Positive tidings for waterbirds

The Hindu, January 30, 2016 There has been a 30 per cent increase in the number of waterbirds in Thiruvananthapuram district, the Asian Waterfowl Census, a comprehensive water bird count, says. The census, carried out on Tuesday, also records spotting of 49 species of birds from Punchakkari, Vellayani, Aruvikkara Reservoir, Akkulam-Veli...

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Wetlands attract more winged visitors

Thiruvananthapuram,  The Hindu, January 26, 2016 The five major wetlands in Kerala, including the Vellayani, Sasthamkotta, Vembanad, Ashtamudi and Pookode lakes, and their surrounding areas are attracting more migratory birds this year, a survey conducted by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has revealed. Check list The board is preparing a check list of birds, as part of the biodiversity assessment...

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Sand-mining monitoring to go hi-tech

T. Nandakumar,  The Hindu, January 26, 2016 Monitoring of river sand-mining and transport is set to go hi-tech. The guidelines on sustainable sand mining notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFs) earlier this month prescribe a modern, technology-assisted system to keep an eagle eye on mining...

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Central norms, State law in a mismatch

T. Nandakumar,  Thiruvananthapuram,   TheHindu,January 25, 2016 A notification issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change prescribing regulations on river sand mining is feared to result in a mismatch with the State legislation on the issue, sparking concern over its implications on the protection...

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District panels to keep tabs on mining

T. Nandakumar The Hindu, January 23, 2016 The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has issued a notification delegating the regulatory powers for mining of minor minerals to district-level authorities, evoking mixed reactions from environmentalists and members of regulatory bodies in Kerala. The final notification...

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An unusual visitor flies in

The Hindu, January 22, 2016  During the course of their annual Asian waterfowl census of Kollam and Thiruvananathapurm districts last week, members of the Thiruvananthapuram-based Warblers and Waders, a nature and bird lovers’ forum, chanced upon a flock of slender-billed gulls ( Larus genei ) along the Vellanathuruthu beach in...

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Survey reveals butterfly diversity of Wayanad

T. Nandakumar Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, January 12, 2016 A three-day butterfly survey organised by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) and the Forest and Wildlife Department in North Wayanad has revealed 178 species, including at least four rare species. The survey which covered portions of the North Wayanad forest...

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Soft coral poses threat to marine biodiversity

T. Nandakumar, Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, January 5, 2016 Colonies of snowflake coral ( Carijoa riisei ), an invasive species recently documented off the coast of Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari, could pose a serious threat to the marine ecology of the region, according to scientists. Scuba divers working for Friends...

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Mangrove forest on chopping block again

Ignatius Pereira, KOLLAM,   The Hindu, January 4, 2016 The Ayiramthengu mangrove forests at Alapad panchayat in Kollam district, restored by the government eight years ago, is now being destroyed by a government agency for another scheme. Environment activist V.K. Madhusoodanan said that in the past couple of weeks at least...

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Forecasting landslide in the Western Ghats

Thiruvananthapuram,  The Hindu,  January 3, 2016 A village-level early warning system based on rainfall threshold data and landslide records could be the most viable method for landslide risk management in the Western Ghats, according to a scientific paper presented at a workshop organised by the National Centre for Earth...

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7 leopard deaths in Kerala last year

Ignatius Pereira,  KOLLAM,   The Hindu, January 3, 2016 Leopard deaths from the State during 2015 stood at a low of seven compared to 352 deaths reported from across the country. Besides, of 76 leopard skins seized from different parts of the country, only one was from Kerala. Statistics provided by the Wildlife Protection...

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TDB to press for delinking 500 ha from PTR

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor, PATHANAMTHITTA,   The Hindu, January 3, 2016 The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has decided to approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking delinking of 500 hectares of forestland in and around Sabarimala from the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR) for providing foolproof basic pilgrim facilities as recommended...

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Breathing new life into Gayathripuzha

K.A. Shaji, Palakkad,   The Hindu, January 2, 2016 In a last-ditch attempt to save the Bharathapuzha’s main feeder, the Gayathripuzha, from an imminent death, the Kerala State Land Use Board (KSLUB) has prepared a comprehensive database using computerised Geographic Information System (GIS) on the entire natural resources available in and around the river basin to augment conservation efforts to be launched by the...

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Development model for Ghats mooted

Thiruvananthapuram,   The Hindu, January 2, 2016 Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Y.S. Chowdary has urged scientists to develop a framework for sustainable development of the Western Ghats, based on a better understanding of the evolution and environmental issues of the region. Delivering the inaugural address at a two-day workshop organised by the National Centre for Earth Science...

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Natural history museum coming up

Ignatius Pereira, KOLLAM,   The Hindu, January 2, 2016 The doors of the Forest Department’s first natural history museum coming up at a cost of Rs.1.08 crore at the forest complex at PTP Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram, will soon be thrown open to the public. The project is expected to be launched later this month. Additional Principal...

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Green tribunal orders closure of granite quarry

Radhakrishnan Kuttoor, Pathanamthitta The Hindu, January 2, 2016 The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered the District Collector here to take necessary steps to stop the functioning of a private granite quarry at Thudiyurulippara at Vallikkode-Kottayam in Konni taluk. The NGT was disposing of a writ petition filed by the Grama...

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