Global workshop to study forest fires
The Committee on Science and Technology in Developing Countries (COSTED) will be holding an international workshop between March 27 and 29 on forest fires in developing countries in Chennai. Speaking to presspersons, the Scientific Secretary of Costed, Dr. G. Thyagarajan, said a plan would be finalised at the workshop for …
Workshop to finalise plan for study on forest fires
Scientists and specialists from the Asia-Pacific region will participate in a three day workshop beginning in Chennai on March 27 on the 'Scientific Dimensions of Forest Fires', being organised by Committee On Science and Technology in Developing Countiries (COSTED) of the International Council for Science.
SA 'visionary' wins Stockholm Water prize
South African education minister Kader Asmal has won the 2000 Stockholm Water Prize for his 'visionary' leadership in water resource management, the prize committee announced on Thursday.
More than 500 khair trees felled
In another forest scandal more than 500 khair trees have been axed unauthorisedly in Bhadsali shamlat forest in Una division in Himachal Pradesh. The illicit felling was detected by the flying squad of the Forest Department on the basis of complaints received from villagers.
Plea to speed up Saraswati river projects
A seven-member delegation of Saraswati Nadi Shodh Samsthaan, Haryana, led by its President, Mr. Darshan Lal Jain, met the State Governor, Mr. Mahabir Prasad, today and submitted a memorandum urging that the Saraswati river projects be implemented soon.
Centre cracks the whip on State forest projects
The Union Government is contemplating a ban on any new project needing diversion of forest land in Madhya Pradesh following the State Government's failure to comply with the mandatory compensatory afforestation (CA) against the projects executed so far.
Valasarawakkam residents face groundwater contamination problem
Valasarawakkam Town Panchayat figured in a GO issued in December 1992 for extending the operational jurisdiction of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to augment drinking water supply with Krishna Water in 20 local bodies adjacent Chennai, but the Valasarawakkam residents have to wait for some more time to …
Over 2000 trees hacked, BMC clueless
Three hundred and thirty four casurina trees have been hacked and carted away, probably at night, the fifth incident after about 2,700 saplings were first planted by Zodiac in 1996. Now all that remains is a row of mutilated stumps and withered leaves of the ornamental plants. Officials from Brihanmumbai …
Brazil highway plan called threat to forest
Government plans to repair and pave four highways could devastate a swath of Amazon rain forest more than twice the size of Portugal, according to a newspaper at Sao Paulo.
NGO fights to save forest in Assam
The Appropriate Technology Mission (ATMA), which has been spearheading an agitation demanding that the 2000-hectare forest be declared a sanctuary, does not want to turn tail now. ATMA secretary Arjun Chandra Burman says the fate of the reserve is typical of the kind of fragmentation of forest cover that is …
Madhya Pradesh Rs 900-cr forestry project in jeopardy
With the World Bank unlikely to continue financing, the Rs 900-crore MP forestry project faces an uncertain future. Though there has been no formal announcement as yet, sources say that the World Bank had decided to withdraw from forest-related projects as a "matter of policy" and instead concentrate on other …
J&K may wrap up Dal conservation project
After throwing millions into the fast dying tourist attraction, the Dal Lake, Jammu & Kashmir government is reviewing its Rs 500-crore conservation plan. Possibilities are being explored if the lake could be protected without shifting over 60,000 people living in 58 hamlets and around 1,400 houseboats.
Report soon on sustainable forest management
The National Task Force, set up by the Union Forests and Environment Ministry, will soon come out with recommendations for adoption of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) in the Indian context, according to Task force convenor Dr Ram Prasad.
Greens may sue over forest deals
Legal action will be taken against the State Government and the Commonwealth if they sign controversial regional forest agreements for Gippsland and western Victoria at the end of the month, Australian conservationists have warned.The Wombat Forest Society and the Tambo Environment Awareness Group, which support ecologically sustainable logging in public …
World water forum to discuss future crisis
A six-day gathering of policy-makers, businesses and activists opens here Friday with the goal of alerting public opion to an impending crisis over the plenet's most important substance: water. Kicking off the show will be the World Water Forum, with 3,000 representatives from all sectors, who will hold hundreds of …
LDF nod for Bill to protect forests
The ruling LDF has in principle given its seal of approval for the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Sensitive Areas) Bill, 2000 aimed at protecting the State's ecologically important forest areas.
Otways logging extended into quoll refuge
The State Government has widened its clearfell logging operations in one of the last refuges for the endangered spot-tailed quolls in the Otways (Australia).The move into the Cumberland River catchment near Lorne this week has angered residents and local businesses already fighting to stop clearfelling in nearby old-growth forests behind …
Banking body for forestry sector mooted
Union environment minister T R Baalu has mooted the idea of creating a banking institution in which state forest corporations could have a holding, eventually enabling reduction in the service cost of loans and allowing more money to be used for actual plantation. He was speaking at a award function …
Baalu proposal to boost forestry funding
In order to give a boost to forestry funding, the Union Minsiter for Environment & Forests, Mr. T.R. Baalu, today proposed the creation of a banking institution in which various State Forest Corporations(SFCs) could have a holding.
