Climate change is impacting the world. It is the poorest who suffer the most. Yet often rural Indians are leading the way in sustainable advances and trialling schemes that – if rolled out on a macro scale – can create real change in the environment.
Environment
Bengal village gasps for air – blames Bhutan
Indian residents near a Bhutanese industrial township are suffering from respiratory and heart diseases, and even cancer, because of air and water pollution from the factories.
Novel elephant alarm: Bengal villagers turn to the bottle
Bengal farmers create an innovative method to save their paddy crops and prevent conflict between humans and rampaging elephants in a West Bengal village in the Jalpaiguri district.
‘Ecological threat to next generation’, warn Chipko leaders
The women of Uttarakhand hugged trees to protect them from being axed in what is known as the Chipko movement. Fifty years since, how green is India?
Death on the tail of migratory birds in Kashmir
In the cold winters of Kashmir’s wetlands, migratory birds that roost and breed there under the shadow of hunters and trappers, never mind climate change, threatening their annual visit.
One man’s bamboo quest breaks records
With 96 varieties harvested, farmer Prashant Date sets the record for the largest collection of bamboo in India. His garden is growing and he may venture into the commercial space soon.
Ladakh’s Chipko: Mothers out on streets to save ‘sacred’ juniper trees
Women of Hanupatta high up in the Himalayas man checkpoints to stop felling and smuggling of juniper trees that are much in demand for their aroma.
Ills of eucalyptus drive Odisha tribals back to legacy crops
In southern Odisha farmers are switching from water-guzzling eucalyptus trees to diversified farming of traditional crops to boost soil fertility, crop yield, household income and dietary diversity.
Money blooms in India’s ‘flower village’ of Nikamwadi in Maharashtra
Farmers have almost abandoned water-thirsty sugarcane for more colourful, and profitable, crops – marigold and chrysanthemum – which fetch them around Rs 10 lakh a year.
A new platform helps farmers in Jharkhand earn money from carbon projects
At a time when adverse impacts of climate change on agriculture are apparent, a new carbon finance platform promotes climate resilient agriculture in Jharkhand and helps farmers access climate finance.