Exotic weed threatens growth of Orissa forest cover
Till date, human intervention and pest attacks were blamed for the forest degradation of Orissa, but Cuttack-based Wildlife Society of Orissa has come out with a new logic. "Orissa's forests have been hit by an ecological disaster. Eupatorium weed, a fast growing pernicious and exotic plant with that flowers which …
Weeds threten Shivalik vegetation
Congress grass and lantana are threatening vegetation in the forest areas of Shivaliks, besides acting as catalysts in case of forest fires. These weeds have reduced the grass cover for the cattle and wildlife in the Shivalik foothills by replacing the jungle grass.
37,000 hectares of cultivable waste land in Punjab
The Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav, informed the Lok Sabha that there were 1,38,28,000 hectares of cultivable waste land in the country. Of this, 1,40,000 hectares were in Jammu and Kashmir. 1,19,000 in Himachal Pradesh, 37,000 in Punjab and 23,000 hectares in Haryana.
Timber felling: Resort owner denies charges
With reference to a news item published in this newspaper on Dec 14, Mahendra Nath, owner of Tiger Ranch resort in Bandipur, has claimed in a signed statement here on Tuesday that no case has been registered against him and no wood or timber recovered from his premises.
Centre's plan for afforestation in Arunachal
The Centre has announced a scheme for afforestation under the Village Forest Management Council (VFMC), informed Arunachal Pradesh state legislator Jotom Toko Takam. Addressing a VFMC meeting at Shalleyi in lower Subansiri district recently, Mr Takam exhorted the people to promote afforestation for the future generation, an official release said.
Panel proposed to hasten eco nod for projects
To end the problems being faced by project promoters in obtaining environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), the Govindarajan Committee on 'Reforming Investment Approval & Implementation Procedures' has suggested the setting up of an Empowered Committee for forest clearance. The panel will have representation from the …
Forest cover vanishes due to 'legal' felling
While everyone is crying hoarse on the need to protect our forest wealth and to increase the forest cover, the Madurai Forest Department is working at cross purposes by destroying trees and plants on a 500 acre site, estimated at Rs 50 lakh, recently in Theni district. The felling of …
Community forest management spells doom for tribals
The community forest management programme, touted as a boon to the poor and under privileged tribals, has in fact become a bane fro them. Orders seeking to enforce the CFM procedures strictly might eventually mean that the tribals in at least 44 hamlets in Eturunagaram, Andhra Pradesh forest area would …
Nature park in Mumbai plants 28,000 trees in a year
Maharashtra Nature Park at Dharavi has achieved a remarkable feat of planting over 28,000 trees at 25 locations in less than two months. This is the first time that the park had undertaken plantation on such a large scale.
Rs 60 crore to green Himachal hills
The Himachal Government is set to put into operation a United Kingdom aided project called 'Development of Forestry and Infrastructure Project' especially designed for greening mountainous slopes in Himachal in northwestern Himalayas.
Unabated looting of forest wealth in Shirtady region
Looting of forest wealth has again become active in the Shirtady reserve forest region in Karnataka. The local people recall the rampant smuggling of valuable woods in this region sometime ago and express their helplessness.
Fire destroys 500 acres of forest land at Uda Walawe
A major fire suspected to have been created by careless proachers has destroyed over 500 acres of forest land at the Uda Walawe. Forest department officers said that fires are generally started by poachers who leave behind kindled fires. The warm temperatures and wind had helped spread the fires to …
Bush Urges Lawmakers to Pass Forest Fire Legislation
President Bush urged Congress on the weekend to pass his plan to prevent catastrophic wildfires. Bush saw first hand this week how an Arizona wildfire turned a thriving forest into a blackened mountainside of ash and charred matchsticks. "Fire professionals and forest and park rangers agree, by thinning overgrown forests, …
202 samitis set to implement community forest management
As many as 202 Vana samrakshana samitis (VSS) have been carved out of forest area in Medak district for implementation of community forest management (CFM) to be implemented during next five years. The World Bank has sanctioned Rs 640 crore for implementation of the scheme in 14 district, including Medak.
Mumbai road bulldozes through reserve forest rules
What was once a narrow dirt track for devotees and trekkers to trek up to the Tungareshwar temple near Vasai is now a smooth motorable road making its way through trees and perennial streams. Chief Conservator of Forests (Thane and Raigad) Shirish Asthana confirms that such a construction is not …
Delhis green cover is growing
Delhi may be one of the greenest cities in the country, says the annual report of the Forest Survey of India. The report, which will be released in October, puts the forest cover in the city in 2001 at a record 111 sq km. Delhi has a total area of …
Green groups blast Bush in wyoming forest road case
U.S. environmental groups blasted the Bush administration for failing to appeal a Wyoming court injunction that blocked a Clinton-era rule designed to protect millions of acres of federal forest land. U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer ruled in July that the U.S. Forest Service's attempt to designate 58.5 million acres of …
Smoke from forest fires threatens coral reefs, Australian scientists warn
Smoke from fires in tropical forests near coastal reefs can wipe out virtually all coral and fish for hundreds of kilometres (miles), according to research unveiled by Australian scientists. Researchers at Canberra's Australian National University said they had established that smoke from the fires produces an algae bloom known as …
