PARIS, May 7 2019 (IPS) – An alarming report about the massive loss of biodiversity around the world warns that future generations will be at risk if urgent action isn’t taken to protect the more than one million species of plants…
Category: Biodiversity
Conservation of Sikkim biodiversity needs re-strategising: study
by T. V. Padma on 6 May 2019 • Protected areas in the Himalayan region in India need to be expanded to conserve endemic Himalayan species and minimise the impact of climate change, a new study has shown. • Creating…
The beautiful Blue Raintree
Stuttgart, Germany – It looks just beautiful. A beauty does not need to be explained in so many words. The Blue Raintree makes one happy at the first look. At the Stuttgart Garden exhibition held from 25-28, April 2019, I…
Google celebrates Earth Day 2019 with Doodle
Dhaka, Apr 22 – Google has created a Doodle featuring fun facts about six fascinating creatures to celebrate Earth Day 2019. On the Google search page, a series of animations introduce different unique and special birds and animals. The doodle…
Food organizations combine to reintroduce neglected crops
Danielle Nierenberg It’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the perfect time to think of new crops to plant whether you’re a farmer or have a few pots on your balcony. This year may be the time to try some…
Use of nuke energy to ensure sustainable development urged
While countries all over the world are committed to cut down their greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement goal, nuclear experts gathered at the 11th edition of the international atomic energy forum- Atomexpo 2019, held in Sochi, Russia…
SDGs ‘once-in-a-generation opportunity’
Unless the world faces its “social, economic and environmental challenges head-on”, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Tuesday, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will not be met. Addressing the final plenary of the UN Youth Forum on Tuesday, he…
Paris, Milan, C’hagen laud London’s ultra-low emission zone
Mayor of Paris and Chair of C40 Cities, Anne Hidalgo. “Bravo Sadiq Khan, for implementing one of the largest and most comprehensive Low Emission Zones of any city in the world. The ULEZ will undoubtedly bring long-lasting benefits to London,…
China says lightning caused forest fire that killed 31
Beijing, Apr 6 (AP/UNB) — Lighting sparked a forest fire in mountainous western China last month that killed 27 firefighters and four local helpers in one of the country’s deadliest days for first responders, investigators said. Acting on accounts of…
Carrying flammable substances inside Sundarbans banned
Bagerhat, Apr 3 (UNB) – Bangladesh has prohibited carrying any type of flammable substances inside the Sundarbans to prevent occurrences of fire at the world heritage site in summer. The Department of Forest (DOF) issued the notice as different areas…
Long-term monitoring of the Indian Himalayas to aid conservation
Under the watchful gaze of Indian researchers, six one-hectare plots, earmarked deep inside the undisturbed forests of Uttarakhand in the western Himalayas, have set the ball rolling for long-term monitoring of the Himalayan forest ecosystem and its sensitivity to climate…
Climate change imperils Sundarbans tiger habitats
In 50 years from now, by 2070, the entire population of Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans mangroves in Bangladesh is likely to be lost to climate change and sea level rise, a modeling study by Bangladesh and Australian researchers has predicted. Further,…
A quarter of eligible countries haven’t accessed Green Fund
Interesting findings surface in the evaluation of Green Fund’s readiness programme Kathmandu/New Delhi, 8 March (Prerna Bomzan and Indrajit Bose) – At the 22nd Board meeting of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) held in Songdo, South Korea from 26-28 February,…
Fighting destructive dams: Lessons from the masters
“Everybody loves us Lepchas,” said Tseten. He said this was a major reason that the group decided never to add violence in their fight to save the Teesta.
Southeast Asia’s eastern hog deer found in Manipur, India
Researchers at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, had been, for long, puzzled by the features of hog deer at the Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP) in Manipur. Although larger, with no speckling, and sporting a brighter ochre coat and bulkier antlers compared to…
The biodiversity crucial for our food, agri is disappearing
Rome – FAO News Release – The first-ever report of its kind presents mounting and worrying evidence that the biodiversity that underpins our food systems is disappearing – putting the future of our food, livelihoods, health and environment under severe…
Rohingyas eating up much of Bangladesh forests: FM
Dhaka, Feb 24 (UNB) –Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said over 1.2 million Rohingyas living in Cox’s Bazar district of the country are eating up much of Bangladesh’s forests creating environmental disasters. He, however, said Bangladesh has…
Why is protecting biodiversity in Africa important?
Because climate change alone can cause the loss of over half of African bird and mammal species, trigger a 20-30% decline in lake productivity, and a significant loss of plant species. Africa is home to a rich and diverse animal,…
Insects decline: What do insects actually do?
Reports show many insect populations are declining. How will that affect us? A recent study found that bees, ants and beetles were disappearing eight time faster than mammals, birds and reptiles. The general insect decline is being caused by intensive…
India, Nepal to ink agreement for biodiversity conservation
India and Nepal are all set to ink an agreement to cooperate on biodiversity conservation, including transboundary landscape management and focus on conservation of species like tigers, elephants and rhinos. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is expected to be signed…
Free-flowing rivers, the soul of South Asia
South Asia is a fascinating and important region for the world in numerous respects. Although the eight countries of South Asia form just 3.5 percent of the world’s surface area, the region is home to 1.89 billion people or 24…
A green new deal for Europe
By Massimiliano Santini and Fabrizio Tassinari Florence – Earlier last month, Jim Yong Kim abruptly resigned from his post as World Bank president, leaving a pillar of the international financial order without leadership or direction. Kim will join a private…
7 ways to say ‘I love you’ without the waste on VDay
From Danielle Nierenberg Greetings from Milan and happy Valentine’s Day! This week we are excited to spread some love, but we want to highlight the importance of being mindful of waste. Chocolates wrapped in plastic and waxed cardboard, greeting cards…
Bd NGOs Network for Radio, Com in UN SDG Media Compact
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) is among more than 39 media organizations from across the world that have come together to form a Global SDG Media Compact aimed at advancing awareness of the UN Sustainable Development Goals…
Transforming economies – building evidence of achieving SDGs
HELSINKI, Finland, Feb 8 2019 (IPS) – Following on from Finn Tarp, my predecessor, is a daunting prospect, but I look forward to working with my colleagues at UNU-WIDER and with our many partners to build on the achievements of…
Publication ceremony of ‘Satyer Bel-shoot’ held in capital
Dhaka, Feb 01 – The publication ceremony of ‘Satyer belshoot’ a new book by Sohel Mahmud Sagor was held at the Samaj Kalyan Sanity Bhaban in the Mohammadpur area of the capital on Friday. Another book titled Theosophy by the…
21 organizations transforming Australia’s food system
From Danielle Nierenberg Greetings from Melbourne, where I’m speaking at festival21—a celebration of the potential for change in Australia’s future food system, joining food experts like Fabrice DeClerck, Science Director at EAT; David Nabarro, Strategic Director of 4SD and recipient…
Recognise rivers as living beings: Green activists
Dhaka, Jan 29 (UNB) – Mentioning that rivers are being killed through unplanned development, encroachment, pollution and climate change impacts, experts and green activists on Tuesday demanded that the rivers be recognised as living being for saving those. They made…
SC upholds CCF Osman Gani’s 12-year in prison sentence
Dhaka, Jan 22 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the High Court verdict that upheld a lower court judgement sentencing former Chief Conservator of Forest Osman Gani to 12 years’ imprisonment in a corruption case.
Eat plants, save the Planet
While the modern agricultural system has helped stave off famines and feed the world’s 7 billion residents, the way we eat and produce food is posing a threat to future populations’ food security.