Forest and Environment Department
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS DEPARTMENT POLICY NOTE ON FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT 2004-2005 DEMAND NO. 14 R. VAITHILINGAM MINISTER FOR FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT 1 ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT POLICY NOTE INTRODUCTION 1.1. The life and well being of a nation depends on its sustainable development. It is a process of social and economic betterment that satisfies the needs and values of all interest groups without foreclosing future options. To this end, we must ensure that the demand on the environment from which we derive our sustenance, does not exceed its carrying capacity for the present as well as future generations. This conservation is pre-requisite for sustainable development. 1.2. We have a great tradition of environmental conservation which taught us to respect nature and to take cognizance of the fact that all forms of life - human, animal and plant - are closely interlinked and that disturbance in one gives rise to an imbalance in other’s. Even in modern times, as is evident in our constitutional provisions and environmental legislation and planning objectives, conscious efforts have been made for maintaining environmental security along with developmental advances. The Indian Constitution in the Section on Directive Principles of State Policy assigns duties for the State and all citizens through Article 48 A and Article 51 A(g) which state that the “State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife in the country” and “to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes and rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for the living creatures”. 1.3. Tamil Nadu has a great tradition of preserving its forest wealth and concern for environment, which has taught us to respect nature and understand the complex inter relationship between living and non-living things. The ancient Tamil poets have emphasized the importance of dense forests, clean water and fertile soil in providing ecological security to mankind. 2 2. FOREST DEPARTMENT 2.1. Forests are renewable natural resource and nature's gift to mankind. Forests play a vital role in the ecological stability and rural development of our State. Ensuring ecological security of the people of the State is an important mandate of the 15 point programme being implemented by this Government. 2.2. Extent of Forests The Forest department is custodian of 22,870 sq. kms. of forest land, which constitute 17.584% of the geographical area as against 33.33% required under National Forest Policy, 1988. Nearly half of the forest area is subjected to heavy degradation on account of biotic pressure. Various schemes and programmes of Government are aimed at restoring the degraded forest and expanding forests outside the Reserve Forest area. 2.3. Forest Policy The forests of Tamil Nadu are governed by National Forest Policy 1988. Yet, by and large, the management of forests has been left to the State Governments. In Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Nadu State Forest Act 1882, Wild Life Protection Act 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 and a host of Rules formulated under these Acts are being implemented by the Forest Department. Various landmark judgements given by the courts emphasizing the importance of preservation of forests have raised people's expectations in the implementation of the forest policy. The principal aim of the National Forest Policy, 1988 and the State Forest Policy is maintenance of environmental stability and restoration of ecological balance through conservation, upgradation and increase in the forest cover. 2.4. Objectives Forests in Tamil Nadu are being managed with the following main objectives: • Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in the State; • Ensuring environmental stability and restoration of ecological balance; • Conservation of bio-diversity for the benefit of present and future generations; • Mitigating floods and droughts and also retarding siltation of reservoirs by checking soil erosion and denudation in catchment areas of rivers, lakes and reservoirs; • Meeting the genuine requirement of fuel, fodder, non-wood forest produce and small timber to the extent possible on a sustainable basis (through Joint Forest Management) • Extension of improved forest technology to farmers for creating alternative sources of forest produce outside the Reserved Forests; • Improving the habitat for all living beings including micro organisms, insects, birds and animals; • Making available the traditional forest produce to be used rightfully by the tribal people living inside forests; 3 2.5. Strategy In order to meet the objectives, various strategies are planned as detailed below. 