DNA barcoding centre opened

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has stressed the need for genetic classification of the rich biological resources of the State. Speaking after inaugurating a centre for DNA barcoding of life forms in Kerala and the Western Ghats region established by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) at Puthenthope, near here, he said the creation of a database was crucial to the conservation of biodiversity. Mr. Achuthanandan said the genetic diversity of life forms in the Western Ghats was a precious asset that had to be conserved at any cost. He said the DNA Barcoding Centre would be upgraded to the status of a biotechnology research centre with the assistance of the Union government. The DNA Barcoding Centre has been set up on a sprawling 15.5-acre campus donated to the government by former Principal of the Medical College Dr. Thangavelu

The Hindu, June 17, 2008

Effect of global warming on Bay of Bengal cyclones

There is a lot of heated debate going on over the consequences of global warming, due to anthropogenic activities, on climate, plant and animal life on planet earth. Extinction of species and rising sea levels are but two of the possible consequences being discussed in scientific circles. In the light of climate change due to the release of 'greenhouse' gases into the atmosphere and the recent devastating cyclone Nargis which caused unimaginable havoc in Myanmar, one question which comes to one's mind is: What will be the effect of global warming on cyclonic activity, particularly in the Bay of Bengal, in the 21st century?

Dr. M.R. Ramesh Kumar, Scientist & Deputy Director, Physical Oceanography Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, led a study along with colleagues to answer just this question and came up with an interesting answer: cyclones in the Bay of Bengal will be fewer, but those that do form will be of a greater intensity.There is a concern that the enhanced greenhouse effect May be affecting extreme weather events such as tropical cyclone frequency, duration and their intensity. The north Indian Ocean offers a reliable long-term record of tropical cyclone activity though it May not be representative of the rest of the tropical regions. There is substantial scientific evidence that the enhanced greenhouse effect is predominantly of anthropogenic origin. There have been many suggestions based on global circulation and theoretical modelling studies that increases May occur in tropical cyclone frequency.

In order to look into the global warming scenario, Dr. Ramesh Kumar and his team analyzed a long term National Centre for Environmental Prediction/National Centre for Atmospheric Research reanalysis dataset of the tracks of depressions, storms and severe cyclonic storms in the north Indian Ocean for the past 100 years. They further divided the 100 years as two epochs, one from 1901 to 1950 as normal conditions (epoch I) and the period 1951 to 2006 under the influence of global warming conditions (epoch II) to see whether there are any trends in their frequency. The study has not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.They restricted their present study to Bay of Bengal only as the number of cyclones which form in the bay is several times higher than that which form in the Arabian Sea.They also looked at the total number of cyclones on a yearly basis rather than individual months as they were more interested in looking at the role of the global warming on their formation.

The study clearly shows that the total number of depressions over the Bay of Bengal is showing an increasing trend from 1901 to 1950. The number, which was 3 per year, rose to about 11 in 1950. However, the epoch II clearly showed a decreasing trend — from 11 to about 3. The analysis was repeated with the number of storms and severe cyclonic storms to check for any significant differences in their formation and trends during the above two epochs. While there was only a marginal decrease in the number of the storms during epoch I, there was a substantial decrease from two storms per year to almost one per year during epoch II.

Decreasing trend

In the case of intense or severe cyclonic storms, a small decreasing trend was seen for epoch I. However, epoch II showed a small increasing trend.For cyclone genesis and sustenance, low level relative vorticity (at 1.5km; 850 hecta Pascals) and mid-tropospheric relative humidity at 500 hPa (hecta Pascals) should be high and the vertical wind shear (difference of the 850 hPa wind and 200 hPa wind) should be low. Dr. Kumar said, "Our study clearly showed that the mid tropospheric humidity showed a substantial decrease from 1951 to 2006. Thus, we feel that this decrease in the mid tropospheric humidity in epoch II May be a major factor for the decrease in the number of depressions and storms in the Bay of Bengal. "Whereas relative vorticity and vertical wind shear between the lower troposphere (i.e. at 850 hecta pascals) and upper troposphere (i.e. at 200 hecta pascals) show a small increase and decrease respectively, which are conducive for cyclogenesis which could be the reason for the slight increase in the number of severe cyclonic storms in the Bay of Bengal."The important question now arises: what is the role of increased sea surface temperatures (SST) on cyclone formation, intensity in the 21st century? Dr. Kumar is of the opinion that even though many believe that rising SSTs May lead to more cyclones and more cyclones of greater intensity, if most of the parameters are not conducive then even in a warm oceanic environment cyclones cannot form.

The Hindu, June 12, 2008

Strategies for coping with climate change

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), headquartered in Patancheru, Hyderabad in southern India, is intensively working with its partners to develop science-based strategies that empower vulnerable communities to cope with climate change in the dry tropics of the world.

Two ways

These strategies will help farmers to face the challenges of climate change on two fronts.

Short to medium-term: Helping farmers and their support agents to cope better with current rainfall variability as a prerequisite to adapting to future climate change.

Medium to longer-term: Adapting dryland crops (sorghum, millet, groundnut, chickpea and pigeonpea) to grow in a warmer world.

Climate change

"Climate variability and change is an important consideration for ICRISAT given our mandate for the improvement of rainfed farming systems in the dry tropics of the developing world, said Director General William D. Dar. Satellite data show that the dry tropics, where rainfed agriculture provides 60 per cent of the world's food, will be the most vulnerable to climate change. The data show that increases in temperature will have a significant (8 per cent to 30 per cent) reduction in grain yields of dryland crops. Dryland crops are better adapted than other major food crops (rice, maize and wheat) to environmental stresses such as drought.

Water management

Watershed management has also contributed to improving the resilience of agricultural incomes, despite the high incidence of drought as evidenced from the drylands of India. ICRISAT has identified long-term strategies that will result in crop varieties and cropping systems that are adapted to a changing environment. According to Dr. Dar, an Integrated Genetic and Natural Resources Management (IGNRM) approach is pursued which considers factors such as high temperature tolerance, increased root stresses due to soil salinity, acidity, nutrient availability, drought, flooding, distribution of pests and diseases, migration of dryland crops into geographical areas already marginal for crops currently being grown.

