FOREST COVER (AS PER ISFR 2015 ASSESSMENT)

Forest Cover of the State is 26,345 sq.km which is 20.26% of the State’s geographical area. In terms of forest canopy density classes, the State has 2,993 sq.km (28.23 % of GA) very dense forest,  10,469 sq.km (8.04% of GA)moderately dense forest and open forest and 12,883 sq.km (9.90 % of GA) respectively. There is an increase of 2501 sq.km in the forest cover of the state as compared to 2013 assessment.

MANGROVE COVER

The mangrove cover in the State is 47 sq km, which is 0.036 percent of the State total geographical area. The Very Dense mangrove comprises 1 sq km of the mangrove cover, Moderately Dense mangrove is 18 sq km while open mangroves constitute an area of 28 sq km. There has been a net increase of 8 sq km in the mangrove cover of the State as compared to 2013 assessment.

DISTRICT WISE MANGROVES COVER (ASPER ISFR 2015 ASSESSMENT)

ALTITUDE-WISE FOREST COVER OF TAMIL NADU
(AS PER ISFR 2015 ASSESSMENT)

FOREST COVER IN HILL DISTRICTS

Forest cover plays crucial role in the maintenance of mountain ecology and economy with particular reference to soil, water and environmental conservation. The forest cover in the hill districts of the country is 7,512 sq km, which is 32.96 percent of the total Geographic Area of these districts.

FOREST COVER IN TRIBAL DISTRICTS

Traditionally, tribes have been an inseparable part of forest ecosystem. Forests are fulfilling the social, economic, cultural, religious and medical needs of the tribes. Therefore, it becomes very important to monitor and analyze the forest cover situation in the tribal areas. The total forest cover in the tribal districts is 7,165, which is 23.32 percent of the geographical area of the hill districts.

FOREST COVER IN TRIBAL DISTRICTS

TREES OUTSIDE THE FOREST (TOF)

The total estimated stems of TOF of State are 200.5 million of which 170.0 million are in rural areas and 30.5 million are in urban areas. The number of stems per hectare in the state is estimated as 19.08. The total estimated volume of wood in TOF is 65.05 million cum of which 55.38 million cum is in rural areas and 9.67 million cum in urban areas. The dominant species in terms of number are Cocus nucifera (36.93 %) followed by Borassus flabellifer (28.68%), Azadirachta indica (6.65%), Magnifera indica (5.47%) and Areca catechu (3.43%). In Agro climatic zone, the Southern Zone contributes maximum number of stems (50.60 million) followed by North East (43.62 million), western (39.16 million) and North West (35.55) million. (Inventory of trees outside forest in Tamil Nadu, FSI REPORT, 2017)

GLOSSARY

• Forest Cover: All lands, more than one hectare in area, with a tree canopy density of more than 10 percent irrespective of ownership and legal status. Such lands may not necessarily be a recorded forest area. It also includes orchards, bamboo and palm.
• Forest Area: The area recorded as a forest in the Government records. It is also referred to as “recorded forest area”.
• Hill District: A district with more than 50 percent of its geographic area under “hill talukas” based on criteria adopted by the Planning Commission for Hill Area and Western Ghats Development Programmes.
• Mangroves: Salt tolerant evergreen forest ecosystem found mainly in tropical and sub-tropical coastal and/or inter-tidal regions.
• Mangrove Cover: Area covered under mangrove vegetation as interpreted from remote sensing data. It is included in the forest cover.
• Moderately Dense Forest: All lands with forest cover having a canopy density between 40 to 70 percent.
• Open Forest: Lands with forest cover having a canopy density between 10 to 40 percent.
• Protected Forest(PF): An area notified under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act or other State Forest Acts, having limited degree of protection. In protected forest all activities are permitted unless prohibited.
• Reserved Forest (RF):An area so constituted under the provisions of the Indian Forest Act or other State Forest Acts, having full degree of protection. In Reserved forests all activities are prohibited unless permitted.
• Scrub: Degraded forest lands having canopy density less than 10 percent.
• Tree Cover: It comprises of tree patches outside the recorded forest area exclusive of forest cover and less than the minimum mappable area (1 ha) and up to 0.1 ha. Such small patches comprising of block, linear and scattered trees are not delineated as forest cover during interpretation of satellite data. The areas of scattered trees are computed by notional numbers.
• Trees Outside Forests (TOF):Trees growing outside recorded forest areas.
• Tribal Districts: Districts identified as tribal districts under Tribal Sub-Plan (Government of India).
• Very Dense Forests: Lands with forest cover having a canopy density of 70 percent and above.
• Unclassed Forest: An area recorded as forest but not included in reserved or protected forest category. Ownership status of such forests varies from State to State.