Prof. Orus Ilyas of the Department of Wildlife Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), and research scholar Umrah Viqar presented their research at the 36th European Mustelid Colloquium, held alongside the Białowieża Ecology Conference in Białowieża, Poland.
Prof. Ilyas presented a paper titled “The Underappreciated Apex: Reviewing the Ecological Role and Conservation Status of the Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula) Across the Himalayan and East Asian Bioregions”, examining the species’ ecological significance and conservation status across the Himalayan and East Asian regions.
Umrah Viqar presented her research on “Ecological Insight into the Yellow-throated Martens, Martes flavigula: Habitat Use and Dietary Pattern in the Reserved Forest of Ranikhet Kumaon, Himalayas”, focusing on the species’ habitat use and dietary patterns in the Himalayan region.
The presentations highlighted the ecological importance of the yellow-throated marten and the need for a better understanding of its ecology, distribution and conservation challenges.
Prof. Ilyas received financial assistance from the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF), Government of India, and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) to participate in the conference, while Umrah Viqar received support from the organisers.
source: http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in / India Education Diary / Home> Educational News> University News / by iednewsdesk /October 16th, 2026
During extensive field surveys across the Jammu and Kashmir region, researchers identified three previously unknown species of the genus Conocephalus, more commonly known as meadow katydids or long-ho…
During extensive field surveys across the Jammu and Kashmir region, researchers identified three previously unknown species of the genus Conocephalus, more commonly known as meadow katydids or long-horned grasshoppers. The discovery was led by Muzamil Syed Shah and a team of entomologists from Aligarh Muslim University. The new species have been named Conocephalus usmanii, Conocephalus nagariensis, and Conocephalus ganderbali.
Prior to this study, the mountainous region of Kashmir was thought to host only a single species of this genus. The team’s findings suggest that the area’s complex topography, which includes the Western Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range, has fostered a much richer variety of insect life than previously recorded. To find these elusive insects, the researchers trekked through various habitats, including tall meadow grasses, bushes, and deciduous forests, collecting adult specimens during the day.
The researchers used Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to distinguish the new species from their known relatives. This allowed them to capture high-resolution images of the stridulatory files, a microscopic row of teeth on the male insect’s wings that acts like a musical comb to produce their characteristic chirping sound. By counting these teeth and measuring the shape of the insects’ body parts, the team was able to prove they had found entirely new branches of the tree of life.
Each of the three new species possesses unique physical blueprints that set them apart. Conocephalus nagariensis, found in the Budgam district, is distinguished by its spindle-shaped appendages (cerci) and a stridulatory file containing exactly 34 teeth. It is dedicated to Dr. Rajendra Nagar, a researcher credited with discovering several other species of katydids across the country, and bears his name.
In contrast, Conocephalus ganderbali, discovered in the Ganderbal region, is notably small and slender, with a musical file of only 28 teeth and a unique V-shaped incision on its underbelly. Its name is derived from the Ganderbal district in Kashmir, the specific locality where the researchers first collected the specimens.
The third species, Conocephalus usmanii, features a flat, elongated plate on its abdomen and a musical file with 36 teeth. It was named in honour of Professor Mohd Kamil Usmani, a scholar who has made significant contributions to the study of Orthoptera (the group of insects including grasshoppers and katydids) in India.
Beyond the three new species, the study also provided new records for other katydids in the region, such as Conocephalus longipennis and C. kwasiphaiensis, which were previously known only in other parts of India. This suggests that Kashmir serves as a vital corridor for insect migration and evolution.
The discovery highlights how much of the natural world remains unexplored, even in well-known geographical areas. The researchers noted that because Kashmir is so biologically diverse yet understudied, many more species likely remain hidden in plain sight within its mountain valleys. The physical type specimens used to describe these new insects have been deposited in the Museum of Zoology at Aligarh Muslim University, where they will serve as a permanent reference for future generations of scientists.
This article was written with the help of generative AI and edited by an editor at Research Matters.
Sheikh Yameen, and Zubair Bhat, Co Founders of Zubair Curve Electrics at Shark Tank India- 4 Show
Two young Kashmiri men’s startup of providing eco-friendly urban transportation solutions may not have won them funding from the judges of Shark Tank India-4, a business reality show on Sony Television, but it won their immense admiration and exposed their successful business model to a larger world.
