Down to Earth News
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News Six million hectares of threatened species habitat up in smoke
More than one billion mammals, birds, and reptiles across eastern Australia are estimated to have been affected by the current fire catastrophe. Many animals and plants have been incinerated or suffocated by smoke and ash. Others may have escaped the blaze only to die of exhaustion or starvation, or be picked off by predators. But even these huge losses of individual animals and...
- 16 hrs ago
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News Global Eco Watch: Major ecological happenings of the week (January 13 - 19, 2020)
New Mexico reauthorises trapping of foxes, bobcats and other animals The New Mexico Game Commission on January 17, 2020, approved the trapping of bobcats, foxes and other wildlife throughout most of the US state despite protests by wildlife lovers, a media report said. According to the decision, the use of 'leghold traps', 'body-crushing...
- 16 hrs ago
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News Court Digest: Major environment hearings of the week (January 11-17, 2020)
RO technology The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on January 10 granted the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change two months time to finalise the policy on use of Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology in India. Jojari river pollution The NGT on January 15, 2020 directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board to take action against industrial units...
- 19 hrs ago
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News DTE recommends: What to read and watch
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News Odisha block residents to get MNREGA employment for 200 days
Residents of 20 vulnerable blocks in four Odisha districts will be allowed employment for 200 days in a year under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), as part of a special Rs 500 crore package announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Wages under MGNREGA will be given to the inhabitants of the blocks located at Bargarh, Balangir, Nuapada and...
- 3 days ago
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News Irrigation does more than deplete groundwater, it changes climate too
In India nearly 60 per cent of land area is used for agriculture, nearly half of that artificially irrigated. Historically, the introduction of irrigation technologies has fuelled the country's 'Green Revolution' and helped boost crop yield. But, it comes at the cost of heavy consumption of freshwater and groundwater resources. A new study published in the...
- 3 days ago
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News Coronavirus: Passengers from China to be screened at Indian airports, advisory issued
The Union Ministry of health and family welfare has advised that Indians, if sick, should not visit China - especially Wuhan, a city where two persons have succumbed to the a new strain of coronavirus. Fit travellors there should avoid close contact with people who are unwell; they should avoid contact with live animals and consumption of raw/undercooked meats...
- 3 days ago
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News New MoEF guidelines for elephant deaths from anthrax
An official team to oversee safe disposal of elephant carcasses infected with anthrax as well as a map of anthrax hotspots are some of the steps recommended in a new standard operating procedure (SOP) formulated by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The overall authority responsible at the state level under the SOP's provisions will be the chief...
- 3 days ago
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News Extreme weather: 2019 broke records; don't expect 2020 to be better
Expect a slew of extreme weather events in 2020, continuing the trend from past two years. "2020 has started out where 2019 left off - with high impact weather and climate related events," World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said. Australia had its hottest, driest year on record in 2019. This set the scene for massive bushfires that...
- 3 days ago
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News Treasure in excreta: Fast-depleting phosphorus can be extracted from faecal sludge
How close is the world to "peak phosphorus" - that point in time when production of phosphorus will reach its maximum and it will get harder to access it? The answer to this question is crucial as its availability influences a country's food security. Presence of phosphorus is essential in soil for crop growth and its shortfall can result in...
- 3 days ago
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