The Hindu, June 12, 2008

‘NammudeMaram’ project inaugurated

The 'Nammude Maram' project being jointly implemented by the Departments of Education and Forest was inaugurated by Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan at the Kariavattom campus of the University of Kerala . Mr. Achuthanandan planted an Ashoka tree to mark the occasion.In his speech Forest Minister Benoy Viswom said Kerala was witnessing the spread of a new 'green culture.' The government has been able to re-script the social forestry programme and has been able to avoid non-indigenous trees such as eucalyptus and acacia. Eighty per cent of the trees planted by school children under the 'Ente Maram' project are growing well. Through this programme the children in the State have set an example to the whole world. The government salutes the efforts of such children, he said.

The 'Nammude Maram' programme is to be seen as a strong response of the student community to the challenges facing humanity. Global warming is a major concern today. The earth's temperature is going up steadily and is expected to increase by six per cent in the near future. However, there are many species, including man, who will perish if the earth's temperature goes up by 3 degrees, he pointed out.

The Hindu, June 11, 2008

Fishing macaques of Indonesia

Long-tailed macaque monkeys have a reputation for knowing how to find food — whether it be grabbing fruit from jungle trees or snatching a banana from a startled tourist. Now, researchers say they have discovered groups of the silver-haired monkeys in Indonesia that fish. Groups of long-tailed macaques were observed four times over the past eight years scooping up small fish with their hands and eating them along rivers in East Kalimantan and North Sumatra provinces, according to researchers from The Nature Conservancy and the Great Ape Trust.

The Hindu, June 11, 2008

More facilities to promote ecotourism

Jungle camps to provide accommodation for high-end nature lovers and outdoor interpretation panels to create awareness of eco-conservation will be set up in Thenmala Ecotourism, the country's first planned ecotourism destination.The interpretation panels will be installed at a cost of Rs.3 lakh by the Thenmala Ecotourism Promotion Society (TEPS) in association with the Kerala chapter of World Wide Fund for Nature-India. The 25 panels on various environment-related themes will be installed along pathways and other recreational centres in the leisure zone. The panels will figure themes ranging from biodiversity, climate change, global warming to Carbon footprint. The interpretation panels in English will be given a tiled canopy so as to merge with nature and withstand climate. The authorities hope that the outdoor interpretation would help in spreading the message among the younger generation of conserving nature. The local guides will also get an opportunity to explain each aspect to visitors. Thenmala ecotourism has emerged as a favourite destination for educational tours.

The TEPS has also chalked out plans to enhance the information centre with facility for audio-visual and interactive interpretative units. Fresh panels on environment education and ecotourism will be added to the information centre. The facilitation centre with the ticket counter will be made more visitor-friendly.The authorities have also worked out ways to find a solution to the shortage of accommodation for high-end nature lovers. The TEPS has decided to set up jungle camping facility in association with Kerala Tourism in the adventure zone, Mr. Kutty said. Except for the dormitory and tented camping facility provided by the TEPS and a few small private accommodation units, there is hardly any high-end accommodation. The TEPS had proposed setting up of jungle camping facility in association with Kerala Tourism.

The TEPS is on in the process of setting up two units of permanent camping grounds. The authorities are trying to replicate the models used in jungle camps abroad. The first of its kind is a duplex with attached toilets which can accommodate two persons. Apart from this, four permanent platforms will be set up in the adventure zone with toilet facility. These platforms will be suitably designed to pitch tents that can accommodate two and four persons. Already, the tent camps being provided in association with the National Adventure Foundation (NAF) in Thenmala ecotourism is a big hit among the nature lovers who arrive from all areas.

The Hindu, June 10, 2008

Cabinet nod for draft IPRs policy on traditional knowledge

The Cabinet approved the draft intellectual property rights (IPRs) policy aimed at protecting traditional knowledge and inventions.The policy states that the government will ensure protection of the rights of people possessing traditional knowledge and inventions. Prior permission from the State Biodiversity Board will be required for outsiders to make use of traditional knowledge and inventions. Permit from the Board will also be mandatory for trade in bio resources except those related to traditional uses. The Board will compile details of traditional knowledge and bio resources of the State. Access to the database will require permission from the Board. It will assist people in getting patents for their inventions. There will be restrictions on outsourcing research related to biological resources from Kerala.The policy proposes legislation to protect the intellectual property rights of people possessing traditional knowledge. Punitary provisions will be incorporated for enforcement of the policy. There will also be a supervisory council with Chief Minister as chairman and the Law Minister as vice-chairman to oversee implementation of the policy.Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting that Kerala would be the first State to adopt a policy on intellectual property rights.

The Hindu, June 2, 2008

‘CO{-2}catcher’ to reverse global warming?

It has long been the holy grail for those who believe that technology can save us from catastrophic climate change: a device that can "suck" carbon dioxide from the air, reducing the warming effect of the billions of tonnes of greenhouse gas produced each year.A group of U.S. scientists said they have made a breakthrough towards creating such a machine. Led by Klaus Lackner, a physicist at Columbia University in New York, they plan to build and demonstrate a prototype within two years that could economically capture a tonne of carbon dioxide a day from the air, about the same per passenger as a flight from London to New York.The prototype "scrubber" would be small enough to fit inside a shipping container. Mr. Lackner estimates it will initially cost around £100,000 to build, but the carbon cost of making each device would be "small potatoes" compared with the amount each would capture, he said.The scientists stressed their invention is not a magic bullet to solve climate change. It would take millions of the devices to soak up the world's carbon emissions, and the carbon dioxide trapped would still need to be disposed of. But the team says the technology May be the best way to avert dangerous temperature rises, as fossil fuel use is predicted to increase sharply in coming decades despite international efforts. Climate experts at a monitoring station in Hawaii this month reported carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have reached a record 387 parts per million (ppm) — 40 per cent higher than before the industrial revolution.

The Hindu, June 1, 2008

State disaster management policy soon, says Rajendran

The government will announce its disaster management policy in the coming session of the Assembly, Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran has said. Addressing a meeting of elected representatives, heads of departments, experts and scientists to discuss the draft disaster management policy he called for creation of disaster management cells at all district collectorates and implementation of special disaster mitigation measures in industrial areas. Rapid action forces should be formed at the village and panchayat levels and specialised training given to them. Personnel of the police, fire force, health and revenue departments should also be given sophisticated equipment and training in disaster management. Steps should be taken for coordination of activities of various departments at the time of disasters, the participants said. The meeting demanded establishment of modern communication facilities for the protection of fisherfolk and adequate measures for proper coordination of rescue, relief and rehabilitation works consequent upon disasters.

