Syzygium travncoricum, a tree endemic to Kerala, is no longer ‘critically endangered’ as classified on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Field studies conducted by the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) in the wake of the IUCN classification suggest that the tree can now move to the ‘endangered’ list.

Known locally as kulavetti or vadhamkolli, the tree entered the IUCN’s ‘critically endangered’ list on the basis of a Conservation Assessment Management Plan (CAMP) workshop conducted under the Biodiversity Conservation Prioritisation Project India in 1998. The IUCN had then suggested periodic updating of the classification based on information provided by authoritative agencies.

A team of researchers from the University of Calicut has reported the discovery of a new subspecies of wild banana that could be developed as an ornamental plant for tropical gardens.

The plant Musa velutina subsp. markkuana was discovered from the forests of Arunachal Pradesh and is characterised by smooth skinned fruits, purple pseudostems, erect maroon-coloured inflorescence and pink fruit. It has been named after Markku Hakkinen, an international expert on wild banana, attached to the Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Finland.

ITANAGAR: Adding to the rare bouquet of rich biodiversity in the Himalayan state, researchers have discovered a new beautiful species of pink rhododendron flower from Arunachal Pradesh which was hitherto unknown to science.

A team of botanical experts recently carried out explorations in West Siang district’s remote Mechukha valley, few km away from the China border, and found the rare and endemic flower which has been named ‘Rhododendron Mechukae’ after its place of origin.

INDORE: Known for its green cover, Madhya Pradesh now has a share of threatened species. If one goes by a study by forest department, of 2,300 listed plant species around 45 plant species are threatened and 36 near threatened in state.

For tribals and villagers residing on the periphery of forests, these species have religious, medical, agricultural and economic value and are in need of conservation.

PANJIM: Claiming that inclusion of Goa region of Western Ghat in the World Heritage Site of UNESCO will put the place on par with other unique sites across the World, the State Government has given its green signal to the proposal to include State’s 755 sq kms protected area on the heritage list.

The proposal has been forwarded to the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which is the nodal agency appointed by Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to coordinate with UNESCO on the proposal of including the Western Ghats as a natural heritage site.

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has advocated for a scientific approach in conserving the biodiversity of the State.

Tuki, was addressing a high-level team from the department of environment and forest headed by Arunachal Pradesh State Medicinal Plant Board chairman Bamang Felix here yesterday, official sources said today. The team was slated to participate in a 10-day Conference of Parties (CoP) to be held at Hyderabad beginning October 8 next.

Only 5 countries have ratified Nagoya Protocol on biodiversity so far

The eleventh Conference of Parties (COP 11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to be held here next month is likely to lay emphasis on resource mobilisation for execution of the 10-year ‘Strategic Plan’ adopted at the tenth summit held in Nagoya of Japan in October 2010 CBD is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity. With 193 Parties, the convention has near universal participation among countries.

The state forest department and the wildlife wing have done little to save endangered and threatened species in AP, according to conservationists.

The Planning Commission has sanctioned Rs.300 crore for the upcoming conference on bio-diversity (Conference of Parties) to be held here from October 1 to 19.

This was informed by the Planning Commission to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy. The State government is spending Rs.450 crore for the prestigious conference. Mr. Reddy thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.