Key objectives of the fund include surveying, assessing, and mapping threatened species across the State, enhancing conservation efforts and building partnerships for the long-term protection of vulnerable species.
After the Tamil Nadu Forest Department’s plan to safeguard endangered wildlife hit a roadblock, it has been decided to reroute the funds through a different institution.
Announced in 2024 with an initial corpus of ₹50 crore, the Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund was initially set to be managed by the State Forest Development Agency (SFDA). However, concerns have emerged after it was found that the SFDA, a body responsible for promoting forestry development, has been largely defunct and inactive for some time.
In a government order issued in November 2024, the SFDA was designated as the managing agency for the fund, which was to be initially overseen by the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve Foundation. The corpus of ₹50 crore was to be held by the Tamil Nadu Power Finance Corporation or the Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation until further arrangements were made, according to the G.O.
However, after scrutiny, Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change, and Forests, acknowledged that the agency’s inability to operate effectively would hinder the fund’s intended goals.
Ms. Sahu said that upon realising the SFDA’s dysfunctional status, there were initial plans to create a new society or trust to manage the fund. However, this process was expected to take at least six months, which would delay the fund’s deployment.
To address this, the Forest Department has now decided to transfer the responsibility of managing the fund to the Advanced Institute of Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) in Vandalur, an institution known for its research and initiatives in wildlife conservation, which has been recently registered as a society. The AIWC has been deemed an ideal candidate to handle the funds efficiently and effectively, according to Ms. Sahu.
Key objectives of the fund include surveying, assessing, and mapping threatened species across the State, enhancing conservation efforts both inside and outside protected areas, and building partnerships for the long-term protection of vulnerable species. Soon, the AIWC is expected to invite grant proposals for research on endangered species in the State, including Salim Ali’s fruit bat, Malabar Civet, White-rumped vulture, Nilgiris wart frog, White-spotted bush frog, and Anamalai flying frog.
Published – May 18, 2025 06:36 pm IST