Natural Resource Management

15.1

FOREST AND WILDLIFE

ÏUòdY« thŒªj kiyÍ« tUòdY« tšyuQ« eh£o‰F cW¥ò - ÂU¡FwŸ 737 Waters from rains and springs, a mountain near, and waters thence; These make a “land”, with fortress sure defence. - Thirukkural 737

Introduction “What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of Forests provide the basic life support what we are doing to ourselves and to one system to all the living entities of mother another.” earth including mankind. Forest ecosystems provide fresh air, water resources, fertile ― Mahatma Gandhi soil and agriculture, bio-diversity and environment. Vast sections of rural society, Forest and Wildlife in - including a majority of the tribal, are directly Fact Sheet dependent on forests for their livelihood. The State’s forests serve as the source Forest degradation will have adverse impact of livelihood and development needs for over on these life supporting systems. 50 lakh people, particularly the poor and Escalated levels of human impact on women, living in 3072 forest fringe villages the forest resources and their consequent in the State. Tamil Nadu has a rich tradition effect on our approach and strategy to of forest management, forest protection forest management have necessitated the practices, legislations and policies. The identification of certain specific thrust unique geographic location of the State areas for the Twelfth Five Year Plan. The enables it to host a wide range of forest priority areas for the sector, even while biomes across the length and breadth of the focusing on conservation, augmentation and State. The forests and vegetation types in development of forest and tree resources the , Eastern Ghats and the within the existing forests and outside forest Coastal plains are unique and have evolved areas of the State, will have to be in tune over millions of years. with the National Forest Policy and the State Tamil Nadu has 23,625 sq. km. of Forest Policy imperatives, besides reflecting forest cover, which is 18.16 percent of the managing Environment and Ecology.

677 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu geographical area of 1, 30,058 sq. km. of the Two more Tiger Reserves, namely State. The forest and tree cover is 28,343 Anamalai in Coimbatore and Tiruppur sq. km., which is 21.79 percent of the total districts and Mudumalai in the Nilgiris were geographical area of the State as assessed notified during 2007. by the Forest Survey of (State of Forest Report 2011) as against 33 percent envisaged Tamil Nadu has been taking in National Forest Policy, 1988. The State has constant efforts to preserve the habitats 9 out of 16 principal forest types of the country and corridors of elephants occurring in and about 36 forest sub types, hosting a the State by undertaking various habitat rich biodiversity, as compared to all other improvement and protection measures. southern States. In terms of abundance of Taking the migratory pattern of elephant both flora and fauna, the State is highly rich. population between different forest divisions India accounts for one third of the flowering into account, four Elephant Reserves (ER) plants recorded on earth, with about 17,672 namely, Nilgiri ER, Coimbatore ER, Anamalai species. Of this, 5,640 species are found in ER and Srivilliputhur ER have been declared Tamil Nadu, which gives it the pre-eminent during 2003, covering entire elephant ranges position in angiosperm diversity. in the State from Hosur in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. These ER portions The State has recorded 165 species of in Tamil Nadu are part of the larger elephant fresh water fishes, 76 species of amphibians, habitats, falling in more than one State viz, 177 species of reptiles, 454 species of birds Tamil Nadu, and with a and 187 species of mammals. Many of the view to maintain the habitat continuity and faunal species are endemic to Tamil Nadu. to provide for free movement of the larger The Protected Area Network spreading over herbivore, a free-ranging animal. 5,464 sq. km. accounts for 23.9 percent of the State’s forest area. Mangrove wetlands function as breeding, feeding and nursery grounds for most of the sport and commercial fishes “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of found in the deep coastal waters and inshore our land, purifying the air and giving fresh waters. They also provide breeding ground strength to our people.” for birds, reptiles and mammals. Tamil Nadu is having four mangrove formations, namely — Franklin Delano Roosevelt Muthupet in Tiruvarur district, Pichavaram in Cuddalore district and in Biodiversity Richness and Wildlife in Villupuram district. Tamil Nadu In Tamil Nadu, major coral reef formations are found in the Gulf of Mannar, which has been notified as Marine National The Western Ghats in the State Park. has been identified as one of the global bio-diversity hotspot by Conservation For promoting ex situ conservation, International, an internationally recognized breeding of endangered animal species and NGO. Approximately 25 percent of the for creating eco awareness on importance of Western Ghats is located in Tamil Nadu and wildlife through zoo-outreach, large to small is extremely rich in both floral and faunal size zoos have been formed across the State. diversity. The list of Sanctuaries, National They are Vandalur Arignar Anna Zoological Parks, Biosphere Reserves and Conservation Park, Udhagai Deer Park, Kurumbapatti Reserve etc. in the State are furnished in Zoological Park in Salem, Deer Park at Annexure 15.1.1. Yercaud and Amirthi mini Zoo in Vellore.

