Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Subhas Datta Vs State of West Bengal & Others dated 10/04/2024. The present Original Application has been filed by the Applicant appearing in person stating that in the tourist township of Darjeeling there is the ‘Senchal Wildlife Sanctuary’ popularly known …
the Union government has asked the Karnataka state government to take over within 45 days a forest area leased to a subsidiary of the Taj Group of Hotels to build a three-star resort. The 6,356 sq m-area falls within the core zone of the Nagarhole National Park in district Kogadu. …
Dig deep Despite all the developments in technology that we have witnessed so far, the past still interests us. It is, after all, responsible for the rich sense of history that we all possess and would feel incomplete without. And perhaps this is one reason why archaeology still has an …
Toshi, a little girl in Gangtok, wakes up everyday to see a montage of pictures of wild animals - the golden langur, red panda, blue sheep and others she cannot recognise - on the wall. Looking out of the window, she can see the mountain ranges with Kangchendzonga peak standing …
A major factor accounting for the decline in species in Sikkim is lack of study of the ecosystem and inadequate conservation. As A R K Sastry, director, Biodiversity 'Hotspots' Conservation Programme (bhcp) of the Worldwide Fund for Nature says: "Studies conducted on the biodiversity of Sikkim are not enough to …
The first patch of virgin forest was cleared in Sikkim at Nathula Pass, after the king invited the Indian Army to protect the kingdom in 1962. Remote areas were connected by roads to facilitate movement of the army. But development activity began in right earnest after 1975, when Sikkim merged …
Sikkim has three types of forests: temperate broad-leaved (1,829-2,730 m), mixed coniferous (2,730-3,650 m), and alpine scrub and grasslands (above 3,650 m). These forests support a wide range of vegetation. Temperate broad-leaved forests in the state are dominated by oak species like Quercus lineata and Q lamellosa. There are 11 …
Sikkim has a number of rare animal species. Poor conservation practices have resulted in decimation of their populations. Of the 144 mammals known to exist in the state, 39 are regarded as endangered or rare. These include the red panda, east Himalayan tahr, musk deer, snow leopard, jungle cat, marbled …
The 'shapi' or east Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus schaeferi) is a very rare animal inhabiting the alpine region and considered sacred by the Lepchas. Shapi was discovered by Ernst Schaefer, a German doctor, on an expedition in 1938 in Fimphu. It was sighted after a gap of 39 years in …
Sikkim is known for its orchids. The state is home to about 600 species of orchids, including the famous 'lost orchid' - Paphiopedilum fairaeanum (Asian lady's slipper orchid). There are about 80 species considered important by botanists. These are classified into five groups - Cymbidium, Pleione, Coelogynes and Dendrobium species, …
Unplanned domestic - rather than international - tourism is largely to blame for degradation of the environment, as the case of Sikkim shows. According to observers, while foreign tourists - accounting for only 6-7 per cent of the arrivals - are usually highly environmentally conscious, domestic tourists behave irresponsibly. They …
A massive under-sea earthquake in Japan's southernmost Okinawa islands recently set off a tidal wave scare, briefly disrupting the summer vacations of thousands of holidaymakers enjoying the "Golden Week." This period is one of Japan's most popular holiday periods, falling at the start of summer when there are three consecutive …
Some 1,500 tonne of the territory's farmed fish have been killed due to a "red tide' of toxic algae. A few months back, Hong Kong's entire chicken population was slaughtered amid a scare over lethal "chicken flu'. Now, the dying fish is causing further environmental blow to the region. Following …
The incessant rains that walloped most of east and central Africa for most of the past five months have given way to soothing blue skies. Yet, the effects of the relentless precipitation, caused by now-notorious El Ni
The wild elephants that once roamed freely over southern China, retreated long ago to the dense tropical rain forests which cover the mountains near the nation's borders with Myanmar (previously Burma) and Laos. The dwindling elephant population that now survives has been further ravaged in recent years by poachers eager …
About 150 families in village Velaghat in district Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, have been issued eviction notices to vacate their homes for a five-star hotel to be constructed by the Taj Group. Close to the virgin beaches of Velaghat is the lush green Aravali valley and the Yeshwantgarh fort. The adjoining land …
Rapid rise in the number of visitors at the National Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, southwest of Florida, USA, has resulted in an alarming increase in the amount of waste generated. But the sanctuary, in consonance with laws of Florida, has built a comprehensive sewage system to treat the wastes. …
Tourism plays an important role in the economies of both Goa and the Maldives. For the Maldives, it provides 17 percent of the gross domestic product, over 25 percent of government revenue and around 60 percent of the foreign exchange earnings; and for Goa, it generates 13.7 percent of the …
The fires that had been raging in the Indonesian forests for quite some time are slowly showing signs of decrease. Satellite pictures show many of the Indonesian fires may be nearly doused. However, the haze is spreading to other countries. The smoke has been spotted along a 6,000 km path …
a major demonstration was held in the second week of October in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. The rallyists were protesting against mega development projects and tourism, which are hurting the ecologically sensitive area. The rally was led by members of the Uttara Kannada Parisara Sanrakshana Samiti and Medha Patkar of …
