Shraman Jha’s Post

Is it a humming bird? Turns out the answer is no. In fact, the sunbird seen here and the hummingbird are two distinct birds belonging to totally different families. It’s “convergent evolution” - totally unrelated species that independently evolve similar physiologies and features due to the similarities in their respective natural habitats. One difference that was apparent as I observed the calisthenics of this bird - unlike a hummingbird which can hover and feed directly from a flower, sunbirds must perch before they can feed. The classical examples of evolution, such as Darwin's finches, demonstrate the opposite process: divergent evolution. But sometimes, different unrelated species develop the same solution to the same problem. In #nature it is unusual to find a problem that relies completely on one or the other, both divergent and convergent thinking are useful. While in #India I can’t help but think, our world needs #innovation that relies on both, divergence and convergence. #inspiration

In Hunza, there existed a similar tradition with Baltistan regarding the mating of glaciers and the birth of new glaciers. Additionally, there was a practice known as glacier harvesting. I recall our elders mentioning that those who engaged in glacier harvesting should remain unmarried, as it was believed that they might encounter fertility issues if they participated in this activity. In the Burushaski language, this tradition is referred to as "Gamo agiyas" or something similar. I am uncertain whether to categorize this tradition as mythology or simply a customary practice, as there is no scientific evidence supporting it. Nevertheless, this practice has recently gained attention in the Baltistan region, with NPR reporting on it since last year's Glacier harvest and now the recent report titled "A glacier baby is born: Mating glaciers to replace water lost to climate change". According to reports, it may take up to 12 years for the newly harvested glaciers to begin growing. Regardless, this tradition within the Burusho and Balti communities is immensely fascinating. It serves as a testament to the deep concern our ancestors held regarding glacier melting centuries ago. They practised such traditions, and it is noteworthy that mountains and elements associated with them, such as meadows and glaciers, hold sacred significance in the mythologies of the Balti and Burusho communities. https://lnkd.in/dTn7Yq6Q 

Happy new year, new moon! Do you use “Kindom” yet?? 🍄 On Kindom and Forgotten Fungi - my first article published on my new substack journal titled “Pulse admirabilis”. https://lnkd.in/dTpQdJzh The journal will be about the mysterious aliveness of fungi, their language, conservation, deep imagination, and other exudate. If you’re interested in these topics please give a follow on the ‘stack so my articles can be gracefully delivered into your inbox. Excerpt from my article: “Importantly, while “Kindom” honors the distinct relatability between all life, it can also better champion the intrinsic importance and protections of entire ecosystems than the word “Kingdom” does. This doesn’t mean that spending time defining and stewarding a singular species’ survival is no longer vital (think tigers or orca whales), but rather it changes the goals of conservation towards whole ecosystems and habitats. The interconnectivity of nature is allowed life in its own right. We can create land protections before necessarily being able to accurately define all of the hundreds or thousands of individuals and individual species that dwell within it. … Fungi help us realize the kinship of nature and thus the kinship of you and I. Living in kinship, rather than unchecked growth, isolated competition, or survival of the fittest, can have incredible consequences for our planet. I believe using “Kindom” brings us steps closer to reimagining a world that is not driven only by profit, but driven by relationality and love.”

We visited Cherrapunji today. Cherrapunji is the place in north-east India (in Meghalaya state) which gets the most rain in the world. It’s annual rainfall average stands at 11,777 millimetres. It holds the all-time record for the most rainfall in a calendar month and in a year. In July 1861, it received 9,300 millimetres rain and 26,461 millimetres between 1 August 1860 and 31 July 1861. (How about that for stats!) But locals tell me it’s not the case anymore. The climate change has impacted the rainfall as well. I was expecting to be drenched, at least once during 5 - 6 hours we spent there but not even a drop. We witnessed the dark clouds forming within hours and covering the valley, but they soon dispersed. We visited the nearby Arwah caves which were half a kilometre long cavity formed underneath earth’s surface by solution activity within the limestone rock. The natural acidic ground water (carbonic acid formed from decay of organic matter) naturally dissolved the limestone rocks forming cavities which join up to form large cave network over millions of years. But the most interesting thing was the presence of well preserved fossils of prehistoric organisms such as Foraminifera (single cell marine Protozoa) and Gastropod, Pelecypoda, Echinoidea and Cephalopod shells. Meghalaya, meaning ‘abode of clouds’ is in the foothills of Himalayas, has lush green hills, hundreds of waterfalls and rich wildlife. It boarders with Bangladesh and inhabited by tribal people. We are going to spend a few more days here, so I will tell you more about it in coming days. Here is a short video I recorded in the Arwah caves.

