Intensive tillage practices in riverine landscapes contribute significantly to soil degradation, erosion, nutrient loss, and reduced agricultural resilience under flood-prone conditions. This review evaluates the effectiveness of conservation tillage methods in improving soil health, productivity, and resilience in riverine agri-food systems by synthesizing field-based evidence and economic assessments comparing zero-till, reduced tillage, and cover cropping with conventional tillage practices. The key parameters considered include soil properties, soil organic carbon sequestration, microbial diversity, greenhouse gas emissions, and input costs. The evidence indicated that conservation tillage can enhance soil aggregate stability by 25–50
Carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) are key drivers in agroecosystems, following nitrogen (N). However, the stoichiometric relationships between C and P fractions and their concentrations in soil have not been thoroughly investigated. Therefore, an experiment was conducted in four districts (Varanasi, Gazipur, Azamgarh, and Jaunpur) of Uttar Pradesh, India with the objectives to: 1) determine the status of available fixed soil P under diverse agroecosystems, 2) identify the best correlation between C and P fractions across different agroecosystems, and 3) explore the potential for mineralization of fixed soil P to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) content. Experimental sites in each of the four districts were selected based on four agroecosystems: (i) rice (Oryza sativa (T1), (ii) vegetables (T2), (iii) sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) (T3), and (iv) orchard-based agroecosystems (T4). Following a randomized block design (RBD), soil samples were collected from 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depths in four replications from these agroecosystems. Results show that the soil in Varanasi recorded the highest SOC content of 1.38 and 1.31
This study explores the current connection between weather and patterns and forest fires in India by emphasizing on the key meteorological parameters that contribute to fire ignition across different regions including the North, North-East, Central, and Southern regions. High-resolution Weather data collected from the reanalysis dataset of the Indian Monsoon Data Assimilation and Analysis (IMDAA) has been used in this research which aims to identify the most significant factors influencing forest fire ignition and provide critical insights for targeted preventive measures. The study reveals that a combination of low precipitation, high temperatures, low soil moisture, and high elevated wind speeds greatly increases the likelihood that forest fires may ignite and spread in India. The analysis highlights the importance of understanding local climatic variations and their implications for fire management strategies. In an attempt to reduce the risk of forest fires, these findings highlight the necessity of integrated fire management strategies that consider meteorological factors into account effectively, however local factors are also needed to be monitored for proper fire prediction.
Accurate measurement and mapping of above-ground biomass (AGB) is critical for SDG 15, facilitating comprehensive ecosystem assessments and carbon sequestration evaluations within biodiversity hotspots like the Indo-Myanmar region. This study employs Random Forest (RF), Classification and Regression Trees (CART), and Gradient Tree Boosting (GTB) models in Google Earth Engine (GEE) to predict AGB in Manipur, India. Using remote sensing data (NDVI, EVI, LAI, FPAR, land cover, and DEM), models were trained on 2010 reference data for 2024 predictions. The Random Forest model achieved an R² of 0.797, outperforming CART and GTB in predictive accuracy (RMSE: 13.678 Mg/ha). NDVI emerged as the key predictor. Prediction maps reveal 24–75
A serious environmental and socioeconomic problem in India is land degradation, which has a significant impact on rural communities that depend on the land for their livelihoods. This review paper delves into the pressing issue of land degradation in India, exploring its multifaceted dimensions, impacts, and the array of policy measures and restoration programs aimed at mitigating this challenge. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the factors contributing to land degradation, including soil erosion, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices, and their repercussions on the broader concerns of biodiversity, food security, and livelihoods. The paper critically examines India's strategic responses and enabling efforts, notably the National Agroforestry Policy and other significant initiatives like the Green India Mission and Integrated Wasteland Development Program, highlighting their objectives, achievements, and the synergies with global commitments for improving policy effectiveness. Furthermore, it identifies key constraining conditions impeding policy implementation, including encroachment on forest lands, forest fires, and unregulated grazing as a few critical concerns. The review stresses on strengthening and improving policy enforcement, by fostering community engagement, enhancing research and innovation, and ensuring the integration of land restoration with broader national priorities by enhancing convergence. The paper underscores the necessity of a holistic, adaptive management approach, involving all stakeholders to effectively combat land degradation and achieve sustainable land management in India.
