The increased tiger population in the three states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the last census is seen as the result of better conservation efforts. But now, some of the tiger reserves and sanctuaries in these regions are facing increased threat from the poacher gangs, which were until now very much active in other parts of the country.

After the recent arrest of a poaching gang near the BRT Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and the arrest of an Odisha native from Muthanga in Kerala for allegedly entering the forest region without permission, officials now suspect that hardcore tiger poachers and gangs are shifting their focus to the southern part of the country,

The area around forests has had several human-animal conflicts

Solar fences will henceforth secure human settlements and farmlands in the three forest divisions of Wayanad from wild animal raids that have lead to several man-animal conflicts in recent years. Solar fences will be installed along a length of 300 km in the forest divisions of Wayanad North and South and the wildlife division, says K.J. Varghese, Managing Director, Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC).

Report of Madhav Gadgil-headed Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel

The report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) headed by Madhav Gadgil has generated much heat and dust in Kerala, with environmental activists and pro-development experts adopting diametrically opposing views. But meaningful debate on the issue has been hampered by the difficulty in comprehending the voluminous report and the lack of data analysis and interpretation. The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has taken the initiative to address this lacuna by bringing out a handy document on the aspects of the WGEEP report relevant to the State.

Solar fences will henceforth secure human settlements and farmlands in the three forest divisions of Wayanad from wild animal raids that have lead to several man-animal conflicts in recent years.

Solar fences will be installed along a length of 300 km in the forest divisions of Wayanad North and South and the wildlife division, says K.J. Varghese, Managing Director, Kerala Forest Development Corporation (KFDC).

The Forest and Wildlife Department is gearing up to implement a Rs.6-crore project to curb the increasing man-animal conflict in the district.

As a part of the project, the department would install 300 km of solar power fence around human settlements adjacent to forests, P. Dhaneshkumar, Divisional Forest Officer, South Wayanad, said. Power fences would come up in the border areas of the North and South Wayanad forest divisions, as well as in the Wayanad Wild Life Sanctuary. The NABARD had sanctioned Rs.6 crore for the project recently. The Kerala Forest Development Corporation would execute the project, Mr. Dhaneshkumar said.

Traditional rice varieties of Kerala appeared to be vanishing as a study has found as many 55 species of paddy seeds extinct in Wayanad district in northern part of the state due to various reasons

Little hope of crop revival as rains to weaken further in Aug

Minister for Forests, Sports and Cinema K. B. Ganesh Kumar told the Assembly on Tuesday that the government proposed to take up programmes to regenerate forest cover.

Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for forest, the Minister said that the Department was undertaking regeneration of natural vegetation even in cities under the ‘Vana Deepti’ programme. One such scheme was being taken up in Thrissur town.

The personnel of the Forest Department and the Police on Friday evicted a group of tribespeople, owing allegiance to the pro-Bharatiya Janata Party Kerala Adivasi Sangh (KAS), who had encroached upon 5 hectares of vested forests at Vattoli in the Periya Forest range under the North Wayanad Forest Division.

25 hectares of forestland resumed in operation

In a joint operation on Monday, the Forests and the Police Department evicted two groups of tribespeople who had allegedly encroached upon 25 hectares of vested forestland at Ayanikkal, Panamthara, Chanadkkunnu and Periya Muppathanju in the Periya range of forest under the North Wayanad forest division.

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