Fire plays important role in shaping ecosystem structure and function. Depending upon the complex effects of fire, it can have either beneficial or harmful effects. In this article, we briefly review the potential of satellite remote sensing data for mapping and monitoring vegetation fires.

Close to two-thirds of the world's poorest people live in rural areas. Eradication of rural poverty depends on increased access to goods, services, and information, targets detailed in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. However, alleviating poverty is hindered by two interlinked phenomena: lack of access to improved energy services and worsening environmental shocks due to climate change. Mitigating climate change, increasing energy access, and alleviating rural poverty can all be complementary, their overlap defining an energy-poverty-climate nexus.

Coconut leaf vermiwash (CLV) was produced from actively vermicomposting coconut leaf litter + cow dung substrate (10 : 1 w/w basis) by Eudrilus sp. It significantly increased the seedling vigour index of cowpea and paddy at 1 : 10 and 1 : 15 dilutions in laboratory trials.

This study presents reusing of locally available waste fibrous materials as concrete composites. Mechanical strength properties (compressive strength, split tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and shear strength) of synthetic fibres (nylon, plastic and tyre) with volume fractions (0.5%, 1% and 1.5%) and aspect ratios (30, 60 and 90) were evaluated.

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Be it crop residue or unintended green cover, biomass has several uses in India. It is being promoted for power generation. This is increasing fodder prices. Read this special report by Down To Earth on the biomass economy.

Experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of various vermicomposts produced from agro- and distillation-waste of medicinal and aromatic crops on hatching of eggs of Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood and root-knot disease development in tomato.

Bio seems to be the buzzword of the moment when experts in India talk about the country's future energy supply. India's government wants to put more emphasis on biomass and the industry shows increaseing interest.

Two Laureates of the Rolex Awards, one from the United States, the other from the Philippines, will team up in a bid to devise a fast-track solution to help overcome one of the major drivers of global climate change.

With the increase in paddy cultivation in Northern plains of India due to advanced agriculture technology, the amount of paddy straw has also increased proportionately. According to a recent report 197 lakh tons of paddy straw is being burnt every year only in Punjab state.