For decades, scientists have puzzled over how iguanas ended up in Fiji and Tonga, while all their relatives live in the Americas. New Research Findings The Epic Journey About Iguanas (Source: IE)
Category: Environment
Iguanas
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are organic and inorganic substances—including minerals and ions—dissolved in water.
Rare Caracal Spotted In Rajasthan’s Mukundra Hills
A rare Caracal (Caracal caracal schmitzi) has been photographed for the first time in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, using a camera trap during the ongoing Phase IV survey. With less than 50 individuals estimated to be in India, this elusive wild cat is a significant discovery for wildlife conservationists. Caracal in India (Sources: India Today & Mongabay (India))
India’s first PPP-model based green waste processing plant
Indore is all set to make a significant leap towards environmental sustainability with the launch of India’s first PPP-model based green waste processing plant under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. This initiative aims to convert green waste into valuable resources, reinforcing the city’s reputation as India’s cleanest city. How It Works? Significance (Source: PIB)
Uniyala keralensis
A dense shrub with light purple flowers discovered in the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram district has been confirmed as a distinct species of the genus Uniyala. About Uniyala keralensis (Source: The Hindu)
Air Pollution and Climate Change Threaten Solar Panel Efficiency in India, says a new study
A study by researchers at IIT Delhi, published in Environmental Research Letters (November 2024), warns that air pollution and climate change are negatively affecting solar panel performance in India. Key Findings Challenges for India’s Solar Mission (Source: The Hindu)
A new study proposes revision of Javan rhino
A new study has proposed a taxonomic revision of the critically endangered Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus). Key Findings of the Study (Source: Down To Earth)
National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired his first-ever meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) on World Wildlife Day on March 3, 2025. In the meeting, held at Gujarat’s Gir National Park, the NBWL reviewed a host of flagship wildlife conservation programmes Key Highlights of the 7th Full-Body NBWL Meeting About the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) 🔹 Apex advisory body for wildlife policy & conservation in India.🔹 Established in Read More …
Decline of the Ocelot in the U.S.
Once roaming Southwestern U.S., ocelots have dwindled to fewer than 100 in two small breeding populations in South Texas. The Beauty of the Ocelot Appearance: Conservation Efforts (Source: The Hindu)
Gully erosion in India
According to a 2025 scientific report published in Nature, India needs to intervene on the gully erosion of 77 districts (70 per cent of which is in eastern and southern India) to meet the United Nations agenda of land degradation by 2030, Key Findings from the 2025 Scientific Report: Global Context: India’s Most Affected States: Understanding Gully Erosion: (Source: Down To Earth)
Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD)
The United States has now withdrawn from the board of the recently-created Fund for responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD), a mechanism designed to provide financial support to countries facing the devastating impacts of climate change disasters. About Loss and Damage Fund (UNEP & TOI)
Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh becomes India’s 58th Tiger Reserve
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change declared Madhav National Park in Madhya Pradesh as the country’s 58th tiger reserve on March 9, 2025. This marks the state’s ninth tiger reserve, joining well-known reserves such as Kanha, Satpura, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Sanjay Dubri, Panna, and Veerangana Durgavati. Abou Madhav Tiger Reserve Conservation Context
Lantana camara
Lantana camara has emerged as the most challenging invasive species in Haryana’s reserved forest areas, infesting around 89 sq km of forest, reported The times of India. This aggressive plant dominates the native flora, leading to a decline in biodiversity. Key Points (Source: The Times of India)
Byrnihat-India’s most polluted urban area
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has again named Byrnihat as the most polluted urban area in India for the second consecutive year in 2024. (Source: The Hindu)
Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)
The Supreme Court of India on March 5, 2025, directed the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) authority to appoint the Forest Research Institute (FRI) to conduct a tree census in the area. The decision aims to strengthen vigilance against illegal tree felling and protect the environmental integrity of the TTZ. What is the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)? Historic Supreme Court Ruling (1996) Key Monuments in TTZ Importance of Tree Census (Sources: Read More …