1 POLICY NOTE 2011-2012 FOREST DEPARTMENT Introduction Forests Provide Environmental Stability, Ecological Security, Food Secu

POLICY NOTE 2011-2012 Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu has the highest number of flowering plants among all the states in the country FOREST DEPARTMENT and hence, it has the responsibility of conserving Introduction this wealth of the country. Tamil Nadu forests are Forests provide environmental stability, very rich in medicinal plants and wild relatives of ecological security, food security and water security cultivated plants which are very important from the to the country and also provide livelihood security to conservation point of view. All the fourteen the forest fringe people. Medicinal plants from endemic mammals of Western Ghats and all the forests provide health security to the millions of five primates of peninsular India are found in people depending upon traditional systems of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu also has a considerable medicine. Forests play an important role in bio-geo- population of National Heritage Animals namely chemical cycles particularly carbon cycle and Elephant and Tiger and their numbers are now hydrological cycle. Carbon sequestration potential showing an increasing trend. of forest is very important for mitigation of climate change and hence has a direct bearing on the very 2. Extent of Forests survival of humanity. Tamil Nadu has 22,877 sq.kms. of recorded Tamil Nadu is endowed with rich forest areas forest area which is 17.59% of the geographical in Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats and coastal area of 1,30,058 sq. kms of the State. The Forest plains. Western Ghats Range is one of the mega and tree cover is 28,306 sq. kms which is 21.76% of endemic centres and one of the twenty five global the total geographical area of the State as assessed hotspots of bio-diversity and a number of other by the Forest Survey of India (State of Forest micro centres of endemism are located in 1 2 Report 2009) as against 33.33% envisaged in ¾ Meeting the requirement of fuel wood, National Forest Policy, 1988. There is an urgent fodder, minor forest produce and small need to increase the forest / tree cover of the State. timber of the rural and tribal populations. ¾ Increasing the productivity of forests to meet 3. Forest Policy essential needs. ¾ Encouraging efficient utilization of forest The Government of India enunciated the produce and maximizing substitution of National Forest Policy, 1988 for management of wood. State Forests in the Country. The basic objectives ¾ Creating a massive people’s movement with of the policy are : the involvement of women for achieving ¾ Maintenance of environmental stability and these objectives and to minimize pressure on restoration of the ecological balance. existing forests. ¾ Conserving the natural heritage by The principal aim of Forest Policy is to preserving the natural forests which ensure environmental stability and maintenance of represent remarkable biological diversity and ecological balance including atmospheric genetic resources. equilibrium which is vital for sustenance of all life ¾ Checking soil erosion and denudation in the forms, human, animal and plant. The derivation of catchment areas of rivers, lakes, reservoirs direct economic benefit must be subordinated to for mitigating floods and droughts. this principal aim. The forests in the State are being ¾ Increasing substantially the forest /tree cover managed to achieve the above policy objectives. through massive afforestation. 3 4 4. Objectives of Forest Management the thrust areas listed below, which will promote a comprehensive forest based development of the The forests of Tamil Nadu are being State. managed with the following objectives: ¾ Conservation of forests and wildlife. ¾ Biodiversity and genetic resource ¾ Forest Protection and forest resource conservation by protection of forests and management. wildlife. ¾ Catchment area management for ¾ Augmentation of water resources in forest augmentation of water resources. areas. ¾ Increase forest cover inside forests to ensure ¾ Rehabilitation and restoration of degraded ecological security to the people. forests for improvement of forest cover. ¾ Increase tree cover outside forests for ¾ Enhancing tree cover outside forests for livelihood security. livelihood security and climate change ¾ Tribal development to ensure ecological mitigation. stability and economic prosperity. ¾ Welfare of Tribal and Forest fringe villagers ¾ Coastal ecosystem conservation and to ensure economic prosperity and ecological management. stability. ¾ Research and Technology support, for scientific forest management. 