Jabalpur high court nod to shift 'aggressive' zoo tuskers to Ralamandal

INDORE: Two elephants of Kamla Nehru zoo will be shifted to Ralamandal wildlife sanctuary, 20km from the city.

In a proposal sent to the Jabalpur high court, the forest department had sought relocation of "aggressive" tuskers 'Moti' and 'Champa' to the sanctuary. The court has accepted the proposal.

Due to their aggressive nature, shifting the elephants to any national park was believed to be risky. An enclosed area of 5 acres has been earmarked in Ralamandal where the two elephants will be shifted. It will have a boundary wall to ensure their safety.

Chief conservative of forest (CCF), PC Dubey said, "The court has accepted the proposal that mentions about interim duration in which the elephants will be shifted to the Ralamandal sanctuary. The court has asked the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA) to come up with a rehabilitation centre for the state elephants."

Pench National Park team member, Akhilesh Mishra, said, "The team will again inspect health of both the elephants. Relocating them by road at a distance of 700 km with a speed of 20-25 km/hr would take 40 hours which would be a tough task. The court decision is practical as it will cut any chances of injuries."

"We have taken urine and blood samples of both the elephants. Moti will be first shifted to a 15 feet wide cage where his reactions will be monitored," said zoo in charge, Dr Uttam Yadav.

Animal activist Dr Sudhir Khetawat said, "It is a good decision. The elephants were chained since 30 years within the zoo. These elephants will be able to enjoy in the wild."

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Assam's Kaziranga national park readies to tackle floods

GUWAHATI: With the water level in the Brahmaputra and some of its tributaries rising, authorities at Assam's famed Kaziranga National Park - a Unesco World Heritage Site - have commenced their annual ritual of sounding an alert and taking precautionary measures to tackle the possibility of floods.

Park Director NK Vasu said the flood management plans were reviewed after the waters entered the park a few days ago.

"The park gets flooded every year and this is very important from the ecological point of view. Floods are necessary as they wash away the unwanted weeds from the park," he said.

"However, we have put in place a flood management plan anticipating high floods like last year, when animals suffer and poachers also take advantage and kill rhinos inside the park," Vasu said.

The worst floods in memory had hit the national park last year, killing several hundred wild animals, including one-horned rhinos, elephants and many other species. Close to 500 hog deer also died during the floods.

The Kaziranga National Park, spread over an area of over 860 sq km, is famed for its one-horned rhino. According to a census carried out in March, there are 2,329 rhinos.

Vasu said new speedboats had been ordered to augment the existing ones. "We have seven speedboats and we have ordered more, which are expected to arrive soon. The existing speedboats, which were procured last year, have also been repaired," Vasu said.

There are over 150 anti-poaching camps inside the park, including four floating camps. A total of 1,200 staffers, including district forest officers, forest guards, home guards, boatmen and commandos of the elite Assam Forest Protection Force ( AFPF) are currently deployed at the park. All the anti-poaching camps have been repaired for use by the mobile anti-poaching teams that will patrol the park 24X7 during the floods.

"We have to be on our toes during the floods as poachers take advantage of the situation and target animals, particularly the one-horned rhinos which stray out of the park during the high floods," the park director said.

"We have also repaired the highlands inside the park so that they can provide shelter to animals during floods," he said, adding that community awareness programmes have also been launched in villages located on the fringe areas to help distressed animals during the floods.

"We have asked the locals to help animals and inform the forest department if they find animals coming out of the park area," Vasu added.

"We have requested the district administrations of Golaghat and Nagaon districts to enforce Section 144, CrPC (that bars the assembly of more than five people), in the park area and to check speed limits of vehicles plying on NH 37 (that bifurcates the park). The animals normally cross NH 37 during floods seeking shelter in the highlands on the other side," Vasu said.

Apart from last year, the park had witnessed severe floods in 1988, 1998, 2004 and 2008. While 1,203 animals were lost in 1988, a total 652 animals died in the floods of 1998. No reliable figures are available for the other years.

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

US can lead climate change battle: Obama

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama touted his new climate change proposal in his weekly address Saturday, calling for Americans to lead the charge against the warming environment.

"Those who already feel the effects of a changing climate don't have time to deny it - they're busy dealing with it," said Obama in his pre-recorded address on radio and the Internet.

"The firefighters who brave longer wildfire seasons. The farmers who see crops wilted one year, and washed away the next. Western families worried about water that's drying up.

"The cost of these events can be measured in lost lives and livelihoods, lost homes and businesses, and hundreds of billions of dollars in emergency services and disaster relief. And Americans across the country are already paying the price of inaction in higher food costs, insurance premiums, and the tab for rebuilding.

