The forest area in Tamil Nadu has increased by 219 sq. km in recent years. This has resulted in forest coverage of the State going up to 18.33 per cent of the total land area of the State from the earlier 17 per cent, according to Forest Minister M.S.M. Anandan
He was addressing the State-level celebrations organised here on Saturday to mark the World Forestry Day. The General Assembly of European Union declared March 21 as the World Forestry Day in 1971
Speaking at the function, he said that State Government had launched biodiversity conservation and greening project in 2011-12, during the earlier AIADMK regime. The Japan International Cooperation Agency provided Rs. 686 crore for this project, which is slated for completion by 2018-19.
“Tamil Nadu is one of the few States in India in which forest cover is growing. The state will soon achieve the National Forest Policy 1988 goals of maintaining 33 per cent of total geographical area under forest and tree cover.”
Further, he said that 3.78 crore of plant saplings have been planted in 2,976 villages at a cost of Rs.274.75 crore.
Speaking earlier, Valparai MLA M. Arumugam said that the measures taken to protest the forests and wildlife must not adversely affect the people living in forest areas.
An eco-tourism vehicle purchased at Rs. 11 lakh to transport tourists at Kovai Courtallam was also flagged off on the occasion.. The Forest Minister inaugurated an exhibition showcasing forest products, after which he planted saplings. Mr. Anandan also gave away a total sum of Rs. 10 lakh as compensation for crop damages and injuries in animal attacks. A revolving fund of Rs. 5 lakh was given to self-help groups in forest-dependent villages.
Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development, S.P. Velumani, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vinod Kumar, Rajiv K. Srivastava, Director, Tamil Nadu Forest Academy, District Forest Officer (DFO) M. Senthil Kumar and other Forest Department officials, wildlife and environmental conservation groups, took part in the celebrations.
Special Correspondent from Udhagamandalam adds:
Tree planting and other conservation related programmes marked the observance of World Forestry Day in various parts of the Nilgiris on Saturday.
Some members of the National Green Corps (NGC) were taken by volunteers of the Nilgiri Environment and Cultural Service Trust (NEST) to the dump yard of the town at Theetukkal near here to create awareness about the need to manage waste efficiently in order to protect the forests and the environment.
Members of the Nilgiri Wildlife and Environment Association (NWEA) organised a sapling planting programme at the Government Arts College.
A nature camp was organised at Longwood Shola near Kotagiri under the aegis of the Longwood Shola Watchdog Committee and the YWCA. Among the beneficiaries were students of the Nallayan Middle School, Kotagiri.
