BAN ON TOURISM IN TIGER RESERVE IS NO SUCCESS- INDIA

An ‘illegal’ safari is being operated in the core area of Buxa Tiger Reserve flouting all norms in spite of a ban imposed on September 2010. All it takes is a connection with forest officials as the operator works in connivance with the forest department officials.
17 January
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-17/kolkata/30635094_1_night-safari-forest-guard-btr

RHINO KILLED, POACHERS BID FOILED- INDIA

A female rhino was killed in Kaziranga National Park but the horn remained intact as poachers fled the scene while security personal stormed in.  To track down the poachers, a dog has been put into service which has managed to gather some evidence. The dog has been brought from Slovakia to help park officials. Similarly, forest guards at Kaziranga National Park during operation against poachers, gunned down a female rhino. The rhino was shot while the officials were attempting to scare off the rhino.   Meanwhile, a man was arrested who sneaked into the city zoo in Assam to kill rhino for its horns.
17, 18, 20 January

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-17/guwahati/30634600_1_rhino-poaching-bid-rhino-poachers-assam-state-zoo

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120118/jsp/northeast/story_15019212.jsp
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120120/jsp/northeast/story_15026497.jsp

WETLANDS LOOSING GROUND- INDIA

Wetlands in Jammu are on the verge of extinction as two of the five wetlands have dried up giving way to human encroachment as a result few migratory birds visit the area. In addition, villagers scare away migratory birds as they fear that birds damage crops.

15 January

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120115/j&k.htm#9

SMUGGLERS NABBED- NEPAL

Around 150 kg of red sandalwood was confiscated at Dolalghat in Kavrepalanchowk District, central Nepal, while en route to China border.  Similarly, two smugglers were apprehended in Kathmandu Valley while trying to smuggle 27 kg of orchids to China. In another incident, smugglers were taken into custody for possessing 7 kg of Pangolin scales by the security personal in Kathmandu valley.
18, 19 January

The Himalayan Times

ONLY 10 PERCENT OF DEVELOPMENT FUND REACHES TARGET GROUPS- NEPAL

A study has revealed that Non Government Organizations (NGO) working in poverty alleviation, HIV/AIDS and women empowerment sector in Mid and Far western regions spent 90 percent of their social development funds in staff expenses and only 10 percent reaches out to the target groups.
18 January

The Himalayan Times

 http://www.nepalnews.com/home/index.php/news/19/16078-only-10-pc-of-the-funds-allocated-for-poverty-alleviation-hivaids-reach-target-groups.html

CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD IN BARDIA NATIONAL PARK IN THE OFFING- NEPAL

Department of roads is all set to construct a 27 km long road in Bardia National Park area and 39 km in Chure forest area in west Nepal and in the process around 16,000 trees are going to be axed. Environment ministry has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the construction. However, forest ministry is not informed about this ordeal.
17 January

Kantipur

CONSERVATION ON THE FRONT LINE – MUARA TAE’S LAST STAND AGAINST BIG PALM OIL

Dayak community under assault from invading palm oil companies

MUARA TAE, EAST KALIMANTAN: The fate of a Dayak community deep in the interior of East Kalimantan demonstrates how Indonesia must safeguard the rights of indigenous people if it is to meet ambitious targets to reduce emissions from deforestation.

The Dayak Benuaq of Muara Tae, in West Kutai Kabupaten, today face a two-pronged assault from palm oil companies aggressively expanding into their ancestral forests. Together with Indonesian NGO Telapak, the community is manning a forest outpost around the clock in a last ditch attempt to save it from destruction.

The London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has witnessed at first-hand the Dayak Benuaq’s struggle, and how their sustainable use of forests could help Indonesia deliver on its ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

EIA Forests Team Leader Faith Doherty said: “There are more than 800 families in Muara Tae relying on the forests for their food, water, medicine, culture and identity. Put simply, they have to keep this forest in order to survive.

“The rhetoric from the President of Indonesia on curbing emissions by reducing deforestation is strong but on the front line, where indigenous communities are putting their lives at risk to protect forests, action is sorely missing.

“Giving these communities, such as the Dayak Benuaq, the rights they deserve is a vital step to reduce catastrophic levels of deforestation in Indonesia.”

