**Executive Summary:**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is undertaking afforestation and ecorestoration activities in Tamil Nadu, including Cuddalore district, through various central and state schemes. The Green Tamil Nadu Mission aims to increase the state's tree and forest cover from 23.71% to 33% within 10 years. Numerous tree planting activities, including mangrove restoration, have been carried out with the involvement of various stakeholders, but no land was converted into forest in the last three years in Cuddalore.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Afforestation and Ecorestoration Initiatives:**
* The Ministry supports afforestation and ecorestoration in Tamil Nadu through various schemes.
* The Green Tamil Nadu Mission (launched in 2021-22) aims to increase forest cover from 23.71% to 33% within 10 years.
* The mission focuses on enhancing biodiversity, forest productivity, and farmers’ incomes.
* **Seedling Plantation Details:**
* 10.86 crore seedlings planted across Tamil Nadu from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
* 54.25 lakh seedlings planted in Cuddalore district involving various stakeholders.
* **Mangrove Restoration in Cuddalore:**
* 20 hectares of mangrove plantation in Killai and Pitchavaram Reserve Forests in 2022-23 under the NABARD scheme.
* 100 hectares of degraded mangrove area restored in Killai Reserve Forest in 2023-24 under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission (GTM) Bioshield initiative.
* 42,000 Excoecaria agallocha (Thillai) seedlings planted in Kudikadu and Killai Reserve Forests in 2023-24 under the GTM Bioshield.
* 100 hectares of degraded coastal area in Kodiyambalayam and Melathittu restored in 2024-25 under the GTM Bioshield program.
* 95 hectares of new mangroves planted and 250 hectares of degraded mangrove forests restored from 2022-23 to 2024-25 under various schemes.
* 52,000 mangrove seedlings planted using linear methods.
* **TNSHORE and Future Projects:**
* The World Bank-funded TNSHORE Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission will restore 160 hectares of degraded mangroves through Village Mangrove Councils (VMCs).
* A ₹4.00 crore project (2025-26 to 2027-28) aims to create a BioShield to prevent the impact of sea-level rise and coastal erosion in Cuddalore, including 60 hectares of mangrove plantation.
* **Forest Cover in Cuddalore:**
* Forest cover in Cuddalore district is 385.48 km (approximately 95,254.2 acres) as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023.
* **NGO and Private Sector Involvement:**
* 1.19 crore seedlings were planted by NGOs, trusts, and private institutions from 2022-23 to 2024-25.
* **Land Conversion:**
* No land was converted into forest in the last three years in Cuddalore district.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Tamil Nadu Forest Department:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing afforestation and ecorestoration activities, including mangrove restoration.
* *Action Required:* Continue implementing existing schemes and participate in new initiatives like TNSHORE.
* **Local Communities in Cuddalore District:**
* *Impact:* Involvement in mangrove restoration and potential beneficiaries of increased green cover and coastal protection.
* *Action Required:* Participate in Village Mangrove Councils (VMCs) and support restoration efforts.
* **NGOs, Trusts, and Private Institutions:**
* *Impact:* Contribute to increasing seedling plantation and forest cover.
* *Action Required:* Continue planting trees and participating in forestation drives.
* **Farmers:**
* *Impact:* Potential beneficiaries of increased income through trees on farmlands.
* *Action Required:* Participate in schemes promoting trees on farmlands.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India where afforestation and mangrove restoration activities are being undertaken.
Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu: A district in Tamil Nadu that is the specific focus of mangrove restoration and afforestation efforts mentioned in the policy.
Green Tamil Nadu Mission: A mission launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2021-22 to increase tree and forest cover in the state.
NABARD: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, an agency funding mangrove plantation projects in Tamil Nadu.
TNSHORE Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission: A World Bank-funded mission for restoring degraded mangroves in Tamil Nadu.
World Bank: An international financial institution providing funding for the TNSHORE Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission.
Killai Reserve Forest: A reserve forest in Cuddalore district where mangrove plantations and restoration activities are being carried out.
India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2023: A report published by the Forest Survey of India providing data on forest cover, including that of Cuddalore district.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3602
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Setting up of Mangrove Forest
3602. DR. M K VISHNU PRASAD:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the steps taken to increase forest area in Tamil Nadu, particularly in Cuddalore
district;
(b) the number of acres of forest cover in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu;
(c) whether any steps taken by the Government to setup mangrove forest in Cuddalore
constituency’s costal village sides, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of forestation drive like planting trees by Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) and other industrial houses in Tamil Nadu; and
(e) the data of lands converted into forest during the last three years in Cuddalore
district?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) The Ministry supports afforestation and eco-restoration activities in all States and
Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, through various schemes and
programmes. In addition, there are several State/UT-funded schemes that
specifically support afforestation and eco-restoration efforts. Based on the inputs
received from the State of Tamil Nadu, the Government of Tamil Nadu launched
the Green Tamil Nadu Mission in 2021–22 with the objective of increasing the tree
and forest cover from 23.71% to 33% of the State’s geographical area within 10
years. The mission focuses on enhancing biodiversity, forest productivity, trees on
farmlands, urban and peri-urban greenery, green employment, and farmers’
incomes. Over the last three years (2022–23 to 2024–25), 10.86 crore seedlings
have been planted across the State by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, other
government departments, NGOs, and the public. In Cuddalore district, about 54.25
lakh seedlings have been planted through the involvement of various stakeholders
In addition, the following tree planting activities have been carried out in
Cuddalore. In 2022–23, a 20-hectare mangrove plantation was undertaken in Killai
and Pitchavaram Reserve Forests under the NABARD scheme. During 2023–24,
100 hectares of degraded mangrove area were restored in Killai Reserve Forest
under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission (GTM) Bio-shield initiative. In the same
year, 42,000 Excoecaria agallocha (Thillai) seedlings were planted in linear rowsin Kudikadu and Killai Reserve Forests under the GTM Bio-shield. Further, in
2024–25, 100 hectares of degraded coastal area in Kodiyambalayam and
Melathittu were restored under the GTM Bio-shield programme.
The Tamil Nadu Forest Department has undertaken large-scale mangrove
restoration with community involvement. From 2022–23 to 2024–25, 95 hectares
of new mangroves were planted under NABARD, GTM, and NHAI schemes using
modified fish-bone designs. Additionally, 250 hectares of degraded mangrove
forests were restored under GTM and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), and
52,000 mangrove seedlings were planted using linear methods.
The Government has launched the World Bank-funded TN-SHORE / Tamil Nadu
Coastal Restoration Mission for restoring 160 hectares of degraded mangroves
through Village Mangrove Councils (VMCs). Additionally the Department of
Environment and Climate Change is implementing a ₹4.00 crore project (2025–26
to 2027–28) titled “Creation of Bio-Shield to Prevent the Impact of Sea Level Rise
and Coastal Erosion in Cuddalore District,” which includes 60 hectares of
mangrove plantation and 20 hectares of coastal bio-shield using resilient species.
As per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2023 published by the Forest
Survey of India, the forest cover in Cuddalore district is 385.48 km² (equivalent to
approximately 95,254.2 acres).
(d) & (e) About 1.19 crore seedlings were planted by NGOs, trusts, and private institutions
during 2022–23 to 2024–25. Major drives were held on World Forestry Day,
World Mangrove Day, Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam, GTM Day, Harbour Day, and
similar occasions. No land was converted into forest in the last three years in
Cuddalore.
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