The Hindu, 30 May 2008

France for promoting nuclear energy to fight climate change

France is quite keen on nuclear energy being included as a mitigation measure under the Kyoto Protocol to tackle climate change though the European Union (EU) is not in favour of it, according to a French diplomat. A formal pitch is yet to be made in this direction.This assumes significance in the light of the fact that France has initialled an agreement with India on nuclear civil cooperation, which can be formalised only after it signs a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) changes its rules. Along with the U.S., France promotes nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels, which lead to global warming with disastrous effects. This perception could lead to a nuclear civil cooperation with India in a specific programme, the diplomat said. Cooperation could extend to transfer of technology in nuclear areas as there is already a limited cooperation, research and development and development of nuclear plants.

Working group

France is also developing a bilateral working group on environment and sustainable development with India. Though a strategic dialogue was launched between France and India 10 years ago, it was re-launched after President Sarkozy's visit in January.The working group tackles military and defence, civil and nuclear issues, anti-terrorism and regional stability apart from other issues. A day after a major EU summit on September 29 this year, a bilateral summit is slated between India and France, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.According to a government official, the modalities of this bilateral working group will be settled before this summit. France wishes to make certain commitments to India and also involve the EU in this. A formal announcement on the working group is expected to be made at this summit. By then the working group will thrash out issues on global warming, promotion of cooperation in university research, carbon emissions and how to help India to reduce emissions, apart from technology transfer.Besides this working group, French companies are keen on getting involved in India in areas of water and sanitation and nuclear energy.

Clean energy

The French government believes that nuclear energy is clean and it is keen on India overcoming the difficulties to sign the nuclear deal with the United States. France has already been helping India with the negotiations in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and the two countries have close diplomatic ties in that direction.

Technology transfer

Technology transfer is an area of focus and the Agence France de Development (AFD) will also be part of the working group that is being evolved. The working group will comprise high-ranking ministers, civil servants, experts, university professors and NGOs. Two issues under consideration are likely to be the purchase of intellectual property rights and transferring them to India and also sectoral benchmark energy efficiency norms as Japan has suggested for polluting industries.With 78 per cent of France's power coming from nuclear energy, it believes that this is an indispensable way of dealing with climate change. It May not be the solution but it is a vital response, government sources said. France also believes that in the years to come there will be a significant change in the outlook of the European countries on nuclear energy and it could be a positive change. France will also focus on climate change and renewables when it takes over the EU presidency later this year. Despite its preference for nuclear energy, a fact which most of the French accept without questioning, the country wants to focus on making Europe an exemplary case in adhering to climate change measures and protocols. Climate change issues were also part of Mr. Sarkozy's election manifesto, and, according to a French government official, it is deeply ingrained in the people's consciousness.Keeping this in mind, the newly launched Velib system is a simple way of hiring bicycles from several fixed points in Paris. Anyone with a credit card can go up to a booth and hire a bicycle and drop it off at any one of the 1,451 stands spread all over the city. Since it was launched a year ago, there have been two million hires. There are 20,000 bicycles in total and the government is planning to reproduce the system in other parts of France.The Grenelle Environment Forum, held in October 2007, already set a minimum target of 20 per cent of national electricity consumption from renewable energy. However, France is still very dependent on hydrocarbon imports though it has major hydroelectric resources, with 12 per cent coming from that source. Already energy from renewable sources covers 12 per cent of France's energy consumption.Even with China, France has a working group which was set up five years ago. But the standards for the two countries and issues will be different. France's support for nuclear energy has not exactly endeared itself to other EU member countries and it has often been called on to explain its position.

Objections

Various networks of NGOs and individual groups have questioned the preference for nuclear energy and raised several objections to the disposal of waste and the high risks involved. One activist commented that the French can eat well without genetically modified organisms, which are banned in the country but it cannot do without nuclear energy.The Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA), a research body on nuclear issues, also believes that the problem of climate change cannot be addressed without the use of nuclear energy. The French government has, however, set up the country's first solar energy institute in partnership with the CEA. Since 2006 the country has a new law on nuclear waste management.

The Hindu, 28 May 2008

Earthquake prediction from space is more accurate

China's deadly earthquake in the Sichuan province has again showed that ground-based earthquake prediction methods and systems are not reliable. Traditional seismology does its best, sometimes succeeding, but more often only saying something like, "California will be destroyed in the next 30 years." Remote sensing from space can provide more accurate data about locations, and even dates of expected disasters. The majority of earthquakes happen in two long narrow stripes, one around the Pacific and the other running from the Azores to southeast Asia. There are several other earthquake-prone regions. Half of Russia's Far East is in a seismically hazardous zone, and the seismic stations there, with only minor error, can give the future epicentre, its depth under the surface, and its magnitude. But they cannot say when the earthquake will happen.

Many methods

There are many methods for predicting when an earthquake will strike, the most reliable being a long-term prediction for several years, and possibly months, ahead. Scientists have predicted a 99.7 per cent chance of a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hitting the U.S. West Coast, more specifically California, in approximately 30 years. Mid-term predictions are highly important but not accurate. The situation with short-term predictions is highly complicated, as shown by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake in Haicheng, China. Warnings were issued days before the February 4, 1975 earthquake and people in nearby cities remained outdoors, despite the cold weather. As a result, many lives were saved.

By that time, China was conducting broad seismological surveys, using Soviet experience. Central and provincial seismic monitoring stations collected data about natural anomalies, which accumulated considerable information. This helped predict the location and date of several earthquakes, including in Haicheng.

First reported

Anomalous ionospheric phenomena were first reported in the 1960s, but they were disregarded along with astrologic predictions and UFO sightings. The breakthrough came when the Soviet Union launched its Intercosmos-19 satellite in 1979. It detected an unusual low-frequency noise in a large area centred near the epicentre of an earthquake that occurred a few hours later. This finding was registered as a Soviet discovery and was later confirmed by other spacecraft.

Ionospheric variations

Harbingers of powerful earthquakes appear approximately five days before the main shock and have specific characteristics that distinguish them from the other ionospheric variations. Registering them is a very complicated task that includes constant satellite monitoring of the earthquake-prone region and regular baseline studies, because baseline changes can point to a brewing earthquake. Many countries, including Russia, are studying the connection between earthquakes and the ionosphere, but not as vigorously as scientists would like. Such surveys were made from the Mir space station, but only for a year even though the results were encouraging.

