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Vegetation cover degradation is often a complex phenomenon, exhibiting strong correlation with climatic variation and anthropogenic actions. Conservation of biodiversity is important because millions of people are directly and indirectly dependent on vegetation (forest and crop) and its associated secondary products. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) propose to quantify the proportion of vegetation as a proportion of total land area of all countries. Satellite images form as one of the main sources of accurate information to capture the fine seasonal changes so that long-term vegetation degradation can be assessed accurately. In the present study, Multi-Sensor, Multi-Temporal and Multi-Scale (MMM) approach was used to estimate vulnerability of vegetation degradation. Open source Cloud computing system Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to systematically monitor vegetation degradation and evaluate the potential of multiple satellite data with variable spatial resolutions. Hotspots were demarcated using machine learning techniques to identify the greening and the browning effect of vegetation using coarse resolution Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of MODIS. Rainfall datasets of Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) for the period 2000–2022 were also used to find rainfall anomaly in the region. Furthermore, hotspot areas were identified using high-resolution datasets in major vegetation degradation areas based on long-term vegetation and rainfall analysis to understand and verify the cause of change whether anthropogenic or climatic in nature. This study is important for several State/Central Government user departments, Universities, and NGOs to lay out managerial plans for the protection of vegetation/forests in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been noticed that Saraca asoca (Roxb. de Wilde) populations are drastically declining in the wild. Conserving such populations is crucial because of the numerous ecological, cultural, and economic values. The purpose of our study was to determine if germination and seedling growth could be improved for globally vulnerable Ashoka populations. The study analyzed the effect of various hydro, mechanical, and chemical pre-sowing treatments on the germination and one-year growth of Ashoka seedlings. Our results demonstrated that mechanical (exposing the seed cotyledons) and soaking of seeds in hot water treatments (60 °C) were better than all other water- and chemical-based pre-sowing treatments used in the study of enhancing germination. Nevertheless, chemical treatments were better for the growth and survival of the seedlings. This methodology offers to restore the scattered populations of Ashoka that are facing the risk of extinction in the wild while successfully meeting the commercial demand for this medicinal tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use of the sub-Himalayan region is not that intensive like the intensively land-managed region of Punjab, India. Land resources of the sub-Himalayas must be managed effectively for sustainable development by preparing carbon inventories and data banks. Such macro-level studies have not been conducted yet in the present study area, and thus were conducted to suggest sustainable land use management options. To achieve the present study's desired goal, 33 tree-based land uses were identified from forested and agricultural landscapes of the sub-humid tropical region of West Bengal, India. Stratified random nested quadrat sampling was adopted for the study. The SOC, biomass, and carbon accumulation significantly differed. Mixed forests had the highest soil primary nutrients and carbon stock. Positive correlations were observed between SOC, total standing biomass, litter production, and ecosystem carbon. The sequence of land uses based on carbon stock was mixed-species forest > sole tree species stands in a forest landscape > tea plantations > homegardens. This baseline information can be used for developing prediction models for future interventions towards sustainable land management. The study, however, could not estimate the carbon fluxes in and out of the systems due to the absence of detailed land use land-cover databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry systems (AFS) and practices followed in India are highly diverse due to varied climatic conditions ranging from temperate to humid tropics. The estimated area under AFS in India is 13.75 million ha with the highest concentration being in the states of Uttar Pradesh (1.86 million ha), followed by Maharashtra (1.61 million ha), Rajasthan (1.55 million ha) and Andhra Pradesh (1.17 million ha). There are many forms of agroforestry practice in India ranging from intensified simple systems of monoculture, such as block plantations and boundary planting, to far more diverse and complex systems, such as home gardens. As a result, the biomass production and carbon sequestration potential of AFS are highly variable across different agro-climatic zones of India. Studies pertaining to the assessment of biomass and carbon storage in different agroforestry systems in the Indian sub-continent are scanty and most of these studies have reported region and system specific carbon stocks. However, while biomass and carbon stock data from different AFS at national scale has been scanty hitherto, such information is essential