members of the Lisu tribe of Myanmar have started poaching tigers in Arunachal Pradesh's Namdapha National Park, say reports in local newspapers. Tiger parts have a huge market in China as well as in other far-eastern countries. It is estimated that one tiger skin can fetch around us $20,000.

The presence of 12 forest department staff members is inadequate for a 2,000 sq km forest. Reports say that the state government has failed to provide security to forest officers. Since August 1998, they have been attacked four times. Nature's Beckon, a group of environmental activists, has further suggested that the construction of a road from Miao to Vijoynagar should be handed over to the management of Namdapha National Park instead of the public welfare department. They have also sought to know the reasons for building a bridge at Deban on the Noadihing river inside the park, since increased human activities in the region will lead to further destruction of the ecosystem.