"The question is not whether we need to act. The question is whether we will have the courage to act before it's too late," the president said.

Obama laid out a broad new plan to fight climate change on Tuesday, using executive powers to get around deniers who have blocked action in Congress. He called for new restrictions on existing and new power plants to curb carbon emissions, pledged to push new generation clean energy sources and to lead a fresh global effort to stem global warming.

"This is the fight America can and will lead in the 21st century. But it will require all of us, as citizens, to do our part," the president said Saturday, calling for scientists to develop biofuels and farmers to grow them, engineers to design clean technology and businesses to get them to market.

"We will be judged - as a people, as a society, and as a country - on where we go from here," Obama said.

Some opponents of his approach have warned that the plan could result in older coal-fired plants being taken offline and may thereby raise electricity prices for consumers, which could disproportionately hurt the poor.

Officials counter that the plan will reduce the amount of electricity used - thereby reducing fuel bills.

However, the specifics of much of his plan were unclear, and many of Obama's new rules could face court challenges that would delay their implementation.

Meanwhile, speaking for Republicans on another contentious issue, Senator Pat Roberts from Kansas raised concerns over the health care reform package Obama championed in his first term.

The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012, aims to provide health care coverage to an additional 30 million Americans. States are to implement it gradually by 2014.

But many Republicans remain staunchly opposed.

"As we celebrate the 4th (of July Independence Day holiday), it will be a mere 89 days until the October 1st deadline, when millions of Americans are forced to purchase health insurance in a special marketplace... overseen by the federal government," Roberts said.

"Health care as you know it will change," he warned, suggesting many aspects including cost, coverage, and side effects were still unknown.

Roberts has proposed a law that would repeal the marketplaces, as well as other provisions related to the mandate to buy insurance, if the Obama administration misses its deadline.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

India bans cruel animal testing for cosmetics, activists elated

MUMBAI: Animal welfare groups were elated on Friday as India took the all important decision to ban cruel animal testing methods for cosmetic products.

The Bureau of Indian Standards has on Saturday approved the removal of any mention of animal tests from the country's cosmetics standard. The use of modern non-animal alternative tests also becomes mandatory, replacing invasive tests on animals.

Animal welfare groups such as Humane Society International (HSI), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and People For Animals (PFA) welcomed this landmark announcement by Drug Controller General of India, Dr GN Singh, in the capital.

PETA India, which had also been campaigning for this ban on animal testing, thanked Maneka Gandhi for her support on this issue.

This animal rights campaign had received support from top leaders. Congress president Sonia Gandhi recently urged the ministries of health and family welfare to consider PETA India's request for a ban on the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients through the National Advisory Council office. Senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lal Krishna Advani had also sought the same through his office.

Alokparna Sengupta, HSI India's Be Cruelty-Free campaign manager, said: "This is a major victory for countless animals who will no longer be made to suffer, and it is a proud moment for India as it becomes the first country in South Asia to end cosmetics cruelty. We thank the thousands of Indian consumers, politicians and celebrities who helped to achieve this historic ban."

More than 1,200 companies around the world have banned all animal tests in favour of effective, modern non-animal tests, but many still choose to subject animals to painful tests in which substances are dripped into their eyes, smeared onto their abraded skin, sprayed in their faces or forced down their throats. Because of the vast physiological differences between humans and the animals used in these tests, the results are often misleading.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

MP confident of reclaiming its 'tiger state' tag: State forest minister

Bagish K Jha, TNN Jun 27, 2013, 07.15PM IST

(According to the last tiger…)

INDORE: Madhya Pradesh that is in loggerhead with Gujarat over translocation of lions is now confident to reclaim its 'tiger state' tag in the next census. Forest minister of Madhya Pradesh Sartaj Singh on Thursday said numbers of tigers have increased significantly and state is all set to emerge number one in terms of tigers.

Minister claims that he is getting reports of encouraging increase in number of tigers at Panna and Kanha Tiger reservers, the number of tiger cubs in other reserves across the state is also looking up. He further said total number of tigers in state might go close to 300 in next census.

According to the last tiger census there were only 257 tigers left in the state's six tiger reserves- Bandhavgarh, Kanha, Panna, Bori-Satpura, Sanjay Dubri, and Pench.

Minister said they had objected to the figures last census released by WII and National Tiger Conservation Authourity (NTCA). He said that WII and NTCA had admitted their mistake after conducting re-counting in Kanha Tiger Reserve. "But they said figure can not be changed now after it being released," said Singh adding that even the figure of 300 tiger in Karnataka was not correct. So they are very confident about reclaiming tag of 'tiger state'.

