Three engineers, including two of Indian-origin, are set to produce eco-friendly polymers using material from shrimps, mushrooms and other organisms to produce high-impact multilayered coatings that can protect soldiers in the battlefield from getting shot.

Two Indian-American engineers along with another at the University of Houston are using chitin -- a derivative of glucose found in the cellular walls of arthropods and fungi -- and 3D printing techniques to produce the coatings.

The coatings can protect soldiers against bullets, lasers, toxic gas and other dangers,&nbsp;Indian-American Alamgir Karim, Dow Chair Professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, told PTI.

Chitin offers promise as a commonly available material that could be processed and used in some products that now require petroleum-based plastics. They would be biodegradable by design, so they could decompose and return to Mother Nature.

Karim serves as director of the International Polymer and Soft Matter Centre and of the materials engineering programme at the university. He is principal investigator on the project, funded by a USD 660,000 grant from the US Department of Defence. Another Indian-American Venkatesh Balan, assistant professor of engineering technology, along with Megan Robertson, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, are co-principal investigators.

The work will also have applications beyond the military, potentially expanding its environmental benefits.

Chitin is the primary component of cell walls in fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods, including crustaceans, insects and mollusks. It's also found in fish scales. It can be harvested and processed to produce chitosan, or de-acetylated chitin, a fiber that is also produced and sold as a dietary supplement to treat obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and Crohn's disease.

Chitosan is easier to handle than the brittle chitin.

A stable source of chitosan polymers will be just the beginning.

Robertson will determine how to alter the atomic composition at the surface of the chitosan in order to improve how it interfaces with the functional layers. Her research includes designing sustainable and biodegradable polymers derived from renewable resources.

That enhanced compatibility between the chitosan and the polymer will improve the coating's ability to trap gas or absorb the impact from a projectile.

Karim is engineering a multilayer system that will be comprised of a hardened impact-resistant layer; an energy-absorbing crush layer reminiscent of the way modern cars are designed to crumple on impact, safeguarding the passenger capsule; a layer to absorb toxic gas, with charcoal nanoparticles dispersed in the chitosan; and a textile adhesion layer, which will bind the coating to canvas and other textiles.

That will involve 3D printing different chitin nanoparticles and chitosan-fabricated or reinforced crush-zone design structures and testing them to determine their ability to withstand an impact.

(with inputs from PTI)

Three engineers, including two of Indian-origin, are set to produce eco-friendly polymers using material from shrimps, mushrooms and other organisms to produce high-impact multilayered coatings that can protect soldiers in the battlefield from getting shot.

Three engineers, including two of Indian-origin, are set to produce eco-friendly polymers using material from shrimps, mushrooms and other organisms to produce high-impact multilayered coatings that can protect soldiers in the battlefield from getting shot. Two Indian-American engineers along with another at the University of Houston are using chitin -- a derivative of glucose found in the cellular walls of arthropods and fungi -- and 3D printing techniques to produce the coatings. The coatings can protect soldiers against bullets, lasers, toxic gas and other dangers, Indian-American Alamgir Karim, Dow Chair Professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, told PTI. Chitin offers promise as a commonly available material that could be processed and used in some products that now require petroleum-based plastics. They would be biodegradable by design, so they could decompose and return to Mother Nature. Karim serves as director of the International Polymer and Soft Matter Centre and of the materials engineering programme at the university. He is principal investigator on the project, funded by a USD 660,000 grant from the US Department of Defence. Another Indian-American Venkatesh Balan, assistant professor of engineering technology, along with Megan Robertson, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, are co-principal investigators. The work will also have applications beyond the military, potentially expanding its environmental benefits. Chitin is the primary component of cell walls in fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods, including crustaceans, insects and mollusks. It's also found in fish scales. It can be harvested and processed to produce chitosan, or de-acetylated chitin, a fiber that is also produced and sold as a dietary supplement to treat obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and Crohn's disease. Chitosan is easier to handle than the brittle chitin. A stable source of chitosan polymers will be just the beginning. Robertson will determine how to alter the atomic composition at the surface of the chitosan in order to improve how it interfaces with the functional layers. Her research includes designing sustainable and biodegradable polymers derived from renewable resources. That enhanced compatibility between the chitosan and the polymer will improve the coating's ability to trap gas or absorb the impact from a projectile. Karim is engineering a multilayer system that will be comprised of a hardened impact-resistant layer; an energy-absorbing crush layer reminiscent of the way modern cars are designed to crumple on impact, safeguarding the passenger capsule; a layer to absorb toxic gas, with charcoal nanoparticles dispersed in the chitosan; and a textile adhesion layer, which will bind the coating to canvas and other textiles. That will involve 3D printing different chitin nanoparticles and chitosan-fabricated or reinforced crush-zone design structures and testing them to determine their ability to withstand an impact. (with inputs from PTI)

Team of three, including two Indian-Americans, to create bulletproof coatings from nature

Several extremely rare snow leopards have been spotted on the outskirts of Kazakhstan's biggest city during the lockdown imposed due to the novel coronavirus, wildlife activists say, calling for more measures to protect the endangered species.

Rare snow leopards spotted in Kazakh city amid lockdown

Millions of cicadas are set to emerge in the United States after spending 17 years underground.

Cicadas, which come out periodically will start showing up across the southwestern parts of the United States like Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

This was witnessed earlier in 2003 and 2004, with some areas witnessing the recurrence in 2013, the BBC reported.

The projected number of insects per acre of land is currently 1.5 million, which could fluctuate.

<h6><img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5b1e3cb4-469b-40e4-abeb-0e66b439a075" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-3_6.jpg" /> 
A child holds up a cicada in Alexandria, Virginia 14 May 2004&nbsp;| AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

Living most of their lives underground as “nymphs”, cicadas are the longest-living insects in the world.