for national accounting, reporting of C sinks and sources, as well as for realizing the benefits of carbon credit to farmers engaged in tree-based production activities. Therefore, the objective of this study was to collate and synthesize the existing information on biomass carbon and SOC stocks associated with agroforestry practices across agro-climatic zones of India. The results revealed considerable variation in biomass and carbon stocks among AFS, as well as between different agro-climatic zones. Higher total biomass (>200 Mg ha−1) was observed in the humid tropics of India which are prevalent in southern and northeastern regions, while lower total biomass (<50 Mg ha−1) was reported from Indo-Gangetic, western and central India. Total biomass carbon varied in the range of 1.84 to 131 Mg ha−1 in the agrihorticulture systems of western and central India and the coffee agroforests of southern peninsular India. Similarly, soil organic carbon (SOC) ranged between 12.26–170.43 Mg ha−1, with the highest SOC in the coffee agroforests of southern India and the lowest in the agrisilviculture systems of western India. The AFS which recorded relatively higher SOC included plantation crop-based practices of southern, eastern and northeastern India, followed by the agrihorticulture and agrisilviculture systems of the northern Himalayas. The meta-analysis indicated that the growth and nature of different agroforestry tree species is the key factor affecting the carbon storage capacity of an agroforestry system. The baseline data obtained across various regions could be useful for devising policies on carbon trading or financing for agroforestry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial titled "Food security: sustainability and accessibility" published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. The editorial discusses the global food crisis and the need for sustainable and accessible food systems to achieve long-term food security. It highlights various research topics related to food security, including sustainable agriculture, artificial insemination in pig production, food security in coffee-growing communities, agricultural investment in China, women's decision-making in improving nutritional outcomes, urban safety net programs, conservation agriculture, technological adaptability, the impact of Ukraine's war on global food crisis, and the Productive SafetyNet program in Ethiopia. The editorial emphasizes the importance of addressing food insecurity and income inequality in developing countries and provides insights into potential solutions and adaptations to the global food crisis. [Extracted from the article]

Education policy is a very important government policy document to promote basic to higher-level education in the whole country. The government of India has implemented two education policies yet now. The central government has announced his latest third education policy 2020 recently for implementation. This education policy is the first complete policy of the present 21st century, which has replaced the previous policy after 34 years. Under this article country's all three education policies have been deeply analysed in special reference to libraries. The article provides consolidated information on all three Indian education policies and their recommendations in special reference to libraries. This analytical approach provides useful insights into the positivity and drawback of education policies. Given the country's present expectations realistic suggestions and recommendations have been made for the development of a community-oriented library system. This article will provide useful insight and significant outlines to library professionals, educationalists, planners, and policymakers that how the country's libraries can be made more vibrant through new education policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We expected that the indigenous communities of Jaldapara National Park depend on the non-timber forest products (NTFPs), and there would be a relationship between socioeconomic variables and their dependency on NTFPs. The study also documented the gap between prices of NTFP items at the household level and in local markets. Multistage sampling procedures were applied with a sample size of 205. The data collected were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Chi-Square (χ2) test. Insignificant values of Chi-Square (χ2) test reveal that there is no association or relationship of NTFP dependency with the socioeconomic and demographic variables of the respondents. The communities do rely on NTFPs for their daily, sociocultural, and cash requirements and assure a safety net during scarcity. There is a variable contribution of NTFPs to total monthly household income (1-70%). We documented 43 species of NTFPs sold either as raw or as processed form. The NTFPs sold were in the form of twigs, shoot, fruit, seed, leaves, mushroom, and fish. A wide gap exists between the price realized by the community from the sale of NTFPs and those sold in the local markets. This calls for institutional intervention for capacity building and empowering the community for processing or value addition and market intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional knowledge on ethnomedicinal plant is slowly eroding. The exploration, identification and documentation on utilization of ethnobotanic resources are essential for restoration and preservation of ethnomedicinal knowledge