Tamil Nadu (TN) is endowed with rich biodiversity and has the unique distinction of having two biosphere reserves, The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR) and Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (GOMBR). The main natural habitat types are forests, mountains, rivers, wetlands, mangroves and beaches. One-sixth of its land mass is covered with forests. The total forest cover of the state is 22,643 square kilometers constituting 4.75% of the geographic area and 20.03% of the recorded forest area. Forests in TN are rich repositories of a number of valuable medicinal plants. With 5,640 species, nearly one-third of the total flora of India, it ranks first among all the states. This includes 533 endemic species, 230 red-listed species, 1,559 species of medicinal plants and 260 species of wild relatives of cultivated plants. TN has 4 indigenous and 60 introduced species of Gymnosperms. An area of 307.85 square kilometers of forest area has been brought under national parks. The NBR is the first biosphere reserve to be established in India in 1986. Also the first internationally designated biosphere reserve, it is located in the Western Ghats and encompasses two of the 10 biogeographic zones of India. Rich in plant diversity, NBR has about 3,200 species of flowering plants of which 132 are endemic.

The GOMBR between Rameswaram and Kanyakumari is among the world’s richest marine biodiversity regions. Extending over 1,500 square kilometers, it includes 21 islands and has about 3,600 species of flora and fauna. However habitat destruction, overexploitation, pollution and species introduction are the major causes of biodiversity loss in TN.

1. Forest Productivity and Agroforestry Division, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Forest Campus, Coimbatore
2. Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Madurai
3. Departments of Botany, Horticulture – Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar
4. Tamil Nadu Aromatic and Medicinal Plant Cooperative Limited (TAMPCOL), Chennai
5. Indian Medicine Practitioners Cooperative Pharmacy and Stores Ltd (IMPCOPS), Chennai
6. Arya Vaidya Nilayam, Madurai
7. Cavin Care (P) Ltd., Chennai
8. Centre for Advanced Study in Botany, University of Madras, Guindy Campus, Chennai
9. Department of Botany, St. Joseph College, Tiruchirapalli
10. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore
11. Child Jesus Educational and Charitable Trust
12. Community Action Trust, Tiruchirapalli
13. Trust for Socioeconomic Development, Tiruchirapalli
14. Technology, Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council’s Centre of Relevance & Excellence in Herbal Drugs (TIFAC CORE), JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty
15. State Medicinal Plant Board, Commissioner of Horticulture and Development, Commissioner of ISM&H, Chennai
16. Indfrag, Chennai
17. Kothari Phytochemicals International, Madurai