Today's Trending Environment News India
Sloth bear, dhole, tiger most affected among apex predators globally due to road development: Study
The sloth bear, tiger and dhole are among 36 apex predators worldwide affected the most due to road construction in their native habitats, a study published February 21, 2022, in the journal Nature, has stated.
The sloth bear was the most affected predator as its habitat was in the Indian subcontinent, “where roadless areas are almost non-existent,” the study said. Some 97% of its area of distribution was covered by roads, which led to several instances of roadkills, or deaths due to collisions with vehicles.
The sloth bear is followed by the dhole or Asiatic Wild Dog, which is, in turn, followed by the tiger, Asiatic black bear, clouded leopard, sun bear and Sunda clouded leopard. The researchers said Asiatic predators, especially in south Asia, were more exposed to roads.
Roads are especially harmful for apex predators because their home ranges are large and their population densities and reproductive rates are low, according to the study. But apex predators are very important as they regulate large herbivore populations and provide services such as carbon sequestration, water provision and food security, it added.
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How Jaipur losing its last major patch of green
Jaipur is in danger of losing major green cover and biodiversity at Dol Ka Badh. Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corp Ltd, which owns the land, is set to bring up a ‘financial technology park’ there, activists alleged.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced for the development of the park in his budget speech February 24, 2021. Dol Ka Badh is spread over 105 acres of land in the Sanganer tehsil of Jaipur, near the Dravyavati river.
“The forest has around 2,500 tress of several native species, around 60 species of birds and lots of wild animals including antelope and hares. It is a part of the rich semi-aird ecosystem of Jaipur,” Kavita Shrivastava, national secretary of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL)
A tree-survey done by botany students of Rajasthan led by former forest officer Devendra Bharadwaj in September 2021, showed that there were 2,421 trees of 30 varieties and 54 varieties of shrubs and herbs in the forest, including Khejri, the state tree of Rajasthan. Jaipur has more than 40 industrial areas in four zones. They can build the park anywhere. But they are choosing to clear a whole forest, build high-rise buildings and then sell them to companies. What if the tech and accounting firms do not buy or rent the buildings? All these trees would have been lost for nothing.
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Fashion for Good’s latest project transforms agricultural waste into fibres
In its latest project, “Untapped Agricultural Waste”, global sustainable initiative Fashion for Good wants to turn agricultural waste into fibres. To achieve this goal, the initiative has teamed up with the Laudes Foundation for funding, Fashion for Good partners Adidas, Bestseller, Vivobarefoot and Birla Cellulose as well as the six innovators AltMat, Bananatex, Chlorohemp, Agraloop by Circular Systems, HempTex India and 9Fiber.
Together, the consortium project will assess the technical feasibility of natural fibres created by the selected innovators using agricultural waste such as rice husks, hemp, wheat straw, banana and pineapple and validate and scale technologies that can successfully transform agricultural waste into sustainable textile fibres.
Up to 9.2 crore tonnes of agricultural waste are burned annually in India alone, which in 2017 resulted in approximately 14.9 crore tonnes of CO2.
“This ambitious project explores a new source of feedstocks for the fashion industry that, if scaled, will help drive both the agriculture and textile industry towards net-zero. We see great potential for these various agriculture waste streams that would otherwise have few secondary uses. By applying innovative technologies to develop natural fibres, we can diminish the pressure on existing natural fibres and shift away from unsustainable materials and sources,” explained Katrin Ley, Fashion for Good’s managing director, in a press release.
Tamil Nadu forms Marine Elite Force to strengthen protection in Gulf of Mannar
Two units of Marine Elite Force will be set up in the State to combat marine wildlife crimes, including smuggling, prevention and poaching of marine animals, particularly in the Gulf of Mannar biosphere and Palk Bay.
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department, has passed an order sanctioning ₹1.09 crore for establishing the units. Each unit will have five marine watchers to be engaged on a contract basis. They will be moving around in two deep water boats. For intelligence collection and data sharing, these units will interact with other stakeholders like customs, coast guard and naval officers apart from marine police and fisheries officials.
The primary objective is to strengthen the protection and sustainable management of marine area and watch out for disasters affecting marine and coastal wildlife. The marine resources are constantly exploited for economic reasons and the protected species are also hunted illegally. Marine turtles, sea cucumbers, sea horses, sharks and rays, pipe fishes, dugongs, dolphins and sea shells face extraordinary hunting pressure.
Ahmedabad will soon have 10 forests, 14 new gardens
In order to promote greenery across the state, the civic body is planning to set up 10 forests and 14 new gardens in Ahmedabad.
According to Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation they have planned 24 new urban jungles and gardens in all seven zones. Three of the 10 forests will come up in the North-West zone in Gota, Shilaj and on Sindhu Bhavan road. Four new gardens will come up in Shilaj, Bopal and Chharodi.
The new initiative will not only lower the air pollution but will also beautify the city. Reportedly, most of these gardens and urban forests will be developed along the lines of the one at the Science City.
Using the Miyawaki technique, the corporation will go for dense forest plantations. Through this technique, the plantation becomes 30 times denser than normal, grows 10 times faster and becomes maintenance-free after three years.
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