EIA Forest Campaign team leader Faith Doherty interviewing Muara Tae elders (credit: EIA/Tom Johnson)

President Yudhoyono has pledged to reduce carbon emissions across the archipelago by 26 per cent by 2020 against a business-as-usual baseline, alongside delivering substantial economic growth.

Plantation expansion will inevitably be a significant element of growth, but it has historically been a major driver of emissions and it is widely acknowledged that in order avoid them, expansion must now be directed to ‘degraded’ lands.

As a result of weak spatial planning, however, the forests of Muara Tae are identified as ‘APL’, a designation meaning they are not part of the national forest area and are open to exploitation. The theft of indigenous forests also raises serious questions as to what form of ‘development’ these plantations offer.

Forest cleared in October 2011 on Muara Tae customary land, in a concession issued to PT Munte Wani Jaya Perkasa (credit: EIA/Tom Johnson)

In indigenous communities such as the Dayak Benuaq of Muara Tae, Indonesia has perhaps its most valuable forest resource. It is due to their sustainable methods, honed over generations, that the forest even remains.

Telapak president Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto said: “Together with the community, we have not only been protecting the last forests but also planting new Ulin and Meranti saplings to enhance it. These people are the true guardians of the forest and their fate is entwined with it.”

Muara Tae has lost more than half of its land and forests during the past 20 years to mining companies. The impact has been tangible; the villagers’ water source has dried up and they must now routinely make a 1km journey to collect clean water.

The remaining forest is home to a large number of bird species including hornbills, the emblem of Borneo. There are about 20 species of reptiles and it is also a habitat for both proboscis monkeys and honey bears.

The latest land-grabs have taken place since January 2010, when the local Bupati (regional government official), Ismail Thomas, issued plantation permits to two palm oil companies: Malaysian-owned PT Munte Waniq Jaya Perkasa (PT MWJP) and PT Borneo Surya Mining Jaya, a subsidiary of Sumatran logging, mining and plantation conglomerate Surya Dumai.

While the Norwegian Government has been instrumental in financially backing efforts to reduce deforestation in Indonesia through the REDD+ initiative, it has also invested in the parent company of PT MWJP through its sovereign wealth fund.

Pak Singko, a leader of the Dayak Benuaq of Muara Tae, said: “We are calling for help from people everywhere in protecting our forests and ancestral land. We are being squeezed from all sides by mining and plantation companies.

“This is the last remaining forests that we have and the only land we have to survive.  If my forests are gone, our lives will end.” 

Ulin tree in Muara Tae forest (credit: EIA/Tom Johnson)

Aftermath of Cyclone Thane in Auroville, India

Location of the 3rd International Youth Symposium for Biodiversity this October, Auroville, India was hit by a terrible cyclone.

Here are some on the clean up efforts - the first in about the general Auroville area, and the next one is on the Auroville Botanical Garden.

Auroville's General Cleanup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_hf7Hz8kQ

Auroville Botanical Garden Cleanup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4auvAvfGiM0

Lesser Antillean iguanas at Durrell Wildlife Park

Image from the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

For the first time in eleven years, the rare Lesser Antillean iguanas at Durrell Wildlife Park have successfully bred, producing two young hatchlings.  Increasingly endangered in its wild habitat, the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean, and held by only a handful of zoological institutions worldwide, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust remains the only place to successfully breed this species.
Commenting on this exciting news, Mark Brayshaw, Head of Durrell’s animal collection, said, “We are delighted by the arrival of these new hatchlings. They are feeding and growing well, and we are continuing to monitor them carefully at our herpetology department. We will continue our efforts to breed the iguanas and are encouraged by this recent success.”

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE- OTTAWA, CANADA

A beautiful pileated woodpecker seen today!  It flew right up to our outdoor classroom.

 

The Grade 6 students from St-Laurent Academy drilled through the ice in search of aquatic invertebrates.  

ACID OCEANS: IN SOME AREAS ACIDIFICATION IS A HUNDRED TIMES GREATER THAN THE NATURAL VARATION

GNU Free Documentation License

CORAL REEFS ARE AT RISK

  

Emissions of carbon over the last two centuries have raised the acidity of the oceans to the highest levels in 21,000 years and likely beyond, according to a new study in Nature Climate Change.   This change threatens marine reefs and a host of aquatic invertebrates.

