Latest news with #TamilNaduForestDepartment
Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
TN Forest Dept deploys high-tech drones to boost wildlife monitoring and fire management
Chennai: In a major technological upgrade, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department is introducing advanced drones to strengthen its operations in wildlife monitoring, forest fire control, and anti-poaching efforts. The initiative, supported by the Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), will see the deployment of these drones across 13 territorial forest circles in the state. I. Anwardeen, Chief Project Director of TBGPCCR, said the newly procured drones are equipped with cutting-edge features, including a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera, a thermal sensor with zoom capability, and GPS integration, making them highly effective for both daytime and night-time operations. One of the primary objectives of this drone deployment is the real-time tracking of elephants. By monitoring their movements, the drones can help alert nearby villages when elephants stray close to human settlements, reducing the risk of human-wildlife conflict. The GPS functionality enables precise and timely alerts, enhancing response time for forest officials. The drones will also be instrumental in tackling forest fires. Their thermal sensors can identify the origin of fires, determine the spread, and assess whether the affected areas are accessible to ground teams. Post-fire surveys conducted using aerial footage will provide critical insights into damage sustained by tree species, wildlife, and small mammals, aiding in effective restoration and rehabilitation strategies. Beyond surveillance, the drones support various add-ons such as searchlights, loudspeakers, and laser range finders—tools that significantly enhance their utility in complex terrains and emergency scenarios. These features allow forest teams to carry out diverse operations with greater efficiency and accuracy. 'These drones are transforming the way we work in the field. Tasks that would earlier take up to 20 days of manual labour can now be completed in just a few hours,' said Anwardeen. To ensure efficient use of the new technology, the department will train three staff members from each forest circle to operate the drones. This capacity-building initiative aims to develop a skilled in-house team of drone pilots across the state. Additionally, the department is planning to procure a separate class of drones dedicated to mapping forest terrains, studying ecological diversity, modelling topography, and analysing various forest types.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Awareness programme on vulture conservation held in Udhagamandalam
Arulagam, a non-governmental organisation, conducted a one-day awareness programme for pharmacists on the banned veterinary drugs that are harmful to vultures, at the Cairn Hill Forest Campus on Saturday. Following the ban on the drugs Diclofenac, Aceclofenac and Ketoprofen, the Government of India has banned the use of 'Nimesulide' for animals from January 1, 2025, intending to protect the endangered 'Paaru' vulture. Protecting the endangered species is a collective responsibility, and for the past 15 years, Arulagam has been actively working alongside the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Drugs Control Department, and Animal Husbandry Department to prevent the extinction of this rare species in the Nilgiris. During the awareness programme, experts from the Forest Department and the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) emphasised the vital role vultures play in the ecosystem and the necessity of spreading awareness among pharmacists to refrain from dispensing the banned drugs, harmful to the species.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Special postal cover backs ‘Born to Fly' campaign, avifauna conservation
The Department of Posts, in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Forest Department on Thursday released a special cover on 'Born to Fly' campaign at the Head Post Office Coimbatore on the occasion of International Day for Biological Divsersity. Siva Shankar, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Coimbatore Division, released the special cover in the presence of District Forest Officer N. Jayaraj and Kasi Vishwanathan, Senior Postmaster, Head Post Office, Coimbatore. The event emphasised the importance of protecting birds, especially the 12 parakeet species native to India that are protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 'This world is not just for us. It is for the birds too', said Mr. Shankar. Drawing a parallel between the travel of postcards and the migratory nature of birds, Mr. Jayaraj noted the symbolic connection between communication and conservation. 'The postal department has always been a friend of the common man, and now, of nature too', he said. The special cover was conceptualised by Joseph Reginald Louis, featuring an illustration by cartoonist G. Bala. It states that buying, selling and caging of parakeets is 'cruel' and 'punishable offence'. A brochure released as part of the special cover featured photographs of Alexandrine parakeet and Rose-ringed parakeet by T.R.A. Arunthavaselvan. Mr. Viswanathan delivered the vote of thanks, acknowledging the efforts of all stakeholders. As a part of the campaign, a world record attempt for the 'largest cereal grain artwork' was made for the Asia Book of Records, to create awareness against the illegal and cruel caging of parakeets, at Prozone Mall in the evening. Born to Fly campaign is supported by Animal Rescuers, The Anaamalaiss Group, ARC Parcel Service, Rotary Club of Coimbatore Cotton City and Global Medi Exporters and Sri Jayendra Saraswathy Vidyalaya.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Mangrove belt takes root along Buckingham Canal in Chennai