Cicadas survive underground by feeding on the roots of trees for over 12 to 17 years, which varies according to the species.

Classified as 15 “broods”, the current brood (Brood IX) is showing up this year as part of their 17-year cycle.

The nymphs grow out to create mud tubes “cicada huts” and through this permeate out of the soil, after which they mate.

<h6><img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2c42333b-66e7-428f-ad6a-d3e48e6babaa" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-4_3.jpg" /> 
5 year old Chase Harrison holds up a cicada he caught near his home in Alexandria, Virginia 14 May 2004 | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The cicadas do not harm humans and are consumed by animals and birds as food.

However, the cicadas are capable of causing damage to trees. In their short lifespan of two to four weeks, adult cicadas attack trees like apple, peach, cherry, and pear.

The females lay eggs on vines.&nbsp;The male cicadas sing by vibrating their membranes on their stomach in a bid to attract females.

Millions of cicadas are set to emerge in the United States after spending 17 years underground. Cicadas, which come out periodically will start showing up across the southwestern parts of the United States like Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

Millions of cicadas are set to emerge in the United States after spending 17 years underground. Cicadas, which come out periodically will start showing up across the southwestern parts of the United States like Virginia, North Carolina, and West Virginia. This was witnessed earlier in 2003 and 2004, with some areas witnessing the recurrence in 2013, the BBC reported. The projected number of insects per acre of land is currently 1.5 million, which could fluctuate. A child holds up a cicada in Alexandria, Virginia 14 May 2004 | AFP Living most of their lives underground as “nymphs”, cicadas are the longest-living insects in the world. Cicadas survive underground by feeding on the roots of trees for over 12 to 17 years, which varies according to the species. Classified as 15 “broods”, the current brood (Brood IX) is showing up this year as part of their 17-year cycle. The nymphs grow out to create mud tubes “cicada huts” and through this permeate out of the soil, after which they mate. 5 year old Chase Harrison holds up a cicada he caught near his home in Alexandria, Virginia 14 May 2004 | AFP The cicadas do not harm humans and are consumed by animals and birds as food. However, the cicadas are capable of causing damage to trees. In their short lifespan of two to four weeks, adult cicadas attack trees like apple, peach, cherry, and pear. The females lay eggs on vines. The male cicadas sing by vibrating their membranes on their stomach in a bid to attract females.

Cicadas to swarm southwestern US after 17 years

One year old orphan bears Bradley and Cooper were released into the wild on Saturday (May 2) after being trained on how to make it on their own.

Young orphan bears released from sanctuary into the wild in Greece

With people locked inside their homes, nature is healing. The internet is flooded with delightful visuals of animals venturing into urban spaces. But the Coronavirus lockdown is also a threat to many of these animals. Pets are being abandoned due to misinformation about how the virus spreads, and thousands of strays have been left without food due to the lockdown. This report on Wide Angle looks at how COVID-19 has affected wildlife and domestic animals across the world. We also look at the measures that must be taken to contain other such zoonotic diseases in the future.

Coronavirus caused by 'disrespecting' animals? | Coronavirus lockdown

As the world observes the International Day for Monuments and Sites, also known as World Heritage Day on 18 April, we bring you top 5 breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites that are worth visiting.

Top 5 World Heritage Sites to Visit

Bird watchers across the world have brought to notice a natural catastrophe.

Thousands of birds like swallows and swifts that were migrating to Europe from Africa as part of their yearly cycles have been killed by high winds that have taken over Greece.

Hundreds of birds were found in Athens’ streets, with many residents reporting finding corpses in their balconies. Further up, dead birds were found in the Aegean islands and in a lake located close to the port of Nauplia in the Peloponnese.

“It’s a major disaster,” Maria Ganoti of the wildlife protection group Anima told AFP on Thursday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="winnows.com/india-news/79-per-cent-decline-in-indian-species-of-birds-study-281435" hreflang="en">79 per cent decline in Indian species of birds: Study</a>

“Over the last three days because of high winds in the north and over the Aegean Sea, thousands of small birds have been found dead or gravely injured,” she added.

“The night of April 5-6 was disastrous for migrating birds due to strong winds, low temperatures and rain in some regions”, The Greek ornithologist association said.

“Southerly winds pushed flocks of birds from north Africa into air currents from the north of the Aegean sea and particularly the islands”, the association added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="winnows.com/world/north-american-bird-population-fell-by-quarter-over-50-years-study-250699" hreflang="en">North America&nbsp;lost&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;3&nbsp;billion birds&nbsp;over 50 years: Study</a>

“To escape, exhausted birds, mainly swallows and swifts, which catch flying insects for food, headed for the Greek mainland”, it further said.

In their statement, the association has put forward requests to people for exercising caution when moving about in the streets, where tired birds seek temporary refuge after flying for thousands of kilometres.

Thousands of birds migrate towards northern territories during spring, and towards souther areas in autumn.

Bird watchers across the world have brought to notice a natural catastrophe. Thousands of birds like swallows and swifts that were migrating to Europe from Africa as part of their yearly cycles have been killed by high winds that have taken over Greece.

Bird watchers across the world have brought to notice a natural catastrophe. Thousands of birds like swallows and swifts that were migrating to Europe from Africa as part of their yearly cycles have been killed by high winds that have taken over Greece. Hundreds of birds were found in Athens’ streets, with many residents reporting finding corpses in their balconies. Further up, dead birds were found in the Aegean islands and in a lake located close to the port of Nauplia in the Peloponnese. “It’s a major disaster,” Maria Ganoti of the wildlife protection group Anima told AFP on Thursday. Also read: 79 per cent decline in Indian species of birds: Study “Over the last three days because of high winds in the north and over the Aegean Sea, thousands of small birds have been found dead or gravely injured,” she added. “The night of April 5-6 was disastrous for migrating birds due to strong winds, low temperatures and rain in some regions”, The Greek ornithologist association said. “Southerly winds pushed flocks of birds from north Africa into air currents from the north of the Aegean sea and particularly the islands”, the association added. Also read: North America lost nearly 3 billion birds over 50 years: Study “To escape, exhausted birds, mainly swallows and swifts, which catch flying insects for food, headed for the Greek mainland”, it further said. In their statement, the association has put forward requests to people for exercising caution when moving about in the streets, where tired birds seek temporary refuge after flying for thousands of kilometres. Thousands of birds migrate towards northern territories during spring, and towards souther areas in autumn.