On the allegation of poaching being one the main reason behind decline in number of tigers, minister said Madhya Pradesh was at number four in terms of tiger death in 2012. Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttarakhand are leading the list. Last year nearly 12 tigers died many of them died natural deaths or accidents because most of the cases carcases were found. He added that poachers do not leave body behind.

An NGO has submitted its report to Gujarat forest department that has stated that lions should not be translocated to Kuno as Madhya Pardesh is known to be a major poaching ground and the state has lost 453 tigers out of 710 (63% loss) in a decade. The state as per the 2011 census has only 257 tigers. The loss of tiger in Madhya Pradesh was 50 per cent of the total loss of the tigers across the world.

Minister said these figures are inflated and they object it in SC. "We have one very basic argument one species should be restrict to only one geographical area. So lion should be translocated to other area and several surveys were done before finalising Kuno as second home of lion," said minister.

Minister said to oppose translocation NGO report has calimed that Sheopur district has 4800 fire arm licenses for a population of six lakh and the sanctuary area was once a hub of dacoits from Chambal. "First there is need to cross check the statistics of report, second does it mean that everyone with gun license is waiting with their gun to kill lion," said minister.

He further said concentration of one species at one place is good for that particular species. "For this very purpose we are translocating Barasingha from Kanha to Satpura," said minister. Right now Barashinga are only at Kanha forest department want to spread it to other areas also. It applies on lion too.

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

204 brow-antlered deer found in Manipur

IMPHAL: The number of the endangered brow-antlered deer stands at 204 in its lone habitat in Manipur's Keibul Lamjao National Park in Bishenpur district as per the latest census.

State forest minister Th Debendra said this in the assembly in reply to a question from Congress member S Bira.

Locally known as 'Sangai', the animal is found only at the Keibul Lamjao National Park.

The minister said that to protect the animal, fodder plants were cultivated at their natural habitat in abundance, while local volunteers engaged to assist the forest department staff in the job.

Two check posts were set up to prevent poaching last year. A campaign was also on to create awareness among the inhabitants around the park to protect the endangered species.

The minister said that the census was conducted in March, this year.

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Injured crested serpent eagle rescued at Chorla ghat

KERI: An injured crested serpent eagle, which was found in Chorlaghat of the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, was rescued by forest guards of Keri forest range and handed over to officials of Bondla zoo for further treatment.

The crested serpent eagle is a raptor that feeds mainly on snakes, small birds and mammals. It is believed that heavy monsoonal showers forced the bird to take rest on a tree, where it became a victim of a more powerful  wild animal.

Suresh Usapkar, a forest personnel said, "As the bird was badly injured and could not fly due to major injury to its feathers, we have brought the eagle to Keri and then handed it over to Bondla forest officials."

Paresh Porob, the range forest officer, said, "As the bird was badly injured and needed medical treatment, it was sent to the Bondla zoo. It is very difficult to ascertain the cause of wild animal attack on the eagle."

The dark brown eagle is stocky with rounded wings and has a short tail. Its short black and white fan-shaped crest gives it a thick-necked appearance. The bare facial skin and feet are yellow. The underside is spotted with white and yellowish-brown colour.

Pandurang Sutar, the round forester, said, "As soon as our guards received information about the injured bird, they rushed to the spot and rescued it."

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Australia extends help to check pollution in Ganga river

KOLKATA: To save Ganga from industrial pollution, the Victorian government in Australia is preparing an eco-friendly business model for tanneries, which discharge effluents into the river.

Experts from 'Sustainability Victoria', an Australian agency working on environmental issues in the state of Victoria, would visit India next month to kick-start the 'Tannery Waste Management Programme' from Kanpur.

"The idea was given to us by IIT-Kanpur which will act as our local partners in the project. We will lend our expertise in finding a sustainable and viable solution to safe disposal of waste discharged by tanneries," CEO of Sustainability Victoria, Stan Krpan told PTI during a visit to the city.

Funded through the Australian development 'AusAID', the project aims to clean the river that is one of the five most polluted rivers in the world today.

Krpan said that experts from the agency would explore social, environmental and technical solutions for Kanpur's tannery industry to provide it a sustainable basis.

"We will prepare a road map for the tannery industry by looking at all angles including finding a technical solution for waste management, community engagement for saving the river and regulatory issues as well," the official said.

It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this work in Kanpur will be replicated in other parts of the Ganga basin.

