Dear All

It’s the New Year, which means a lot of new beginnings, some strong new resolutions and some old ones which still need to be worked on. Doing something better for the planet certainly features on my list of New Year resolutions.


This planet is all we have but the growing greed for unplanned development and big profits is killing it. Every action taken to protect the environment is a step towards saving the planet. It is an investment in a cleaner and greener future.

2011 marks the end of a decade and the beginning of a new one. Let’s hope the new decade is green, peaceful and sustainable. This is our little New Year wish and greeting for those who inhabit this precious planet


Thanks & Regards,
GNYC...

Great Indian Bustards in peril

With Only 300 Left Number Has Reduced By Half Since 2000

Pune: The Great Indian Bustard, which has been listed as a critically endangered bird, is steadily moving towards extinction.

A global population count reveals that there are just around 300 birds left, compared to 600 in the year 2000 and 1,260 in 1969.

In Nannaj, Maharashtra, the recent count was nine compared to 21 last year and 24 in 2008. Bustards endemic to the Indian subcontinent are seen in just six states, compared to 11 historically. They are seen in Rajasthan (shared with Pakistan), Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. They are no longer seen in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu.

The largest population of 100-125 birds is in Jaisalmer, Barmer and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan. Other places have fewer than 35 birds each. These findings were published in a recent paper, titled “Running out of time? The Great Indian Bustard”, of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). The figures were compiled from statistics taken from the forest departments of different states. Experts say the drastic fall in the number of bustards brings up the need to develop core breeding areas and a landscape conservation strategy for the birds.

WII researcher Sutirtha Dutta told TOI that while there is no “robust monitoring” of the bustard count, the rapid decline in numbers is pretty evident. “Human intervention like infrastructural development (roads, electricity poles), conversion of agricultural land and hunting are factors contributing to the declining bustard population,” he said. “Bustards are terrestrial and low-flying birds.

They can collide with electricity poles or get hit by vehicles. These birds prefer wide, open, short grass plains and open scrubland with scattered trees. During mid-summer and the monsoons, they congregate in traditional areas to breed and avoid human disturbance. In crop lands, it is speculated that pesticides have a detrimental effect
on their reproduction and survival.”

The Great Indian Bustards are slow reproducing species, Dutta said. “They have a long life span and lay just one egg a year. There is no telemetry study (useful for monitoring threatened species at the individual level) done to know their movements,” he said.

Scientific experts have stressed that there is a need to initiate a conservation breeding programme for the bird. Such breeding has been taken up in Europe and Africa. The paper states that closer home, the bustard haven in Maharashtra has seen rapid industrialization and an increase in human population over the last 30 years.

The shift in the agricultural practice — from monsoon crops like sorghum and millet to sugarcane and grapes now — has resulted in a severe habitat loss for the bustards. Pramod Patil, who works for the conservation and protection of bustards in the state, said the bird’s future lies in the proper protection of core breeding grasslands and promotion of traditional organic farming.

When contacted, M K Rao, conservator of forests (wildlife), Pune, said no eggs of the Great Indian Bustard have been found in Nannaj over the last three years. “We are not sure whether the eggs were destroyed. Bustards need an environment free of disturbance to lay their eggs. Grazing and the movement of vehicles and people affect them,” he said.

Narendra Modi authors 'green' book

Gandhinagar: After having authored books about the Emergency and RSS leaders, and having published even a collection of poems, chief minister Narendra Modi is showing his versatility and range as a writer, with a new venture. The CM has now come up with a book about climate change, an issue believed to be close to his heart.

The book, titled 'Convenient action — Gujarat's response to challenges of climate change', speaks of the CM's vision to tackle the problem of climate change. It covers the various initiatives taken by the Gujarat government to transform the state into a low-carbon economy and build on a model of positive partnerships to tackle climate change.

"This book is like a 'green autobiography' of CM Narendra Modi. Climate change is threatening the world, but Modi and Gujarat have shown how to tackle it," said Sanjay Singh, chief publisher for higher education at Macmillan Publishers India Ltd, to DNA.

A senior government official said that the issue of climate change is very close to the CM's heart.

"Gujarat was the first state to have a full-fledged department of climate change, as per the CM's idea. The government has also initiated steps to promote green energy by encouraging environment-friendly power generation. The book may speak about these initiatives," the official said.
According to Macmillan officials, the book, to have four colours, will comprise 250 pages. It will be available in both hard cover and paperback editions, which will be priced at Rs695 and Rs495 respectively.

Singh said that the book took three years to write, while the publishing deal was finalised this year. He declined to reveal the size of the initial print order, but said that it would be a very big book launch. "There will be functions in Ahmedabad, and in other cities too.

The book will be launched internationally as well," said Singh.
According to government officials, former president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will launch the book and preside over the function,to be held on December 21, while IPCC chairman RK Pachauri will be the guest of honour. The book will be available from December 22 onwards.

A lion claw made out of buffalo horns, dog skin!

Ahmedabad: Make fake claws using body parts of dogs, goats, mongoose, cows and buffaloes and pass them off as original claws of the king of the jungle! This was the modus operandi of 25 tribals arrested by forest department on charges of poaching and cheating.

The gang of 25 tribals from south India was arrested on Tuesday morning with fake claws by the forest department, acting on a tip off from volunteers

of Prakruti nature club.

This is the second incident in recent times where fake claws are recovered from tribals who gain entry from nearby areas in the sanctuary as casual labourers. Earlier, on January 9, the Amreli police had used a decoy and arrested two people in connection with selling fake lion claws. Two fake lion claws with nine nails were recovered. The couple had demanded Rs 1.5 lakh from the decoy for the two claws.

