Forest & Biodiversity

While, globally, it is the loss of forests that is a major issue, in India it is forest degradation that remains the biggest challenge. Our work focuses on promoting sustainable forest management, providing practical solutions towards generating finance through carbon trading from forests, and supporting the livelihood of forest dependent communities. We also work towards engaging communities for biodiversity conservation and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict through policy and scientific measures.

forest

NEW IN FOREST & BIODIVERSITY

  • forest wood

    Article

    Rehabilitation services at RMP for converting red mud dump yard into green cover

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  • village-community
     

    Article

    Carbon finance is a way to conserve India's tigers and their habitat

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  • nagaland biodiversity

    PUBLICATION

    A Tradition in Transition: Understanding the Role of Shifting Cultivation for Sustainable Development of Northeast India

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  • nagaland hunter

    Article

    Firewood Consumption and Forest Degradation in Himalayan states: A Review of Research Gaps

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  • Social Impact Assessment

    Opinion

    To maintain sustainability, gram sabhas have to be empowered

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Projects

Articles

Critically Endangered Forest Owlet: Under Threat from Habitat Loss

Forest owlets are an endemic species to India. They are found only in small pockets of forest patches in India, and nowhere else in the world. The species were thought to be extinct, until a group of scientists rediscovered the species, and then started working on them. The forest owlets are threatened by severe habitat loss and development projects, apart from changes in climate. Sharada Balasubramanian writes about the birds, their rediscovery and how their habitat is threatened by ancient climate change and landscape modification.

Rajaji National Park: A Biodiversity-rich Landscape in the Lap of River Ganga

Rajaji National Park is a magnificent ecosystem nestled in the Shivalik range and the beginning of the vast Indo-Gangetic Plains, representing rich floral and faunal diversity. The Park constitutes an important repository of the wild fauna and the last refuge of a number of threatened animal species in the lesser Himalayan zone and upper Gangetic plains. Considering the abundance of nature's bounties heaped in and around the Park, the area attracts a large number of wildlife conservationists, nature lovers, and eco-tourists.

The Elf of Plants They Call Mushroom

Thomas Carlyle had said once, 'Thou fool! Nature alone is antique, and the oldest art a mushroom; the idle crag thou sittest on is six thousand years of age.' Isn't it a fact that we haven't yet grown big enough to realize the benevolence of nature that has long been arming us to the teeth against all odds?

Carbon finance is a way to conserve India's tigers and their habitat

Mr Yatish A Lele

Ahead of International Tiger Day on 29th July, our ecologist Yatish Lele highlights TERI's efforts to measure the value of ecosystem services in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh, reducing human-wildlife conflict in protected areas of India, and public awareness towards wildlife conservation.

Biodiversity, Pandemics, and the Web of Life

TERI Web Desk

India can restore biodiversity in urban and rural areas by creating green corridors in cities and rejuvenating water bodies in rural areas.

Events

Tata Projects delegation visit at TERI Gwal Pahari Campus

August 9, 2024
to August 9, 2024

On August 9, 2024, TERI welcomed Tata Projects’ delegation to its Gwal Pahari Campus for a comprehensive overview of TERI’s research work and sustainable practices. The visit aimed to align with Tata Projects’ sustainability goals and Tata Group’s Aalingana initiative, which is the north star of Tata Group’s sustainability journey.

COP26 Charter of Actions: Virtual Stakeholder Roundtable on Nature-based Solutions

August 26, 2021
to August 26, 2021

Accelerating economic growth along with equitable recovery is fundamental to sustainable development and climate action. Under the presidency of United Kingdom in partnership with Italy, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), to be held from 1–12 November 2021 in Glasgow will aim at mobilising action on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, and aligning them with sustainable development goals.

Linkages of Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) with institutions of community participation and Panchayati Raj Institutions

April 8, 2021
to April 8, 2021

Participants at the webinar will deliberate on issues arising in governance of forest, biodiversity and wildlife in light of multiplicity of institutions and regulatory regimes at the local level

Linkages of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) with Institutions of Community Participation and Panchayati Raj Institutions

April 5, 2021
to April 5, 2021

This webinar would deliberate on the issues of overlapping regulatory regime and multiplicity of institutions in the context of Joint Forest Management in India

Linkages of Van Panchayats with institutions of community participation and Panchayati Raj institutions

March 25, 2021
to March 25, 2021

The webinar will hold discussions on challenges and issues of overlapping regulatory regime and multiplicity of institutions in the context of Van Panchayats of Uttarakhand.

