Latest news with #HEC
New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
IISc, Karnataka forest department sign MoU to mitigate man-elephant conflict
BENGALURU: Karnataka forest department on July 15 signed a MoU to undertake landscape-level conservation of Asian elephants to mitigate man-elephant conflict in Karnataka, especially in Mysore Elephant Reserve and the surrounding areas. It is the largest elephant reserve in the country. The aim of the five-year project titled -- Landscape-Level Management of the Asian Elephant in the Mysore Elephant Reserve is to create a scientific foundation to mitigate man-elephant conflict and ensure long-term conservation of Asian elephants across Karnataka's ecologically sensitive and conflict-prone regions. Speaking at the sidelines of the signing of the MoU, forest, environment and ecology department minister Eshwar B Khandre said that multiple methods are being adopted, including barricades and fencing to mitigate conflicts. It has also increased due to increased urbanisation in forest fringes and around 150 elephants have made areas outside forests in Kodagu and Hassan their homes. Thus, as a part of the five-year study, IISc and elephant experts will assess use of various methods including technological interventions that can help mitigate conflict, he said. As per forest department data, Karnataka houses 6,395 wild elephants and is one of the most critical elephant ranges in Asia. The Mysore Elephant Reserve and the surrounding coffee-growing districts are increasingly witnessing conflict, resulting in loss of human lives, crop damage and retaliatory action against elephants. Fragmentation of habitats, changing land-use patterns, and increased proximity between humans and elephants have contributed to the crisis. The project will address six core objectives: Strengthening Habitat Connectivity by mapping elephant corridors, evaluating barriers and elephant movement using satellite telemetry, camera traps and GIS models Monitoring Demographic and Physiological Health by assessing population dynamics, body condition and stress indicators through non-invasive sampling Understanding Behaviour and Conflict Propensity by studying crop-raiding patterns, social learning and identifying high-conflict individuals through social network analysis Elephant Communication and Acoustic Monitoring by Cataloguing elephant vocalisations, particularly in conflict contexts, to develop sound-based deterrents and warning systems Predictive Modelling of Conflict Hotspots by integrating ecological and behavioural data to forecast future HEC zones under various land-use scenarios Developing a ten-year Strategic Management Plan by creating a Conflict Mitigation Toolbox (CMT) and Strategic Action Plan (SAP) that informs policy and practice. Noted elephant expert from IISc Raman Sukumar said, conflict has been increasing and there is a need for scientific understanding before taking action. The conflict cannot be completely eliminated, but can be reduced. Thus, this study, which will be done across all elephant ranges, will be beneficial.
Local France
6 days ago
- General
- Local France
French word of the day: La prépa
Why do I need to know la prépa ? Because you'll likely hear your French friends swapping war stories about this. What does it mean? Prépa - roughly pronounced pray-pa - is unique to the French higher education system. Instead of going to la fac (university) after the baccalaureate, students can opt for la prépa , which is a minimum two-year school programme whose goal is to prepare students for the entrance exams to renowned French universities and engineering schools. Advertisement La prépa is actually short for Les classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles - preparatory courses for prestigious schools/universities. The words préparatoire or préparation (preparatory or preparation) can be used in any context, and are used in the same way as the English words. But if when it's shortened to prépa , you know that it is specific to these type of classes. There are three main types of preparatory courses: one for economic and business studies, one for literary studies, and one for scientific studies. La prépa is known for its intensive workload and the difficulty of the entrance exams for prestigious schools. Students who fail to get the school they wanted often repeat for a third year, sometimes even a fourth. You might be wondering why students would choose this option when la fac is available. The answer is simple: la prépa opens the door to some of the most prestigious French undergraduate and graduate schools, such as HEC business school or Ecole Polytechnique for engineering - which in turn open doors to the top levels of professions or politics. But because the courses are famously gruelling and intensive, French people usually reminisce about these in roughly the same way as veterans share war stories - although people people often make friends for life at prépa . Use it like this La prépa, c'est la voie royale - Doing a preparatory course is the best path (after high school). J'ai khûbé ma prépa - I repeated my second year of prépa.
