NGOs pressure IBRD to scrap MP forestry project Phase-II
The World Bank is understood to have scrapped the second phase of the Rs 875 crore Madhya Pradesh forestry project for protection and conservation of forests and wildlife. Pressure by NGOs, which claimed that the project was encroaching upon the traditional rights of the tribals, is said to have prompted …
British help for clean transport
Delhiites can presumably take comfort from this. India and Britain have decided to work together on studies to decide "sustainable transport" systems for the Capital and other cities. This is part of a 700,000-pound, five point UK support package framed in a cooperation agreement signed on Monday between Britain deputy …
Afforestation plan
The Bihar government has prepared an ambitious programme to bring 33 per cent of land under forest cover, for maintaining ecological equilibrium in the state at an estimated cost of Rs. 14000 crore.
Space technology fights forest fires
The European Space Agency has joined the fight against frest fires in British Columbia, Canada. A 13-14 May, a demonstration of REMSAT (Real Time Emergency Management via Satellite), a project initiated and funded by ESA, showed how the integrated use of three key space technologies could help bring a forest …
Corruption threatens forests as certification remains luxury for rich countries
Corruption of government officials by multinational companies, pressure to repay debt and misdirection of EU funds are contributing to the destruction of tropical forests, a report leaked to The Guardian claims. Meanwhile, statistics released by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) show that only a quarter of the area of forests …
Delhi's air is better now
Another study: With doubts being raised over the state of Delhi's air, there is one more report done by an independent research institution which clearly shows that air quality is better at 16 traffic intersections in the city. The study was done by the Shriram Institute for Industrial Research in …
Need to develop air quality index system, says expert
With the number of vehicles sky rocketing and pollution-levels become worse, a smong-filled atmosphere appears to have become a permanent feature in the capital.With this view, the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) organised a three-day workshp.The workshop was attended by a number of experts from the United States, Japan and …
Forests policy aims at new work culture
The Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) here has come up with a National Forestry Research Plan (NFRP) which aims at revamping its institutes, effect a new research policy and make the State forest departments work. The NFRP aims to introduce a new work culture in its institutes …
Auto industry for steps to combat pollution
In addition to reiterating its demand for active participation by other stakeholders to control pollution, the auto industry has announced initiatives with Government organisations to control emissions from vehicles by providing training to pollution control staff, updating them on the latest techniques and providing training to enable them use the …
Indonesis may ban logs export again
Indonesia will seek a way to reimpose a ban on exports of logs to protect its forests, the Forstry and Plantations Minister, Mr. Nur Mahmudi Ismail, said on Wednesday.
Afforestation plan helps computer careers bloom in rural TN
The Tamil Nadu afforestation project (TAP) has brought more than increased green cover to Kadam nur in Theni districts; it has brought software taining programmes to the remote village, whose only claim to fame in the past has been caste riots.
25,000 kikar trees dry up
Even as 25,000 kikar trees are feared to have dried up in two successive years in the district of Ferozepore, the Forest Authorities are still groping the dark - as to what exactly led to the massive destruction of trees.
Jobless Assam jumbos up for sale
Some sell jobs. Mitharam Sonowal sells those who need jobs. It other words, he sells the "unemployed" to those who have jobs. Yes, Sonowal's business is big. As big as the elephants he deals with. Following the Supreme Court ban, which prohibited felling and movement of timber in the Northeast, …
CAG raps Forest Dept for misusing ODA funds
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has pulled up the Karnataka Forest Department for mismanaging the 23.296 million pound (Rs 83.86 crore) Overseas Development Agency (ODA) funded Western Ghats forestry and environment project and has called for a detailed investigation.
Petrol with low benzene content from October
In a bid to reduce air pollution in the Capital, the Delhi government has managed to persuade the Union petroleum ministry to supply petrol with low benzene content from October 1. A seniorgovernment official said the benzene content will be only one per cent, which will help improve the air …
Water harvesting may become compulsory
The Delhi government is planning to make it compulsory for all new group housing societies to tap rain water in their big complexes. The city government is drafting a bill in consultation with environment and water experts and this would be introduced in the Delhi assembly soon. The government was …
Where the future is made of wood
It's harvest time for the newly converted tree farmers of Leshan, in China's Sichuan province.Backed by such US investors as Chase Capital Partners plus more than $35million of project financing and equity from the World Bank's International Finance Corp., the Plantation Timber Products factory produces 115,000 cubic meters a year …
A clean technology powers up
Businesses are starting to snap up fuel cells because they can provide supplemental power almost everywhere, even in a high-rise office building. Instead of using combustion to produce electricity, they squeeze juice from a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen in the air, with heat and hot water being the …
Govt 'apathy' hinders social forestry development project
A social forestry development project taken up by the Forest Department with financial assitance from Japan International Cooperative Bank (earlier known as Overseas Economic Co-operative Fund) has remained underdeveloped because of the lack of enthusiasm on the part of the State government and poor response from the public
Prostate glands, bark poachers and biodiversity
Scientists in Kenya have unveiled plans to save from extinction a tree whose bark is in such demand for easing prostate disorders that poachers help to fuel its supply. The healing properties of the bark of Prunus Africana are used to treat what was then called Old Man's Disease. Currently, …