2.5.1. Increasing green cover Union Planning Commission has recommended that the forest area in the country should be increased to 25% of the geographical area by 2007 and to 33.33% by 2012(which is mandated by National Forest Policy- 1988). The present forest/tree cover in Tamil Nadu is 17.584%. Earnest efforts are being taken to increase the forest cover / tree cover in the State, by encouraging tree cultivation in and outside reserved forest areas. Evidence of this is already seen in the recent State of Forests’ report, 2001 of Forest Survey of India compared to 1999 assessment by Forest Survey of India, Dehradun the total area under forest cover in our State has shown an increase of 4,404 sq. kms. (From 17,078 sq. kms. to 21,482 sq. kms.). This increase is mainly in respect of dense forest cover only. Derivation of direct economic benefits from the forests has been subordinated to this principal aim. The total percentage of area under Forest / Tree cover is reported as 21.17 % of the total geographical area. 2.5.2. Biological upgradation and ecological restoration through Joint Forest Management Heavy biotic pressure from abutting villages is the main cause of degradation of forests. Biological upgradation and ecological restoration of these degraded forestlands is being attempted through “Joint Forest Management” for sustained flow of benefits to the people. Substantial degraded forestland remains to be ecologically rehabilitated in the State. 2.5.3. Special Area Management Unique fragile eco-systems of Western Ghats, Nilgiris, coastal mangroves and marine areas are being protected in a holistic manner under specific programmes for managing each category. 2.5.4. Management of Sanctuaries and National Parks Tamil Nadu is endowed with a rich bio-diversity. Of the total recorded forest area in the State, 3134.70 sq. kms or 13.7% of the total forest area is dedicated towards wildlife conservation covering five national parks, eight wildlife sanctuaries and twelve bird sanctuaries. Conservation of flora and fauna will continue to be the main objective in the maintenance of sanctuaries, national parks and biosphere reserves. The protected areas in Tamil Nadu are also managed for preserving biodiversity and wilderness to provide nature education, recreation and inspiration for our future generation. Efforts will be made to increase the extent of protected areas under wildlife management to 25% of the total forest area of the State as the proposals for declaration of Sathy Wildlife Sanctuary, Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary and Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary are under consideration and enlarging the extent of already proposed protected wildlife sanctuaries. Many medicinal plants and plants of genetic importance will also be conserved in these areas. 2.5.5. Catchment Area Management 4 There are 32 river systems, 11 Major reservoirs, 2,679 canals and 38,863 tanks in Tamil Nadu. Majority of the catchment areas lie in forest lands. To improve the forests, an Integrated Watershed Development Programme is being implemented with afforestation and soil and water conservation measures in the affected watersheds, which further help to increase the ground water level, regulate water-flow in streams, rivers, etc., and improve fertility of the land. The agrarian economy will be benefited by augmentation of the water availability. 2.5.6. Forest Protection The forest wealth of the State is vulnerable to damage and destruction by illicit felling of trees, ganja cultivation, fire, encroachment and poachers of wildlife. To check the destruction of valuable forest products including sandalwood and other scheduled timber, several measures have been taken. Efforts will be continued to strengthen the infrastructure for forest protection and to equip the protection staff with facilities like firearms, vehicles, wireless equipments, etc. Encroachment of forestlands by adjoining patta holders and estate owners is a serious problem to the forest administration. Action is being taken by Forest department to evict such encroachments in co-operation with Revenue and Police officials. Efforts are also being taken to strengthen the infrastructure enabling the department to curtail fresh encroachments. 2.5.7. Production Forestry ‘Timber’ is an important forest produce required by people for household as well as for industrial purposes. Indiscriminate exploitation of timber in the past and geometrical progression of population increase has led to the situation that the timber from our forests is in short supply. To meet the requirement of the local people to the extent possible in respect of timber and forest produce, large scale planting of primary and secondary timber species on forest lands, poramboke lands and canal bunds as well as encouraging the planting of timber species by public in private lands, will be taken up. 5 2.5.8. Forestry for Tribal development Tribals are at the centre of the forest eco-system. Their economy is dependent upon the forest resources. It is proposed to create tree / vegetation-based assets in tribal and forestlands that would generate sustained benefits to tribals. Employment generation, improving the infrastructure facilities in tribal villages and education will be given adequate impetus. 2.5.9. Extension Forestry Forest Extension activities are undertaken in all districts of Tamil Nadu through Forest Extension Centres. These extension centres are disseminating tree growing knowledge to the farmers with a concept of “forests to farm lands”.