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A new Zoological Park has been sanctioned Tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Tahr, Grizzled Giant at MR Palayam, Tiruchirapalli and is under Squirrel etc. establishment. Recognizing the need to protect, Forest Corporations propagate and develop wildlife and its environment in the forest areas of There are three forestry based Sathyamangalam division, an extent of 887 Corporations functioning under the Tamil sq. km of forest area has been declared as Nadu Forest Department viz., Tamil Nadu Sathyamangalam wildlife sanctuary during Forest Plantation Corporation Limited 2011-2012, in view of the area’s floral, faunal, (TAFCORN), , Tamil Nadu Tea geomorphological, natural and ecological Plantation Corporation Limited (TANTEA), significance. Coonoor and Arasu Rubber Corporation Limited, Nagercoil. Concerns and Current Trends in Performance of Forest and Wildlife Forest and Wildlife Sector Sector in Eleventh Five Year Plan In consonance with the principles of Period National Forest Policy 1988, the Tamil Nadu Against the actual financial target State Forest Policy (draft policy) emphasizes fixed for various plan years, the actual on ecological stabilization, protection and expenditure during the Eleventh Plan was maintenance of natural forests, conservation remarkably more in 2009-10. Details are of wildlife, the genetic resources and eco- furnished in Table 15.1.1 systems, enhancement of forest productivity and enrichment of the water resources and Table 15.1.1: Target and also on increasing the State’s Forest Tree Achievement during Eleventh Plan Cover. Current thinking in the area of forest ` ( crore ) management recognizes the forests as life- Physical (in ha) Financial support system, particularly for the tribal and forest fringe communities. The need for Year Achieve Achieve Target Target meeting the livelihood requirements of forest ment ment products for forest dependent communities, 2007-2008 55295 55295 189.67 172.42 without depleting the natural capital or jeopardizing its ability to produce such 2008-2009 59832 58991 183.78 198.21 benefits in a sustainable manner continues to be the primary area of concern. Earnest 2009-2010 7734 8444 157.48 178.15 steps are therefore required to synergize the development and livelihood needs of tribal 2010-2011 38954 38244 200.40 138.11 and forest dwelling communities in the State 2011-2012 450 450 185.14 206.71 vis-à-vis protection of forests. Participatory and Joint Management of forests are Source: TN-Working group report on Forest particularly emphasized for restoration of and Wildlife for the 12th FYP degraded forests in which the role of women The redeeming feature of forestry and their empowerment are also reinforced. development is that the State has registered Forests are increasingly considered as an increase in the total forest and tree cover a natural resource, from which communities during the Plan period, as afforestation targets will derive ecological services rather than were fully achieved. There has been marked economic returns. This thinking is entirely improvement in the population of flagship in tune with the National Policy framework. wild animal species like Tiger, Elephant, Lion Forests serve as the major carbon sink.

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The intangible benefits accruing to the • Biodiversity and genetic resource communities from well-maintained forests conservation by protection of forests are in the form of clean air, water supply, and wildlife. agriculture and allied services, aesthetic • Augmentation of water resources in values etc. In this backdrop, valuation of eco- forest areas. system services assumes relevance. Major international and national environmental and • Rehabilitation and restoration of forest issues such as global climate change, degraded forests for improvement of threat to wild biodiversity engage the attention forest cover. of our policy planners and are as critical in • Enhancing tree cover outside forests recent times as in the past. Forest Department for livelihood security and climate has a pre-eminent role in ensuring climate change mitigation. change mitigation by enhancing the carbon sequestration potential of the natural forests • Welfare of tribal and forest fringe and by creating additional tree resources. communities to ensure economic prosperity and ecological stability. As for the biodiversity conservation, the Protected Areas account for only 4.20 Thrust Areas percent of total geographical extent of the • Biodiversity and Genetic Resource State, against the national average of 4.82 Conservation percent. Thus, there is a need to increase the Protection Area Network in the State. Many • Establishment of permanent water species-specific conservation programmes storage structures in the forest and and landscape-based wildlife management adjacent non-forest areas initiatives have already been introduced in • Enhancing Climatic Resilience in conserving the State’s biodiversity resources. moderately dense and open forests The sustained efforts in forest • Forest protection conservation and wildlife protection by the • Increasing Tree Cover Outside Forests Forest Department has led to significant increase in the number of flagship species • Socio-Economic Development of Forest like Elephant, Tiger, Nilgiri Tahr, Lion-tailed fringe villages Macaque etc. Increases in number of wild • Tribal Development animals has on the other hand introduced another serious problem to the forest dwelling • Eco-tourism and forest fringe communities by way of • Infrastructure Development escalated human- animal conflict situations, resolution of which also needs to be attended • Research, Transfer of technology and judiciously. Extension • Application and Development of GIS, Sufficient efforts will be taken for MIS & e-Governance addressing all these significant issues during the Twelfth Plan period. • Human Resource Development.

Objectives of the Twelfth Five Year Tamil Nadu will care for its ecology and Plan heritage by preserving and wherever possible, improving the quality of the environment and The forests of Tamil Nadu will nurturing the cultural heritage of the State. continue to be managed with the following This is outlined as an essential ingredient of broad objectives: Vision Tamil Nadu 2023 document.

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support and willing participation in wildlife “We—human beings—are part of conservation. ‘biodiversity’. We are dependent on the whole food chain down below us”. • Voluntary relocation of human settlements - Darrell Merrell, Heirloom vegetable farmer from inviolate and Protected Areas.

• Prevention of outbreak of contagious Biodiversity and Genetic Resource diseases among wild animals by taking Conservation prophylactic measures among domestic animals entering wildlife habitats. Tamil Nadu Forest Department is striving to achieve this major mandate, so as • Identification and restoration of corridors to provide higher conservation status to the to facilitate free movement of animals endemic, endangered and threatened flora between and around Protected Areas. and fauna. • Undertaking human- wildlife conflict The objectives of the State level prevention and mitigation measures. biodiversity conservation efforts are to be in tune with that of the National and • Integrate the wildlife Protected Areas International efforts. They are: Biodiversity on a watershed or landscape basis with inventorization covering the major forest other sectors like Agriculture, Rural types in the State, identification of threats Development, Animal Husbandry, etc., and frequent scientific assessments of the for the sustained conservation and ecosystems, strengthening protection of development of the area. species, habitats, representative eco-systems and genetic variability by networking of the • Conserve the medicinal plants in the existing Protected Areas and addition of more Protected Area by creation and management forest areas into PA network, Prevention and of Medicinal Plants Conservation Area eradication of invasive alien species that (MPCAs) threaten ecosystems, habitats or indigenous species and restoration of wildlife habitats • Creation of Education and Interpretation and management of biological resources Centres to facilitate education and outside the protected areas for sustainable awareness creation on biodiversity use. conservation.

