The Centre will soon release Rs 700 crore for the conservation of forests in the State, besides extending a special grant for the development and conservation of ecologically-sensitive Western Ghats, Union Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh said on Tuesday.

HOJAI, June 7

Carlos Minc said he told President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday that pressure from legislators, farmers and even colleagues in government had gone too far. He cited opposition from the agriculture and transportation ministries.

"I explained to President Lula that the (environment) ministry is under attack," Minc told reporters in the capital Brasilia.

Concerted efforts would be would be made for the conservation and development of wildlife under Wildlife Protocol in Madhya Pradesh. It was expressed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) Prashant Mehta at a two-day convention of Chief Conservator Forest, which was organised in the state capital from Saturday to Sunday.

Carbon credits derived from a fledgling forest conservation scheme for developing nations will struggle to compete with palm oil as an investment, industry advisers and conservationists said on Friday.

Farmers will be able to fell trees standing on their private land not covered under the forest conservation act, with the Supreme Court accepting the state government

Mumbai Mangroves, a natural greenbelt or buffer zone that has the potential to protect the city from powerful rains, are depleting at a fast pace. Ahead of monsoon, the residents of a suburban area have taken it upon themselves to avoid further depletion of the greenbelt.