Under extreme pollution pressure, the Ganga river faces significant threats to its biodiversity, environmental sustainability, and both the quantity and quality of its flow.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fences, trenches fail to check the human-elephant conflict in Karnataka

BANGALORE: Approximately Rs 1,200 crore: that's the money spent over the past eight years to check the human-elephant conflict in Karnataka and its bordering states.

The project involved digging elephant-proof trenches, erecting solar fencing and creating fodder and water facilities in the forests.

Not surprisingly, the fences and trenches to prevent wild elephants straying out of their habitat either do not exist or have simply proved ineffective. "Crores of rupees have gone down the drain because of a lack of monitoring and poor maintenance,'' said a senior forest official, presenting in-house data. The figures reflect the expenditure on fencing and trenching since 2005 by five states -- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

"The fence had become useless due to lack of maintenance. Batteries, solar panels and other equipment was stolen. Trenches have either given in or were refilled with mud,'' the officer added.

When the human-elephant conflict raised its head in early 2000, the Union government initiated a project by offering financial assistance to the state government to install electric fencing on 2,244 sqkm area along the forest fringes of five states to check elephant attacks on homes, crops and people. When this failed, they mooted digging of trenches. "We struggled for years to get the forest department to commission a solar electric fence near our village Thithimathi in Kodagu district, but it went out of order within two months," said Naveen Somaiah, a coffee planter.

Karnataka alone has spent nearly Rs 250 crore to further contain the menace over the past eight years. Elephant-proof trenches were dug over a 500 sqkm stretch, and a solar fence running 700 sqkm erected in the sensitive border areas of the forests. The fencing and trenching were done largely in problematic areas of the Western Ghats, including Bangalore Rural, Kodagu, Shimoga, Mysore, Hassan, Chamarajnagar, Uttara Kannada and Belgaum.

"Fencing and trenching between the fringe areas of the forests and villages is an effective measure to check human-elephant conflict. But unless you have a mechanism to monitor and maintain these systems, it proves ineffective over a period of time,'' said Praveen Bhargav, managing trustee of Wildlife First.

This, however, has not deterred the state government from digging trenches and fences.

The Karnataka government's new forest policy mooted by the previous BJP government reads: "Efforts shall be made to mitigate human deaths and crop damage by taking up elephant-proof trenches, solar fencing and other kinds of appropriate physical barriers in sensitive areas. The short-term measures include EPT, solar fencing, crop compensation and anti-depredation camps in sensitive areas."

Forest minister B Ramanath Rai said the state government has mooted a Rs 100-crore project to create a safe corridor for elephants. "We are ready with a elephant corridor project to check human-elephant conflict. After the Kolar and Anekal incidents in the past two days, we've decided to implement it in right earnest," Rai added.

Expert solutions

Instead of fencing and trenching, the government should seriously consider a proposal to connect fragmented elephant corridors and declare them protected areas. This should be achieved by acquiring land where corridor connectivity has been broken. The protected areas will have better water holes, fodder development and weed control. Steps should be taken to form eco-development committees to sensitize people to manage the man-animal conflict in a rational manner.

KK Poonacha | retired forest officer

We need long-term proactive solutions to minimize conflicts, apart from immediate measures. The annual fund of Rs 1,000 crore earmarked for Karnataka by the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority should be used to implement these plans.

Praveen Bhargav | managing trustee, wildlife first

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Southeast Asia smog crisis eases as rain douses fires

DUMAI, INDONESIA: Fires in Indonesia that have blanketed Singapore and Malaysia in thick smog eased Wednesday after heavy rain, boosting hopes of an end to Southeast Asia's worst air pollution crisis for years.

The news came as a report said the crisis had claimed its first victim with the death of an asthmatic woman in southern Malaysia, which has been badly affected.

The smog from slash-and-burn agricultural fires on Sumatra island pushed haze levels to a record high in Singapore last week, shrouding residential buildings and downtown skyscrapers.

Favourable winds have since cleared the air over the city-state but southern Malaysia remains choked by smoke.

Indonesia deployed thousands of reinforcements on Tuesday to fight the fires, which are centered in Riau province. They are backed by aircraft dropping water and chemically inducing rain by cloud-seeding.

Their efforts were helped when rain fell late Tuesday and early Wednesday in several areas of Riau, officials and residents said.

On Wednesday morning, the number of fire hotspots had fallen to 54 from 265 the previous day, national disaster agency official Agus Wibowo told AFP from Riau.

"The rain has definitely helped our efforts," he said. "With the improving weather on our side, we are taking the opportunity to quickly fight the blazes on land."

The fires have been hard to put out as they are burning under the surface of carbon-rich peat, meaning hoses need to be pushed into the ground to douse the flames.

