Forest wealth of the State in under threat due to illicit felling of trees, raising of Ganja, Fire occurrence, encroachment of Forests lands, illicit transportation of sand, poaching of wild animals etc., To protect the sand and to protect the Sandal wood trees, Red Sander trees and scheduled timbers from destruction many preventive measures have been under taken. In order to protect the Forest wealth the Protection and Vigilance Wing has been formed under the control of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.
The Protection and Vigilance wing reports directly to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and is eye and hear of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.
The structure of Protection, Vigilance and Forest Wildlife Crime Bureau is as below:
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
↓
Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
(Protection, Vigilance and Forest Wildlife Crime Bureau)
↓
1. Assistant Conservator of Forests (Forest Intelligence) - 1
(Head Quarters, Chennai)
2. Foresters (Head Quarters, Chennai) – 2
↓
|
S.No. |
Name of Forest Station | Head Quarters | Staff Strength |
| 1. | Chennai | Chennai |
Forest Range Officer - 1 Forester - 1 Forest Guards - 6 |
| 2. | Coimbatore | Coimbatore |
Forest Range Officer - 1 Forester - 1 Forest Guards - 6 |
| 3. | Trichy | Trichy |
Forest Range Officer - 1 Forester - 1 Forest Guards - 6 |
| 4. | Dharmapuri | Dharmapuri |
Forest Range Officer - 1 Forester - 1 Forest Guards - 6 |
| 5. | Tirunelveli | Tirunelveli |
Forest Range Officer - 1 Forester - 1 Forest Guards - 6 |
| 6. | Vellore | Vellore |
Forest Range Officer - 1 Forester - 1 Forest Guards - 6 |
| 7. | Madurai | Madurai |
Forest Range Officer - 1 Forester - 1 Forest Guards - 6 |
| 8. | Ramnad | Ramnad |
Forest Range Officer - 1 Forester - 1 Forest Guards - 6 |
Objectives
- To develop surveillance system
- To co-ordinate for better inter-departmental support in relation to intelligence gathering and operationalization of specific target
- To inquire into allegations
- To strengthen Forest and Wildlife protection
Forest Protection Squads
|
1 |
Chennai |
8 |
Villupuram |
|
2 |
Vellore |
9 |
Trichy |
|
3 |
Dharmapuri |
10 |
Dindigul |
|
4 |
Salem |
11 |
Madurai |
|
5 |
Erode |
12 |
Virudhunagar |
|
6 |
Coimbatore |
13 |
Tirunelveli |
|
7 |
Thanjavur |
14 |
Pollachi |
Striking Force
- Pitharkadu
- Cherambadi
- Gudalur
- Udhagamandalam
- Coonoor
Forest Check Posts
| Sl. No. | Place / Division | No. of Forest Check Posts |
| 1 | Madurai | 1 |
| 2 | Theni | 5 |
| 3 | Trichy | 2 |
| 4 | Nagapattinam | 1 |
| 5 | Salem | 6 |
| 6 | Tirunelveli | 14 |
| 7 | Field Director, Tirunelveli | 3 |
| 8 | Erode | 11 |
| 9 | Vellore | 9 |
| 10 | Tiruvannamalai | 1 |
| 11 | Dharmapuri | 3 |
| 12 | Hosur | 9 |
| 13 | Pollachi | 9 |
| 14 | Mudumalai | 4 |
| 15 | Villupuram | 4 |
| 16 | Dindigul | 7 |
| 17 | Coimbatore | 8 |
| 18 | The Nilgiris | 5 |
| 19 | Gudalur | 8 |
| 20 | Virudhunagar | 2 |
| Total | 112 |
Roving Check Posts
| 1. | Salem | Mettur |
| 2. | Erode | a) Pallipalayam b) Kumarapalayam c) Dharapuram |
| 3. | Vellore | a) Tiruvannamalai b) Chengam |
| 4. | Trichy | Karur |
| 5. | Coimbatore | a) Madathukulam b) Coimbatore |
| 6. | Dharmapuri | a) Harur b) Hosur |
Details of arms and ammunitions
Forest department has taken effective measures to prevent valuable forest wealth like sandal and other tree species, wildlife and wildlife articles like elephant tusk from smuggling and to protect forests by tackling the armed smugglers. Details of arms available for forest protection as on 31.03.2019 are as follows:
| S. No. | Type of arms | Nos. available |
| 1 | .410 | 151 |
| 2 | .12 Bore DBBL | 1133 |
| 3 | .315 Rifle | 894 |
| 4 | 7.612 Bolt Action Rifle | 665 |
| 5 | Glock 17 Pistol | 1125 |
| 6 | Revolver | 278 |
| 7 | .303 | 105 |
| 8 | .32 | 22 |
| 9 | 9MM Glock Pistol | 114 |
| 10 | MCV 90 Banets | 0 |
| 11 | SBBL | 13 |
| 12 | Air Gun | 2 |
| 13 | Single Bore Rifle | 1 |
| 14 | 12 Bore Pump Action Gun | 673 |
| 15 | Pistol Clock | 9 |
| 16 | Tranquilizing Gun | 2 |
| 17 | Bolt Action Bayonet | 3 |
| 18 | 15 Sporting Rifles | 1 |
| Total | 5191 |
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from 01 - 04 - 2017 / Last Update On 25 - 04 - 2022