Check out the following link:  http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0124-hance_oceanacid.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter 

MILLER'S GRIZZLED LANGUR REDISCOVERED

Public Domain image

Miller's grizzled langur was thought to be extinct, but scientists in Borneo captured images of creature using camera traps.  The scientists were baffled to find the Miller's grizzled langur in an area well outside its previously recorded home range.  With virtually no photographs of the species in existence, the scientists faced a challenge to confirm their suspicions, Brent Loken, a PhD student at Simon Fraser University in Canada and one of the lead researchers, said. The only images available were museum sketches like the one above.

MACOUN MARSH UPDATE- OTTAWA, CANADA

While our winter here in Ottawa has been fairly mild, Grade 6 students from St-Laurent Academy have been able to research invertebrates under the marsh ice. 

In some drill holes, students have discovered mayfly larvae and phantom midge larvae.  Ice thickness has been around 18cm along the shore. 

Chickadees are very common, and very tame. 

Mustard plants retain their green colouring under the snow. 

SECOND ANNUAL GREEN SCHOOLS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

February 27-29, 2012

Be a part of the largest gathering of K-12 leaders and educators coming together to "green" the nation's schools as the way to save money, improve student health & achievement and save the planet! Register NOW before rates go up February 1.

Durrell undertakes a comprehensive animal audit (UK)

Image Colm Farrington

Holding a baby panther chameleon

Each New Year at Durrell kicks off with a momentous mathematics exercise, as all zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums are legally required to undertake a comprehensive animal audit.

Durrell’s total headcount for 2011 reached over 1600 individuals of more than 150 species and therefore the audit process proved to be a time consuming job for the keepers tasked with accounting for all of Durrell’s annual arrivals and departures.

Perhaps the most memorable departure during 2011 was that of Silverback gorilla Ya Kwanza who had been a popular resident at the conservation charity’s wildlife park in Trinity since 1993. Significant arrivals included 22 orange tailed skinks rescued following the invasion of Flat Island, Mauritius by the predatory Indian musk shrew; and of course Ya Kwanza’s replacement Badongo who arrived from France in July and is who is now settling in well.

The Green Wave to support forest rehabilitation in the devastated region of Tohoku, Japan

Montreal, 16 January 2012 – At the 13th edition of Eco Products 2011, an environmental exhibition that attracts 60,000 visitors a day, including children, and held in Tokyo in December 2011, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, participated on 16 December in the launch of the new initiative, “The Green Wave for Supporting Reconstruction of Tsunami Stricken Tohoku Region”. Titled Project-D, the project aims to involve 100,000 children from across Japan in growing seedlings of indigenous tree species and rehabilitating 40 hectares of degraded forests in Tohoku, Japan, a region devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake and its tsunamis on 11 March 2011.

Specifically, the Project-D: Dream for a Devastated Region, together with the Dongri (acorns) project, aims to restore coastal forests by involving children, who receive an experiential environmental education while planting Dongri saplings with the help of different sectors in Japan and The Green Wave global campaign.

The project is a collaborative project organized by several organizations including the National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization (NALAPO), the Japan Environment Association, the Japan Nurseryman’s Association and the Executive Committee of the Biodiversity and Children's Forest Campaign. Supported by the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) International and several other organizations with an extensive network of close collaborators and major organizations, Project-D is expected to unfold as an emergent national movement in Japan.

Launched in May 2008, at the margins of the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Bonn, The Green Wave initiative aims at reconnecting children and youth with nature and engaging tomorrow’s citizens in sharing their green future. Launched with 50 schools in 2008, The Green Wave has since mobilized more than 3,500 groups of participants in over 70 countries. In the coming weeks, the honorary ambassador of The Green Wave, Mr. Jean Lemire, will launch 1000 Days for the Planet, a three-year expedition on board the schooner Sedna IV. The expedition is a major contribution to the celebration of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB) 2011-2020.

One of the aims of the Decade, officially launched in Japan on 17 December 2011, is to help ensure that, by 2020 at the latest, citizens of the world, and in particular youth and children, are made aware of, value, and protect biodiversity. Through Project-D, The Green Wave and 1000 Days for the Planet, children, youth, their parents, teachers and communities are invited to take action and make a difference, and thus directly contribute to the biodiversity-related objectives set by the international community. One of the core agencies driving Project-D, NALAPO, led local level actions during the International Year of Forests 2011 through promoting the nation-wide Fund-raising for Greenery campaign, which originally started over 60 years ago. Mr. Tatuya Kajiya, NALAPO Senior Managing Director, said: “We strongly expect that awareness on the importance of forests and intention to join forest-related actions, developed 2 through various campaigns related to the International Year of Forests, will be broadly spread to generations, especially children, by implementation of Project-D.”

