Mumbai, December 20, 2000 : 123India.com India’s premier portal is a pioneer in launching a new channel on Environment, http://environment.123india.com. This marks the first time that a horizontal portal has taken an initiative to show its concern for the environment, by launching a dedicated website aptly titled "Planet Earth" which will reach out to millions of users.

Mr. Dhruv Sharma, CEO of 123India.com says, "This is a primary attempt by a leading Indian company in moving towards a greener net. Environment is an issue that touches our lives daily and has huge implications on the quality of our lives in future. Through this platform we are attempting to develop a knowledgeable community, which will actively encourage society towards an environmental friendly existence."

The 123India.com environment channel has tried to protect a heritage of timeless landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, monumental history and cultural kaleidoscope. The sheer diversity of the landscapes is impossible to surpass: rainforest, marshy swamp, leafy glades, variegated scrub, sandy dessert, snow capped peaks, deep gores, glaciers and enchanting lakes. There are sanctuaries and parks all waiting to be discovered by the intrepid traveler.

With content from Sanctuary Asia, http://environment.123india.com has a special space for all those who value the Earth. Through this site the focus lies on the need for increasing awareness of environmental hazards and what, as individuals, one could do to protect the vulnerable environment. The main highlight has been on nature, beauty and on species that need protection and enriching. 123India.com also brings to netizens, the joys of the wilderness - the call of the wild, while encouraging the concept of ‘value tourism’, which places the highest values on culture and natural heritage.

Natural History offers some trivial and fact files on natural history and the environment and draws attention to interesting information about the world. The ‘Features’ section has a varied and delightful assortment of informative, analytical pieces and articles. This section has been divided into different sections like Wild Trail, Flora and Fauna, Ocean Blues, Save our Cities and Readers Zone.

The ‘In Focus’ section has in store small snippets of information that allures people to return to finding more of it again. The ‘Voice of Protest’, NGO/ Campaigns section, attempts at creating greater awareness making a concerted effort to change the way things are. The ‘Off the Beaten Track’ has fact files on destinations which are worth discovering whereas the Environment Watch deals with burning issues and concerns.

The Library has for all a Reading Room that invites young netizens and informs them about wildlife, nature and the environment.

Surfing offers website reviews of environment-related sites followed by the Insights and a Weekly Quote. Kids’ Korner’ with separate sections like Animal and you, Save the Earth and Nature Rambles, calls children to discover the joys of the world and take responsibility to preserve what is loved. The last section - Your Space helps to access Message Boards to share concerns about the world and offers Chat with environmentalists who have changed the way of thinking and living. The E-greetings section has inspiring Environment related greetings.

"Despite the large dose of media exposure that the subject of ecology and conservation has received, may still completely miss the basic thrust of rational conservation strategy - sustained development," says Bittu Sahgal, Editor of Sanctuary Asia. "Though this environment channel we aim to make you familiar with the processes of nature. To help you understand why wild life conservation is important, why we need to save our forests…. How forests helps us to harvest water… and how water holds the key to our nation's ecological food security".

The forests in our country are being pillaged; wildlife is under threat especially from poachers, mining, from indiscriminate development, from irresponsible tourism. Indian cities and towns have fallen prey to environmental decay. The Environment channel at 123India.com celebrates what remains of the heritage and mourns on what has been lost.  

About 123India.com:
123India.com, India's Premier Portal, is an India dedicated Internet media site that offers branded web content, serving Indians worldwide. As the leading Indian online navigational guide to the web, 123India.com is one of the largest guides in terms of users, database and reach amongst the Indian community on the Internet. Visit us at www.123india.com.