Page 2 - Nature

Most Asian countries behind biodiversity targets for protected areas: Study

Most countries in Asia have failed to achieve a global minimum target of protecting at least 17 per cent of land by 2020, according to a study based on data from 40 countries. Under current trends, the outlook for achieving the UN Global Biodiversity Framework's 2030 target to protect at least 30 per cent of land is bleak, with Asia set to miss this by an even greater margin, the researchers said. To counter the global biodiversity crisis, at the 2010 UN Convention on Biological Diversity, almost 200 countries pledged to protect at least 17 per cent of their terrestrial environments by 2020 (known as Aichi Target). To investigate whether they achieved this, researchers from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in the UK, with collaborators in Asia, analysed data from official reports submitted to the World Database on Protected Areas. The study, published in the journal Communications Biology, found that only 40 per cent of Asian countries achieved the target of a minimum of 17

All you need to know about India's first dark sky reserve in Ladakh

Government plans to promote astronomy tourism at the reserve, which is located in Hanle in Ladakh

Will deepen commitment to protect nature: PM as India gets new Ramsar sites

With 10 more Indian wetlands being designated as Ramsar sites, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said this will deepen people's commitment to protect natural surroundings

Warmer summers threaten Antarctica's giant ice shelves: Study

The study found that total lake volume varies between years by as much as 200% on some ice shelves and by up to 72% across the entire ice sheet, with large differences between ice shelves

Climate change triggering global collapse in insect numbers, says study

The new study, published in Nature, finds that climate-stressed farmland possesses only half the number of insects, on average, and 25 per cent fewer insect species than areas of natural habitat

Antibodies improve in quality for months after Covid vaccination: Study

The findings, published in the journal Nature, suggest that declining antibody levels in the months after vaccination primarily represent a shift to a sustainable immune response

New UN global biodiversity framework to manage nature through 2030

UN Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat has released the first official draft of a new Global Biodiversity Framework to guide actions worldwide through 2030 to preserve and protect nature

World Environment Day 2021: Restoring ecosystem and raising awareness

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to release report on ethanol blending in India as part of an event marking environment day.

A broken relationship with nature

Book review of Wild and Wilful: Tales of 15 Iconic Indian Species

World leaders at France summit focus on better protecting biodiversity

Protecting the world's biodiversity was on the agenda Monday for world leaders at the One Planet Summit

Ladakh's Startsapuk Tso, Tso Kar lake complex added to list of Ramsar site

The latest site to be added to the list is a high-altitude wetland complex of two connected lakes, Startsapuk Tso and Tso Kar, in Ladakh

World Nature Conservation Day 2020: Here's how you can make a difference

Some simple habits to implement in your daily life to make a huge difference in conserving the environment

Not yet retired: This octogenarian duo refuses to give up on civic activism

From collecting money to build toilets for primary students in government schools to saving a lake from land sharks, Padmanabha and Rao are the dynamic duo of civic activism

Nature, conversation, economy: A book chronicles India's balancing act

A rare set of essays examines how conservation systems crafted in an era of state dominance can work better in a time of private enterprise, civic action and science

Experience nature for at least 120 minutes per week for good health: Study

The positive effect increased with additional time outdoors, peaking at about three hours per week for health and five hours per week for well-being.

Worsening climate

World Meteorological Organization gives a dire warning