EcoVisionary

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the Environment Audit Rules, 2025 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 on 29th August 2025 . These rules establish a comprehensive framework for environmental auditing in India , creating a new class of independent Certified and Registered Environment Auditors (CEAs/REAs) . For long, India’s environmental compliance system has been criticized for inadequate manpower, weak monitoring, and limited enforcement capacity of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) , State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) , and MoEFCC’s regional offices. The new rules attempt to bridge these gaps by introducing independent professional auditors , comparable to chartered accountants in the financial sector, to improve credibility, transparency, and accountability in environmental monitoring. Statutory Foundation The rules derive authority from multiple legislations: Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 Air (Preve...

Floods are one of the most recurring and devastating natural disasters in India. Every year, millions of people face displacement, crops are destroyed, infrastructure is damaged, and the economy suffers heavy losses. While monsoon rains are vital for India’s agriculture and water resources, they often bring destruction when rainfall exceeds the carrying capacity of rivers, drains, and soils. Added to this are unplanned urbanization, poor drainage, poor dam management, deforestation, encroachment on wetlands, and climate change, which have transformed floods from seasonal events into national emergencies. The recent floods in Kerala (Wayanad, 2024) , Vijayawada (2024) , Assam and Himachal Pradesh (2025) , Uttarakhand (2025) , Punjab (2025) , and Kishtwar in Jammu & Kashmir (2025) show that floods are no longer confined to low-lying river plains. They affect hilly regions, coastal belts, and rapidly expanding cities alike. To address this growing crisis, we need to understand the s...

The Onam Sadhya  is not just a meal, it is a philosophy of food, health, and community that has been preserved for centuries in Kerala. Served traditionally on a fresh banana leaf, it is a grand vegetarian feast of 24–28 dishes, sometimes extending to over 64 in a valla sadhya (grand Sadhya), where purity of ingredients and the spiritual integrity of the chefs are as important as the food itself. During the celebration, people sit cross-legged on mats, eating with their right hand, the cupped palm becoming a natural ladle. This mindful act of eating together transforms a simple meal into a ritual of health, harmony, and unity. From the preparation to the serving, Sadhya embodies sustainability. Traditionally, food was cooked in earthen pots and uruli,  a wide-mouthed bronze vessel that evenly distributes heat and preserves nutrients, adding an earthy aroma to the dishes. Today, while modern cookware often replaces these, in many homes and temples, the use of uruli continues ...

The flesh-eating screwworm ( Cochliomyia hominivorax ), also known as the New World screwworm , has re-emerged as a major public health and agricultural concern in the Americas. This parasitic fly, once eradicated from North and Central America through large-scale control programs, is now spreading rapidly in parts of Central America and Mexico , raising alarms among scientists, governments, and livestock producers alike. In August 2025, the screwworm made international headlines when the first travel-associated human case in the United States was confirmed in Maryland. What is the Screwworm? Unlike most maggots, which feed on dead tissue, screwworm larvae are unique in their ability to consume living flesh . Female flies can lay up to 300 eggs at a time on wounds or natural body openings of warm-blooded animals, including humans. Within hours, the eggs hatch into larvae that burrow into tissue like a corkscrew, causing severe pain, tissue destruction, and even death if untreated....

Environmental DNA, or eDNA , refers to genetic material shed by organisms into their environment through skin cells, hair, feces, mucous, gametes, and other biological secretions. These DNA fragments persist in environmental samples such as water, soil, snow, and even air. By collecting and analyzing these samples, scientists can detect the presence of species without physically observing or capturing them. This technology has emerged as a non-invasive, sensitive, and cost-effective method in conservation biology, allowing researchers to monitor biodiversity, detect invasive species, and track endangered populations with unprecedented accuracy. How eDNA Works The eDNA workflow typically involves the following steps: Sample Collection Sources: water, soil, sediments, snow, ice cores, air (recently developed methods). Sampling tools: sterile bottles, syringes, or specialized pumps. DNA Extraction Laboratory techniques isolate DNA from the collected samples, often usi...