Assam bio-diversity in jeopardy
The fate of several globally endangered species has been threatened by dwindling grasslands in Assam, which has no natural grassland of any significance worth conservation left, say wild-life experts. In the first-ever world-wide fund survey of grasslands in the North Cachar hills, Harmen and Barak valley, it was found that …
Focus on drive to keep eco-balance
The three-day national network workshop on forest management which concluded here today, was organised by the Society for Promotion of wastelands Development (SPWD) for identifying the areas where the work on interdependent factors of poverty, destruction of forests and environment pollution was lacking. Two books on the related subjects, "Who …
New method to check vehicular pollution
The State Government is planning to monitor the increasing vehicular pollution in the city by installing laser-based remote sensing equipment at various traffic intersections. Inaugurating a three-day workshop on "integrated approach to vehicular pollution control" at the India Habitat Centre, the Delhi Transport Minister, Mr. Rajendra Gupta, said the equipment …
Singapore co develops portable water plant
A Singapore-based company has developed a cheaper, portable water desalination plant that could be assembled anywhere quickly, its chief executive officer said on Friday. The AquaGen International Chief, Mr. Gavin Liau, said the modular system of its plant makes installation easy and it produces 100 cubic metres of water a …
State sore over bid to amend water disputes Act
The Karnataka state government has written a letter to Union Home Minister L K Advani, taking strong exception to the Inter-State council's recommendation to amend the Inter-State water Disputes Act, without taking into account Karnataka's opposition, expressed at the Council's fourth meeting on November 28,1997, according to Major Irrigation Minister …
8,000ha still ablaze in Sabah, says police chief
More than 8,000ha of forest and bushfires are still raging in Sabah where 1,311 firemen as well as police and army personnel are trying to combat the blazes. Sabah Police Commissioner Amir Junos said yesterday that about 80% or 32,000ha of forest and bushfires in the state have been contained. …
Ban on chemical from Sept 30
A chemical used by pest control companies for the treatment of termites will be banned from Sept 30, the Pesticide Board said. An official from the Pesticide Board said chlordane could not be manufactured or imported from Oct 1. The chemical was banned in the US by the Environmental Protection …
More powers mooted for HP forest officials
Forest Minister Roop Singh has said more powers will be given to forest officials to deal with timber and resin smuggling in Himachal Pradesh. He also made it clear that under no circumstances would forest officials be pardoned if their connivance in timber smuggling was established.
Philippines declines to remove a ban on lumber exports
The Philippine government declined to lift a ban on lumber exports after widespread criticism that the move would result in destruction of the country's remaining forests. Environmental groups said the order would encourage the destrucion of the few remaining older forests in the Philippines.
Afforestation mooted in 3 drought-hit Orissa districts
A parliamentary committee has recommended constitution of a task force by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry to launch an afforestation programme in Orissa's Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) districts, facing alleged starvation deaths. In its 106th report to the Rajya Sabha, the committee on petitions said a meaningful afforestation …
Plea to save agro biodiversity
As the world approaches the new millennium, the Malthusian prediction of population growth outstripping food supplies may come true, warns Prof. M.S. Swaminathan, leading agro-biologist, calling for urgent measures to avert it. Increasing population, leading to diminishing availability of arable land and water, urbanisation, desertification, deforestation and other forms of …
Assembly adopts Forest (Amendment) Bill
The Legislative Assembly today adopted the Karnataka Forest and Certain Other Law (Amendment) Bill, 1997, already passed by the Legislative Council, after discussion. It is based on the National Forest Policy evolved by the Centre. The Bill was introduced by the Forest Minister, Mr. D.Manjunath, who assured the House that …
China taking steps to protect tropical rain forest
China's largest tropical rain forest in the Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve in Yunnan Province, will get further protection when the reserve is enlarged from 247,000 ha to 533,000 ha. Xishuangbanna has at least 58 species of rare or endangered plants, 15 per cent of China's total number, and is home to …
Brunei scrambles to tackle smog
Dense smog from forest and bush fires has forced Brunei to order government offices and schools to open late and prompted a travel warning from the United States, authorities said on Tuesday. The Prime Minister's Office on Monday ordered government departments, which usually opens at 7.45 am, to open 45 …
US customs ruling reignites lumber dispute with Canada
A dispute over Canadian softwood lumber exports to the US could be rekindled after a US Customs Service ruling that will block about $20m a month in Canadian sales. But Canadian producers and the government are expected to tread carefully to avoid re-opening a new round of battles with the …
- Panel for afforestation
A parliamentary committee has recommended constitution of a task force by the Union Environment and Forest Ministry to launch an afforestation programme in Orissa's Kalahandi, Bolangir and Koraput (KBK) districts facing alleged starvation deaths.
Fungal threat to neem
A destructive 'die-back' disease has struck the eco-friendly, evergreen neem tree. The die-back disease, as named by botanists, was noticed about four years ago and it is now well established that it has spread to all parts of Karnataka. Reports from other parts of the South and from Dehra Dun …
Indonesia fires out of control
Forest fires are raging out of control in Indonesia's East Kalimantan province, environment minister Juwono Sudarsono was quoted as saying on Tuesday, likening the area to America's lawless "Wild West."