Recommended Action Plan to be • Ensure that each and every Protected Area adopted to attain the objectives is as follows: has a Management Plan in place.

• Strict enforcement of the Wildlife • Ensure that tourism demands are (Protection) Act, 1972, Tamil Nadu Forest subservient to conservation and to the Act, 1882 and Environment Protection interest of the protected area and therefore Act, 1986. wildlife tourism exists for the Parks and not Parks for tourism • Habitat restoration and improvement measures including fire prevention and • Develop ex- situ conservation centres like control in and around wildlife habitats. Zoological Parks and Gene gardens

• Eco development work in and around • Encourage appropriate monitoring and protected areas to provide essential research works to develop programmes benefits to the occupants of enclosures and thereby tackle the identified problems. and villages respectively to ensure their

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districts. Creation of fodder resources and Box 15.1.1: Tamil Nadu improvement of wildlife habitats inside the Biodiversity Conservation and forest area to mitigate the human-animal Greening Project conflict and to improve the wildlife habitats ` To strengthen biodiversity will be taken up for an amount of 44.33 conservation as well as undertaking crore. tree planting outside the forest areas to increase tree cover, Forest Department A rejuvenation camp will be conducted will implement a Japan International for the psychological improvement of captive Cooperation Agency assisted externally elephants from temples and also government aided project named “Tamil Nadu departments during the plan period. Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project”. The Loan agreement between To protect the Tiger habitat areas and Government of India and Government its adjacent areas in the Sathyamangalam of Japan has been signed. The project wildlife sanctuary, it is proposed to declare it is implemented from 2011-2012 to as State’s fourth Tiger Reserve. 2018-2019 with an outlay of `686 crore through creation of a Project Management Wetlands offer habitat for water birds Unit sanctioned by the Government. and serve as favourite feeding and nesting grounds for them. Many of the fresh water Source: Policy Note, Department of Forests and coastal wetlands in the State, have 2012-2013, GoTN been notified as Bird sanctuaries for the protection of resident and migratory birds. The four major components The most notable wetlands of the State of Biodiversity and Genetic Resource include Vedaranyam big swamp, Muthupet Conservation are Conservation and lagoon, Kazhuveli swamp and Pallikaranai improvement of Biological diversity including marshland. Marine biodiversity of the State, Ecosystem Restoration, Integrated development of The Pallikaranai marshland is a wildlife habitats and their management and unique fresh water swamp located within Climate change mitigation and accessing the Chennai Metropolitan area. In order carbon funds. to preserve the marshland to discharge its ecological functions, a comprehensive Adequate steps have been initiated scheme has been sanctioned for taking up by the Forest Department to mitigate the various restoration activities for a period of situations arising out of man-elephant five years from 2011-2012 to 2015-2016 at a conflict. Provision of Elephant Proof trenches cost of `15.75 crore under State fund which in Anaikatty and Mettupalayam areas are include the works of habitat improvement, proposed in the Twelfth Five Year Plan. protection, research and monitoring, public Comprehensive scheme has been approved awareness, etc. The Government has also for Asian Elephant and depredation measures approved the setting up of a “Conservation in Coimbatore circle. Similarly, another Authority” for Pallikaranai marshland. scheme for Asian Elephant anti- depredation measures at a cost of `5.20 crore have been During the Twelfth Five Year Plan sanctioned for undertaking measures in a wildlife research institute at Arignar Dharmapuri, , Dindigul and Tirunelveli Anna Zoological Park, Vandalur shall be circles. Steps are taken for the feasibility of established. A Special scheme has been capturing and translocating problematic drawn for establishing a butterfly park in Elephant in isolated population found in Upper Anaicut Reserve forest near Javadhu Hills of Vellore and Tiruvannamalai at an outlay of `8.67 crore.

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During the Twelfth Five Year Plan Biodiversity conservation has been emphasis should be given for induction of strongly emphasized since Agenda 21 of the wildlife veterinarians especially herpetologists Rio Summit 1992. Though a good progress in National parks, Wildlife sanctuaries, has been made particularly on wildlife, still Zoological parks etc. much needs to be carried out with focus on flora. A particular representative area will be India is a signatory to three termed as “Biodiversity Conservation Park international conventions namely Convention or Enclave” which will have each forest type on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention demarcated in the respective forests area and on Wetlands of International Importance set apart for in situ conservation and will also (Ramsar Convention), and the United include the species of rare, endangered and Nations Framework Convention on Climate threatened category. Change (UNFCCC). Hence all the proposed managerial interventions are aimed at in The Strategic Goal/Targets based on achieving the time bound goals and targets the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity for biodiversity conservation, conservation 2020 and its corresponding proposed of wetlands and mitigation of climate change action by the department is given in the not only for international commitment but Annexure 15.1.2. also for national security.

Box 15.1.2 : Bio-Diversity-Strategic Goals for 2020 • Address the underlying causes of bio-diversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society. • Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use. • Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity • Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services. • Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building

Box 15.1.3: Biodiversity Management Committees

The Biological Diversity Act provides for the establishment of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) in all local bodies, whether Panchayats or Municipalities throughout the State and is empowered by the Biological Diversity Act 2002 and Biological Diversity Rules 2004 passed by the Indian Parliament. The main function of the BMC is to prepare People’s Biodiversity Register in consultation with local people. A program for accelerating creation of People Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) in the country with special focus on bio-geographic, socio-economic and regional priorities should be implemented. The PBR should not be an end in themselves but be used to encourage developmental programs for food, health and livelihood security of local communities. In order to demonstrate impact, this program should be implemented on a minimum size and scale of 100 development projects in rural India.