A leading organization of the Biodiversity and Children's Forest Campaign-EXCO, OISCA, is a long time supporter of The Green Wave. Over 14,000 children and adults at 105 OISCA sites in 13 countries participated in 2011 celebrations of The Green Wave through their experiential environmental education initiative, the Children’s Forest Program. On 20 December, Mr. Yasuaki Nagaishi, Secretary-General of OISCA and Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention, took part in a live Web TV programme during which they answered questions from the public about the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity and The Green Wave, as a contribution to the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding between OISCA and the Convention Secretariat, signed at the margins of the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, held in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010. OISCA celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in October 2011, in the presence of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

In reference to the joint OISCA and CBD initiative, Mr. Nagaishi, OISCA Secretary-General, said: “The Green Wave empathizes with our ‘FURUSATO Movement’ which can guide children in action that contributes to the protection of our Mother Earth. It is also instrumental in linking children to other parts of the world beyond their own localities. Project-D will, I am sure, enable them to have the feeling of oneness with those in the stricken area hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.”

Mr. Djoghlaf said: “It is heartening the see hundreds of thousands of Japanese children mobilized for Project D and The Green Wave to contribute to the rehabilitation of the devastated region of Tohoku. This initiative represents the very spirit and letter of The Green Wave and I am pleased to support its mission, as a fantastic intra- and inter-generational movement of solidarity for a future in harmony with nature.”

BIODIVERSITY YOUTH MENTORSHIP MODULE #2- OTTAWA, CANADA

THEME: OUR HUMAN NEED FOR BIODIVERSITY

Biodiversity is used in medical research and in our food industry. It is directly connected to the purification of the air and water, decomposition of wastes, recycling of nutrients, the pollination of crops, and the regulation of our climate. Many cultural services are to be considered here. Our global economy cannot function without biodiversity.     

The students were involved in various activities that connected seemingly unrelated everyday products to their biological sources. A 5 Kingdom picnic was included!

 

 

Cocoa beans were available to taste!

Module 3: Political Action (2 hours) Saturday, February 4, 2012- 10:00 to noon at St-Laurent Academy (641 Sladen Ave., Ottawa, Ontario). Reserve your attendance at lmleveille@rogers.com

Galapagos a few Photos

A masked booby chick

A very playful and inquisitive sea lion pup 

A large group of marine iguanas

A moulting albatros chick

A blow hole not a geyser  caused only by pressure of the waves from the ocean.

A land iguana munching on a piece of cactus

The moon in the pitch black sky off our boat 

               

 Mr. Panamá

WRONG CLAIM OF NO RHINO POACHING IN 2011- NEPAL

GNU Free Documentation License Image

According to Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation and WWF Nepal, no rhino was poached in 2011. This report doesn’t seem to have grounds, as the 141^st issue of Headlines Himalaya reported killing of Male rhino in Chitwan earlier in 2011.  The department also claimed that this year 235 arrests were made against wildlife criminals and handing over of 141 guns to the park officials by the communities near the park area.
1 January

The Himalayan Times, Headlines Himalaya, 141^st Issue

COMMUNITY FORESTS CHANGING LIVES- BHUTAN

Community Forest Management (CFM) has helped rural communities to meet their timber needs and benefitted them monetarily with the sale of forest products. Under this scheme, about 328 CFM groups involving over 15,000 families manage over 30,000 hectares forestland (2% of total). Community forest division receives Nu 5 million from Forest department as its annual budget. Around 1500 people are engaged in providing capacity building, guidelines and awareness to the rural communities.
15 December
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/forests-people

3.2 BILLION YUAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION- CHINA

Last year, about 3.2 billion Yuan was spent for the conservation of pastureland and wetland, measures to prevent forest fires and pests, wildlife protection and environment monitoring. Out of this total, 692 million Yuan was spent for transfer of payments for national-level ecological areas, 764 million Yuan for forest ecology compensation and 2 billion Yuan for grassland preservation.
6 January
http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/96069/7697594.html

HYDROPOWER CONSTRUCTION TRIGGERS PUBLIC OUTCRY- INDIA

The construction of 330 Megawatt Kishen Ganga Hydroelectric Power Project in North Kashmir district is facing a public criticism as construction debris are being dumped in the forest area and the open defecation by its laborers is polluting the water source. Also road has been damaged due to heavy vehicles.

