Current Issue - Volume 18 Issue 7 (October 2025)

In the turquoise waters of Shark Fin Bay of the Philippines, a French couple along with a fishing community have rewritten a story of loss into one of renewal. Dr Rina Mukherji narrates how Pangatalan Island has emerged from ruin to become a model of marine restoration through mangrove replanting, coral prostheses, and trust painstakingly built over years. The journey also portrays that when people and planet work in sync, even reefs blasted to rubble can pulse with life again.

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In this article, Glenn Gomes, Jyoti Choudhary, and Sonia Grover discuss the need for Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) as a holistic approach to sustainable water governance. They highlight that IRBM, building on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), treats rivers, wetlands, and aquifers as interconnected systems. The authors examine global models and Indian initiatives like Namami Gange, emphasizing participatory governance, equitable allocation, and technology use—such as remote sensing, IoT, AI, and GIS—for real-time monitoring. They conclude that strong institutions, political will, and inclusive partnerships are essential for resilient river systems.

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In Kashmir, sustainable transport is gradually gaining traction as residents embrace electric vehicles and cycling. Electric two-wheelers have surged in popularity, offering commuters a cheaper, faster, and eco-friendly alternative amid soaring fuel prices. The introduction of 100 electric buses in Srinagar has also improved public mobility, providing dependable and extended-hour service. Meanwhile, cycling has re-emerged as both a fitness trend and a practical commuting option, supported by new cycle tracks under the Srinagar Smart City initiative—marking a steady shift towards greener, healthier, and more people-friendly transport, writes Athar Parvaiz in this article.

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This article discusses India's journey towards sustainable industrial and urban development amid growing environmental pressures. It throws light on how rapid industrialization has heightened water scarcity and waste management challenges, prompting innovation and policy reform. Highlighting Veolia's pioneering role, the article showcases carbon capture at Tata Steel, Zero Liquid Discharge systems in Gujarat, and 24x7 urban water projects in Nagpur as models of circular, compliant growth. It emphasizes that integrating technology, regulation, and circular design can make environmental responsibility a driver of economic efficiency, resilience, and inclusive national progress. read more

Children will inherit a planet more vulnerable than ever before—one already reeling under the effects of climate change. How do we equip young minds to not just understand these crises but also imagine alternatives? In his new book titled, Wonder Tales for a Warming Planet (illustrated by Isha Nagar and published by Niyogi Books) author Rajat Chaudhuri attempts to do precisely that. What is fascinating about his work is the ability to balance and achieve synergy between immediate scientific issues with the imaginative pull of fiction. read more

In this article, Mutaharra A W Deva says Jammu & Kashmir's record 23.6 million tourists in 2024 highlight tourism's economic value but also its clash with intensifying climate change. Glacial retreat, snowless winters, and waste pollution are straining fragile ecosystems and livelihoods. Despite the 2014 State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) envisioning a Tourism Mission, actionable projects remain absent. The author calls for restoring the Climate Change Cell, enforcing eco-sensitive norms, and integrating sustainable, community-based tourism to protect the region from Uttarakhand- and Himachal-like disasters. read more

Few creatures in India's forests are as enchanting—or as overlooked—as the dhole, the Asiatic wild dog. With its russet coat and quicksilver grace, it might remind you of London's foxes, yet this ‘whistling dog' is an altogether different marvel of evolution. Once hunted to near extinction by colonialists, the dhole today clings to survival in the forested folds of the Western Ghats, Dr Marianne Furtado de Nazareth marvels in a conversation with the renowned filmmaker.

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