CROP DAMAGE -PAKISTAN

Incessant snowfall and late arrival of spring has damaged crops and livestock in Chitral bringing misery to the farmers. Due to harsh weather condition, the trees of apricot, peach, pear and apple might not bear fruit feared the farmers.  According to an agricultural scientist, spring has been delayed by over 40 days. The weather has also affected the arrival of migratory birds.
3 April
http://dawn.com/2012/04/02/extended-winter-damages-crops-in-chitral-2/

WATER SHORTAGE IN THIMPU -BHUTAN

Thimpu, a city with a population of 108,933 people and more than 400 buildings under construction, is facing water shortage as water sources are drying up at a rapid pace. The water officials said because of the cheap water tariff, water leakage is a serious issue. A person in the capital consumes around 135 liters of water a day, while a building construction site guzzles around 8,000 liters.
5 April
http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=29539

SNOW HARVESTING -INDIA

Glaciologists in India have developed a technology that harvest snow in the high altitude region. This technology helps to retain snow for a longer time by delaying its melting and in return it could solve water problems in the Himalayan region.
6 April
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120407/himachal.htm#16

DECLINING OF ORCHID -INDIA

Himachal Pradesh is home to more than 10 per cent of the orchid species recorded in the Indian Himalayan region but some of the species are in the verge of extinction. The population and habitat of almost all 81 species found in the state has declined. Two endangered species, cypripedium cordigerum and cypripedium himalaicum are already on Red Data Book.
6 April
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120406/himachal.htm#2

FOREST DEPARTMENT USES STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY -INDIA

Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh will be using a GPS based monitoring technology to carry out plant verification (area and date of plantation, details like total number of saplings planted, number of surviving plants, details of tree species, the height and the number of diseased and dead plants), check dams and other works. This technology will help forest authority to collect information without field verification and it also captures pictures of work in progress.
4 April
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120404/himachal.htm#3

KILLING OF A RHINO -NEPAL

First rhino kill of this year has been reported from Chitwan National Park as the poachers gunned down a female rhino. The rhino was found dead on the western side of the park. Park authorities were able to recover its missing horn from different sites. No arrests have been made.
4 April
The Kathmandu Post

NEPAL AT A GLANCE, THIS WEEK

Directorate of Animal Health has put 27 districts at high risk, 18 districts at moderate risk and 26 districts at low risk respectively of bird flu. Meanwhile, country incurred a loss of NRS 45 million due to fire related incidents in the span of three months with 367 incidents recorded across the country where 45 people lost their lives.
1, 2 April
Republica