Thousands of migratory birds killed by strong winds over Europe

Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims.

According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago.

The new findings from Bolivia claim that plants were grown in south-west Amazonia.

Earlier data tells us that the Middle East, China, Southwest Mexico and Northwest South America served as cultivation hotpots after the last ice age.

“[Previous work] identified south-west Amazonia as a potential centre of domestication because in this area they found a lot of wild relatives of domesticated plants,” said Dr Umberto Lombardo of the University of Bern, one of the authors of the research.

<h6><img alt="pp" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ec3bd585-4c20-4b59-9b9d-ded96f6e788c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-8.jpg" /> 
Handout picture released by SETEC (Science and Technology Secretary of Amapa State) showing the biggest Dinizia excelsa tree, known in Brazil as Angelim vermelho, found in the Paru State Forest which is shared by the northern Brazilian states of Amapa and Para in the Amazon basin, on August 20, 2019 | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

The authors shared their findings in the journal Nature, where they claimed to have used a variety of sources, including Google Earth to investigate over 6,600 forest islands.

Out of the 82 soil samples, 60 showed signs of human inhabitance. They found charcoal, shells, and bone fragments in the areas.

They further investigated the area and found that 4,700 forest islands were inhabited by human beings, where they got rid of their waste.

“They are places where people just threw their rubbish after eating or whatever they did,” said Lombardo.

This process must have gone on for over a thousand years.

Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims. According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago.

Humans may have begun cultivation of plants over 10,000 years ago, a new research claims. According to scientists, the Amazon basin witnessed cultivation of squash and cassava over 10,000 years ago. The new findings from Bolivia claim that plants were grown in south-west Amazonia. Earlier data tells us that the Middle East, China, Southwest Mexico and Northwest South America served as cultivation hotpots after the last ice age. “[Previous work] identified south-west Amazonia as a potential centre of domestication because in this area they found a lot of wild relatives of domesticated plants,” said Dr Umberto Lombardo of the University of Bern, one of the authors of the research. Handout picture released by SETEC (Science and Technology Secretary of Amapa State) showing the biggest Dinizia excelsa tree, known in Brazil as Angelim vermelho, found in the Paru State Forest which is shared by the northern Brazilian states of Amapa and Para in the Amazon basin, on August 20, 2019 | AFP The authors shared their findings in the journal Nature, where they claimed to have used a variety of sources, including Google Earth to investigate over 6,600 forest islands. Out of the 82 soil samples, 60 showed signs of human inhabitance. They found charcoal, shells, and bone fragments in the areas. They further investigated the area and found that 4,700 forest islands were inhabited by human beings, where they got rid of their waste. “They are places where people just threw their rubbish after eating or whatever they did,” said Lombardo. This process must have gone on for over a thousand years.

Inhabitants of the Amazon basin may have cultivated plants 10,000 years ago

Nature has unleashed its healing touch amid a nationwide lockdown in India. New Delhi has entered its 3rd week of clean air. The residents of Jalandhar woke up to the sight of the majestic Himalayas. WION's Palki Sharma gets you more.

Gravitas: Nature unleashes healing touch in India | Coronavirus Lockdown

Berlin zoo's newly born twin panda cubs made their public debut on Wednesday, attracting flocks of visitors, who also expressed their concerns and best wishes to China's Wuhan City as it fights the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak.

Berlin zoo's panda cubs make public debut five months after birth

Mexico's at-risk bees have found a new oasis in the southern state of Oaxaca. Threatened by pesticides, intensive agriculture and the effects of climate change, a sanctuary of sunflowers set up by local farmers could be a literal lifesaver for the black and gold insects.

Sunflower sanctuary, hope for bees in southern Mexico

Deadly Australian bushfires haze Sydney

Australia will offer farmers hurt by drought up to A$1 billion ($688.10 million) in cheap loans, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday (November 7), as the government seeks to curb rising discontent from rural voters.

Australia offers drought ravaged farmers up to $688 million in cheap loans

An Alaska law promoting fossil fuel development infringes on the constitutional rights of young residents to a healthy environment, a lawyer told Alaska Supreme Court justices on Wednesday.

Alaska Supreme Court hears climate change lawsuit

Victor, a nine-year-old white-tailed eagle, has been enlisted to raise awareness of climate change with spectacular images of him soaring over the peaks in his Alpine home which has already been hard hit by the rise in global temperatures.

Victor the eagle's bird's eye view of Alps raises awareness of climate change

On Wednesday (September 25), smoke filled the air in Santa Elena, choking the few remaining residents that haven't yet evacuated in an effort to hold on to the homes they desperately hope won't be destroyed as blazes sweep through the area.

Bolivians flee as fires engulf forests

A group of foreign reporters on a trip to Syria organised by the Russian Defense Ministry were on Wednesday shown an elaborate network of caves in the strategic northwestern Idlib province said to have been used as a major rebel base.

Journalists see caves formerly used by rebels

The chief of an indigenous tribe in the heart of the world's largest rainforest - the Amazon - said on Monday (September 09) illegal loggers were causing damage to a protected area.

