Government of Tamil Nadu Welcomes You

During 1994-95, our Government conceived a unique programme called Tamilnadu Afforestation Project, which is being implemented for a period of five years from 1997-98. The project activities were contemplated upto 31.03.2002 with total outlay of Rs.499.20 crores against which an expenditure of Rs.441.00 crores was incurred upto 31.03.2002. Due to successful implementation and owing to Japanese yen escalating over its then rupee value, the Project is being continued with the balance money for two more years viz. for 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 at a cost of Rs.172.00 crores. During 2003-2004 it has been proposed to implement the scheme at an outlay of Rs.93.3472 crores. The major activities proposed are as follows:

Sl. No.	Activities	2002-2003	2003-2004
1	No. of villages to be covered	108	150
2	Degraded forest to be restored	27000 ha.	37500 ha.
3	Water Augmentation	5400 ha.	7500 ha.
4	Greening community lands	2500 ha.	2500 ha.
5	Buffer zone activities in 2002-2003 villages	108 villages	150 villages
6	Consolidation of 1997-98 and 1998-99 areas and buffer zone activities	400 villages	--

Apart from the above, all other components like maintenance of older plantations, expanding human capacity to conserve bio-diversity, vehicles and equipments, administration, training abroad etc will be continued in 2003-2004.

Wildlife schemes in Tamil Nadu are implemented with the main objective to conserve and protect the flora and fauna of the protected areas. Development works like habitat improvement measures, research and development, conducting of census, education awareness programmes, protection measures, eco-tourism, conducting anti-poaching camps, fireline clearing, providing drinking water facilities to the local villagers, health camps, erection of publicity hoarding etc., are being undertaken in Sanctuaries, National Parks and Biosphere reserves.

Arignar Anna Zoological Park is one of the biggest and most scientifically managed zoos in India. Special emphasis will be given for ex-situ conservation of endangered species, habitat improvement and public amenities in the zoo.

During 2002-2003, these schemes have been implemented at a cost of Rs.671.19 lakhs. During, 2003-2004, the outlay is Rs.356.09 lakhs.

This scheme is being implemented for eco-restoration in Nilgiris. The objective of the scheme is to enlarge the permanent green cover and to regulate biotic interference in the forest so as to preserve, protect and develop the ecological condition through afforestation and soil conservation and other developmental activities. Activities like tree planting in degraded forest areas, erection of chainlink fence around shola forests, enriching degraded sholas through soil and water conservation measures, scraping and maintenance of fire lines to prevent forest fire are being executed under this scheme.

During the year 2002-2003 this scheme has been implemented at a cost of Rs.355.95 lakhs and the above scheme is proposed to be implemented with a financial outlay of Rs.400.00 lakhs during 2003-2004. An amount of Rs.2.10 lakhs has been earmarked for the new schemes during the current year for creation of tree parks on the road sides with endemic species groves.

The Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu comprise of 5,596 square kilometers of forests, out of the total forest area of 22,870 square kilometers. To avoid the degradation process of forest eco-system and to improve the existing status of forests with enriched fauna and flora of Western Ghats, gap planting, construction of water harvesting structures in micro watersheds, planting with minor forest produce species and habitat amelioration and manipulation for wildlife will be taken up. All schemes under this programme will be implemented by involving people through Joint Forest Management and on integrated watershed basis.

The scheme has been implemented at a cost of Rs.375.65 lakhs during 2002-2003 and the above scheme is proposed to be implemented with financial outlay of Rs.300.00 lakhs during 2003-2004. It was also decided to propose the new scheme at a cost of Rs.40.00 lakhs for 2003-2004 for approval of the Union Planning Commission, Government of India towards conservation and development of medicinal plants in priority watersheds of Western Ghats region.

The main objective of this scheme to control forest fires and strengthen the forest protection in Tamilnadu. The works like fireline clearing, assistance to Joint Forest Management committees, creating water bodies, purchase of vehicles and communication equipments, purchase of fire fighting tools, etc., are being undertaken.

During 2002-2003, this scheme has been implemented at a cost of Rs.100.00 lakhs and it is proposed to implement this scheme during 2003-2004 at an outlay of Rs.371.08 lakhs.

The main focus and thrust of forest research in Tamil Nadu are in the fields of bio-diversity conservation, eco-system service ensurement and bio-productivity enhancement. The above scheme has been implemented at a cost of Rs.100.00 lakhs under Forest Development Fund during 2002-2003. It is proposed to continue the scheme during 2003-2004.

Under this scheme, raising of plantations in tribal areas, construction of schools buildings, formation of road in tribal areas and departmental activities in sandal estates works are being carried out.

In order to establish linkages between rural development, assured rural employment generation and forest conservation, Government of India have contemplated Forest Development Agency concept with interlink approaches with a single umbrella scheme viz., NAP. The Government of India funded afforestation schemes are being implemented from 2002-2003 onwards through Forest Development Agencies on Joint Forest Management basis for which Forest Development Agencies are being formed in the implementing divisions. The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has sent proposal for forming 15 Forest Development Agencies for five years. So far, the Government of India have sanctioned Forest Development Agencies to be implemented in 13 divisions with total outlay of Rs.4047.54 lakhs for 5 years and sanctioned Rs.918.52 lakhs for the year 2002-2003. For the year 2003-2004, the Government of India sanctioned Rs.1062.88 lakhs for these 13 Forest Development Agencies.

Tamil Nadu Forest Department was implementing the Social Forestry project with the financial assistance from SIDA, Sweden since 1981. Raising karuvel trees in the lakes / tank foreshores has been the major component under this scheme besides raising plantations in degraded hillocks and poramboke lands. The SIDA financial assistance was discontinued with effect from 01.04.96. Later on, the previous Government imposed a ban on karuvel planting in lakes / tank foreshores, etc. Now the ban has been lifted by this Government. As a follow up it is proposed to revive karuvel plantations during 2003-2004.

A project proposal on "Conservation and sustainable use of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserves Coastal Bio-diversity" has been approved for assistance from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF). The objective of the project is to conserve coastal bio-diversity and to reduce the pressure on the marine sea resources caused by overexploitation and shift it to land based activities through employment generation. The project with an outlay of Rs.123.94 crores will be implemented by this department through a trust, which has been constituted by the Government. This project was launched by the Hon'ble Chief Minister on 18.07.2002.

During 2002-2003, assistance from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) was received for Rs.50.00 lakhs. During 2003-2004 the scheme is proposed to be implemented with an outlay of Rs.5.15 crores.

The Wasteland Development Programme in Tamil Nadu is being implemented with the objective of making unproductive wastelands productive. During 2002-2003 Forest Department produced 54 lakhs quality seedlings for planting in wastelands of 10 districts viz., Tirunelveli, Madurai, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore, Theni, Salem, Namakkal, Trichy, Dindigul, Ramnad and Pudukottai. An amount of Rs.3.62 crores was spent during 2002-2003 under the scheme for the above purpose.

The balance of 22 lakhs of quality seedlings other than karuvel such as Neem, vagai, sisu, tamarind, pungan, eucalyptus, subabul, casuarina, etc. raised under Wasteland Development Programme will be planted over an extent of 3,100 ha. in the tank beds of 10 selected districts during 2003-2004. For this purpose a sum of Rs.3.50 crores has been sanctioned.