about the plants and conservation of these species for greater interest of human society. Methods: The study was conducted at fringe areas of Chilapatta Reserve Forest in the foothills of the eastern sub-Himalayan mountain belts of West Bengal, India, from December 2014 to May 2016. Purposive sampling method was used for selection of area. From this area which is inhabited by aboriginal community of Indo-Mongoloid origin, 400 respondents including traditional medicinal practitioners were selected randomly for personal interview schedule through open-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire covered aspects like plant species used as ethnomedicines, plant parts used, procedure for dosage and therapy. Results: A total number of 140 ethnomedicinal species was documented, in which the tree species (55) dominated the lists followed by herbs (39) and shrubs (30). Among these total planted species used for ethnomedicinal purposes, 52 species were planted, 62 species growing wild or collected from the forest for use and 26 species were both wild and planted. The present study documented 61 more planted species as compared to 17 planted species documented in an ethnomedicinal study a decade ago. The documented species were used to treat 58 human diseases/ailments including nine species used to eight diseases/ailments of domestic animals. Stomach-related problems were treated by maximum number of plants (40 species) followed by cuts and wounds with 27 plant species and least with one species each for 17 diseases or ailments. Maximum number of 12 diseases/ailments was cured by Melia azedarach followed by Centella asiatica and Rauvolfia serpentina which were used to cure 11 diseases/ailments each. Conclusions: The list of 140 plant species indicates that the Chilapatta Reserve Forest and its fringe areas are rich in biodiversity of ethnobotanical plant species. Rauvolfia serpentina were the most valuable species in terms of its maximal use with higher use value. The documentation of 78 species maintained in the home gardens indicates the community consciousness on the conservation values of these ethnobotanical species. The communities should be encouraged with improved cultivation techniques of commercially viable ethnobotanical species through capacity building, timely policy intervention along with strong market linkage. This will ensure income generation and livelihood improvement and ultimate conservation of these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations adopted the Millennium Declaration of September 2009 to improve the global living conditions through reducing poverty and hunger. However, considerable numbers of people are still living in utter penury and are deprived of a dignified living. In such tough circumstances nature's free gift in the form of wild edible foods are benefiting the vulnerable and dependent communities. Wild edible plants (WEPs) are the species those are neither cultivated nor domesticated however are available in their wild natural habitat and used as sources of these plants have played a significant role in the development and civilization of human history throughout the ages and globe. These wild edible plants have played a significant role in supplying food and nutritional requirements of poor communities in many rural parts of the world. These wild edibles can be popularized only when they are compared for their nutritional and health benefits with major or widely used cultivated plants. The social, cultural, religious, and belief system of the rural communities are incomplete without these wild edible plants. Domestication of these wild edible plants can increase their use and their conservation as well. The present review paper has described the wild edible plants in context of their diversity, traditional knowledge, conservation practices and nutritional composition from the available secondary literature. Authors feel there is still scope to incorporate more contextual variables for explaining more variations embedded with local people's perception on values and usage of these wild edible fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Torrubeilla pruinosa, a teliomorph of an anamorphic entomopathogenic fungusHirsutella versicoloron mango hopper (Idioscopus clypealis) was observed. On the infected mango hopper, tiny pin head signs of ascomata were observed. Ascomata ofT. pruinosais pale brown or tawny brown, crowded, immersed in stroma, wall dark golden brown, 260–320 × 230–260 μm, asci clavate, hyaline and thin walled. The ascospores ofT. pruinosaare fusiform, distoseptate with a faint tint of pigmentation, 17.5–25.0 × 5.0–7.5 μm. The anamorph stage ofH. versicolorfungal hyphae is hyaline, septate and profusely branched, and conidiogenous (phialides) cells are hyaline, pear-shaped and smooth-walled with single or double sterigmata and rarely, multiple sterigmata. Each sterigmata bears single conidia which are hyaline, oval to pear-shaped. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article informs about flowering of a species that occurs once in the life cycle of bamboo, and Bambusa nutans is one of the important bamboo species in West Bengal, India and locally known as ‘makhla bas'. Topics include Gregarious flowering in bamboo is an extraordinary phenomenon which can lead to ecological disaster; and aim to collect, conserve and identify suitable bamboo species for the area as well as supply quality planting materials to the growers.