Sheikh Yameen, and Zubair Bhat, co-founders of Curve Electrics, got many heads nodding in appreciation when they said at the show in two years, their startup has helped environment by saving 145 metric tonnes of carbon emissions.
The mission Curve Electrics, launched in the summer of 2023, began with 50 e-bikes in Srinagar from 11 docking stations, in collaboration with the Srinagar Smart City Limited (SSCL). The number of e bikes has since grown up to 150 in Srinagar.
They also provides these services In the neighbouring Ganderbal district’s Central University of Kashmir (CUK), and the Hindu shrine of Mata Kheer Bhawani, Tulamulla.
“We have already completed 55,000 rides, 720,000 km and have saved 145 metric tonnes of carbon emissions….it is equivalent to the planting of 7200 trees”, during the last one and a half years, said Sheikh Yameen, Managing Director of Curve Electrics.
At the show, Sheikh Yameen, and Zubair Bhat said though at present their operations are limited to Kashmir Valley, they wanted to expand operations to other mountain towns such as Shimla and Mussoorie.
They also spoke about do business in college campuses across the country. They have shortlisted 1,400 campuses where they can expand their business. The entrepreneurs said that they have devised their bikes, and these are available through a mobile application and the users are not asked for seudirty deposits.
Yameen said, “Shark Tank India gave us an incredible platform to share our dream of revolutionizing urban mobility. Coming from Srinagar, this journey represents not just Curve Electric, but the untapped potential of Kashmiri youth. We’re excited for what lies ahead”
Sheikh Yameen and his friend, Mohsin Bashir are the co-founders of this startup. Yameen had completed his MBA in Finance and Marketing from The University of Kashmir, while his friend Mohsin Bashir was studying Management in the US.
The two pitched their sustainable e-bike service Curve Electric to the panel of ‘sharks’, which included Anupam Mittal, Vineeta Singh, Aman Gupta, Peyush Bansal, and newcomer Kunal Bahl.
Peyush was “very impressed” by the entrepreneurs’ ability to erase all the onboarding issues that customers might have. Vineeta explained, “There is a little complexity here. There is a lot of dependence on governments, and from what I’ve seen in all the other companies, the setting that you have to do with governments and local bodies, becomes a make-or-break situation. Your expansion will not depend on your ambition; it will depend on where you get the local support”.
Yameen nodded in agreement, and said that they haven’t had any losses yet, and have raised a round of investment already, valuing their company at Rs 8.5 crore.
Each of them backed out of the deal, but Peyush bid the founders farewell at a positive note. Addressing Yameen, he said, “It’s like looking at a mirror, you are me. You are saying everything I would have said 10 years back. The detailed customer-focused obsession you have, I have not seen in Shark Tank in four years.” In the end, the two entrepreneurs walked away with no deal, but loads of positive wishes.
Curve Electric’s pitch stood out not just for its business potential but also for the pride it brought to Kashmir. The team’s efforts reflect the entrepreneurial energy brewing in the Valley, proving that innovation knows no boundaries, Sheikh Yameen observed.
He said that the overwhelming response from the sharks and viewers alike has bolstered Curve Electric’s vision and opened doors for new opportunities. By fusing modern solutions with the rich cultural backdrop of Kashmir, the startup is paving the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future, leaving an indelible mark on India’s entrepreneurial landscap
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Ehsan Fazili, Srinagar / January 11th, 2025
AI-generated image of Lal Mohammad Badshah and his volunteers
Every Sunday morning, a group of volunteers gathers on the banks of the Ganga in Bithoor, near Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Armed with bags and baskets, they pick up garbage, plastic waste, discarded offerings, and other debris from the river and its ghats.
Leading this weekly mission is Lal Mohammad Badshah, a man whose life has become synonymous with the protection of the sacred river. For the past 35 years, he has dedicated himself to keeping the Ganga clean. A Muslim by faith, Badshah gave up a well-paying government job, chose to remain unmarried, and devoted his life to serving the river he reveres as Mother Ganga. A few years ago, he even stopped wearing footwear as a mark of respect for the river.
Known locally as the “Guardian of the Ganga,” Lal Mohammad Badshah has broken religious stereotypes and emerged as a symbol of environmental conservation and communal harmony.
