Need water, will tap!
If your tap runs dry frequently, or if the water comes in a trickle when it should be gushing, watch out - its likely the supply to your home is being "tapped" midway. Illegal diversion of corporation water is giving many Calcuttans nightmares.
Battle rages on whether or not to log in fire prevention
Contrary to the claims of Republican politicians, two studies - one by a Congressional research group and one by an environmental group have concluded that logging does not protect national forests against forest fires.After Republican Congressmen recently blamed this year's fire season - the most serious in the western US …
Early native Americans were cannibals
Scientists have found what they say is the first direct evidence of cannibalism among prehistoric Indians in the American Southwest, belying the image of these people as steadfastly peaceful farmers.
Water shortage affects millions across China
According to Ma Ju, the Beijing based author of a new book called "China's Water Crisis" the country has been mismanaging its water resources for centuries and has inflicted the greatest damage in the 50 years of development since the start of Communist rule. Shanghai, China's heavily developed commercial center …
Arunachal plans tougher norms to protect forests
The restrictions imposed on activities threatening the green cover, biodiversity and wildlife in the Arunachal Pradesh are proposed to be extended to a wider one-fifth of the geographical area of this north-eastern state.
Brazil greens cheer forest bill postponement
Brazilian environmentalists applauded on yesterday the shelving of a legislative proposal they said threatened the Amazon rain forest by expanding the areas open to logging and the types of trees available for harvesting. Further parliamentary discussion of the bill, which would amend the country's forestry code, was halted until March, …
Lowe's to phase out purchases from endangered forests
Home improvement retailer Lowe's Cos. Inc. yesterday said it plans to stop selling wood products that come from endangered forests in an effort to protect critical forest areas. The retailer said it would phase out the purchase of wood products from endangered forests, starting with an immediate ban on wood …
Rate of deforestation may be slowing - U.N. report
The destruction of the world's forests appears to be slowing, a preliminary study by the United Nation's food agency revealed yesterday. The rate of deforestation, which has been denounced by environmental activists for decades, declined by as much as 10 percent over the 1990s from the 1980s in some areas, …
Water managers, this one is for you
Courtesy the geographical imbalance, India is losing many million acre feet (MAF) of precious water every year to Pakistan. According to conservative estimates, as much as 15-20 per cent of about 26 MAF of water present in the river systems in Punjab and Rajasthan is going silently to Pakistan.
FAO
Strong indications for slow-down in deforestation : The destruction of the world's forests is continuing but there are strong indications that the rate of deforestation is slowing down, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a statement published today.Preliminary analysis of more than 300 satellite images show that …
Logging's shift south brings concern on oversight
In a major shift, timber companies have stepped up logging operations in the South,where they face less regulation than in the carefully monitored forests of the Pacific Northwest. Timber harvests in North Carolina, Tennessee and 11 other Southern states of United States increased by 50 percent from 1977 to 1997, …
Afforestation project
The Union Ministry of Environment has selected Muktsar district of Punjab for Rs 2-crore project under rural afforestation programme (gram Vanikaran Samridhi), the Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Kanwaljit SIngh Chenna, said.
Scientists' web catches eight new spider species
Gujarat's smallest national park at Vansada, spread over a mere 24-sq km area, has turned out to be a treasure trove since researchers have found 121 species of spiders here-eight of which are absolutely new to science.
Forests, biological diversity in CHT fast disappearing
The forest, the huge reservoirs under biological diversity covering surfaces in three CHT hill districts-Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachhari are fast disappearing. Recent studies have shown that deforestation in Chittagong Hill Tracts is being caused primarily by slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation.
Arunachal to expand forest area to 20%
Arunachal Pradesh will expand its protected forest are afrom the existing 13 per cent to 20 per cent of its geographical area, state chief minister Mukut Mithi has said.
Smouldering
Devastating fires are a part of summer in the south west of America. They ravage thousands of acres in the region each year. Drought and strong winds propel fires; but the biggest fires were begun by government workers. All this raises new and troubling, questions about the stewardship of America's …
Green again
Villagers and officials join hands to preserve a forest -- a report.
Centre's guidelines to NFR on movement of timber
The Centre has taken a serious view over the continuous unabated felling timber and its consequent smuggling through trains and other modes of transportation from different parts of the north-eastern region. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, in order to put a halt to this menace, recently issued certain …
Goa mulling over water policy
The Goa government is contemplating a water policy to meet the needs of the coastal state. Official sources said the National Water Policy 1998, which has been arrived keeping in view of 20 river basins in the countrty, was not significant and helpful to a state like Goa having comparatively …
