Your Environment This Week: Kashmir’s cricket bat industry, Eurasian lynx in Kargil, Algorithm to identify landslides


This week’s environment and conservation news stories rolled into one.

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Algorithm identifies landslide movements making them easier to predict

Indian researchers have created an algorithm that provides a 80-94% accuracy in identifying landslide movement.

Rising above the waters with musk melon

Farmers near Gandhisagar dam have adapted to seasonal flooding by cultivating musk melon, which thrives in summer and yields high revenue from seed sales.

Manjubai extracts seeds from the musk melon fruit for further processing Image by Aishwarya Mohanty.

Heat wave hits earnings, health of auto rickshaw drivers

Delhi’s auto rickshaw drivers face reduced work hours owing to school shutdowns, a shift towards AC cabs, and avoidance of peak heat wave periods by customers.

Auto drivers waiting for potential customers while looking for a shadow near the Kalkaji Mandir metro station. Image by Pallavi Ghosh for Mongabay India

The forgotten victims of Maharashtra’s 2019 floods

Mongabay-India is collaborating with Asar and BaiManus Media Research Centre, under Project Dharitri to highlight climate and gender issues.

The first story focuses on the 2019 floods in Maharashtra’s Sangli district which caused significant loss of life and livelihood. Persons with disabilities faced heightened challenges, highlighting the urgent need for inclusive disaster management strategies.

A road in Sangli district, a few days after the heavy rain in 2019. Image by Varsha Deshpande via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed).

GI tags protect Indian tradition amid impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss

Climate change threaten many GI-tagged products in India, highlighting the need for their sustainable conservation practices.

[Explainer] How are species named?

The Linnaean or binomial system of nomenclature for naming organisms has been in use for over 200 years and is a cornerstone of taxonomy.

Kashmiri willow steps up to the crease and swings for recognition

Cricket has deep roots in Kashmir. The region’s rich history of bat manufacturing, dating back to the 19th century, contributes significantly to the local economy and culture.

The Kashmiri cricket bat industry faces challenges in maintaining quality due to difficulties in identifying the true cricket bat willow variety.

Eurasian lynx recorded in Kargil, better conservation steps needed

This new evidence confirms the species’ presence in Western Ladakh, but the population remains scanty.


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