Bithoor occupies a special place in Hindu tradition. According to Sanatan beliefs, it is the birthplace of Luv and Kush, the sons of Lord Ram. It is also believed that Maharshi Valmiki composed the Ramayana here. The shrine of Mata Sita Ki Rasoi (Mother Sita’s Kitchen) continues to attract thousands of pilgrims and tourists from across the country.
The Ganga flows past 52 ghats in Bithoor, drawing a steady stream of devotees who come to take a holy dip in its waters. It is this sacred landscape that has become the centre of Lal Mohammad Badshah’s devotion and life’s work.
Sharing his journey with Awaz-The Voice, Badshah said, “I had a secure and well-paying job at a government fertiliser plant. Life was comfortable. But my attachment and reverence for Maa Ganga grew so strong that I decided to leave everything behind and dedicate my life to her service.”
After resigning from his job, he committed himself fully to the cleanliness and protection of the river.
To carry forward his mission, Badshah formed the Ganga Suraksha Dal (Ganga Protection Squad), a group of eight to ten local volunteers. Every Sunday, members of the squad gather at the ghats and undertake extensive cleanliness drives.
As news of their efforts spread, people from neighbouring districts, including Unnao, began joining the campaign. What started as a small initiative has gradually evolved into a community movement.
The group’s work extends beyond cleaning the river and its banks. Members also keep a vigil against poachers and work to protect fish and other aquatic life in the Ganga.
Despite the growing support, Lal Mohammad Badshah has never accepted donations for his mission.
A practising Muslim who is often seen wearing a skullcap, Badshah earns his livelihood by operating a small tourist boat on the Ganga. After leaving his government job, he turned to ferrying pilgrims and visitors along the river.
His boat, furnished with mattresses and cushions, offers tourists a comfortable ride while introducing them to the spiritual and historical significance of Bithoor. The modest income from these rides sustains both his personal needs and his environmental campaign.
Visitors are often surprised to hear him greet people with “Ganga Maiya Ki Jai” (Hail Mother Ganga).
When asked how fellow Muslims reacted to his devotion to the river, Badshah replied, “Faith and devotion are matters of personal conviction. I have a spiritual connection with the Ganga.”
He recalls that in the beginning, some people from his community mocked him and questioned his actions. However, as they witnessed his sincerity, selflessness, and dedication, attitudes began to change.
“Today,” he says, “people respect the work we are doing. Service to humanity and nature is above all divisions.”
Over the years, Badshah’s story has gained widespread attention on social media, where thousands of people have praised his commitment and spirit of service.
Among the many tributes, social media user F.S. Parmar described him as a “King of Kings.” Manoj Kumar wrote that while water cleanses the body, truth purifies the mind, knowledge refines the intellect, and righteousness elevates the soul.
Ashish Sharma commented that true strength lies in devotion and service, while Rajendra Chauhan described Badshah as a “Badshah” (King) not only in name but also in character.
Another user, Rajat, offered a heartfelt prayer: “May Allah grant you a long life, and may Mother Ganga always keep you safe in her embrace.”
Pankaj Thapliyal observed that the Ganga is not merely a religious symbol but a life-giving river for all humanity. Sunita Kumari compared Lal Mohammad Badshah to historical figures such as Raskhan and Rahim—Muslim poets who became celebrated devotees of Lord Krishna.
Today, the historic Rani Lakshmi Bai Ghat in Bithoor has become the Badshah’s permanent base. He spends most of his day there, overseeing cleanliness efforts, meeting visitors, and sharing his message of environmental stewardship and communal harmony.
For many who visit Bithoor, Lal Mohammad Badshah is no longer just a boatman or a volunteer. He has become a living example of how devotion, service, and love for nature can transcend religious boundaries and bring communities together.
source: http://www.awazthevoice.in / Awaz, The Voice / Home> Stories / by Malick Asghar Hashmi, New Delhi / June 10th, 2026
National Children Award winner Mohammad Hussain was felicitated by the Patna district magistrate of Patna Shirsat Kapil Ashok on Saturday. Seventeen-year-old Hussain is a resident of the Patthar ki Masjid area of east Patna. He makes toys from waste material and natural products.
He received the award for his exceptional skills in handcrafted arts under the Art and Culture category from the President of India Droupadi Murmu on January 22.
The Patna district administration, in a statement, said the award conferred to Hussain is a matter of honour for Patna and Bihar.
He is one of the 19 children who were bestowed with this prestigious award called Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar.