Linkages of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) with institutions of community participation and Panchayati Raj institutions

March 19, 2021
to March 19, 2021

The webinar will focus on discussions around overlapping mandates and jurisdiction of different institutions leading to conflicts at various levels of community-based governance on management and conservation of natural resources

News

Carrying capacity study for Goa coast in progress: Goa minister Aleixo Sequeira

July 2, 2024 |
July 2, 2024
The Hindustan Times

The Goa government is in the process of conducting a carrying capacity survey for the coastal belt with the help of the National Institute of Oceanography to understand the environmental impacts of the state's tourism industry, state environment minister Mr Aleixo Sequeira said on 2 July 2024 during the 50th anniversary function organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Is pine the real ‘Villain’ in the Uttarakhand forest fire saga?

June 28, 2024 |
June 28, 2024
Carbon Copy

Mr Yogesh Gokhale, a biodiversity expert and senior fellow with the New Delhi based The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) says that the invasive nature of pine, which is causing significant changes to the landscape of Himalayan forests, cannot be ignored. Multiple types of pine can be found in the Himalayan region, but the Chir Pine specifically poses a significant concern. It is significantly changing the composition of the forest landscape in Uttarakhand. The regeneration of species, namely the Oak, is being impeded due to the presence of pine needles on the ground.

TERI to set up institute in Guwahati to conserve Eastern Himalayan natural resources

June 27, 2024 |
June 27, 2024
Mint

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is planning to set up an institute in Guwahati in collaboration with the government of Assam to conserve natural resources in the eastern Himalayas, one of the world's most biodiversity-rich regions, a top official said. This comes after TERI, an independent, not-for-profit this February announced that it would set up a world class institute on energy transitions in Hyderabad in collaboration with the union power ministry. Setting up a second institute in Guwahati is another step in that direction.

Pine needle power projects to check Uttarakhand forest fires prove to be inadequate

May 24, 2024 |
May 24, 2024
The Hindu

Despite the potential, there are many challenges on the ground in Uttarakhand's forests that result in only a miniscule proportion of the available pine needles being collected. Experts have said despite the potential, there are many challenges on the ground in Uttarakhand's forests that result in only a miniscule proportion of the available pine needles being collected.

AAU signs MoU on carbon financing project to benefit farmers

May 11, 2024 |
May 11, 2024
The Hills Times

The Assam Agricultural University signed a memorandum of understanding with TERI and ReNew Power Synergy Private Limited to work on a project to plant one crore trees in 10 districts of the state for carbon financing to benefit farmers.

NATIONAL YOUTH DAY: Environmental Education needs to take centrestage to achieve sustainability goals

January 12, 2024
| Dr Livleen K Kahlon
| The Times of India

It is crucial to shape the youth's behaviour for promoting sustainable choices in decision-making, says Dr Livleen K Kahlon, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, Environment Education and Awareness Division, TERI.

Policy

Meeting the challenges of human-wildlife conflict reconciliation in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve

February 6, 2020

Human-wildlife conflict (HWC) leads to the bearing of direct as well as indirect economic costs of conflict by the communities. Such losses can seriously dent the incomes of concerned community members and result in increased antagonism towards conservation in general.

Carbon finance: Solution for mitigating human–wildlife conflict in and around critical tiger habitats of India

January 29, 2020

Our study in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh indicates to the fact that use of Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards (CCBS) approach to generate carbon finance can yield 8 times more finance than just considering the aspect of carbon sequestration.

Minimum Support Price of Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and Its Sustainable Harvest: A Social Safety Measure for MFP Collectors in India

February 15, 2018

Forests in India are treated primarily as social and environmental resource, and only secondarily, as commercial resource. More than 300 million people derive full or partial livelihood and sustenance need from forests. Many a times, communities are compelled to harvest forest produce unsustainably due to lack of adequate finance to meet their day to day life supporting needs. With such large population dependent on forest resources, the minor forest produce (MFP) sector is India’s largest unorganized sector.

Persistent organic pollutants in Indian environment: a wake-up call for concerted action

January 11, 2018

India has a comprehensive apparatus of environmental laws. However, the lack of an integrated approach to the regulation of chemicals, poor management of pollution, and the fundamentally retrospective vision have resulted in ineffective implementation of the laws as demonstrated by the example of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the environment.

Services

Carbon sequestration potential and biodiversity assessment

We undertake study for companies to estimate the carbon sink and other co-benefits including the biodiversity conservation from the plantation activities carried out in and around the companies premises.

Capacity building for management of natural resources

We undertake work on various institutional issues relating to participatory forest management, and have major interests in the study of forest-based livelihoods and benefit-sharing at the community level.

Team

Senior Director, Land Resources
Associate Director, Centre for Sustainable Land Management
Area Convenor, Centre for Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services
Area Convenor, Sustainable Services Management
Area Convenor, Centre for Geospatial Technology Application