Research Papers

Advancing India’s Agroforestry Potential: Leveraging Technology and Community Approaches for Sustainable Development

Ghosh Sayanta, Sharma Jitendra Vir
| 2024

Agroforestry, a sustainable land management practice integrating trees with crops and livestock, holds immense potential for climate change mitigation and enhancing rural livelihoods in India. This article explores the synergy between advanced Remote Sensing (RS) technologies, such as vegetation indices like NDVI, and participatory approaches involving Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), cooperatives, and other farmer collectives.

Assessing forest biomass changes in Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India with remote sensing and machine learning approaches

Ghosh, Sayanta, Zaidi, A., Chauhan, P., Soni, A., & Sharma, J. V.
| 2024

This study explores the use of remote sensing and machine learning approaches to monitor forest biomass changes in the Pench Tiger Reserve, Maharashtra, India. It integrates Earth observation data and advanced computational models to assess biomass dynamics, providing critical insights into forest management and conservation efforts. The research underscores the potential of geospatial technologies in supporting sustainable practices, biodiversity conservation, and carbon sequestration initiatives, aligning with India's commitments to environmental sustainability.

Turning trash into treasure: conversion of agroresidue rice straw into carboxymethylcellulose biopolymer

Kaur Prabhpreet , Bohidar Himadri B., Williams Richard , Pfeffer Frederick M. , Agrawal Ruchi
| 2024

In the present study, rice straw-derived cellulose was converted into carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) using alkalization followed by an etherification reaction. The synthesis conditions for this chemical modification were optimized such that CMC with a high degree of substitution (1.02) was obtained. Infrared spectra of the synthesized CMC clearly showed an increased intensity of the C═O bond at 1600cm−1, confirming successful carboxymethylation.

Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Diets in India: A Systems Strengthening Perspective

Anand Manish, Sehgal Meena, Gupta Vidhu
| 2023

India is currently in a totally different arena since the Green Revolution era with formidable challenges of nutritional security and sustainability of production systems. To enable a diagnostic analysis of India’s food and land use systems and towards identifying the issues and prospects of the concept of sustainable diets in the Indian context, the book chapter analyses the determinants of sustainable diets from a sustainability and public health perspective.

Reconciling Value Trade-Offs in Advancing Sustainable Development Goals: Risks and Opportunities

Anand Manish, Yerramsetti Srinivas
| 2024

This chapter discusses the centrality of sustainability as a meta-concept shaped by everyday negotiation of the trade-offs between various public values. It uses the political, legal, organizational, and market public values frames to articulate sustainable development as an effort at public value creation.

Enhancing baseline quantification and eligibility assessment for ARR carbon finance projects through remote sensing and GIS

Ghosh Sayanta, Sharma Jitendra Vir
| 2024

Accurate baseline quantification and eligibility assessment are critical in ARR (Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation) carbon finance projects to ensure reliable carbon sequestration outcomes. Leveraging remote sensing (RS) and GIS-based analyses, this approach establishes the eligibility of land for ARR projects, setting baselines for carbon stock assessment and monitoring through time.

Potential of carbon credits in India's agriculture sector: Empowering small farmers for a sustainable future

Ghosh Sayanta, Sharma Jitendra Vir
| 2024

The carbon-credit market presents a significant opportunity for the food and agriculture sector, particularly in India, where 86.1% of farmers are small and marginal. This article explores the basics of carbon credits, differentiating between compliance and voluntary markets, and examines the immense potential of agriculture in generating carbon credits through sustainable practices like agroforestry, conservation tillage, and water-efficient farming.

Empowering Women-led Chitarpur Sewing Cluster with Solar PV in Jharkhand, India

Khanna Palak , Swain Prashanta Kumar , Thakur Amit Kumar
| 2024

The increasing adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, has emerged as a pivotal solution for addressing energy access challenges in rural areas. This paper presents an impact assessment of a Solar PV installation project in the Chitarpur sewing cluster, Ramgarh, Jharkhand, implemented by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). The project aimed to improve energy access for 150 micro and household-based sewing enterprises, addressing challenges in productivity and reliability of power supply.

Roadblocks to Indian Railways’ ‘Mission 3,000 MT’

Chakraborty Rahul, Prakash Shri
| 2024

The share of Indian Railways in domestic freight transport has been declining over time, from 85% in 1951 to less than 30% in 2022. However, Indian Railways has set loading targets of 3,000 million tonnes by 2027 and 3,600 MT by 2030–31, to achieve 45% of freight share by 2030–31. This article analyses the operational characteristics of Indian Railways and identifi es several issues. Sustained dependence on bulk commodities, mainly coal, iron ore, steel, and cement for revenue generation may signifi cantly impact profi tability in the long run.

Remote sensing-based vegetation indices in agroforestry plantation monitoring

Ghosh Sayanta, Sharma Jitendra Vir
| 2024

Agroforestry offers a vital solution for addressing challenges in India's agricultural sector, which is burdened by fragmented landholdings, environmental degradation, and economic vulnerability. With 86.1% of farmers being small and marginal, integrating agroforestry into agricultural practices presents an opportunity for enhancing livelihoods through additional income streams and contributing to climate resilience.