For years, the Buckingham Canal along East Coast Road, like much of Tamil Nadu's ecosystem, suffered from neglect and the spread of invasive species — most notably prosopis juliflora, which had overrun its banks. Now, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has launched an initiative to restore a stretch of the canal by establishing a green belt of native mangrove species along its edge. 'A flourishing new mangrove forest has come up near Buckingham Canal in Kazhipattur in Chennai. Under the Green TN Mission,TN Forest Department had planted 12,500 mangrove seedlings from 5 different species last year,' wrote Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests in social media platform X. While overall mangrove cover in Tamil Nadu has increased over the past decade, as highlighted in a report by the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management, Anna University, coverage in Chennai and Chengalpattu has always remained comparatively low, when measured against coastal districts like Cuddalore and Thiruvarur. To address this and recognising the role of mangroves as natural 'bioshields' in coastal zones, the Forest Department initiated restoration efforts by first removing the invasive prosopis near Navalur, behind the Hiranandani apartment complex. V.A. Saravanan, Chennai District Forest Officer, said to ensure the right foundation for the mangroves to flourish, soil and water samples were gathered and handed over to Sathyabama University. There, scientists examined the land's pH, salinity, and texture. A mangrove expert from Muthupet, Sankar, was also roped in. Following a site assessment, he confirmed the suitability of the area and recommended appropriate species based on the site's salinity and tidal conditions. Since mangroves require regular exposure to saline water, 87 channels, each 3 metres wide and 1 metre deep, were dug to allow tidal flow into the plantation site. Additionally, a 'fish bone' model was implemented, consisting of seven feeder canals connected to 80 distribution canals. This system enables the controlled movement of saltwater through the site to support mangrove growth, said Mr. Saravanan. A total of 12,500 mangrove saplings across six salt-tolerant species were planted: Rhizophora mucronata, Bruguiera cylindrica, Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, Excoecaria agallocha, Acanthus illicifolius. The DFO said that maintenance of the mangrove forest will continue for six more months.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's endangered species fund hits a snag; AIWC to now manage ₹50 crore corpus
After the Tamil Nadu Forest Department's plan to safeguard endangered wildlife hit a roadblock, it has been decided to reroute the funds through a different institution. Announced in 2024 with an initial corpus of ₹50 crore, the Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund was initially set to be managed by the State Forest Development Agency (SFDA). However, concerns have emerged after it was found that the SFDA, a body responsible for promoting forestry development, has been largely defunct and inactive for some time. In a government order issued in November 2024, the SFDA was designated as the managing agency for the fund, which was to be initially overseen by the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Foundation. The corpus of ₹50 crore was to be held by the Tamil Nadu Power Finance Corporation or the Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation until further arrangements were made, according to the G.O. However, after scrutiny, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, acknowledged that the agency's inability to operate effectively would hinder the fund's intended goals. Ms. Sahu said that upon realising the SFDA's dysfunctional status, there were initial plans to create a new society or trust to manage the fund. However, this process was expected to take at least six months, which would delay the fund's deployment. To address this, the Forest Department has now decided to transfer the responsibility of managing the fund to the Advanced Institute of Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) in Vandalur, an institution known for its research and initiatives in wildlife conservation, which has been recently registered as a society. The AIWC has been deemed an ideal candidate to handle the funds efficiently and effectively, according to Ms. Sahu. Key objectives of the fund 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. Soon, the AIWC is expected to invite grant proposals for research on endangered species in the State, including Salim Ali's fruit bat, Malabar Civet, White-rumped vulture, Nilgiris wart frog, White-spotted bush frog, and Anamalai flying frog.
