South Indian states to constitute Inter-State Coordination Council to resolve forest-related issues

South Indian states have decided to constitute ‘Southern Forest Ministers’ Interstate Coordination Council (ISCC) to improve concerted collective efforts for protection of forests and wildlife of the region.
Decision in this regard was taken in a conference of forest ministers of southern states held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
The council will have full-time secretariat which will function in the respective Forest Departments of member states for ensuring ecological, socio-economic and livelihood security of the region.
Member states of this council will consists of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Pudducherry and Karnataka. After its establishment Kerala Minister for Forests Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will be its President for the first year.
Southern Forest Ministers’ Conference: In this conference member states agreed to address issues related elephant poaching and smuggling of forest wealth especially smuggling of sandalwood and red sanders in the region.
These southern states also are planning to establish a regional wildlife crime control bureau in the line with the National Wildlife Crime Control Bureau.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2015