Business Insider
09-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Ashland provides update on its $60M manufacturing network optimization plan
Ashland (ASH) provided an update on its $60M manufacturing network optimization plan, a key initiative under its 'execute' strategy. As part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational consistency and profitability, and improve the competitive position of core technologies, the company announced the closure of its manufacturing facility in Parlin, New Jersey, and the transfer of its hydroxyethyl cellulose, or HEC, production from Parlin to its Hopewell, Virginia plant. This action is a critical step in building larger scale, improving costs across manufacturing sites and delivering the planned HEC network optimization savings in line with Ashland's timeline. The company also announced the closure of its Chatham, New Jersey plant, and the transfer of its microbial protection production to its Freetown, Massachusetts plant, making progress on the consolidation of its smaller plants into its larger manufacturing sites. Beyond the network optimization, Ashland continues to invest in its future. Don't Miss TipRanks' Half-Year Sale
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Amici Curiae object to erection of steel wire rope fencing in Thondamuthur to prevent human-elephant conflicts
A team of amici curiae assisting the Madras High Court in forest related cases has raised objections to the Tamil Nadu Government's proposed move to erect a steel wire rope fencing for a distance of 10 km at Thondamuthur in Coimbatore district to prevent Human-Elephant Conflicts (HEC). A special Division Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy had called for the response of the amici curiae T. Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, Rahul Balaji and M. Santhanaraman to a counter affidavit filed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden Rakesh Kumar Dogra. Waking to the call OF THE WILD: India's rich wildlife heritage is under threat as human-animal conflicts intensify Responding to a case filed by activist S. Muralidharan, the PCCF-cum-CWC had on June 20, 2025 told the court the Forest Department had initially proposed to erect steel wire rope fence in Coimbatore forest division for a distance of 30 km but financial sanction was accorded only for 10 km. 'Coimbatore forest division was spread over 693.48 sqkm and shared a boundary with habitations for a length of about 350 km where it was vulnerable to HEC. Elephants had strayed out 9,710 times in this division in the past three years and 147 deaths had occurred during 2011-2022,' the officer said. The government had to pay a compensation of ₹11.35 crore to the families of the dead. He added traditional methods of digging elephant proof trenches and erecting solar fences had proved to be ineffective with the pachyderms that indulge in crop raiding and house breaking. 'Hence, it was decided that elephant proof steel wire rope fencing could be done on a pilot basis in Thondamuthur. Accordingly, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin made the announcement on November 6, 2024 and a Government Order sanctioning ₹5 crore was issued on February 4, 2025,' he said. Amici curiae's report Filing their response to the PCCF-cum-CWC's counter affidavit, the amici curiae told the court the area where the steel wire rope fencing had been proposed marks an abrupt shift from forest to private lands. They said, the terrain was slopy and there was no buffer zone for elephants to navigate. 'The steep slopes and the fence together will lock the area with no other solution for the elephants but to either circumnavigate the hills or try to force themselves through the fence. In both cases, the risk of mortality will be increased,' the amici curiae said by relying upon certain studies undertaken in the area. 'As the fence covers 10 km, elephants coming into the private from the adjacent forests will be prevented from accessing the forests on the other side and it may lead to more conflict. Closing off forests completely will solve problems locally but shift the conflict elsewhere,' they added. The lawyers also said: 'A scientific study must be undertaken to understand the impacts before fencing... The Forest Department is in the process of notifying elephant corridors across Tamil Nadu. Until the corridors in Coimbatore region are consolidated and notified, the fencing may be held off.' After taking the report of the amici curiae on file, the judges adjourned the hearing to July 25, 2025 and ordered maintenance of status quo till then.
Business Recorder
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Govt to give away 4,500 scholarships to students from Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD: Government of Pakistan has decided to award 4,500 scholarships to students from Afghanistan under mega initiative of Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships Programme, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) announced the decision on Friday. As many as 350 Afghan students have reached Pakistan initially to pursue studies in top-tier Pakistani universities across diverse disciplines under the HEC Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships to Afghan Students (Prime Minister's Directives). The HEC held a reception to welcome the students at the HEC Regional Centre, Peshawar. In addition, 50 PhDs and 100 Master's students will also join in September 2025 to pursue their education in Pakistan. The development marks a significant milestone in academic cooperation and people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The students will undergo a specially-designed preparatory course before their admission in the fall semester. On their arrival, the students were received by In-charge HEC Regional Centre Peshawar Nasir Shah and Project Director Allama Iqbal Scholarships Programme Jehanzeb Khan. Representatives of National University of Technology (NUTECH) Islamabad and National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (NUCES-FAST) Faisalabad were also present on the occasion. The Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships Programme reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Afghanistan to deepening educational collaboration with a spirit of Islamic brotherhood and neighbourhood. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
