Bio-diversity

Rushikulya river mouth in Odisha’s Ganjam district has emerged as a major rookery for the endangered olive ridley turtles with over 6.82 lakh such marine species assembling for mass nesting, officials said on Sunday.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched several schemes targeting pollution control, afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable resource management.

The program is being implemented through convergence with the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), which is providing financial support for the initiative.

By combining grassroots involvement with scientific expertise, the annual water bird census remains a cornerstone of Nepal’s conservation efforts, offering hope for the sustainable preservation of its wetlands and the diverse species they sustain.

The Miyawaki forests grow rapidly and offer significant environmental advantages, including reducing air and water pollution, preventing soil erosion, and fostering biodiversity.

The reported increase of 156 sq km in forest cover is modest, with over 95 per cent of the gain occurring outside officially recorded forest areas.

Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Kirti Vardhan Singh, highlighted that the updated plan provides a comprehensive overview of India’s biodiversity, current trends, policy frameworks, and financial solutions for conservation efforts.

The ‘Gajah Suchana’ mobile application enables the collection of biological samples from captive elephants for DNA profiling, creating a comprehensive genetic and morphological database.