Vulcan system

In 2001, Russian scientists designed the Vulcan system for monitoring and predicting natural disasters and industrial accidents, which was included in the 2001-2005 federal space program and provided for launching low-and high-orbiting microsatellites. In December 2001, the Complex Orbital Magneto-Plasma Autonomous Small Satellite (COMPASS) was launched to monitor the Earth for possible harbingers of earthquakes and collect requisite data. Its equipment was created in Russia, Hungary, Greece, Ukraine and Poland. Unfortunately, the experiment was cut short because of satellite malfunctions. Studies continued in 2002-2003 from the Meteor-3M satellite. Space-based predictions have been correct for 44 of 47 registered earthquakes.To collect more data, Russia launched the COMPASS-2 satellite in 2006. Although its operation was hampered by malfunctions, it nevertheless quite successfully probed the Earth's underground lithosphere, atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere to learn how each terrestrial region is connected with a variety of events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, tropical cyclones, and tornadoes.

Running out of time

Methods and equipment for the Vulcan system are being tested on the International Space Station within the framework of the Uragan program. The ISS, which is flying in a relatively low orbit, turned out to be ideal for such studies. With the California earthquake only 30 years away, humankind is running out of time for inventing new reliable space-based earthquake forecasting systems. — RIA Novosti

(The writer is an expert at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute of Space Research)

The Hindu, 25 May 2008

Fish in troubled water

Thanks to climate change and global warming, the typical fish species of the Kerala coast, sardline (mathi) and mackerel (ayala) are expanding their habitat to the northern and eastern coasts of the country. The mackerel, also showed a shift in the depth of distribution. Until many years ago, the sea surface-temperature (SST) along the Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts were slightly lower than along the Kerala coast, this being the reason as to why the two fish species were confined to the southern regions of the western coast. They were not seen in the eastern coast at all. Now, with warming of the sea surface, especially along the northern regions of the west coast and the whole of east coast, these fish are able to fine the temperature to its liking and try out new waters. This was observed by the scientists of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, as part of their study on 'Impact, Adaptation and Vulnerability of Indian Marine Fisheries to Climate Change'."The problems for the fisheries sector, as a result of climate change is high. This is besides the issues such as depleting fish stocks and competition among stakeholders," said Principal Scientist E Vivekanandan, who is heading the project.A rise in temperature as small as one degree Celsius (1 C) can have rapid and important effects on the mortality of some organisms. The oil sardine, Sardinella Longiceps, and the Indian mackerel, Rastrelliger Kanagurta, are tropical fish preferring a temperature range of 27-29 degree Celsius. During 1961-1976, the catch of these two fish was predominantly from the southwest coast where the sea surface-temperature ranged between 27.7-28.0 degree Celsius. Oil sardine fishery did not exist before 1976 in the north and along the east coast as the resource was not available."The distributional shifts of these two species, which together contribute 15 percent of the marine fish catch along the Indian coast, are likely to result in considerable changes in species structure and function of the marine ecosystem," said Vivekanandan.

New Indian Express, May 25,  2008

Concern at depletion of plant species

Representatives of tribal communities from all over the country on Saturday voiced concern over the disappearance of endemic plant species, including rare medicinal herbs, from their natural habitat.Participating in an interactive session in connection with the ongoing conference on 'Streamlining India's traditional knowledge: Towards formulating a sui generic regime' organized by the Amity Institute for Herbal and Biotech Products Development (AIHBPD) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests, they said human intervention and environmental problems were to be blamed for the depletion of plant wealth.

Over-exploitation

They said over-exploitation by commercial firms and regulations on entry into forest areas were also responsible for the situation. They feared that they were being slowly displaced from their natural habitat.As many as 50 representatives of tribal communities from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala took part in the deliberations.Asked for their comments on sharing and commercialization of traditional knowledge, the participants said they` were more worried about benefit-sharing and proper acknowledgement of their intellectual property rights.The session witnessed a demand for a national authority for traditional knowledge, with units at the State and regional level.The proposed authority would be responsible for framing guidelines to protect, preserve and enrich traditional knowledge.AIHBPD Director General Dr. P. Pushpangadan and Dr. s. Rajasekharan from the Tropical Botanic and Research Institute, who were the moderators at the discussion, said the conference would come out with a declaration on protection of traditional knowledge.

The Hindu, May 25,  2008

Swaminathan moots ‘ever-greenrevolution’

Agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan said that "the path towards sustainable food security is 'ever-green revolution,' which will help increase productivity in perpetuity without the associated ecological harm."He was inaugurating a national conference on traditional knowledge, organised by the Amity Institute for Herbal and Biotech Products Development (AIHBPO) and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.Dr. Swaminathan said the technologies that could help usher in such an 'ever-green revolution' are organic farming or green agriculture. Both involved the blending of traditional knowledge with modern science.

"It is only such a blend that will empower us in the area of meeting the challenges posed by climate change and transboundary pests, as well as shrinking per capita land and water availability and expanding biotic and a-biotic stresses," said Dr. Swaminathan, the architect of Green Revolution, which helped the nation tide over food scarcity in the decades after Independence.He said a grave crisis was developing in the world in the matter of food security, the main reason being the rising cost of energy. Western agriculture practices were energy-intensive and food was bound to become costlier. India had an enormous number of farm animals as a huge repository of renewable energy, which could be intelligently used to fuel the 'ever-green revolution,' he said.Dr. Swaminathan said India now needed to think of expanding its food basket. No new variety of plant had been added to the food basket during the 20th century. Malnutrition was already a serious problem in the country.

In a country like India that is rich in traditional knowledge and bio-diversity, the answer to this problem could be found in the plants.

.The Hindu, May 25,  2008

Four more tiger reserves to come up in the country

To focus attention on the depleting tiger population, the Union Environment and Forests Ministry has decided to create four new tiger reserves and upgrade one National Park as a separate reserve. With these additions, the number of tiger reserves will go up to 33.The National Tiger Conservation Authority earlier this week approved the proposals "in principle."

The new reserves will be created at the Sunabeda Tiger Reserve in Orissa, the Shahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra, the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh and the Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh. All the four States had submitted proposals to the Ministry. The Authority also approved the proposal from Karnataka to treat the Nagarahole National Park as a separate reserve which, as of now is part of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve.

