IN NEWS

Neglecting protected areas

Ghazala Shahabuddin

First Published : 12 Oct 2010 11:04:00 PM IST

Last Updated : 13 Oct 2010 12:52:53 AM IST

Ever since the ‘tiger crisis’, when the tiger was found to have disappeared from Sariska Tiger Reserve, the government has been making unprecedented financial investment in reviving forest habitats and  the tiger population. Several expert panels have been set up to understand and rectify the causes for the decline of the tiger population. Several more tiger reserves have been established recently. If these efforts are successful, it will mean the effective conservation of at least 41,000 sq km of India’s forests  all over India. Tiger reserves, of there are as many as 38 today, protect landscapes where a mosaic of habitats  harbour a diversity of other fauna from ants to elephants.

Yet there are a large number of other protected areas (PAs) (including wildlife sanctuaries and national parks), where tigers do not exist. India has as many as 658 Pas………

http://expressbuzz.com/opinion/op-ed/neglecting-protected-areas/214711.html

A plan to increase the country's green cover

Imran Khan

First Published : 13 Oct 2010 03:14:51 AM IST

Last Updated : 13 Oct 2010 12:00:02 PM IST

BANGALORE: Ministry of Environment and Forests on Monday submitted the draft of National Green Mission (NGM) to the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change.

The Rs 46,000crore project aims to increase India's forest cover by 10 million hectares by 2020. According to the mission, onethird of Karnataka's area will be brought under green cover.

NGM is one of the eight missions under India's action plan on climate change that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced in June 2008.The mission's draft document was finalised after a public consultations in seven cities across the country.Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had held the meetings. More than 1,450 stakeholders had taken part in it.

Secretary for ecology and environment, Kanwar Pal, said if the mission was implemented properly, Karnataka's forest cover could reach 33 per cent in 2020 from the current 16 per cent. …………………………………….

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/a-plan-to-increase-the-countrys-green-cover/214803.html

Green mission draft focuses on enhancing forest quality

New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) Reducing carbon emission by enhancing forest quality with the help of local people is the main highlight of the final draft of the National Mission for a Green India (GIM) which awaits clearance from Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change.The draft of the GIM, which is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, aims at an ambitious target of 20 million hectares of forest cover by 2020 and was recently submitted by…………………..

http://www.indiareport.com/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/916003/state/1/20/1

Bengal sceptical about canal project passing through forest

Wed, Oct 13 11:08 AM

Kolkata, Oct 13 (PTI) The West Bengal Government has expressed reservation over the proposed Sankosh-Teesta canal project which will pass through Buxa Tiger Reserve and other wildlife sancturaries in north Bengal, saying it will cause disturbance to wildlife and damage biodiversity. "The entire area is part of Eastern Dooars Elephant Reserve and Buxa Tiger Reserve as well as part of Jaldapara and Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuaries.Any disturbance would adversely affect Rhino and Tiger conservation efforts there and cause irreparable damage to biodiversity," Special………………

 http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20101013/1416/tnl-bengal-sceptical-about-canal-project.html