**Executive Summary**
This document is the response to Unstarred Question No. 105 in Lok Sabha, set to be answered on December 1, 2025, regarding ecological degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss in Tamil Nadu. It addresses the assessment of such issues in the Western Ghats, the funds allocated and disbursed under centrally sponsored schemes, and the steps taken by the Government to strengthen monitoring and restoration efforts. The response clarifies the status of ecological assessments, fund allocation, and conservation measures.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ecological Assessment:**
* The State Government has not conducted a comprehensive assessment of ecological degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss in the Western Ghats region covering the Tirunelveli district.
* **Fund Allocation:**
* No fund allotment has been made under Centrally Sponsored Schemes like the National Afforestation Programme or Green India Mission in the Tirunelveli district.
* The following ear-wise fund allotment were received under State CAMPA scheme to the following forest divisions:
* Kalakad
* 2020-21: -
* 2021-22: -
* 2022-23: 3.25 lakhs
* 2023-24: -
* 2024-25: -
* Total: 3.25 lakhs
* Ambasa
* 2020-21: -
* Mudram
* 2021-22: -
* 2022-23: 1.190 lakhs
* 2023-24: -
* 2024-25: -
* Total: 1.190 lakhs
* **Conservation Efforts:**
* Planting of Ficus species in the periphery of water spread areas (5 Ha) and awareness programs were conducted in both divisions under the CAMPA scheme during 2022-23.
* Ministry has published draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats vide S.O. 3060(E) dated 31.07.2024 with an area of 56,825 square kilometre. 6914 square kilometre (12.16%) falls within the State of Tamil Nadu, which includes five talukas of Tirunelveli District.
* The Ministry considers suggestions from State Governments, balancing conservation, rights, and developmental needs.
* Legislative and policy interventions such as the Tamil Nadu Hill Area (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1955, notification of ecologically significant areas are being used to protect trees and forests.
* Conservation initiatives like Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve, and restoration projects are underway to safeguard the Western Ghats.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** The State Government's lack of comprehensive ecological assessment in the Tirunelveli district is noted. The State Government also provides suggestions on conservation.
* **Action Required:** The State Government needs to consider these deficiencies and provide suggestions to ensure a comprehensive ecosystem management.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is responsible for strengthening monitoring, enforcing compliance, and ensuring the restoration of forest and catchment areas.
* **Action Required:** To continue implementing legislative policies and conservation initiatives.
**Local Communities in the Western Ghats region of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** The conservation efforts and regulations directly impact their rights, privileges, and developmental aspirations.
* **Action Required:** To ensure compliance with environmental safeguards, while the Ministry needs to take into view conservation aspects of the ecosystem, and the rights, privileges, needs and developmental aspirations of the region.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry responsible for addressing ecological issues and biodiversity loss mentioned in the context.
Western Ghats: A region in India that is the focus of assessment for ecological degradation, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.
Tamil Nadu: The state where the Western Ghats region under assessment is located.
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA): A scheme under which funds were allotted to forest divisions.
Tirunelveli: A district within Tamil Nadu where ecological degradation is assessed.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 105
TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.12.2025
Ecological Degradation, Deforestation and Biodiversity loss in Tamil Nadu
105. SHRI ROBERT BRUCE C:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of ecological degradation, deforestation
and biodiversity loss in the Western Ghats region covering Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu
during the last five years and the current year;
(b) the details of the funds allocated and disbursed under centrally sponsored schemes such as the
National Afforestation Programme, Green India Mission and Compensatory Afforestation Fund
Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for projects in Tamil Nadu, particularly in
Tirunelveli district; and
(c) the steps being taken by the Government to strengthen central monitoring, enforcing compliance
with environmental safeguards and ensuring time-bound restoration of forest and catchment areas
in the Western Ghats and the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) As informed by the State Government, the comprehensive assessment of ecological
degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss in the Western Ghats region covering Tirunelveli
district has not been conducted.
(b) There is no fund allotment under Centrally Sponsored Schemes such as the National
Afforestation Programme and Green India Mission in Tirunelveli district. However, following ear
wise fund allotment were received under State CAMPA scheme to the following forest divisions:
Divisions Year Amount Spent (Rs.in lakhs)
Kalakad 2020-21 -
2021-22 -
2022-23 3.25
2023-24 -
2024-25 -
Total 3.25
Ambasa 2020-21 -
Mudram 2021-22 -
2022-23 1.1902023-24 -
2024-25 -
Total 1.190
In CAMPA scheme during 2022-23, planting of Ficus species., in the periphery of water spread area
(5 Ha) was carried out and awareness programmes were conducted in both divisions.
(c) In order to protect the rich biodiversity of Western Ghats region, the Ministry Environment,
Forest and Climate Change has published the draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Area of
Western Ghats, vide S.O. 3060(E) dated 31.07.2024 with an area of 56,825 square kilometre. Of this,
a total area of 6914 square kilometre (12.16%) falls within the State of Tamil Nadu, which includes
five talukas of Tirunelveli District namely Ambasamudram, Nanguneri, Shenkottai, Sivagiri and
Tenkasi.
Further, the Ministry examines the suggestions provided by the respective State Governments in a
holistic manner, keeping in the view the conservation aspects of the ecosystem, and the rights,
privileges, needs and developmental aspirations of the region.
Further, the protection and preservation of trees in the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu has been
strengthened through a range of legislative and policy interventions. These include Hill Area
Protection under the Tamil Nadu Hill Area (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1955, Hill Area Conservation
Authority, constituted under the Tamil Nadu Town and Country Planning Act, 1971, notification of
ecologically significant areas contiguous with or enclaved within forest areas are notified as Private
Forests under the Tamil Nadu Preservation of Private Forests Act, 1949. In addition, several
conservation initiatives also contribute to safeguarding the Western Ghats, such as Project Tiger and
Project Elephant, Agasthiyarmalai Biosphere Reserve, Restoration of Degraded Forests (RDF)
Landscapes, Grassland Management Schemes for the restoration of native grasses.
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