The world presently witnesses two distinct “Doomsday Clocks” for symbolically recognizing and creating awareness of the threats to the survival of humanity. The Doomsday clocks have been set for 2025 by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (BAS) and the Asahi Glass Foundation (AF). Both clocks serve as symbolic warning systems for global existential risks but differ in methodology, scope, and target audiences. The BAS, through expert committee deliberation focusing on the nuclear, climate, biological and technological threats, fixed the Doomsday Clock 89 s to midnight. The AF Environmental Doomsday Clock set at 9:33 exclusively addresses environmental crises through weighted surveys of global environmental experts. This article explores their comparative methodologies, current settings, key factors, and significance for the Anthropocene era. Both clocks moved closer to midnight in 2025, indicating unprecedented pace of worsening global conditions and stresses the urgent need for integrated approaches to address both immediate existential risks and long-term environmental sustainability. It also highlights the complementary nature of both the Doomsday Clocks in emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
The seasonal practice of stubble (crop residue) burning in northern India, particularly in the states surrounding the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi, has negative impacts on the air quality. This study examines the effects of stubble burning on air quality across Delhi-NCR, between 2019 and 2024, with a focus on seasonal variations. Further, potential solutions for crop residue management, including agricultural equipment, organic treatments , and incentive based programs have been explored. The study also evaluates government initiatives, such as subsidies and technological support, and provides policy recommendations to enhance these efforts. The findings indicate that a multi-faceted approach, integrating financial incentives, technological advancements, and regulatory measures, is crucial for mitigating air pollution caused by stubble burning. Implementing these strategies will not only reduce emissions but also improve soil health, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Since the publication of the influential report The Limits to Growth, the scientific community has generated essential insights and developed technical solutions to tackle the climate crisis, as well as critically examined the prevailing conventions that impede climate goals. One major omission, however, is the need for science to confront and clarify its own impact on climate change. Notably, recent scientific publications hint at poor uptake of sustainability measures in research. Trusted across many layers of society, scientists have a responsibility to lead by example and promote transparency regarding the broader impact of their practices. Drawing on lessons from the financial sector, we explore how the scientific community could adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards to enhance the ways in which responsible research practices are promoted. We propose that ESG criteria be integrated across all levels of research, spanning institutional policies, protocol registrations, grant applications, and scientific outputs. The global scientific community may thus create and implement what we call “Principles for Sustainable Research”. This in turn may increase awareness and further enable science to become more ecologically and ethically sustainable, with the ultimate aim of advancing the wellbeing of the global population.
In the recent past, climate change has caused severe stress to crops in India, with subsequent major challenges for farmers. This situation has prompted efforts to adapt and reduce the risks of crop failure by developing more resilient crop varieties. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi has played a key role in this regard, including the development and promotion of these new crop varieties among farmers. This study presents a qualitative overview of 109 climate resilient crop varieties, released by ICAR on 11th August 2024 in a national programme and dedicated to the nation. These 109 crop varieties were representing to different crop categories: cereal 23; pulses 11; oilseeds 7; forage 7; sugarcane 4; fibre 6; potential crops 11; fruits 8; vegetables 8; tubers 3; spices 6; plantation 6; flowers 5; and medicinal plants 4. By showcasing the processes used in developing these new varieties, their unique attributes for withstanding abiotic (e.g., drought, moisture stress, flood, alkalinity and salinity) and biotic (insect pests and diseases) stresses were identified along with strategy needed to promote them. Further, the enhanced quality attributes of some of these field and horticultural crop varieties have the potential to mitigate nutritional deficiencies prevailing in masses. These new varieties also have the capacity for adoption in different states, characterized with diverse agro-climatic zones in the country. A strong collaboration and networking among central and state institutions; and private players are a pre-requisite in promoting and sustaining diversity of crop through newly developed climate resilient crop varieties. The strategy of proliferating the seeds and propagules, and promoting the newly developed crop varieties to a range of stakeholders (including central and state agencies, Krishi Vigyan Kendra (Farm Science Centre), FPOs (Farmer Producer Organizations), private seed growers, and social institutions), is seen as instrumental for their wider production, enabling adaptation to multiple stressors and their associated agricultural risks. The socio-economic and institutional aspects of these new crop varieties, including bio-fortification and nutraceutical dimensions, may help policy planners in devising suitable strategies for facing and adapting to differential stressors and ensuring nutritional security. Ultimately, the collective efforts enabled through planned and autonomous practices supported by state and central policies can ease access of climate resilient varieties by farmers, and reducing climate risk in agriculture. Overall, such process can build social-ecological resilience in agricultural field and strengthen SDG-2 (Zero Hunger), SDG-13 (Climate Action) and SDG-15 (Life on Land).