'They're taking all the riches from indigenous lands' - illegal loggers spoil pristine Amazon forest

Bolivia's President Evo Morales joined firefighters in Santa Rosa on Tuesday (August 27) to help crew put out wildfires, as the country struggles to contain blazes across Bolivia.

President Evo Morales joins firefighters to battle wildfires in Bolivia

Prime Minister Modi reiterated the importance of nature on the occasion of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/world-environment-day-indian-missions-create-awareness-across-the-world-223976">World Environment Day</a>.

In a tweet on Wednesday PM Modi said, "Our planet and environment is something we all cherish greatly. Today on #WorldEnvironmentDay, we reiterate our commitment to ensure a cleaner planet."

"Living in harmony with nature will lead to better future".

The prime minister also posted a video where he emphasised on the importance of planting saplings.

In the video, he said planting saplings is not enough and people have to take care of it till it becomes a tree.

President Ram Nath Kovind also reaffirmed the commitment to a cleaner and sustainable planet, adding that living in harmony with nature is a part of the Indian ethos.

"On World Environment Day, we reaffirm our commitment to a cleaner and sustainable planet. Living in harmony with nature is a part of the Indian ethos. India is committed to addressing climate change and bequeathing a greener, eco-friendly habitat to our children," President Kovind wrote on his Twitter handle.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, BJP leader and former finance minister Arun Jaitley appealed people to plant trees."Plant trees on this World," he tweeted along with an image saying everyone must act as an agent of change and save the Earth and environment for future generations.

World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5.&nbsp;It is the United Nation's principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. It is organised around a theme in order to draw attention towards pressing environmental issues.

The theme for this year is "Beat Air Pollution" and the host nation is China.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Modi reiterated the importance of nature on the occasion of World Environment Day. In a tweet on Wednesday PM Modi said, "Our planet and environment is something we all cherish greatly.

Prime Minister Modi reiterated the importance of nature on the occasion of World Environment Day. In a tweet on Wednesday PM Modi said, "Our planet and environment is something we all cherish greatly. Today on #WorldEnvironmentDay, we reiterate our commitment to ensure a cleaner planet." "Living in harmony with nature will lead to better future". The prime minister also posted a video where he emphasised on the importance of planting saplings. In the video, he said planting saplings is not enough and people have to take care of it till it becomes a tree. President Ram Nath Kovind also reaffirmed the commitment to a cleaner and sustainable planet, adding that living in harmony with nature is a part of the Indian ethos. "On World Environment Day, we reaffirm our commitment to a cleaner and sustainable planet. Living in harmony with nature is a part of the Indian ethos. India is committed to addressing climate change and bequeathing a greener, eco-friendly habitat to our children," President Kovind wrote on his Twitter handle. Meanwhile, BJP leader and former finance minister Arun Jaitley appealed people to plant trees."Plant trees on this World," he tweeted along with an image saying everyone must act as an agent of change and save the Earth and environment for future generations. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5. It is the United Nation's principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. It is organised around a theme in order to draw attention towards pressing environmental issues. The theme for this year is "Beat Air Pollution" and the host nation is China. (With inputs from agencies)

PM Modi, President Kovind commit for cleaner and sustainable planet on World Environment Day

Revamping global food production, retooling the financial sector, moving beyond GDP as a measure of progress and other "transformative changes" are needed to save nature and ourselves, a major UN biodiversity report is set to conclude.

Delegates from 130 nations wrap up week-long negotiations in Paris Saturday on the executive summary of a 1,800-page tome authored by 400 scientists, the first UN global assessment of the state of nature -- and its impact on humanity -- in 15 years.

The bombshell Summary for Policymakers, to be unveiled on May 6, makes for very grim reading.

Up to a million of Earth's estimated eight million species face extinction, many of them within decades, according to a draft version obtained by AFP.&nbsp;

All but seven per cent of major marine fish stocks are in decline or exploited to the limit of sustainability. At the same time, humanity dumps up to 400 million tonnes of heavy metals, toxic sludge and other waste into oceans and rivers each year.

Since 1990, Earth has lost 2.9 million hectares -- an area more than eight times the size of Germany or Vietnam -- of forests that play a critical role in absorbing record-level CO2 emissions.

The heavily negotiated text does not make explicit policy recommendations, but will serve "as a basis for redefining our objectives" ahead of a key meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in China next Fall, said Yunne Jai Shin, a researcher at the Research Institute for Development in Marseilles.

But the pressure to set clear targets -- similar to the cap on global warming in the 2015 climate treaty inked in the French capital -- has sparked calls for a "Paris moment" on biodiversity.

'Harmful subsidies'

The new report details how humans are undermining Earth's capacity to produce fresh water, clean air and productive soil, to name a few "ecosystem services".

The direct causes of nature's degradation -- in order of importance -- are shrinking habitat and land-use change, hunting for food or illicit trade in body parts, climate change, pollution, and predatory or disease-carrying alien species such as rats, mosquitoes and snakes.

"There are also two big indirect drivers of biodiversity loss and climate change -- the number of people in the world and their growing ability to consume," Robert Watson, chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), told AFP ahead of the meeting.

The way humanity produces, distributes and consumes food -&nbsp;accounting for a third of land, 75 per cent of freshwater use and a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions -- is especially destructive, the report shows.

Fertiliser use, which degrades the soil's ability to grow plants and absorb CO2, has risen four-fold in just 13 years in Asia, and doubled worldwide since 1990.

"Feeding the world in a sustainable manner entails the transformation of food systems," the report notes.

Local food production, less demand for meat, fewer chemical inputs, use of renewable power, sustainable limits for fisheries, a sharp decline in tropical deforestation -- all are feasible and would help restore nature.