Source: UPC Report of the Working Group on Ecosystem Resilience, Biodiversity and Sustainable Livelihoods for the Twelfth Five-Year Plan

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The Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board • Intensification of Forest Management should be strengthened and awareness to improve forest management, should be created on matters relating to the infrastructure, fire control etc. conservation of biodiversity, sustainable use • Integration of Forestry operations within of its components and equitable sharing of MGNREGA. the benefits arising out of the utilization of biological resources. Policy Development

Climate change is one of the most • Expert Group on Low Carbon Economy: significant threats to human civilization Planning Commission-led Group set up to at present. Forests are one of the world’s develop strategy for India as a low carbon major carbon sinks. The forests contribute economy to feed into Twelfth plan process. significantly to assimilation of global carbon • State Action Plan on Climate Change. dioxide accumulated from past emissions in the atmosphere and sequester it in soil, The State outlay of the biodiversity vegetation and wood biomass. While the and genetic resource conservation thrust various forest enhancement activities for area is `232.33 crore. climate change mitigation will be tackled under different afforestation components, Establishment of Permanent Water efforts will be taken to estimate the Storage Structures in the Forest benefits of afforestation and reforestation and Adjacent Non-Forest Areas in climate change mitigation and the scope for accessing carbon funds will be explored Tamil Nadu is among the first few through appropriate consultancies, for which States to have taken timely cognizance of a provision has been made. the enormity of soil erosion problem in the catchment areas of principal rivers. Given the encouraging results obtained through these “The good news is we know what to schemes and other afforestation projects, it do. The good news is, we have everything is proposed to expand these activities in a we need now to respond to the challenge of holistic and intensified manner within and global warming. We have all the technologies outside forest areas during the Twelfth Five we need; more are being developed. And Year Plan. Recommended strategies to be as they become available and become adopted to attain the objectives are as follows: more affordable when produced in scale, they will make it easier to respond. But we • Protection and management of untreated should not wait, we cannot wait, we must forest areas (upper reaches and lower not wait”. — Al Gore slopes) by establishing engineering structures and vegetative barriers to Initiatives Related to Climate prevent erosion and run-off. Change in Forestry Sector • Improvement and maintenance of soil and moisture conservation (SMC) structures • State of Forests Report 2011 shows erected under TAP Phase I and Phase II in continued rise in Tamil Nadu’s forest the programme area. cover. • Undertaking appropriate and improved • Green India Mission: New Mission under agronomic practices in the immediate NAPCC to fast-track re-forestation. forest buffer areas to boost agricultural • Capacity Building in Forestry Scheme: income. Human Resources Development in the forestry sector.

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Establishment of permanent water particularly in the Eastern Ghats. Hence, storage structures like percolation ponds, there is an urgent need for management check dams and catch water pits is expected intervention to restore the local biodiversity to improve the soil moisture regime, recharge in these forest areas and thus assist the ground water aquifer and result in overall forest resilience. improvement in the availability of water The broad objectives are: for cultivation activities. It is proposed to undertake rain water harvesting works in • To arrest and eradicate invasive exotic the forest and adjacent non-forest areas with species and restore local biodiversity the assistance of NABARD commencing from richness. 2012-13. • To assist natural regeneration through The State outlay in this thrust area is suitable interventions. ` 439.30 crore. • To enhance ecological functions and Enhancing climatic resilience in processes. moderately dense and open forests Recommended strategies to be In today’s context of climate change, adopted to attain the objectives are the carbon storage capacity of forests and as follows: their role in climate change mitigation • Assess the risks / threats faced by is receiving increasing attention. The moderately dense and open forest in international negotiations in this regard respect of their conservation, ecological have now recognized the value of ecosystem- process, biodiversity richness etc., by based adaptation. Protecting primary forests involving stakeholders and scientific and restoring degraded forest ecosystems community at regular intervals. make a vital contribution to both reducing anthropogenic pressure and aiding • Forest consolidation and enhanced adaptation to unavoidable climate change. protection in ecologically fragile and It is the resilience inherent to intact forest sensitive forest areas. ecosystems – fully functional units of plants, • animals, micro-organisms, and fungi– that Prevention, arrest and removal of invasive, provides the best insurance against climate non local / exotic species of flora. change prospects. It must be recognized that • Involving all the stakeholders in the certain degraded forests, especially those with process of protection, conservation and invasive alien species, may be stable and look non consumptive utilization of forest resilient, and these forests can pose serious resources. management challenges, if attempts are not made to re-establish the natural ecosystem. • Prevention and eradication of spread of pests and diseases through integrated The ever growing human population approach at regular intervals. and cattle / livestock population is exerting ever increasing and constant pressure on • Evolve suitable policy for sustainable these forests for fodder, fuelwood, timber, conservation of biodiversity and the Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), medicinal ecological services in open and moderately plants, etc. This has led to considerable dense forests of Tamil Nadu. quantum of degradation and depletion Forest Protection in the natural richness in biodiversity of these forests. The systematic removal of Tamil Nadu State has over a dozen rigid selected species of flora and fauna has Acts for the protection of forest and wildlife altered ecological functions and processes, and these Acts are implemented in letter and thus leading to degradation in forest types, spirit. The strict implementation of acts and

685 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu laws in Tamil Nadu and cooperation of people communication, arms and ammunition) through implementation of developmental for ensuring effective protection. schemes have improved the status of forest protection in State. The international trade • To create a Secret Service fund at Division in wildlife produce have compounded the level for use of District Forest Officer for problem of protection of wildlife especially for intelligence gathering. highly endangered species like tiger, elephant etc., but implementation of International With a view to enhance the surveillance treaties like CITES (Convention on of vulnerable interior areas, installations International Trade in Endangered Species of of sophisticated monitoring devices like Flora and Fauna) has helped in controlling Thermal imaging cameras, installation, the menace of International trade in wildlife commissioning and networking of advanced produce. surveillance will be undertaken at five sites of the State at a cost of `8.25 crore during the Short term goals and the activities Plan period. for the plan period are: Box 15.1.4: Creation of Crime Data • Creation of Forest Protection Force in Bank in the State every Forest Circle (on the lines of Rapid Action Force of Police Department) for A crime data bank like Police crime preventing illicit removal of timber, data bank will be established in office of cultivation of marijuana, illicit arrack the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, ` distillation, encroachment etc.. The force Chennai at an outlay of 0.50 crore for development of specialized software, will also be responsible for preventing engaging of professionals etc. for effective wildlife poaching and organized smuggling investigation into organized inter-state and trade in flora and fauna at domestic and international smuggling of forest and and international level. wildlife products.

