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This paper argues that the ability of women to adapt to climate change pressures will be enhanced by using the 'capabilities approach' to direct development efforts. By using this approach, women will improve their well-being, and act more readily as agents of change within their communities. This argument is supported by previous research on gender and livelihoods, and a study conducted in rural India. Examples are based on the experiences of poor, rural women in India, who are particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Their survival is dependent on their being able to obtain many essential resources from their immediate environment. Yet these women lack many of the requirements for well-being, such as access to healthcare, literacy, and control over their own lives. Gaining these would reduce their vulnerability to their changing environmental circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coastal zone acts as a major interface between the ocean and continents. Harbours located in this zone face grave problems from sedimentation, which is a global issue for most of the harbours of the world. Dredging which counter acts sedimentation, brings about innumerable environmental impacts — both positive and negative. As a case study, this paper reports the impacts of dredging conducted at Cochin harbour which is the second largest port along the west coast of India; this port is a nodal center in trade and commerce connecting south east Asia to European sector. The harbour operation mainly depends on maintenance form of dredging bringing about impacts which have both direct and indirect effects in the long term. The important parameters selected for this study are salinity, current, extinction coefficient, turbidity, nutrients, chlorophyll and bottom fauna. An assessment is made on both positive and negative impacts which indicate rise in turbidity, changes in nutrient content and biota. The current practice on dredging is conducive to harbour operations, regulating the material made available to the near shore areas and highlights the possible venues for utilization of spoil for reclamation of land and wetland development. A flow chart identifies the areas vulnerable to impacts arising out of dredging and its consequential environmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A protocol was standardized for callus initiation and shoots regeneration from leaf explants of Lepianthes umbellata. The explant was cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), and 1-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for shoot bud initiation and multiplication. High frequency of shoot regeneration and maximum number of shoots per explant were achieved on MS medium fortified with 0.5 mg L−1 NAA and 1.0 mg L−1 BAP. The elongations of shoots were achieved on the same medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L−1 Gibberelic acid (GA3), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) at different concentrations on half strength MS medium were used for rooting of the micro shorts. Highest efficiency for rooting was observed on MS with 1.5 mg L−1 IBA. Regenerated plantlets were successfully transferred for acclimatization (70%). Histological studies showed that embryoids and shoot buds initiating from the callus masses, that is, indirect organogenesis. Cytological variations were observed in callus cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forsk.) Decne belongs to the family Asclepiadaceae. It is commonly known as Kheemp in India. L. pyrotechnica is an important component of an arid ecosystem and source of fiber, forage, and medicines. We report here in vitro propagation protocol of L. pyrotechnica. Cotyledonary nodes of in vitro raised seedlings were used as an explant for multiplication of shoots. Shoots were multiplied on Modified Murashige and Skoog's (MMS) medium containing 1.33 μM BAP and additives (50 mg L−1 ascorbic acid and 25 mg L−1 each of citric acid, arginine, and adenine). Cultures were maintained at 30 ± 2°C temperature, 50–60 μmol m−2 s−1 SFP, 12 hr day−1 photoperiod, and 60% relative humidity (RH). In vitro multiplied shoots were rooted in vitro on half-strength MS medium containing 2.46 μM IBA and 100 mg L−1 activated charcoal. Shoots were rooted ex vitro using 2460 μM IBA pretreatment for 15 min. Plantlets were hardened in a greenhouse, and survived on a mixture of sand, garden soil, and organic manure in 3:1:1 ratio in polybags in natural habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]