Marine ESAs to be documented near Thiruvananthapuram shore

T. Nandakumar The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram,March 31, 2014  The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) is preparing a list of ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) in the near shore region of Thiruvananthapuram, under a pilot project to document the underwater ecosystem and traditional knowledge systems of fishermen. The ...

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Four districts categorised as climate change hotspots

T. Nandakumar  The Hindu, Thiruvananthapuram,March 20, 2014  Alappuzha, Palakkad, Wayanad and Idukki districts are climate change hotspots in Kerala, with a high degree of vulnerability to natural hazards like flood and drought and impact on biodiversity and human life. The State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC)...

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Protecting the winged companions of humans

The Hindu, March 20, 2014 KOTTAYAM,      There has been a decline in the number of house sparrows at the Kottayam market area where you can usually spot them in large numbers, say recent surveys. However, one good thing is that efforts to conserve these ubiquitous birds are under way here. According to Punnen...

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Panel to work out plans to meet Ghats report fallout

Girish Menon Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, March 4, 2014  The Congress-Government Coordination Committee that will meet here on Tuesday is expected to work out a strategy to tackle the possible fallout of the K. Kasturirangan report on the conservation of Western Ghats that has identified 123 villages in the State as ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs). Senior party leaders are expecting some sort of action...

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India reports largest number of bird species

Vishwa Mohan TNN | Mar 3, 2014,  NEW DELHI: India is home to the largest number of bird species in the world. Preliminary findings of a recent global event — Great Backyard Bird Count — have put India on top of the list of 127 countries which sent their entries through pictures and videos. Final results of the four-day Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), held between February 14 and 17, are yet to be announced but the...

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Authorities step up vigil against forest fires in Bandipur reserve

R. Krishna Kumar MYSORE,   The Hindu, March 1, 2014  The threat of forest fires looms large in the Bandipur Tiger Reserve, which is mainly composed of deciduous trees and bone-dry thanks to the scorching heat. Although there was scattered rain in parts of Maddur, Kundagere and Bandipur range last week, it was localised;...

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ESA draft in a day or two: Oommen

T. Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, March 1, 2014  The Central Government is expected to issue a draft notification excluding about 2,500 sq km of human settlements, plantations and agricultural land from the Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) earmarked by the High Level Working Group (HLWG) for conservation...

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