The Tamil Nadu Forest Department, established in 1856, is one of India's oldest forest management agencies. It originated during the British colonial period as the Madras Forest Department, with Dr. Hugh Francis Cleghorn appointed as the first Conservator of Forests. Dr. Cleghorn is often regarded as the father of scientific forestry in India, introducing systematic forest conservation practices in the region . In 1882, the Madras Forest Act was enacted, allowing the colonial government to designate large forest areas as reserved, thereby restricting traditional rights of local communities, especially indigenous tribes, over forest resources.