MORE BLACK NECKED CRANE IN BUMTHANG- BHUTAN

Bumthang district in central Bhutan has recorded the highest number of black necked cranes in the last two decades. Till date, 34 cranes have been spotted in Bumthang, 22 in Gyetsa, four in Tang and eight in Dramphel. According to the Division Forest Office (DFO), number of cranes visiting Bumthang this year is approximately double than the last year. Earlier only around 10 to 15 cranes flew in at this time of the year.

January 2

http://www.kuenselonline.com/more-black-necked-cranes-in-bumthang/

GAS HEAT PROJECT REDUCES EMMISSION- CHINA

More than 100,000 households are now equipped with gas facilities in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region southwestern China which has made the lives of locals easier in winter and also reduced emission of harmful gases. The heating project was launched at the end of 2012 and people were provided facilities at very affordable price. This project has reduced total emission of carbon dioxide by around 180,000 tons, sulfur dioxide by 1,652 tons, nitrogen oxide by 510 tons , soot emissions by 2,544 tons and cinders by 13,900 tons.

December 29

http://eng.tibet.cn/2012sy/xw/201412/t20141229_2184330.html

ONE-HORNED RHINO KILLED IN ASSAM- INDIA

Poaching of one horned rhino continues unabated in Assam, northern India as one more female rhino was killed by the poachers at Rajiv Gandhi National Park in Darrang district of the state. According to the officials, this is the 26^th rhino that was killed by the poachers in Assam in 2014 and since 2001 a total of 193 one-horned rhinos have been killed by the poachers in the area.

January 1

http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/poachers-kill-one-horned-rhino-in-assam-park.html

OPERATION AGAINST DEFORESTATION- NEPAL

District Forest Office of Banke in mid western Nepal has destroyed more than 1200 huts encroaching around 260 ha of Sidhdababa Community forest. Those houses were built by the flood victims of Rapti River. According to the victims, the trend of encroachment of forest area would continue until flood risk management activities are instigated in Rapti River.

January 3

http://gorkhapatraonline.com/news/1450

MAI POKHARI IN DANGER- NEPAL

A group of geologists from Department of Geology and Namsaling Community Development Center investigating the reasons for the drying of the Mai Pokhari lake and wetland in Ilam, eastern Nepal doesn't have concluded that there is no geological reasons for drying up of water. The wetland is situated at an altitude of 2121m and is enlisted in the list of Ramsar sites since 28 October, 2008. According to the scientists, to increase the level of  underground water for the lake, small water recharging ponds should be built around the area.

January 3

http://www.ekantipur.com/kantipur/2071/9/18/full-story/337087.html

International Conference on Agricultural Innovation Systems in West and Central Africa.

CORAF/WECARD, CSIRO- DFAT and Convergence of Sciences (CoS -SIS) are jointly organizing an international conference on agricultural innovation systems in West and Central Africa. The theme is "Facilitating changes in farming systems in West and Central Africa through the implementation of the Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D)". The conference provides an opportunity to bring together several institutions and other stakeholders to share experiences on agricultural innovation systems in West and Central Africa, to assess the successes and weaknesses of the IAR4D approach and to explore together the perspectives and solutions for its improvement.

As a key stakeholder who can make a significant contribution in achieving the Conference Objective, I am pleased to invite you to submit papers (deadline: February 10, 2015) for the upcoming conference that will be held in Saly, Senegal from 25 to 27 February 2015.

Thought of the Day!

When will people realize that advocates for environmental issues are advocates for the future of humanity!