Taking note of the recent all-India tiger estimation findings that show a major decline in the number of big cats, and protection strategy in tiger reserves, the Authority approved other proposals, including funding for research and monitoring through the Wildlife Institute of India.

Latest figures

The latest tiger census figures have shown a 50 per cent decline in the number of tigers in the past five years from 3,642 to 1,411. However, the census could not be conducted in two tiger reserves affected by naxalite activities. The other issues discussed at the meeting were contractual arrangement for the NTCA staff, radio telemetry monitoring of tigers, awareness programme, support to non-governmental organisations with MoU for capacity building, research and tiger estimation and tiger reintroduction proposals.

The Hindu, May 24, 2008

Management protocol for chikungunya planned

For the first time in the country, the state government has come out with a management protocol for suspected cases of chikungunya. The idea is to provide a standard integrated treatment for the viral disease, that had badly spread across the state over the past two years. Health Minister P K Sreemathi said that the protocol has been evolved after a three-month-long study conducted by the experts. This protocol will be implemented by the Health Department in association with the Indian Medical Association.The chart of the treatment protocol will be made available to all the government hospitals across the state and steps have also been taken to distribute it to the private hospitals. All these have been done since there was no prescribed treatment for chikungunya. The State Disease Control and Monitoring Cell headed by Dr Thomas Mathew will be monitoring the day-to-day fever cases being reported from each districts and will be preparing a report based on this. The State Epidemic Cell constituted by the Indian Medical Association will be collecting the reports from each private hospitals. As per the protocol, the drugs to be used are Indomethacin, Naproxin, Mefenamic acid, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Aceclofenac and Etoricoxib.

New Indian Express, May 23, 2008

Call for laws to check conversion of farmland

Minister for Agriculture Mullakara Ratnakaran has stressed the need for stringent laws to prevent 'land sharks' from appropriating and converting farmland. The Minister said the shift from multi-crop to mono-crop cultivation had affected agricultural biodiversity in Kerala.

"Paddy fields are the richest biodiversity region, second only to forests. Unfortunately, a major portion of farmland is now in the hands of the land mafia. It will take a political and social movement and enormous will to release and restore them."Mr. Ratnakaran said farmers should be entrusted with the protection of farmland. "No one conserves biodiversity quite like foodgrain farmers. "Hence, they should be given ownership of farmland. Society also has a responsibility to ensure that farmers are properly remunerated for conservation of biodiversity."The Minister also called for conserving water bodies such as ponds, streams and springs.

The Hindu, 23May 2008

88 threatened bird species in India

Presenting a depressing scenario of avian wealth, the much-awaited IUCN Red List 2008 released features India prominently among the ten countries in the world having the largest number of threatened species of birds.Brazil tops the list with 141 while India is ranked seventh with 88, reports the BirdLife International, the Cambridge based global alliance of conservation organisations and an authority for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Of the 88 threatened species in India that includes migratory, 13 are categorised as Critically Endangered (facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild), 10 as Endangered (facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild) and the remaining as Vulnerable (facing high risk of extinction in the wild). Two of the species, Baer's Pochard (Aythya baeri) and Spoon-billed Sandpiper (Eurynorhynchus pygmeus), have been uplisted, from Vulnerable to Endangered and from Endangered to Critically Endangered respectively.The decline of the Pochard's population was traced to wetland destruction while that of charismatic Sandpiper's to habitat loss in its breeding, passage and wintering grounds and effects of climate change. The other Critically Endangered species include Himalayan Quail (Ophrysia superciliosa), Pink-headed duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea), White- bellied heron (Ardea insignis), Jerdon's Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus), Siberian Crane (Grus leucogeranus) and four species of vultures.

Elsewhere, the 2008 Red List makes grim reading with 1,226 species of bird in the world now threatened and eight species newly uplisted to Critically Endangered, the highest threat category. Of the 26 species that changed category owing to changes in their population size, rate of decline or range size, 24 were uplisted to a higher level of threat. These include continental species like Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) and Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata), both previously of Least Concern, and now regarded as Near Threatened in a global context.BirdLife International says climate change has become firmly established as an accelerant to many of the factors which have put one in eight of the world's birds at risk of extinction. Long- term drought and sudden extreme weather are putting additional stress on the pockets of habitat that many threatened species depend on.In Australia, Malleee Emuwren (Stipiturus mallee) is undergoing a very rapid population decline (100 birds confined to 100 km stretch) and its habitat is now so fragmented that a single bushfire could be catastrophic.

In Galapagos Islands, Floreana Mockingbird (Nesomimus trifasciatus) is confined to two islets off Floreana. Its population has declined from an estimated maximum of 150 individuals in 1966 to fewer than 60.Yet there is some good news. Two species whose situation has improved are Marquesan Imperial- pigeon (Ducula galeata) and Little Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx owenii), both beneficiaries of conservation. Action plans put in place have resulted in the downlisting to lower threat categories. "This goes to show not only that conservation action works but that it is vital if we are to prevent the extinction of these and other species," said Dr. Stuart Butchart, BirdLife's Global Research and Indicators Coordinator. "Species are being hit by the double whammy of habitat loss and climate change. As populations become fragmented the effect of climate change can have even greater impact, leading to an increased risk of local extinctions," he added.

The Hindu, 22 May 2008

Wildlife, environment hit by climate change

Global warming is disrupting wildlife and the environment on every continent, according to an unprecedented study that reveals the extent to which climate change is already affecting the world's ecosystems. Scientists examined published reports dating back to 1970 and found that at least 90 per cent of environmental damage and disruption around the world could be explained by rising temperatures driven by human activity.

Big falls in Antarctic penguin populations, fewer fish in African lakes, shifts in American river flows and earlier flowering and bird migrations in Europe are all likely to be driven by global warming, the study found.The team of experts, including members of the UN's intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) from America, Europe, Australia and China, is the first to formally link some of the most dramatic changes to the world's wildlife and habitats with human-induced climate change.In the study, which appears in the journal Nature, researchers analysed reports highlighting changes in populations or behaviour of 28,800 animal and plant species. They examined a further 829 reports that focused on different environmental effects, including surging rivers, retreating glaciers and shifting forests, across the seven continents.