6 January

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Jan/6/hcc-pollutes-water-bodies-damaging-forests-in-bandipora-49.asp

BLACK NECKED STORK- INDIA

GNU Free Documentation License Image

For the first time, Black necked stork was spotted in a paddy field in Kashmir valley. Over the last decade there has been a decline of 65% in the population of Black necked storks that visit India. Similarly, a first photographic evidence of Black necked crane has been reported in Zemithang valley of Arunachal Pradesh.
2, 6 January
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/2012/Jan/2/rare-migratory-bird-spotted-in-pulwama-36.asp
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-05/guwahati/30592299_1_necked-cranes-bird-species

ALL IS NOT WELL WITH FOREST MINISTRY- NEPAL

In a report given to Ministry of forest and soil conservation, Commission for the Investigation of the Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has underlined involvement of ministers, forest officers in deforestation and their nexus with timber smugglers.  CIAA has also emphasized the need for effective monitoring of community forests across the country. Similarly, four assistant forest officers have been suspended for their involvement in rampant deforestation in the five community forests in Kanchanpur and Dadeldhura districts. 

5, 6 January

The Himalayan Times

COUNTRY’S FIRST CONSERVED FOREST- NEPAL

Madane Forest, with an area of 13,761 hectares spread in 11 Villages in Gulmi District, west Nepal, has been registered as the nation’s first conserved forest. The forest also includes a large pasture area.

2 January

Kantipur

ENCROACHERS IN, FOREST OUT- NEPAL

Around 75 hectare land of a community forest has been encroached in Baridya District, west Nepal.  More than 800 shelters have been built in the name of landless and bonded laborers. No stern action has been taken against encroachers as they are politically influenced.
2 January

Kantipur

WOMEN IN CONSERVATION- NEPAL

Women have been patrolling the forest area spread over 896 hectare in chure range of Parsa Wildlife Reserve in Makwanpur District, central Nepal. It all started with 23 women two years ago after rise in illegal felling of trees and poaching activity in the forest area.
2 January
Kantipur

BIODIVERSITY CLASSES- OTTAWA, CANADA

Module 2: Our Human Need for Biodiversity (2 hours) Saturday, January 14, 2012- 10:00 to noon at St-Laurent Academy (641 Sladen Ave., Ottawa, Ontario)

Biodiversity is used in medical research and in our food industry.  It is directly connected to the purification of the air and water, decomposition of wastes, recycling of nutrients, the pollination of crops, and the regulation of our climate.  Many cultural services are to be considered here.  Our global economy cannot function without biodiversity.      

We need more protected areas, not just outside human cities, but inside as well.  We need connections between protected spaces so species can move from one area to the next.  We need to learn how to live with wildlife in our backyards. 

The students will partake in various activities that connect seemingly unrelated everyday products to their biological sources.  A 5 Kingdom picnic is included!  Reserve your attendance at lmleveille@rogers.com

THE LONG HISTORY OF STUDYING NATURE AT THE MACOUN MARSH

Cephas Guillet, Boys' School Activities, Ottawa (series), 1903/04, Gelatin silver prints, Bytown Museum, P3000b.

The Macoun Marsh Project was not the first nature initiative at this unique location.   One hundred years ago a teacher from Cobourg, Ontario used Beechwood for nature studies with youth.  Cephas Guillet (c.1865–1948) founded experimental schools in Ottawa and Washington, D.C, and blended educational principals from the sloyd system based on “the study of nature and human history,” and Tadd’s which emphasised design, memory, and ambidextrous skill.  Mr. L.

IMAGES FROM MACOUN MARSH (OTTAWA, CANADA)

Northern Cardinal

Chickadee

Junco

American Robin

PROTECT OUR ANIMALS!

