Justice M B Shah Commission, probing illegal mining activities in Odisha, today asked the state government and Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to clear their stands on issues relating to m

A large group of people living in villages deep inside the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary are set for an occupy stir which will see them forcefully occupy bungalows, buildings and revenue land under the forest department in the district in protest against government delay in implementing the relocation package promised to them long ago.

The villagers, comprising around 2,600 tribal and nontribal families from 110 settlements situated deep within the WWS, had voluntarily expressed their willingness to move out of the forest three years back. The unique project, if implemented, could have added over 1500 acres to the sanctuary, making it one of the largest voluntary relocation programmes in the country.

Miners plead innocence as clarity on demarcation between buffer, eco-sensitive zones inadequate

The M B Shah Commission of enquiry probing into illegal mining on Monday asked Union ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) and the state forest department to submit affidavits regarding their stand on mining in adjacent areas of wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forest area. “All of you should submit an affidavit regarding your interpretation of rules related to mining in adjacent areas of sanctuaries and reserve forest,” Justice M B Shah, the commission chairman told officials of MoEF and state forest department while hearing the matter related to B C Dagara mines.

Two wildlife sanctuaries — Silent Valley National Park and Wayanad — have been closed to visitors since Friday following high fire risk.

Scanty summer showers and dried vegetation have heightened the fire risk in most of the protected areas of the State. The restriction on tourism activities and curbs on visitors were enforced at the sanctuaries to minimise risk of fire, said V. Gopinath, Chief Wildlife Warden, Kerala. Though sporadic incidents of fire were reported from some forest areas in the State, the situation was under control, Mr. Gopinath said.

PANJIM: The Central Government, acting through the Union Environment and Forests Ministry, has blamed the Goa government for the current mining imbroglio, in a 107-page affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, pointing out to repeated directives issued by it, in a bid to ensure compliance of various mining related regulations.

The ministry also pointed out that it acted swiftly after receiving the Shah Commission report on the irregularities in iron ore mining in Goa and directed the state government not to renew any mining lease until all issues were examined.

For most part of the year, it's only the roar of Asiatic lions that breaks the tranquility of Mityala Wildlife Sanctuary in Amreli district.

The environment ministry has constituted a committee to review how elephant reserves and corridors across the country can get a higher level of legal protection under existing green laws.

KANPUR: At a time when national and international agencies are toiling hard to save the population of vultures, which is on the verge of extinction, sighting of around 108 vultures including White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus), Cinerous vulture (Aegypius monachus), long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) at one go in Suhelwa Wild Life sanctuary, in Shrawasti district close to Nepal border, comes as a ray of hope for wildlife enthusiasts.

While visiting the forest areas of Suhelwa in Western range, district forest officer, Manish Mittal spotted a total number of 108 vultures feeding on a dead animal carcass. On close scrutiny, the scavengers were found to be species of white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus), cinerous vulture (Aegypius monachus) and long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus).

Filling It Artificially Will Save Animals, Say Officials | A Wrong Move: Experts

Bangalore: The government’s proposal to artificially replenish water holes in national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves has drawn flak from wildlife experts. The proposal was floated last month due to drought-like condition and water crisis in forest areas. In a letter to Dipak Sarmah, the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) and chief wildlife warden, Karnataka forest department, the experts said it’s disastrous to have water tankers enter wildlife reserves

While rejecting sections of a proposed road that it fears will disturb India's largest breeding site for flamingos in the Great Rann of Kutch, the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) has recommended