ENVIRONMENT AND FOREST DEPARTMENT POLICY NOTE 2005-2006 DEMAND NO. 14 INTRODUCTION 1.1. Forest as a life supporting system plays a very crucial role in the ecological stability and rural development of our State. It is the forests that have preserved the soil and their heavy humus that has acted as a porous reservoir to retain water and gradually releasing it in a sustained flow over a long period of time to feed the low lying agricultural areas. Management of forests conserves the basic land resource, while yielding high level of production in five major areas of use viz. water, wood, forage, wildlife and recreation for the benefit of society. 1.2. 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. 1.4. Ensuring ecological security of the people of the State is an important mandate of the 15 point programme being implemented by this Government. 1.5. The forest eco-system of the State consists of a variety of flora and fauna representing remarkable bio- diversity essential for the environmental stability and water conservation thereby creating food security for survival of present and the future generations. 1.6. This policy note for Forest Department, while identifying the immediate concerns of the forestry sector in the State, lays down broad guidelines for future management perspectives by encouraging participation of local village communities in Forest Management through Joint Forest Management by organising them into Village Forest Committees. 1 2. FOREST DEPARTMENT 2.1. 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. 2.2. Forest Policy The National Forest Policy of 1988 of Government of India lays down the guiding principles for Forest Management in India. As the management of forests has been left to the State Government, a State Forest Policy in consonance with the principles of National Forest Policy is under consideration. 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 tree cover. 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. 2.3. 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; • Stabilizing coastal eco-system from natural disasters like Cyclones, Tsunami, etc. • 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); • Harnessing non-conventional energy resources and contributing to energy security of remote villages; • 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, beetles, butterflies and animals; 2 • Making available the traditional forest produce to be used rightfully by the tribal people living inside forests; 2.4. Strategy In order to meet the objectives, various strategies are planned as detailed below. 2.4.1. Increasing green cover Union Planning Commission has recommended that the forest / tree cover 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). 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 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. The total percentage of area under Forest / Tree cover is reported as 21.17 % of the total geographical area. 2.4.2. 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 (JFM)” for sustained flow of benefits to the people. Substantial degraded forestland remains to be ecologically rehabilitated in the State. 2.4.3. 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. 2.4.4. Management of Sanctuaries, National Parks and Biosphere reserves 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 two biosphere reserves. In addition to these, there are 12 birds sanctuaries declared for protecting the bird habitat outside Reserve Forest areas. 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. 3 2.4.5. Catchment Area Management 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. 2.4.6. 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. 2.4.7. 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