Latest news with #BiodiversityManagementCommittee
Time of India
24-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kozhikode declares district symbols through first people's biodiversity declaration
Kozhikode: Athiranni (Melastoma malabathricum) was declared as the flower and Menipponman (Ceyx erithaca) as the bird of Kozhikode district. The Malabar Rose (Pachliopta pandiyana) is the district's butterfly. Eeyakam (Hopea erosa) was declared as the district tree. The Smooth-coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) is the district's aquatic animal, the Pathala Poontharakan (Pangio bhujia) is the fish and the Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is the animal. This is the first people's biodiversity declaration in the state. Although a biodiversity declaration was conducted in Kasaragod under the guidance of an expert committee two years ago, this is the first time it was done through a public study. The declaration was made after incorporating it into the district panchayat's 2024-25 annual plan, forming special expert committees for each category. Nominations were received from the public at the local level under the supervision of these committees and the leadership of Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) units, followed by detailed study and analysis.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Awareness campaign on biodiversity held in Tiruvannamalai
The Tiruvannamalai Division of the Forest Department has organised an awareness campaign on biodiversity conservation at Azhaganandhal village here to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity. The campaign was inaugurated by K. Sudhakar, District Forest Officer, Tiruvannamalai. Forest officials said it was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity, taking active measures for its conservation, and emphasising its necessity for sustaining human life. In his address, Mr. Sudhakar stressed the urgent need for biodiversity conservation, the necessity of protecting natural habitats, reducing exploitation of nature, preventing climate change, controlling pollution, and removing invasive plant species to preserve ecological balance. The programme witnessed active participation from members of Azhaganandhal's Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), students and teachers of Shazammal Vidya Mandir School, an NGO, wildlife enthusiasts, forest officials, and residents. G.P. Saravanan, Forest Range Officer (Tiruvannamalai); G. Vinodhraj, Assistant Conservator of Forest; Adhiya, Chairperson, Azhaganandhal BMC; and R. Balaji, forester (Tiruvannamalai), were present.
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Citizens fight to save 368 trees at Cantonment, start petition
BENGALURU: Within 24 hours, 2,835 people signed a petition against the railway department's request to cut 368 trees for a commercial project at Cantonment. The campaign -- Stop Butchery of 368 Mature Trees at Cantonment Railway Station -- was initiated by Heritage Beku, a citizens group, on on Monday. The target is to reach 5,000 signatures and hand over the same to the BBMP forest wing, which has called for objections and suggestions in this regard. Talking about the petition, urban conservationist Vijay Nishanth said the Biodiversity Management Committee will also conduct spot visits to the place. 'Some of the portions have already been concretised at Cantonment Railway Station in Vasanth Nagar. Now, we will push for a physical consultation regarding the objections call from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for tree cutting. Our primary demand is that the railway department should not disturb the tree canopy and biodiversity,' said Nishanth. Greens are angry at the railway department as it had sent a requisition letter to the BBMP forest division seeking permission stating that it wants to remove trees to build a commercial project. 'When they knew a commercial project here requires felling 368 trees, including old-growth ones, they should have altered the plan or just dropped it. It's good that we have a tree committee in the BBMP which mandates every household, industry, organisation to seek permission and the committee follows procedures including public consultation, else the trees would have been axed just like that,' said an activist. On Friday, the BBMP forest wing published a notification calling for objections, suggestions and comments from the public regarding the removal of trees at Vasanth Nagar Railway Colony in Cantonment. Following the notification, there has been resentment among greens over the railway department's action.