Emerging pollutants (EPs) in Indian rivers pose a significant threat to the riverine environment and human health. Originating from wastewater from industries, hospitals, and sewage, these pollutants are especially prevalent in the Ganga and its tributaries, adversely affecting river biodiversity, including algae, macroinvertebrates, and fish. Six pharmaceuticals—caffeine, azithromycin, naproxen, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole, and norfloxacin—are found at levels exceeding safety recommendations. There is limited understanding of sediment–water-groundwater interactions regarding EP storage and release, and the bioaccumulation of EPs in aquatic species is not well studied. Current wastewater treatment technologies are inadequate for removing these EPs, leading to their direct release into rivers. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach: reducing pollutant discharge, enhancing wastewater treatment infrastructure, and increasing public awareness about EPs. This review emphasizes significant knowledge gaps regarding the impact of EPs on aquatic life, human health, and the effectiveness of existing remediation technologies. There are significant knowledge gaps regarding the seasonal variation of EPs, the bioaccumulation of EPs in aquatic species, and the effectiveness of remediation techniques. Effective pollution control and watershed management are critical for preserving ecosystems and human health. Future research should prioritize improving treatment methods to eliminate EPs before they contaminate river ecosystems.
People value plants differently, based on their own experiences of nature and how those experiences relate to a particular plant. Plant species that are perceived to be of low value (i.e. ‘weeds’) are often managed to prevent their spread. Such weed management typically involves prescribed burning, cutting and/or treatment with herbicide. Productive uses of weeds are rarely considered in weed management decision making. This paper develops a decision support framework to aid land stakeholders in assessing the feasibility of reviving past productive uses of weeds to support their sustainable management. Through a qualitative case study of Ulex europaeus L. (commonly known as gorse), the decision support framework is derived from: (i) semi-structured interviews with key informants and walking interviews with land managers in the United Kingdom (UK) (where U. europaeus is native) and (ii) questionnaires and written interviews in Australia (where U. europaeus is non-native). Data were analysed using NVivo 20 and thematic analysis, then used to design the decision support framework. Two simulations, one considering a UK smallholding and one on a large landholding in Australia, demonstrate the ability of the framework to guide on the feasible uses of U. europaeus on a particular plot of land, the costs and benefits it offers for livelihoods and the potential environmental impacts of its use. Findings show productive use is a feasible management process in certain contexts. Scale and cost remain limiting factors, and a broad enabling environment is also needed. Real-world testing is required as the next step for the wider deployment of the framework.
Rapidly expanding cities with simultaneous increase in the population have put immense pressure on the existing green spaces and biodiversity in the cities. The increasing air pollution, high carbon emissions, and increased intensity of flash floods and urban heat island effects in the fast-growing metropolitan cities of India especially National Capital Territory (NCT) Delhi have put an alert on the human well-being of the urban residents. Planning and implementing site-specific and cost-effective nature-based solutions become a prerequisite for improving livability and developing resilient cities as per Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11. ‘City Biodiversity Index’ (CBI) was assessed to understand the biodiversity concerns, efforts, and challenges for the city. The assessment utilized recently upgraded 28 indicators of the CBI following a standard protocol outlined in the CBI manual, which incorporated elements of remote sensing and literature review. For the first time, Delhi’s CBI was evaluated resulting in a score of 57 out of 100 points. The CBI was divided into three components: native biodiversity (including flora and fauna), ecosystem services, and governance and management, which scored 10 out of 24 points, 5 out of 20 points, and 42 out of 56 points, respectively. These CBI scores serve as critical indicators that demand attention from both state and central governments. With a score slightly above 50
Most industrialised and developing economies are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. This study presents a comparative analysis of emissions from the mining sector by G20 members over five years (2017–2021). We examined emissions from the production of 36 minerals, which were categorised into three groups: iron and ferro-alloy metals (11), non-ferrous metals (20) and precious metals (5). Our findings indicate that Australia is a significant emitter, producing approximately 4487.30 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (CO2e). China follows closely with 4251.21 million tonnes CO2e. Brazil and India also contribute notably, with emissions of around 2121.96 million tonnes and 1328.53 million tonnes CO2e, respectively. Our analysis shows that emissions from the mining of iron and ferro-alloy metals are higher than those from non-ferrous metals and precious metals. This is primarily due to the scale of production of these minerals. However, it is noteworthy that the unit emissions per tonne of production are comparatively higher for precious metals, despite their lower total emissions. This study offers a comprehensive understanding of the emissions landscape in the mining sector across G20 members, highlighting the need for targeted strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of mineral production.
