Massive rally planned in protest against the civic body's resolution seeking legal action against those who oppose cutting trees

A meeting of nature conservation groups and green enthusiasts on Sunday resolved to write to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa expressing their anguish over a resolution passed by the civic body seeking legal action against those who oppose tree cutting. The meeting also resolved to seek an appointment with the Chief Minister.

Study in the wild to create awareness of conservation

The last significant vulture population in the Western and Eastern Ghats are threatened by the indiscriminate use of pesticides, say researchers watching vulture habitats. A team of researchers from CareEarth Arulagam has taken up a detailed study in the wild and creating awareness of conservation of these forest scavengers. The organisation has its field station located within the vulture habitat at Bhavanisagar in Erode district.

The closed evergreen forest, called the shola, occurs above 1700 m in patches in the higher hills of South India in the
Nilgiris, Annamalai and Palani hills. Sholas are patches of stunted evergreen tropical montane forests which attain a
low height of about 16–20 m. These forests have high ecological significance in protecting the head waters of rivers by
holding up of water received by precipitation like a sponge, thus preventing rapid run-off. (Correspondence)

The 300-odd small farmers, belonging to Thummanatti vegetable growing cluster in the Nilgiris, are an aggrieved lot.

Prosperity of nation depends on status of its women, as they not only constitute nearly half of its population, but also positively influence growth of remaining half of population. Hence, a study was conducted to study personal profile of women farmers, per formance of women in tea cu ltivation, potato cultivation and livestock activities. Physiological assessment was done in terms of RPE and REBA. By simple random sampling, 30 women were selected in Nilgiri district. Seventy percent were 30 years of age and educated up to high school.

The Nilgiri North Forest Division is located at the centre of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, with Mudumalai Tiger Reserve on the western side and Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary on the eastern side. The Segur plateau and adjoining Moyar valley, which extend over an area of 500 sq. km with open scrub forest, provide an ideal breeding ground for four species of vultures, viz. Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Redheaded Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus), White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) and Long-billed Vulture (Gyps indicus). (Correspondence)

With a call to put an end to the exploitation of ground water in the ecologically sensitive Nilgiris district, World Water Day was observed under the aegis of the Public Awareness Association of Udhagamandalam here on Thursday. A signature campaign marked the occasion. Participants pointed out that the sinking of bore wells which was until a few years ago unheard of in Udhagamandalam and many other parts of the district is of late on the rise.

Need for setting up plastic re-cycling unit stressed

The need to evolve ways to tackle effectively the growing threat to the ecology of the Nilgiris, particularly its forests, from plastics was emphasised by the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Protection and Vigilance), Lakshmi Narayan, here on Wednesday.

Initiatives and innovations promoted by Keystone Foundation have helped promote bee keeping amongst farmers and tribal communities around the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. The impacts are visible in terms of better yields in coffee, mango and vegetable crops.

Verge of extinction

The dwindling numbers of blackbucks in the State’s only blackbuck sanctuary in the protected forest at Maidanahalli village of Madhugiri taluk in the district has caused concern among wildlife enthusiasts. The report of the blackbuck census conducted by the Forest department in association with the city-based Wildlife Awareness Institute (WAI), which was released on Monday, has revealed shocking figures.

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