Tag: forest

WB Govt celebrates Wildlife Day

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB Govt celebrates Wildlife Day

Like every year, West Bengal Government is celebrating Wildlife Day on December 8 throughout the State.

Forests and wildlife are the assets of Bengal. Conservation of this spectacular bio-diversity is our responsibility.

West Bengal Government has been committed to protection of wildlife and conservation of forests over the last four years.

 

Here are the achievements of the Forest Department:

Conservation of biodiversity: With the co-operation of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a project of Rs 406 crore has been taken up to conserve forests and wildlife.

Eco-tourism: With the help of West Bengal Forest Development Corporation Ltd., 17 eco-tourism projects in North Bengal and three in South Bengal have been taken up. Cottages are being constructed. The Lamahata project has already started.

West Bengal Wasteland Development Corporation Ltd: The West Bengal Wasteland Development Corporation Ltd. (WBWDCL)has been made functional. Under the aegis of WBWDCL, tree plantation has been carried out over 1260 acres.

Wildlife census: Census of wild animals have been performed, including those of rhinoceros, gaur (both in Gorumara National Park), Red Panda (Singalila National Park) and crocodile (in Sunderbans National Park).

Coastal Zone Management Project: A Coastal Zone Management Project has been started in Purba Medinipur district with the assistance of the World Bank.

West Bengal Zoo Authority: West Bengal Zoo Authority has become operational and 10 small zoos have been brought under its purview. A master plan is being prepared for all the small zoos in the state. Special steps have been taken to conserve endangered species.

Selling kendu leaves: Many people in the state are engaged in the plucking and selling ofkendu leaves. With a view to help such people with their livelihoods, the state government has increased the price at which they can sell the leaves from Rs 48 per chatta (contains 2000 leaves) to Rs 75 per chatta.

WB Govt to appoint Aranya Bandhus to protect green cover

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB Govt to appoint Aranya Bandhus to protect green cover

The Mamata Banerjee government is appointing more than 48,000 aranya bandhus (friends of the forest) to protect Bengal’s green cover.The aranya bandhus have been categorised as self-employed workers.

An aranya bandhu will be appointed for each panchayat. Those eligible for the post will have to be permanent residents of their respective gram panchayats. The candidates, ideally aged between 21 years and 45 years, will also have to have a minimum qualification of a pass in madhyamik.

Protecting forests

The primary job of the aranya bandhus will be to alert the forest department whenever a tree is felled. The green guards will also organise campaigns for awareness on afforestation. They will act as a liaison between the people and the forest department and help resolve issues that require trees to be chopped off.

The forest guards will also ensure compensatory afforestation according to appropriate legal provisions if trees have to be felled for any unavoidable reason.

Functions of Aranya Bandhu

A government order related to appointment of the green guards says, “Engagement of aranya bandhu has been decided upon to facilitate afforestation. To encourage afforestation in rural areas, engagement of local persons as aranya bandhu has been under active consideration of the forest department for some time.“

Other functions and responsibilities of the aranya bandhus will include raising and supplying quality planting materials (seedlings) to tree growers, forest department and panchayat bodies and to involve themselves in planting and maintenance of greeneries.

The aranya bandhus will approach range and beat officers for issuance of transit and other permits.

WB CM launches new forest cottages at Jayanti

Posted on | by admin2 | Leave a Comment on WB CM launches new forest cottages at Jayanti

The call of the mountains. Lush green forest. The glittering waters of Jayanti river at sunrise. An encounter with bisons and deer (may be elephants and tiger too, if you are lucky). And butterflies – the main attraction of Jayanti forests. The butterflies are the reason why Buxa-Jayanti forests are called Queen of Dooars.

If you want to escape into the lap of nature, you must visit Jayanti. The newly renovated forest bunglow at Jayanti was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday. She also launched seven newly-built cottages at the Jayanti forest. Online booking of these cottages will be made available by the Forest Department soon.

In a fire accident in 2011, the forest bungalow at Jayanti was destroyed. WB CM Mamata Banerjee, during her visit to Dooars had instructed that the bungalow be renovated. Clearly, the newly opened cottages and bungalow will boost tourism in Dooars ahead of the festive season.