Tuesday, July 1News That Matters

Tag: ecosystem

River Yatra Rekindles Ancient Ties to Save a Dying Himalayan Lifeline to Vanishing

River Yatra Rekindles Ancient Ties to Save a Dying Himalayan Lifeline to Vanishing

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
In the dense Himalayan folds of Uttarakhand, where the Nayar River once flowed with grace and abundance, there is now a troubling silence. Water thins, vegetation withers, and in some places, the once-lush slopes show little new plant growth. While grazing has been absent here for decades, signs of disrupted natural regeneration are everywhere. This ecological imbalance is not isolated. Scientific studies have long suggested that regulated grazing, rather than bans, plays a crucial role in ecosystem health. A 2010 paper in Ecology Letters found that controlled grazing helps maintain biomass balance, improve nutrient cycling, and support diverse vegetation. In the Valley of Flowers in Chamoli, a blanket ban on grazing led to a troubling shift dominant grasses took over, biodiversity shra...
Earth Changing Seasons Threaten Global Ecosystems and Species

Earth Changing Seasons Threaten Global Ecosystems and Species

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Earth’s seasonal cycles so central to life on the planet are undergoing dramatic shifts due to climate change and human activity. These changes are putting species, ecosystems, and even human societies at growing risk. From tropical rainforests to polar ice caps, the planet’s annual journey around the Sun brings seasonal variations in temperature, rainfall, and sunlight. These rhythms drive plant growth, animal migration, reproduction, and even cultural events like harvests and festivals. But human-caused disruptions such as deforestation, dam construction, and global climate change are now altering these cycles across regions. From snowmelt timing in the mountains to shifts in monsoon rains, ecosystems are struggling to adapt. Ecological relationships often depend on precise seas...
Mangrove Forests Over 500 Metres Wide Proven to Cut Wave Energy by 75%, Prompting Policy Rethink

Mangrove Forests Over 500 Metres Wide Proven to Cut Wave Energy by 75%, Prompting Policy Rethink

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check
A global study based on more than 216,000 simulations has found that mangrove forests wider than 500 metres offer far more effective coastal protection than previously assumed. The research, led by the Deltares institute, shows that these broad mangrove belts reduce incoming wave heights by at least 70% regardless of wave intensity, water levels, or local conditions. Using the SWAN (Simulating WAves Nearshore) model, researchers analyzed 15,773 coastal locations worldwide with mangrove cover. From this dataset, 1,000 representative situations were selected to simulate wave reduction performance under a variety of environmental conditions. The results produced tens of millions of data points and highlighted a clear trend: wider mangroves are consistently more effective at weakening wave ...