Feature Article

Pterocarpus santalinus L.f. (Red Sanders) is an endemic and endangered species largely confined to the southern portion of the Eastern Ghats, Andhra Pradesh, India. To understand its ecological and geographic distribution, we used ecological niche modelling (ENM) based on field sample-based distributional information, in relation to climatic and topographic datasets. Before modelling, hierarchical partitioning was used to optimize the choice of variables for better

The IPCC in its Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) described the Himalayan Region as data-deficient in terms of climate monitoring. This is a serious impediment to global research initiatives and thus necessitates long-term ecological monitoring (LTEM) across the Himalaya. Being governed by low temperature conditions, the high-altitude regions in Himalaya are more responsive to changing environmental conditions and hence serve as better indicators.

Characterization, quantification and monitoring of biodiversity have been among the major challenges in biodiversity conservation. Until recently, spatial ecological database in India was almost non-existent. There is need of a robust and quality database of the biological diversity at species, community, ecosystem and landscape levels for identification of vulnerable ecosystems and risk species. In order to have a national level database on the spatial distribution of

Sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn. f.) is a dominant tree species, whose natural range lies between 20–32°N lat. and 75–95°E long., is spread across 10 million ha in India. Species distribution models predict the species geographic ranges from occurrence records and sitespecific environmental data. Here, we have (i) generated the 1960s scenario for sal species on the basis of the existing published literature; (ii) confirmed the species occurrence data using satellite imagery for the

Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is considered as an important mechanism under the UNFCCC aimed at mitigating climate change. The Cancun Agreement on REDD mechanism has paved the way for designing and implementation of REDD+ activities, to assist countries experiencing large-scale deforestation and forest degradation. Contrary to the general perception, the present analysis shows that India is currently experiencing deforestation and forest degradation. According to the latest assessment of the Forest Survey of India, the

In the developing world climate change has far more ramifications than can be addressed by controlling just carbon
emissions. The developed world has stable populations and landscapes, and is thus affected mainly by the air which
spreads democratically without boundaries. On the other hand, the developing world with increasing populations and
consumption is depleting its living natural resource base of water, forest, soils and agriculture, and is poised for a far

White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis) is a critically endangered bird species with a current estimated population size of
around 50–249 mature individuals globally. Namdapha National Park (NNP), Arunachal Pradesh might act as a breeding ground of the species although specific documentation has not been done. It was also recorded in regions of Dholong River and the upper reaches of the Panchnoi River (Pachin River) and Dafla hills in Arunachal Pradesh. (Correspondence)

The closed evergreen forest, called the shola, occurs above 1700 m in patches in the higher hills of South India in the
Nilgiris, Annamalai and Palani hills. Sholas are patches of stunted evergreen tropical montane forests which attain a
low height of about 16–20 m. These forests have high ecological significance in protecting the head waters of rivers by
holding up of water received by precipitation like a sponge, thus preventing rapid run-off. (Correspondence)

Carbon has been building up in the atmosphere. Presently, much emphasis is given on mitigation at ‘source’. But a substantial amount of carbon still remains unabsorbed and enters the atmosphere, causing global warming. This is where ‘sinks’ come in. Our objective should be to maintain a balance between the worldwide sources and sinks of CO2 so that further build-up stops. This has to be our first guiding principle to avoid global warming and prevent climate change. (Correspondence)