Conservation In India Research Articles

The Painted Stork: Exploring Ecology and Conservation in India

The Painted Stork: Exploring Ecology and Conservation in India

Pluralistic Approach of Snake Worship in Indian Literature

Ophiolatry, or snake worship, is a pluralistic practice that demonstrates geographical variances, religious syncretism, cultural significance, various ceremonies and offerings, as well as local beliefs and folk traditions in India (Saha, 2020). This highlights the coexistence of various cultures and traditions that add to the diverse range of religious practices in the nation, reflecting the inclusive aspect of Indian society. Indian literature vividly portrays the complex relationship between humans and snakes. This essay explores the intricate bond between snakes and deities, sages, demons, and ancestors, unraveling the essence of this relationship.Through their symbolism, these serpents represent the various cycles of life, death, and rebirth. By delving into the myths, tales, and folklore surrounding snake cults, the ecological, social, and spiritual dimensions of human-snake interactions are revealed. However, this exploration goes beyond surface-level analysis as it delves deep into the ethical and environmental concerns surrounding snake conservation in India.

Economic and Institutional Factors Influencing the Selection of Project Delivery Models for Built Heritage Conservation in India

ABSTRACT Selecting a suitable project delivery method is one of the most critical decisions responsible for project success in heritage conservation. This is an area where projects have greater uncertainties and governance issues in comparison to other building projects. India has a huge inventory of built heritage sites, but the heritage conservation sector is highly fragmented, with a wide range of project delivery methods. This paper discusses the selection of project delivery in the Indian context, using the theoretical lenses of agency theory, transaction cost economics (TCE), and institution theory. A conceptual framework has been proposed to explain the selection based on economical and institutional constructs. Our conclusion is that when institutional factors are weak, projects are executed departmentally or through non-priced contracts. In contrast, strong institutional forces discourage non-priced contracts and replace them with priced contracts.

Preparation of high-strength waste-derived eco-friendly ceramic foam as face brick and its estimation of building energy consumption for thermal insulation

Waste-derived ceramic foams as a logical solution for the reutilization of industrial solid wastes have been prepared using red mud and fly ash, eggshell as a foaming agent, and di-sodium tetraborate as a glass former. The effect of foaming (1–5 wt %) and glass-forming (20 wt %) agents on the microstructure, physico-mechanical properties, and chemical stability of foams are investigated. The optimized product (RFE3) with a total porosity (33%) and bulk density (2.14 g/cc) reveals high compressive strength (109.75 MPa) and low thermal conductivity (0.93 W/m•K) that is suitable as a load bearing outside building block face brick. The theoretical building energy simulation model using heat balance (HBM) and cooling load temperature difference (CLTD) method has revealed that the average annual energy conservation in India is 21816 MJ. Compared with the traditional face brick, our developed high strength ceramic foam face brick with low thermal conductivity saves satisfactory building energy consumption. The present work is relevant to international research regarding environment friendly building envelope construction.

Elephant conservation in India: Striking a balance between coexistence and conflicts

AbstractIn the human‐dominated epoch of the Anthropocene, nations worldwide are trying to adopt a variety of strategies for biodiversity conservation, including flagship‐based approaches. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) plays a pivotal role as a flagship species in India's biodiversity conservation efforts, particularly within its tropical forest ecosystems. As the country harboring the largest Asian elephant population among the 13 range countries, India's conservation strategies offer valuable insights for other range countries. This study elucidates India's elephant conservation paradigm by outlining a historical account of elephant conservation in the country and examining the current administrative and legal frameworks. These are instrumental in implementing strategies aimed at maintaining sustainable elephant populations. Our study also analyzes trends in elephant populations and negative human–elephant interactions, drawing upon data from a centralized government database. Our findings indicate that the elephant population in India is reasonably stable, estimated at between 25,000 and 30,000 individuals. This figure constitutes nearly two‐thirds of the global Asian elephant population. India's elephant population occupies ~163,000 km2 of diverse habitats, comprising 5% of the country's land area, with their distribution spread across the northern, northeastern, east‐central, and southern regions. This distribution has shown fluxes, particularly in the east‐central region, where large‐scale elephant dispersals have been observed. Between 2009 and 2020, human–elephant conflicts in India have resulted in an average annual loss of 450 (±63.7) human lives. During the same period, the central and state governments paid an average of US$ 4.79 million (±1.97) annually as ex gratia for property losses. Recognizing the critical nature of these conflicts, India has implemented various measures to manage this pressing conservation challenge. Overall, sustaining the world's largest extant population of wild elephants in the midst of India's human‐dominated landscapes is enabled by a robust institutional policy and legal framework dedicated to conservation. This commitment is further reinforced by strong political will and a deep‐rooted cultural affinity towards elephants and nature, which fosters a higher degree of tolerance and support for conservation efforts.

