Nature's minor gifts

• Over 90,000 Indian soil samples have been diligently screened by Hoechst, a German multinational company, for their microbial diversity. The company is now building a new, high efficiency screening system in Frankfurt, where it will further

Nature education

FROM now on, training and education would be imparted in preserving biodiversity, say experts. In a recently-concluded workshop on taxonomy in Jaipur, Rajasthan, participants said that knowledge about biodiversity is required not only for the purpose of conservation, but also to share the benefits arising out of its utilisation.

Conservation plan

the mountain kingdom of Bhutan plans to have its first biodiversity action plan by mid-June. This will provide a framework for its nature conservation section (ncs), informed an official recently. The plan is expected to fill "the gaps in biodiversity". "At present, we don't know what is missing but with the formulation of a proper plan, we will be able to find out the...

In safe territory

the ministry of environment and forests (mef) has finally drafted a set of "terms and conditions for granting access to genetic material". The move will lead to a much-needed legislation for regulating access to the country's genetic resources. "It will be in the form of a public notification and is targeted mainly at international research institutes and botanical gardens who use our plant varieties as raw materials in their laboratories," reveals Amarjeet Ahuja, joint secretary in charge of the biodiversity cell in the ministry.

Insensitivity at its best

The Taj group of hotels has been under fire for the past year due to its decision to construct a three-star hotel resort at Murkal, in the heart of the Nagarhole national park near Mysore in Karnataka. The conflict between the local adivasis and the hotel chain came to a head when 21 of them courted arrest on December 24, 1996. The adivasis, under the banner of the Budekkattu Krishikara Sanghatana have been demanding the full implementation of the Bhuria Committee's recommendations, that restores their customary rights over access to the forest and its produce.

In the safety net

rare species of plants in China came under legal protection recently. The wild plants protection regulations, which had been ratified by the country in September 1996, took effect from January 1 this year. Calestous Juma, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said that this move was an important step by China to implement its commitment to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

Patent piques

A CONTROVERSY is raging between the ministry of environment and forests (MEF) and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, over the issue of bio- patents. While sources within the MEE believe that the WII has sold off India's bio-diversity to the US, officials at the institute vehemently deny the charge. In early November, 1995, the WII signed a five-year research project contract - "Management of Forests in

Chance encounter

In April, this year, a group of researchers set out for the Itombwe forest in eastern Zaire, an area known for its rare and fragile biodiversity. The team, whose trip was funded by New York's Bronx zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society, was treated to a brief encounter with the Congo bay owl. The bird was last seen in 1951. The Congo bay owl or Phodilus prigoginei, spotted, was about a foot tall and seemed to be a female. Its coat was a rich chestnut colour with white spots.

Venture into danger

young emperor penguin chicks have been observed moving further away from their home in Antarctica to warmer waters of north. And therein lies the danger, for these waters are not bound by international treaties. The Antarctic Treaty primarily covers the Ross Sea, a frigid body of water where the penguins reside. Human interference is minimal in this region.

Funding slash

conservation scientists are dismayed at the proposed cuts to uk 's biodiversity programme. An as yet unpublished internal review by the department of environment ( doe ) recommends the scaling down of the programme and also reduce its bird conservation activities. Critics argue that doe has worked rather slowly on this programme. For instance, it took 17 years to designate 136 sites as special protection areas for bird conservation under European laws.