Bio-diversity

Experts say the warning signs are unmistakable: without decisive intervention, Pakistan’s bears could slip irreversibly toward extinction, marking a profound loss not only for biodiversity but also for the ecological balance of the region.

Local communities, for their part, have begun to address some of these issues: they are forming their own trader groups to facilitate legal trade and negotiate better prices.

Once feared extinct, the tiger (Panthera tigris) now stands as a symbol of India’s ecological resurgence. But as the national survey gains momentum, scientists and forest officials warn that habitat space, prey availability and human pressures could test future gains.

Critics from environmental organisations and civil society have described the current legal interpretation as a “simplification that fails to respect the Aravallis’ complex ecology”, warning that it could gradually weaken the shield that the mountain system provides against desertification, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.

Experts argue that building resilience requires integrated approaches that blend disaster risk reduction with ecosystem conservation.

Microplastic sampling yielded sobering insights, with concentrations averaging 1.2 particles per cubic meter in surface waters – double the 2020 baseline.

Ayurvedic manufacturers have found themselves unable to procure sufficient raw materials for medicine production.

The joint study, led by Jahangirnagar University’s departments of Zoology and Environmental Science, documents the presence of microplastics not only in river water and sediments but also inside insect bodies.