Latest news with #DEEP
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
BoI successfully hosts ‘National Regulatory Reforms Conference'
ISLAMABAD: The Board of Investment (BoI), Prime Minister's Office, successfully hosted the National Regulatory Reforms Conference 2025 under the theme 'Enabling Business, Empowering Pakistan.' The conference brought together an esteemed gathering of federal ministers, government officials, regulatory authorities, international experts, development partners, and representatives from the private sector and academia to deliberate on Pakistan's evolving regulatory landscape and chart out a dynamic roadmap for future reforms. In her welcome remarks, Ambreen Iftikhar, additional secretary BOI emphasised that regulatory reforms cannot be the government's responsibility alone. A coordinated, inclusive, and consultative approach—bringing together businesses, regulators, academia, and development partners—is essential. She highlighted key reform initiatives under the Pakistan Regulatory Modernization Initiative (PRMI), projects like SMART and DEEP, Regulatory Guillotine and the Pakistan Business Portal (PBP)—all aimed at simplifying the regulatory environment and reducing business compliance costs. In his keynote address, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Investment candidly reflected on the challenges facing Pakistani businesses. He stressed the need for robust joint ventures and shared successful examples of his own collaboration with Korean and Malaysian firms. He called for a more efficient one-window operation and emphasised that Pakistan has the potential to compete globally—provided regulatory inefficiencies are addressed. Haroon Akhtar Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Ministry of Industries and Production emphasised the need for a policy mix that bridges academic insights with ground realities. He pointed to high power tariffs, tax rates, and lack of investor confidence as key challenges. He urged for reforms that support domestic industries and boost exports, noting that Pakistan's resilient business community must be at the heart of sustainable economic revival. Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce, discussed Pakistan's structural economic constraints, particularly the boom-bust cycles caused by current account deficits. He advocated for an export-oriented economy, rationalisation of tariffs, and a transparent customs regime to build long-term economic stability. Dr Jehanzaib Khan, secretary of the SIFC Apex Committee, called for a more balanced regulatory approach. He proposed third-party inspections, regulatory quality system and quality checks to replace overly punitive regulatory measures. International expert Scott Jacobs acknowledged Pakistan's progress and underlined the importance of a principle-based, sequenced approach to regulatory reforms. He commended BOI and the SMART team for incorporating global best practices in reform implementation in line with global best practices. A technical presentation by Ahmed Waqar, Director Reforms, BOI, detailed the journey 'From Bottlenecks to Breakthroughs,' showcasing identification of paining RLCOs (regulatory licenses, certificates, and other obligations) and the development of short, medium, and long-term reform strategies. Representing the private sector, Atif Akram Sheikh underscored the need for quarterly consultations, co-designed interventions, and mutual accountability to make Pakistan a country where doing business becomes a competitive advantage. Representing development partners, Jo Moir, Development Director at the British High Commission, reaffirmed the UK's support for Pakistan's reform efforts. She cited REMIT's ongoing technical assistance and highlighted Pakistan's untapped economic potential, especially in youth and entrepreneurship. She urged continued momentum in regulatory reforms for investment promotion in the country. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CT towns granted over $180K for tree planting, invasive species removal. See if your town is on list
More than $180,000 in grant money has been awarded to support urban and community forestry projects in several Connecticut towns and cities, officials said. The state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced the recipients of 2025 Urban and Community Forestry Planning and Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration grants. Over $184,000 will be granted to support 11 urban and community forestry projects in Bloomfield, Ellington, Mansfield, New London, North Stonington, Old Saybrook, Ridgefield, Stamford, and Stratford, according to officials. The grant money, distributed with federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will help fund projects that protect and enhance urban and community forests, such as tree inventories, forest management plans, invasive species removal and native tree plantings, officials said. 'Urban forests contribute to livable cities and provide numerous benefits, including heat and pollution mitigation, stormwater management and improved health outcomes for residents,' said DEEP commissioner Katie Dykes. 'Urban trees can boost local business and support workforce development and have been linked to reductions in crime. The grants offered through DEEP's Urban and Community Forestry Program help communities in Connecticut access these benefits while also working toward meeting our state's statutory goal to increase urban tree canopy cover by 2040.' The grants ranged from under $10,000 to $20,000 for some communities. Among the 11 projects awarded funds are $21,000 for Mansfield to help hire a certified forester to inventory and develop a management plan for approximately 1,061 acres of town-owned forest across five ecologically significant parcels, officials said. Other projects include a $20,000 grant for Killingly to help support and manage invasive species after a timber harvest to ensure that native tree species are able to regenerate, maintaining a healthy and resilient forest stand. DEEP officials said that the Trees for Communities Grant Program, a new grant offered by the agency, is now accepting applications from Connecticut governmental entities and non-profit organizations. A total of $1 million is available for grants up to $200,000 each to support urban forestry projects that increase tree cover and protect trees in low-canopy, high-need communities. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, tree planting and maintenance, urban forest planning, workforce development, invasive species management and forest restoration. More information can be found on DEEP's Trees for Communities Grant Program webpage. A complete list of grant recipients, grant amounts, and project summaries are available on DEEP's Urban Forestry Grant Accomplishments webpage. Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
