Make JFM an identity of MP : Minister
The Minister for Forests Harvansh Singh has asked the Forest Officers to make the Joint Forest Management (JFM), an identity of Madhya Pradesh. Addressing a two day state level convention of Forest Conservators on Tuesday, he said that intensifying the strategic activities under the Joint Forest Management Programme would avert …
Arsonists to blame for most of Italy forest fires
Arsonists are to blame for most of the thousands of forest fires that engulf woodland in Italy each year, Farm Minister Giovanni Alemanno said. Forest fires this month reached 'alarming' levels, especially in the drought-hit north of the country, he added. The number of forest fires we have seen this …
Officials helpless as tribals take over sal reserve
Axed sal trees lie scattered in the heart of reserve forest in Saranda, Asia's largest sal forest spread over 700 hills in Jharkhand. The Wildlife and Forest Conservation Act specifies that no tree can be girdled or felled. But this reserve forest is dotted with dead sal and teak trees, …
Indian water meter body formed
Ten water meter manufacturers in India that represent about 90 per cent of the country's total production have come together to form the Indian Water Meter Manufacturers Association (IWMMA). The industry is estimated to be worth Rs 2500 crore. Drinking water is a scarce commodity and the association is concerned …
Satellite scare for state forest officials
Gone are the days of confidential reports and assessment charts. The performance of the forests officials is now being assessed with the help of hitech methods. Sources said that the top bras of the forest department is taking the help of the National Remote Sensing Agency to analyse the performance …
Migros commits to buying green palm oil
Migros, Switzerland's largest supermarket chain, has become the first European retailer to commit itself to buying palm oil exclusively from ecologically sound sources. Tropical forests are being devasted by the rapid growth in demand for a vegetable oil used in everything from margarine to detergents and cosmetics.
Team goes to Kerala to seize smuggled sandalwood
A team of police and forest personnel from here have gone to Kerala to seize sandalwood smuggled out of Yercaud. The Deputy Superintendent of police, Illangovan, and the District Forest Officer, Ravindran, that sandalwood weighing about 1.5 tonnes and worth about Rs.7 lakhs was clandestinely lifted from a private estate …
WB clears $125 m forest management project
The World Bank has accorded in principle clearance of the phase II of Joint Forest Management by deciding to send a high power team to the Andhra Pradesh state on February 4 for final project appraisal. Disclosing this Principle Chief Conservator of Forests K Subba Rao said the team which …
Forest Department objects to land allotment
In an affidavit filed before a Kerala High Court Division Bench, which will have a bearing on the proposal to distribute forest land to tribals in the Kerala, especially in the Marayoor area, the Forest Department has taken objection to steps taken by the Idukki District Collector to assign 27 …
Breakthrough in forest management
The Forest Act of 1927 is still the legal framework of Indian forestry. Much of the efforts of the existing forest protection institutions would lose their vigour if JFM is not given legal backing by its inclusion in the Forest Act,1927. It is necessary to bring JFM within the legal …
Involving people in forest management
The management of forests in India has taken a turnaround since 19th century, giving the rights back to people to manage forests. The rationale behind this approach, known as Joint Forest Management (JFM), stems from the assumption that a willing and active partnership between the state and local communities can …
Deforestation posing threat to Bijni
It is a wide barren tract in what were once green, luxuriant forests under social forestry, in Bijni (Assam). Apart from this environmental evil, some malpractices are being carried out right the nose of the administration. Sources say owing to illegal felling of trees, the forest areas in the vicinity …
Lekhapani Declaration: Encroachers to be evicted from Assam forests
Eminent personalities from various walks of life, who assembled at the Dehing-Patki Festival here, took a solemn oath to protect and preserve the rich bio-diversity of Assam. Announcing the Lekhapani Declaration Minister of state for Home Affairs Pradyut Bordoloi said that the Declaration stipulates that all encroachments in reserve forests, …
Tree-planting drive fetes 1902 Anglo pact
Nearly 200 towns and villages the length and breadth of Japan will plant oak tree saplings over the coming year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. One century after the Jan. 30, 1902, signing of the agreement between Tokyo and London to militarily support each other's expansionist …
Janu threatens stir against Forest Department
The tribal leader, C K. Janu, has said the Adivasi Gothra Sabha will launch an agitation against the Forest Department for opposing the distribution of land to the tribals as per the agreement reached between the Sabha and the State Government.
Illegal felling in protected forest
A large number of deodars have been illegally felled in the demarcated protected forest (DPF). Ohn, in the remote Chachiot valley. It may be mentioned that felling in a DPF is not permissible without the approval of the Central Government. Media persons who visited the ravaged area saw that over …
Lightning ignites wildfires
Overnight lightning strikes ignited some 23 wildfires across western Australia on Thursday, just hours after officials declared victory in their struggle to contain blazes on the eastern side of the country that had raged for weeks.
Logging off, for now
The curbs imposed by the Supreme Court on the felling of naturally grown trees and other forestry - related activities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, come at a critical juncture for moves to conserve biodiversity and protect the interests of the archipelago and its communities.