The report also spotlights "harmful subsidies" that encourage environmentally damaging fishing, agriculture, livestock raising, forestry and mining.&nbsp;

A downward spiral&nbsp;

The report cites estimates that tax havens finance about 70 per cent of vessels implicated in unregulated fishing and an equal share of the soy and beef sectors that are ravaging the Amazon.

The summary for policymakers maps out what Watson calls "several plausible futures," some inviting, others less so.

One labelled "economic optimism" sees burgeoning international trade unfettered by regulation. Population growth slows, but per capita consumption is high, leading to more climate change and pollution.&nbsp;

A "reformed markets" variant would feature more policies aimed at poverty alleviation and protecting the environment, but consumer demand remains high if more equally distributed.

"Global sustainable development" would see politicians and the public prioritise environmental issues and strict regulations. Policies and education promote low population growth, sustainable production and a concept of progress based on well-being, not just gross domestic product (GDP). People eat a lot less meat, and energy consumption declines.&nbsp;

"All variations of this archetype are beneficial for biodiversity," the underlying report says.

In a kindred world, international institutions weaken, but regional ones pick up the slack toward the same ends.

Finally, the last two scenarios -- "business-as-usual" and "regional competition" -- plunge the planet into a nightmarish, downward spiral of conflict, growing inequality and continuing degradation of nature.

Revamping global food production, retooling the financial sector, moving beyond GDP as a measure of progress and other "transformative changes" are needed to save nature and ourselves, a major UN biodiversity report is set to conclude.

Revamping global food production, retooling the financial sector, moving beyond GDP as a measure of progress and other "transformative changes" are needed to save nature and ourselves, a major UN biodiversity report is set to conclude. Delegates from 130 nations wrap up week-long negotiations in Paris Saturday on the executive summary of a 1,800-page tome authored by 400 scientists, the first UN global assessment of the state of nature -- and its impact on humanity -- in 15 years. The bombshell Summary for Policymakers, to be unveiled on May 6, makes for very grim reading. Up to a million of Earth's estimated eight million species face extinction, many of them within decades, according to a draft version obtained by AFP. All but seven per cent of major marine fish stocks are in decline or exploited to the limit of sustainability. At the same time, humanity dumps up to 400 million tonnes of heavy metals, toxic sludge and other waste into oceans and rivers each year. Since 1990, Earth has lost 2.9 million hectares -- an area more than eight times the size of Germany or Vietnam -- of forests that play a critical role in absorbing record-level CO2 emissions. The heavily negotiated text does not make explicit policy recommendations, but will serve "as a basis for redefining our objectives" ahead of a key meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in China next Fall, said Yunne Jai Shin, a researcher at the Research Institute for Development in Marseilles. But the pressure to set clear targets -- similar to the cap on global warming in the 2015 climate treaty inked in the French capital -- has sparked calls for a "Paris moment" on biodiversity. 'Harmful subsidies' The new report details how humans are undermining Earth's capacity to produce fresh water, clean air and productive soil, to name a few "ecosystem services". The direct causes of nature's degradation -- in order of importance -- are shrinking habitat and land-use change, hunting for food or illicit trade in body parts, climate change, pollution, and predatory or disease-carrying alien species such as rats, mosquitoes and snakes. "There are also two big indirect drivers of biodiversity loss and climate change -- the number of people in the world and their growing ability to consume," Robert Watson, chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), told AFP ahead of the meeting. The way humanity produces, distributes and consumes food - accounting for a third of land, 75 per cent of freshwater use and a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions -- is especially destructive, the report shows. Fertiliser use, which degrades the soil's ability to grow plants and absorb CO2, has risen four-fold in just 13 years in Asia, and doubled worldwide since 1990. "Feeding the world in a sustainable manner entails the transformation of food systems," the report notes. Local food production, less demand for meat, fewer chemical inputs, use of renewable power, sustainable limits for fisheries, a sharp decline in tropical deforestation -- all are feasible and would help restore nature. The report also spotlights "harmful subsidies" that encourage environmentally damaging fishing, agriculture, livestock raising, forestry and mining. A downward spiral The report cites estimates that tax havens finance about 70 per cent of vessels implicated in unregulated fishing and an equal share of the soy and beef sectors that are ravaging the Amazon. The summary for policymakers maps out what Watson calls "several plausible futures," some inviting, others less so. One labelled "economic optimism" sees burgeoning international trade unfettered by regulation. Population growth slows, but per capita consumption is high, leading to more climate change and pollution. A "reformed markets" variant would feature more policies aimed at poverty alleviation and protecting the environment, but consumer demand remains high if more equally distributed. "Global sustainable development" would see politicians and the public prioritise environmental issues and strict regulations. Policies and education promote low population growth, sustainable production and a concept of progress based on well-being, not just gross domestic product (GDP). People eat a lot less meat, and energy consumption declines. "All variations of this archetype are beneficial for biodiversity," the underlying report says. In a kindred world, international institutions weaken, but regional ones pick up the slack toward the same ends. Finally, the last two scenarios -- "business-as-usual" and "regional competition" -- plunge the planet into a nightmarish, downward spiral of conflict, growing inequality and continuing degradation of nature.

'Move beyond GDP,' suggests UN report to fix nature and avoid human misery

Discovery of spiky-necked dinosaur divulged

*By Anne Cleary

The environmental movement is shifting away from focusing solely on raising awareness about environmental issues. Many environmental agencies and organisations now also aim to connect people with nature, and our new research suggests daily doses of urban nature may be the key to this for the majority who live in cities.

Every year in the United Kingdom the Wildlife Trusts run the 30 Days Wild campaign. This encourages people to carry out a daily “random act of wildness” for the month of June. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently launched its #NatureForAll program, which aims to inspire a love of nature.

This shift in focus is starting to appear in environmental policy. For example, the UK’s recent 25-year environment plan identifies connecting people with the environment as one of its six key areas. Similarly, in Australia, the state of Victoria’s Biodiversity 2037 plan aims to connect all Victorians to nature as one of two overarching objectives.

