Western Ghats

India’s Sacred Forests: Where Faith Fuels Conservation

The world unites on Friday to celebrate the International Day of Forests, a day dedicated to recognizing the vital role forests play in sustaining life on Earth. Forests are among the planet’s richest ecosystems, intricately linked to human civilization for millennia. Globally, over five billion people depend on forests and non-timber forest products for essentials like food, medicine, and livelihoods. Moreover, forested watersheds supply freshwater to more than 85% of the world’s major citi...

September 16, 2024 4:37 PM

New freshwater diatom genus discovered from the Eastern and Western Ghats

Researchers from the Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) in Pune have discovered a new genus of diatoms in the unpolluted waters of the Eastern Ghats mountain range. Diatoms are microscopic algae that play a crucial role in our everyday lives, producing approximately 25 percent of the global oxygen supply— roughly every fourth breath we take. They form the base of the aquatic food chain and serve as valuable indicators of water quality due to their sensitivity to changes in water chemistry. Th...