 

By Nyssa Haynes-Holder (Youth delegate from Barbados)

Galapagos a few Photos

The Swallow-tailed gull has red rimmed eyes these rings help them see and fish at night

Yawning frigate bird chick

Male frigate bird with his gular sac inflated as a mating display

A shark swimming off the side of our boat

A blue footed booby with its chick

A yawning juvenile blue footed booby

        Mr. Panamá

VILLAGERS ARRESTED FOR PROTESTING AGAINST TREE FELLING- PAKISTAN

In a village in Peshawar, people were arrested for belching out against the forest authorities for cutting of trees in the forest area. The protesting villagers were demanding the district administration to stop felling of trees on commercial basis or include their village in the development projects. Those arrested have been booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
27 December

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=84334&Cat=7&dt=12/27/2011

RESTORATION THROUGH AFFORESTATION- CHINA

In an effort to increase the vegetation cover, an area of 1646.73 hectares in Dagze country has been afforestated. It includes key areas, complementary planting, shelter forests, hills and desert land.
28 December
http://eng.tibet.cn/2010hb/xw/003201112/t20111228_1421300.html

TOURIST GALORE IN TIBET

Influx of tourists in Tibet continues to rise with 8.43 million tourists in the first 11 months of the year and revenue marked as 9.3 billion Yuan (US$ 1.5 billion). Number of visitors has increased by 27.7% compared to that of last year.
26 December
http://eng.tibet.cn/2010home/news/201112/t20111226_1406321.html  

14 TIGERS CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Fourteen tigers have been captured in the Manas, a trans-boundary conservation area straddling India and Bhutan. Of the 14 tigers, seven are male, six female while the gender of one has not been ascertained. Four tigers have been identified as “common”, meaning they were spotted in both countries.
27 December
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111228/jsp/northeast/story_14935178.jsp

TEA ESTATE PUTS ELEPHANT CORRIDOR AT STAKE- NEPAL

Threat looms large on the elephant corridor located inside Neoli proposed reserve forest (PRF) following an allotment of 60 hectares of forest land to an organization by the government authorities. A tea garden along with crop plantations and construction activities has been established in the area. The corridor links Barnadi-Neoli-Khalingduar complex, and also connects Manas Tiger Reserve and Ripu-Chirang Elephant Reserve. 
25 December
http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=dec2611/at09

SOUVENIRS MADE FROM ELEPHANT DUNG- NEPAL

As part of livelihood improvement program, a village in Chitwan District, central Nepal, has been producing diaries, envelopes, boxes and notepads by processing elephant dung. The dung is collected from the 43 private owned tuskers in Chitwan National park.
25 December

The Kathmandu Post

WOMEN BEHIND TIMBER SMUGGLING AND RHINO CONSERVATION- NEPAL

In two separate incidents, women involvement in timber smuggling have been reported from a community forest in Hetauda District, central Nepal, and from Sukhlaphanta wildlife reserve, west Nepal. In contrast, to curb poaching of rhinos and smuggling of timber, women in Nawalparasi District, west Nepal, patrol the community forest area. The community forest is spread over 530 hectares and is home to 18 rhinos.
21, 23, 27 December
Nepal Samacharpatra, Gorkhapatra, Kantipur

Mysterious new sea creatures found in Antarctica

Public Domain image form the United States National Science Foundation

 

 

Strange new species have been discribed from a dark and remote region of the Southern Ocean near hydrothermal vents.  The temperatures here are up to 382 degrees Celsius.  These creatures are found nowhere else on earth!  Some of the creatures seen include a seven-pronged starfish, a pale coloured octopus, and a new form of yeti crab.  Mike Leveille 

Smugglers built the 11-km road for smuggling timber

The Government of Nepal launched The Rs. 15 million worth President Chure Conservation Program with a view to conserving the Chure range and control deforestation in the area. The Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation designed the program but the government made delay in endorsing it and releasing the budget in time. It is now evident that all efforts at sustainable development of the Chure range have failed. 
Wildlife officials, including director-general of the Forest Department Bajra Kishor Yadav, today visited Chure forests on the border of Kanchanpur and Dadeldhura districts in the wake of reports that deforestation has been going on unabated in the area.

During the inspection of the Baijanath community forest, Uddhav Bahadur Khadka, chairman of the forest, told the team that more than 55 Sal trees have been felled in the forest.

The inspecting team suspected that members of the community forest are hand in glove with timber smugglers. When the team was inspecting the illegal road connecting the Ganesh community forest in

Dadeldhura with the Bhairab community forest, about 200 locals of Jogbudha thronged to the forest in a bid to bar the team from inspecting the road. The locals claimed to have built the road to ease travel, though the Kanchanpur District Forest Office says smugglers have built the 11-km road for smuggling timber and other forest resources.