Forest area to be expanded: Forest Ministers' conference

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 3 (UNI) A conference of the Forest Ministers of South Indian States today unanimously decided to expand the total forest area in the country to 33 per cent by 2012.

The conference, attended by Tamil Nadu Forest Minister N Selvaraj and Karnataka Forest Minister C Chennigappa, besides Kerala Forest Minister Binoy Viswom, stressed the need for the expansion of the forest area in the country.

It also underlined the need for convening a conference of Forest Ministers of all the states under the Prime Minister to recognise the importance of forest and wildlife protection. The conference should discuss the need for increasing budget allocation for forest departments to achieve the desired goal of the National Forest Policy.

Talking to mediapersons, the Ministers said they would jointly work to check sandalwood smuggling for which a uniform legislation would be enacted.

The two-day conference would conclude tomorrow, in which Pondicerry Forest Minister and Andhra Pradesh Forest Minister would also attend.

Forest Ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Pondicherry would also attend the two-day conference which would conclude tomorrow.

UNI CGV2026