Tropical forests are critical ecosystems that support global biodiversity, regulate the climate, and sustain millions of livelihoods. However, escalating anthropogenic pressure poses significant threats to their structure, composition, and regenerative capacity. This study evaluated the impacts of human-induced disturbances by the Van Gujjar pastoral community on forest composition and regeneration in the Tanda Forest of the Tarai region, Uttarakhand, India. Three sites, each representing a distinct disturbance regime - Highly Disturbed (HD), Moderately Disturbed (MD), and Least Disturbed (LD) - were examined to assess variations in vegetation structure and regeneration patterns. A total of 39 plant species from 19 families and 37 genera were documented, with Fabaceae, Malvaceae, and Euphorbiaceae identified as the most dominant families. Species richness and tree density decreased along the disturbance gradient, with the highest values observed at the LD site (29 species, 920 ind/ha) and the lowest at the HD site (23 species, 420 ind/ha). Tectona grandis was dominant across all regimes, whereas several native species, including Acacia catechu, Dalbergia sissoo, and Butea monosperma, were absent at the HD site. The regeneration potential also varied significantly, with seedling density being highest at the LD site (1060 ind/ha) and lowest at the HD site (320 ind/ha), indicating the adverse effects of fuelwood extraction, grazing, and lopping near settlements. Furthermore, invasive species, such as Lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus, proliferated in highly disturbed areas, further inhibiting native regeneration. These findings underscore the urgent need for integrated conservation strategies that encompass habitat restoration, sustainable resource management, and community-based livelihood alternatives to preserve forest biodiversity and ecological resilience in Tarai.
Stabilized Landfill Leachate (SLL) co-treatment with sewage was investigated using an integrated Constructed Wetland and Microbial Fuel Cell (CW-MFC). The CW and CW-MFC wetlands were filled with sand and gravel and planted with Canna indica. Additionally, carbon electrodes, comprising an anode and cathode, were incorporated into the CW-MFC setup. The SLL and sewage were combined in a 1:1 ratio and introduced as influent. The wetlands were operated in both batch and continuous modes. During batch operation at Hydraulic Retention Times (HRT) of 7, 5, and 3 days, the CW and CW-MFC achieved maximum Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal efficiencies of 62±4% and 83±7%, respectively, at a 7-day HRT. For the continuous flow operation at a rate of 5 L/day, the systems displayed removal efficiencies of 75±3% and 81±5% for Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), 88±2% and 96±2% for COD, 54±6% and 61±4% for Total Nitrogen (TN), and 59±3% and 67±2% for Total Phosphorus (TP) for the CW and CW-MFC, respectively. Incorporating the MFC resulted in an 8% increase in COD removal efficiency. The CW-MFC produced an average voltage of 173 mV, with an average power density of 3.78 mW/m². However, the CW-MFC’s low coulombic efficiency of 0.17% appeared to limit current production. These findings indicate that the CW-MFC system can treat landfill leachate more effectively.
The Kaipad saline tract of India is distributed over the sea coast of Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode districts of Kerala, fringed by mangroves. The Kaipad region is an estuarine ecosystem where the land is influenced by tidal action, resulting in brackish water conditions that support specific flora and fauna. This region supports a variety of biodiversity, including mangrove species, salt-tolerant grasses, rice and aquatic fauna adapted to brackish water habitats. It plays a significant role in the coastal ecology of Kerala. Mangroves are particularly important in this region as it maintains biodiversity and ecological balance. The Kaipad tract is known for its naturally organic production systems, with rice-fish farming being the predominant agricultural practice. However, the primary agricultural challenge in the Kaipad tract is saline and flood soil, which necessitates specialized rice cultivation practices. Traditionally, low yielding and lodging type saline-tolerant indigenous rice varieties having good cooking qualities were cultivated by the farmers. Recently, Kerala Agricultural University has developed five saline-tolerant, high yielding and lodging tolerant rice varieties by adopting the combined strategy of conventional breeding linked with novel strategies of organic plant breeding and farmer participatory plant breeding. ‘KAIPAD RICE’ has secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, and a stakeholders’ society and farmer-producer organization have been established to support the conservation and development of this tract, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing local livelihoods. Products from the tract are available in domestic and export markets. In 2019, the Kerala Government formed an agency named KADS for the conservation and development of this precious ecosystem. This review aimed to discuss the special biodiversity and specific agricultural practices of this area.