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: A Comprehensive Study on Wildlife Conservation in India

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: A Comprehensive Study on Wildlife Conservation in India

Tiger conservation, biopolitics and the future of Indian environmentalism

Tiger conservation in India has been driven for the most part by a philosophy that prioritizes the need for inviolate tiger reserves free of human beings. Such reserves, it is argued, provide much needed territory to ‘care’ for the tiger. In this paper, we examine the biopolitics of tiger conservation in India and argue that the current approach to tiger conservation amplifies the nature‐culture divide and ignores other imaginations of tiger conservation that are more cognizant of human—non‐human entanglements in protected area landscapes. The paper argues that tiger conservation has been a mix of sovereign, disciplinary and neoliberal environmentalities, all built on a certain ‘truth’ about tigers. The paper raises questions and concerns about the ‘truth’ discourse that underlies tiger conservation and also argues that tiger conservation has marginalized the environmentalism of the poor. It makes the case for more debate and discussion about tiger truths and suggests the need for a more than human approach to tiger conservation that recognizes the adverse consequences of fortress conservation as well as its limits in caring for the tiger in more than human geographies.

Industrial Heritage in India: challenges as well as issues in its identification, protection and management

This article explores the concept of Industrial Heritage and its relevance within the Indian context. Conservation in India has unique challenges arising out of the limited protection framework, the complexity of heritage resources and limited awareness and priority. The main issues confronting the preservation of Industrial Heritage sites in India are related to its lack of identification as a cultural resource and lack of awareness in local communities due to their perception and attitudes towards it. But the question has remained as to how to generate public opinion towards the need to preserve and promote our industrial heritage in a holistic manner, for its conservation as a cultural legacy and part of our identities in this globalizing world. This article explores the challenges in documenting, protecting, restoring, and managing Industrial Heritage sites in India, drawing upon personal experience of the last 27 years in attempting to conserve them.

An overview on Saussurea obvallata: A spirituo-scientific plant of India

Saussurea obvallata (S. Obvallata) is one of the beneficial plant which has been used in various countries as traditional medicines. Some of the species have been identified as endangered ones. Realizing the importance of one of S. Obvallata in ornamental, spiritual and traditional purposes, a review studies was undertaken to understand the scientific investigations carried out on the plant and spiritual practices in India have been focused as a part of germplasm conservation in India.
 Keywords: S. obvallata, Brahma kamal, medicinal, spiritual plant

Strategies and research issues for soil and water conservation in India: A comprehensive review

Despite years of study and substantial investment in remediation and prevention, soil erosion continues to be a major environmental problem with regard to land use in India and elsewhere around the world. Furthermore, changing climate and/or weather patterns are exacerbating the problem. Our objective was to review past and current soil conservation programmes in India to better understand how production-, environmental-, social-, economic- and policy-related issues have affected soil and water conservation and the incentives needed to address the most critical problems. We found that to achieve success in soil and water conservation policies, institutions and operations must be co-ordinated using a holistic approach. Watershed programmes have been shown to be one of the most effective strategies for bringing socio-economic change to different parts of India. Within both dryland and rainfed areas, watershed management has quietly revolutionized agriculture by aligning various sectors through technological soil and water conservation interventions and land-use diversification. Significant results associated with various watershed-scale soil and water conservation programmes and interventions that were effective for reducing land degradation and improving productivity in different parts of the country are discussed. It has been demonstrated that one of the best methods for bringing socio-economic change to various regions of India is through watershed programming. By bringing together multiple sectors through technological soil and water conservation treatments and land-use diversification in both dryland and rainfed areas, watershed management has subtly revolutionised agriculture. Significant outcomes related to numerous watershed-scale soil and water conservation interventions and programmes that were successful in decreasing land degradation and boosting productivity in various regions of the nation are discussed.

Public Benefits of Private Technology Adoption: Spatial Externalities of Water Conservation in India

Public Benefits of Private Technology Adoption: Spatial Externalities of Water Conservation in India

Climate co-benefits of tiger conservation

Biodiversity conservation is increasingly being recognized as an important co-benefit in climate change mitigation programmes that use nature-based climate solutions. However, the climate co-benefits of biodiversity conservation interventions, such as habitat protection and restoration, remain understudied. Here we estimate the forest carbon storage co-benefits of a national policy intervention for tiger (Panthera tigris) conservation in India. We used a synthetic control approach to model avoided forest loss and associated carbon emissions reductions in protected areas that underwent enhanced protection for tiger conservation. Over a third of the analysed reserves showed significant but mixed effects, where 24% of all reserves successfully reduced the rate of deforestation and the remaining 9% reported higher-than-expected forest loss. The policy had a net positive benefit with over 5,802 hectares of averted forest loss, corresponding to avoided emissions of 1.08 ± 0.51 MtCO2 equivalent between 2007 and 2020. This translated to US$92.55 ± 43.56 million in ecosystem services from the avoided social cost of emissions and potential revenue of US$6.24 ± 2.94 million in carbon offsets. Our findings offer an approach to quantitatively track the carbon sequestration co-benefits of a species conservation strategy and thus help align the objectives of climate action and biodiversity conservation.

