pantanal threatened: The world's largest wetland, The Pantanal, spread across areas of Brazil, Paraguay and Bolivia, is under the threat of destruction by farming, urban development and climate change. A UN report says use of pesticide and fertilisers for soybean farming in Brazil's Mato Grosso state poses the biggest danger. Besides, large areas of the wetland are being cleared to grow new crops. The report also warns that even 4-5C warming of temperature will destroy 85 per cent of the world's wetlands. Hundreds of rare species, including jaguars, giant anteaters and 1,100 types of butterflies stay in the Pantanal.
tribal land crisis: Over 2.20 lakh bighas of tribal land in Assam are under the control of non-tribals, a report tabled in the state assembly by revenue minister Goutom Roy said. The land has either been transferred to non-tribals or encroached upon by them. The opposition came down heavily upon the state's Revenue Department after the disclosure. Legislator Dilip Kumar Saikia alleged that government officers are involved in illegal land transfers. The report says 177,082 bighas in Lakhimpur, 518 bigha s in Goalpara, 4,867 bigha s in Nalbari, 4,451 bighas in Barpeta, 14,895 bighas in Dhemaji, 417 bighas in Morigaon, 5,366 bighas in Dhubri, 221,257 bighas in Udalguri and 196 bighas in Kamrup districts are illegally occupied.
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