Forests in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram district has a reserve forest area of 495.145 sq. kms and vested forest area of 3.534 sq. kms spreading over three ranges, viz., the Kulathupuzha range in the north, Palode range in the middle and the Paruthipalli range in the south. These forests may be broadly classified into three categories, namely, (a) southern tropical wet ever green forests, (b) southern tropical and semi ever green forests and (c) southern tropical moist deciduous forests.

Veeti (Dalbergia latifolia), Thembavu (Terminalia Curennlata), Aini (Arto Carpus Hirsutus), Plavu (Arto-carpus integritolia), Akil (Dysoxylum Malabarium), Venga (Ptrocarpus Morsupium ), Venthekku (Lager Stromia lunceolata), Manjakadamb (Adina Cordifolia) and Irul (Xylia-xylocarpa) constitute the important timber species.

Social forestry programmes are being implemented under the World Bank aided Kerala Social Forestry Project, National Rural Employment Programme (NREP) and Rural Fuel Wood Schemes to assist small and marginal farmers.