judicial Scrutiny of Ecological Imbalance A Bench led by Justice Vikram Nath quoted a previous observation that "humans, not nature, are responsible for the phenomenon such as continuous landslides, collapsing of houses and buildings," highlighting the court's focus on human-driven ecological change. The court recorded a detailed series of questions prepared by amicus curiae, senior advocate K. Par...

GALWAY, IRELAND — A new study has designated farmed oysters as a "blue superfood," capable of actively benefiting the environment by cleaning coastal waters and storing carbon. The research, focused on Irish Pacific oysters, highlights how oyster farming can tip the ecological balance toward a positive impact, rather than a burden. Oysters Offer Net Environmental Cleanup The study, led by the University of Galway, used a life cycle assessment (LCA) to measure the footprint of oyster farming against the ecosystem services provided by the shellfish. The key findings demonstrate the dual environmental benefits. Oysters filter excess nitrogen and phosphorus from the water column and incorporate the nutrients into their tissues and shells. The nutrient removal measured in the study exc...

NEW DELHI — A latest assessment report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows that while the overall number of polluted river stretches in India has seen a slight dip, the stretch of the Yamuna river in Delhi remains among the most critically contaminated, with pollution levels up to 27 times higher than permitted. The CPCB reviewed water quality data from 2022 and 2023, covering 2,116 locations across 32 states and Union Territories, to produce its latest report. National Trends and Delhi's Stagnation The CPCB identifies a polluted river stretch based on its pollution load, specifically when the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) concentration continuously exceeds the acceptable limit of 3 \text{ mg/L} (the ideal value for outdoor bathing). The total number of pollut...

NEW DELHI — India has recorded a marginal reduction in the number of polluted river stretches, according to the latest report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The report indicates that the number of contaminated stretches decreased from 311 to 296, covering 271 rivers across 32 states and Union Territories, though several segments remain critically contaminated. Critical Hotspots and Pollution Metrics The CPCB defines a polluted river stretch as having Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels exceeding 3 \text{ mg/L}, making the water unfit for bathing. Despite the overall marginal improvement, state-specific challenges persist: • Most Affected State: Maharashtra continues to top the list with 54 polluted stretches. Kerala (31), Madhya Pradesh, Manipur (18 each), and ...