The thinking behind such efforts is simple: connecting people to nature will motivate them to act in ways that protect and care for nature. Evidence does suggest that people who have a high nature connection are likely to display pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours.

Looking beyond the park

What is less clear is how to enhance an individual’s nature connection – that is feeling that they are a part of nature. Over half of all people globally, and nine out of ten people in Australia, live in urban environments. This reduces their opportunities to experience and connect with nature.

Our new study may offer some answers. A survey of Brisbane residents showed that people who experienced nature during childhood or had regular contact with nature in their home and suburb were more likely to report feeling connected with nature.

The study used a broad definition of urban nature to include all the plants and animals that live in a city. When looking to connect urban residents with local nature we need to take a broad view and look “beyond the park”. All aspects of nature in the city offer a potential opportunity for people to experience nature and develop their sense of connection to it.

The study also looked at the relationship between childhood and adult nature experiences. Results suggest that people who lack childhood experience of nature can still come to have a high sense of nature connection by experiencing nature as an adult.

There have been focused efforts on connecting children to nature, such as the Forest Schools and Nature Play programs. Equal effort should be given to promoting adult nature experiences and nature connection, particularly for people who lack such experiences.

The benefits of nature experience

We still have much to discover about how an individual’s nature connection is shaped. We need a better understanding of how people from diverse cultural and social contexts experience and connect to different types of nature. That said, we are starting to understand the important role that frequent local experiences of nature may play.

In addition to boosting people’s sense of nature connection, daily doses of urban nature deliver the benefits of improved physical, mental and social wellbeing. A growing evidence base is showing that exposure to nature, particularly in urban environments, can lead to healthier and happier city dwellers.

Robert Dunn and colleagues have already advocated for the importance of urban nature experiences as a way to bolster city residents’ support for conservation. They described the “pigeon paradox” whereby experiencing urban nature, which is often of low ecological value – such as interactions with non-native species – may have wider environmental benefits through people behaving in more environmentally conscious ways. They proposed that the future of conservation depended on city residents’ ability to experience urban nature.

As new evidence emerges we need to build on this thinking. It would seem that the future of our very connection to nature, our wellbeing and conservation depend on urban people’s ability to experience urban nature.

*Anne Cleary is a Research Fellow, School of Medicine at the Griffith University.

(This article was originally published on <a href="https://theconversation.com/ca">The Conversation</a>. Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-daily-doses-of-nature-in-the-city-matter-for-people-and-the-planet-106918">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

*By Anne Cleary The environmental movement is shifting away from focusing solely on raising awareness about environmental issues. Many environmental agencies and organisations now also aim to connect people with nature, and our new research suggests daily doses of urban nature may be the key to this for the majority who live in cities.

*By Anne Cleary The environmental movement is shifting away from focusing solely on raising awareness about environmental issues. Many environmental agencies and organisations now also aim to connect people with nature, and our new research suggests daily doses of urban nature may be the key to this for the majority who live in cities. Every year in the United Kingdom the Wildlife Trusts run the 30 Days Wild campaign. This encourages people to carry out a daily “random act of wildness” for the month of June. The International Union for Conservation of Nature recently launched its #NatureForAll program, which aims to inspire a love of nature. This shift in focus is starting to appear in environmental policy. For example, the UK’s recent 25-year environment plan identifies connecting people with the environment as one of its six key areas. Similarly, in Australia, the state of Victoria’s Biodiversity 2037 plan aims to connect all Victorians to nature as one of two overarching objectives. The thinking behind such efforts is simple: connecting people to nature will motivate them to act in ways that protect and care for nature. Evidence does suggest that people who have a high nature connection are likely to display pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. Looking beyond the park What is less clear is how to enhance an individual’s nature connection – that is feeling that they are a part of nature. Over half of all people globally, and nine out of ten people in Australia, live in urban environments. This reduces their opportunities to experience and connect with nature. Our new study may offer some answers. A survey of Brisbane residents showed that people who experienced nature during childhood or had regular contact with nature in their home and suburb were more likely to report feeling connected with nature. The study used a broad definition of urban nature to include all the plants and animals that live in a city. When looking to connect urban residents with local nature we need to take a broad view and look “beyond the park”. All aspects of nature in the city offer a potential opportunity for people to experience nature and develop their sense of connection to it. The study also looked at the relationship between childhood and adult nature experiences. Results suggest that people who lack childhood experience of nature can still come to have a high sense of nature connection by experiencing nature as an adult. There have been focused efforts on connecting children to nature, such as the Forest Schools and Nature Play programs. Equal effort should be given to promoting adult nature experiences and nature connection, particularly for people who lack such experiences. The benefits of nature experience We still have much to discover about how an individual’s nature connection is shaped. We need a better understanding of how people from diverse cultural and social contexts experience and connect to different types of nature. That said, we are starting to understand the important role that frequent local experiences of nature may play. In addition to boosting people’s sense of nature connection, daily doses of urban nature deliver the benefits of improved physical, mental and social wellbeing. A growing evidence base is showing that exposure to nature, particularly in urban environments, can lead to healthier and happier city dwellers. Robert Dunn and colleagues have already advocated for the importance of urban nature experiences as a way to bolster city residents’ support for conservation. They described the “pigeon paradox” whereby experiencing urban nature, which is often of low ecological value – such as interactions with non-native species – may have wider environmental benefits through people behaving in more environmentally conscious ways. They proposed that the future of conservation depended on city residents’ ability to experience urban nature. As new evidence emerges we need to build on this thinking. It would seem that the future of our very connection to nature, our wellbeing and conservation depend on urban people’s ability to experience urban nature. *Anne Cleary is a Research Fellow, School of Medicine at the Griffith University. (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Why daily doses of nature in the city matter for people and the planet

We tend to think that nature and cities are polar opposites. Yet this is not true. As my research on Bangalore or Bengaluru &ndash; India&rsquo;s IT hub &ndash; shows, for centuries, the population of this region grew because of nature, not despite it.