Historical records

To work out how much — or if at all — global warming played a role, the scientists next checked historical records to see what impact natural variations in local climate, deforestation and changes in land use might have on the ecosystems and species that live there.In 90 per cent of cases the shifts in wildlife behaviour and populations could only be explained by global warming, while 95 per cent of environmental changes, such as melting permafrost, retreating glaciers and changes in river flows were consistent with rising temperatures.

"When we look at all these impacts together, it is clear they are across continents and endemic. We're getting a sense that climate change is already changing the way the world works," said lead author Cynthia Rosenzweig, head of the climate impacts group at Nasa's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York.Most of the reports examined by the team were published between 1970 and 2004, during which time global average temperatures rose by around 0.6 degrees C. A large number of the studies reveal stark changes in water availability as the world gets warmer. In many regions snow and ice melts earlier in the year, driving up spring water levels in rivers and lakes, with droughts following in the summer.

Understanding shifts in water availability will have a big impact on water management and be critical to securing supplies, the scientists say.By collecting disparate reports on wildlife and ecosystems, it is possible to see how disruption to one part of the environment has knock-on effects elsewhere. In one study rising temperatures caused sea ice in Antarctica to vanish, prompting an 85 per cent fall in the krill population. A separate study found that the population of Emperor penguins, which feed on krill in the same region, had also fallen by 50 per cent during one warm winter.

The Hindu, May 21, 2008

Extinct Tasmanian tiger gene brought back to life: scientists

Scientists said they had "resurrected" a gene from the extinct Tasmanian tiger by implanting it in a mouse, raising the future possibility of bringing animals such as dinosaurs back to life.

In what they describe as a world first, researchers from Australian and US universities extracted a gene from a preserved specimen of the doglike marsupial -- formally known as a thylacine -- and revived it in a mouse embryo."This is the first time that DNA from an extinct species has been used to induce a functional response in another living organism," said research leader Andrew Pask of the University of Melbourne.The announcement was hailed here as raising the possibility of recreating extinct animals.Mike Archer, dean of science at the University of New South Wales who led an attempt to clone the thylacine when he was director of the Australian Museum, called it "one very significant step in that direction."

Pask told AFP in a telephone interview that while recreating extinct animals might be possible one day, it could not be done with the technique his team used on the Tasmanian tiger."We can look at the function of one gene within that animal. Most animals have about 30,000 genes," he said."We hope that with advances in techniques that Maybe one day that might be possible, but certainly as science stands at the moment, we are not able to do that, unfortunately."We've now created a technique people can use to look at the function of DNA from any extinct species, so you could use it from mammoth or Neanderthal man or even dinosaurs if there's some intact DNA there."

The last known Tasmanian tiger, which took its name from the Australian island and the stripes on its back, died in captivity in the Hobart Zoo in 1936, having been hunted to extinction in the wild in the early 1900s.Some thylacine pups and adult tissues were preserved in alcohol, however, and the research team used specimens from the Museum Victoria in Melbourne."The research team isolated DNA from 100-year-old ethanol-fixed specimens," the scientists said in a statement."After authenticating this DNA as truly thylacine, it was inserted into mouse embryos and its function examined."The thylacine DNA was resurrected, showing a function in the developing mouse cartilage, which will later form the bone."The results were due to be published in the international scientific journal PLoS ONE .

"This research has enormous potential for many applications including the development of new biomedicines and gaining a better understanding of the biology of extinct animals," said co-researcher Richard Behringer of the University of Texas.At a time when extinction rates are increasing the discovery is critical, said senior author Marilyn Renfree of the University of Melbourne.  The prospect of bringing extinct animals back to life caught the public imagination after Steven Spielberg's 1993 film "Jurassic Park," based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. In that story, dinosaurs are cloned from genetic material found in mosquitoes that had sucked their blood before becoming preserved in amber. The dinosaurs then wreak havoc.

The Hindu, May 21, 2008

North Kerala prone to chikungunya

The northern districts of the State need to be vigilant against chikungunya outbreak during the monsoon, says a top-level team of scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).The team, which recently conducted a study in chikungunya-affected areas of Kasaragod, finds a strong possibility of people of central Kerala, where chikungunya struck last year, becoming immune to the disease.N. Arunachalam, Deputy Director of the Centre for Research in Medical Entomology of the ICMR, Madurai, told The Hindu that chikungunya had only one serotype (a serologically distinguishable strain of a micro-organism) and the patient developed immunity against the disease-causing virus after one attack. As the northern part of the State escaped an outbreak last time, he said, people there are prone now.

Detailed study

The eight-member team, including Dr. Arunachalam, conducted a detailed study for four days at Panathoor, Panathady and Kinanoor Karinthalam panchayat areas where chikungunya had been reported. The team left for Madurai on Tuesday. On its findings, he said the situation was under control at present, but the disease could reappear once the monsoon started. The mosquito density in the area was low and the sanitation and awareness programmes of the Health Department were effective.

Heavy rain blamed

He said the heavy rain during the summer had led to the outbreak in these villages. The prima facie evidence suggested that Aedes albopictus mosquitoes were the carriers of the virus in Kasaragod unlike in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts where Aedes aegypti were the vectors. The team had collected samples of mosquitoes and would conduct studies. M. Muniraj, team members and Senior Research Officer of ICMR, Madurai, said the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were daytime biters and, therefore, mosquito repellents and nets and fogging were not of much use in fending them off. Only their breeding could be controlled and the public should be made aware of the measures needed.Dr. Arunachalam said the Aedes albopictus mosquitoes spread chikungunya mostly in rural areas. They bred in all types of containers left open with freshwater. The mosquito larvae were found even in village wells.

How it reaches villages

On the reasons for the occurrence of chikungunya in rural areas which were cleaner than urban areas, Philip Samuel, Research Scientist at the ICMR, Madurai, said many houses in villages, especially in the plantation sector, were closed and containers with water were left open inside and on the premises.Dr. Samuel said the local bodies should identify such houses and contact their owners to make them destroy such breeding spots. Steps needed to be taken to let fish that fed on the larvae into the wells.Dr. Arunachalam said the team would visit the area during the monsoon for more studies. The awareness programmes needed to be continued.

The Hindu, May 21, 2008

Puthenthope to emerge as biotechnology research hub

The Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) has drawn up an ambitious project to develop a biotechnology research hub at Puthenthope here. The Centre for DNA Bar-coding of life forms in the Western Ghats and Kerala, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on June 11, will be the first research facility on the campus. Moves are afoot to make it functional within two years.

