Mumbai: Around 150 colleges across seven districts and departments affiliated with Mumbai University have launched an extensive biodiversity survey. The mapping initiative started within their own campuses and will later extend to their neighbourhoods. The data collected will be used to create a community-driven biodiversity register for Mumbai and other districts and can provide various municipal authorities with real-time information.Besides simply counting the numbers of trees, the students will document detailed information on local flora, including their classification as herbs, shrubs, plants or trees, whether the species are rare or common, their height, habitat and also their overall health. More than 800 students are already trained under the programme, supported by the British Council under its Climate Skills programme, and the HSBC.

The programme is being carried out under the guidance of Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Ravindra Kulkarni and led by professor Aparna Phadke and co-facilitated by Indu George and Suhas Jejurikar with 21 master facilitators for the smooth implementation of the project. Under the programme, along with the 800 students, over 200 faculty members and representatives from 16 NGOs across seven districts are already trained by the university.Phadke told TOI that the selected students would be teamed up with local self-governments, NGOs and other stakeholders to initiate climate action in their geographical areas. The social actions can culminate into the creation and update of the public biodiversity register too, she said. “There are several projects being undertaken under this partnership and biodiversity mapping is one of them. A questionnaire seeking details on the flora was shared with all the participating students,” said Phadke. The questionnaire seeks information on the local and scientific names of the flora, its type, its habitat (whether fresh water, mangroves, saline, terrestrial or any other), its occurrence, if it is common or rare or very rare. The researchers have also sought details on whether the flora has any local deity importance, or if it is sacred or heritage, along with the tree’s health (good, bad, moderate or infested with pests and fungi) and whether the tree’s origin is native, exotic or invasive.Phadke said that the tree census is not done comprehensively and therefore, such information can help build databases for the local municipal authorities too. “With colleges spread across the city, this mapping exercise can help us to know the entire city’s profile with adequate information on rare and endangered species too,” she added. The British Council programme aims to address various challenges faced by India concerning climate change vulnerabilities by engaging higher education institutions. Mumbai University is one of the three HEIs which were selected as partners.

Luke Shaw of Manchester United battles for possession with Wilfried Gnonto of Leeds United during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester United at Elland Road on January 04, 2026 in Leeds, England. (Photo/Getty Images)

MANCHESTER: Ruben Amorim’s sacking by Manchester United has exposed the dismal lack of progress since Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival as co-owner promised a new dawn.Amorim was the latest manager unable to turn the tide at Old Trafford, which has witnessed more than a decade of decline since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.The veteran Scot stood down after winning the club’s 20th English league crown following two decades of domestic dominance gilded by European success.Since then United have not seriously competed to win the Premier League or Champions League despite a succession of big-name managers.Amorim, 40, is the first boss to be hired and axed since Ratcliffe took control of the club’s football operations after acquiring a minority stake in the Red Devils.The British billionaire’s arrival in February 2024 was greeted with glee by supporters desperate to see a new face at the helm after years of underachievement under the Glazer family, who still own a majority stake.Yet hopes that the boyhood United fan could make United competitive again at home and in Europe have so far been dashed.– No ‘knee-jerk reactions’ –Just a few months ago, Ratcliffe, 73, said Amorim had three years to prove himself despite a tough start at United, adding that the club would not be drawn into “knee-jerk reactions”.But United have continued to drift, winning just one of their past five home games in the league.An apparent rift with the club’s director of football Jason Wilcox over tactics and transfer targets appears to have increased the pressure on Amorim, who was dismissed on Monday after 14 months in charge.Wilcox moved into his current position in June last year, taking over the main role held by Dan Ashworth, who lasted just five months at the club in an early embarrassment for the new regime. Ratcliffe has so far done little to suggest he can deliver on his desire to restore a club he admitted “has become mediocre” to former glories.The club’s ambition to win a 21st league title by the time of their 150th anniversary in 2028 looks less realistic with every passing season.United finished the 2024/25 campaign in 15th spot — the club’s lowest top-flight finish since they were relegated in 1974 — and missed out on European football for only the second time in 35 years.Despite a marginal improvement this season, Amorim departed with his side 17 points adrift of leaders Arsenal after 20 games.The club are still within striking distance of the top four but cannot afford to lose further ground.– Transfer flops –Ratcliffe has been publicly scathing of some of United’s transfer dealings prior to his arrival but the jury is still out on incomings on his watch.Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte have largely been peripheral figures since being signed under the managerial regime of Erik ten Hag, Amorim’s predecessor.Amorim was armed with an expensive new front three of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the recent summer transfer window but they have scored just 12 Premier League goals between them so far.United’s ability to spend their way out of their troubles is beginning to be squeezed by financial sustainability rules.The club’s desperate need to return to the lucrative Champions League will have been a factor in their decision to axe Amorim, who arrived in November 2024 feted as one of the game’s leading young managerial talents.To compound matters for United fans starved of success, Ratcliffe is asking them to pay more to attend games.At the same time, he has been criticised for swingeing job cuts as he tries to restore order to the club’s finances.Last year United set out plans for a 100,000-seater stadium to replace their historic but creaking Old Trafford ground.Ratcliffe said the club planned to have the “world’s greatest football stadium”, with hopes it could be finished within five years, though there is major uncertainty over the timescale.Plans on and off the pitch are undoubtedly ambitious, but they are a long way from being realised.