Judgment of the Supreme Court in the matter of In Re: Zudpi Jungle Lands. A batch of applications involved a peculiar issue concerning the situation prevailing in the six districts of eastern Vidarbha region namely Nagpur, Wardha, Bhandara, Gondia, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli. The issue pertains to the status of the …
The World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development (WCFSD) will release its final report on September 20, at the M S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF). The International Board of Trustees of Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development in the Amezon is also meeting at Chennai on that …
Pilferage of valuable trees from the forest of Ghatail thana of Bangladesh has been going on unabated. The valuable trees like mahogani, teak, gazari, chambal and akashmoni are felled indiscriminately and sold in the markets at high prices.
Villagers who have encroached on a forest reserve in the island province of Phuket plan to rally today to oppose eviction, a source said. The widespread encroachment prompted governor Jadet Insawang to call a meeting of the province's sub-committee for suppression and prevention of forest destruction. Somprat Polchu, a forestry …
Setting an example of sorts in the harmonious development of forests through integrated resource management, a cluster of six villages in Sawai Madhopur district in eastern Rajasthan has adopted a unique-participatory approach for implementing the forestry programme, which has proved the utility of Joint Forest management (JFM) evolved by the …
The photochemical smog that forms on a sunny day over car-infested cities bears little resemblance to the soot-laden 'pe-souper' fogs of coal-burning Victorian London. But in a report in nature (September 10), Dr. Markus Ammann and colleagues from the Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen and the University of Bern in Switzerland …
Russian scientists have found a method of regenerating ozone in the Earth's atmosphere using laser radiation. The method involves exposing the atmosphere to laser radiation of a certain wavelength which is actively absorbed by oxygen molecules which then transform into a state of hyperactivity.Later on under the impact of sunlight …
A joint study on ground water by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and World Wide Fund (WWF) has sought a tap on water used in the agricultural sector. The study has also sugested that the revenue from the tax should be retained by the body that manages the water …
The vigilance probe into the multi-crore construction works scam in Kerala's wildlife sanctuaries has made no headway. Sources say the Forest Department top brass have been destroying evidence, and despite persistent demands by the investigating Vigilance team, some crucial files have not been handed over to them.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has detected a number of irregularities in the implementation of the compensatory afforestation scheme in Madhya Pradesh. The report has cited incomplete afforestation in the prescribed area, diversion of funds and excess expenditure on the establishment.
An area of 4.6 million hectares of primitive forest in the western part of southwest China's Sichuan province will be protected from lumbering because of forest-logging ban issued earlier this month. The shrinking forest area has posed a threat to the life of rare wildlife such as the gaint panda …
China plans to begin a gigantic forest conservation project this year which is expected to turn one-million odd lumberjacks into tree planters. According to the plan, the first-phase of the project, from 1998 to 2000 will require 19.5 billion yuan of investment.
Diospyros melanoxylon or kendu leaves, mainly used in bidi making, are again making news, particularly in Orissa. The state government, having realised its incompetence to handle both the commodity- related and political implicaitons of kendu leaves, has moved forward to attemt to privatise the leaf trade.
The ministry of environment and forests has allowed private operators of cellular and basic telecom services to lay cables on forest land. The Ministry is working out the compensation the companies will have to pay.
it was a change from despair to hope. Concerted efforts of the villagers of Alwar district in Rajasthan converted a dried up rivulet into a river, flowing throughout the year and benefiting as many as 70 villages. The first step to revive the rivulet
Spraying of pesticides and insecticides in paddy fields has posed serious threats to several varieties of rare and attractive fresh water fish in Sabaragamuwa province of Sri Lanka. As paddy fields are close to the waterways, the chemicals reach these streams and rivers. The most beautiful variety of fresh water …
Constitution of a 15-nation forest security council, development of new tools for promoting the sustainable management of forests, and the formation of an international forest ombudsman are the key recommendations of the World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development.The 26-member world commission with prof. Emil Salim, former Minister of State …
A forestry and environemnt project for the eastern plains of Karnataka, sanctioned by the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) of Japan, to be implemented in a five-year period from 1997-98 to 2001-2002, envisages - in addition to afforestation - construction of residential and non-residential buildings, procurement of equipment, furniture and …
Representatives from 57 countries signed a convention limiting the use of toxic chemicals in an effort to protect developing countries from the unscrupulous trade in hazardous substances and pesticides.The Rotterdam convention, sponsored by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), prevents the export of …
A year after the Brazilian Government dismissed studies warning that parts of the Amazon rain forest were becoming so dry they could burn uncontrollably, fires have become a greater threat than ever to intact rain forest and to indigenous people, according to environment groups that monitor the Amazon. The fires …
study: A comparative study of the satellite imageries of the Aravalli area adjoining the capital has revealed that there has been a phenomenal increase in its total green cover from 9451 hectares in 1990 to 41022 hectares in 1997.