This award is given to children aged between five and eighteen years in six categories- Art and Culture, Bravery, Innovation, Education, Social Service and Sports. Hussain has won several accolades in state and national-level competitions. His father is a file binder while her mother is involved in sewing work.
Hussain imparts training in handicrafts and painting to the children of his neighborhood and slum areas.
Hussain has been getting training in handicrafts from the Bihar government-run Kilkari Bal Bhavan for the last six years. He has learnt many handicrafts from the summer camps of Kilkari. He has shown his skills in making useful products from waste material with natural things during state and national level competitions.
He has been awarded for handicrafts by the Government of India. He has shown his art in an online national Rangoli competition during Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav in 2021. He got a gold medal award for his indigenous toys during a national art competition in 2022. Last year he presented his indigenous toys to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ programme.
Hussain is pursuing his Intermediate in Sciences course in the final year. He has a dream to study at the National Institute of Design (NID) and learn more about designing toys and making such indigenous toys which are fast becoming extinct.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Pride of the Nation> Awards> Markers of Excellence / by Md Sami Ahmad / February 18th, 2024
Meet Dr Munkir Hossain, a scholar on a mission to empower the girl child and create religious harmony, hopes that one day India will be led by scholars. A Sufi, who fasts almost throughout the year.
Dr Munkir Hussain in front of the institute cum hostel at a farm in Birbhum District
Kolkata:
If you were to cross him on your way to Birbhum, famous for its terracotta work, you probably wouldn’t give him a second glance. If you saw him tilling the farm land you’ll only see a regular farmer busy at his work. A frail figure in a checked lungi (waist cloth) is a common sight in our country. What is not common though are the achievements of our students from rural India and that too as scientists of international repute.
Yes, of course we have our much admired A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who made his way from a village to achieve great heights as a scientist and went on to become one of India’s most loved and respected Presidents.
Dr Munkir Hossain, the person described above, has been a post doctorate research scholar at various national and international institutes. After schooling from his maternal village at Bhimpur he went to Burdwan University where he did his master’s in Chemistry and followed it up with a PhD and later did post doctorate studies from the prestigious IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Bombay.
Who is Dr Munkir?
“I was born in Khutkail village but there was no school there. Luckily my brother was born soon after my birth so my parents left me at my maternal grandparents’ house in Bhimpur which is just across the Pagla river. There was a primary school too. If that had not happened I would have remained illiterate,” chuckles the scientist as he recalls the fond memories of childhood days.
He credits his teachers at the village school for instilling in him the values he has and the thirst for knowledge that took him to far flung places and universities such as Taiwan and Japan.
Dr Munkir has over 55 research articles published in national as well as international science journals of great repute.
He is revered by all those who know him or have heard of him. The Vice Chancellor of Aliah University and former Professor, Department of Chemistry at Jadavpur University in Kolkata, Md Ali recalls the days at Burdwan University when he had enrolled for his MSc while Dr Munkir was doing his PhD there, “As an academician from such modest background Dr Munkir has definitely been an inspiration for others. I come from a village myself and seeing Dr Munkir do his PhD at that time seemed like a huge achievement in itself. I used to admire his sincerity and his simplicity. He led a simple life and used to be dressed in very simple attire, wearing the modest chappal (bathroom slippers) to class. He had no political leaning nor do I think he discussed religion. Though my interactions with him were very limited.”
After retirement in 2016 as a senior research scholar Dr Munkir opted to come back to his village.
Dr Munkir Hossain with BSM’s Samirul Islam
After retirement, bought lands and providing free education for girls
At 67, he has given away all his earnings for the education of poor children on a 60 bighas (acres) plot of land that he bought in Bhimpur.
Dr Munkir had started his venture with the aim to empower the girl child. But he ran short of money. His objective is to spread secular knowledge and create scholars who will provide honest leadership.
“Out of the 26 students from our first batch which appeared for the WB Board’s Madhyamik examination this year, 25 secured first division. Five of them scored between 90 to 100 percent and six students scored between 80 to 90 percent,” shares the scientist like a father proud of his children’s achievements.
“His achievements as a scholar are unparalleled yet he lives in oblivion. He does not even own a mobile phone. He spent his money getting his brother’s daughters married and with the rest he bought a plot of land to promote education. He is a Sufi scholar, a Saadhak,” says Samirul Islam, Assistant Professor at Shyampur Siddheswari Mahavidyalaya and President of Bangla Sanskriti Mancha.
