Baalu for survey of non-wood forest products
With the livelihood of 500 million people at stake, the environment ministry is finally trying to focus on regulating and promoting the largely disorganised business of so-called non-wood forest products.This used to be called minor forest produce, till the realisation sank in that there was nothing minor about produce which …
China`s Three Gorges dam a step closer to completion
After a decade of work, China will begin filling the reservoir for the Three Gorges dam, a major milestone for the world's biggest hydroelectric project that critics say could bring ecological disaster. The sluicegate of the giant dam at Yichang in the central province of Hubei is due to be …
New Zealand finds trees a shear delight
New Zealand is known for its natural beauty, and it has a fiercely protective environmental movement to match. But that didn't stop a forestry planner for a U.S. company from standing on a hill, looking down over a majestic pine forest and cheerly talking of mowing it down as far …
Forest protectoin force seized illicit forest produce
With the persistent reports of clandenstine cutting of trees in adjoining areas of Jammu for fire wood and other forest produce, the Jammu unit of Forest Protection Force has launched a fresh drive to check the menace of smuggling. The patrolling parties of FPF seized 10 quintals firewood in the …
Highway plantation drive in Varanasi
A massive tree plantation drive wil be launched during the forthcoming monsoon along the National Highway in Varanasi to replace the trees uprooted during the widening of Grand Trunk Road under the Golden Quadrilateral Scheme. neighbouring villages will also be covered under the project to restoree the greenery of the …
Workshop on non-wood forest products
The Ministry of Environment and Forests is organising a national workshop on Non-Wood Forest Products in the capital on Thursday. The two-day workshop is aimed to formulate a national policy framework for management of non-wood forest products in the country and to suggest regulations to be included in the working …
No renegotiation of Bachawat scheme
The Karnataka Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, said today that the State would oppose any move to renegotiate the apportioning of the Krishna waters under the Bachawat Tribunal's Scheme 'A'.Responding to a question onthe proposal to re-allocate the river waters under the scheme, Mr. Krishna said the Government would strongly oppose …
Forest Depts move against illegal tree felling
In a bid to resist illegal felling of timber by outsiders with the help of locals, the forest personnel are seeking close cooperation of the people living adjacent to forest areas. The West Kamrup Forest Division of Assam has organized a public meeting at Jowakhuli, a beautiful forest spot about …
Armymen blamed for destroying forest in Dadeldhura
The RNA personnel of a barrack at Jogbudha VDC (Nepal) fell over 2000 sal trees, according to sources of the forest consumer committee. This has deeply hurt the members of the community forests in Chure range of Dadeldhura district. The act of army has dampened the spirits of the members …
Callous authorities fail to check ever growing pollution menace
Being close to Thane-Belapur industrial belt, pollution is a major cocern for the Navi Mumbai township. Instead of tackling the problem, authorities are taking a lackadaisical approach, prime minister being the state of NOCIL Eco forest. This project was taken up in Thane-Belapur inustrial estate during 1990 with a view …
State advisory group of Forest dept reconstituted
The Goa State Government has reconstituted the State Advisory Group of the Forest Department to examine proposals for regularisation of encroachment and mining upto 20ha in forest areas. The group has been reconstituted as per guidelines laid down by the Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Delhi.
Trees dont grow on money
Government agencies spend over Rs 100 crore annually to keep Delhi green. However, there are doubts over the cost-effectiveness since the state of the green cover remains a cause for concern. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which maintains 90 per cent of the city, has failed to increase greenery …
Forests versus parks
Apart from the 7777 hectares of the ridge which have been declared as reserve forests, the other city forests are not protected. But the fate of the protected and unprotected forests is not much different.
UN bid to conserve forests
The Indian setting: Kerala's chief minister is keen to give forest land to tribals and eviction drives in most parts of the country have slowed to a virtual halt. The international setting: The UN will be sitting down on Monday to discuss threats to forests and put a value to …
Peoples involvement in forest protection
Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the most successful State to bring about people's involvement in the development and protection of forests. It has 13303 Joint Forest Management (JFM) Committees covering an area of 52 lakh hectares. The total number of families involved in JFM in Madhya Pradesh is 16.12 lakhs.
Water crisis worsens
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said that Himayat Sagar, the second major source of water supply to Hyderabad will be completely dry by June 10 and water supply will have to be curtailed to once in three days. Another reservoir Osman Sagar had dried up at the onset of …
MPs magic forests
These villages, Kanera Gaur, Ghughar and Aamet in Bundelkhand region's Sagar district near Bhopal, Madhya Pradeh is backward, the main vocation of the people being
State to approach SC on forest eviction order
Holding out an assurance to those affected by the Supreme Court order directing eviction of unauthorised cultivators of forest land, the State Government has announced that it will approach the court seeking reconsideration of it's order. Following the SC order, the Karnataka State Government was expected to evict all those …
AP will fight it out over river projects : Naidu
The issue of construction of projects over rivers seems to be causing growing concern in the southern States. In yet another development, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N.Chandrababu Naidu, has accused that Karnataka was exploiting the problems of lower riparian states by initiating projects across two major river systems …
South Africa shortlists bids for state forests
South Africa shortlisted six groups this week to bid for a 75 percent stake in the government's Komatiland Forests, after an earlier 335 million rand ($43 million) deal to sell the forests was cancelled. It gave the short-list as Bonhuer Consortium; Miri Consortium; Pamodzi Consortium; Parharpur Cooling Towers; SFM/Londimvelo Consortium …
