The Manipur government has miserably failed in containing the widespread practice of starting wildfire for hunting and clearing the mountain slopes for cultivation. The tribals have found that the ashes from the burnt trees and other vegetations are natural manure. The raging wildfire also drives away the terrified wild animals to a particular direction, where the armed hunters wait for the killings.

Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said the number of reserve forests in the country had increased from eight to 34 in the last three years.

In a move to take steps towards conservation of environment, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd has decided to chop only those forests which are required to construct reservoirs or power stations.

The government does. It says area under forests has been increasing for the last 13 years.

A tree plantation campaign was launched in Lumbini yesterday amid a programme attended by persons from various walks of life.

A group of influential people have continued to fell trees of afforestation project, known as 'Sabuj Bestoni Prakalpa' of forest department in different areas of Patuakhali and Barguna districts.

Goa Governor K. Sankaranarayanan on Tuesday said his government would crack down on the illegal mining as also the mafias involved in such illegal operations in the State, and expressed his government's wish to reduce dependency of the Goan economy on mining.

Delivering the Governor's customary address before the newly-elected State Legislative Assembly on the second day of the Budget session, Mr. Sankaranarayanan admitted that mining had been a dominant industry, providing employment to a number of persons and contributing significantly to the exchequer earnings

Agartala: While Forest Survey of India (FSI) Report 2009 showed a steady increase of forest cover in the North-East states, the latest report of FSI revealed that the region has lost about 549 sqkm green cover over the years.

FSI Report 2011 stated that Tripura alone had degraded about 96 sqkm of forest cover. The report, however, blamed shifting cultivation (Jhuming), slash and burn method of production in hilly parts of the region for degradation of natural forest and stated,

The Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation has decided to tighten up on granting licence for hydropower projects in conservation and protected areas, citing threat to biodiversity.