Registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India under R.N.I 53640/91
Vol. XXVII No. 15, November 16-30, 2017
Government goes on green drive, unveils draft Forest Policy
by A Special Correspondent
Government goes on green drive, unveils draft Forest Policy. The draft State Forest Policy has been formulated by the Tamil Nadu Government with 16 thrust areas. The following are the main objectives of the draft policy:
-Environmental and ecological stability
-Biodiversity, wildlife and genetic resource conservation
-Rehabilitation and restoration of degraded forests
-Coastal ecosystem conservation and management
-Forest protection for resource management and augmentation
-Sustainable forest management
-Enhancement of tree cover outside forests for livelihood security
-Water augmentation through forest conservation and integrated watershed management
-Upliftment of forest-dependent women and ensuring significant role for them in forest management
-Tribal development to ensure economic prosperity and ecological stability
-Technological support, research and development for scientific forest management
-Forest extension for tree cover augmentation, outreach and conservation education for wild life management support
-Forestry for rural energy security
-Eco-tourism for supporting conservation
-Human resource development for forest management
-Climate change mitigation
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 a pollinator population of birds, bees, butterflies, etc.
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 less than 40 per cent) in re-afforestation and protection through village forest committees (VFCs). Steps will be taken to increase the representation of women in VFCs and increase the number of committees headed by women.
For the first time, the Government has decided to provide adequate facilities, including weapons, communication equipment and vehicles for forest protection staff to discharge their duties effectively. Special forces engaged in anti-poaching will be well-trained and armed.
