The draft State Forest Policy has been formulated with 16 thrust areas, including protection of natural forests and wildlife, conservation of ecosystems and their genetic diversity, environment stabilisation and integrated watershed management.
Upliftment of forest-dependent women and ensuring a significant role for them in forest management along with tribal development will also be the key focus areas.
The primary objective will be conservation of dense forest areas covering approximately 8,676 sq. km through strict enforcement of forest laws. To manage these forests, the forest department plans to convert the exotic plantations into natural forests, both through natural and artificial regeneration, with indigenous species that will sustain pollinator population of birds, bees, butterflies etc.
While 26.01% of the forest area declared as Protected Area (PA), Tamil Nadu is also a part of one of the global mega biodiversity hotspots, the western ghats. In this, the strategy will be to increase the conservation area network through acquisition of corridors and extension of habitats. This will establish protected area linkages with reserved forests and provide wider habitat areas for wildlife. This will also ensure free genetic flow.
Voluntary relocation of forest dwellers through suitable relocation package and compensation, and identification and notification of eco-sensitive zones to safeguard sensitive and ecologically fragile areas will continue.
‘No regularisation’
While the draft policy has nothing specific about protection of water bodies in urban areas, it notes that the natural resources are threatened by various factors like fire, illicit grazing, encroachment, illicit felling of trees, ganja cultivation and wildlife poaching. Encroachments inside the reserved forests will be removed and no encroachment in the forest will be regularised, the draft policy clearly states.
The State will look for the willing participation of local people living near open forest land (with crown density of less than 40%) in re-afforestation and protection through village forest committees (VFCs). “If specific interventions are not resorted to, these open forests are likely to degrade,” the draft policy noted.
In VFCs, steps will be taken to increase the representation of women and increase the number of committees headed by women. People will be discouraged from maintaining large herds of non-essential livestock in and around forest areas. Grazing in forests will be regulated.
Weapons for protection
For the first time, the government has decided to provide adequate facilities including weapons, communication facility and vehicles for forest protection staff to discharge their duties effectively. Special forces engaged in anti-poaching will be well trained and armed. These staff will also be made aware of the existing laws and procedures and the prosecution side will be strengthened to ensure offenders are brought to book. Towards this, the government will seek co-operation from national and international agencies.
On new roads in wildlife areas, especially elephant corridors in the western ghats and other eco-sensitive areas, the draft policy is not firm. “New roads will generally be discouraged,” it states.
Taking an ambitious stand, the policy states that the present forest and tree cover will be increased to at least 30% by 2025 from the present level of 21.76%. Apart from multi-stakeholder partnerships and public-private collaborative efforts, the government will look to form new self-help groups with specific objectives.
Finally, on funding, the draft State Forest Policy states that the National Forestry Commission has recommended allocation of 2.5% of the budget for forest and wildlife improvement. The State government will progressively increase the budget allotment to the Forest Department every year to fulfil the goals of the policy, with “due regard to the fiscal constraints that may exist from year to year.”
The draft policy can be downloaded at: https://www.forests.tn.gov.in/pages/view/draft_State_Forest_Policy
