At a time when plants and animals are under threat across the world, nature lovers and conservationists in India have 349 reasons to feel happy. Scientists and taxonomists of the country have discovered 349 new species of flora and fauna in the past one
year — 173 species and genera of plants and 176 species of animals.

The list of new discoveries by the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), both headquartered here, were released on the World Environment Day on June 5.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=72443

One mystery of birds' flight has been solved! The elegance of birds' flight, their seemingly effortless aerial turns and the softness of their landing, have been envied by many people. From countless observations, it has been known that the birds use a
small group of feathers, called "the alula", a thumb-like structure that is present at the bend of the wing, in slow and steep flight such as landing. Why do they use it? How the tiny feathers can help them land softly?

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=72438

New Delhi: India is set to add more solar capacity than wind power for the first time as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks to harness the sun’s rays to curb energy shortages.

Solar installations are on course to exceed 2,500 megawatts in the year though 31 March 2016, topping the 2,400-megawatt target for wind, according to interviews with officials from India’s ministry of new and renewable energy.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=72451

New Delhi: Indiscriminate hunting, especially in China, has led to the rapid decline of the population of bird yellow-breasted bunting, a migratory bird that visits India during the winter months, a research paper said.

Despite a hunting ban in place in China since 1997, millions of these birds are still being killed there every year for food and were sold on the black market as late as 2013, said a statement from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) India, which conducted
the study along with UK-based Birdlife International.

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=72445

Warmer temperatures will cause oxygen levels in the oceans to decline which may result in marine animals shifting away from the equator, a new study has found.

Just as the combination of physical exertion and lack of oxygen at high altitudes creates the need for mountaineers to carry tanks of oxygen while climbing mountains, warmer water temperatures will speed up the animals' metabolic need for oxygen, researchers
said

http://cmsenvis.cmsindia.org/resources/newspaper/details.asp?id=72407