Comprehending the status of biodiversity and ecosystem services in urban cities is a vital component in assessing whether the city is developing a sustainable future. The dearth of data availability, management and planning efforts poses a major challenge to the city’s conservation plans. Recent unscientific urbanization and land-use changes have depleted Nagpur's green spaces. This study assesses the biodiversity values, ecosystem services, and governance aspects of Nagpur City through the City Biodiversity Index (CBI). CBI is a critical metric to determine the biodiversity status and the effects of policies and management activities. CBI assessment estimated values under 28 indicators, recently upgraded from 23, across three sections: native biodiversity (9 indicators), ecosystem services (5 indicators), and governance (14 indicators). A mixed-method approach included systematic research review, participatory survey, field-based observation, and data collection, followed by remote sensing and GIS tools. Nagpur scored a total of 57 points out of 112 points. This study helps recognize the areas where the city performs better concerning the current biodiversity composition, the ecosystem services provided, and the management of urban greenspaces. It highlights the vital need to integrate natural and green infrastructure in areas where green and blue spaces are declining especially in highly concretized wards. Ecological connectivity in the form of avenue plantations is not uniform in different zones and requires significant management to develop corridors and reduce fragmentation. Mainstreaming green and blue infrastructure through ward-wise planning with the active involvement of planners and practitioners is essential to reducing urban risks in Nagpur.
Climate change has intensified the frequency and severity of extreme weather events worldwide, with developing regions becoming increasingly vulnerable to their impacts. Brazil has experienced a rise in climate-related disasters, particularly in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul, which has shown growing susceptibility to extreme rainfall events. On April 27, 2024, what began as typical seasonal rainfall escalated into one of the most devastating climate catastrophes in Brazil’s history. The event resulted in 184 deaths, 25 missing people, and more than 2.4 million affected across 478 municipalities, approximately 96.1
Invasive alien species pose a significant threat to biodiversity, ecosystem integrity, and economic stability. Monitoring and managing invasive alien species has become essential, and recent advances offer a multifaceted approach to technologies ranging from pixels in remote sensing images to molecules in genetic analysis. Advances in high-resolution and hyperspectral data support accurate mapping of species-specific vegetation characteristics, enabling the identification of invasive species across vast landscapes. These pixel-based insights complement molecular methods from eDNA analysis to genome sequencing that offers species-specific details that are important for effective management. While remote sensing is valuable for large-scale habitat assessment and landscape-level monitoring, molecular methods offer increased specificity, sensitivity, and genetic insights that are essential for effective invasive species mapping and management. In the Anthropocene, where human activity accelerates ecological disruption, integrating these methodologies is critical to mitigate the growing impacts of invasive species on planetary health. The future of invasive alien plant species management lies in the synergy of diverse technologies to build ecosystems resilient to biological invasions.
Mauritius, a vibrant island biodiversity hotspot in the Indian Ocean, is at a critical juncture where rapid anthropogenic development is significantly eroding its vital ecosystem services. Historically, the island’s natural landscape, once dominated by extensive native forests, has undergone profound land transformations since the colonial era. Initial clearing for sugarcane plantations, followed by repurposing for urban expansion and conversion of remaining agricultural land to scrubland, has demonstrably diminished the island’s ecological resilience. This study quantifies the tangible impact of these human-driven land use changes, revealing an annual decline in ecosystem service value of USD 4.2 million, plummeting from an aggregated USD 135.5 million in 1994 to USD 131.3 million in 2024. This reduction is primarily attributed to a corresponding decrease in critical agricultural and forestland extents, driven by the expansion of the built environment. While marginal increases were observed in the ecosystem service values of scrubland and water bodies, they are insufficient to offset the substantial losses. The quantification of Mauritius’ natural capital through this ecosystem service valuation serves as a crucial baseline. It offers a robust framework to track and monitor the island’s development pathway and its inherent impacts on natural assets within the context of the Anthropocene. Our findings underscore the urgent need for Mauritius to implement a more comprehensive and robust natural capital accounting system.
Forest fires pose significant ecological, social, and economic threats, necessitating accurate risk assessment to inform disaster management. This study integrates geospatial technology with machine learning to map forest fire risk in Hamirpur District, Himachal Pradesh, India, using the knowledge-based analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and artificial neural network (ANN) models. Eleven variables, including elevation, slope, temperature, and proximity to roads and settlements, were analyzed to generate forest fire hazard maps. Demographic data of vulnerable groups were incorporated to delineate risk zones. The ANN model outperformed AHP, achieving an accuracy of 68.23
Urbanization is considered as the key driver of social and economic progress, nationally and globally but such progress often comes at a cost of environmental degradation, resource depletion, and increasing inequalities. Despite occupying only 2–3
