In 2019, the illegal wildlife trade reached staggering levels. Pangolin scales and ivory were being trafficked in massive quantities from Africa to Asia, exposing a network of crime syndicates operating at an industrial scale. The sheer volume of these shipments marked a disturbing milestone, one that revealed the global reach …
Vietnamese officials, companies and private individuals are systematically smuggling huge amounts of illegally logged timber from protected areas of Cambodia into Vietnam, according to a new report. The findings are based on months of undercover field research made public by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). Approximately 300,000 cubic meters of …
Judgement of the Supreme Court of India in the matter of State of Madhya Pradesh & Others Vs Kallo Bai dated 08/05/2017 regarding confiscation of vehicles by the Forest Development Corporation, Dhuma District, Seoni for carrying teak wood without the requisite documents. The offence was registered under Madhya Pradesh Van …
The one-day special session of Madhya Pradesh assembly was adjourned sine die on Wednesday, after passing a resolution to declare river Narmada as a living entity by majority of voice vote. The resolution introduced by environment minister Antar Singh Arya stated that river Narmada is the lifeline of Madhya Pradesh …
A crackdown on illegal sand mining rampant in Uttar Pradesh could soon figure on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s agenda following a letter by Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave drawing his attention to the key issue and urging him to counter it by permitting ‘adequate’ sand mining leases. “Adequate number …
The Minerals Commission of Ghana with support from Australian government is developing an online mining licensing system for legal miners as a move to weed out galamsey, said Isaac Abraham, Head of Public Relations. Dubbed “Digital Cadastre System”, the framework when completed, would have the capacity to detect the availability …
Pemba - A squad of Mozambican forest rangers made their first arrest just minutes after arriving at a checkpoint near the northern port city of Pemba. Nicolau Moises, the forestry department chief in Cabo Delgado province, one of Mozambique's top timber-producing regions, quickly seized a truck piled high with freshly-cut …
Government has started the process of reclaiming an estimated 1.5 per cent of the country’s land surface which has allegedly been degraded by illegal mining and other bad environmental activities. The country’s land space is estimated at about 238,000 square kilometers. Out of this, between 50,000 and 60,000sq km, representing …
Government has been urged not to concentrate solely on illegal small scale mining (Galamsey) activities but widen its scope to include activities of legally registered mining companies in its determination to control mining activities in the country. Whilst commending government for taking bold steps to stop illegal small scale miners …
Africa’s elephant population has fallen by a massive 30% since 2007. A comprehensive country-by-country analysis examines the substantial differences in elephant decline in the 10 major safari countries. The largest online marketplace for African safari tours conducted a country-by-country analysis to gain a better understanding of the rapid decline in …
Illegal miners cut down trees before gouging into the earth in search of gold, and for them, the impact on the environment is none of their business Illegal miners cut down trees before gouging into the earth in search of gold, and for them, the impact on the environment is …
Malawi has tightened its border controls to stop profiteers smuggling much-needed maize out of the country in search of higher prices. Months of drought had left more than a third of the population reliant on food aid, and the government last month invoked the Special Crops Act, which bans the …
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday prohibited the Maharashtra government from granting permission for sand mining on the river beds. The green panel gave the decision following the state government's inability to stop illegal sand-mining, especially the mining from the river bed using the suction pumps. A bench, headed …
‘Request for stay order to be considered if filed on May 1’ The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file an affidavit elucidating the guidelines its proposes for e-auctioning of mining leases in the State. Passing the order, a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D. …
Almost half of the Unesco world heritage sites designated for their importance to nature are threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, a WWF report has said. Poaching, illegal logging and fishing, and the trafficking of rare species are plaguing 45% of the world’s most precious natural areas, the report from …
Peasant miners have set up makeshift mines on farmland and timber plantations in the country’s eastern provinces, which border Mozambique where gold fetches a higher price. Deep tunnels have been dug beneath roads, railways and buildings in the Kwekwe area of the Midlands province. In some parts of Manicaland province, …
Poaching, illegal logging and fishing in nearly 30 per cent of World Heritage sites are driving endangered species to the brink of extinction warns the new WWF report. Illegal wildlife trafficking occurs in nearly 30 per cent of world’s most protected areas. A new WWF report published today urges for …
Kenya Forestry Service director Emilio Mugo has dismissed claims of illegal logging of indigenous trees in Kakamega Forest. He said the areas being discussed on social media include three plantations, where the KFS has authorised harvesting of mature trees planted more than 30 years ago. “Anybody is free to go …
Illegal sand miners are having a field day in Panvel creek even as the administration has initiated a crackdown against unauthorized excavators in the creek between Thane and Kalyan, allege activists. Sand dredging is going on brazenly with heavy suction pumps, cranes, boats in broad daylight, resulting in rampant destruction …
Great apes and other wildlife are hunted and eaten as bushmeat across Central Africa, threatening dwindling populations and spreading disease, such as Ebola. Illegal bushmeat trade threatens human health and great apes Hunting for bushmeat impacts over 500 wild species in Africa, but is particularly harmful to great apes — …
The government of Ghana has put a moratorium on licensing of small-scale miners. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, says the moratorium is aimed at helping fight the illegal small-scale mining menace (galamsey). A media coalition was launched by the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, …
