Green groups say rare timber smuggled via Malaysia
Malaysian ports are turning a blind eye to the passage of illegally logged timber, fueling a trade that is wrecking Indonesian forests, environmental campaign groups said. A report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and its Indonesian partner organization Telapak gave evidence of Malaysian businessmen boasting of having government licenses …
Heavy price paid for eco-protection
A man paid heavy price for protesting illegal cutting of a tree as he lost both his hands. It is said that when Rajendra Patel (32) was going to his home in the Chandpur village, under the Manduadih police station, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, he saw some persons cutting a …
Cloud forests under threat from climate change and golf courses
Cloud forests, tropical mountain forests that act as a source of water for millions, are under increasing threat from a range of factors such as climate change and golf courses, a UN report has found. The report, Cloud Forest Agenda, says that these forests abilities to strip and retain moisture …
Huge trees sacrificed for Bajpe four lane project
The four lane construction project at a cost of Rs 18 crore, from KPT to Bajpe airport, in Mangalore, Karnataka, is being carried out since the past one month and for this purpose rows of huge trees that provided shelter all these years are being toppled.
Tree felling at kathiwada, Bhavra forest areas goes unabated
Hundreds of hectares of forest are destroyed every year in Jhabua district due to unabated tree felling under the very nose of the forest department officials. Tree felling incidents at Kathiwads and Bhavra forest areas are on the rise for last four months in connviance with the forest officials and …
Dam construction reports dismissed as rumour
Sindh (Pakistan) Minister for Inter-provincial Coordination Sardar Nadir Akmal Khan Laghari has rejected reports about the construction of Kalabagh dam, saying rumours in this regard were part of a disinformation campaign. He said this while speaking at a press conference. Stressing the need for arriving at a consensus on the …
One lakh tribals to gain from decision: CM
Chief Minister Uma Bharati and Minister for Forests, Dr Dhal Singh Bisen have expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee for Central government's decisions for settlement of tribals families who had encroached upon forest land till 1993 and to decentralise the process for clearance of proposals for non-forest use …
State yet to convert forest villages to revenue ones
Most states are yet to capitalise on the centre's liberalised policy with regard to conversion of forest villages into revenue land, said Inspector General of Forests V Bahuguna. Speaking at a business meet on wind energy investments in Karnataka, he said that although provisions were made in the national policy …
State move hits a roadblock: allotment forest land to tribals
The Kerala State Government's efforts to allot forest land to tribal population has ran up against a brick wall with the Centre Government insisting on creating fund of about Rs 400 to 500 crore under the Compensatory Afforestation Management Planning Agency (CAMPA). The directive to float fund under CAMPA reached …
Perumatty panchayat chief threatens indefinite fast
The Perumatty grama panchayat president A.Krishnan in a memorandum to Chief Minister A.K.Antony has threatened to go on an indefinite fast before the Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Limited factory in Plaachimada in Kerala from February 21 if the Government does not initiate action against the unit immediately in the light of …
What about other violations on `forest land?`
In a rejoindet to the charges made against the Forest Hill Golf Club and Resport situated in Karoran village, the owners have pointed out that the Punjab Government has singled out the Club and has not applied the forest laws to the lands of adjoining Karoran village, which has been …
A rainforest, indoors
Authorities in Germany have given the goahead for the world's largest indoor rainforest inside a giant structure outside Berlin, which was built as a hangar for 21st century dirigibles. The $75-million project envisions using the enormous hangar - the largest free-standing arched hall in the world - to house rainforest …
Cola ban : SC tags petitions
The Supreme Court has ordered tagging with similar cases pending before the court a petition-seeking ban on the sale of 12 soft drinks, which were found to be containing certain percentages of pesticides in it. The court has suggested to the petitioner to intervene in the matter pending before the …
Govt plans to raise tax on second car
Buying a second car? Think twice. In a bid to decongest city roads, the Delhi government is thinking of raising sales tax on the second car bought by a family. The matter was discussed in Monday's cabinet meeting when the repeal of the Delhi Tax on Entry of Motor Vehicles …
MMA announces tree plantation drive
MMA acting chief has announced to launch countrywide tree plantation campaign in Lahore (Pakistan). He said the govt should encourage positive activities instead of promoting culture of vulgarity in the name of Jashn-e- Baharan. Qazi Hussain Ahmad has asked the office bearers of the MMA to collect saplings from different …
New policy to aim at increasing forest cover
Besides giving priority to afforestation on degraded land on massive scale, the Himachal government is in the process of putting together a new forest policy to save and conserve this valuable wealth.
Forestry clearance rules modified
The Centre has issued a fresh set of guidelines for conversion of forest villages into revenue villages. Addressing a press conference, the Environment and Forests Minister, Mr Ramesh Bais, has said that ownership rights (pattas) would be extended to all tribals who have been living on the forest land prior …
No free groundwater: DJB
Residents with borewell connections in Vasant Kunj, Sainik Farms, Panchsheel Park, Greater Kailash and other parts of South Delhi may have to pay for the water they're pumping out. The DJB Amendment Bill submitted by the Delhi Jal Board last week for the state Cabinet's approval proposes to put a …
Jharkhand tribals to get legal rights on forest land
In what seems to be another round of pre-election sops - this one for the tribal community - the Centre has granted permission to the Jharkhand Government to convert forest villages into revenue villages and regularise the lease of forest land to tribals living in the forest. Chief Minister Arjun …
