Task forces formed to curtail illegal activities in jungles, especially at night

The State Forest department aims to curb forest fires, encroachment of forest land, poaching of animals and smuggling of wood from the jungles with ‘Operation Kalabhairava’. Personnel associated with the operation will keep a close vigil over the illegal activities occurring in the forest. Presently, the department is taking the help of the members of the forest committees and the environment committees towards controlling illegal activities inside the forest.

Map of timber value in the Amazon. Click for larger image and detailed caption provided by authors. Illustration: Sadia Ahmed and Robert Ewers, Imperial College London

BHUBANESWAR: In a major haul, forest sleuths seized at least nine truck loads of timber from an illegally running depot-cum-carpentry unit in Deulasahi near Bidanasi area of Cuttack in the wee hour

If the seizure of illegal wood in the last two months is any indication, then deforestation has become rampant in Kanchhanpur district.

Illegal logging is becoming an increasing threat to the forest areas bordering Jhapa and Ilam districts.

The Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf today said that forest smuggling in the State has been curbed to a great extent by strict implementation of relevant laws including PSA.

Replying to the debate on demands for grants for the forest and allied departments in Legislative Assembly today Mian Altaf said forest smuggling dens in Shopian and Rafiabad area have been cleared from the timber smugglers, adding that concerned forest officers and field agencies deserve appreciation for this great achievement.

Rampant felling of trees without any resistance from the forest department have unsettled the habitats of birds and animals

SILCHAR: Serious concern has been expressed at the unabated deforestation in the valley of Barak, threatening the flora and fauna. The recently concluded international seminar organized by the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, and the related research papers have pointedly focused on the loss of greenery or green cover in the forests of the three districts of Cachar

City-based environmental activists has filed a complaint against the timber mafia before the Supreme Court Empowered Committee (CEC) on Monday. They are seeking a ban on the indiscriminate felling of trees like Neem that are in the exempted list. In their petition, the activists asked the CEC to direct the state-level committee not to issue licences to saw mills.

KOKRAJHAR: Keeping an eye on the wanton destruction of forests and illegal encroachment in the reserve forest land of Bodoland, former members of rebel groups under Ex- BLT Welfare Society, Surrend

SHILLONG: A serious concern is being raised over the possible extinction of the animals inhabiting the Nongkhyllem Forest Sanctuary in Ri-Bhoi district on account of the rapid illegal felling of trees for timber smuggling which is currently happening in the sanctuary.

It is learnt that at present, the forest sanctuary covers an area of 100 square kilometres including an additional area of 6.2 kilometres, acquired by the Government in 2002. Nongkhyllem sanctuary is the habitat for elephants, deer, wild pigs, amongst other animals although elephants number highest in population inside the sanctuary.