Rajasthan’s Menar and Khichan wetlands get the Ramsar tag
On World Environment Day 2025, Khichan in Phalodi and Menar in Udaipur, Rajasthan were added to the list of Ramsar sites. The Menar wetland is a freshwater lake formed by three ponds Braham talab, Dhand talab and Kheroda talab and farmland, which floods during monsoon and becomes home to over 110 species of waterbirds of which 67 are migratory.
The critically endangered white-rumped vulture and long-billed vulture are also found near the wetland. Over 70 plant species are found near the wetland, and the mango trees that surround the Braham talab are a home to a large colony of Indian flying foxes. The site is recognised as one of the best examples of community-led conservation in Rajasthan, and the local community actively protects this area, stopping poaching and fishing.
Khichan wetland, in the Thar Desert, includes a river, pond, scrubland, and riparian zones. It supports over 150 bird species and is famous for attracting more than 22,000 Demoiselle cranes each winter. Villagers help reduce threats to the birds like power line collisions and dog attacks. The site is popular with tourists, birdwatchers, and scientists (Indian Express).
India revamps biodiversity benefit laws
India’s Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have recently introduced new rules about how businesses and people should share benefits when they use natural resources, like plants or animals, especially those used in products or research. The idea is to make sure that communities that provide these resources also get something in return—this is called “Access and Benefit Sharing” (ABS).
The Biological Diversity (Access to Biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulations, 2025 were officially notified on April 29, 2025, following the 2023 amendments to the Biological Diversity Act.
These new regulations aim to streamline the approval process for accessing biological resources, encourage foreign investment, and introduce a tiered benefit-sharing model based on the annual turnover of businesses. Notably, they exempt users of cultivated medicinal plants, codified traditional knowledge, and AYUSH practitioners from the access-benefit sharing (ABS) mechanism. Another major shift is the inclusion of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) as a basis for benefit sharing—an important move in line with global discussions on genetic data use (Mongabay, India).
The ICAR–NIBSM launch the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan
The ICAR–National Institute of Biotic Stress Management (NIBSM) recently wrapped up a weeklong outreach program as part of the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, a nationwide campaign started by the Ministry of Agriculture and ICAR to connect lab innovations with grassroot level agricultural practices. A team of 20 scientists from ICAR-NIBSM visited 49 villages in 10 districts of Chhattisgarh, working with 25 Krishi Vigyan Kendras and the State Agricultural Department.
They reached over 4,100 farmers, promoting eco-friendly farming techniques like Direct Seeded Rice to save water and money, as well as Integrated Pest Management, biofertilisers, biopersticides and biocontrol agents, and natural ways to manage crop stress. Farmers also got hands-on training in natural farming, soil health, seed care, and using fertilisers wisely (Times of India).
Conservationists oppose Kerala’s twin tunnel road project
A proposed Rs 2,043-crore and 8.75-km twin-tunnel road project between Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode and Meppadi in Wayanad to improve connectivity and reduce travel time is facing the ire of conservationists, who claim that the state government secured environmental clearance by concealing crucial ecological and geological facts.
A local environmental group, the Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi (WPSS), has argued that the environmental clearance was granted without full disclosure of critical ecological data—like the presence of endangered species such as the Banasura Laughing thrush and elephant corridors in the area and is preparing to challenge the clearance in the Kerala High Court. Environmentalists warn that the alignment passes through the ecologically fragile terrain in the Western Ghats, prone to landslides and floods.
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has noted the area’s vulnerability, referencing major landslides in 2019 and 2024. It has warned that vibrations from tunnelling could destabilise surrounding slopes and structures and said that approval was conditional on adherence to mitigation recommendations from the CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, with a compliance report due within six months of construction beginning (Down To Earth).
Local residents in Delhi get together to revive their lake
Hauz-i-Shamsi is a historic reservoir in Mehrauli, built in 1230 CE to collect rainwater and provide drinking water. Over time, it became dirty and filled with garbage and wastewater. It became a breeding ground for mosquitoes and had overgrown weeds. People even bathed their cattle in it, and no one knew how to fix it. In 2023, the Archaeological Survey of India and the non-profit SEEDS India teamed up to restore it.
They involved local residents, who formed a group called Pride of Shamsi to help with the cleanup. Now, the five-acre lake has clean water, solar-powered machines to keep it fresh, and floating islands with plants that purify the water. The area is fenced and has become a peaceful place for birds and the community (Mongabay, India).
This is a roundup of news updates from June 1, 2025 to June 15, 2025. Read our policy updates here