Conditions had improved dramatically in the badly-hit city of Dumai, in Riau, on Wednesday after a storm broke at dawn, according to an AFP reporter.

"We were so hoping for rainwater because our water supply for bathing and washing clothes had run out," said Lisa Rahmawati, a 25-year-old secretary.

In Malaysia, pollution has spiked to hazardous levels in some places in recent days, with the south seeing its worst air quality in 16 years last weekend.

The smog had eased Wednesday but continued to hang over some areas including the capital Kuala Lumpur.

The Sun newspaper said Li Cai Ling, a resident of the southern town of Muar -- which saw intense air pollution at the weekend -- died on Sunday with a medical report blaming the polluted air.

The situation has also forced newly-promoted English Premier League side Cardiff City to cancel a Malaysia visit that was set to begin this week.

The club said in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday that it has abandoned the scheduled week-long trip to Malaysia -- home of its billionaire owner Vincent Tan -- "due to the current poor air quality in the region".

Haze is an annual problem during drier summer months, when westerly monsoon winds blow smoke from forest fires and slash-and-burn land-clearing on the huge Indonesian island of Sumatra, which lies across the Malacca Strait.

But this summer's recurrence has been the worst in years.

Malaysia's environment minister travelled to Indonesia on Wednesday morning to meet his counterpart in the hopes of resolving the problem, which earlier sparked a testy exchange between Indonesia and Singapore.

In 1997-1998, a severe bout of haze cost Southeast Asia an estimated $9 billion from disruptions to air travel and other business activities.

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Murli Manohar Joshi seeks separate body for conservation of Himalayas

VARANASI: In wake of the recent fury of nature in Uttarakhand, Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has sought a dedicated body for conservation of ecology and environment in and around the Himalayas.

Joshi said here that the environmental conditions in mountains are grossly different from that in plains, and hence, the conservation and disaster management policies should be framed accordingly.

Joshi also suggested formation of a Himalayan Conservation and Development Board for the purpose.

He said the situation in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand has shown us the extent to which man-made distortion of nature can cause damage.

The complete reconstruction of the affected areas will take at least 4-5 years, that too, if honest and dedicated efforts are made, Joshi said.

Terming Himalayas a national treasure, Joshi said the Planning Commission should come out with policies for its protection.

Joshi said he has advised party President Rajnath Singh to suspend the 'Jail Bharo' movement and deploy party cadres for relief work in Uttarakhand.

He also appealed to the BJP MPs and MLAs to donate their one month salary to for the relief works in the hill state.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

15 peacocks found dead in Nashik

NASHIK: As many as 15 peacocks were found dead at a village here, forest sources said today.

A local leader had yesterday received information about some peacocks lying dead near Dev river at Kharvandi village and he subsequently informed forest officials about it.

The officials visited the spot and found 15 carcasses of the national bird.

One peacock was alive and was taken for treatment at Yeola.

Officials said the birds died apparently after consuming some poisonous substance, which may have been mixed with grains, as peacocks often enter the fields of farmers and damage crops.

However, the exact cause of death would be ascertained after postmortem, the officials added.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt puts on hold clearances for GM crop trials

NEW DELHI: The government has put the clearance given by Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) for field trials of genetically modified rice, wheat, maize and castor on hold. The decision was taken by the environment ministry keeping the ongoing case in the Supreme Court on GM crops in mind.

The GEAC, the statutory appraisal committee for experimentation with GM crops, had in March given the go-ahead to field test the four food crops besides GM cotton varieties across the country. The decision was taken despite the ongoing court case where the regulatory regime for such technology has been challenged.

The GEAC falls under the purview of the environment ministry. Sources said the ministry had not approved the minutes of the relevant GEAC meeting which were inadvertently put out. The minutes were removed from public domain on Thursday. The ministry has decided to hold back its nod in view of the SC case and said a decision on such a serious matter needed wider deliberations, sources told TOI.

Some of these clearances given in March were for extension of time to carry out field trials in alternate places with some state governments refusing permission to use agricultural plots in their lands. The clearances stood to lapse with state governments opposing field trials.

Bayer Bioscience Limited had got open-ended clearance to test GM rice in all four regions of the country. Mayhco and BASF India Limited had got the nod to carry out trials on GM rice. The Hyderabad-based Directorate of Oilseeds Research's GM castor field tests were re-approved. Monsanto India Limited had secured clearance to field test GM maize at alternate sites in several states after it found opposition from the states it had earlier got the nod for from the Union government. Mayhco was given an extended clearance for its trials of GM wheat after the company failed to get the green light from the state government.

