Venezuela ranked second with 26,453 fires and Bolivia with 16,101 fires in Amazonian rainforests under their territory.
There has been a surge in forest fires in the Amazon in 2019 with activists and some foreign governments blaming the Brazilian administration for rampant destruction of one of the greenest regions in the world.
National Institute for Space Research (INPE) said there have been nearly 73,000 fires in rainforests in Brazil till August, 2019 compared with 39,759 in all of 2018.
Factors causing fire:
Forest fires tend to intensify during the dry season, which usually ends in late October or early November, as land is cleared to make way for crops or grazing – similar to farm fires in India.
This year's fires, however, are also being attributed to deforestation – which has led to a lack of rain and, consequently, moisture in soil.
Rare Species Of Bear, Deer Spotted In Remote HP Valley
Himachal Pradesh's forest department has found rare species of Himalayan brown bear and white-bellied musk deer during a census conducted at Pangi's 390-sq km Sechun Tuan Nalla Wildlife Sanctuary, which remains cut off for eight months in a year.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has categorised brown bear as a critically endangered species and musk deer as endangered.
Aug 21, 2019
New Species Of Freshwater Fish Found
Scientists of the Zoological Survey of India have discovered two new species of freshwater fish from the north-eastern and northern parts of the country.
While Glyptothorax gopii, a new species of catfish was found in Mizoram's Kaladan river, Garra simbalbaraensis was found in Himachal Pradesh's Simbalbara river.
Both fish, measuring less than seven centimetres, are hill stream fauna and are equipped with special morphological features to suit rapid water flow.
Glyptothorax gopii (measuring 63 mm standard length without caudal fin) is dark brown on its dorsal surface, and its ventral surface is of a yellowish-light brown.
Garra simbalbaraensis (measuring 69 mm standard length without caudal fin) has a yellowish-grey colour fading ventrally.
IndianOil HQs Inaugurates Swachhta Pakhwada
SM Vaidya, Executive Director (Operations), IndianOil Refineries Headquarters, inaugurated Swachhta Pakhwada in New Delhi by releasing a poster on afforestation and a booklet on swachhta initiatives undertaken.
Vaidya also released a sticker for vehicles.Inaugurating the Swachhta Pakhwada in Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Dr Nalin Shinghal, CMD administered the 'Swachhta Pledge' to its employees.
He exhorted BHEL employees to participate enthusiastically and contribute wholeheartedly to the national mission.
India Emits The Most Sulphur Dioxide In The World
India is the largest emitter of sulphur dioxide (SO2) in the world, contributing more than 15 per cent of global anthropogenic emissions, according to a new report by Greenpeace released on August 19, 2019.
The primary reason for India's high emission output is the expansion of coal-based electricity generation over the past decade. Five of the top 10 SO2 emission hotspots from coal/power generation industry across the world are in India.
The analysis is based on hotspots detected by NASA Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite data that captured more than 500 major source points of SO2 emissions across the globe including natural sources such as volcanoes.
However, the analysis excluded all natural sources and only anthropogenic sources of SO2 were investigated. SO2 emissions are a significant contributor to air pollution.
President Ram Nath Kovind Launches Plantation Drive As Part Of Van Mahotsav Celebrations
President Ram Nath Kovind planted a sapling of Maulsari in the Rashtrapati Bhavan Estate and launched a plantation drive as part of Van Mahotsav celebrations.
On the occasion, the President met students and urged them to encourage fellow citizens to plant more trees and reaffirm the commitment to a greener and sustainable planet.
The President's Secretariat will be planting over three thousand trees and around three thousand shrubs. The President's Estate spread over 330 acres of harbours rich biodiversity.
Aug 19, 2019
Iceland Builds Monument To a Glacier Lost
Iceland honoured the passing of Okjokull, its first glacier lost to climate change, as scientists warn that some 400 others on the subarctic island risk the same fate.
A bronze plaque was unveiled in a ceremony to mark Okjokull — which translates to "Ok glacier" — in the west of Iceland, in the presence of local researchers and their peers at Rice University in the US, who initiated the project.
Iceland's prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, environment minister Gudmundur Ingi Gudbrandsson, and the United Nations high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson also attended the event.
Aug 17, 2019
Diamonds Found Near Earth's Core
An ancient reservoir of diamonds that is older than the moon has been discovered near the Earth's core, more than 410 km below the surface.
The diamonds had lain undisturbed for over 4.5 billion years before being brought to the surface by a violent volcanic eruption in Brazil.
Scientists measured helium isotopes in the diamonds to find the ancient reservoir.
Researchers say the diamonds gave them an insight into the tumultuous period shortly after the planet formed.
Rules Eased For Clearance Of Projects Near Buffer Zone
In a move that may weaken protection to wildlife sanctuaries, the Union environment ministry has tweaked the procedure for environmental clearances of developmental activities in the buffer zone, an area that is supposed to reinforce conservation of protected areas.
An office memorandum on August 8, 2019, said projects outside the boundary of the eco-sensitive zone of a sanctuary or park but within 10km radius will not need clearance from the National Board for Wildlife.
An office memorandum (OM) on August 8, 2019, published on the environment ministry website, said that projects outside the boundary of the notified eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of a sanctuary or national park but within 10 km radius of the park will not need prior clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
Projects located within the notified ESZ will require the NBWL's nod, which can be applied for together with the initial "terms of reference" application.
Mining will be prohibited within the notified ESZ or within only one km from the boundary of the park, whichever is higher according to the new OM. But in many states, protected areas do not have an ESZ of 10 km as specified by the Supreme Court.
Aug 15, 2019
Giant Penguin's Fossil Found In New Zealand
The fossilised remains of a huge penguin almost the size of an adult human have been found in New Zealand's South Island, scientists announced.
The giant waddling sea bird stood 1.6 metres high and weighed 80kg, about four times heavier and 40cm taller than the modern Emperor penguin.
Named "crossvallia waiparensis", it hunted off New Zealand's coast in the Paleocene era, 66-56 million years ago.
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