SPOTLIGHT

Reproductive freedom is a fundamental human right. No ideology should dictate how many children a person can or cannot have. However, with freedom comes responsibility. Just as we now consider the environmental implications of what we eat, drive, or wear, so too must we consider the environmental cost of reproduction. This doesn’t mean enforcing a

Healthy otter populations usually indicate clean water, abundant fish populations, stable riverbanks, thriving wetlands, and balanced ecosystems. Yet unlike elephants, tigers, peafowl, or snakes, otters never became central symbols in mainstream Indian culture. Perhaps that is part of the problem. Conservation often follows visibility. Animals that remain hidden from public imagination are easier to neglect.

A deeper social problem underlies biodiversity loss: people are becoming disconnected from nature. Urban children may know international cartoon characters better than native birds such as the Indian Peafowl or the House Sparrow. When society stops noticing nature, it stops valuing it. This disconnect breeds apathy. The loss of biodiversity is no longer a distant

Today, invasive alien plant species are among the gravest ecological threats worldwide, altering landscapes, suffocating native biodiversity, destabilising economies, and reshaping cultural relationships with land. This is a story of distribution, disruption, and difficult decisions. Invasive alien plant species are non-native plants introduced to new ecosystems where they spread aggressively, outcompeting native species and disrupting

Anthropocene has not simply altered habitats, but has inserted an overpowering, synthetic chemical presence into nearly every ecosystem. Industrial agriculture sprays pesticides over millions of hectares. Urban air carries vehicular emissions, plastics break down into microscopic particles, pharmaceuticals seep into rivers, and synthetic fragrances wash into the oceans through wastewater. These compounds interfere with the

Bird migration has become a metaphor for resilience, adaptability, and search for safe havens. It is a tale of trust between species, a pact made by instinct, honoured by tradition, and tested by modernity. The civil society has a role to play in this saga. Farmers must use fewer pesticides to protect these migrants, urban

The elephants of India have consistently been intertwined with our spiritual heritage. Yet in the transformed terrains of the Western Ghats, their sacred likeness has faded into a symbolic form, a deity reduced to a scavenger. From broken corridors to unauthorised dumping sites near forests, elephants are more frequently observed consuming food scraps, plastics, and

Snowless winters in Kashmir are not merely about the loss of scenic beauty or seasonal nostalgia. They signal a deep transformation in how the Valley functions as an ecological and social system. Winter in Kashmir was once predictable. Snow would begin to fall by late December, deepen through January, and linger well into February and

Over time, the continuous inflow of sewage has resulted in visible and persistent degradation of the Dal Lake. The water has blackened; there is foul odour and excessive weed growth across different sections of the lake. For nearly fifteen years, Dal Lake has been silently absorbing the waste of a growing city—untreated sewage, household discharge,

The scientific evidence demonstrates that oil tankers in empty or ballast condition pose sustained ecological risks. Bunker fuel spills, residual oil releases, fires, and contaminated ballast water can all generate environmental damage, particularly in coastal and semi-enclosed marine systems. As of December 2025, the pressure on global tanker traffic had increased significantly due to the

Anchar Lake plays a silent but critical role. It absorbs excess water during heavy rainfall. It supports migratory birds. It stabilizes the local climate. Its loss would ripple far beyond its shoreline. At first light, Anchar Lake looks calm.  The water barely ripples, trapped beneath thick mats of weeds and floating waste. Located in the

Most households in Srinagar receive water only once every two to three days, often for limited hours, forcing families to store water or rely on costly private tankers. Srinagar is experiencing an acute and recurring drinking water shortage, marked by irregular supply, low pressure, and frequent dry taps across several residential areas. These water supply

Unlike fire-adapted ecosystems, most Himalayan forests are ecologically sensitive to repeated burning. Pine forests, in particular, accumulate thick layers of dry needles that act as surface fuel, allowing fires to spread rapidly during dry and windy conditions. Climate variability has further increased the flammability of forests. Forest fires have emerged as one of the most

Threats to the region’s wildlife were intensifying, with new challenges emerging, particularly those linked to the impacts of climate change. For centuries, the institution of Mahakal had helped elephants endure in the Dooars. But today, that alone may not be enough to shield them from the complex and growing challenges they face. As our safari

Sparrow’s disappearance has not been a sudden catastrophe. It is a slow erosion, unfolding over several decades, driven by changes in housing patterns, food availability, agricultural practices, and possibly electromagnetic radiation. What makes this decline particularly worrying is that sparrows are an indicator species — their well-being reflects the health of local ecosystems. When these

The Jhelum’s story is both a warning and a reminder that a river can carry a civilisation only as long as the civilisation cares for it. If pollution continues unchecked, the damage will not only erase aquatic life but also erase the memory of a city built around water. The Jhelum River, once the shimmering

With the ecological changes in the lake, the livelihoods of fishermen have also transformed. Their profession remains, their skill remains, their devotion remains, but their days are longer, their searches wider, and their catches lighter. Dal Lake is more than a postcard of Kashmir—it is a living world of memories, livelihoods, and quiet moments that