These Connecticut bodies of water are closed due to bacteria levels
CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — Before you head to your favorite state park, lake, or beach, be sure to check if it's safe to swim. Every year, local health departments and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection monitor water quality at our beaches and lakes between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Dive into summer safely: Connecticut's efforts to raise awareness for child water safety Closures happen due to what experts call 'indicator bacteria.' While the bacteria don't cause disease, they are used to see if a lake, pond or beach could be contaminated. When bacteria reach unsafe levels, those bodies of water will be closed until further testing confirms it's safe again. Usually, subsequent testing happens after a few days. These are the bodies of water closed as of June 12: Calf Pasture, Norwalk Gay City State Park, Hebron Harbor View, Norwalk Hickory Bluff, Norwalk Lake Street, West Haven Morse Avenue, West Haven Norwalk Yacht Club, Norwalk Shady Beach Park, Norwalk Check with your local health department for the latest. DEEP also tracks closures online. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Black Bear Spotted Casually Roaming Behind Elderly Woman with Her Walker in Connecticut Suburb
A black bear was caught on camera casually strolling behind an elderly woman with her walker on a quiet street in West Hartford, Connecticut The woman hurried home with her caretaker after noticing the animal, the outlet reported There has been an increase in bear sightings in the state recently, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental ProtectionA black bear has been caught on camera casually strolling around a quiet neighborhood in Connecticut. On the morning of Wednesday, June 11, two black bears were spotted roaming near Elizabeth Park in West Hartford, local ABC-affiliated station WTNH reported. The station's anchor, Dennis House, captured footage of the bears on Asylum Street, with the outlet also sharing a clip on YouTube showing one bear walking not far from an elderly lady with her walker. The woman and her caretaker hurried home after spotting the animal, the outlet noted. Her son-in-law, Bob Mitchell, recalled to WTNH, "She was coming in, they were both white, trying to get through the door, and she goes 'There's a bear.' " "It doesn't matter to her, she's tough," he added about whether his mother-in-law's walks will continue. A woman's 13-year-old daughter was also greeted by two bears in West Hartford this week after getting off the school bus, per NBC Connecticut. It's not clear if it was the same two animals. Jeannette Dardenne told the outlet of her daughter, 'She got off and I got a phone call, she said in a really calm voice, 'Mom there is a bear in front of me,' and I said 'Okay,' and she kind of paused and said 'there are two bears in front of me.' " 'I think she was more like, 'It's beautiful', and I think it was also a lesson for her to recognize that there are wild animals here and you do have to take note,' Dardenne added, per the publication, insisting she'd "never once felt endangered from a bear." Per the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), "Black bears are increasingly common in Connecticut." "Reports of bear sightings, even in heavily populated residential areas, are on the rise. The Wildlife Division has also seen an increase in the number of reported conflicts with black bears," it added. The department stated, "The primary contributing factor to human-bear conflicts is the presence of easily-accessible food sources near homes and businesses." "Black bears that consume human-associated food (e.g., birdseed, trash, pet food) on a regular basis become habituated (comfortable near people) and food-conditioned (associate humans, houses and neighborhoods with food)," it added. The post continued, "As the bear population continues to grow and expand its range in Connecticut, and bears become increasingly food-conditioned, conflicts will continue to increase. Food-conditioned bears pose a greater risk to public safety and often cause more property damage to houses, cars, pets, and livestock." DEEP urged the public never to feed bears, to remove bird feeders and bird food from late March through November, to store garbage securely and to keep barbecue grills clean. The department also told people not to leave pet food outdoors, to supervise pets at all times when outside and to avoid placing certain foods in compost piles, as well as never attempting to approach a bear. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. DEEP is currently tracking an increase in bear sightings in Conn., with the bear population in the state estimated to be between 1,000 and 1,200, per NBC Connecticut. The department said that if a bear is left alone, it'll usually just make its way to a more natural habitat, the outlet noted. 'Right now, the entire state of Connecticut is bear country, we have bears in every town in Connecticut,' DEEP's Wildlife Division Director, Jenny Dickson, said, according to the publication. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bear conflicts with humans are rising in CT. One product is a popular choice for keeping them away.
