Encroachment and deforestation over the years has reduced the Chhor reserve forest, which used to cover an area of 3,000 acres, to a mere fraction of its original size.

BANGALORE: Karnataka's forest cover shrunk by 797 sqkm between 2001 and 2011, in spite of massive afforestation programmes, the economic sector report of the CAG said.

The several causes of destruction include encroachment and shortage of staff in the forest department. The report said 67,096 hectares of encroached forest land had not been cleared as of March 2012, and vacancies among frontline staff affected management of forests.

BHADRAK: Minister of forest and environment Bijayshree Routray said community forestry should be taken up in at least 150 hectares of forest land in rural areas of Bhadrak district.

Jaipur: For the wildlife lover who cannot travel to Ranthambore or Sariska every now and then, the Jhalana forest area is proving to be a great alternative. The panther spotting at the forest makes up for the lack of tigers.

And, if the proposal to declare the forest area as a sanctuary comes through, it would be another feather in the cap for Jaipur, a much sought-after tourist destination in the country.

Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has floated a plan of complete removal of the settlement and any other encroached forest land within five years.

Srinagar, December 30: The state is losing its green sheen fast as the forest land has shrunk from 20,230 sq km to just 7,590 sq km as per data furnished by the state Department of Forests earlier

With the new year approaching, the forest department is gearing to get its boots dirty and dig trenches to safeguard its land from encroachers.

With the new year approaching, the forest department is gearing to get its boots dirty and dig trenches to safeguard its land from encroachers. With 2,232 illegal structures, incsluding shanties, huts and pucca houses, razed so far, the department has now spread its patrolling to prevent these structures coming up on its land again.

The eviction-and-demolition drive follows a Bombay High Court order. On Sunday, 10 hectares of fresh land was officially restored after the drive. The campaign of reclaiming the forest land started 10 days after the festive season in November, when slumdwellers were asked to produce documents to prove their legal status.

Years after the forestland issue cropped up in Mulund, residents of the area continue to struggle, while politicians continue to take advantage of it.

At least 2300 sq km of Assam’s forest land in areas bordering the neighbouring States is under encroachment.