College Of Forestry, Solan

About College Of Forestry, Solan

The College of Forestry has a long history of development and has unique distinction of being the first in forestry education under the University system in the country. It has its roots in the erstwhile “Himachal Pradesh Agricultural College and Research Institute” HPAC&RI which was established in July 1965. In the year 1971, two important events happened, simultaneously: i the HPAC&RI was affiliated to the newly created July, 1970 Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, ii Department of Forestry was created in HPAC&RI by shifting Silva Division from the HP State Forest Department. Further in the year 1973, some Forestry courses were integrated in B.Sc. Agriculture degree course. Subsequently, M.Sc & Ph.D in Forestry was started in Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, Solan, a campus of the then CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during the year 1976 and 1983, respectively. The present College of Forestry was established in this University during 1987 by upgrading the department of Forestry. The College of Forestry has now seven departments namely Tree Improvement & Genetic Resources, Silviculture & Agroforestry, Forest Products, Soil Science & Water Management, Environmental Science, Social Sciences, Basic Sciences with the mandate of imparting teaching to undergraduate and postgraduate students leading to B.Sc., M.Sc. & Ph.D degree. Three departments of College of Horticulture namely Biotechnology, Mycology & Plant Pathology & Entomology & Apiculture provide help in teaching and research programmes to this College in their areas of specialization. M.Sc and Ph.D programmes in Agroforestry were started during 1992-93 and 1995-96 respectively.