T.N. government notifies 100 reserve forests in last five years

The recent announcement by the Tamil Nadu government, notifying 100 new reserve forest blocks across 10 districts over the last five years, marks a significant stride in the state's commitment to environmental conservation. This action is not an isolated event but rather a crucial component of India's broader strategy to enhance its forest cover, protect biodiversity, and mitigate climate change.

**Background Context and What Happened:**

Forests are vital ecosystems, acting as carbon sinks, critical habitats for diverse flora and fauna, and providers of essential ecosystem services like water regulation and soil conservation. In India, forest management has a long history, initially shaped by colonial forest laws like the Indian Forest Act of 1927, which primarily focused on timber extraction and state control. Post-independence, the focus gradually shifted towards conservation and sustainable management. The concept of 'Reserve Forests' (RFs) under this Act denotes areas legally declared and protected for forest produce or environmental purposes, where strict restrictions are placed on activities like hunting, grazing, and timber collection unless permitted. The notification of an area as a reserve forest involves a detailed legal process, including settlement of rights of people living within or dependent on these areas. By notifying 100 new RF blocks, Tamil Nadu has effectively brought additional forest areas under a higher degree of legal protection, restricting human activities that could degrade these valuable habitats. These new blocks are spread across diverse districts such as Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Madurai, Kallakurichi, Theni, Sivagangai, Namakkal, the Nilgiris, Salem, and Tenkasi, highlighting a widespread effort across the state's varied ecological zones.

**Key Stakeholders Involved:**

This initiative involves several key stakeholders. The **Tamil Nadu Forest Department** is the primary agency responsible for identifying, surveying, notifying, and managing these reserve forests. The **State Government of Tamil Nadu** provides the policy direction, legal framework, and financial resources for these conservation efforts. **Local communities**, particularly tribal groups and other traditional forest dwellers, are crucial stakeholders whose rights and livelihoods are directly impacted by such declarations. Their involvement in conservation and their rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, are paramount. **Environmental NGOs and conservationists** play a role in advocacy, monitoring, and sometimes assisting in community-based conservation. At the national level, the **Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)** oversees national forest policy and provides guidelines, while the **Judiciary** occasionally intervenes to ensure environmental laws are upheld.

**Significance for India and Historical Context:**

This move by Tamil Nadu holds immense significance for India. Environmentally, it directly contributes to **biodiversity conservation**, protecting unique ecosystems and species. It strengthens India's overall **forest cover**, which is crucial for achieving national and international climate goals. India aims to create an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030, as part of its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Such state-level actions are vital in meeting this target. Socially, while providing protection, careful implementation is needed to ensure the rights of forest-dependent communities are respected, particularly under the **Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (FRA)**. The **National Forest Policy, 1988**, emphasizes the ecological functions of forests and the need for people's participation in their management, moving away from purely commercial exploitation. Historically, India's forest laws have evolved from a resource-centric approach to a more conservation and community-centric one, a journey reflected in the various Acts passed since independence, including the **Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972**, and the **Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980**.

**Related Constitutional Articles and Future Implications:**

This initiative is deeply rooted in India's constitutional framework. **Article 48A** of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) mandates that