Tamil Nadu Government Drafts forest policy to increase Forest Cover.

TNPSC Current Affairs - November 2017 by TNPSC Guru - For Mains

Tamil Nadu State Government has drafted the new Forest policy to increase Forest cover from current 21.76 % to at least 30% by 2025. The new drafts forest policy which includes protection of natural forest  and wildlife , conservation of eco-systems and their genetic diversity, environment stabilisation, Augmentation of water resources , enhancing forest productivity.

The New forest policy is the part of VISION TAMIL NADU 2025 strategic plan for development which is launched in 2014. Nurturing a rich heritage and preserving the ecology is one of the themes of VISION Tamil Nadu 2025 which aim to increase the Forest cover and protect it.

Some of the objectives of Forest policy  are (source www.forests.tn.gov.in)

• Environmental and Ecological stability,
• Biodiversity , wildlife and genetic resource Conservation
• Rehabilitation and Restoration of Degraded forests.
• Coastal Eco system conservation and management
• Forest Protection for resource management and Augmentation
• Upliftment of forest dependent women and ensuring a significant role for them in Forest management
• Sustainable forest management, Water augmentation, Tribal development, supporting Eco Tourism and more.

For more detail about Forest policy - https://www.forests.tn.gov.in/app/webroot/img/DRAFT%20STATE%20FOREST%20POLICY%20-%20ENGLISH.pdf