Timber scam to be probed
State (Assam) forest minister Nagen Sharma has ordered an inquiry into the allegations of timber smuggling by Army personnel despite the Supreme Court ban on felling of trees in the entire Northeast. Sharma said: "I have directed the forest department officials to carry out an investigation and submit their report …
PIL in HC on drinking water scarcity
A public interest litigation(PIL) was filed today in Gauhati High Court seeking direction from the court on the unprecedented drinking water crisis in the city.
Stop clearing forets, say Van Gujjars
Van Gujjars - the Muslim nomadic pastoral tribe residing in the proposed Rajaji National Park area during winters and migrate with their cattle to the higher Himalayan meadows during summers - have urged the Uttar Pradesh Governemnt to immeidately stop the massive clearance of forests in Gaindikhata and Pathri areas …
Africa to phase out dangerous chemicals
African negotiators who attended the second intergovernmental meeting at the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi recently have appealed for financial and technical assistance to eliminate the 12 most dangerous chemicals from Africa. In a statement released in the Kenyan capital in January, the negotiators said they were …
15 pc tubewells go out of operation in N districts
The underground water level in northern districts of Bangladesh including Dinajpur is falling gradually posing a threat to Irri-Boro cultivation. About 15 per cent tubewells in the region have become inoperative for want of water as the underground level has fallen.
Nagarahole fire caused by NGOs, says Manjunath
Forest Minister D Manjunath today said the reports about the devastation caused by a recent fire in Nagarahole reserve forests were highly exaggereated and accused some of the non-governmental organisations of setting the forest on fire in order to stall the government's efforts to rehabilitate tribals in the region.
Axe one tree and pay for ten more
For every tree cut, Delhi's forest department will extract a security deposit of Rs 100 from the axing agency to plant ten more trees. This includes the cost of fencing and tree-guards. Assistant conservator of forests (ACF) Satvir Singh says,"So far, we have taken this deposit from the Jal Board, …
Public hearing on forest projects
Public hearing has been made mandatory before granting clearance to forest projects involving more than 20 hectares of forest land. This has been done to introduce greater transparency in the clearance of forest projects. An order to this effect has been issued by Union environment and forests minister Suresh Prabhu.
Fire destroys community forest
The community forest at Chhara village of Dhankuta municipality ward No. 4 in Nepal containing pine trees caught fire and caused damages worth about 500 thousand rupees, according to the chairman of the community forest. The forest was set on fire at about 10 am and it destroyed the plants …
Major paper cos. form forestry biotech venture
Four major paper companies said they intend to spend $60 million over five years to form a biotech joint venture to improve forestry health and productivity worldwide. The companies, Fletcher Challenge Forests , International Paper , Monsanto Co and Westvaco Corp , said the joint venture will produce and market …
Forest fires in China
Forest fires in drought-stricken north-central China were still out of control on Wednesday, with thousands of soldiers and civilians forced by water shortages to use shovels to beat back the flames. Several forest fires had broken out across China around the April 5 Qiing Ming festival, when families tidy their …
Medha Patkar, NBA activists held
The Union Government today displayed its intolerance to voices of thousands of people displaced from the Sardar Sarovar Project on Narmada, who travelled here from villages in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to air their grievances and seek justice.Instead of giving them a hearing, the Government ordered their arrest, unmindful …
Forest fire continues to rage at Chamoli
A devastating fire continued to engulf more forests in the district, official sources said here on Tuesday. Forests of Ghat, Deval, Narain Bagra, Dasholi and Gairsain blocks in the district were destroyed by the fire, which broke out about two weeks ago, the sources said.
Forest on 2.5m acres planned in two years
The provincial government of Lahore, Pakistan plans to bring over 2.5 million acre of land under forests during the next two years. This was stated by Forest Minister Malik Salim Iqbal while addressing a news conference on Monday. The new initiative, involving an estimated investment of Rs 25 billion, is …
Apples for pines
A silent but devastating destruction of Himahcal Pradesh's pristine forests is taking place right under the nose of the government. The annual migration of Gorkha labourers from Nepal to the apple belt of Himachal Pradesh has started. In keeping with past trends, this year too, many orchard owners are employing …
Fear in the forest
The recent judgment by the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) holding that the tribal Van Gujjars living in the proposed Rajaji National Park in the Shivalik ranges of the Himalayan foothills cannot be forced to move out or be settled in the new camp laid out for their rehabilitaion by the …
Rubber stretching Tripura ecology
Report : Despite its new-found tag of "the second rubber capital of India", a recent study into the impact of rubber plantation reveals its telling effect on the state's fragile ecology.
Green is turning into grey on the Ridge
The Ridge in Delhi is the ultimate manifestation of laissez-faire. No entry barriers. No rules. Just move in, plant a flag to mark out your homestead, like they did in the Wild West, and you're in business. You could be in real-estate , mining, poaching, felling trees or simply trading …
