Ecosystems

The Noah’s Ark

July 17, 2019 | Dr. Naveen Pandey As the riverine patrol speedboat made a sharp turn through the Mori Difulu river after nearly 30 minutes of the ride, I got the first full view of much-talked highland built in the last couple of years in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP). More than 30 highlands have been added to the existing elevated structures inside the park...

Ujani Backwaters: A blessed wetland!

The sun was slowly setting at the huge water reservoir appearing like a sea. The waters were calm with a pleasant chill in the air. The boat sailed nearer to the grassy muddy mid-lands and silently uncovered a beautiful picture, hundreds of flamingos with their slender necks pushed in feathers, egrets cautiously moving around them and an amazing reverie of Grey Heron. Suddenly flamingo flock...

Wetlands or Wastelands?

February 2nd is observed globally as World Wetlands Day. It was in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 that the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance – called the Ramsar Convention – was signed between several countries. A total of 169 countries have adopted this Convention so far. The Ramsar Convention’s mission is “the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and...

Wetlands: the lifeline of our cities

When was the last time you sat by a river, or a lake, and looked at its waters and marvelled at its beauty? When was the last time you rushed past a stinking river, or a stagnating lake, and closed your nose without even glancing at its dying waters? In our answers to these two questions lies the fate of our wetlands. Today, let us take...