ecological conservation
90% of Aravalli Hills at Risk: New Definition Threatens India's Ancient Mountain Range
Dec 07, 2025 01:53 am CST
India's ancient Aravalli mountain range faces an unprecedented threat as new environmental guidelines proposed by the Ministry of Environment could remove protection from 90% of its hills. NDTV's investigation reveals ongoing illegal mining despite Supreme Court bans, while environmental experts warn that redefining protected hills as only those exceeding 100 meters in height could trigger widespread ecological destruction across northern India's vital green corridor.
UNESCO Recognizes Spiti Valley as India's First Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve: A Milestone for Himalayan Conservation
Sep 28, 2025 07:34 pm CST
Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh has been officially recognized as India's first Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere program. This 7,770 sq. km reserve showcases unique high-altitude biodiversity with over 700 plant species and rare wildlife including snow leopards. The designation acknowledges decades of successful community-based conservation while promoting sustainable development, ecological research, and climate resilience in this fragile Himalayan ecosystem.