Officials said that a case of cheating will be registered against the gang as they were found cheating people by selling fake claws. Sources in Sasan said that the math is simple: a single fake lion paw made from a buffalo horn would cost just about Rs 2,500 - Rs 3,000. But if a paw is shown to the prospective buyer, a single nail would cost anything between Rs 10,000 and Rs 12,000 per nail.

And if any one wanted the claw with all five nails, it would be anything between Rs 50,000 and Rs 75,000. This prompted the cheats to go to great lengths to craft together a paw with claws using hair, skin and bones of different animals.

Officials said lion’s claws are sold like gemstones in parts of Saurashtra. These claws are worn for virility and as a status symbol. Fishermen venturing out to sea wear it to make them ‘lion-hearted’. The fishermen and members of a particular community are known to encase these claws in gold and wear them as pendants.

Sources said that the manufacturing of the paw with nails was complex. First a nail like structure was prepared from the horns of the buffalo and then it was fitted into the paw using the skin of dog

or mongoose. The paw was filled with dried flesh of a dog. Hairs from the mongoose and goats’ tail were used to give it an authentic look.

Officials said that to a trained eye, the claws were obviously fake. The final report, however, will be submitted by the Forensic Science Laboratory. Ramesh Katara, the deputy conservator of forest, said that prima facie the seized paw appeared artificial and definitely not that of a lion’s.

Katara further said that the 25 tribal people arrested from Kodinar town of Junagadh district hail from Shimoga in Karnataka. The arrested people include 10 men, 10 women and five children. "During interrogation, we found that these people have made it their business to sale fake body parts of lions and other endangered animals," Katara said.

Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) R Asari said, “These are fake claws. The gang has even used adhesives and oil colours to make them look real. The gang has used domestic cattle along with skin of dog and goat. But we are not taking any chances. The FSL team has arrived to check the veracity of the seized material.”
 
By :times of india

HC stays land deals in Gir periphery

Issue involves possession of land by non-Maldharis

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court has stayed land deals in the periphery of the lions’ den – the Gir sanctuary – as the issue of possession of land by non-Maldharis in the surrounding forest reserve is to be resolved before the division bench.

Earlier, a single-judge bench held that the land was allotted to Maldharis towards rehabilitation purpose. But since the land was sold to other people, it frustrates the purpose of conservation of forest and hence should be taken back by the forest department as per the Indian Forest and Wildlife Protection Act.

After declaring Gir forest as sanctuary, the government in 1977 began shifting 845 Maldharis from the forest to the outskirts and allotted plots for their rehabilitation. Some 588 families were given land in the periphery of the sanctuary. However, revenue department later allowed them to sell the land to non-Maldharis and 292 plots were sold out.

The forest department said, those Maldharis who sold their land actually went back to the forest. Hence the purpose for allotting the land was defeated. As per the state government’s declaration of the area as reserve forest, nobody except Maldharis should be allowed to stay or carry out non-forest activity on this land, which largely falls under the Mendarda block of Junagadh.

When the forest officials restricted one Anil Chudasama from construction on a land purchased in this area, he approached the authorities and later the high court. While the forest department insisted that such people who have purchased land from the Maldharis should be evicted, the revenue department had another take on it.

Last year, justice MR Shah appointed advocate Amit Panchal as amicus curie, who submitted a report that such land needs to be taken back. Accordingly, justice Shah held that Chudasama had no right to carry out construction or agriculture activity on the plot, though he was the third purchaser of the plot after the Maldhari sold it long ago.

The HC accepted that the land falls under reserved forest category. Moreover, justice Shah also directed the chief conservator of forest to inquire into the cases of 292 plots and decide as per the provisions of the forest act, which means that the land holding would be declared as illegal.

This had also an indication that the decision to allot land to the tribals in 1977 could be declared null and void. When this decision was challenged by Chudasama before a division bench, it ordered to maintain status quo on the land and clarified that the plot would not be sold without prior permission of the court.

Don’t become prey to lions: CJ
Ahmedabad: While ordering a stay on land deals in the reserved forest surrounding the Gir sanctuary, chief justice SJ Mukhopadhaya called for maintaining a balance between development and nature. The forest department has been maintaining that the increased grazing has resulted in decrease of prey for lions in the forest. Moreover, the forest officials have also been insisting that the sale of plots allotted to Maldharis be declared illegal, and non-Maldharis be evicted from the place. However, the petitioner claims that he has been deliberately harassed by forest officials due to other social consideration and his ownership of the plot is legal. To this, the chief justice commented, “Lions’ place has to be protected. You shift from the place before you become prey to lions.

By: TIMES NEWS NETWORK

NDTV-Toyota Eco Awards:Special Jury Award for Late Mr.Amit Jethva

Amit Jethwa: As the president of the Gir Nature Youth Club at khambha, Amit Jethwa had been active in fighting against encroachment of forests and poaching. He was also instrumental in the five year jail term of Bollywood actor Salman Khan for shooting an endangered Chinkara deer, a case that concluded after being pursued by activists for eight years. He campaigned vigorously against corruption among officers of the Indian Forest Service.  In 2007, he drew attention to the mysterious deaths of lions in Gir Forest including three that were shot within a few hundred meters of the Babariya forest guard outpost. The incident ultimately led to the uncovering of a large lion poaching gang. He was fighting a court case against illegal mining in Gir, when he was gunned down by 2 hired killers