The Global Climate Risk Index 2014 has ranked Pakistan among the three most affected countries worldwide for three consecutive years by climate-related catastrophes. Read more in this November 2013 edition of the Monthly Pakistan State of the Environment Report published by the South Asia Environment Portal. Read and Share.

The Sri Lankan government will commence a program to promote indigenous seed varieties among farmers from November 18. Read more in this November 2013 edition of the Monthly Sri Lanka State of the Environment Report published by the South Asia Environment Portal. Read and Share.

Bangladesh has approved the commercial cultivation of transgenic Bt brinjal, becoming the first country in South Asia to cultivate the genetically modified food crop. Read more in this November 2013 edition of the Monthly Bangladesh State of the Environment Report published by the South Asia Environment Portal. Read and Share.

This report gives guidelines for environmental and social impact assessment for the wind power projects. These could be adopted by project developers, government stakeholders, pollution control boards, and forest departments, in order to upscale wind power generation in India while also incorporating sound environmental management practices. This is an attempt to make wind power development much more ecologically sound.

Gem mining in Seethawaka river has been taken over by the Sri Lankan government, National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA). According to Director General Janaka Udaya Kumara, this decision was taken to prevent illegal gem mining in the Thalduwa area of Seethawaka river. Read more in this October 2013 edition of the Monthly Sri Lanka State of the Environment Report published by the South Asia Environment Portal. Read and Share.

Environment and forests minister Hasan Mahmud slammed Transparency International, Bangladesh for its recent investigation report on the government’s climate change trust fund utilization. Read more in this October 2013 edition of the Monthly Bangladesh State of the Environment Report published by the South Asia Environment Portal. Read and Share.

Bhutan will have a fully documented realigned national action plan (NAP) to combat land degradation by January next year, which would then be endorsed by the government and submitted to the United Nations convention to combat desertification (UNCCD). Read more in this October 2013 edition of the Monthly Bhutan State of the Environment Report published by the South Asia Environment Portal. Read and Share.

The Environment Friendly Local Governance Framework 2013 that was approved by the Nepal Cabinet recently is being implemented in all local bodies from the current fiscal year. Read more in this October 2013 edition of the Monthly Nepal State of the Environment Report published by the South Asia Environment Portal. Read and Share.

The Kerala government has decided to appeal against two national green tribunal orders that said that the government should take note and adhere to the recommendations of the Western Ghats Expert Ecology Panel (WGEEP) report while approving private and commercial development in eco-sensitive zones. Read more in this September 2013 edition of the Monthly India State of the Environment Report published by the South Asia Environment Portal. Read and Share.