• Creation of Tribal Forest Friend Force Source: TN-Working group report on Forest in each Forest Protection Committee for and Wildlife for the 12th FYP collection of information on illicit trade / smuggling of flora and fauna. The State outlay of the Forest • To carry out detailed field survey, Protection thrust area is `59.90 crore demarcate the forest boundaries by using modern tools like GPS (Global Positioning Increasing tree cover outside System) and GIS (Geographical Information forests: System) to prevent forest encroachment. The overall demand for wood in Tamil • Mapping of entire reserve forest areas Nadu has been estimated as 23.35 million m3 including National Parks and Sanctuaries for fuel wood and 5.133 million m3 for timber into three categories: highly fire sensitive, (Madras School of Economics, 2008). Against fire sensitive and less fire sensitive this demand, supply from the trees outside areas for effective forest fire control and forests accounts nearly for 46.2 percent management. of timber and 40.9 percent of fuel wood. In respect of timber, the study reveals that • Skill development and upgradation of the total demand for timber under various front line personnel in protection of forests scenarios would vary from 5.4 to 6.5 million against all forms of crimes. m3 by 2013 and between 5.7 and 7.7 million m3 by 2018. Therefore, in case of timber, • Infrastructure development (vehicle,

686 Natural Resource Management we have to bridge the supply-demand gap Main objectives of this thrust area are: by undertaking tree planting outside forest areas. • To create tree resources outside forest areas for meeting the increasing needs for Recognizing the fact that Trees tree products. Outside Forest (TOF) contributes significantly • To meet various environmental benefits to socio-economic and ecological status of a relating to the abatement of air pollution, country, Food and Agriculture Organization reduction of noise pollution, carbon of United Nations has given prominent sequestration and aesthetics in urban place to TOF in its Global Forest Resources areas and prevention of soil erosion in Assessment Report. rural areas. Box 15.1.5: National Mission for a • To augment the income levels of the Green India farmers by promoting tree cultivation in private lands. Government of India has taken initiatives by formulating National • To enhance revenue from tree based Mission for a Green India (GIM) as one resources to the local bodies. of the eight Missions under the National The various programmes to be Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) implemented based on the Green India coinciding with the 12th and 13th Five Year Mission are Plan Period.

GIM has been conceived as a Incentive for tree cultivation multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral and By providing an incentive of `3 per multi-departmental mission that climate one year old seedling, `2 per 2 year old change phenomena will seriously affect growing seedling and `12 per 3 year old the distribution type and quality of grown seedling, it is proposed to plant about natural resources of the Country and the 10 crore of timber and Casuarina seedlings associated livelihoods of the people. and also provide survival incentive. GIM puts the “greening” in the context of climate change adaptation and Green Village Programme: mitigation, meant to enhance ecosystem Homestead Planting in Villages services like carbon sequestration and storage (in forests and other ecosystems), There are about 64,434 villages hydrological services and biodiversity; and hamlets in the State. These village and along with provisioning services like fuel, hamlets are not presently with much tree fodder, small timber through agro and cover and there is enormous scope to take farm forestry, and NTFPs. up homestead planting. Even if 20 villages/ hamlets are selected for this programme in a Source: UPC working group report on Forests district under this project, about 640 villages and Sustainable Management of Natural can be covered in the State in a year. The th Resources for 12 FYP proposal involves planting of seedlings in 3200 villages during the plan period. The State has a huge potential for undertaking extensive tree planting in other common lands like the tank foreshores, other poromboke lands, road, railway margins and canal banks.

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The programmes based on Green Box 15.1.6: Green Cover to India Mission would be implemented at the Safeguard Biodiversity in cost of `10.00 crore Tamil Nadu There are 125 Municipalities and 529 Town Panchayats. There are many vacant spaces available for greening viz., roadsides, parks, public places (including Government institutions) and in urban locations. It is therefore, proposed to plant tall (minimum of 1.50 m height) and sturdy saplings, which are of browsable height, in the available

With a view to protect the nature and natural resources of Tamil Nadu and to increase the forest cover and to safeguard bio-diversity in the State, the Government has been taking various steps. To achieve the National target of bringing one-third of the land under green cover, the Hon’ble Chief Minister directed that a massive scheme of Tree Plantation to be implemented to increase the greenery Fig. 15.1.1: Casuarina Plantation under in Tamil Nadu. 64 lakh saplings were TCPL planted throughout the State at the rate of two lakh saplings in every district. The saplings were planted at a cost of `151.80 crore in the premises of schools and colleges, office complexes of Government and private establishments, factories and roadsides. Saplings of traditional trees of Tamil Nadu, which are considered to be suitable for the State would be planted. Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board allocated the funds for the above scheme. The Hon’ble Chief Minister inaugurated the Scheme on 23rd February, 2012. Institutional Planting by Supplying Seedlings Fig. 15.1.2: Teak Plantation under TCPL Seedlings generally have to be supplied through Forest department or recognized Self Help Groups. This activity will facilitate spaces. Thus, planting programme involves the participation of the SHG members in both avenue planting and block planting raising seedlings and thus more people will depending on the location. It is proposed participate in tree planting programme. to plant 5,000 seedlings / per year in each

