Let's join the chorus on coir
While scientists are developing wood substitutes given the acute shortage of the real thing, it is the customer's mind that needs to be cleared of the deadwood of misconceptions about using them. Coir fibre is more resistant to changing weather conditions and has better tensile strength than wood since the …
Expanding Chandigarh's green cover
If north of Chandigarh resembles the dream of Corbusier's architectural plan and landscaping, the credit entirely goes to Dr. M.S. Randhawa, the first Chief Commissioner of Chandigarh. It was his vision for a growing Chandigarh to build its forest and tree cover. He was seen personally monitoring the watering of …
Training to NGOs
The Madhya Pradesh state Forest Department has organised a one day training programme for Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) under National Afforestation Programme. The training will be held at the Forest Department Auditorium at Satpura Bhavan on November 18.
'Tree plantation instead of garbage disposal'
The Municipal Corporation sensing the delay in allotment of 150 acres of land as a substitute for trenching ground at Bhanpura, Madhya Pradesh for disposal of garbage and also due to tough stand adopted by Human rights commission, has decided to take up tree plantation near Bhanpura. At the same …
Over 300 trees felled illegally in Shimla district
In a blatant violation of Forest Conservation Act, more than 300 trees have been felled illegally in the land locked tribal Dodrakwar sub-division in Shimla district. The trees have been felled with the alleged active connivance of the forest staff. The Forest Department has furthered ordered a complete inquiry into …
Adivasis adamant, showdown imminent at Chathirur
The red ribbon on Santha's forehead and the weapons the Adivasis have gathered explains it: the Adivasis who have 'captured' 120 acres of forest land at Chathirur Nelayimala under the Kottiyur range in Kerala are ready for a battle to defend the land. And, a showdown between the Adivasis and …
'Ecologue 2002' puts forward steps for forest conservation
'Ecologue 2002' which concluded at Thekkady, Kochi, Kerala, yesterday has put forward some recommendations for the conservation of forests and biodiversity in the state. The recommendations were codified after detailed discussions by more than 50 journalists, environment activists and forest officials.
Gowdas plea to CM on forest encroachment
Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has urged Chief Minister S M Krishna to give effect to a government order issued in 1997 which facilitated regularisation of encroachment of forests in the Malnad region. Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Gowda said in the wake of Supreme Court's recent …
Sawmill workers of Palashbari facing acute hardship
Toiling in hazardous conditions, they somehow managed on a meagre weekly wage with little left for bringing up their offsprings. With daybreak, workers used to hootfoot it or cycles to their working fields and with the falling of dusk the dog-third workers returned with a bunch of firewood tucked in …
Certification of forest products stressed
The certification of forest products is gradually becoming more and more necessary for ensuring sustainability management of forests and to get appropriate prices of forest products int eh international market, opined the experts at a day-long workshop on certification of forest products held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh recently. Principal Chief …
Strict measures to evict Adivasis soon: Minister
Forest Minster K Sudhakaran has said that the government will take stringent measures to evict the Adivasis occupying the land at Chathirur Nelayimala coming under the Kottiyur range in Kannur district, Kerala.
Congress for Forest Act amendment: Antony
The Kerala Chief Minister, A.K. Antony has said that congress Chief Ministers have resolved to seek an amendment to the forest Act to facilitate distribution of forestland to landless Adivasis. Provision of land to adivasis was the best way to protect forests because they were the children of the forests, …
Talks fail, Adivasis refuse to leave 'captured' land
Activists of the Adivasi Vimochana Munnani (AVM) who occupied 120 acres of forest land at Chathirur Nilaymala, coming under the Kottiuyur range near Iritty (Kannur), Kerala, are determined to stay put following failure of talks between the AVM leaders and the DFO K K Chandran.
NWFP forests may vanish by 2025: report
The use of forest reserve for commercial purpose, heavy consumption of wood as an alternate fuel and timber use in construction works would become extinct the NWFP forests by 2025. This disclosure was made by the Provincial Forest Resource Inventory (PFRI), Pakistan, in its study on NWFP forests.
RRSSC scientists survey agri, forestry potential in Leh
In order to bring more barren area under agriculture activity, pasture development and forestry and to tap water resources in Ladakh, the scientists of Regional Remote Sensing Service, Dehradun (RRSSC) organized a meeting at Leh on Friday with the executive councilors of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and district …
Repealing of forestry act urged
The Sarhad Awami Forestry Ittehad (SAFI) and forest owners, in a joint meeting, criticized the forestry reforms, stating that the Asian Development Bank and the forest department have been acting against the interests of the country and its people.
High Court prevents firm from felling trees in tea estates
Kerala High Court has restrained Ram Bahadur Thakur Ltd., Kochi, from cutting and removing the trees in its nine tea estates at Peermade and Vandiperiyar and from fragmenting the estates. The order was passed on a writ petition filed by the High Range Estate Labour Union (AITUC), seeking to direct …
Hug that logger
Can environmentalists learn to love loggers? The World Bank certainly hopes so. It has just unveiled a new forestry policy that embraces a controversial but promising approach to conserving the rainforest : sustainable harvesting. After unrelenting criticism from non-governmental groups, the agency adopted a policy a decade ago that sharply …
Centre must review Forest Act, says Kagodu Thimmappa
There is an urgent need to amend the Forest Act, 1980 in view of the socio-environmental problem of eviction of forest encroachment throughout the country, said Information and Health Minster Kagodu Thimmappa, Karnataka.
