Tiruvidaimarudur Conservation Reserve

Tiruppadaimarathur Conservation Reserve
Conservation and community reserve of India
Little egret
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Tirunelveli
Location	Adjacent to Tamiraparani river
- coordinates	10°59′44″N 79°27′10″E / 10.99556°N 79.45278°E / 10.99556; 79.45278Coordinates: 10°59′44″N 79°27′10″E / 10.99556°N 79.45278°E / 10.99556; 79.45278
Area	0.0284 km2 (0.011 sq mi)
Founded	Feb 14, 2005
Management	Tamil Nadu Forest Department
IUCN category	V - Protected Landscape/Seascape
Tiruppadaimarathur Conservation Reserve in Tamil Nadu
Website: www.forests.tn.nic.in/WildBiodiversity/cr_tcr.html

Tiruppadaimarathur Conservation Reserve is an IUCN Category V protected bird nesting area in the 2.84 hectares (7.0 acres) compound of Siva temple in Tiruppadaimarathur village, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, South India. It was declared Feb 14, 2005 and is the first Conservation Reserve to be established in India. The reserve is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve.

The village community and Tamil Nadu Forest Department manage the area. Community participation and public support is crucial for any conservation effort to succeed. Amendments to the Wild life Protection Act in 2003, provided a mechanism to provide recognition and legal backing to community initiated efforts in wildlife protection. It provides for a flexible system wherein wildlife conservation is achieved without compromising community needs. Tiruppadaimarathur Conservation Reserve is the result of the village community coming forward to protect the birds nesting in their village and acting for declaration of a conservation reserve. This reserve was declared by Government of Tamil Nadu G.O.Ms. No.17 Environment and Forests Dept.

Over 400 little egrets, pond heron and near threatened painted stork nest in this grove of 20 huge, century-old maruthu, mahwa, neem and illuppai trees and feed in the many agricultural fields, a few ponds and the Tamiraparani River adjacent to it. Pond heron and egrets also nesting in backyards of few village houses, while painted storks are only around the temple. Spot-billed pelicans also come for refuge but are not nesting.