Gujarat govt sets up gene bank to conserve microbial resources.

ANCIES, Mar 8, 2010, 10.31pm IST

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat government has established Gujarat Bio-diversity Gene Bank (GBGB) for conserving microbial resources which are significant to preserve diversified eco-systems.

GBGB, is a repository with close to 200 microbial genomes, related to forest, mining and sub-sea habitats, that are considered significant for conservation of various eco-systems which are under threat of genetic wipeout due to rapid development pressures on land and sea resources.

"Gujarat has widest area in terms of bio-diversity and its eco-systems are subject of study globally; so, there is an utmost need to preserve them," principal secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Ravi Saxena said.
"Under GBGB we have started Bank a Bug' project where the stakeholders can deposit their microbial resources at the facility, and can be stored safely," he added.

The bank operating under Gujarat State Bio-technology Mission (GSBTM), has received over 100 microbial genomes from stakeholders comprising academicians, researches and industry, of which 55 are significant to mining sector where they facilitate natural ore development from earth, Saxena said.

"There is a lot of demand for this kind of public facility, which entails creation of microbial pool essential for conservation of eco-systems," he said.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Gujarat-govt-sets-up-gene-bank-to-conserve-microbial-resources/articleshow/5660236.cms

‘Relocating Gir lions won’t hurt state’s pride’.

Express News Service Posted: Sunday , Mar 07, 2010 at 0157 hrs Ahmedabad:

Reiterating the demand for relocation of lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh, the All India Congress Committee general secretary, Digvijay Singh, today said that the Gir forest is getting too small to accommodate lions and that it is better to move some of them to the sanctuary in MP. “The Gir forest is unable to support such a large number of lions, and if some of them are relocated, it will not hurt anyone’s pride,” said Singh.

The Congress leader was in Ahmedabad to give away the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Awards to exporters. “The development of Gujarat is inherent to the enterprising people and not because of the government,” Singh said.

He also talked about how he and former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel had improved their relations over the Sardar Sarovar Project.

“I remember when the Sardar Sarovar Dam was being planned, we (Keshubhai and he) were not on talking terms. It was the late Dhirubhai Ambani who had asked me to talk to Keshubhai. He broke the ice between us,” Singh said.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/relocating-gir-lions-wont-hurt-states-pride/587780/

Lion census: Gujarat Day functions may affect schedule.

Express News Service

Posted: Tuesday , Mar 09, 2010 at 0102 hrs Ahmedabad:

The state Forest department plans to prepone the census of Asiatic lions as 450 beat guards and foresters to be involved in the activity will be given the additional work during the Gujarat Day celebrations on May 1.

The census work, which was scheduled to start on April 25, is likely to begin now on April 23, said Forest Department officials.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Pradeep Khanna said that the matter is still being discussed and the official announcement about the beginning of the census work will come soon.

The In-charge Conservator of Forest, Mayank Sharma, said, “Gujarat’s pride is in the hands of people of the state. In fact, the state has succeeded in conserving Asiatic lions on its landscape because of people’s involvement. It is through the support of the people in Gujarat that the lions are still there in the three districts of Bhavnagar, Junagadh and Amreli.”

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Lion-census--Gujarat-Day-functions-may-affect-schedule/588487

Plan for consolidating long-term conservation of Asiatic Lion in the greater Gir Region

Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Plan for consolidating long-term conservation of Asiatic Lion in the greater Gir Region 18:59 IST Lok Sabha The Central Government strongly supports conservation of Asiatic Financial assistance is provided under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats' (IDWH).Lion The Gir Forests in Gujarat is the only habitat of Asiatic Lion in India. The financial assistance provided to state for lion conservation in 2008-09 and 2009-10 is Rs. 32.00 lakh and Rs. 92.08 lakh respectively. Government of Gujarat has submitted a project entitled "A plan for consolidating long-term conservation of Asiatic lion in the greater Gir region". The project proposal is for an amount of Rs. 236.17 crores of which Central Government's share is 90% and State Government's share is 10%. The Ministry has requested the Planning Commission to provide additional funds under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats' (IDWH) for considering the proposal. The Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh gave this information in a written reply to a question by Shri. Harin Pathak in Lok Sabha today. KP Source: http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=58795

Corbet lost 15 tigers in last four years.

United News of India New Delhi, March 3: The year 2009 has been very bad for tigers in their world famous habitat, the Corbet Tiger Reserve, with six of the big cats dying or being killed, the Lok Sabha was informed today. The new year has also reported two deaths so far. Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told the Lok Sabha in a written reply that 2007 had also seen five deaths of tigers due to poaching or natural causes. In 2008, two tigers were killed. Thus a total 15 tigers died in the Corbet National Park in the last four years. He said poaching of other animals in the national park like elephants and spotted deer and seizure of their body parts had also been reported. Replying to a question on conservation of Asiatic lions, the Minister said the Gujarat Government had submitted a project 'A Plan for consolidating long-term conservation of Asiatic lions in the greater Gir region' which demands Rs 236.17 crore with the Central Government share being 90 per cent. He said the Ministry had requested the Planning Commission to provide additional funds under a centrally sponsored scheme 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat' for the Gujarat proposal. Mr Ramesh said the state was provided Rs 32 lakh and Rs 92.08 lakh in 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively for lion conservation. Source: http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=28544

Once upon a time, Asiatic lions roamed all over north India...

By Muriel Kakani

A few centuries back, there would have been in India as many Asiatic lions as there were tigers or may be even more, at least in western India.

The evidences:

The lion motif (double headed terracotta lion) is already seen in the seals of Indus Valley civilization.

