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Tamil Nadu Notifies 100 Reserved Forest Blocks, Adding 13,495 Hectares

The multi-year step lifts forest and tree cover to 24.47%, short of the 33% policy goal.

Overview

  • Notifications completed from 2021 to 2025 confer Reserved Forest status following rights settlement and field verification under the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882.
  • The 100 blocks span 10 districts, with Dindigul leading by count (37), followed by the Nilgiris (20) and Theni (8).
  • Kallakurichi contributes the largest new area at about 4,118 hectares, while Theni’s Highwavy block is the single largest at 2,836 hectares.
  • Officials say the expansion strengthens wildlife habitat connectivity, safeguards watersheds and enhances carbon sequestration through stronger legal protection.
  • The government marked the milestone with a booklet release by Forests Minister R. S. Rajakannappan alongside senior forest department officials.