Future plan: A maternity hospital
That’s not all. Dr. Munkir also wants to set up a Maatri Sadan (Mother and Child care) hospital that will have women administrators and hopefully women doctors as well. The institute at present provides free education from school till the post graduate level besides free hostel facilities. It occupies 37 bighas. The remaining 23 bighas of the plot will be used for the Maatri Sadan.
“Let’s not forget that our mother is our first teacher. It is on her lap that we get to hear stories and tales of good and bad, right and wrong. Habits formed during childhood last long. It lays the foundation for a healthy outlook and consequently a healthy society. As of now only girls from the local village are getting education here because we don’t have hostel facility for them. I’m hopeful that soon, like the boys who come from far off places, they too will be able to get quality education and hostel facility with wholesome food free of cost,” he shares with conviction.
The scholar reminds us that society is an extension of our family. “We need to improve social values. We are losing our heritage and culture. Even the villages are not free from such degradation. My intention is not just to give my country educated individuals but youth who can rise above vices like corruption and greed for money or power,” says the man who chose to remain unmarried so that he would be free to serve society.
Epitome of simple living and high thinking
For his own sustenance he takes farmland on lease from the villagers and cultivates onion and vegetables and also grows mangoes. “I was born in a very poor family. We barely could manage one meal a day. So I’m a light eater and hunger does not bother me. But I don’t want other children to be deprived. The only way to get out of poverty is through education,” says the scientist in answer to how he manages to lead such a frugal life.
All his life he owned only two sets of pants and shirts and has toured across the globe in them.
The man himself fasts for 360 days a year, hasn’t skipped his prayers since the time his primary school teachers taught him how to pray and sleeps at the mosque. He is critical of such religious preachers who spread hate and create rift between communities. He stresses on the importance of secular knowledge combined with spiritual knowledge to tide over all the ills plaguing our society today.
“What we see around us today is a result of ignorance. I hope more people come forward and join hands with others to create a society that is not just secular but one that thrives on peace and prosperity,” says the scientist turned social activist with a conviction that’s difficult to ignore.
Taking a cue from Tagore’s Ekla Chalo Re, which Dr Munkir quoted, the indomitable spirit of the scientist is persistent in its resolve to serve the society. He has joined hands with Bangla Sanskriti Mancha that works for the welfare of downtrodden and has been closely associated with the relief work during the lockdown and cyclone Amphan, to provide the relief works to the affected people.
source: http://www.enewsroom.in / eNews Room India / Home> Bengal> Let There Be Light / by Nasreen Khan / July 22nd, 2020
Banner image: Images courtesy of Parveen Shaikh/Whitley Award.
Scientist Parveen Shaikh has been awarded a 2026 Whitley Award by the UK charity Whitley Fund for Nature, recognising her efforts to protect the endangered Indian skimmer along India’s rivers. The award comes with funding to expand her community-led conservation model from Chambal river to Prayagraj, where the Ganga and Yamuna rivers converge.
The Indian skimmer is identified by its vivid orange bill and its habit of flying low over water, skimming the surface to catch fish. India holds over 90% of the world’s population of the bird, with roughly 3,000 individuals, making the country critical to the species’ survival. The birds breed on seasonal sandbars and mid-river islands, making their nests vulnerable to changes in river flow, predators, and human disturbance.
When Shaikh, who works with the Bombay Natural History Society, began her “Guardians of the Skimmer” initiative on the Chambal river, the local Indian skimmer population stood at around 400 individuals in 2017. As of 2025, the population has grown to approximately 1,000. Nest survival has nearly doubled, rising from 14 percent to 27 percent, a direct result of community involvement and scientific monitoring.
“Local guardians help identify new sandbars, monitor nests, and prevent disturbance during the breeding season. Some now proudly refer to the skimmers as “our birds,” which reflects a growing sense of ownership,” says Shaikh.
With the Whitley Award funding, her team will now expand to Prayagraj in Uttar Pradash, a place of cultural significance and also home to breeding populations of Indian skimmers, river lapwings, and little terns. The challenges here include heavy boat traffic, fishing activity, religious practices along the riverbank, and urban pollution all increase pressure on nesting colonies. The team plans to appoint new local guardians, install predator-proof fencing, and use GPS mapping for real-time nest monitoring.
