Kerala Forest Department to purge illegal geo-tags from online maps

The Kerala Forest Department has initiated a comprehensive exercise to identify all locations inside the state's forests that have been illegally geo-tagged on online mapping platforms. The department's IT wing is compiling a list of such coordinates, which will be forwarded to the Forest Management Wing for further action.

According to officials, the final list will be submitted to online map agencies and platforms, seeking the removal of these locations from maps. Simultaneously, the department plans to trace individuals who uploaded the geo-tags within reserve and protected forest areas and initiate legal proceedings against them.

Geo-tagging sensitive locations on web mapping and navigation services has been facilitating unlawful entry into reserved forests, a forest official said. The official noted that even trekking trails used by forest staff in the Silent Valley protected area, including routes to camp sheds, are publicly available on online maps. "These are sensitive locations and information. We believe this could have been put up by volunteers who came to assist us in any of the wildlife census programmes," the official said.

Emphasising the risks to both humans and wildlife, the official added that strict action will be taken against those involved. "Forests are not places you can randomly picnic at. These are the homes of wild animals and they need to be respected," the official said.

The move follows a specific complaint by Kozhikode Divisional Forest Officer M. Joshil, who had sought the removal of Google Maps listings inside reserve forests in the district. He had described these as unauthorised map pins and noted that uploaded photographs were encouraging illegal entry into protected areas. He had taken up the issue with the department's IT wing.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Joshil said such activities put everyone at risk. "Of late, we have been dealing with many such cases of illegal entry of individuals into the forests and eventually carrying out subsequent rescue activities when they get trapped. It can lead to human-wildlife conflict due to someone else's irresponsible behaviour," he said.

The department's decision is part of broader efforts to curb unauthorised access to sensitive forest areas and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. By purging illegal geo-tags, the department aims to reduce risks to visitors and protect the natural habitat. The identification of individuals responsible for uploading such locations will be carried out in accordance with legal procedures.

The move has been welcomed by environmental observers, who stress that publicising sensitive forest trails can have serious ecological and safety consequences. They also emphasise the need for greater awareness among volunteers and tourists about the protected status of these areas, so that such incidents are avoided in the future.