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In an era where global biodiversity hotspots are under unprecedented threat, understanding the intricate balance between land use land cover (LULC) changes and their implications on ecosystem services value (ESV) becomes paramount. The region of Jammu and Kashmir, with its distinctive ecological importance, is well known for these challenges and...

This study addresses the concerning mortality of Pinus wallichiana (blue pine), a crucial timber species in the northwestern Himalayas, specifically within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR)––a UNESCO world heritage site in India. Hazard prediction mapping was carried out during the study period (2018–2021) using the MaxEnt program and...

The report assesses the level of public awareness of microplastic pollution and related hazards as well as the current status of microplastic monitoring facilities available in Sri Lanka’s state and private sector institutes, with an emphasis on the public water supply chain and identifying microplastic point sources upstream to ensure safe...

Place attachment and ecocentric attitude are the important determinants of conservation behaviour, especially for traditionally managed landscapes. In this paper, we explore the relationship between place attachment and the ecocentric attitude of farmers engaged in Jhum cultivation ( aka shifting /slash and burn cultivation) in the Zunheboto...

As in many developing countries, waste management is one of the greatest challenges faced by the Maldives. The limited or unavailbility of waste collection services, proper treatment, and disposal systems on the islands often results in dumping household waste on the beach, ocean, and forests and also open burning of waste. These activities are...

CONSERVATION, RESTORATION AND management of forest resources are critical for addressing climate change. Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) are a vehicle for targeted climate actions, including those related to forest management, by countries towards contributing global efforts agreed under the Paris Agreement. Operationalizing climate...

Soil moisture is a critical component for Earth science studies, and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data have high potential for retrieving soil moisture using backscattering models. In this study, polarimetric SAR (PALSAR: Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) data and polarimetric decompositions including span, entropy/H/alpha, and...

This training module was developed as a supplementary training and learning resource for the “Guidelines for Safe Closure and Rehabilitation of Municipal Solid Waste Dumpsites in Sri Lanka,” published by the Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka. The training Module was designed under the guidance of the Secretary, Director, Assistant Director and...

Globally, shifting cultivation is known to be an important driver of tropical deforestation. However, we argue that it can be sustainably managed if the environmental boundary conditions, laid by the traditional customs and practices, are fully respected. We narrate an empirical study from the Zunheboto district of Nagaland, India, where we...

Plastics are part of everyday life for most of the people in the world and it is also used extensively in the industry. Globally about 368 million tonnes are produced annually where Asia accounts for more than half of the global plastic production. Sri Lanka currently imports virgin plastic raw materials for varying applications which amounts to...