6. Forests, Wildlife and Environment - Tamil Nadu Government

manner to avoid further loss of forest lands and its consequential fallouts. Theworks to be carried out under forest consolidation are re-fixing of forestboundaries, preparing detailed maps using GPS in the territorial divisions,planting of agave along the Reserve Forest (RF) boundaries in the territorialdivisions, dibbling of Palmyrah nuts along the RF boundaries wherevernecessary at two metre interval in two rows., planting of Acacia mellifera attwo meter espacement will be done over 200 km per year along the RFboundaries, repair and maintenance of the existing RF Cairns wherevernecessary at 4000 Nos. per year, construction of new RF Cairns at 20000Nos.per year and the identified encroachments will be evicted at Rs. 25,000/- perhectare including the cost of consolidation and re-planting by suitable treesat 20 hectare per year.The vulnerable patches in the forest areas, particularly fragile ecosystems,which have been subjected to exotic weed infestations, and these are degradingthe ecosystems by affecting the natural regeneration of the native species.Hence the unwanted grass and weeds in vulnerable areas will be removedand planted with suitable species at 1.5 x 1.5m espacement at 100 ha. perdivision.Forest fire is a major problem facing most of the forest areas of the State.The problem is most acute in the hill areas of Western Ghats and EasternGhats. The problem is severe during the months of January to June, till theonset of monsoon. The winter ensures the desiccation of the inflammablematerials in the forests and this is aided by frost. The strong winds in summermonths further add to the problem. Graziers, forest abutting estates, negligentactivities of the villagers in the forest abutting villages, ganja cultivators andaccidental causes from tourists and along the roads passing through the forestsare the major causes of the forest fires. The resultant loss to naturalregeneration and biodiversity warrants greater focus to tackle this menace.The preventive measures which are proposed to be taken up are RF levelfire prone area maps for all the Reserve forest, formation of village protectioncommittees, special camps for the eradication of ganja and other illegalactivities, reward to informers training programme to field staff, providing waterstorage facilities, creation of water impounding structures, mass awarenesscamps, creation of cattle ponds, engaging watchers for fire season, fire tracing,fire line clearing and maintenance and purchase of fire fighting equipments.257