Authorities push forward plans for 314 metre-high dam on Dadu river which would affect rare plants and fish

Dear Dr. K. Kasturirangan,

Jaipur: To promote Jhalana Forests as an eco-tourism park, the forest department has proposed a 30km safari route.

“There is a proposal for eco-tourism at Jhalana that would encompass trekking, overnight camping, bird watching and nature camps for tourists as well as students. It is estimated to cost Rs158 lakh. The 30-km safari route, likely to cost Rs 20 lakh, would pass through Neem Gatta, Sikarodhi, Watch Tower, Chitalbada, Lalakund, Kali Mata Temple, shooting range and finally to Jhalana Park-II.

Increasing concretization and loss of greenery have led to a dwindling of the city's butterfly population. But now, a group of schoolchildren, as part of a community initiative, is working to bring the colourful insects back to town.

The plan is to place nectar-rich plants like lantanas, which attract butterflies, in public parks and gardens. This is aimed at providing a conducive environment for different species of butterflies to thrive, said Dr Puja Sukhija, executive director of the NGO Organisation of Aware Saviours in Society (OASIS), which is involving schoolchildren in the 'Bring Back Butterflies' project.

NEW DELHI: More than half of common plants and one third of the animals could see a dramatic decline this century due to climate change, according to research published today in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia looked at 50,000 globally widespread and common species and found that more than one half of the plants and one third of the animals will lose more than half of their climatic range by 2080 if nothing is done to reduce the amount of global warming and slow it down.

The Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) has proposed setting up a greenhouse gas observatory at Munnar as part of developing an integrated climate change database and information system in the State.

The initiative is part of the estimate Rs. 80-crore scientific study to map the impact of climate change on agriculture, fisheries, industries, transport, tourism, bio-diversity and forestry sectors.

The forest department's move to clear bushes for the purpose of afforestation has disappointed Kankonjangalbachaosamiti (KJBS), as it feared destruction of biodiversity in forest areas and fuel for