The Whitley Award, also known as the Green Oscars, is given annually to those achieving exceptional success in grassroots community-led protection for threatened species and habitats.
This year, the award includes two Indians among the six winners. In addition to Shaikh, the other winner from India is Barkha Subba who is leading the first grassroots movement to protect the Himalayan salamander and its fragile wetland habitat in the Darjeeling Himalaya, West Bengal.
Read about Parveen Shaikh’s work in Chambal river and the community champions that she works with in this 2021 story on Jagdish, one of the nest guardians.
source: http://www.india.mongabay.com / Mongabay / Home> Global> Beyond Protected Areas / April 30th, 2026
* On the list are 14 Muslim zoologists and scientists
* To date, India has identified 102,718 animal species
* Work is underway to discover new species in ecosystems
* 15 million living species still to be discovered
THE Kolkata-headquartered Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), whose scientists and field staff are engaged in exploring, naming, describing, classifying, and documenting animals from all over the world’s most populous country, has a miserably low number of Muslims – 23 – on its rolls that has a total of 591 officers, administration and field staffers, according to Mohammed Abdul Mannan’s new book, At the Bottom of the Ladder: State Of The Indian Muslims – https://www.amazon.in/dp/B0GF1Q9R25. The book quantifies Muslim presence in 150 key organisations, including Union ministries, departments, and organisations.
The Muslim scientists and zoologists at the ZSI are – Sarfraz Ul Islam Kazmi, Shaikh Rehnuma Sultana, Mohammed Hafiz, Imran Alam, Shabnam Nizamuddin Ansari, Jalil Ahmed, Mohammed Rasmanjani Ali, Anjum Nasreen Rizvi, Rifat Hussain Raina, Jafer Palat, Mohammed Ethtesham Ul Hassan, Ruqiya Bano, and K Bakh Mollah. There are seven Field Assistants from the largest minority community.
Among 82 ZSI scientists are two Muslims – Dr M E Hassan, a Scientist ‘E’ at the Gangetic Plains Regional Centre in Patna, and S R Sultana, Assistant Zoologist at the Freshwater Biology Regional Centre in Hyderabad. Among 98 officials at 15 Regional Centres, eight are Muslims, including two NRCs in Dehradun – Dr. Anjum Nasreen Rizvi, a scientist in Nematology, Helminthology and Molecular Systematics, and Dr S I Kazmi, a scientist in Hymenoptera. The Western Regional Centre in Pune’s four staff members include Dr Muhamed Jafer Palot, a scientist in animal taxonomy with a special interest in birds, reptiles, and butterflies. Dr Anjum Rizvi is the Managing Editor of the Journal of Indian Zoology.
The 108-year-old organisation has been working to understand and investigate the faunal diversity for scientific use and equitable sharing of the benefits of animal resources of the country. Formed in July 1916, it conducts surveys, exploration, and research that lead to the advancement of zoological knowledge. ZSI originated from the establishment of the Zoological Section of the Indian Museum at Calcutta in 1875.
It gradually expanded in terms of its manpower and research programme. Today, India is among the 17 mega-diversity countries of the world, with four biodiversity hotspots, including the Western Ghats/Sri Lanka, Indo-Burma, and the Himalayas. Currently, there are about 1.7 million living species described from all over the world, and another 15 million species are waiting to be discovered. To date, India has been able to describe 102,718 species of animals, and work continues to discover and explain new species, especially from the lower invertebrate groups occurring in various ecosystems. Also, the status of the higher group of animals is studied before their habitats disappeared on the planet Earth.
The country’s custodian of the animal resources has broadened its work in line with the Articles of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), a multilateral treaty focused on conserving biodiversity, promoting its sustainable use, and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. As many as 157 countries signed it, like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The CBD now has 196 countries as signatories, including India.
To take the agenda further up, India also enacted the Biological Diversity Act in 2002 to implement the provisions of CBD, which covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. To support the implementation of its objectives, two internationally binding agreements were adopted within the framework of the CBD. The Cartagena Protocol, adopted in 2000 and entered into force three years later, regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs).
The Nagoya Protocol, adopted in 2010 in Japan and entered into force four years later, establishes a legally-binding framework for access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use. Experts say considerably less is done to assess the degree and value of biodiversity without knowing the species involved. The ecosystem’s health also cannot be monitored without recognizing the presence of the individual organisms crucial for the indication of ecological processes.
