'Pardesi baval' destroys desi grasslands
Gujarat is on the brink of yet another ecological disaster. The culprit this time is the thorny, exotic plant species of Mexican origin, 'Prosopis Juliflora known as 'gando baval' or 'pardesi baval' in Gujarat. If the unchecked growth of 'Prosopis' continues, it won't be long before the grasslands and indigenous …
FAO to give $0.236m for protecting shisham trees
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will provide $0.236 million for a regional project to arrest the rapid spread of a disease in shisham trees in the region, a senior official in ministry of environment told Dawn. The countries included in the FAO project are Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan …
Senate measure would ease thinning of US forests
Republican senators introduced White House-backed legislation this week that would allow thinning of nearly 10 million acres of fire-vulnerable forest land by weakening decades-old environmental rules. The Interior spending bill amendment, which mirrors a plan offered last week by the Bush administration, would reduce environmental studies required under the National …
Giant dam could cause geological disasters - China
A 600-km (365-mile) reservoir that will start filling behind China's giant Three Gorges dam next year could cause geological disasters in the surrounding area, state media said. The government had set aside four billion yuan ($480 million) to prevent landslides and other disasters at almost 2,500 dangerous sites identified around …
Rs 300 cr. sought from Japan for afforestation
The Punjab Government has sought Rs 300 crore aid from Japan to set up a new nurseries and strengthen the existing ones for growing enough plants to bring considerable chunk of waste and other lands under plantation for increasing area under forests in the state.
6000 trees damaged in fire
More than 6000 trees standing in about five hectares of shamlat land raised some years ago by the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and grasslands spread in 25 hectares of Kohar and adjoining villages under Bisha panchayat of Kandaghat block in the district were burnt in a devasting fire caused by …
Meghalaya Groves Conservation Model
Meghalaya, the abode of clouds, can teach the rest of the country a lesson or two on forest conservation. The National Biodiversity Strategy and Actin Plan of the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment has identified the traditional "sacred groves" as models of eco-preservation. The sacred groves found in the …
Vanavikas to check depleting green cover
To check the depleting green cover in Karnataka, the State Government has embarked on a novel project that harps on private-public partnership. Vanavikas, is a common platform where the stakeholders, private parties and the public sector, converge to harness their skills to meet a common objective, i.e.. afforestation. Under the …
Afforestation drive to cover 200 more villages
The Tamil Nadu Afforestation Programme being implemented in 999 villages to grow trees on 3.73 lakh hectares of land at a cost of Rs 500 crores has been extended to this year to cover an additional 200 villages for raising trees on 75,250 hectares of land at a cost of …
'Abandon wasteland development plan'
Members of the People's Forum, the Tamil Nadu Women's Coordination Committee and the Forum Against Globalisation staged a demonstration in the town urging the government to abandon the Wasteland Development Programme as it would adversely affect the villagers.
Targets achieved at all plantations: panel
A three member committee comprising two former editors and a retired officer of the Indian Forest Service, has appreciated the plantations raised by the Haryana Forest Department during 2001-2002.
Vintage steam engine sets forest ablaze
Pine forests and grasslands spread over hundreds of bighas along the railway tracks between Kanoh and Kangaghat railway stations were reduced to ashes when sparks flying out from the spout of a vintage steam locomotive, commissioned on the request of a film company, fell on dry autumn leaves lying scattered …
Call to develop shola forests
The environmentalists, who participated in the public hearing on Environment and Development held by the Centre for Environment Education and the People's Commission on Environment and Development India in Udhagamandalam, Tamil Nadu stressed the need to develop shola forests in the Nilgiris by involving the local people.
Forest-fire smog choking Moscow disrupts flights
Flights at two Moscow airports were disrupted for several hours on Sunday, as thick smog from forest fires which has been shrouding the city for days reduced visibility. Interfax news agency said flights at Domodedovo and Vnukovo airports in Moscow were delayed in the first half of the day, but …
Environmentalists take on paper retailers in latest battle
Environmentalists who a few years ago pressured lumber retailers to stop carrying wood harvested from ecologically rich ancient forests are aiming at a new industry - paper retailers. And now the activists are raising the stakes : Rather than focusing just on spectacular areas such as the cathedral like rainforests …
DFOs, ranger suspended on charges of tree felling
The Assam Government has gathered evidence suggesting that several forest department officials are either directly or indirectly involved in massive timber felling despite a Supreme Court's ban in the State. Two DFOs and a ranger of Sonitpur (West) Division have been put under suspension for being allegedly involved in rampant …
Green light to fell green trees
The Union ministry of Environment and Forest has given a green signal to the state government for the felling of green trees in the demarcated protected forest to facilitate the construction of about a dozen link roads in the remote Gohar subdivision of Mandi district. The matter of permission had …
Uttaranchal's green wedding
Uttaranchal witnessed a novel movement to save the environment in the 70s, the Chipko movement. Two decades later, the hill people have evolved yet another novel way to save the eco-system a tree by each bride and groom combine on their wedding.