"Over the next five years, the complex will be developed as the biotechnology hub of Kerala. We have plans to establish a biotechnology resource and instrumentation centre with state-of-the-art laboratories where individuals and institutions could do research work," E.P. Yesodharan, executive vice-president, KSCSTE, said.The Centre for DNA Bar-coding is being set up under the Scheme for Augmentation of Research and Development (SARD) with P.N. Krishnan of the Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (TBGRI) as coordinator. The institution is expected to become a key facility to identify and distinguish biological species in threatened natural habitats such as rainforests and tropical ecosystems.

The Hindu,  May 21, 2008

Giant kangaroo image gives clues on climate

Scientists in Australia hope a giant cardboard image of a kangaroo, photographed from space , will help them better understand how the earth reflects sunlight and give them new clues about global warming.Similar images are due to be photographed from space at sites in the United States, France, Belgium, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Israel, Wales and Singapore as part of the experiment, involving science centres and the American space agency NASA.

The 32-metre (105 feet) tall kangaroo, an Australian national symbol, was placed in the southern city of Melbourne, and was photographed by satellite in parkland to measure the Albedo effect, or the amount of sunlight reflected by the earth."The sun's rays come in and they either get reflected or they get absorbed," Professor Patricia Vickers-Rich, from Melbourne's Monash University, told Reuters on Tuesday."If the sun rays get absorbed, then things heat up. If they get reflected, things either stay the same or things cool off and you can have a glaciation."Professor Vickers-Rich said melting ice caps meant less sunlight would be reflected, which could lead to more sunlight being absorbed and an increase in global temperatures."Ice is like our big kangaroo. The ice reflects the light, so it gets rid of a lot of the heat that comes in," she said.Images collected during the experiment will be compared with similar images from a year earlier to help measure changes in the Albedo effect.

(Reporting by James Grubel; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

uk.reuters.com

Brittlestars give clues to seamount life

Millions of starfish-like creatures have been found in a novel colony on a subsea mountaintop south of New Zealand, aiding knowledge of mysterious seamounts that dot the oceans, scientists said. Fewer than 200 seamounts -- mountains that rise from the ocean floor without piercing the surface -- have been surveyed out of an estimated 100,000 around the world. They are often rich in marine life in seas under threat from over-fishing. Tens of millions of tiny brittlestars were found on a peak 90 meters below the sea surface on the subsea Macquarie Range stretching 1,400 km (870 miles) south of New Zealand towards Antarctica, scientists from New Zealand and Australia said.They dubbed the peak, filmed with a robot submarine in April, "Brittlestar City" after the five-armed creatures that are a type of echinoderm related to starfish, sea cucumbers, sea lilies, and sea urchins.

Usually, corals and sponges are found on the peaks of seamounts, he told Reuters. In some places hundreds of the tiny brittlestars were crammed in per square meter on the flat top of the mountain, covering about 100 sq. kms. (38.61 sq. mile). The seamount rises 750 meters from the surrounding sea floor and is swept by a current about 4 km (2.5 miles) per hour that May help keep some predators away from the brittlestars, more often found on the flanks of seamounts. Brittlestars feed on plankton by simply waving their arms into the current. Food gets trapped on sticky mucus on their spiny arms. Knowledge of the state of life on seamounts in the Macquarie Range May also help monitor future changes, for instance if ocean currents around Antarctica are affected by global warming.

www.chinapost.com.tw

Malabar Sanctuary to be set up this year

Forest Minister Benoy Viswom has said that the proposed Malabar Sanctuary will be declared this year. In an official release issued in connection with the second anniversary of the government , the Minister said that preliminary steps for declaration of the sanctuary had been completed. The sanctuary would ensure protection of forests near Peruvannamozhi.The State, the Minister said, has submitted a project to the Centre for the protection of turtles and other marine species arriving on Kerala coast as part of their reproductive cycle. The project will cost Rs.6.65 crore.A proposal for setting up a rehabilitation centre for elephants at Kottoor in Thiruvananthapuram district is under consideration. Clearance from the Central Zoo Authority has been sought for setting up a Lion Safari Park at Thamarassery in Kozhikode district for research purposes. A proposal for the take over of 131.5 hectares from private parties at Periya in Wayanad district for creating a corridor for movement of elephants is under consideration.

Mr. Viswom announced that the Forest Department proposed to develop a shelter belt on 77.50 hectares along the coast this year besides planting of mangrove species on 14.75 hectares. The compensatory afforestation in lieu of land diverted for development of pilgrim facilities at Sabarimala would also be undertaken this year. The Department had received 305 hectares of land (in Idukki district) for compensatory afforestation.Projects such as production of reeds, bamboo and ratton (Rs.5.90 crore), protection of medicinal trees (Rs.23 crore) and protection of heritage plants at Chaliyam were under consideration.

He recalled that the department had carried out several programmes during the last two years for the protection of the forests, including declaration of a buffer zone for the Silent Valley. The area under forest cover had increased.

The Hindu, May 19, 2008

Four new research centres soon

The Science and Technology sector in Kerala is set to receive a fresh impetus with four new research institutions scheduled to become functional over the next month.While the inauguration of the Kerala School of Mathematics in Kozhikode is set for June 3, the Centre for DNA Barcoding of Life Forms in the Western Ghats and Kerala will become operational at Puthenthope, Thiruvananthapuram, on June 11. The government has also cleared proposals for the establishment of a Centre for Traditional Knowledge in Food and Medicine and a Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Science and Engineering. Another major project is a new campus for the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) at Aakulam in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Kerala School of Mathematics will offer facilities for advanced research in mathematics. Set up with assistance from the Department of Atomic Energy, the school is located on a 4.5-acre campus in Kozhikode. The construction of buildings has been completed. The facility will offer Ph.D. and post-doctoral research programmes and training courses for researchers and maths teachers in universities. A master's programme is being considered. Also on the anvil is a scheme to offer mathematics- oriented courses for children from Class X with an aptitude for the subject. "The idea is to make mathematics an attractive career," he said.

The Kerala School of Mathematics will be equipped with facilities to host international conferences. The centre will have 20 permanent staff, with the rest of the faculty members comprising visiting professors.