The ZSI has made extensive surveys across the country, and a large number of specimens have been collected. Of these collections, only about 65 percent have been taxonomically studied. These include the major groups of vertebrates. The organization provides information and vital data for the in-situ conservation of various species in different ecosystems, both within and outside the protected areas. The ZSI provides regular services with regard to permissible limits of legal trading of faunal resources or derivatives thereof, monitoring services on population status of commercially important species, and providing inputs for underutilised, culturable species, both from terrestrial and aquatic systems.
A part of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, it also undertakes Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with special reference to ecology and wildlife. Zoological surveys worldwide are crucial for understanding and managing biodiversity. These surveys involve various methods to collect data on animal populations, behaviour, and habitats, including field observations, monitoring programs, and advanced techniques like DNA analysis and satellite tracking.
There are about 1.7 million living species described from all over the world and another 15 million species are waiting to be discovered. Based on the largest dataset to date, the global Living Planet Index (LPI) shows an average 73 percent decline in monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020. It reports that there has been a large average decline across more than 34,000 animal populations. In 2024, ZSI set up a pilot project to use eDNA (environmental DNA) to study and monitor wildlife.
Data analysis of the 2010-2020 decade reveals that a total of 4,112 species — 2,800 new species and 1,312 new records in 2020, India added 557 new species to its fauna, which included 407 new species and 150 new records, according to a document by the ZSI. The number of faunal species in India has climbed to 1,02,718 species with the discovery of the new species. There is no definitive, universally agreed-upon number for the total number of animal species in the world.
Estimates range from three million to 100 million. However, the most common estimates fall between seven and 10 million. About 1.5 million animal species have been formally described and named by scientists. The ZSI publishes the Red Data Book on Indian Animals, which was first published in 1983 and is similar to the Red Data Book published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network known for producing authoritative reports, standards, and tools for conservation.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change awarded a major research project to Professor Atiqur Rahman, Head of the Department of Geography at Jamia Millia Islamia. The project focuses on studying the reduction of urban heat through the presence of water bodies and tree cover. The research carries a funding allocation of Rs 47.46 lakh.
The study will examine three Indian cities located in different climatic zones. These include Kolkata with a warm and humid climate, Bengaluru with a temperate climate, and Udaipur with a semi arid climate.
Urban areas across India face rising temperatures due to the urban heat island effect. Built up surfaces, reduced vegetation, and the loss of water bodies increase surrounding temperatures. These changes intensify heat stress and increase health risks. Low income and marginalized communities face greater exposure to these conditions.
The project aims to measure the role of water bodies and tree cover in lowering urban temperatures. Natural elements such as vegetation and water surfaces support cooling through shade and evaporation. These features help maintain surface energy balance and reduce heat accumulation in cities.
Researchers view these elements as nature based solutions which support climate adaptation in urban environments. The findings will contribute to policies related to urban environmental planning and climate resilience.
The research also supports national climate policy goals. It aligns with the National Action Plan on Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on creating safe and sustainable cities under the Vision Viksit Bharat 2047 initiative.
Professor Rahman has worked on multiple international and national research collaborations. His work covers urban environmental management, climate change, water resources, and disaster management. He has guided thirteen doctoral researchers and produced eighteen books along with two hundred research papers.
source: http://www.radiancenews.com / Radiance News / Home> Latest News> Report / by Radiance News Bureau / March 10th, 2026
Kirugavalu Village (Malvadi Taluk, Mandya District), KARNATAKA :
Passionate efforts
Farmer Syed Ghani Khan has brought back the use of traditional varieties even as farmers are lured into buying unsustainable varieties.
Some farmers have been the victims of forceful marketing and have opted for commercial varieties of rice and other crops promoted by seed firms.
In effect, they have switched from native varieties — which suit the soil and climatic conditions — to the ones that consume more water and fertilisers, and are easy prey for insects and pests. But it does not take farmers long to realise that the yield comes down after a few years, leaving the soil toxic.
Remedy lies in returning to traditional grains. But wooing farmers away from commercially promoted seeds, fertilisers and insecticides is a task.
Syed Ghani Khan, a farmer from Kirugavalu, a village in Mandya district, has been pursuing that task as a lifetime passion.
He has set up a museum in his village home by setting apart two rooms for the purpose.
