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🌳 Khejarli Massacre (1730)

This day honors the sacrifice of 363 Bishnoi villagers who gave their lives protecting Khejri trees from being cut down for the construction of Maharaja Abhai Singh’s palace in the Marwar Kingdom in 1730 in present day Rajasthan. Led by Amrita Devi Bishnoi, the villagers resisted the royal order by hugging the trees, showcasing extraordinary courage and deep commitment to environmental conservation. Their legacy continues to inspire India’s forest protection efforts today.

🌳 This day is annually observed by Government of India (MoEFCC) since 2013 to honor the sacrifices of Forest Department personnels who have lost their lives in defense of the country’s forests and wildlife conservation.

Transitioning from silence and misunderstanding to openness, empathy, and support, establishing circumstances in which individuals feel comfortable speaking up and seeking help.

💧Jayshree Vencatesan's recognition with the Ramsar Award under the 'Wise Use of Wetlands' category makes her the first Indian to receive this prestigious global honor, which celebrates her outstanding contribution to wetland conservation.

💧On March 8, 2025, on the eve of International Women's Day, she was acknowledged as one of 12 women changemakers for their pioneering work in this field, marking a significant milestone for India's dedication to wetland preservation.

🦀 The launch of the *Bharat Cancer Genome Atlas (BCGA)* by IIT Madras in collaboration with Karkinos Healthcare, the Chennai Breast Clinic, and Cancer Research and Relief Trust,
on February 3, 2025, just before the World Cancer Day (4th February) represents a crucial step in mapping the genetic landscape of breast cancer in India. By sequencing the whole exomes of 480 breast cancer patient tissue samples, IIT Madras has created a valuable resource that could lead to better understanding of genetic variants specific to Indian breast cancer patients and pave the way for more accurate diagnostics, targeted treatments, and early interventions, potentially improving patient outcomes in the long term by filling a critical gap in genomic research specific to Indian populations.

🌱 The Guneri mangrove site in Kutch, Gujarat, presents a fascinating ecological anomaly. Unlike typical coastal mangroves that thrive in areas directly impacted by seawater, this inland mangrove area is located 45 km from the Arabian Sea and 4 km from the nearest saltwater body, Kori Creek. The area is characterized by flat, forest-like terrain, devoid of sludge typically associated with mangrove ecosystems.

🌊 The origin of Guneri inland mangrove ecosystem remains speculative. One theory is that they may have emerged after a marine transgression during the Miocene period, or alternatively, along the bank of the ancient Saraswati River that flowed through the region around 3000-4000 B.C. What makes the Guneri inland mangroves particularly unique is their survival in limestone-rich areas, which is crucial for the ecosystem. Research has suggested that inland mangroves often thrive in regions with limestone deposits, as these deposits help channel groundwater from the sea to the mangrove vegetation. The Guneri site, situated in the limestone-rich Western Kutch, aligns with this pattern, making it a rare and exceptional biodiversity hotspot.

🌎 World Wetlands Day (2nd February)

Theme of 2025: Protecting wetlands for our common future

Every year 2nd February is celebrated as the World Wetland Day to mark the anniversary of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, an intergovernmental treaty adopted in 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar which came into force for India in 1982.

This year 4 new Ramsar Sites have been added in India, making the total number 89.

These sites are
🌎Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu),
🌎Therthangal Bird Sanctuary (Tamil Nadu),
🌎Khecheopalri Wetland (Sikkim) and
🌎Udhwa Lake (Chattisgarh).

With this India achieves the top position in Asia and third highest globally in terms of number of wetlands. Additionally, Sikkim and Chattisgarh get their first ever Ramsar Site and Tamil Nadu tops in Indian states with a total of 20 Ramsar Sites.