Committees formed to manage Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund

The Tamil Nadu government has issued an order constituting a Management Committee and an Executive Committee to oversee and manage the Tamil Nadu Endangered Species Conservation Fund.

The order was issued by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, on November 1.

Established in November 2024 with an incorporation of ₹50 crore and an initial sanction of ₹5 crore as seed money, the fund aims to strengthen conservation measures for endangered species across the state. Initially managed through the State Forest Development Agency, the government has now ordered the forest to be managed through the Advanced Institute of Wildlife Conservation (AIWC) Vandalur to provide special scientific oversight.

The Management Committee, chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Government, will direct and direct the utilization and enhancement of the fund. Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests will serve as Deputy Chairman. Other members include the Government Secretaries of the Departments of Finance and Industry; Chief Conservator of Forests (Chief of Forest Force); Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden; Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of AIWC; Principal Conservator of Forests and Secretary, Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Board; Chairman of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board; Environmental Director; Chairman of the National Biodiversity Authority or a representative; Director of the Wildlife Institute of India or a representative; and Director, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore.

The committee will meet at least every four months and its term of office will be three years.

The Management Committee also included Rohini Nilekani, President, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies; Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, Tractors and Agricultural Equipment Limited (TAFE); JK Patterson Edward, Director, Suganthi Devadasan Marine Research Institute, Thoothukudi; K. Jayakumar, Professor, Madurai Kamaraj University; S. Balachandran, Managing Trustee, Migratory Bird Watching Trust and former Deputy Director, Bombay Natural History Society; and Arumugam, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Broadline Technologies.

The Executive Committee, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary to the Government, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, will manage the day-to-day operations of the fund. Its members include the Chief Conservator of Forests and Director of the AIWC; Chairman of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board; Additional Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife); Chief Conservator of Forestry (Research); and Environmental Manager. The AIWC Deputy Director (Administration) will serve as the Member Convener and the Project Leader of each funded project will be selected as a special invitee.

The Executive Committee will oversee the implementation of projects, monitor conservation activities, mobilize resources and ensure that the fund’s objectives for the conservation and restoration of endangered species in Tamil Nadu are effectively achieved.