Scientists’ panel to add new member for report on GM field trials

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the committee of technical experts that it had set up six months ago to review the risk assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops to take on board another member before filing its final report.

Need or greed?

Forest clearances Since 1981, when the Forest Conservation Act was enacted, 1,183,967 hectares (ha) of forests have been diverted; one-fourth of the diversions was done in the past five years

Silence is the best policy

There is nothing more criminal than the conspiracy of silence. There is also nothing more abject than scientists participating in acquiescence and deceit.

Perilous port

Convention on biological diversity

cbd Page Teaser:  The forthcoming CBD conference in Hyderabad will discuss innovative ways of financing biodiversity from partnerships with business to payments for ecosystem services. Will this save the planet?

The hunt for benefits

It’s not just about a good holiday

The devil is in the detail. When land is held in public trust, the question of who constitutes the public needs clarity. In India’s protected areas this question has become pertinent in light of the Supreme Court’s interim decision on tourism. This order requires states to declare buffer zones for tiger reserves. Tourism within the core of the reserves without notified buffer zones has been banned.

Irongate opened

Climate of irrationality

The multilateral treaty to protect the ozone layer has been a successful environmental agreement. But an impasse over restricting the use of extremely potent greenhouse gases is set to mar the 25th anniversary celebrations of the Montreal Protocol on September 16.

Polluting units shut in Kaziranga