The last chance to save Indonesia's forest riches
Indonesia's forests are under assault like never before. If decisive action does not occur soon, it will be too late. Relentlessly, illegal or uncontrolled logging surges across the archipelago. The situation grows worse each day, particularly as decentralization opens the way for localized corruption and a breakdown in law enforcement.
Encroachment costs huge revenue loss
Although the government has been treating forests as a major source of revenue, it has suffered a Rs 348 -crore loss due to encroachment, reveals the 2000 CAG report. The report also says, by emphasising the revenue generation aspect, rather then forests conservation for environmental purpose, violates national policy. The …
World's biggest sandalwood tree stolen
More than 100 armed robbers have axed and stolen a sandalwood tree believed to be the world's biggest. The 150-year-old tree was a major tourist attraction in Karnataka.
HP lifts ban on khair wood export
The Himachal Pradesh Government has lifted the ban on the export of khair wood and replaced the existing 30 per cent sales tax by an 8 per cent purchase tax. This decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.Khair growers in …
Encroachment, non-forest activities take toll on S Delhi 'green' belt
It is the only patch of forest in south Delhi, shown as "green" in the Master Plan, and declared as "forest area" by the Supreme Court judgement of 1996-97. Despite the Supreme Court order, little has been done to restore this forest. Maintained by the Delhi Development Authority(DDA), this forest …
Much hyped VSSs fail to deliver
The gross forest area in the Andhra Pradesh has come down despite the State Government spending hundreds of crores on the Vana Samrakshana Samitis under the Joint Forest Management programme. District wise vegetation statistics obtained by the State Forest Department through geomatic studies show a decline in the gross forest …
Dang district reeling under widespread tree felling
Scattered residents of forest encroachments over the last few years has now taken an organised form in Dang District of Nepal. Those involved in forest encroachment are not just cultivating the land, but are also actively engaged in assisting the timber smugglers by helping to wilt and dry standing trees …
Locals to safeguard forest
Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopalman Shrestha has said that His Majesty's Government has adopted the policy of handling over the forests being safeguarded by the people to the users committee talking into consideration the requirements of the local people.
Hungary scientists claim life on Mars
Hungarian scientists claimed to have found evidence of living organisms on Mars after analysing 60,000 photographs taken by the Mars Global Surveyor probe.
Success of forest management in north coastal dists
The Eastern Ghats hill ranges run through all the three districts of north coastal A P. The agro-climatic conditions are sea climate to cooler climate on the upper hill reaches. Above mean sea heights up to 4800 feet. Earlier the forests were lush green and luxuriant. But due to various …
Meeting with forest officials leaves tree wardens disapppointed
Their much awaited meeting with Forest officials today to discuss the planting of 35,000 saplings under the Green belt Pollution Abatement programme, left the honorary tree wardens a deeply disappointed lot. The department had identified 46 places to plant the saplings and depending upon the size of the place, the …
Algeria to convert large cereal land to tree-planting
Algeria will convert a large part of its agricultural land to tree-planting instead of cereal-growing in an effort to stop desertification, officials said on Thursday.The four-year plan, drafted by the Agriculture Ministry, covers 3.5 million hectares (8.649 million acres) of the 5.0 million hectares (12.36 million acres) planted with cereals.
NGO cry foul against Langthasa's forest plan
A great deal of resentment and anger prevails among wildlife activists, prevails among wildlife activists conservationists as well as the people of Assam over the State Forest Minister, Mr. G.C. Langthasa's proposed move to grant settlement to thousands of illegal encroachers, in about 1754 sq km of reserve forest areas …
Timber worth millions decaying in Kailali
The Nepal government is about to lose a revenue to the tune of 80 million rupees as a result of its failure to sell more than 530 thousand cubic feet of logs collected and lying at different forests depots of Kailali district.
Green signal to fell Himachal trees
This is green signal for deforestation. Every year is Himachal Pradesh, trees, mostly fine-quality deodars, valued between Rs 70 and 75 crores are felled by villagers exercising Timber Distribution (TD) rights provided by the government.
Delhi Govt not to tax CNG this fiscal
The sales tax exemption on compressed natural gas (CNG) in Delhi is likely to continue during the current fiscal. "Even though a tax on CNG will have to be levied at some point of time to check the possible revenue loss to the state exchequer, it is unlikely during this …
Developers win first round in Brazil Amazon battle
A Brazilian congressional commission this week approved a bill that environmentalists say could accelerate destruction of the Amazon jungle, the world's largest tropical forest, if it becomes law. At a lively session disrupted by banner-waving activists, the commission voted 13-2 in favor of the bill. It calls for local environmental …
Beetles threaten huge swath of Canadian forest
The towering pine trees of British Columbia's rugged Caribou Region are paying with their lives for five consecutive winters that have not been cold enough to kill a tiny predator. Thousands of trees are infested with mountain pine beetles in an exploding infestation that threatens to destroy more than C$4 …
TTD plans 120-km afforestation
The Tirumala Tirupatu devasthanams (TTD) which has bagged the prestigious 'Vanamithra award' of the state government this year, has submitted a Rs 10 crore proposal to the centre for expanding TTD's afforestation programme in Tirumala hills.
Sikkim HC orders fresh CBI probe
The Sikkim High Court has ordered a fresh enquiry by the CBI into a case relating to felling of trees in North and West districts of the State.
