URBAN BIRDS
How Dilawar's box is bringing sparrows back
Specially designed to bring back sparrows and other birds into urban areas, the nest box is a hit among bird-lovers in many Indian metros and the birds themselves.
Urban environment
August 2010

BIOTECHNOLOGY
Genes can't be patented, says US court
A New York judge rules that trying to patent genetic information cannot be permitted - the first serious setback to the genetic technology industry, which will have implications worldwide.
Sujatha Byravan
April 2010

OPINION : AGRIBUSINESS
Schizophrenia of agricultural policy
Any discussion of GM crops must take place within the larger framework of the indispensable need to promote biodiversity and set up agricultural policies linked to this need.
Sujatha Byravan | GM Crops
March 2010

ENERGY VS BIODIVERSITY
Criticism rising on Karnataka's Gundia project
Karnataka's plan to harvest power from the Gundia river has been criticised by environmentalists, farmers and the Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.
Energy | Karnataka
December 2009

ENVIRONMENT/POLITICS
Mangrove island under threat, cabinet divided
Kerala's biodiversity board has asked the CM to reject clearance for the 'High Tech City' project at the Vembanad backwaters outside Kochi.
Kerala
November 2009

IPR AND BIODIVERSITY
Running wild with the BD Act
While the Biological Diversity Act is touted by the government as a conservation legislation, its application does not show much evidence of this intent.
Laws
November 2009

BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT
Expert panel giving conflicted IPR approvals
Many of the institutions or departments who have sent in applications for IPR consideration to the NBA are also represented on the committee which evaluates the applications.
Biodiversity
July 2009

MANAGING BIODIVERSITY
The downward spiral
From its promising beginning, the nation's Biodiversity Plan has undergone a massive erosion, as MoEF has put economic values above environmental ones.
March 2009

RIGHT TO INFORMATION
A boost to transparency in environment regulation
Recent rulings offer hope that decision-making in environmental regulation will be more transparent and participatory henceforth.
Environment regulation | RTI
January 2009

HIDDEN NEXUS
From biodiversity to biotech
There's little transparency and almost no public assessment of the impact of the approvals granted for access and transfer of biological material or IPRs.
Environment regulation
July 2008

OPINION: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
All legislation and no conservation
The Environmental Impact Assessment notification which is has great potential for people's involvement is today a mere clearance formality.
Environmental regulation | Guest column
August 2007

CONSERVATION
At last, some good news
Community Conservation Areas are heartening pools of ecological and biodiversity rejuvenation in a country beset with environmental degradation in its bid to industrialise.
Environment
June 2007

THE BIODIVERSITY ACT: A REVIEW
Biodiversity: read the fine print
In the first few years since the passage of the Biodiversity Act, it has become evident that rather than promote conservation, the law merely establishes procedures for access and commercial use. Communities are waking up to the actual wording of the law, and they don't like what they see. Kanchi Kohli reports.
June 2007

BIODIVERSITY
Storm continues over Silent Valley
The Kerala government is proposing to construct a new dam only a few kilometres from the site of one of India's great environment struggles in the Silent Valley National Park. But cooked data and ignored court orders have once again invited the wrath of conservationists. M Suchitra reports.
Forests | Energy | Kerala
May 2007

TENDER MANGO FESTIVAL
A 'sour' source of delight and livelihood
A three day festival of a special tender mango called appe midi held last month in Shimoga, Karnataka attracted 6000 visitors. The festival showcased a range of preparations including popular pickles, and gave a filip to the conservation of this wild mango variety. Shree Padre reports.
Livelihoods | Conservation | Karnataka
May 2007

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Traditional knowledge receives a boost
The government's recent traditional knowledge digital library will send data to patent offices abroad, so that indigenous knowledge that India abundantly has is not patented overseas.
Trade | E-Government
January 2007

INVASIVE SPECIES
Scourge of the aliens
As invasive species aggressively eliminate native plants and animals, whole ecosystems are impacted. India has been slow to recognise and respond to the complex challenges this poses. Meanwhile, invasives have already taken over large areas, with plenty of damage to show. Arati Rao reports.
July 2006

ENVIRONMENT
Slipping from leadership on conservation
The governing body meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity was held in Brazil in March. Since being one of the most pro-active countries in the formulation of the CBD, India has been gradually losing its leadership role in the last few years. Kanchi Kohli elaborates.
Environmental regulation
May 2006

ENVIRONMENT
How can biodiversity be protected?
In biological diversity, India is one of the richest countries in the world. But widespread destruction has already taken place and this is continuing. Urgent measures to reverse the damage are both necessary and possible. Ramesh Menon sounds the wake-up call.
April 2006

POVERTY AND PLANT WEALTH
UN MDGs, hunger, and biodiversity
Five years ago, the United Nations set a goal to drastically reduce hunger and poverty in the world by 2015. This September, the UN met at New York with over 850 million people going hungry everyday. To target hunger, an international consultation in April at Chennai had recommended a new approach to the UN, reports Ramesh Menon.
Agriculture policy | Hunger
September 2005