Researchers Discover Endangered Myristica Swamp Forest in Maharashtra
Researchers near the Goa-Maharashtra border discovered a sacred Myristica swamp forest in Kumbral, Maharashtra. This finding highlights the importance of local communities in preserving rare ecosystems. Sacred groves like this are often protected due to cultural beliefs, in this case, tied to the reverence of Lord Shiva, locally known as Bhalandeshwar.
Myristica magnifica is an endangered plant species mainly found in Karnataka and Kerala. It plays a key role in the ecosystem, providing food for wildlife, including the threatened hornbill birds. This tree is part of the nutmeg family and can grow up to 50 meters tall. Though its seeds resemble nutmeg, they are not as commercially valuable. Its wood is used locally, and the tree's essential oil has potential in aromatherapy.
This discovery makes Kumbral the second village in Maharashtra, after Hewale-Bambarde in Sindhudurg, to have a Myristica swamp forest.
Nepal Became 101st Member of ISA
Nepal became the 101st country to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) as a full member. The Ministry of External Affairs said that Nepal handed over its Instrument of Ratification to the ISA in New Delhi.
The ISA is a global intergovernmental organisation dedicated to advancing solar power adoption for a carbon-neutral future.
The ISA is a collaborative initiative between India and France aimed at uniting efforts to combat climate change by implementing solar energy solutions. It was conceptualised on the side lines of COP21 in Paris in 2015.
Following a 2020 amendment to its Framework Agreement, all UN member states are now eligible to join the Alliance.
Sep 09, 2024
Super Typhoon Yagi Hits Southeast Asia
Super Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia in over a decade, caused significant disruption across Southeast Asia. After devastating the northern Philippines, the typhoon made landfall in southern China's Hainan province, leading to mass evacuations and widespread damage. Yagi is expected to continue its path towards Vietnam and Laos, impacting northern regions with severe weather conditions.
Super Typhoon Yagi struck Hainan Island and Guangdong province in southern China, with winds exceeding 230 km/h (143 mph). The storm has been described as equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane, and authorities in Hainan evacuated over 400,000 residents prior to its arrival. The typhoon caused significant disruptions in Hong Kong, including the suspension of trading and school closures.
Yagi is the second-most powerful tropical cyclone of 2024 globally, following Hurricane Beryl. This super typhoon's arrival underscores the growing intensity of tropical storms, likely exacerbated by climate change. Scientists note that warming oceans are contributing to the increasing strength and frequency of such storms.
Sep 08, 2024
India Emerges as the Largest Plastic Polluter Globally
India emerged as the world's biggest plastic polluter displacing China as the country releases 9.3 million tonnes of such waste into the environment each year, scientists reported.
The amount of plastic waste generated in India can fill up an area equivalent to 604 Taj Mahals as the country's waste plastic load is three times more than each of the next four biggest polluters – Nigeria, Indonesia, China and Pakistan.
Using sophisticated artificial intelligence tools, researchers from the University of Leeds created a detailed global inventory of plastic waste that puts India on top of the list, accounting for one-fifth of the global burden.
Sep 05, 2024
Bisleri Partners with Goa for Improved Waste Management
Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd. partnered with the Government of Goa to improve waste management in Mormugao, Vasco. This collaboration was solidified during the Green Goa Summit 2024, where a Letter of Intent (LOI) was exchanged between Bisleri and the Goa State Pollution Control Board, with the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The partnership aims to enhance plastic waste management under Bisleri's CSR initiative, 'Bottles for Change,' focusing on sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
The initiative involves the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC), Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), and SampurnEURarth Environment Solution Pvt. Ltd., Bisleri's local waste management partner.
The collaboration focuses on educating residents, businesses, and institutions about effective waste management, improving dry and plastic waste collection, segregation, and recycling processes, and training staff at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). The partnership also supports SHG-run recovery facilities at Harvalem and aims to establish mechanisms for monitoring and reporting the initiative's effectiveness.
Sep 04, 2024
US Scientists Discover 1,700 Ancient Viruses in Tibetan Glacier Ice
Virologists from the United States, who collected ice core samples from the Guliya Glacier in the Tibetan Plateau, discovered the genomes of over 1,700 ancient viruses, with the oldest dating to more than 40,000 years ago. The viruses, preserved in ice, had existed across nine distinct time periods with widely varying global climatic conditions.
The team of virologists, led by Zhi-Ping Zhong of the Ice Core Palaeontology Group at Ohio State University, analysed the virus genomes to understand their evolution and how they develop the ability to survive in harsh environmental conditions.
They used DNA extraction and metagenomic (study of genetic material derived from environmental samples) methods to sequence these from the 310-metre-long ice core, and analysed the differences between them.
The virologists discovered that the viruses have vast genetic differences, which depend on whether they were active in cold climate periods or warm.
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