Pierre Gassendi became the first astronomer to catch a glimpse of Mercury on the basis of a prediction made by German astronomer Johannes Kepler.

Local people dependent for their survival on forests, now part of protected areas, are beginning to organise themselves to fight for their rights to forest produce.

The main points of the statement of the Population Summit of the World's Scientific Academies:

Several organisations, at home and abroad, are promoting organic farming as a method of food production that is both ecologically and socially sustainable.

Dismayed at the state of the forests in tiger reserves, foresters are beginning to realise the need to review the country's conservation strategy.

NISARG SEVA Dr Yagnesh Desai Mohan Opticians, Azad Chowk Valsad (Gujarat) 396 001 Ph: 4246 SHIRIN D GADHIA Rajdhani Indraprasth Thakorebhai Park Abrama Village, Parnera Pardi Valsad

The Gujjars of the Rajaji national park have put forward a proposal for managing the park.

PAKISTAN failed to warn India about the magnitude of locust swarms that flew into Kutch and Rajasthan between July 5 and August 23, complain Indian agriculture ministry officials, according to

Vilasrao B Salunke, father of the pani panchayat concept in the drought-prone Marathwada region in Maharashtra, has evolved quake-resistant houses in areas affected by the September 30 earthquake.