The Centre has no reliable data on the impact of joint forest management (JFM) on the forest resources despite of the fact that JFM was introduced more than a decade back in the country and lakhs of hectare have been put under green cover through this community forest management scheme. Also, there is no concrete data available with the Centre on dam age to green cover by fire, pests or the extent of encroachment within the forest area. India has 1.8 per cent of world's forest cover.

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The report readied by the committee to look into the Dow Chemical imbroglio has given a green signal for the construction at the Shinde village site, stating that it will be used only for research and development activities. It has also asked the company to get the requisite environmental clearance before they start operations and has asked the company to work with the local communities to generate employment opportunities for the villagers.

As India unthinkingly denudes its own forest base, it's almost as if it clears the ground for a bout between 'doers' and 'sceptics'. A third of the country covered with trees by 2012 sounds like a comforting prospect. But the government lacks the resources to meet this stated goal.

People living in West Bengal are least tolerant towards animals and Punjabis happen to be among the friendliest as far as their behaviour towards animals is concerned.

The Forest Department will not carry out the culling of monkeys at its own level in view of the religious sentiments of the people but grant permission to kill them to farmers whose crops are being da

the Andaman and Nicobar administration has prepared a proposal to resettle people living on encroached public land since 1978. The plan, which awaits the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest's