The complexity in evaluating biodiversity makes it difficult to ensure equity where bio-resources are concerned. Convention of Biological Diversity and India’s Biodiversity Act are moves to bring in equity in the sharing of bio-resources for mutual benefit.

It is easy to arrest a decline in Himalayan biodiversity, provided local communities are involved in the process. Efforts in the Himalayan region prove this beyond doubt.

The neglect of pulses saw them being relegated to marginal lands during the Green Revolution, even as rice and wheat production grew manifold. As India grapples with a demand-supply gap it is time, through technological breakthroughs, right policies and incentives to farmers to bridge this gap.

Mangroves are critically important wetlands in view of the variety of ecosystem functions they perform. Yet, they are witnessing widespread destruction, much to the peril of coastal communities. A better understanding of their role is of utmost importance for designing future management strategies.

India has made some major advances in seismological research in the past few decades. However, gaps continue to remain, and populations remain vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis. Initiatives like microzonation, and scientific drilling may yet provide a solution to these problems.

Shailesh Nayak led from the front for a major part of the ten years that the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) completed on July 27, 2016. As secretary to the Government of India from 2008 to 2015, the distinguished scientist formulated innovative projects that made science part of a common man’s life. In his illustrious career he integrated new initiatives such as the monsoon mission, seismological and cryospheric research, to name a few. Talking with Sulagna Chattopadhyay, the gifted gentleman outlined his vision for the dazzling future of the MoES.

Methane, which is mostly generated out of solid waste, is one of the major greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. If methane from solid waste is utilised as a source of energy and fuel, it can become an effective alternative resource.

The western Himalayan region experienced an increasing trend of one-day heaviest precipitation, during both winter and monsoon through 1978 to 2007. While one day heaviest precipitation is on the rise in high-altitude stations during winter, the same is observed in low altitude stations during the monsoon.

Hyderabad is a digitally advanced city and it has been in the forefront in using digitisation for managing its waste, traffic and revenue collection apart from overall infrastructural progress. However, the city is yet to overcome the constraints of geographical extent to become the next ‘smart city’.

Urban wetlands are perishing everywhere. Apart from the unplanned growth affecting these ecosystems, planned removal of wetlands has often been part of the government agenda, often for public benefit, with scant ecological concerns. Increased awareness of wetland benefits is the only way out if our wetlands are to be saved for posterity.