5. Strategy ¾ Empowerment of women for sustainable Forest policy plans to chart new paths, forge forest management. new relationships and adapt to the rapidly shifting social environment and forest demands by adopting 5 6 ¾ Human Resources Management and The list of Sanctuaries, National Parks, Infrastructural development for efficient Biosphere Reserves and Conservation Reserve etc. delivery mechanism. in the State are furnished as below:- 6. Bio-diversity conservation Sl.No Name of Wildlife Sanctuary WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES (10) Bio-diversity is the soul of forests and Tamil 1 Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary Nadu is known for bio-diversity. There are 10 2 Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife Sanctuaries, 5 National Parks, 3 Mundanthurai Wildlife Sanctuary 3 Biosphere Reserves, 13 Bird Sanctuaries and 1 4 Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary Conservation Reserve. Tamil Nadu also has one 5 Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary Zoological Park and 8 Zoos for Wildlife 6 Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary Conservation besides 4 Elephant Reserves and 3 7 Vallanadu Black Buck Sanctuary 8 Kanniyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary Tiger Reserves. The protected area of the country 9 Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary is 1,58,515 sq. km. which constitutes 4.82% of the 10 Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary total geographical area of the country. The BIRD SANCTUARIES (13) Protected Area of Tamil Nadu extends to 4,578 sq. 1 Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary km. which constitutes 3.52% of total geographical 2 Karikili Bird Sanctuary area of the State. Thus there is a need to increase 3 Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary the protected area network in the State by 1,691 sq. 4 Vettangudi Bird Sanctuary km. to reach the national average of 4.82%. 7 8 5 Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary CONSERVATION RESERVE (1) 6 Chitrangudi Bird Sanctuary 1 Thiruppudaimaruthur Bird Conservation Reserve 7 Udayamarthandapuram Bird Sanctuary ELEPHANT RESERVES (4) 8 Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary 1 Nilgiris – Eastern Ghats 9 Koonthankulam-Kadankulam Bird Sanctuary 2 Nilambur – Silent Valley - Coimbatore 10 Karaivetti Bird Sanctuary 3 Anamalai – Parambikulam 11 Vellode Bird Sanctuary 4 Srivilliputhur – Periyar 12 Melaselvanur-Kilaselvanur Bird Sanctuary TIGER RESERVES (3) 13 Theerthangal Bird Sanctury 1 Kalakkad - Mundanthurai NATIONAL PARKS (5) 2 Anamalai 1 Mudumalai National Park 3 Mudumalai 2 Indira Gandhi National Park 3 Mukurthi National Park The State of Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in the 4 Guindy National Park 5 Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (21 Islands) conservation of endangered tropical plant species in that it has established a Gene pool Garden over an BIOSPHERE RESERVES (3) area of 242.14 ha. at Nadugani of Nilgiris District. 1 Nilgiris 2 Gulf of Mannar A total of 451 species have been assembled in this 3 Agasthiarmalai garden. Apart from this, Tamil Nadu has established 12 Medicinal Plants Conservation Areas(MPCAs) and 8 Medicinal Plant Development Areas (MPDAs) for conservation and propagation of medicinal plants. 9 10 The angiosperm diversity of Tamil Nadu Status of Population of the important Wild with 5,640 species ranks first among all the Animals States in the Country. This includes 533 endemic Systematic and scientific methods were species, 230 red-listed species, 1,559 species of adopted to conduct wildlife censuses on annual medicinal plants and 260 species of wild relative of basis to study the population dynamics of important cultivated plants. The faunal diversity of Tamil wild animals. Synchronized census have been Nadu includes 165 fresh water fishes, 76 species of conducted for accurate assessment of Tiger and amphibians, 177 species of reptiles, 454 species of Elephant population in the State of Tamil Nadu. birds and 187 species of mammals. The following is the population of important Biodiversity conservation in Tamil Nadu is wild animals in Tamil Nadu as per the latest census given top priority by strengthening forest protection reports. through regular beat perambulation, organized raids, anti-poaching camps and special combing Tiger - 163 operations. The protection efforts of the Panther - 244 Elephant - 4,015 Department have been strengthened by providing Black buck - 2,343 Nilagiri Tahr - 1,250 jeeps to 225 territorial and wildlife range officers Lion Tailed Macaque - 1,107 during 2005-2006. The availability of these jeeps Grizzled Giant Squirrel - 477 Gaur - 8,110 has completely revamped forest protection in the State. 7. Nature Conservation The objective of the scheme is to maintain and carry out conservation oriented works for 11 12 improving wildlife habitats in the State. The wildlife Conservation and Management of Wetlands and and bird sanctuaries in the State are managed Action Plan for Biosphere Reserves are some of the scientifically. Engaging wildlife protection watchers, major schemes implemented under these Centrally construction of watch towers and anti-poaching sponsored schemes. sheds in those areas are carried out. During 2010-2011, an amount of Rs.0.35 crore has been 9. Project Tiger spent under this scheme.

Load more