Map of timber value in the Amazon. Click for larger image and detailed caption provided by authors. Illustration: Sadia Ahmed and Robert Ewers, Imperial College London

Researchers exploring the value of different types of timber across the Amazon rainforest have produced a fascinating choropleth map to illustrate their findings.

Shown above, it consists of timber values plotted on a gridded map of equal-area cells, each 0.25km-squared in size. Click on the image to view the full-size version.

BHUBANESWAR: In a major haul, forest sleuths seized at least nine truck loads of timber from an illegally running depot-cum-carpentry unit in Deulasahi near Bidanasi area of Cuttack in the wee hours of Wednesday. The value of the seized timber could run into ` 12 lakh. Acting on a tip off from City Division DFO Jayant Kumar Das, a team was waiting at Deulasahi where a Mahindra pick-up van arrived to unload timber on the premises. When the driver and helper saw the team, led by Jobra Range Officer Pranab Mohanty, they fled leaving the vehicle.

If the seizure of illegal wood in the last two months is any indication, then deforestation has become rampant in Kanchhanpur district.

Speaking at a press meet organised by the district forest office, District Forest Officer Lal Narayan Singh today informed that the office had impounded 1,205 cubic feet illegal wood across the district. It is the highest in Raikawarbichar VDC, where 569 cubic feet wood was impounded in the last two months.

District Forest Office, Kanchhanpur, impounded more than 1000 cubic feet

Illegal logging is becoming an increasing threat to the forest areas bordering Jhapa and Ilam districts.

Authorities in Jhapa have reported that large scale deforestation is taking place in the forests covering these two districts, based on the amount of timber seized in the recent time and the frequency of arrests. Ever since the authorities started a campaign against illegal logging, timber smugglers are being arrested almost every day. A large number of illegally procured logs have been recovered in the course.

The Minister for Forest and Environment Mian Altaf today said that forest smuggling in the State has been curbed to a great extent by strict implementation of relevant laws including PSA.

Replying to the debate on demands for grants for the forest and allied departments in Legislative Assembly today Mian Altaf said forest smuggling dens in Shopian and Rafiabad area have been cleared from the timber smugglers, adding that concerned forest officers and field agencies deserve appreciation for this great achievement.

Rampant felling of trees without any resistance from the forest department have unsettled the habitats of birds and animals

SILCHAR: Serious concern has been expressed at the unabated deforestation in the valley of Barak, threatening the flora and fauna. The recently concluded international seminar organized by the Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, and the related research papers have pointedly focused on the loss of greenery or green cover in the forests of the three districts of Cachar

City-based environmental activists has filed a complaint against the timber mafia before the Supreme Court Empowered Committee (CEC) on Monday. They are seeking a ban on the indiscriminate felling of trees like Neem that are in the exempted list. In their petition, the activists asked the CEC to direct the state-level committee not to issue licences to saw mills.

KOKRAJHAR: Keeping an eye on the wanton destruction of forests and illegal encroachment in the reserve forest land of Bodoland, former members of rebel groups under Ex- BLT Welfare Society, Surrendered National Democratic Front of Boroland (SNDFB) Welfare Association involving the NDFB (Progressive) and NGOs have decided to protect the forest resources.

SHILLONG: A serious concern is being raised over the possible extinction of the animals inhabiting the Nongkhyllem Forest Sanctuary in Ri-Bhoi district on account of the rapid illegal felling of trees for timber smuggling which is currently happening in the sanctuary.

It is learnt that at present, the forest sanctuary covers an area of 100 square kilometres including an additional area of 6.2 kilometres, acquired by the Government in 2002. Nongkhyllem sanctuary is the habitat for elephants, deer, wild pigs, amongst other animals although elephants number highest in population inside the sanctuary.

Camera trapping method has been used for the first time in the ongoing tiger census in the Namdapha National Park in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. “This is the first time the camera trapping method has been used for tiger estimation in Namdapha. All past tiger census were carried out using pug mark and other methods,” park director S. J. Jongsam told The Hindu.