SNIPPETS 28 FEBRUARY 2026

Peatlands: Lake Mai Ndombe and Tumba of Democratic Republic of Congo are releasing carbon that has been locked away for thousands of years in surrounding peatlands+ A peatland is an area of land with layers of accumulated organic surface material in a state of decay (known as peat) + Peat develops in waterlogged conditions+ Peatland drainage and fires are estimated to contribute at least 5 % of global greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change

Exercise KHANJARXIII: India–Kyrgyzstan Joint Special Forces Exercise+ 13th edition, held annually+ Hosted alternately by both countries+ Location (2026): Misamari, Sonitpur district, Assam+ Focus areas: Urban warfare, Counter-terrorism, UN-mandated operations

Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary: Protected area in the Western Ghats, known for its exceptional biodiversity, wide altitudinal range, and intact forest ecosystems+ Its position on the Nilgiri slopes places it within a critical Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot+ Notified in 2020+ Kerala’s 18th Wildlife Sanctuary and 24th Protected Area+ Hosts key Western Ghats endemics such as Nilgiri tahr and lion-tailed macaque Rich diversity of birds, butterflies, odonates, amphibians, reptiles, and freshwater fish