Forest Department to distribute free tree saplings to increase forest cover - The HinduPublished - October 22, 2026 08:44 pm IST - TENKASIThe Tenkasi Forest Division, as part of its mission to increase forest cover in the district, has proposed to distribute a range of tree species to the farmers free of cost.According to District Forest Officer R. Rajmohan, the objective behind this programme being implemented under the Green Tamil Nadu Mission and Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response is to increase the district’s forest cover and the farmers’ income as the timber sale would augment the growers’ revenue.These trees can be grown as ‘intercrop’ in their farms and also in the hitherto unused fallow lands, thus bringing the lands under agricultural operations by planting trees giving timbers. Above all, it would tremendously improve the environmental conditions in the localitys.The farmers will be given red sanders (semmaram), Indian blackberry (naaval maram), neem (vembu), sandal (santhanam), Marvel of Peru (anthimanthaarai), Indian Rosewood (thothakahthi), Mahogany, gooseberry (nelli), Pride of Barbados (mayil kontrai), Indian beech tree (pungan), North Indian Rosewood (sisu) and Manila tamarind (kodukkaapuli).Interested farmers can approach the following forest offices in their areas or social forestry division to check with the officials there about the stocks of tree saplings and the norms for getting them:Tenkasi forest division office (04633 – 233550), Tenkasi social forestry office (04633 – 233660, 94424 78886 and 87782 43434), Alangulam social forestry office (04633 293855 and 99433 10855), Puliyangudi social forestry office (04636 – 235853 and 91593 99456) and Sankarankovil social forestry office (90950 47382), Dr. Rajmohan said.Published - October 22, 2026 08:44 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }