20 Aug 2026 Introduction: Drosicha turkistanica, an invasive sap-sucking insect, has been identified in poplar and willow plantations in Hanjipora in Pulwama district and in parts of South Kashmir, including Kulgam and Anantnag. The specimen was scientifically identified by the National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources in Bengaluru after field samples were collected from the […]

 August 19, 2026  Introduction: Fog harvesting is a water-collection method that uses mesh nets to capture tiny water droplets from fog and channel them into storage or piping systems. In southwestern Morocco, a fog-harvesting network on Mount Boutmezguida supplies piped water to local homes in the Aït Baamrane region. Location and Physical Setting Mount Boutmezguida […]

 July 15, 2026 Introduction: The Pichavaram mangrove forest in Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, has been assessed for ecosystem services at ₹2,485.38 crore, or about US$289 million. The valuation placed the total economic value at ₹1.83 crore per hectare and included carbon storage, fisheries support, tourism, coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and local livelihoods. Pichavaram Mangroves as […]

 July 14, 2026  Introduction: The Indian Grey Hornbill, also known as Chilotro, has been reintroduced into the Gir forests of Gujarat after an absence of more than six decades. A scientific study in the peer-reviewed journal Birds records that the reintroduced birds are surviving and breeding in the wild. Indian Grey Hornbill The Indian Grey […]

 July 14, 2026  Introduction: The Laudankia Vine Snake, scientifically named Ahaetulla laudankia, was photographed in the Ubeshwar wildlife area of Udaipur on 12 July 2026. The record was made by wildlife photographer Rohit Dwivedi with guidance from Sharad Agrawal and Deepal Kalra. Species Profile Ahaetulla laudankia was scientifically described in 2019 and is endemic to […]

 July 13, 2026  Introduction: Ahmedabad set a Guinness World Record on 12 July 2026 by planting 3.61 lakh, or 361,000, saplings in one hour at Bhadaj in Gujarat. The plantation drive was organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and used the Miyawaki method across an area of about 76,000 square metres. Record-setting plantation drive More than 25,000 […]

 July 13, 2026 Introduction: The rhino population in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh has risen to 53 after the fourth rhino census conducted between 25 June and 27 June 2026. The census counted 17 adult males, 25 adult females, and 11 calves older than one year. Indian Rhinoceros in India The Indian rhinoceros, also […]

 July 13, 2026  Introduction: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is preparing India’s first Indian Standard for the restoration of mangrove ecosystems. The draft standard, titled Restoration of Mangrove Ecosystem — Guidelines, was made public in March 2026 and received hundreds of inputs from stakeholders. Mangrove Ecosystems in India Mangroves are salt-tolerant coastal forests that […]

 July 11, 2026  Introduction: The Union government approved a ₹3,000-crore scheme on 10 July 2026 to conserve and restore nearly 15,000 sacred groves across India. The five-year programme, named the Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana, will run from 2026-27 to 2030-31 and will use funds from the National CAMPA Fund. Sacred Groves in India Sacred groves […]

 July 11, 2026  Introduction: The Centre of Excellence on Human-Wildlife Conflict was inaugurated on 10 July 2026 at the Wildlife Institute of India–Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History campus in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The inauguration was attended by the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, and the Union Minister of State […]