The impact of human-wildlife conflict on biodiversity conservation in India

The impact of human-wildlife conflict on biodiversity conservation in India

RECOGNIZING ROLE OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN INDIA: AN ANALYSIS

The indigenous communities and biodiversity conservation are very closely inter-related and complementary to each other. Since ages, these communities have helped to evolve, nurture and protect the ecosystems in a sustainable manner. In India, since the ancient times, the indigenous communities have lived in harmony with nature and have played a vital role in protecting and conserving the forests and biodiversity. However, with passage of time and due to the socio-economic-political changes, the forests have become the property of the State and the indigenous communities have slowly been marginalised and separated from their traditional land and livelihood due to the developmental projects. This separation of the indigenous communities from land, forests and biodiversity has resulted in the destruction and deterioration of biodiversity. Thus, despite their critical role in conservation of biodiversity and ensuring resilient and healthy planet for people, the indigenous communities are often neglected and marginalized in environmental and developmental policies. In contemporary times, as the legal discourses focus on biodiversity conservation and protection it is essential to recognise the role played by indigenous communities in biodiversity conservation. In this context, this article examines the various ways in which biodiversity was conserved and the role of indigenous communities in biodiversity conservation in India. It tries to identify the reasons for exclusion of indigenous communities and its impact on biodiversity. Further, it attempts to analyse whether the Indian legal framework, particularly the environmental legislations contain any provisions recognizing role of indigenous communities in biodiversity conservation. Lastly the article attempts to give pragmatic solutions to include indigenous communities in biodiversity conservation in India.

An update on the conservation status of Tibetan Argali Ovis ammon hodgsoni (Mammalia: Bovidae) in India

Mountain ungulates are important for alpine ecosystem ecology, yet are understudied, particularly in Asia. Tibetan Argali Ovis ammon hodgsoni occurs across Tibet, with Trans-Himalayan India forming the edge of its distribution. We studied their conservation status in India. We compiled published data and secondary information about the occurrence of argali. We then focused on Ladakh, the remaining stronghold of argali in India. Based on literature from Ladakh and after consulting key-informants, we delimited two major populations of argali and estimate population density and demography using the double-observer method. We found 27 studies on argali in India. Studies covered four major themes: records (n = 12), conservation (n = 7), ecology (n = 7), and evolution (n = 1), with studies increasing after 2000. Estimated argali density in Tsaba was 0.34 argali km-2 (0.32–0.40) and in Chushul-Mirpal Tso was 0.15 argali km-2 (0.12–0.30). Both populations had comparable demography including age-sex ratios. We need to urgently consider argali as a priority species for conservation in India particularly as threats—including transboundary concerns, lack of coordinated conservation across the international border, anthropogenic disturbances, competition & disturbance from livestock grazing, and habitat loss—are a reality. Towards that, we delimited knowledge gaps and set robust population baselines for the two important argali populations in India. As the Tibetan Argali here co-occur with people, it will be crucial to ensure conservation is done in partnership with local communities.

Environmental factors shaping habitat suitability of Gyps vultures: climate change impact modelling for conservation in India

Environmental factors shaping habitat suitability of Gyps vultures: climate change impact modelling for conservation in India

Policies Regarding Water Conservation in India (Conserve Water, Conserve Life, Save Water, and it will Save You)

Policies Regarding Water Conservation in India (Conserve Water, Conserve Life, Save Water, and it will Save You)

Contextualising Landscape Ecology in Wildlife and Forest Conservation in India: a Review

Contextualising Landscape Ecology in Wildlife and Forest Conservation in India: a Review

Inland capture fisheries, dam reservoirs, and protected areas for wildlife conservation in India: conflicts and ways forward

Inland capture fisheries, dam reservoirs, and protected areas for wildlife conservation in India: conflicts and ways forward

Legislative Provisions and Policy Support for Wetland Conservation in India

Since 1970s, wetlands started to be recognized as one of the richest ecosystems of the world which supports lives and livelihoods of a large number of people. In spite of this recognition, loss of wetlands could not be stopped. India is gifted with a vast inventory of wetlands which is depleting. Though India was a signatory of Ramsar Convention of Wetlands, it is yet to implement any legislation for the protection of these rich ecosystems. During the early years of independence when constitution of India was adopted, there was no mention of the term ‘environment’. With the enactment of Constitution (42nd Amendment) Act, 1976, marked the beginning of environmental protection in India. But wetlands were not mentioned in the List-I, List-II or List-III of the seventh schedule of the Indian Constitution. So, neither the Union government nor the state governments are empowered to legislate over the matter of wetlands. Due to this reason the Union government could not implement any legislation for wetland conservation for the country as a whole. Wetlands should be brought to the List-III of the constitution for the sake of wetland conservation. It is the obligation of the States to implement international conventions at the domestic level under a federal system. Verdicts of the Supreme Court and different High Courts reveal full support towards environmental protection. Thus, it is urgently needed to enact a Union legislation for the protection of the wetlands of the country which is supported by the state governments.