Bangalore: Forest department officials must step out and visit the wooded areas regularly to prevent illegal activities like growing marijuana, Kaushik Mukherjee, additional chief secretary and dev

Conservation and protection of forests can never be done efficiently without the active participation of the public, S V Ranganath, Chief Secretary of the State, has said.

Emphasising on participatory forest management and development, he spoke about forest conservation with the aid of technology and e-governance.

Census is carried out in tiger reserves and sanctuaries twice a year

Nearly 1,000 persons including forest personnel, nature enthusiasts, environmentalists and members of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) continued with the wildlife census in Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) for the second day on Friday. The five-day census to enumerate the wildlife population in the 958 sq km area of ATR spread over six ranges of Pollachi, Ulandy, Manomboly, Valparai, Udumalpet and Amaravathy began with a training on Wednesday. The field level census commenced on Thursday.

Nearly 100 people to be involved in the exercise

The five-day census to enumerate the wildlife population is all set to begin in the 958 sq km area spread over six ranges of Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR) from Wednesday. Talking to The Hindu , Field Director of ATR Rajiv K. Srivasatava said that nearly 100 people including Forest Department staff, NGO volunteers, nature enthusiasts and environmentalists will be involved in the exercise. The staff and other volunteers will be divided into teams of three or four and will be involved in carrying out the census in Amaravathy, Udumalpet, Pollachi, Valparai, Manomboly and Valparai ranges.