Though the case in the apex court is pending and the parliamentary standing committee is seized of the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill - an alternative regulatory regime for GM products — industry had been pushing for early clearances for trials to start in the upcoming kharif season.

The nod given for rice, wheat, maize and castor trials to the six entities would have opened the floodgates for 53 other trials of food crops which are currently pending.

Earlier, the environment ministry had put in suspension the BT brinjal experiment by Monsanto but GM crop developers as well as the government had pushed ahead slowly for all other food crops with the agriculture ministry acting as an avid advocate of the GM technology but the environment ministry not showing as much keenness.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Changing environment to impact global business: UN

LONDON: The future of the private sector will increasingly hinge on the ability of businesses to adapt to the world's rapidly changing environment, according to a UN report.

The report titled "GEO-5 for Business: Impacts of a Changing Environment on the Corporate Sector" was released by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in the British capital, Xinhua reported.

It analysed the potential risks to 10 different sectors of the economy, and also the opportunities that many companies could grasp if they develop goods and services that can reduce the impacts of environmental concerns.

"From extreme weather events, to rising pressures on finite natural resources, changes in the global environment will increasingly impact operating costs, markets for products, the availability of raw materials, and the reputation of businesses," the UNEP document said.

In the tourism sector, for example, a 1.4-2.2 degree Celsius rise in average winter temperatures would likely mean the closure of more than half of the ski resorts operating in the northeastern US in 30 years.

As for water scarcity, it said platinum mines in South Africa's Olifants River system faced 10 times higher water charges by 2020 as they compete with local communities for the ever scarcer commodity.

The report also outlines key recommendations for each of the 10 sectors, including building and construction, chemicals, power, extractives, finance, food and beverage, healthcare, IT, tourism, and transport.

"The report speaks to the reality of climate change and natural resource scarcities," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

"It makes the case that whether it be in water saving, or climate-proofing infrastructure, the world is going to look for solutions that in turn will drive corporate competitiveness, reputation risk and a transition to an inclusive green economy," he said.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Singapore smog in new high, danger to ill and elderly

SINGAPORE: Singapore's smog index hit the critical 400 level on Friday, making it potentially life-threatening to the ill and elderly people, according to a government monitoring site.

The record level was reached at 11:00 am (0300 GMT) after a rapid rise in the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), which measures the haze crisis caused by Indonesian forest fires.

Indonesian and Singaporean officials have been holding emergency talks on how to extinguish the fires on farms and plantations on Sumatra island, which are also affecting Malaysia.

According to Singapore government guidelines, sustained PSI average levels above 400 on a 24-hour basis "may be life-threatening to ill and elderly persons".

General practitioner Philip Koh said he had seen a 20 per cent spike in consultations in the past week, and estimated that about 80 per cent of all his patients are suffering from haze-related ailments.

"My patients are telling me they are worried about how long this is going to last and how much higher this is going to go. It is already high at 400 now, how much higher will it go?" he said.

Koh also said many were turning to his clinic to buy protective masks, as supplies are low at retailers.

"Our supplies are running low here too," he said.

If the 400 index average is sustained over a 24-hour period, the government advises all children, elderly people and persons with existing diseases to stay indoors, keep windows closed and avoid physical exertion as much as possible.

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Air pollution reaches dangerous levels in Singapore

BANGKOK: Air pollution in Singapore Thursday reached levels dangerous for human health due to smoke from fires set in nearby Indonesia to clear land for crop planting.

The pollution index in the city-state reached a maximum of 371 points, 71 points above the level considered "dangerous", and there has been an increase in the number of patients suffering from respiratory problems in local hospitals, media reported.

Singapore's Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, asked his countrymen to remain indoors and to try to go outside as little as possible after the worst air pollution since 1997 was reported, at which time the pollution index topped out at 266.

At an index level of 200 and above, the air is considered to be "very unhealthy", according to the scale used to measure pollution.

A murky haze is presently floating between Singapore's skyscrapers and its bay, but the first clouds of smoke began to arrive last week from fires on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, given that this is the season when farmers begin clearing land so that they may plant their crops.

"The workers must wear protective masks if they perform work outdoors and if they show symptoms of feeling bad, they have the right to leave work and rest in an enclosed space," said Singapore's National Congress of Unions in a statement.

The pollution has also affected visibility in the Straits of Malacca, where boats have had to limit their operations at night, and even in Malaysia, where 211 schools were closed in the southern part of the country due to a pollution level of 383 points.

Indonesia has blamed the fires on foreign investors who own plantations in Sumatra and urged Singaporeans not to react like "children, with so much excitement" to the smoke.