Every morning, right before sunrise, something incredible happens in the natural world that most people are unaware of. Scientists have discovered that the frequency of birds chirping in the morning awakens something unbelievable inside plants. Plant leaves have small holes underneath, known as stomata. They look like tiny mouths and close at night but open in the morning. This process helps the plant get nutrients and stay cool. For a long time, science has believed that only light makes these stomata open, but now, some scientists have uncovered a powerful link between the frequency of birds' morning songs and the opening of these stomata. Birds can sing at any time of day, but there is a reason why their songs are often louder, livelier, and more frequent during the sunrise. It turns out that the bird songs in the morning have the perfect frequency to open the stomata and help the plants take in all the micro-nutrients floating in the morning mist. Is this not absolutely incredible? In the same way that there is a strong relationship between birds and plants, there is a strong relationship between humans and the natural world. Nature's wisdom surrounds us every day, but we often are too distracted to see the profound connections that connect all life on the planet. Understanding the natural world's wisdom is fundamental for us to build a resilient and long-lasting Nature Based civilization. BIOTONOMY #biotonomy #naturebasedsolutions #nature #birds

The effects of walking into a forest has been likened to walking into an immense cathedral. You enter in one state and emerge in a subtly altered state. The truely grand and noble cathedrals of Europe have been specifically constructed to include the sacred within their geometry and will induce an uplifting, calming - often reverent state of being. The human being just needs to be there and be immersed in the unseen. A forest will induce similar profound and beneficial experience and potentially more. Science can go part way to explaining this experience - the terpenes, negative ions and compounds such as alpha and beta pinene released by trees are contained within the air we breath and soil we walk on. These are absorbed into the immune system and then allowed to affect the brain, body and mood, making us more alert, calm and bringing attention back to the moment while unseen healing takes place. The combined connection back to nature and our true home and place is profoundly grouding and can be inexplicably peaceful sometimes. Sound as well plays a role. We have evolved to instinctively recognise bird song and the sounds of biodiversity as the sounds of safety that allow us to relax and our immune system to shift from fight or flight into the parasympathetic state and a more relaxed state where healing takes place. #biodiversity #forestbathing #gaia #miyawakimethod #reforestation #restoration #permaculture #syntropic #nature #naturebasedsolutions

Imagine a portfolio that not only generates financial returns but also supports the restoration of forests and the well-being of communities. That's the power of impact investing. #InvestInOurPlanet #Impact #Investing #Sustainability

Nature Life: Antelopes And Nature https://lnkd.in/dqQ7FJF2

Monsoons: More than just rain. 🌧️ These seasonal giants shape economies, cultures, and even landscapes. From the lifeblood of agriculture in South Asia to the vibrant monsoon tourism in Southeast Asia, monsoons are the architects of livelihoods and traditions. Their relentless force carves out riverbeds, shapes coastlines, and leaves an enduring mark on the geography of entire regions. But do you know when monsoon winds were discovered? While monsoon winds have been shaping our planet for millions of years, humans have only been harnessing their power for a fraction of that time. ⛵️ It is often said that a Greek navigator named Hippalus cracked the code for Westerners around 45-47 AD. Since then, ancient civilizations like the Indians and Arabs have been savvy users of these seasonal winds for trade. If you know any other interesting fact about monsoon rains, share it in the comments! 🌧️ #monsoons #rain #climate #economy #nature #globalimpact #enviroclock