The Centre for DNA Barcoding is part of a major initiative by the KSCSTE to promote research activities in biotechnology. The facility is being set up on a sprawling campus at Puthenthope that will be developed as a biotechnology hub. The proposed relocation of the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC) from the KSCSTE headquarters to new premises at Aakulam will provide the institution with facilities for research and scope for future development. Apart from a new building, the waterfront site facing Aakulam Lake will also house an open air museum and an eco-biopark where each institution under the council would have an area to showcase their achievements.

Collaboration

Mr. Yesodharan said the Centre for Traditional Knowledge is expected to be launched soon. The Government of Sweden has expressed willingness to collaborate in the establishment of the Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Science and Engineering.

"We have drawn up plans to set up a Centre for Minerals and Nano Technology in Kollam and a Centre for Bamboo under the Kerala Forest Research Institute. All the new institutions will become fully operational within the next four years," he added.

The Hindu, May 19, 2008

Wildlife is down by one-third, says WWF

Wildlife is disappearing from the planet at a catastrophic rate, a new survey has revealed.Numbers of birds, animals, marine and freshwater creatures have dropped by almost one-third, according to WWF. And most of the blame for the decline lies with man through habitat destruction, exploitation and pollution.The conservation charity's Living Planet Index says an undertaking by EU countries in 2002 to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 will not now be met. And the situation is likely to get worse as climate change becomes an increasingly important factor affecting species.The Index tracks almost 1500 different species of fish, amphibian, reptiles, bird and mammal to obtain a global snapshot of nature's health.

It found that between 1970-2005 land based species fell by 25 per cent, marine species by 28 per cent and freshwater species by 29 per cent.

Nature's decline continues as an exploding human population consumes 25 per cent more natural resources than the planet can replace every year, according to WWF.The results of the study were issued to coincide with the start of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn - a UN forum bringing governments around the world together to try to halt biodiversity loss.It says much of the loss can be put down to five factors: habitat loss, exploitation, pollution, the spread of invasive species and climate change.

All of these were in turn attributable to the unsustainable demands mankind was putting on the planet in the production and consumption of natural resources for food and drink, energy and materials. And the massive flows of goods and people around the world had provided a conduit for the spread of alien species and diseases.

The index of land animals had shown a big fall - as high as 46 per cent - among some tropical species while temperate species had apparently fared much better. But big declines in population among temperate species had occurred prior to 1970 while the sharp fall among tropical species reflected more recent habitat losses among the world's rainforests.The marine fish index had remained fairly level until about 1990 but subsequently dropped producing an overall fall in abundance of 21 per cent during the 35- year period.The index for marine birds showed a positive trend from 1970 to the mid-1990s, but a rapid decline of about 30 per cent since the mid-1990s.Insufficient data had meant that the freshwater index could only be calculated to 2003 for temperate regions and to 2000 for tropical regions. In temperate regions the decline had been 26 per cent between 1970 and 2003, while the index for tropical regions fell by 35 per cent between 1970 and 2000.The report said food, clean water, medicines and protection from natural hazards were important in maintaining security and quality of life for people and if they were to be maintained then the species, natural habitats and ecosystems that support them needed to be protected.The report called on governments attending the Bonn conference to fulfil their pledge to reduce biodiversity loss, halt deforestation and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

May 16, 2008, www.telegraph.co.uk/

Pampa river basin authority proposed

The Cabinet decided to form a river basin authority for smooth implementation of the Pampa Action Plan.It recommended issue of an Ordinance to the Governor for constituting the authority on an urgent basis.The Pampa River Basin Authority, as per the proposed Ordinance, will have powers to take executive decisions on implementation of various projects under the Action Plan. The Plan aims at controlling the pollution of the river.

The Authority will coordinate, manage and monitor works to be implemented by various departments and agencies in the Pampa basin as part of the Plan. It will also have powers to control exploitation of natural resources and encroachments on the Pampa river basin and their efficient administration.The Ordinance provides for co-opting of non-governmental organisations by the Authority for implementation of the Action Plan. The whole of the river basin will be taken as an integral unit for efficient management.

The Chief Minister will be the chairman of the Authority. Minister for Water Resources will be the vice-chairman and the Secretary (Water Resources) the member-secretary of the Authority. It will have the secretaries for Revenue, Forests, Health, Science and Technology, Power, Finance, Devaswoms and chairman of the State Pollution Control Board as members besides two experts in water resources. The Authority will be an autonomous institution. The implementation of the Pampa Action Plan, which May finally have an outlay of about Rs.200 crore, had got intertwined with the Sabarimala Master Plan, delaying the project. The Centre has sanctioned Rs.18 crore for the project, which remains unspent. Minister for Water Resources N. K. Premachandran took the initiative to form the Authority to speed up implementation.

May 15, 2008, The Hindu

Amazon origin confirmed

A stream of the Apacheta River in the Arequipa Region in southern Peru has been found to be the origin of the Amazon River, according to research .

The finding by Polish scientist Jacek Palkiewicz after 12 years of research has recently been confirmed by Peruvian geologists and geographers, said the SGL. The finding, proved by hydrographic and geomorphologic criteria, would put an end to long disputes over the origin of the river, it said. "We explored snowy areas and glaciers and discovered that the Amazon River doesn't have its origin in a glacier as it was thought," said Mr. Palkjewcz. The Apacheta's stream determined by the scientists as the origin of the Amazon river had its headwaters in a small pool where there was a permanent ice layer coming from the subterraneous, Mr. Palkjewcz said. The new finding will put the length of the Amazon River at about 7,000 km, overtaking the Nile River, which has a length of 6,400 to 6,700 km according to different measurements, as the world's longest. — Xinhua

The Hindu, May 9, 2008

India, Brazil have most environment-sensitive consumers

Indians along with Brazilians have the most environmentally sustainable consumption pattern and behaviour among 14 major developed and developing countries, according to a new international survey. Greendex 2008, a new mechanism for measuring and comparing individual consumer behaviour with relation to environment is devised by National Geographic Society and international polling firm GlobeScan. While India and Brazil tie for the top slot scoring 60 points each, followed by other developing countries China (56.1), Mexico (54.3), its the developed countries that figure towards the bottom of the list with UK, Germany and Australia each have a Greendex score of 50.2, and US scoring the least with 44.9. An international panel of experts in global sustainability helped identify which consumer patterns were most crucial. The final survey questioned the consumers about their house energy use, transportation and goods purchase among others.

The Hindu, May 8, 2008

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