688 Natural Resource Management of the 10 Corporations. In each of the The outlay for the thrust area Municipalities, it is proposed to plant 1,000 “Increasing Tree cover outside forests” seedlings per year, whereas 500 plants will be inclusive of Externally Aided Project share is planted in each of the Town Panchayat every given in Table 15.1.2 year. Overall, 23.925 lakh seedlings will be planted at an outlay of ` 8.61 crore during Table 15.1.2 : Financial outlay for the plan period. TCPL (Tree Cultivation in “Increasing Tree cover outside Private Lands) is usually practiced in fallow forests” and marginal lands and also along the agricultural field bunds. By this practice, the S.No Activities (` Crores) tree growers meet their requirement for fuel wood, green manure, fodder as direct benefit 1 Tree cultivation 149.60 flow besides additional income. In addition, in private lands the productivity increase of their agricultural including incentives land will be an extra benefit for them. 2 Urban Planting 8.61 The species selected are those which 3 Road Avenue and 48.13 are in demand and are even being imported Canal plantation by wood based industries like Ailanthus Greening the excelsa (match wood) Melia dubia (veneers 4 9.80 and plywood) Teak (furniture) Casuarina villages (scaffolding and firewood) etc. Demand driven 5 Tank foreshore 280.34 and readymade market ensures profitability. plantations Further, the timber from most of the species 6 Massive tree is not perishable in short period of time like 151.80 planting programme other annual cash crops or food grain crops and that with demand more than supply 7 Establishment of 10.00 implies that a buy-back arrangement or Central nurseries support price is not needed at present. If need 8 District level tree 0.90 arises in future, buy -back arrangement with growers’ society the wood based industries will be considered. Total 659.18 The Thane cyclone had caused extensive damage to the tree assets created Source: TN-Working group report on Forest along the river/canal banks and on the and Wildlife for the 12th FYP coastal belts by the Forest Department. It is proposed to restock an extent of 5,535 ha of Socio-Economic Development of the affected areas with tree species like teak, Forest Fringe Villages: causarina, eucalyptus etc., commencing from 2012-13. The Forest Department has to coordinate with the other government Enactment of Tree Act agencies in generating more resources and opportunities for the fringe or forest dwelling Necessary rules will be framed under communities for their development. The the provision of Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882 ultimate goal is conservation of forests and for regulating the felling of trees in all the marked improvement in living standard and Government lands except Prosopis juliflora. A life style of forest fringe dwellers through Tree Authority will be constituted to regulate social capital formation in them and their the felling of trees and to ensure the planting willing participation in various programmes of new trees in lieu of trees felled. devised in this plan.

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Main objectives of this thrust area: Tree Based Natural Social Capital Capital • To remove anthropogenic pressure of forest fringe dwellers by providing Institution Building Horticulture them alternative livelihood options and Skill Development Energy Plantation improving their life style so that they are Training weaned away from subsistence living. Medicinal Plant Housing • To provide minimum basic civic amenities Cultivation such as housing, education, health care, Other Natural Market Linkages drinking water, communication, sanitation Resource Based etc. to poor and landless fringe dwellers. Fishery, Ornamental • To improve productivity of agricultural Fish Farming, lands through land improvement, provision Non-Timber Forest of irrigation, and capacity building Product Processing, Micro Credit • To provide alternate livelihood Vermicasting, Bee opportunities like establishing rural Keeping, Agriculture micro – enterprises. Development, Dairying etc., • To bring the forest fringe dwellers to the mainstream of society. Tribal Development The above strategy is based on two premises: i) building the social capital by The present forest management of way of enhancement of individual income Tamil Nadu is centered on using modern and ii) augmenting natural capital by way of technology and management options without promoting natural resource based activities. compromising the sustainable use of forestry The schemes/projects sanctioned to address resources and economic values associated the above concerns will be implemented with this. The Convention on Biological with trained forestry personnel supported Diversity (CBD) insists that the value of the and backed by research and extension. bio-resources should go to the under privileged Projects will be implemented with the who protect them, therefore, the conservation active cooperation of key stakeholders most of biological diversity is intrinsically linked to importantly the forest fringe dwellers. The socio economic development of tribals. activities aiming at the development of social capital and natural capital are classified as given in Table 15.1.3.

Table 15.1.3 : Activities for Development of Social and Natural Capital Tree Based Natural Social Capital Capital Educational Bamboo Plantation Health Care Sericulture Infrastructure Fig. 15.1.3: Tribal Forest Village Agroforestry Development As per the 2001 population census, Micro enterprises Silvipasture Tamil Nadu has a tribal population of 6.51

690 Natural Resource Management lakhs which comprises 1.04 percent of the total project period by the involvement of NGO’s population. There are 36 tribes and sub tribes and VFC’s (Village Forest Council) is the in Tamil Nadu most of whom are cultivators, prior requirement. agriculture labourer or dependent on forests • Promotion drives of Entry Phase like; for their livelihood. There are six primitive Promotion meetings, Awareness Camps, tribes namely Toda, Kota, Paniyan, Kurumba, NGO Drive, Co-ordination meetings with Irula, Kattunayakan in Tamil Nadu. With the Line Departments. All Training component change in time, there have been changes in has to be conducted in the first year. the tribal life system due to socio economic development, but the change for tribals living • Activation of existing idle VFC,s and SHG,s within the forests has been slow. Multiple by providing Support money. agencies like the District administration, the • Health and Education aspects to be Forest Department, the Adi dravidar and attended by collaborating with the line Tribal Welfare Department and others have department as well as through Buffer zone attended to the needs of the tribals within activities in the Tribal villages. and outside the forests. The tribal settlements require better infrastructure. There is a • Formation of Common User Groups for strong need for improvement in the quality improving Market channel efficiency, of life, provision of all basic amenities, health promotion of Tribal handicrafts, etc. care and nutritional back up to the tribal • Selection of site for all Development works settlements. The tribal have to be given proper like Construction works, Buffer Zone educational services to remove illiteracy. Activities and initiation of works. Poverty alleviation through enhancement of • bio productivity to appropriate levels is also Employment Generation Activities like; important. Plantation work, Construction work, and Alternate Income Generation. The main objectives of this thrust Activities have to be focused by selecting area: beneficiaries, prioritizing to the needs of vulnerable groups first. • To meet livelihood needs of the tribals • NTFP collection, Value addition, marketing • To provide health, education, electricity, of the same through tie ups with the drinking water supply, housing and industrial firms for stream lining of approach roads and thereby improve the Sustained NTFP collection. standard of living of tribals within forest • The activities of EDC’s, SHG’s have to areas. be streamlined, with proper guidance for • To provide and promote agricultural their sustainable livelihood activities and development activities in their lands; monitoring the benefit sharing. • To establish partnerships with tribals • Periodical Review, inspection of the for their development, empowerment ongoing activities and audit. and engaging them in conservation and management of the forest wealth in the The Scheduled Tribes and other State. Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act 2006 was enacted to • To develop required skills in tribals and recognize and vest forest rights in forest land utilize their knowledge for augmentation to forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other of the forest resources. Traditional forest dwellers who have been Strategies include residing in such forests for at least three generations. The Adi Dravidar and Tribal • Collection of base line data before the welfare Department is the nodal Department