The carbon sequestration potential of the Trees outside Forests, owned by Pragati Sudhaama, has been analyzed which extend over 2500 acres in Proddatur village, Hyderabad, Telangana. The study area comprises three sites, viz., Pragati Green Meadows (1000 acres), Pragati Green Heights (700 acres) and Pragati Green Valley (800 acres). This study employed a non-destructive sampling method and examined 361 native and exotic tree species, comprising 1,56,818 individuals. This study evaluated a total biomass of 89,493.79 t (1,64,071.94 t CO2e) for trees with a girth above 10 cm, comprising 1,25,041 individuals. Ten tree species account for 70% of the total biomass viz., Azadirachta indica with 5,928 individuals (20,645.98 t biomass), Tectona grandis with 9,561 (12,422.67 t), Mangifera indica with 39,184 (10,469.33 t), Swietenia macrophylla with 12,802 (8,506.48 t), Phyllanthus emblica with 3,145 (3,160.98 t), Pongamia pinnata with 1,886 (1,993.12 t), Manilkara zapota with 6,265 (1,900.55 t), Syzygium cumini with 1,593 (1,527.10 t), Ficus religiosa with 524 (1,462.07 t), Ficus benjamina with 2,405 (1,291.42 t). The tallest species are Eucalyptus globulus, Pterygota alata, and Holoptelea integrifolia, with 16 m, and the highest girth in Ficus benghalensis (4 m).
Wildfire represents one of the most significant disturbances affecting terrestrial ecosystems globally, with profound implications for soil faunal communities. This review synthesises current knowledge on the impact of wildfire on soil fauna, with a focus on the changes in multi-trophic community structure following burning events. We examine how wildfires affect heterogeneous landscapes, soil faunal activity patterns, and the loss of subterranean biodiversity. Evidence indicates that wildfire impacts vary considerably across different taxonomic groups, with immediate adverse effects on surface-dwelling fauna and variable recovery rates depending on fire severity, soil depth, and ecosystem type. Microarthropods, nematodes, and enchytraeids exhibit differential responses to fire disturbance, with some groups demonstrating remarkable resilience, while others experience prolonged population declines. The heterogeneous nature of burned landscapes creates a mosaic of microhabitats that influences recolonisation patterns and community assembly. This review highlights critical knowledge gaps and emphasises the need for long-term studies to understand the full implications of increasing wildfire frequency on soil biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
Climate change is a global crisis with uneven impacts, disproportionately affecting women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals due to entrenched socioeconomic and cultural inequalities. These disparities intensify during climate-induced disasters, limiting access to resources, decision-making, and recovery mechanisms. Women, especially in rural and marginalized communities, face heightened burdens yet exhibit resilience through localized adaptation strategies. Conversely, men face psychological stress from economic instability. A gender-responsive Climate Action Plan that values diverse experiences and knowledge is vital for equitable climate solutions. Empowering all genders is a matter of justice and a key strategy for effective, inclusive, and sustainable climate resilience and development.
Wildfires are becoming more frequent all over the world each year. Altered climate and land use patterns are the key causes of unnatural wildfires. They affect terrestrial as well as nearby freshwater ecosystems. After wildfires and consequent removal of forest vegetation, increased water flow and soil erosion amplify the transfer of nutrients, pollutants, and sediment to the freshwater bodies. Water quality of closed lake ecosystems is significantly altered in such circumstances. The present study is an attempt to explore the responses of wildfire on water quality of two inland lakes of Southern Rajasthan, one charred with severe wildfire while another with no recent wildfire incidence. For this purpose, two lakes were seasonally evaluated in terms of water quality responses after the wildfire. They are closed inland freshwater systems with no direct inputs of freshwater other than rainfall. Both the lakes have some resemblance in their sizes, for being less disturbed by direct human activities and having forested catchments, although the topographical and hydrological conditions vary to some extent. Although post-monsoon water quality varies with pre-monsoon conditions due to sediment and mineral transport to lakes with rainwater runoff, fire enhances this impact as vegetation cover is burnt and removed. We observed a range of parameters like pH, TDS, EC, total hardness, alkalinity, nitrate, phosphate, DO, BOD, and DOC in both of the lakes seasonally. The water quality responses were found to have a substantial influence of wildfire in Lake Baghdara. The degree of divergence of impact between the two lakes may be attributed to the presence and severity of wildfire in the catchment of Baghdara Lake. The present investigation will help in analysing the impact of forest fires on closed inland freshwater tropical lakes with forested catchments.
