Rely on self-regulation for green clearance: Panel

New Delhi: A report of the department of economic affairs, which had industry representatives besides government officials as members, has recommended that parts of the environmental clearance process be outsourced by the government to hasten setting up of industrial and infrastructure projects.

KOCHI: The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India is planning to train and build capacity for 15 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the country by 2012, including five each in Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, for sustainable and responsible trade practising.

TONI O

One of the world

Mumbai: A home to winged visitors to the city is on the verge of destruction.

Around 60-hectare wetland near Phunde village in Uran, just 60 km away from Mumbai, has almost vanished posing a grave threat to the very existence of the migratory birds. Uran is known for rich avifauna like flamingos, painted storks, oriental white ibis, grey heron and others.

A commitment by six Asia-Pacific nations to protect a huge swathe of ecologically rich coral reef is an important step, although the pact is non-binding and key details still need to thrashed out, conservationists said.

Manoj Anand

The WWF authorities, who are now experimenting with translocation of rhinos, pointed out that Pobitora wildlife sanctuary has the highest density of rhinos in the world. The rhino may not be as glamorous as the tiger, but they are equally sought-after in international markets, which makes the animal more vulnerable to poachers.

European politicians are breathtakingly hypocritical about sealskins

Indonesia has opened Southeast Asia's largest marine park in the Savu Sea, a migration route for almost half the world's whale species and home to vast tracts of rare coral, the country's fisheries minister said.

Southeast Asia's biologically diverse coral reefs will disappear by the end of this century, wiping out coastal economies and sparking civil unrest if climate change isn't addressed, conservation group WWF said on Wednesday.