Unabated encroachment in vast tracts of reserve forests (RFs) has posed a danger to long-term conservation prospects in the State. Official figures alone put the encroached area at approximately 3,396 sq km. Another 159.69 km of forests under protected areas (wildlife sanctuaries and national parks) continue to be under encroachment.

May 1: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday permitted the state government to issue title deeds (pattas) for four lakh acres of forest land to eligible forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers under the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006.

R Haldorai

Green activists have opposed political support for encroachers as they have reduced green cover in the Nilgiris

Ministry of Environment has sent a summary to the Federal Cabinet to retrieve the forest land being used for other purposes like developing housing colonies on a large scale, as deforestation is increasing at alarming speed because of urbanisation.

Dalhousie: Notwithstanding the fact that the Municipal Council of Dalhousie is yet to collect more than Rs 50 lakh as taxes, including water and sanitation tax, from local residents, a

The Indus Development Organisation has given an offer to the Sindh government and forest department that if Khebrani and Rais Mureed forests are declared lease-free forests, the organisation will undertake to rehabilitate them for the benefit of livestock owners whose livelihood depends on the forests.

Tanushree Roy Chowdhury Posted: Mar 24, 2009 at 0218 hrs IST

Gurgaon: Though the next hearing on the issue of mining in Aravallis is scheduled in the Supreme Court for today, the Forest department has not yet filed a reply to the three pending interlocutory applications (IA).

Gurgaon: The Department of Environment and Forest, Haryana, has issued a letter to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) to take serious note of all non-forest and illegal mining activities taking place in the Aravallis.

Village commons might suffer if forest rights act is not implemented well in Himachal Pradesh The Himachal Pradesh government has asked forest dwellers in the state to put forward their claims to forest rights. But it is being cautious in implementing the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, or fra. The act is being implemented only

Belgaum, DHNS:

The Legislative Assembly, on Thursday, became a forum for both ruling and opposition parties to settle their personal scores.

Both parties indulged in mud-slinging without discussing the Lokayukta report on illegal mining and encroachment of forest areas.

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