Too much logging 'risks jobs'
Thousands of timber jobs will be lost because Victoria's forests are being extensively overlogged, according to a confidential State Government document. The Department of Natural Resources and Environment briefing paper says logging rates are unsustainable and volumes need to be reduced by 20 per cent if the industry is to …
Forestry law draft stresses conservation
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has drafted legislation that would shift the emphasis in Japan's forestry policy to environmental and land conservation from the promotion of the forestry industry, ministry sources said Sunday.
Govt plans for a 'green' Jharkhand
It is a plan to "green" a new state. Till now, the wealth of Jharkhand lay below the ground, but now plans are afoot to make its topsoil profitable too. On the wasteland covering two-third of the state, the government has decided to plant herbal and medicinal plants.
Vedike seminar on forests on Feb 27
The Rashtriya Navanirmana Vedike will conduct a seminar on "Forests of India, problems and prospects" on February 27 in Bangalore.Disclosing this at a press conference here, former principal chief conservator of forests S Parameshwarappa said the seminar will aim at finding possible solutions to problems and competing demands on forests …
'N-E forests face crisis due to extremism'
Colonel Anil Kaul of HQ 101 area said that the woods in the North-east are facing crisis due to extremism and environmental, cultural and economic degradation. On Meghalaya, Col Kaul said sub tropical forests in the state comprised 341.07 square km, while degraded forests comprised 852 square km.
Bhutan must reduce fuel-wood consumption: report
Presenting a report "Fuel-wood Consumption in Bhutan and Alternative Energy Sources", local consultant Pema Norbu pointed out that the annual fuelwood consumption in Bhutan is one of the highest in the region. The per capita consumption in Bhutan is three cubic meters of fuelwood.
Ex-ministers implicated in tree-felling contract
The Secretary at Nepal's Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation Rabi Bahadur Bista, passed the buck on to the former ministers for the complications in the extension of tree-felling contract in Dadeldhura district, Far-Western Nepal.
Boise Cascade cancels $160 mln Chile forestry project
Forest products company Boise Cascade Corp. said on Wednesday that because of an "unfavorable outlook" in the Oriented Strand Board (OSB) market it canceled a $160 million project to build an OSB plant and port in southern Chile that environmentalists claimed would destroy native forests.
Reserve loses large area to encroachers
More than 5,000 rai of forest reserve has been encroached upon by influential people linked to politicians, forestry officials said yesterday. Forestry officials and border patrol police inspected the Khaochangpuek reserve in Huay Kob village, in the Sangkhla Buri district in Thailand on Wednesday and found 5,760 rai of land …
Forest plan critics unite
Opponents of Costa Rica government's proposed national forestry plan are living up to their promise to try to block its final passage, by pooling their varied perspectives into a comprehensive document to be presented to the Environment Ministry by early next month.
Brazilian rainforest await certification
Itacoatiara is home of Brazil's first native Amazonian rainforest to receive certification from the Forest Stewardship Council. Timber output in Itacoatiara has grown from 150,000 cubic metres a year in 1993 to an estimated 500,000 cubic metres today, according to data from Imazon, a respected Brazilian non-governmental research institution.
Forest management
The Madhya Pradesh Government's proposal to elaborate its social forestry programme is indeed a welcome step. Covering this time both the private as well as the revenue land will in the long run resurrect the fast depleting forest wealth.(Editorial)
TCN denies corrupt practices
Top officials from the Nepal's Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) denied that there was any corruption involved in the sale of timber, as accused recently in the media.
Coming together for a 'green' cause
The verdure that is transforming the face of this temple town reflects the dedication of the people and the staff of the District Forest Office to the cause of a "Greener Kanchi." What started as another Government-sponsored scheme over a year ago has, today, expanded to include the traders, petty …
Hamirpur lacks fire preparedness
Government agencies in the district have not formulated a time bound programme for fire fighting operations in various parts of the district posing a threat to life and property. In the absence of proper arrangements, fire may cause a huge loss to forest wealth, flora and fauna.
Water sold in latest tale of two cities
The city of Yiwu in East China's Zhejiang Province has bought 50 million cubic metres of water from its neighbour Dongyang under a unique deal. The transference of the permanent use rights of the water is valued at 200 million yuan (US$24.09 million) and is believed to be the first …
Arrows greet greens
Environmentalists and green-advocates voyage to Majher Char Island in Guptipara to plant trees turned into a river battle when villagers, led by a panchayat pradhan, attacked them with arrows and brickbats. The Green Bench had ordered plantation of saplings in the island to compensate for the destruction of greenery by …
Afforestation along canal system recommended
The Eco-Committee, constituted by the Karnataka State government to examine the techno-economic feasibility of establishing eco-strips along the canal network system of Irrigation projects in the State, has recommended that afforestation work should be taken up along the canal network system at an estimated cost of Rs 1,000 crore.
Gifting away forest wealth
Instead of being paid in cash, as shown in the records, daily-wage workers employed in the Corbett National Park are being allowed to take wood and other costly forest produce as remuneration. A local forest committee member, Anand Singh Bisht has produced photographs showing how the daily wagers are allowed …