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

NTCA cautions states on dog disease affecting tigers

NAGPUR: Following reports of the spread of lethal canine distemper virus (CDV) in tigers in countries like Indonesia and Russia, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has asked all chief wildlife wardens of tiger range states to take preventive measures.

On June 12, TOI was first to report about Britain's Wildlife Vets International (WVI) plan to study whether a virus common among Indian dogs was infecting tigers of Sunderbans and turning them into man-eaters. The study would be part of WVI's first comprehensive global tiger disease surveillance programme.

On June 14, NTCA's deputy inspector general SP Yadav had asked states to vaccinate stray cattle and dogs living around reserves on a regular basis and had also instructed that incidents of wild animals showing abnormal behaviour must be reported immediately.

The CDV disease is incurable, causing high fever, watery eyes, vomiting, diarrhoea, paralysis and death. The infected animals have also been observed to display strange behaviour, with disorientation and inability to predate, besides loss of fear.

The NTCA has asked the forest officials to collect tissues of dead animals for pathological analysis. The field staff has been asked to check water quality in tiger reserves (pre and post-monsoon) along with chemical analysis. Facilities like deep fridge for storing samples and record of collected samples need to be maintained.

Tigers are endangered, largely due to habitat loss and poaching, besides over-hunting of prey species. Around 3,500 tigers remain in the wild and 13 tiger countries have pledged to protect them.

Referring to a paper published in a journal 'Veterinary Science', NTCA officials said a dead Asiatic lion from Gujarat was detected with a virus in tissues which appeared after the animal came in contact with other infected animals like cattle, buffaloes or dogs. The samples of the lion tested negative for CDV but positive for peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus, which may have been transmitted from domestic animals.

Although it is most common in dogs, CDV infects many wild animals, including several vulnerable species. In 1994, an epidemic killed over 1,000 lions in the Serengeti region of Tanzania and Kenya, almost a third of the population. The disease was transmitted by infected dogs, so local veterinary researchers began vaccinating local dogs. The virus was also partly responsible for the near-extinction of the North American black-footed ferret, and a mutated version has repeatedly struck European seals.

If not tiger reserves, where prey base is good, big carnivores in the territorial areas outside national parks and sanctuaries can be vulnerable as they mostly prey on domestic animals, including dogs.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ailing Mumbai elephant put under care of vet from Guwahati

MUMBAI: The plight of an ailing old elephant has galvanised celebrities including actor Amitabh Bachchan and activist alike, and the pachyderm has now been put under the care of a specialised vet from Guwahati.

The 58-year-old female elephant, Bijlee, had collapsed last week in suburban Mulund due to weakness, said activist Ganesh Nayak, of the NGO, Animals Matter To Me.

Prior to that, she had fallen into a creek and injured her hind legs and suffering various problems ever since.

Bijlee had apparently been used during marriage ceremonies by the couple who own her.

"We brought in a veterinary doctor Kushal Sharma from Guwahati to treat the ailing female elephant. He specialises in treating elephants and is advising a medical team on how to continue treating Bijlee," Nayak said.

Several celebrities, prominent among them Big B, and online activists have been tweeting and sharing posts on social networking sites to garner support for the hurt giant.

Bachchan took to Twitter to make an appeal to contribute for treatment and upkeep of the "gentle giant".

Nayak said Bijlee has been given proper medical treatment which will last eight days and none of her organs has been damaged. "Her blood count is also normal," he added.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Environment ministry ignores states' opposition, approves GM trials

NEW DELHI: The environment ministry's Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has cleared field trials for genetically modified rice, wheat, maize and castor for the Kharif season of 2013.

The clearances - some of them extension of existing clearances that stood to lapse with state governments opposing field trials and others for relocating trial sites - come while the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill is pending before the standing committee of Parliament and the Supreme Court is yet to pass a verdict in a case challenging the existing regulatory mechanism for GM crops in the country.

Clearances for another 53 field trials are pending with the statutory GEAC now.

Bayer Bioscience Limited has got open-ended clearance to test GM rice in all four regions of the country. The open-ended clearance will allow the company to carry out the tests wherever it can convince the state governments. A final nod from state governments is mandatory for field trials. Biotech companies have been complaining for a while about some states' unwillingness. The blanket permission will now help the companies move to convenient states. Mayhco and BASF India Limited too have got the nod to carry out trials on GM rice.

The Hyderabad-based Directorate of Oilseeds Research's GM castor field tests have been re-approved. It had the permission earlier too which had lapsed owing to lack of approval from the Andhra Pradesh government.