See all 5 photos

In Vedic literature, the lion is mentioned as the king of the jungle. Asiatic lions were abundant in the Indus Valley (actual Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Sind). Tigers were the animals of the East. For Vedic people, the inhabitants of western India, the lion was a more popular animal than the tiger and was the icon of power. That explains why in the ancient history and mythology of India, the lion is more prevalent than the tiger. Ancient fables of India likePanchatantra, a collection of ancient tales of wisdom - some believe that the fables of Panchatantra are as old as the Rig-veda- feature many more lion characters than tigers, such as in ‘The Lion and the Rabbit’ and “The Lion and the Foolish Donkey”.

In Buddhist literature (300BC), the Jatakas, a collection of 547 stories about Buddha’s prior existence in which he is described as having taken birth as a variety of different animals, the Asiatic lion is once again a prominent character. Because Buddha plays the leading role of a pre-eminent person he is styled as the Universal Monarch (Raja Chakkavatti); and a lion (siha). That could explain why, Emperor Ashoka (273 - 236 BCE), the most famous of the Buddhist rulers of India, inscribed his famous edicts on the lion capitol of Sarnath. Jataka scenes have been the favourite themes in the sculptured carvings adorning the railings of the Stupas of Sanchi and Bharhut, Buddhist shrines built by Ashoka the Great. The elaborately carved gateway of Sanchi’s Stupa is famous for its adorsed lions.

Asiatic lions have been equally celebrated during the Mughal period. Babur, the founder of the Moghul Empire, was very famous for hunting lions and he gave accounts of lions killed by him in his Babarnama. Lions would have been the preferred animals of the Mughal as the population of lions would have been widespread in northern, central and western India. Mughal miniature paintings depict many scenes with lions. Court writers recount many horrifying stories of lion attacks on travelers.

In the 17^th Century, Sir Thomas Roe, the first British ambassador to India, during Jahangir’s reign, recounts the presence of lions in the Narmada Valley.

During the British period, lion hunting was considered as the most aristocratic sport in India. British journals of the 19^th century show that lions occupied a prominent place in British shikaar stories. Lions were found in Bundelkand (Jhansi), in Rajputana (Udaipur, Jodhpur, Mount Abu …), in the Vindhyas, in the Tapti and Narmada Valley, in Bihar and around Gwalior and Agra. In 1857, a British officer is reported to have hunted 300 lions of which 50 were in the district of Delhi. Lions were hunted from the elephant back.

The 19^th century saw the indiscriminate slaughter of lions till there were only 12 left in the Gir forest. A lion was reportedly killed in the district of Palamau (Bihar) in 1814. Fifty lions were killed in the district of Delhi between 1856-1858. In 1891, Blanford wrote that the lion was verging extinction in India.

And today, 120 years later, we have almost forgotten that lions were once upon a time a common denizen of our jungles!!

Tell your kids about the Asiatic lion, world's most endangered carnivore. Only 350 of them are left in the wild!!

For Lesson Plans and Printable Activities about the Asiatic lion visit: Ecology for Children

http://hubpages.com/hub/Once-upon-a-time-Asiatic-lions-roamed-all-over-north-India

Rajkot opposes shifting of lions to Madhya Pradesh.

Monday, March 1, 2010,8:49 [IST]

Rajkot (Gujarat), Mar 1 (ANI): Amid growing concern about the depleting tiger population in India, the people of Rajkot have expressed their unhapiness with the Centre's proposal to shift Asiatic lions to the Kuno Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh.

The president of the Gir Nature Club, Mahendra Singh Shekhwat, said: "Asiatic Lions from here are very popular. They are staying here for last 100 - 150 years. It is a natural habitat for lions because the climate suits them. If they are taken to other places, it would be difficult for them to acclimatize."

The Gujarat Government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court opposing the decision of the Central Government. The government has rejected the Madhya Pradesh Government's plea to swap lions for tigers.

There are over 360 lions in a stretch of approximately 1600-kilometers.

Gir Nature Club Manager Nitin said, "Asiatic lions are safe in 1412 km territory of Gir forest. From last 10 days, we have issued forms for the tourists' feedback whether lions should be shifted or not. The results indicate that lions should stay here."

Over 100,000 domestic and international tourists visit the Gir and the Devalia National Parks.

Forest department officials said that Gujarat Government fears that a majority of tourists coming to Gujarat for lion tourism could be diverted to Madhya Pradesh if the shift took place. (ANI)

Banni Grassland development,more Mangrove plantation proposed.

By our correspondent
Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat, 25 February, 2010

Guajrat Fiance Minister Shri Vajubhai Vala today in his Budget speech 2010-11 announced development of Banni grass land in Kutch with involvement of Rs 8 crore. Vala said, the Banni grass land area is so rich that it is capable to provide fodder not only to cattle in Gujarat but also to other states.

Vala announced that the Gujarat Environment Management Institute would be fully functional this year for speedy implementation of development works in the state.

While speaking on Rs 412 crore Forest and Environment department budget in his speech, Vala said the state would carry out plantation of mangrove on 12000 hector land this year. ” This would be an achievement internationally,” he added.

He said the protection of Asiatic lion population in Gujarat is state’s top priority and therefore Rs 8.93 crore are allocated to strengthen monitoring and communication system inside and on the periphery of Gir sanctuary.

Vala said Rs 100 crore would be allocated for Gujarat government’s newly formed Climate Change department this financial year. This includes formation of Climate Change Trust Fund which would be initiated with Rs 10 crore allocation by the state.

Source: http://deshgujarat.com/2010/02/25/banni-grassland-to-be-developednew-12000-hector-mangrove-plantation/