He has conserved over 700 varieties across 15 and more acres of land. These crops are harvested carefully, and the panicles laden with grain are bunched, marked with names and numbers, and arranged systematically on the walls of the two-room museum.
Some of them are even stored in bottles to be given away to farmers around the village to experiment with the heritage crops they lost in the race to boost harvest with new varieties.
Khan is a graduate from Mysore University with a degree in Archaeology and Museology. After completing his studies in Mysuru, Khan joined his father in tending to his farm.
He was pained at the sight of farmers getting addicted to industrial products and giving up the traditional varieties and practices.
He took up the task of preserving traditional seeds in packets and supplying them to those who were converts to his cause. Yet, he was not satisfied with what he did. He thought he needed more systematic efforts to create awareness about the usefulness of the old varieties and the supply of seeds.
According to Khan, continuous onslaught of publicity for industrial farm products has misled farmers into switching over to newer seeds — be it cereals, lentils, vegetables or fruits. This has led to enmasse shift to high-yielding varieties like MTU-1001, IR-64, Jaya etc.
Khan says traditional varieties hold the key to sustainable farming that is less expensive, does not erode the fertility of the soil. “In our pursuit of bumper harvest, we have damaged the soil and have made paddy an aquatic crop, which it is not,” he laments.
He began collecting varieties like Rajmudi, Ghamgadale, Doddibatta, Parimala Sanna, Basmati, Ratnachudi, Gandhasale, Mysore Mallige, Jeerige Sanna, Burma Black, Rasakdam, Thai Jasmine etc in earnest. Several of these varieties harbour medicinal properties while others emit aroma while being cooked.
According to Khan, varieties such as Doddibatta, Ghamgadale and Biddi Doddi can be grown in farms that receive just one or two spells of shower.
Ratnachudi, HMT, NMS-II are high-yielding traditional varieties while Jeerige Sanna, Rasakdam, Gandha Sale, Parimala Sanna and Mugadh Sugandh turn aromatic while being cooked.
He says most of the seeds of paddy varieties collected by him have a shelf life of 18 months. In contrast to the practice of preserving seeds in freezers, he applied on-field conservation methods where no synthetic chemicals were used.
Propagator
Farmers from all over South India have been approaching him for seeds of the native varieties.
Shiv Prasad, who has a farm in the outskirts of Hyderabad, took seeds of nearly 200 varieties from him. He has since been a promoter of the cause in his region.
Khan maintains a meticulous record of all those who have procured seeds from him. During the last two decades, nearly 10,000 farmers have accessed supplies from him.
Krishna, a farmer from a village in Maddur taluk, is a regular visitor to his farms. Rachanna, from Hosamalangi village in T Narsipura taluk, successfully grows around 25 varieties in his farm. He had visited him a decade ago.
A corner of his museum displays several medals, certificates and awards. He was conferred with Krishi Pandit Prashasti by the Govt of Karnataka (2008). National Genome Seed-saver Recognition Award was conferred on him a year later by Plant Protection Variety Forum. Govt of Karnataka chose him for ‘Biodiversity Award’ in 2010, while Directorate of Rice Research in Hyderabad presented him ‘Rice Innovative Farmer Award’ for the year 2011-12.
Ghani Khan says one should not be surprised to find one variety being replaced by another after every 40 km as India is home to thousands of varieties of rice.
He says several of them carry medicinal properties.
He says while Karigajivili and Ambe Mohur from Karnataka are said to be good for lactating mothers, Navara of Kerala is good for those who have joint pain. While Mappillai Samba from Tamil Nadu improves virility, Mehdi is held to be good for healing of bone fracture. Khaima provides relief for those suffering from piles.
Mangoes, too
Ghani Khan has taken up the conservation of native varieties of mango, too. He has registered himself with the National Bureau for Plant Genetics, New Delhi.
He has trees that have been there in the family farm for the last six to seven generations. These trees yield native varieties like mosambi ka aam (tastes like sweet lime); seb ka aam (tastes like apple); pheeka aam (bland mango) for those with diabetes; kaale malghoba, bada gola; mangamari; manji bi pasand and mittmia pasand.
His family has been supportive of his efforts and to this day help him in maintaining their farms and marketing the produce.
Womenfolk of his family use paddy in making decorative art.
Syed Ghani Khan can be reached on 9901713351 or muhinuha786@gmail.com
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herala / Home> India> Karnataka / by M A Siraj / October 12th, 2019
