Draft ordinance moots steps to recover forest land
The draft of Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Ordinance, 2000, which was approved by the Cabinet and forwarded to the Governor today proposes to enable the Government to recover about 10,000 hectares of alienated forest land.
Indiscriminate use of biomass fuel affects forest resources
Depletion in biomass fuel is now causing crisis of energy for the rural people, particularly the poor, leaving a grave scenario that is not being paid due attention in view of its "non-commercial" character. This, experts say, as caused difficulties to Bangladesh's majority rural masses to lead their lives and …
ASEAN, again, aims to combat smog
When southeast asian environment ministers meet in Brunei, they will focus on serious air pollution that is made more contentious because it hurts neighboring nations, not just the country in which it originates. For the environment ministers from ASEAN, the issue is how to prevent a repeat of disastrous forest …
Joint forest management scheme extended
The scope of the joint forest management(JFM) scheme has been extended to good forests under a new set of guidelines issued by the government. Over 36,000 JFM committees have been constituted for the purpose all over the country in areas bordering forests covering 10.24 hectares of forest lands. Such committees …
Drinking water scarce in Udaipur
Inadequate rainfall during the last four years has created severe drining water problem in the lake city of Udaipur. Water level in the two main lakes - Fatehsagar and Pichhola - life line of the city has fallen to an all-time low and is not even fit for drinking.
Sumatra haze won't affect Malaysians
Malaysians have no need to worry about the haze in Sumatra affecting them, according to the Department of Environment. DOE director-general Rosnani Ibarahim said the situation was under control and there was nothing to worry about. "We are monitoring the hotspots not only in Sumatra but also in Kalimantan and …
Kashmir lakes shrink due to encroachment
Though crores of rupees have been spent by the Kashmir government to save the Dal Lake in Srinagar, the lake has shrunk due to illegal encroachment. The same is the state of three other lakes in Kashmir.
Shakipur forest resources being pilfered
The Mushroom growth of furniture marts, saw mills and pilferage of valuable trees have hastened the desertification process of forest in Shakhipur thana. Spreading over an area of 50,000 acres of land, the Govt Forest consisting of valuable trees like gazari, mahogoni , akashmoni, chambal and karai has under guard …
MP residents to strive for non-wood forest products use
The local people of Madhya Pradesh would now strive for the best possible use of the non-wood forest products (NWFP) with the help of experts to increase their income and to protect the forest. And all this because Madhya Pradesh has become the first state in the world by introducing …
Sharp decline in Uttarakhand forest cover
Steep increase in the rate of deforestation, due to the increased activity of forest mafia and mismanagement by forest department is taking toll of the green cover in both Uttarakhand as well as adjoining parts of the region in Uttar Pradesh. This was stated in a study conducted by G …
Decision on felling draws flak
The recent decision of the Himachal Pradesh government to lift the 15-year old ban in the state has led to widespread resentment. Almost every section of society has strongly opposed it. Though the state cabinet approved the decision last month, it is being kept a closely-guarded secret to avoid public …
Kerala villagers dare govt over tree-felling
The love of the residents of Sajivothama for nature is such that they have declared that they would immolate themselves if the authorities went ahead with plans to cut trees in the area. The colony yesterday witnessed a rare agitation with men and women in large numbers dousing themselves with …
Himachal urged to keep its ban on cutting trees
The Himalayan Environment Trust has urged the Himachal government to reconsider its decision to lift 16 years old ban on felling trees for commercial purposes.The trust has also requested Mr. T.R. Balu, Union minister of environment and forest to urgently intervene.
Forest Dept's nod to 'JFM scheme'
The State Government has given its nod to a Central porposal for an afforestation programme under the name and style "Joint Forest Management Programme (Peoples' Participation)" involving Rs 10 crore and is awaiting Central sanction . Official sources today said at Guwahati that the scheme envisages participation of the peoplw …
Autos, taxis keep off road, govt. says it won't give in
After week-long festivities to herald the new millennium, Mumbaikars on Monday woke up to find autorickshaws, taxis and goods vehicles off the road. The seven-day strike has been called by the Mumbai Mal Vahatuk Ani Pravasi Vahatuk Malak-Chalak Kriti Samiti to protest against transport commissioner V M Lal's moves to …
Hybrids from eucalyptus clones
ITC Bhadrachalam Paper Boards Ltd (ITC-BPL), which has successfully produced genetically improved clones of eucalyptus trees, is now developing hybrid seedlings of the species.
Trees drying, dying in Punjab
Punjab, which already has very thin forest cover, is facing a crisis of drying and dying trees. More than 50,000 trees have either dried or died in the state in the recent past. Worried over the very high casualty rate, the Punjab Government has approached the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, …