Understanding plant community characteristics is essential for analysing phyto-diversity. This is a basic prerequisite for understanding the structural and functional attributes specific to a location to enable better landscape management. A study was conducted from April 2007 to March 2009 at Chilapatta Reserve Forest in the humid tropical foothills of the Indian eastern Himalayas to obtain comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the plant community based on visual observations of qualitative characteristics. A total of 311 species of plants were recorded which were represented by 167 genera and 81 families. All the shrubs, herbs, climbers and lianas were observed to be evergreen, whereas trees were mostly deciduous. A total of 165 species were either much less present or less frequent. All the climber and liana species were found growing singly while all the fern species were growing in colonies. Unlike tree species, shrubs were found dominantly growing in colonies. Medium/small leaves dominated the forest. Among the tree species, 71.86% were growing intermixed. Tree stratum was dominated by medium height species. Tree species likeTectona grandis,Shorea robusta,Albiziaspp.,Swetenia mahogany,Gmelina arborea,Lagerstroemia parviflora,Bombax ceibaandTerminalia tomentosawere dominant in terms of solar radiation interception without any interference because they occupied the top most layer of the tree stratum/canopy. The forest is dense with no barren areas in its canopy cover intercepting more than 80% PAR. The study indicates not only rich diversity of the plant community but also heterogeneity in its composition and structure. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Livestock are an essential component of lives of rural farmers of India and it is important to assess how proper Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) can lead to improvement in the status of fodder and livestock and in turn improve the livelihood of the poor. The present paper tries to report fodder and livestock status through soil and water conservation taking case of two semiarid districts of Madhya Pradesh in India. The reported improvement in fodder ranged from 30 % to 100 % in Ratlam district and Mandsaur district and most fodder development had taken place in the tribal belt of Ratlam district. The net change observed in number of local breed cows in Ratlam district is 0.37 units of cow/household which implies that almost every third household had purchased a new cow. In Mandsaur district, almost every fifth household had purchased a cow. Net increase in income of Rs. 2214.67 from sale of milk and other products was recorded in Ratlam district and in Mandsaur district it was Rs.1625 in Lower Reaches and Rs. 1278 in Upper Reaches. The paper also suggested the species those utilized for moisture conservation as well as for fodder purpose during lean periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are several low lying singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide radical (O2-) which are important in photochemical oxidation. In our present analysis we are studying chemical property of singlet oxygen (1O2) and super oxide radical (O2- ) and some dyestuffs species to produce reactive oxygen such as singlet oxygen 1O2 and superoxide radicals. Irradiation with sun light in vitro the dyestuff like benzanthrone, metanil yellow and p-aminodiphenylamine were found to produce reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen (1O2) and/or superoxide radicals (O2-). The dose response relationship between singlet 1O2 production when sunlight expose of those dyestuffs (0-25 min), and (0-12 min) for super oxide (O2-) production were studied .However benzanthrone produces detectable amount of 1O2, Although metanil yellow and p-aminodiphenylamine (p-ADPA) did not produce detectable amounts of 1O2 under similar conditions. The above dye stuffs are routinely used in textiles, cosmetics, detergents, leather industries as well as food additives and role of these activated oxygen species in the development of skin diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are various dyestuffs species to produce reactive oxygen such as singlet oxygen O2 and super oxide radicals. Irradiation with sun light in vitro, the dyestuff like benzanthrone, metanil yellow and paminodiphenylamine were found to produce reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen (1O2) and/or superoxide radicals (O2 - ). However benzanthrone produces detectable amount of 1O2 Although metanil yellow and p-aminodiphenylamine (p-ADPA) did not produce detectable amounts of 1O2 under similar conditions. The above dyestuffs are routinely used in textiles, cosmetics, detergents, leather industries as well as food additives. In view of the fact that workers exposed to some of these chemicals during manufacture, pulverization and storage develop edema and even skin cancers in the exposed areas of skin. We believe that activated oxygen species may play a major role in the development of these symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights (PVPFR) Act in India. The legislation is the first in the world to provide formal rights to farmers in a way that their control over genetic resources and their self-reliance in agriculture is not jeopardized. It has also opened up possibilities for developing a platform for regulating breeders' and farmers' rights so that both are acknowledged and safeguarded.