The government also plans to conserve sacred groves, which have been protected for centuries by locals due to their religious significance. Photo shows a grove at Manjamalai village near Madurai.
The State government has issued an order to establish the Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund with an initial corpus of ₹50 crore, aiming to protect the endangered and critically endangered species.
The fund will begin with a contribution of ₹5 crore by the government, with additional funds to be raised through government entities, corporate social responsibility contributions, and national and international donations.
According to the G.O. issued by the Principal Secretary, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, on November 26, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden has outlined several key objectives and strategies for the fund’s utilisation. These include surveying, assessing, and mapping threatened species across the State, enhancing conservation efforts both inside and outside protected areas, and building partnerships for the long-term protection of vulnerable species.
Key activities under the fund include the establishment of geotagged planting sites and nurseries to promote species restoration, along with the development of species-specific conservation and rehabilitation plans. A network of partnerships with government departments, private sectors, and local communities will be built to ensure sustainable conservation outcomes, the order said.
Additionally, the fund will explore cultural preservation through the State’s Sacred Groves, leveraging the Tamil Nadu Preservation of Private Forests Act, 1949, and the Tamil Nadu Hill Preservation Act, 1955, to strengthen conservation efforts. The government will also collaborate with tribal communities and educational institutions to engage a wider public in conservation initiatives, the order stated.
In line with this, the fund will identify and protect high conservation value areas outside protected zones, which are crucial habitats for many threatened species.
Recognising the value of traditional conservation methods, the government also plans to conserve sacred groves, which have been protected for centuries by locals due to their religious significance. These Sacred Natural Sites may be declared Biodiversity Heritage Sites under the National Biodiversity Act, further enhancing the protection of these ecologically valuable areas, according to the order.
Managed by the reorganised State Forest Development Agency, the fund will be initially overseen by the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Foundation, which will provide audited reports on its activities. The corpus will be held in the Tamil Nadu Power Finance Corporation or Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation until further arrangements are made.
Published – December 01, 2024 06:57 pm IST
