Claim on forest cover debunked
Contrary to earlier officials, Maharashtra does not have 21 per cent of its land under forest cover. It is an abysmally low nine per cent. "The situation in Maharashtra is much worse. Although it claims to have 21 per cent" satellite imagery "indicates that actually only nine per cent of …
Toyota, Mitsui to joing hands on Australian forestry venture
Toyota Motor Co. will team up with Mitsui & Co. and Nippon Paper Industries Co. to launch forestation operations in Australia. The new venture aims to exploit the power of trees to absorb carbon dioxide and reduce global warming, while also turning a profit when the trees are eventually felled …
This is a job for Brazil
Amazon is our greatest forest, greatest wilderness, greatest repository of biological diversity and the greatest of environmental icons. And the Amazon's big problems - fires, reckless development-demand a big country's help.
80% drop in bush and forest fires, says dept
The number of bush and forest fires in the Malaysia has reduced drastically since the Government adopted stern measures to combat the problem. "In the last two months, the department responded to an average of 37 cases. This is almost a 80% reduction in the number of cases detected between …
'Green Guards' for forests mooted
The Union Environment and Forest Ministry has mooted appointment of "green guards" in every village of the country to protect forests with the participation of the people. The Environment Minister, Mr. Suresh Prabhu, disclosing this during an informal chat with presspersons, said there was a need to launch a national …
Caribbean storm may douse fires in Florida
With thousands of evacuees spending the fourth of July in shelters, hotels or even their cars, fire-weary northen Florida got a break from the high winds and oppressive heat that have spread wildfires for weeks. The fires were still raging on Saturday, although high humidity, some brief showers and a …
Greenpeace celebrates landmark victory in forest fight
In British Columbia, Greenpeace applauded logging giant MacMilan Bloedel for showing leadership and vision by announcing a dramatic forest program that will change the face of the forest industry in Canada. The announcement marks the first time an industry leader has acknowledged clear cutting is no longer acceptable and that …
Panel for charting village forest management plan
A high level expert committee called upon the government to launch a seprate institutional arrangement on the lines of district rural development agencies (DRDA) for two lakh villages around forest areas. Under this institution, the local people will be involved through joint forest management. The agency will receive funds directly …
70,000 flee forest fires in Florida
A further 36,000 people were ordered to leave their fire-threatened Florida homes on Friday, bringing the total number of evacuations to more than 70,000 in three days. the whole of Flagler Country, in north-east Florida, was being emptied of people amid fears that he entire area could be razed.
Green Delhi Campaign inaugurated
This year's Green Delhi campaign was launched by Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madan Lal Khurna today by planting a sapling at a park in Nirman Vihar.
Action plan to preserve forest cover ready
The Union Ministry of Environment & Forests has drawn up an action plan to reverse the decline in forest cover of the country. Among other things it includes intensified afforestation activities in villages, launch of major awareness campaigns, inclusion of environment as a subject in school curricula and rehabilitation of …
More Floridans fleeing fires
Fire fighters continued to battle against wildfires that have driven more than 30,000 people from their homes, closed 140 miles of interstate highway and destroyed dozens of homes and businesses. In the last four weeks, more than 1,900 fires have burned more than 280,000 acres.
Notice served on L&T for taking over forest land
The Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister, Mr. Kanjibhai Patel, informed the Vidhan Sabha here that a notice has been served on Larsen and Toubro for taking over forest land in Amreli district even before the Centre permitted it in this regard.
Bureaucracy hinders efforts to go green
The Chief Minister has appealed to people to plant trees. Try planting one in your neighbourhood public park and you will know how serious the government is about its tree plantation drives. Chances are the gardener of the government's Horticulture Department will uproot the sapling, that is if he is …
30,000 evacuated in fire-ravaged Florida
Firefighters braced on Thursday for fresh battles against wildfires that have driven more than 30,000 people from their homes, closed 225 km of Interstate highway and destroyed dozens of homes and business.
Wood smuggling escalates following ranger's strike
Illegal wood logging and timber smuggling from thousands of hectares of forests in Udaypur district of Nepal have taken a massive rate following the strike of forest guards and rangers. Sources say the sudden upsurge in logging and smuggling in these forests is under the absolute control of the smugglers, …
Foresters' role redefined
The forest cover in the country is estimated to be depleted to 12 per cent of the total land area. The wasteland areas are expanding at a rapid rate of 50,000 hectares annually. One half of the area officially designated as forest land is degraded because of deforestation, damage due …
Centre to raise forest Bn
The Union MInister of Environment & Forests, Mr Suresh P Prabhu has requested the Union Home Minister, Mr L K Advani to allocate at least one more battlion to the Government of battlion to the Government of Assam for the Forest Department to look after the security of the officials …
'Green Delhi' drive an exercise in futility
If the Capital's civic agencies had been sincere in their endeavours to green the city in various drives since 1950, about 470 square kilometres would already have been under forest cover on 2 July, when the Green Delhi Campaign is to be launched with much fanfare.
