Safety net for sacred groves

T. Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, March 31, 2015 The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) has initiated a networking project to arrest the depletion of sacred groves in the State and protect local biodiversity hotspots. A two-day workshop held at the institute recently highlighted the need for an incentive-based system to preserve the complex ecosystems that are home to rare flora and fauna including...

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Kochi arachnologists discover rare spiders

KOCHI,   The Hindu, March 31, 2015 Researchers at the Division of Arachnology in Sacred Heart College here have recorded the sighting of a huntsman and jumping spider in the Western Ghats. The spiders belong to the Sparassidae and Salticidae families. The research team included Dr. Mathew M.J., Fr. Jobi Malamel and Pradeep Kumar M.S. and were led by Dr. P.A. Sebastian, director of the Division of Arachnology. The...

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Ensuring safe nesting sites for Olive Ridleys

K.S. Sudhi KOCHI,  The Hindu,March 27, 2015   Beaches of Kochi are turning out to be favourite nesting sites of Olive Ridley turtles. After Kuzhipally Beach, where nearly 200 young turtles were released to sea recently, the Forest and Wildlife officials are planning to create safe nesting sites at Fort Kochi and Chellanam beaches. The department was planning to generate awareness among the local residents...

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Survey spots rare butterfly species in Chinnar

Giji K. Raman KATTAPPANA,   The Hindu, March 24, 2015 A two-day survey held at the Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary has helped to record some rare and endemic species of butterflies exclusive to the sanctuary. The noteworthy findings are the Palani or Davidson’s Bushbrown, which is an endemic butterfly seen only in and around the Palani hills. This grassland species was recorded at Puthukudy region in the sanctuary, according...

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House sparrow conservation in Kottayam gets a fillip

KOTTAYAM,   The Hindu, March 21, 2015 The house sparrow conservation efforts in the town got a fillip with environmentalists joining hands to spot six areas in the town that could be declared as House Sparrow Conservation Centres. The decision to take an initiative was made at a meeting held near the market in the heart of the town to celebrate World House Sparrow Day here on Friday. The decision comes in the wake...

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Biodiversity committees remain dysfunctional

T. Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, March 16, 2015  Kerala may be the first State to have Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) in all local self-government institutions, but most of the committees are not functional and remain only on paper, mainly due to the lack of awareness about its mandate and responsibilities. The Kerala Grama Panchayat Association feels that BMCs in Kerala have largely...

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Coastal zone authority in favour of salinity reassessment of rivers

Stage has been set for the reassessment of salinity in rivers that are flowing beside a few local bodies, which are seeking relaxation in Coastal regulation zone regime. The Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) has agreed to relook into the salinity of some rivers during the driest season of the year following the demand...

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Innovative projects to give sanctuaries a new lease of life

Giji K. Raman KATTAPPANA,   The Hindu, March 16, 2015  To encourage tourists and protect the biodiversity of the area, innovative projects will be introduced at the Idukki wildlife and Thattekkad bird sanctuaries. Idukki Wildlife Warden P.R. Suresh said that a meeting of the top officials of the Forest Development Agency...

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Greener pastures for tourists

Dennis Marcus Mathew THIRUVANANTHAPURAM,  The Hindu, March 12, 2015  The scenic and ecologically fragile grasslands of Ponmudi, and the adjoining eco-tourism destinations of Kallar and Mankayam, which are currently threatened to be turned into plastic wastelands, could have some succour in sight. That is, if the plans...

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Mankulam beckons those with a thirst for adventure

Kochi The Hindu, March 12, 2015 A walk along the forest tracts and a chance to pitch a tent deep in the forest. That’s what the Mankulam Forest Division is offering those who love adventure. From sighting wild animals to trekking along tough terrain, bird watching and visiting tribal hamlets, the ecotourism package promises a wide...

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KAU bid to get GI tag for Marayoor sandal

K. Santhosh  THRISSUR,   The Hindu, March 8, 2015 The Department of Wood Science of Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) has taken the initiative for securing forest certification and registration of Geographical Indication for Marayoor sandal. Forest certification is a mechanism for monitoring, tracing, and labelling...

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Impact study to decide feral cattle’s fate in sanctuary

Giji K. Raman CHERUTHONI (IDUKKI),   The Hindu, March 6, 2015 A two-day survey, which concluded on Thursday, revealed a large presence of feral cattle in Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary. If found posing a threat to the wild animals in the sanctuary, they could be culled, sanctuary authorities said. Feral cattle are domesticated animals — cow and bison — that were sent for grazing in the forest long back. Over the years,...

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