sign in sign up
<<
Home , Srivilliputhur, Virudhunagar

CIRCLE

ABOUT VIRUDHUNAGAR CIRCLE

Consequent to the re-organization of Forestry Circle in TamilNadu as ordered in G.O.Ms.No. 108, Environment and Forest Department, dated. 29.04.1999, the erstwhile Social Forestry Circle was designated as Circle and started to function at Madurai temporarily with effect from 01.05.1999. As per Government letter No. 14804/FR-9/ Environment and Forest Department, dated 05.10.1999, it was re-designated as Virudhunagar Circle with headquarters at Virudhunagar. The present Virudhunagar Circle is functioning with headquarters at Virudhunagar. The present Virudhunagar Circle is functioning from 15.12.1999 onwards in Virudhunagar. Virudhunagar Circle spreads over in the following Revenue Districts and consists of 6 functional divisions as noted below:-

S Name of Revenue Name of Division No District 1. Virudhunagar (SF) Division 1 Virudhunagar 2. Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Srivilliputtur (WL) Division 1. Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Srivilliputtur (WL) 2 Madurai Division(Partly covered) 1. Sivagangai Forest Division 3 Sivagangai 2. Sivagangai (SF) Division 1. Ramnad Forest Division 4 Ramanathapuram 2. Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Ramnad (WL) Division (Partly covered) 1. Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Ramnad (WL) Division 5 Tuticorin (Partly covered)

The following small Bird Sanctuaries are also under the control of this circle

S Name of Area Name of Bird Sanctuary Location No Division in Ha. Chithrangudi Village, 1 Ramnad (WL) Chithrangudi 47.63 MudukulathurTaluk, Ramnad District Kanjirankulam Village, 2 Ramnad (WL) Kanjirankulam 104.21 MudukulathurTaluk, Ramnad District KeelaSelvanoor&MelaSelvanoor KeelaSelvanoor&MelaSel 3 Ramnad (WL) 593.08 Village, KadaladiTaluk, Ramnad vanoor District VettangudiVillage, 4 (T) Vettangudi 38.39 TiruppathurTaluk, Sivagangai District Thertangal Village, 5 Ramnad (WL) Therthangal RamnadTaluk Sakkarakottai Village, 6 Ramnad (WL) Sakkarakottai RamnadTaluk

SRIVILLIPUTHUR GRIZZLED SQUIRREL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

The Grizzled Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary lies in the falling in the revenue districts of Virudhunagar and Madurai with an extent of 476.65 Sq Km. It was declared as a sanctuary in G.O. Ms. 399 Environment and Forests (FR.V), dated, 26-12-1988. Owing to its large contiguous forests and connectivity with adjoining Reserve and Sanctuaries, this Division has wide varieties of endangered species such as Grizzled Squirrel, Elephant, Tiger, Leopard, Nilgiritahr, Gaur, and Lion Tailed Macaque. Srivilliputtur forest area occurs as part of the Agasthiyar Biosphere Landscape. This sanctuary is conferred as one of the World Natural Heritage sites by UNESCO during 2012.

GULF OF MANNAR MARINE NATIONAL PARK, RAMANATHAPURAM

The Gulf of Mannar is in the southeast coast of and extends from Rameshwaram in the north to in the south.It has a chain of 21 uninhabited islands stretching from Mandapam to Tuticorin to a distance of 140 km along the coast, declared as the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park with its surrounding shallow waters in the year 1986. The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (GOMBR) was set up in 08.02.1989 by Government of India covering 10,500 sq.km areas between Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari.

This area is the last refuge of any significance off the Indian coast where the most endangered mammal, Dugong (Dugong dugon) occurs. The area also contains the rare and unique Balanoglossus which is a link between invertebrates and vertebrates. The area is also very richly endowed with unique coral formations, marine shells, molluscs and tropical fish associated with coral islands. The playful Dolphins are also seen in this area. The Gulf of Mannar is considered as “Biologists’ paradise” with over 4223 species of flora and fauna. The Gulf of Mannar is endowed with a rich variety of marine flora and fauna as it includes ecosystems like coral reefs, rocky shores, sandy beaches, mud flats, estuaries, mangrove forests, seaweed stretches and seagrass beds. These ecosystems support a wide variety of fauna and flora including rare chanks, shrimps, lobsters, pearl oysters, whales, dugongs, turtles, seahorses, sea snakes, sea cucumbers etc.

SIVAGANGAI FOREST DIVISION

Sivagangai forest division is a Territorial division having its jurisdiction coinciding with the Revenue boundary of the district. The Division has 98 Reserved Forests (15,649 Ha) and 26 Reserved land (4829 Ha), majority of the land have been leased out to Forest Plantation Corporation (TAFCORN).

RAMANATHAPURAM FOREST DIVISION

Ramanathapuram Social Forestry Division originally formed during 1982 and it had been functioned in the name of Social Forestry Division, Ramanathapuram till 30.04.2012 with the control of Divisional Forest Officer. Then Ramanathapuram Territorial Division has been formed with Geographical Jurisdiction of Ramanathapuram District vide G.O No:167 Environment and Forest Dt: 29.11.2011. In pursuance of the Government order the erstwhile Social Forestry Division was converted as District Forest Office, Ramanathapuram Division with effect from 01.05.2012.

SOCIAL FORESTRY DIVISION, VIRUDHUNAGAR

This Division has been in function since 1980 onwards. Originally this division was formed in the name of Forestry Extension Division with Head Quarters @ Srivilliputhur on 02.02.1980 as per G.O.Ms.No:69 Forest and Fisheries Department, Dated 24.01.1980. As per G.O.Ms.No:214, Forest and Fisheries Department, Dated 21.02.1988, the Head Quarters of this division was shifted from Srivilliputhur to Virudhunagar with effect from 01.04.1988. The Social Forestry Division functioning under the control of the Conservator of Forests, Social Forestry Circle, was attached to the Social Forestry Circle, Madurai with effect from 01.03.1997 which is presently known as Virudhunagar Circle Headquarters at Virudhunagar with effect from 1999.

SOCIAL FORESTRY DIVISION, SIVAGANGAI

This Division was formed initially as Extension Forestry Division as per G.O.Ms.No.1065, Forests and Fisheries Department dated 20.11.1978 by the Conservator of Forests, Madurai Circle, and Madurai on 10.1.1979 and started functioning with effect from 17.1.1979 with headquarters at Sivaganga. This Division was started initially under the scheme of raising miscellaneous fuel wood Plantations with the implementation of the SIDA aided Social Forestry Scheme in Tamil Nadu as per G.O.Ms.No.1307 Forests and Fisheries Department dated.9.11.81 and this division was merged with Social Forestry Scheme and now it is functioning as one of the 21 Social Forestry Divisions in the State. The Head Quarters remains to be at Sivaganga.

FOREST TYPES

Virudhunagar Circle is characterized with varies types of forest varying from evergreen forest in Srivilliputhur to thorny scrub forest in Ramanathapuram District. The various kinds of forest in various divisions is as follows,

S. Division Forest Type No. 1 Grizzled Squirrel Sanctuary a) 1A/C4 West coast tropical evergreen forest b) 2A/C2 West coast semi evergreen forest c) 5A/C1 Dry teak forest d) 5A/C3 Southern Mixed deciduous forest e) 5/DS4 Dry grass land 2 Ramanathapuram Territorial a) Dry deciduous forest b) Thorny scrub forest 3 Sivagangai Territorial a) Dry deciduous forest 4 Gulf of Mannar Marine National a) Island vegetation with halophytic shrubs, herbs Park, Ramanathapuram & creepers b) Mangrove forests