As bear conflicts with humans are on the rise across Connecticut, bear self-defense products are popular items in outdoor recreation stores, as many residents plan to hike, camp, hunt and fish in the state this summer. The number of bear sightings reached 159 out of the state's 169 towns and cities last year, according to the 2025 'The State of the Bears,' an annual Department of Energy and Environmental Protection publication that tracks their growth. The yearly report, which was released in March, comes amid renewed interest in a black bear hunting season. DEEP officials said the black bear population remains stable, with between 1,000 and 1,200 bears, and has a high potential for growth due to 'an abundance of suitable habitat and excessive human-related food across their range.' 'Reports of entries to garages, screen porches and similar locations are often incorrectly reported as home entries, and totals change as staff investigate incidents,' DEEP said in the report. 'Dozens of attempted entries also took place. Many of these incidents occurred when bears pushed through screen doors and windows.' The number of serious conflicts involving bears is also on the rise, according to officials. Reports of home entries, livestock attacks, apiary and other agricultural damage, damage to vehicles and structures, as well as physical altercations with pets and people, are following a long-term upward trend. In 2024, Connecticut experienced two bear attacks on humans. Officials said bears are becoming less afraid of humans as they enter more urban areas due to habituation, a process through which a bear loses its fear of humans. Bird feeders, trash and food left around a yard can lead a bear to becoming less afraid of humans and more aggressive, according to DEEP Officials said they first recommend scaring away bears with loud noises through yelling or using whistles or air horns. Scaring a black bear can reinforce its natural fear of people and help keep it from lingering in neighborhoods and other areas where conflicts often arise. Effectively scaring a bear also reinforces the person as dominant in an encounter, so the bear learns to avoid people. In some cases, DEEP said loud noises are not effective at scaring away bears, especially ones that have already been habituated. Bears that are in urban areas and less afraid of humans, may not perceive loud noises as a threat. In these situations, DEEP officials say it can be more effective to use an object to make physical contact with the bear to drive it away. Throwing objects such as tennis balls, water balloons and small rocks at the bear can work, but using a paintball marker or slingshot can be more accurate and deliver more contact warnings in a short period of time, according to DEEP. Bear spray continues to be one of the more popular choices for those looking to defend themselves against bears without having to throw a physical object, according to DEEP. In Connecticut, it is illegal to shoot a bear using a firearm. Under Connecticut law, you can kill a bear in self-defense if you reasonably believe it's about to cause serious harm to you or someone else or if it's entering a building with people inside, according to DEEP officials. In addition, a bear may be killed if it is injuring or killing one's pet. But if a bear was shot and killed, it must be reported to DEEP, and law enforcement would investigate each case. If a bear is sprayed with bear spray it does not need to be reported, according to DEEP. Bear spray, while creating a temporary burning experience for the bear, is non-lethal and does not cause any permanent damage to the animal. DEEP said it recommends bear spray as a self-defense tool and does not recommend firearms. 'Using bear spray is an effective way to stop an attack by a black bear,' DEEP said. 'CT DEEP advises that if you decide to carry and use bear spray to defend yourself from a bear that you use it responsibly and according to the directions.' Bear spray contains a potent concentration of oleoresin capsicum, which is a highly concentrated oil extracted from hot peppers, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Bear spray also includes a propellant, typically a compressed gas, to push the mixture out of the canister. Standard pepper sprays have around one million SHUs, while bear sprays pack three million SHUs, so it's about three times as potent as human self-defense sprays. Bear spray typically has a range of 30-40 feet, while pepper spray's range is shorter, around 10-12 feet, according to the EPA. 'It's pretty popular, people are buying bear spray all year long,' said an unnamed employee at a popular outdoor recreation store in Connecticut. 'We definitely encourage folks who are going to be in the woods or on a trail to carry it with them. I can't say we're seeing an increase in sales, but it is frequently bought.' Bear spray is legal in all 50 U.S. states for self-defense against wildlife, including bears. However, misuse against humans can lead to legal consequences. The EPA said that bear spray should only be used in self-defense and as a last resort measure. Bear spray should never be used as a deterrent and sprayed on tents, objects or humans, as it can be dangerous and potentially lethal if inhaled. No one has died from using bear spray, according to the EPA. Several bear spray brands exist including Academy Sports, SABRE, and Counter Assault. Prices range from $30 to over $50 depending on size of the canister. Outdoor recreation stores including Cabela's, REI, and Bass Pro Shops sell bear spray at their Connecticut locations. More information on staying safe around black bears can be found at Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
