Private firm caught up in endemic plant racket
A racket to export one of Sri Lanka's endemic waterplants, by a private concern falsely labelled as "Aponogeton Ulveceae" has been busted by the Customs authorities, the Daily News reliably understands. A consignment consisting ninety boxes of the rare species of Aponogeton (local Kekatiya) containing one and a half metric …
Forest Ministry's step on fund release
In a major decision to ensure the timely release and proper utilisation of funds provided under centrally sponsored schemes, the Union ministry of Forests and Environment has decided to place the funds direct at the disposal of forest development agencies.
22.24 lakhs saplings will be planted in first year
Massive afforestration programmes have been undertaken in Chapai-Nawabganj district (Bangladesh) during the current season aiming at alleviating poverty and malnutrition as well as maintaining ecological balance.
EPF puts check on timber smuggling
In their continued efforts to curb the menace of timber smuggling and forest damages, the Forest Protection Force (EPF) has seized 117.55 cft timber from Shopian and Langet areas of Srinagar during the past over three days.
Expert advocates ' four water concept '
The 'four water concept' was introduced in the water development programme in all the 7,100 watersheds in Andhra Pradesh, chairman of technical committee, water conservation mission, T Hanumantha Rao disclosed at a seminar on 'Neeru-Meeru' on Monday.
MPPCB to monitor pollution checking
The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board (MPPCB) has received complaints against the ongoing process of vehicular pollution checking at different centres. MPPCB chairman Dr. PS Dube told that on receipt of complaints from citizens he sent a vehicle at two centres for checking pollution level and found there was a …
US senate bill would protect 60 mln forest acres
U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation that would protect millions of acres of forest land from development-a move that could further divide environmental groups and big businesses who have hotly debated the future of this land. The bill, introduced by a bipartisan group in the Senate, would require the federal government to …
Over 500,000 trees to be planted under Upper Watershed Management Project
Five lakhs of trees will be planted by the Upper Watershed Management Project in buffer zones (Sri Lanka) and gulley fringes in over four thousand hectares of land which has already been brought under water and soil conservation, Project Director D. P. Munaweera said. Planting of trees is part of …
'Centre not giving priority to forest conservation'
Forest Minister Harvansh Singh charged that the Central Government was not giving priority to Madhya Pradesh for conservation of rich forest wealth. He urged the central government to clear Rs 1500 crore Forestry Improvement Schemes forwarded by M P Government with the directives of the Supreme Court.
Ban on tubewell digging urged
Bhopal Municipal Corporation has decided to send a proposal to the district collector requesting him to ban digging of private tube wells. Mayor Ms Vibha Patel decided this at a BMC meeting. The decision was taken in view of the continuing water crisis in the Capital.
Hype marks 'Shramdan' on Upper Lake
All hype and no work done seems to be the case of the high profile drive launched by Mayor Vibha Patel to clean up the Upper Lake. The Upper Lake could surely do with lot of cleaning. But then the job cannot be done with the tokenism of a "shramdan". …
Occupied forest land recovered
The afforestation wing of the forest department has got vacated 1,012 acres of fertile land from the possession of unauthorized cultivators in 19 forests and realized Rs2,315,050 from them as penalty in Thatta. (Pakistan) This was told to the Sindh minister for forest, wildlife, environment, food and cooperative departments, Hassan …
Centre sanctions wasteland project for Mewat
The Centre has sanctioned a special project for the development of wasteland and water resources in 14 villages of Mewat. The Union rural Development Ministry, which has sanctioned the project, has also sent guidelines on its implementation to the MDA.
162 more trees axed by DRDO
The Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) has reportedly cut 162 trees, for its project on Rao Tula Ram Marg, without taking permission of conservator of forest. Deputy conservator forest Archana Singh said ' Trees which are more than five centimetres thick cannot be cut.
Munirka residents save 49 trees, 3 weren't that lucky b
Forty-nine Gulmohar Neem trees on Nelson Mandela Marg escaped PWD's axe yesterday - thanks to residents of Munirka Enclave. But three other were not so lucky. A PWD contractor had come to fell 52 trees along the road. Three had been cut by the time residents got wind of it …
Encroachments on forest lands
In Rajya Sabha, union minister for environment and forestry TR Balu said that the total forest covered areas in Andhra Pradesh was 44,229 sq. km. He said 22,449.73 hectares of land had been encroached in national parks and sanctuaries and reserve forests in Andhra Pradesh.
Fire nears sequoias as critics blame park
The fires that continued to roar near hundreds of giant sequoias, the towering trademarks of the area around this central California town, have renewed an argument over how best to manage the Sequoia National Forest's resources while preventing the woodland's destruction.
Laokhowa sanctuary a haven for timber smugglers, poachers
Wanton destruction of trees in Laokhowa, an important wildlife sanctuary of NE region has been continuing unabated for the last several years under the last several years under the very nose of the state Government and the forest department. But the treasures of such virgin forests are being destroyed and …
'Guide plan shows how to regenerate Banni grasslands
Ravaged by earthquake and drought and infested with 'proposals juliflora' and salinity. Asia's largest natural grassland, Banni, could still go green again, if there are takers for Gujarat Institute for Desert Ecology's project to regenerate it.
California fire threatens world's largest, oldest trees
A voracious wildfire raced through California's Sequoia National Forest this week, menacing some of the world's oldest and largest trees and forcing more than 1,000 people to flee, U.S. Forest Service officials said. Investigators were searching for a camper whose campfire may have ignited the wildfire in a steep canyon …
