Environment

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has prepared a 10-year management plan for Delhi's only wildlife sanctuary — Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in the Aravalli range — revealing that the invasive alien tree species Prosopis Juliflora (Vilayati Kikar) alone covers a staggering 63.48% of the sanctuary's landscape, posing a severe ecological threat. This article explains the WII management plan in detail, the invasive species crisis, the Aravalli–Delhi Ridge ecology, biological invasion impacts, India's legal framework on Invasive Alien Species under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and Convention on Biological Diversity, and the broader conservation challenges facing Delhi's last green lung.

While many parts of India are struggling with the LPG crisis caused by rising prices and supply issues due to the West Asia conflict, the small village of Ekauni in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh remains completely untouched. All 500 residents here cook using piped biogas produced from cow dung in a community plant set up in 2022. The story highlights how a simple, locally managed biogas system can provide reliable and cheap clean cooking fuel to rural families.

On March 28, 2026, the Rajasthan High Court issued an important order banning night safaris and the use of drones, spotlights, torch lights and similar devices in the Jawai Leopard Reserve in Pali district. The court acted on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by local resident Apoorva Agrawat. It directed the state government to ensure no wildlife spotting activities take place after 7 pm or before 6 am. The bench noted that unregulated tourism, especially at night, was causing serious disturbance and stress to leopards and other animals. This order aligns with similar restrictions already followed in places like Ranthambore National Park.

On March 26, 2026, a chick of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) hatched in the grasslands of Kutch, Gujarat, for the first time in nearly ten years. This success came through a special “jumpstart” conservation technique where a fertile egg from a captive breeding centre in Sam, Rajasthan, was transported 770 km by road in a portable incubator and placed in the nest of a wild female GIB in Naliya, Gujarat, replacing her infertile egg. The effort was coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, forest departments of both states, and the Wildlife Institute of India. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia described it as a major milestone for the species.

On March 25, 2026, India released its third set of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, setting fresh climate goals for 2035. The new targets include a 47% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP, 60% share of non-fossil sources in electricity capacity, and creation of an extra 3.5-4 billion tonnes of carbon sink. This update comes at a time when global climate action is slowing due to policy shifts in the United States and lack of enough money from rich countries for climate projects in developing nations.

Israeli airstrikes on March 7-8, 2026, targeted oil storage facilities in Tehran and Alborz province, causing massive fires that released harmful pollutants into the air. This led to "black rain" falling over Tehran on March 8, a mix of rain and toxic particles that has raised serious health and environmental concerns, with the World Health Organization warning of long-term risks like respiratory issues and ecosystem damage.

A new study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) revealed that India's coal-fired power generation fell by 3% in 2025 compared to 2024, marking the first year-on-year decline in half a century without pandemic influence. This shift highlights the rapid rise in clean energy sources like solar and wind, which outpaced overall power demand growth, signaling a potential peak in coal use and supporting India's climate goals.

Renowned ecologist and environmentalist Madhav Gadgil passed away at the age of 83 after a brief illness, leading to renewed discussions on his pioneering 2011 Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) report. This report highlighted the need for strict conservation in the ecologically fragile Western Ghats region, but it faced significant opposition from states and industries, resulting in its partial implementation through a diluted version.

On January 08, 2026, the United States announced its withdrawal from the UNFCCC, a broader step than just leaving the Paris Agreement. This decision could disrupt worldwide climate cooperation, reduce funding and technology sharing for countries like India, and allow China to take a bigger role in leading global climate actions during a time of increasing environmental challenges.

The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife has recommended reinstating the Rhesus Macaque under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, to restore legal safeguards against cruelty, exploitation, and illegal trade, following requests from animal welfare organizations and deliberations on managing growing human-monkey conflicts across several states.

Delhi's air quality plunged to a 'very poor' level with an AQI of 301 on October 27, 2025, prompting the government to prepare for a cloud seeding operation on October 28 if weather permits, aiming to trigger artificial rain and flush out pollutants. In parallel, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enforced a ban on non-BS-VI commercial goods vehicles entering the city from November 1, under GRAP Stage II, to curb rising vehicular emissions as stubble burning and post-Diwali haze intensify the annual winter pollution spike, affecting millions in the national capital.