Revenue collected under the Forest Development Fund (FDF) for forest management is lying unutilised since 2002 due to

Several trees cut, pruned without permission, says PMC's Tree Authority; local association denies charges Illegal felling of trees has found its way into the upmarket Boat Club area of the city. The Tree Authority of the Pune Municipal Corporation has issued a show cause notice to the Riverside Estate, an association of plot owners on Boat Club Road

Large-scale felling and transportation of costly timber from the jungle areas have resumed in Sanguem taluka. Though hundreds of teak and other prized trees have been illegally cut and transported from the remote areas of Wadem and Netravali since the last two years, authorities have been silent in the matter. In the past few months, about 25-30 teak trees have been cut and transported to unknown destinations, locals told Herald. The forest department had grown a large number of teak and other trees in the forest areas of Sanguem taluka.

The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) is all set to prepare a master plan to beautify Lahore Canal to secure nature conservation interests and ensure social and recreational activities. Under the plan, green belts alongside canal will be improved by planning trees and flowers in abundance. To gravitate the attention of public, a number of picnic spots would be set up. Sitting arrangements, big umbrellas and kiosks would also be established. Stalls and makeshift shops would be installed

After receiving the transplanter machines, Capital Development Authority (CDA) would chop no trees in future, said Malik Abid, Director Parks CDA. The Authority had chopped down thousands of trees last year during the construction of 7th and 9th Avenues and a number of other development projects, which had provoked serious criticism from media as well as residents of the capital city. The same also had left bad impact over the pleasant climate, for which the city was known for decades.

A storm bearing hail and possible tornadoes struck central Nebraska Thursday night, damaging businesses, derailing train cars, tearing down trees and disrupting power to thousands. There were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries. Tornadoes were also reported in Kearney, about 60 miles west of Aurora, where 90 rail cars were blown off the tracks outside the city limits. There were reports of downed trees and power lines throughout Kearney, and reports of damage on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus and at a county fairgrounds.

Toyota Motor Co this week planted approximately 50,000 trees at the Tsutsumi plant as one of the company's sustainable plant activities. Based on the local greenery, 55 types of native trees were planted to create a multi-layered natural environment. Toyota has also planted NOx-absorbing vegetation on the rooftop of the Tsutsumi plant.

Speakers at a discussion meeting on Monday called for protecting the coastal ring embankments immediately to ensure safe livelihood of marginal farmers and fishermen in the region. They also demanded immediate repair of the damaged embankments to save the lives of marginal people, saying that most damaged portions of the embankments were hindered mainly by the owners of saline water shrimp enclosures.

Experts at a discussion yesterday urged the government to restrict introduction of alien species of trees and animals into the biological diversity of the country as they harm biodiversity and agriculture. Mass awareness should be created along with the long-term plan to protect the biodiversity of the country, they added. The discussion was organised by Water Resources Planning Organisation (Warpo) to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity in the city with its Director General (DG) M Enamul Haque in the chair.

THE RECENT move of the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to re-introduce largescale cultivation of eucalyptus trees in the state invites stiff resistance from environmentalists on the ground it would create ecological imbalance. Experts have always raised concern over the extensive cultivation of this species. "Monoculture of eucalyptus cannot be recommended," said Supraja Dharani, Tree Foundation. "If the intention of the forest department is to increase forest cover in the state, it should plant indigenous species of trees and maintain the bio-diversity of the region," she added.