In my book Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present and Future, I take a deep dive into the ecological history of an Indian city, going way back in the past to the 6th century CE.

Inscriptions on stone and copper plates show that the starting point for a new village was often the creation of a tank, or lake, to collect rainwater &ndash; essential and life-giving in this unfavourable low-rainfall environment. These inscriptions provide fascinating insights into the close relationship that these early residents had with nature. They describe the landscape as consisting of the lakes, the surrounding irrigated and dry land, the &ldquo;wells above&rdquo;, and the &ldquo;trees below&rdquo;. This three-dimensional view of the landscape, consisting of two major resources, water (lake) and food (agriculture), nourished by nature below (in the form of wells) and above (in the form of trees) is a remarkably holistic conception of nature.

Unfortunately, in today&rsquo;s urbanised India, we have lost all trace of this three-dimensional vision.

Declining sources of water

The&nbsp;central areas of Bangalore had 1960 open wells in 1885; today, there are fewer than 50. Bangalore also lost many of its lakes, which were considered to be filthy breeding grounds for malaria, and converted to bus stands, malls, housing, and other built spaces.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/banglore%201-20171027045838.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Sree Kanteerava stadium was built in 1997, where Sampangi lake used to be located before. (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

The city&rsquo;s central Sampangi lake, which supplied water to many parts of Bangalore in the 19th century, was transformed into a sports stadium by the 20th century, leaving behind only a tiny pond for ceremonial religious purposes. As long as lakes and wells supplied water, essential for the activities of daily life, they were worshipped as sacred and protected as life-giving.

Rituals celebrating the overflowing of lakes during the monsoon by paying homage to the lake goddess kept the importance of lakes in the forefront of people&rsquo;s imaginations. But once the piped water began to be provided in the 1890s, these water bodies began to decay. By the end of the 19th century, wells and lakes began to be polluted with garbage, sewage, and even corpses during times of epidemics and disease.

Citizens nurturing nature

What transformed this centuries-long, strong relationship between people and nature? When Bangalore shattered its local loop of dependence by importing water from outside, people forgot the importance of their local sources of water.

Yet, as our research has shown, Bangalore still needs water just as badly for its resilience. The city has grown so large that piped water from distant rivers can no longer supply all its needs.

Thus resurgent citizen movements across Bangalore have begun to focus on protecting and restoring lakes in their neighbourhoods, which will also recharge the water below ground. In some low-income settlements, where adequate water supply is a constant challenge, community wells, once ignored, are now being assiduously protected and maintained as well.

The same pattern &ndash; of an early, close relationship with nature, followed by a break, and later a resurgent interest in the connection &ndash; is also playing out when it comes to trees. Early residents did not only focus on water but also &ldquo;greened&rdquo; this dusty, hot landscape of the dry Deccan plateau. Successive rulers from the 16th century onwards and common citizens planted millions of trees over centuries.

Each settlement was greened with a gundathope&nbsp;&ndash; a woodlot commonly planted with fruiting trees, jackfruit, mango and tamarind &ndash; which provided shade, fruits, firewood for cooking, grazing material for cattle, and occasionally timber as well.

When one tree was chopped down, another was planted to ensure continuity. New areas of the city were assiduously greened by administrators, who planted trees, and residents, who watered and cared for them, benefiting from the services they provided. This practice of greening continued during the British colonial period of governance, and later into the 20th century, after Indian independence. Because of the cool climate of Bangalore &ndash; in part due to its location on a plateau, but also because of its lakes and trees, created, planted and nurtured by local residents and rulers over centuries &ndash; the city became a chosen location for the British army, and later as a science and industrial hub in south India.

It is no accident that Bangalore, once called India&rsquo;s lake city and garden city, became the country&rsquo;s IT capital.

Soaring temperatures and rising air pollution

By the late 20th century, this relationship had begun to fray. With rapid growth, roads and other built infrastructure gained importance in the minds of planners. As a consequence, trees were disregarded and felled in their thousands for development projects in Bangalore.

Inevitably, with more private vehicles on the road, and fewer trees, the city became hotter, and the air severely polluted. Citizens soon realised this connection. So did academics. Our research, for instance, demonstrated that trees cool the air by 3 to 5&ordm;C, and reduce the temperature of the road surface by as much as 23&ordm;C, as well as significantly reducing air pollution.

Social media to the rescue

Yet citizen movements did not fade. In the early 21st century, the nonagerian Honnamma Govindayya has become an epitome of struggles to protect Bangalore&rsquo;s environment.

She fought against real estate developers who wanted to convert a local park that her children played in, taking a case all the way to the Supreme Court of India. She won and saved a tiny but very important patch of green from destruction.

Mass citizen protests in recent years have continued and gained significant victories for the city&rsquo;s green cover, including the reversal of a controversial decision to build a steel flyover, which would have destroyed thousands of trees.

Today these movements are strongly supported by social media. In the flyover case, the twitter tag #steelflyoverbeda (&ldquo;beda&rdquo; meaning &ldquo;no&rdquo; in the local language, Kannada) went viral, attracting hundreds of followers.

Social media has provided an easier way for once-isolated groups of people to connect and coordinate, and often to ratchet up public pressure on nature-blind administrators. Who knows how many would have supported Honamma Govindayya if she had a Twitter account then?

Understanding the history of nature reveals a very different picture from the preconceived idea that, at least in countries like India, where the pressures of development and growth are so large, nature and cities cannot coexist.