Monsanto India Limited has been given clearance to field test its GM maize at alternate sites in several states after it found opposition from the states it had earlier got the clearance for from the Union government.

Mayhco has on the other hand been given an extended clearance for its trials of GM wheat after the company had failed to get the green light from the state government.

Besides these food crops, the GEAC has also given the nod for further field testing of various GM cotton varieties by Bayer, BASF and Mayhco.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rare N nigricans turtle species facing extinction

AGARTALA: The soft-shell N nigricans turtles, a rare species found only in the tank of the Tripureswari Temple in Gomati district of Tripura, is facing extinction.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had classified that specimen, popularly known as Bostami turtle, as extinct in the wild.

The fifteenth century temple constructed by king Dhanyamanikya in Udaipur, 55 km from Agartala, is believed to be one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the country and considered to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

It is also known as Kurma Pitha because the temple premises resembles 'Kurma' i.e. turtle.

The rare species of Bostami turtles inhabit the Kalyan Sagar lying in the eastern side of the temple.

Spread over 6.4 acres, it was a natural habitat of the turtles. They come up to the shore looking for crumbs that visitors buy at the nearby stalls and feed to these reptiles, as part of the rituals. Devotees feed them with puffed rice and biscuits.

The Matabari temple committee cemented the banks of the lake about a decade ago killing turtles.

Death of at least seven tortoises were reported within a year of constructions of the cemented embankments in 1998, officials of the state fisheries department said.

Visitors, tourists, pilgrims and devotees are throwing plastic carry bags every day into the lake. As a result the bed of the lake is now full of polythene/plastics bags.

22.33 | 0 komentar | Read More

WWF urges Romania, Bulgaria to protect wild sturgeon

BUCHAREST: Conservationist group WWF on Tuesday urged Romania and Bulgaria, home to the last viable wild sturgeon populations in the European Union, to protect the species, threatened by illegal fishing and caviar trade.

"Sturgeon is a species threatened by overfishing, by the pressure of the caviar market and by infrastructure projects that hamper its migration up the Danube", WWF Romania programme director MagorCsibi told a press conference.

Csibi said that despite a 10-year sturgeon fishing ban imposed by Romania in 2006, followed by Bulgaria in 2011, poaching continues, especially in the Danube delta, where the local economy depends on fishing.

"Romania and Bulgaria are home to the only viable wild sturgeon populations left in the European Union, but unless this sophisticated illegal fishing is stopped, these fish are doomed," said WWF's Jutta Jahrl, author of a new report conducted jointly with TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network.

The survey conducted on 30 caviar samples collected from shops, restaurants and street vendors from Romania and Bulgaria, "demonstrates that caviar allegedly from wild sturgeons is still being offered for sale (in the two countries) despite the current ban".

"This is the 11th hour; if we do not take steps to restore wild sturgeon populations there will be no sturgeon left for our children and grandchildren," Romania's junior environment minister Lucia Varga said.

WWF figures show that sturgeon catches dropped in Romania from 1,144 tonnes in 1940 to just eight tons in 2005, before the ban was imposed.

Romania was among the world's top five caviar exporters, with 26 tonnes exported between 1998 and 2006, according to WWF-TRAFFIC.

After unilaterally deciding to stop exports in 2006, it hopes to one day restart exporting farm-raised caviar.

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

23 peacocks found dead in Rajasthan

JAIPUR: 23 peacocks were found dead at two different places in Rajasthan after consuming suspected poisonous food grains, police said today.

Carcasses of 17 peacocks, 5 male and 12 female, were found in Nagarfort area in Tonk district yesterday, SHO of Nagarfort police station, Surendra said.

Six more peacocks were found dead in the forest area of Barwala village of Makrana town yesterday, police said.

Forensic experts of the forest department suspect that the peacocks died after consuming poisonous food grains. The samples of the food grains have been collected, the SHO said.

Cases under sections of Wildlife Protection Act have been registered by the forest department, he said, adding that the carcasses were buried after the postmortem.

Officer on special duty (OSD) in wildlife crime control bureau and environmentalist, BL Jajju, said it is sheer example of carelessness of forest and police departments that the national bird was being killed in parts of Rajasthan.

"We urge chief minister Ashok Gehlot to take cognizance of such wildlife cases and ensure free and fair probe so that responsibility be laid on the forest department for such crimes," Jajju said.

"On average, ten peacocks were being killed daily by poachers in the state, but the forest and police officials are just sitting pretty on the fence. They are doing an eyewash job by only filing cases and ensuring no legal action against those who were engaged in illegal killings," Jajju said.

22.34 | 0 komentar | Read More