Union Minister of Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan has said that the research and extension activities carried out by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education have positively helped in meeting the livelihood needs of the rural poor, tribals and those living in the fringe forests and facilitating opening of interface with Panchayati Raj institutions in the country.

She said this while speaking at the 20th meeting of the ICFRE Society at Paryavaran Bhawan, New Delhi.

With India’s apex court set to announce its final verdict anytime on the fate of illegal iron ore mines in Karnataka, the country’s largest iron ore producer NMDC is eying a major opportunity in the ‘illegal’ mines.

A mushroom used for making medicines for treating more than 20 different human ailments ranging from HIV and bronchial asthma to diabetes and angina can now be grown easily at home. Scientists of the Forest Research Institute have developed a simple technique for cultivating the Ganoderma lucidum mushroom on poplar branch pieces. At present, capsules available in India containing the powder of this mushroom are manufactured by a Malaysian firm. A pack of 90 capsules costs more than Rs 1,200.

State questions the ‘bald and somewhat unsubstantiated’ threshold limit set by the court. Karnataka is contesting the recommendations of two panels that have submitted reports to the Supreme Court calling for annual iron ore production in the southern state to be capped at 30 million tonnes, on the ground that investments of . 1,40,000 crore or close to $30 billion in new steel plants would be in jeopardy.

Deputy Director General (Education) of the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education Omkar Singh said, “Climate change is a major challenge for developing countries like India which face large climate variability and are thus exposed to enhanced risks.” He was speaking at the inaugural session of a training programme for women scientists on climate change and carbon mitigation at Forest Research Institute.

In order to highlight the importance of forests for the country and the contribution of ICFRE in this vital sector of national importance, ICFRE has published a book Forestry in the Service of Nation: ICFRE Technologies. The book has been prepared with a view to provide a consolidated account of contributions made by the forestry sector over the years.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Chinese Academy of Forestry and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education to foster cooperation between the two nations in identified fields of research.

A six-member high-level Chinese delegation, headed by CAF president Zhang Shougong, visited ICFRE, Dehradun, on Monday. The delegation interacted with ICFRE officials to identify research areas for cooperation in the areas of forestry sciences.

Agovernment body has recommended that production of iron ore in three districts of Karnataka be restricted to 30 million tonnes per year, casting doubts over steelmakers’, such as Arcelor Mittal and Posco, plans to set up steel plants in the southern state. A report submitted by the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) has concluded that Bellary district could sustain 25 MT of iron ore mining, and an additional 5 MT could be mined in Chitradurga and Tumkur districts. The ICFRE was asked by the Supreme Court to carry out an environmental impact assessment or EIA.

The Resource Survey and Management Division of Forest Research Institute organised a day-long brainstorming session on convergence of forestry and agriculture. The Chief Executive Officer of the National Rainfed Area Authority, New Delhi, Dr JS Samra, who was the chief guest on the occasion, inaugurated the session along with director general of Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education, Dr VK Bahuguna.

New Delhi: After reports on illegal mining in Bellary felled Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, the Centre on Friday made a strong pitch for partial lifting of the ban on extraction of iron ore citing catastrophic effect on the steel industry that could cascade to the automobile and other industries.