Today, this perspective on the ecological history of Bangalore can help city-dwellers worldwide understand why nature in the city is not just important for the metropolis&rsquo;s past, but also essential for its resilient future.

<figure>
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-cities-were-natures-haven-a-tale-from-bangalore-85411" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" target="blank">original article</a>.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia
</figure>

With the pressures of rapid growth and development cities in India are losing its ecological balance

We tend to think that nature and cities are polar opposites. Yet this is not true. As my research on Bangalore or Bengaluru – India’s IT hub – shows, for centuries, the population of this region grew because of nature, not despite it. In my book Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present and Future, I take a deep dive into the ecological history of an Indian city, going way back in the past to the 6th century CE. Inscriptions on stone and copper plates show that the starting point for a new village was often the creation of a tank, or lake, to collect rainwater – essential and life-giving in this unfavourable low-rainfall environment. These inscriptions provide fascinating insights into the close relationship that these early residents had with nature. They describe the landscape as consisting of the lakes, the surrounding irrigated and dry land, the “wells above”, and the “trees below”. This three-dimensional view of the landscape, consisting of two major resources, water (lake) and food (agriculture), nourished by nature below (in the form of wells) and above (in the form of trees) is a remarkably holistic conception of nature. Unfortunately, in today’s urbanised India, we have lost all trace of this three-dimensional vision. Declining sources of water The central areas of Bangalore had 1960 open wells in 1885; today, there are fewer than 50. Bangalore also lost many of its lakes, which were considered to be filthy breeding grounds for malaria, and converted to bus stands, malls, housing, and other built spaces. Sree Kanteerava stadium was built in 1997, where Sampangi lake used to be located before. (Others) × The city’s central Sampangi lake, which supplied water to many parts of Bangalore in the 19th century, was transformed into a sports stadium by the 20th century, leaving behind only a tiny pond for ceremonial religious purposes. As long as lakes and wells supplied water, essential for the activities of daily life, they were worshipped as sacred and protected as life-giving. Rituals celebrating the overflowing of lakes during the monsoon by paying homage to the lake goddess kept the importance of lakes in the forefront of people’s imaginations. But once the piped water began to be provided in the 1890s, these water bodies began to decay. By the end of the 19th century, wells and lakes began to be polluted with garbage, sewage, and even corpses during times of epidemics and disease. Citizens nurturing nature What transformed this centuries-long, strong relationship between people and nature? When Bangalore shattered its local loop of dependence by importing water from outside, people forgot the importance of their local sources of water. Yet, as our research has shown, Bangalore still needs water just as badly for its resilience. The city has grown so large that piped water from distant rivers can no longer supply all its needs. Thus resurgent citizen movements across Bangalore have begun to focus on protecting and restoring lakes in their neighbourhoods, which will also recharge the water below ground. In some low-income settlements, where adequate water supply is a constant challenge, community wells, once ignored, are now being assiduously protected and maintained as well. The same pattern – of an early, close relationship with nature, followed by a break, and later a resurgent interest in the connection – is also playing out when it comes to trees. Early residents did not only focus on water but also “greened” this dusty, hot landscape of the dry Deccan plateau. Successive rulers from the 16th century onwards and common citizens planted millions of trees over centuries. Each settlement was greened with a gundathope – a woodlot commonly planted with fruiting trees, jackfruit, mango and tamarind – which provided shade, fruits, firewood for cooking, grazing material for cattle, and occasionally timber as well. When one tree was chopped down, another was planted to ensure continuity. New areas of the city were assiduously greened by administrators, who planted trees, and residents, who watered and cared for them, benefiting from the services they provided. This practice of greening continued during the British colonial period of governance, and later into the 20th century, after Indian independence. Because of the cool climate of Bangalore – in part due to its location on a plateau, but also because of its lakes and trees, created, planted and nurtured by local residents and rulers over centuries – the city became a chosen location for the British army, and later as a science and industrial hub in south India. It is no accident that Bangalore, once called India’s lake city and garden city, became the country’s IT capital. Soaring temperatures and rising air pollution By the late 20th century, this relationship had begun to fray. With rapid growth, roads and other built infrastructure gained importance in the minds of planners. As a consequence, trees were disregarded and felled in their thousands for development projects in Bangalore. Inevitably, with more private vehicles on the road, and fewer trees, the city became hotter, and the air severely polluted. Citizens soon realised this connection. So did academics. Our research, for instance, demonstrated that trees cool the air by 3 to 5ºC, and reduce the temperature of the road surface by as much as 23ºC, as well as significantly reducing air pollution. Social media to the rescue Yet citizen movements did not fade. In the early 21st century, the nonagerian Honnamma Govindayya has become an epitome of struggles to protect Bangalore’s environment. She fought against real estate developers who wanted to convert a local park that her children played in, taking a case all the way to the Supreme Court of India. She won and saved a tiny but very important patch of green from destruction. Mass citizen protests in recent years have continued and gained significant victories for the city’s green cover, including the reversal of a controversial decision to build a steel flyover, which would have destroyed thousands of trees. Today these movements are strongly supported by social media. In the flyover case, the twitter tag #steelflyoverbeda (“beda” meaning “no” in the local language, Kannada) went viral, attracting hundreds of followers. Social media has provided an easier way for once-isolated groups of people to connect and coordinate, and often to ratchet up public pressure on nature-blind administrators. Who knows how many would have supported Honamma Govindayya if she had a Twitter account then? Understanding the history of nature reveals a very different picture from the preconceived idea that, at least in countries like India, where the pressures of development and growth are so large, nature and cities cannot coexist. Today, this perspective on the ecological history of Bangalore can help city-dwellers worldwide understand why nature in the city is not just important for the metropolis’s past, but also essential for its resilient future. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Photo Credit: Wikimedia

When cities were nature's haven: A tale from Bangalore

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