Biodiversity

Organizers: Abasaheb Garware College, Pune

Venue: Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Pune

Description:

The Department of Biodiversity, Abasaheb Garware College, Pune is organizing a National Conference on 'Biodiversity Assessment, Conservation and Utilization'  during 9-11 Feb 2012 under the chairmanship of renowned ecologist Prof. Madhav Gadgil. In connection with this a theme based nature photography competition named 'Wild Reflections' is also being organized.  

The crux of Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) efforts lie in locating forests and other natural resources within the prevailing economic, social and ecological dynamics in rural landscapes and in intertwining principles of conservation and local self governance for the protection of the natural surroundings and improvement in the living conditions of the poor.

After knowing that the encroachers set fire in the protected forest area, nearly 100 acres and cultivating cash crops in Sirumalai hills, iGREEN and Equal Justice jointly organised fact finding visit with lawyers and media persons and gone to sirumalai Hills. We were shocked when we saw fired forest land.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) has based on consultation with stakeholders revised the procedure to be followed for consideration of projects that involve forestland for grant of environment clearance under EIA Notification, 2006. The requirement of information/data/documents for such projects is also outlined in the office memorandum.

Image courtesy: Ministry of Environment and Forests 

The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had earlier issued an office memorandum vide no. J-11015/200/2008-IA.II(M) dated 31.3.2011 prescribing the procedure to be followed for consideration of projects for environmental clearance, which involve forestland.

Main hazards that the state is prone to consist of earthquakes, landslides, flash floods, snow storms and avalanches, droughts, dam failures, fires – domestic and wild, accidents – road, rail, air, stampedes, boat capsizing, biological, industrial and hazardous chemicals etc.

Goa, going, gone – A film by Carmen Miranda on Goa’s mining

As you may have assumed from its title, “Goa, going gone” is about Goa - - or more specifically, it’s about the environmental impact that is likely to result from the rampant mining that is underway in the state. Goa is being dug out of existence and gigantic craters expand across a 95 km long mining belt.

More information on the project can be seen on IUCN's website.

• Is the government really serious about the Project?  Water Initiatives Odisha(WIO) apprehends this to be a political game rather than a hydro power project, at least for now.
• We urge upon the government to first clear the air on the project design and other related issues before moving any further.
• The project is uncalled for without making a comprehensive analysis of water and energy scenario of the state; and if it displaces people and submerges agriculture land and forests

Guest post by: Chicu

For the last few decades and more particularly since 1990’s the issue of human rights-violation of rights to life and livelihood of tribal peoples’ is a central concern. Therefore, the discourse on tribal movements and issues of tribal livelihood revolved around securing their well-defined rights on land and forest resources.