Tamil Nadu government notifies 100 new reserve forests across 10 districts including Dindigul, expanding protected forest area by 13,495 hectares
Tamil Nadu Expands Reserved Forests by 100 Blocks
The Tamil Nadu government has notified 100 new forest blocks as Reserved Forests across the State from 2021 to 2025. This expansion adds about 13,495 hectares of legally protected forest area, according to an official release issued on Friday, January 9, 2026.
The notifications were made under Section 16 of the Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882. This followed the settlement of rights and field verification by Forest Settlement Officers. With this, the extent of Reserved Forests in the State has increased by around 135 square kilometers over the last five years.
Details of the Newly Notified Forest Blocks
| District | Number of New Blocks | Area (hectares) |
|---|---|---|
| Dindigul | 37 | 3,274 |
| Nilgiris | 20 | N/A |
| Theni | 8 | 3,011 |
| Kallakurichi | N/A | 4,118 |
The Highwavy Forest block in Theni district is the largest notified block, covering 2,836 hectares. An event was held on Friday to mark the notification of the 100 forest blocks. Minister for Forests and Khadi R.S. Rajakannappan released a publication documenting the notifications. Senior officials from the Environment, Climate Change and Forests department were present.
According to the release, Tamil Nadu currently has 24.47% of its geographical area under forest and tree cover. This is below the national policy objective of 33% set by the National Forest Policy, 1988.
Officials stated that the expansion of Reserved Forests would strengthen legal protection for wildlife habitats, watersheds, and ecological corridors. It would also contribute to climate mitigation through increased carbon sequestration.
