The sale rates are fixed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and communicated to all officers once in a year. Based on the rate the sandalwood is sold in retail sale.

For extraction of Sandalwood trees from private lands application shall be made to the District Forest Officer concerned in Form IV as specified in Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Transit Rules, 1967. The District Forest Officer or his authorised officers shall inspect the trees and with the consent of the owner of the land affix the departmental hammer mark on each tree and issue written permission for the extraction of the trees and grant a certificate of registration property mark in Form V for the transport of the trees by the owner to a central place for final cleaning. The pattadars will be permitted to dispose off the wood or to transport it to any other place from the Central place wherein it has been stored after obtaining specific orders of the Government.

The possession and movement of sandalwood in Tamil Nadu is regulated under (Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Transit Rules, 1967), Tamil Nadu Sandalwood possession Rules 1970. As per Tamil Nadu Sandalwood possession Rules 1970 Rule 3(1), no person shall possess sandalwood in excess of five kilograms without a licence issued by District Forest Officer. If any person intends to possess or store sandalwood in excess of 5 kilograms he shall apply to the District Forest Officer in Form I and obtain a licence after paying the fees prescribed in sub rule (7) of rule 4.

According to Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Transit Rules 1967, no person shall import sandalwood into or export sandalwood from or move sandalwood from one place to another place in the State unless such sandalwood is accompanied either Form I/II permit referred to in Rule 4 or by a Form III way permit referred to in rule 6. The sandalwood must bear the mark of the Government Origin as provided in rule 7 of the property mark in respect of such sandalwood.

The Forest Department issues the permits mentioned above after collection of necessary fees.

(1) Relief for the death / injury to human beings due to the attack by the wild animals:-

(2) Relief for the losses to the houses, crops, other than human death / injury caused by the attack of wild animals:-

For more details see Government Order No. 205

The matters related to Wild Animals are dealt under the provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. This is a Central Act, which provides protection to the wild animals. As per this act, hunting of wild animals has been completely banned. All wild animals are Government property unless any one through proper possession licences has obtained it. Trade of animals or their derivatives has also been banned under the provisions of this act, except where it is permitted under a proper licence. Hence no member of the public can own a wild animal or indulge in trade of such animals or their derivatives.

Any animal or its derivatives, if comes into possession by any member of the public, is required to be surrendered in the wildlife authorities immediately since possession of such animal or article shall be in violation of the provisions of this act.

All members of public living within 10 kms. of the boundary of Sanctuary or National Park have to register themselves with the wildlife authorities in case they are holding any arm licence. No new licence under arms act is to be granted within 10 kms. of any Sanctuary or National Park without prior concurrence of State Chief Wildlife Warden.

The following Acts and Rules regulate the tree felling and transport of timber in Tamil Nadu.

• Tamil Nadu Preservation Private Forest Act, 1949.
• Tamil Nadu Hill Areas (Preservation of Trees) Act, 1955.
• Tamil Nadu Rosewood (Conservation) Act, 1994.
• Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules, 1968.
• Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Rules, 1967.
• Tamil Nadu Sandalwood Possession Rules, 1970.

To cut any trees in the areas notified under Tamil Nadu Hill Areas (Preservation of Trees) Act 1955 and Tamil Nadu Preservation Private Forest Act 1949, prior permission should be obtained from the committee constituted under the said Act, under the Chairmanship of District Collector concerned. Petitions for cutting trees are decided by the committee, which may meet as often as necessary and shall not be more than two months between two meetings.

• Black wood.
• Red Sanders.
• Rosewood.
• Sandalwood.
• Teakwood.

No person shall move timber into or from or within the State by land, water or air unless such timber is accompanied by a permit issued by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. A Form-II permit for the movement of timber fuelwood, bamboo from private lands to market or depot, shall on application be issued by the Ranger having jurisdiction on payment of prescribed fee at rate specified below.

• Cart load - Rs.10.00 each.
• Lorry load - Rs.50.00 each.

The permit shall be valid only of the specified time mentioned in the permit by the issuing authority. No permit is necessary for the transport of timber within the limit of municipality or Corporation. The following species are exempted from the purview of Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules and if so permit to transport them is not required.

• Small quantity of bamboo and fuelwood.
• Firewood purchased for domestic consumption.
• Parambai, Karuvel and Velikaruvai.
• Casuarina (Savukku)
• Savundal (Subabul).
• Ecalyptus Hybrid.
• Palmyrah.
• Poovarasu.
• Kalayana murungai.
• Odai.

For more details see Tamil Nadu Timber Transit Rules

Sale of Timber

In Tamil Nadu, natural forests and timber plantations are not felled to cater the needs of timber. However, the dead wind fallen trees are sent to Forest Depot, and sold in public auction.