691 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

All activities for providing basic Box 15.1.7: Ecologically infrastructure and livelihood avenues to the Sustainable Development in tribal communities will be undertaken in this 33 Tribal Villages thrust area. 33 forest fringe tribal villages have The State outlay for the thrust area been identified that need priority attention “Tribal Development” is `139.40 crore. in terms of provision of basic amenities and opportunities for alternate livelihood. Eco-Tourism The activities include village surveys, The forests, Wildlife, Sanctuaries, participatory planning, community National parks, Seascapes covering long coast development and income generation activities. Women empowerment will be line with many unique coastal formations given adequate thrust by encouraging like mangroves, coastal sand dunes, back their participation in all activities waters close to the hamlets of the forest and including considering certain reservation coastal dwelling communities offer immense in the VFC Presidentship. The works are scope for developing eco-tourism ventures. taken up under JICA assisted Tamil Nadu The forest fringe village communities, in Biodiversity Conservation and Greening the remote inaccessible forest areas are Project under the component of ecologically away from development mainstream and sustainable development in tribal villages the benefits of Government schemes do not peripheral to Reserved Forests at a cost of adequately reach them. There is little scope ` 5.14 crore during the Twelfth Plan period. for livelihood option within these villages and therefore interventions, which will provide Source: Working group report on Forest and income generation support to them from the wildlife for the 12th FYP Government, will go a long way in reducing poverty and improving the quality of life of for this Act and the Forest Department is these people. facilitating the implementation of the Act. Once the tribal people are vested with the One such option available to them rights under this act, land development and is benefits arising from Eco-tourism. The infrastructure development will be assisted village people have the necessary innate under special tribal development programmes skills and knowledge of forest and wildlife and can participate in the eco-tourism Traditional skill development training ventures through eco-tourism committees. for Tribals The villages close to eco-tourism sites lack facilities and require infrastructure, training The traditional skill development and marketing support for Eco-tourism. training for the tribals are bee keeping and wild honey collection, making brooms, Eco-tourism ventures will follow potteries, reed, cane, palmyrah and bamboo the broad principles of carrying capacity, products, processing, value addition and development of eco friendly infrastructure marketing of NTFP (Nelli, Galnut, Pungan, so as to leave minimum impact at the Medicinal plants etc), Improved agricultural tourism sites. Tourism management within practices and value addition of farm products, the PAs, forest areas and adjoining non- Eco-tourist guides and helpers, carpentry forest locations will require infrastructure and toy making, Clay modeling, tailoring, development, enhancing the skills and knitting and embroidery, driving of vehicles, capacities of the forest field staff and the local two wheeler mechanics, electrical wiring and communities, creation of awareness through plumbing, computer operations and use publicity etc, for which necessary allocation of internets, catering services and health has been provided. Improvements in the training (Nursing, mid-wife etc). existing Sanctuaries and National Parks with

692 Natural Resource Management recent techniques involved in dissemination improvement and forest genetics, soil nutrient of information like touch screen model, management, seed biology, afforestation short film shows etc., for the public shall be and nursery research, plantation research, undertaken. bio diversity conservation, agro forestry and organic tree farming and post-harvest The State outlay of the Eco-tourism thrust technology. It is proposed to continue research area is `11.83 crore. in the same line and to take up research on Infrastructure Development species recovery, sacred groves, study on pollinators, biodiversity enhancement and The potential concerns facing the bio-productivity etc., also during the Twelfth forestry infrastructure have been identified Five Year Plan period. Further, emphasis will and guidelines to optimize the functionality be laid on collaborative research programmes of State forest infrastructure in the current with Universities, Research Organizations planning horizon are suggested. and Institutions, supply of quality planting The objectives to meet our current material by establishing/maintaining seed and future needs of infrastructure are: production areas. New areas of research would include valuation of ecosystem services, • To improve the efficacy of the forest environmental research and bioremediation. protection machinery of the State so as to effectively manage the forest resources of The research programmes will be the State. undertaken in tune with the broad objectives viz., Bio diversity conservation and improving • To support forest and wildlife conservation productivity of the trees grown outside by improving a host of infrastructure the forests besides devising techniques for facilities like buildings including office afforestation of problem sites. The objective buildings, anti poaching sheds, housing will also include newer focus areas like facilities for staff and officers, camping/ studying the impact of climate change on inspection sheds, rest houses, roads, forest types, valuation of ecosystem services vehicles, communication facilities, office of forests etc. automation and other infrastructure including interpretation centres. Post-harvest technologies such as Solar seasoning, chemical treatment, wood • To provide for creating, improving and working, veneer peeling, match cutting, satisfactory maintenance of the forest ammonia fumigation etc. are applied to the infrastructure that are needed to make end products from various timber species it self sufficient for achieving better for the furniture making, plywood, toys, organizational efficiency. handicrafts, and match and pulpwood • To provide for the ecological services from industries. the forest areas to the people of current and It is recommended to commence a future generation without compromising Science Park in each district and a Bio Park the ecological balance. in Forest College and Research Institute, The State outlay for the infrastructure TNAU, Mettupalayam with a special focus on development thrust area is `78.82 crore. post-harvest technology of wood in lines with Research, Transfer of Technology and the Institute of Wood Science and technology Extension (IWST) Bangalore. The broad focus of the research wing The ecosystem services of forest like has been on bio diversity conservation and hydrological benefits, soil conservation, bio productivity enhancement. The research flood control, carbon sequestration, fresh air wing from its inception mandated its activities generation, climate stabilization, biodiversity on specific thrust areas like silviculture, tree conservation etc. are now accepted worldwide.

693 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

The Forestry sector needs to be looked at development. It is also suggested to strengthen differently especially for ecological services the existing Management Information System rather than tangible outputs and must be (MIS) through development of the web-based compensated for the ecological services it application for wider coverage and sharing of provides so that higher quantum of funds will data, both in Forestry and Wildlife sectors. be invested in Forestry sector. A methodology The State outlay under this thrust area is shall be put in place for transferring the `8.02 crore. benefits of ecological services from those who Human Resource Management derive these benefits to those who are directly involved in forest conservation including rural Human Resources Management is and tribal communities. All these ecosystem proposed to be implemented during Plan services rendered by the forests will be sought period with the major objectives of creating to be assessed quantitatively. able and motivated workforce and to utilize such workforce to accomplish department’s The State outlay under this thrust goals. This shall be achieved by enhancing area is `60.69 crore the technical and managerial skills of the Forest Extension personnel working in the Department, to keep pace with the emerging needs of the forestry The extension wing of the Forest sector. For this purpose, emphasis will be department helps to take the technological given to develop and maintain facilities and findings from the Research studies to the opportunities for individual as well as group fields. The State has a strong network of development of the staff. Van Vigyan Kendras and Forest Extension Centers. The infrastructure facilities in these Special Recruitment Cell on the Centers will be strengthened so as to put the lines of Uniform Service Recruitment facilities for enhanced outreach. Capacity Board building in the extension staff, training to For recruitment of the Forest farmers, supply of seedlings, demonstration personnels, a Special Recruitment Cell on the plots etc will be carried out to maximize the lines of USRB in the Police Department will benefits from the department’s outreach be formed in Tamil Nadu. The State outlay in efforts. this thrust area is `111.94 crore. Application and Development of GIS, Gender issues in Forestry sector MIS & e-Governance There will be general emphasis on The real foundation for GIS in Tamil women empowerment in all the forestry Nadu Forest Department was laid under activities during the plan period. Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) funded Tamil Nadu Afforestation • There is already a provision for 50 percent Project (TAP) in 1997. The Tamil Nadu membership in all the JFM (Joint Forest Forest Department realized the importance Management) Committees and executive of Information Technology (IT) initiatives in committees of the JFMCs. The position of sharing of information at low cost, lightening presidentship of the JFMCs is also open speed, transparency and has capitalized to women. At present, women presidents on the potential of IT in circumventing the head 132 Village Forest Councils. In the digital divide and putting forestry onto a new project villages, 7174 SHG (Self Help platform of e-governance. Groups) have been formed till 2010-2011, benefiting 1,04,976 women members. In It is envisaged to develop the GIS the Global Environment facility supported database and strengthen the Geomatics eco development project in Gulf of Mannar Centre through its Regional units not only for Biosphere Reserve, 2110 SHGs comprising various field applications but also for capacity

694 Natural Resource Management

of 68,251 members have been formed • All the forestry programmes will be in 248 coastal villages with a financial executed with an objective of generating assistance of `7.76 crore. rural employment for the women in the forest fringe villages. Their engagement • In the development of micro enterprises to with forestry related activities including increase income of families and creation of collection of NTFP will provide avenue for alternate income generation activities, the employment of women in forestry sector focus is on the women SHGs. At present, activities. the women members of the JFMs get the loans for enhancing their family income • Out of 6146 Executive staff in the Forest and alternate livelihood opportunities. department, 214 are women employees.

Table15.1.4: Twelfth Plan Outlay -Forest and Wild Life (`crore )

S. No. Thrust area State Shared Central EAP Total Bio diversity and genetic 1 232.33 0.75 380.49 96.50 710.07 resource conservation Establishment of permanent water storage structures in the 2 439.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 439.30 forest and adjacent non-forest areas Enhancing climatic resilience 3 in moderately dense and open 0.00 0.00 116.66 0.00 116.66 forests 4 Forest protection 59.90 6.50 0.00 20.25 86.65 Increasing tree cover outside 5 498.68 0.00 0.00 160.50 659.18 forests Socio economic development of 6 0.00 0.00 0.00 35.14 35.14 forest fringe villages 7 Tribal development 139.40 0.00 0.00 5.28 144.68

8 Eco – tourism 11.83 0.00 0.00 10.52 22.35

9 Infrastructure development 78.82 0.00 0.00 38.00 116.82 Research, transfer of 10 60.69 0.00 0.00 29.80 90.49 technology and extension Application and development 11 8.02 0.00 0.00 20.09 28.11 of GIS, MIS and e-governance 12 Human resource management 111.94 0.00 0.00 12.28 124.22

Total 1640.91 7.25 497.15 428.36 2573.67

On-going Schemes 505.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 505.00

Grand Total 2145.91 7.25 497.15 428.36 3078.67

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