Drivers of regrowth in South Asia’s human impacted forests

While loss of forest cover continues to represent a serious environmental challenge, significant reforestation is taking place in many parts of the world. This article assesses the institutional factors that impact forest management in developing countries, with a focus on Nepal and India. Research methods link empirical results obtained from multiple methods in multiple field settings at different temporal and spatial scales to look at the human drivers of forest cover change across a range of social-ecological contexts. The legitimacy of ownership, degree of monitoring, density of forest users, and the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions appear critical factors, although the official designation of a forest tenure regime does not appear to be as important

Whither giant trees?

Reeling under the impact of the heat in Bangalore these past few months? You’re not the first to complain. As far back as 1868, a fascinating account is provided of sepoys reporting that “in Bangalore, some twenty years ago their fingers were so benumbed with cold on early morning parades, that they found some difficulty in holding their muskets, whereas they cannot now complain of the cold being in any degree unpleasant.

Ringing out the old: urban ecology

Bangalore has the privilege of being home to two historic gardens, Lalbagh, which dates back to Hyder Ali’s administration and created in the 18th century, and Cubbon Park, formed in the 19th century by the British administration. The diversity of plant species that these parks harbour dates at least as far back as 1891, when a book written by John Cameron, Catalogue of Plants in the Botanical Garden, Bangalore (Second Edition) lists a mind-boggling 3,222 species of plants found in Lalbagh. These include as many as 258 varieties of roses, and 122 varieties of crotons! Lalbagh and Cubbon Park occupy a specific place in the city that is unmatched by other public gardens, because of their size, the age of the trees, and the rich diversity of plant species. What of the city’s other parks, though

An eye on the forests

Forests cover a third of the world’s land area, harbour two-thirds of the earth’s biodiversity, and contain a major fraction of the world’s carbon, apart from providing major services such as the regulation of climate, soil and water cycles. In India, they hold a place of importance in terms of their social, cultural, and sacred values. Most forest areas in India are neither remote or pristine — over 70 per cent of our population lives in rural areas, many of these adjacent to forests. The pressure on our natural ecosystems is tremendous, while the need for maintaining forests for our future survivability is no less critical. How do we balance these dual pressures

Society and science: interdisciplinary exchanges

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Ecological wisdom in the new urban era

The 21st century is increasingly referred to as the urban era. By 2050, two thirds of humanity will squeeze into congested urban environments. More than 90% of this urban growth will come from Asia and Africa, with three countries – India, China and Nigeria – accounting for 37% of the increase (United Nations, World Urbanization Prospects: The 2014 Revision. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York, 2014). By 2050, estimations indicate that India will add as many as 404 million people to its burgeoning cities and towns. Of the world’s ten largest cities, three are located in India – Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Three of the world’s ten fastest growing cities are in India as well – Ghaziabad, Surat and Faridabad

Rachel Carson: 1907–1964

More than 50 years after the death of Rachel Carson, her books continue to be in print. They are bought, read, and inspire future generations of environmentally concerned citizens and activists across the world. To understand what motivated Rachel Carson towards a passionate defense of the environment, we need to understand the times in which she was born and appreciate the landscape that shaped her fundamental interest in nature

Classics

The selection ofMaria Sibylla Merian’s work depicted here shows the wide diversity of natural life that she studied, recording and depicting it with great care. In her own words, in her work “studies of caterpillars, worms, and maggots are depicted, showing how they change in colour and form when they shed their skins and finally change into butterflies, moths, beetles, bees, and flies

Editorial: Resonance, February 2016

Science is now accustomed to using a wide variety of advanced technological tools to further our understanding of the structure and function of physical and natural systems. Yet in many ways, the basic motivation that drives fundamental research continues to be substantially unchanged: a deep appreciation for the structure and function of natural systems, whether physical and ecological, as well as a quest to understand why and how things function as they do. This requires observation, which is as much an art as a science, requiring practice, patience, and great attention to detail