Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education

About Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education

Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun erstwhile known as Imperial Forest Research Institute was established in 1906 to organize and lead forestry research activities in the country. The institute caters, in particular, to the research needs of the States of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. This institute also has the status of University and at present offers three courses leading to M.Sc. Degree and two Post-Graduate Diploma Courses, besides awarding Ph.D. degree in Forestry.

Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an apex body in the national forestry research system, has been undertaking the holistic development of forestry research through need based planning, promoting, conducting and coordinating research, education and extension covering all aspects of forestry. The Council deals with the solution based forestry research in tune with the emerging issues in the sector, including global concerns such as climate change, conservation of biological diversity, combating desertification and sustainable management and development of resources. Topical research by the Council enhances public confidence in the ability of forest managers and researchers to successfully handle challenges related to natural resource management.The mandate of the Council is to organize, direct and manage research and education in forestry sctor. The Council is established as an autonomous society, the ICFRE Society, of which Minister of Environment and Forests is President. A 21 member Board of Governers is responsible for direction and control of the affairs of the society. The Director General is the Chief Executive of the Council. He is assisted by four Deputy Director Generals, a Director (Research), a Seceretary and small supporting staff.

In 1991, Govt. of India granted Deemed University status to Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, to provide postgraduate and postdotorate courses in forestry and environment. Deemed University is establishing linkages between forestry training institutions and universities, and planning to produce qualified and experienced teaching staff besides evolving curriculum to meet the needs of forestry services. OBJECTIVES Forests should be sustainably to meet the ecological, economic,social,cultural and spiritual human needs of present and future generations. These needs are for forest products and services, such as wood and non-wood products, water, microclimate,absorption of green house gases (carbon sinks and reservoirs) mitigation of global warming,shelter, employment,rcreation,habitat for wildlife,landscape diversity and maintaining the productivity of the country. Appropriate measures should be taken to protect forests against harmful effects of pollution, including air-bome pollutants,fires,grazing,pests and diseases in order to maintain their full multiple values.

The journey of ICFRE was initiated way back towards the end of the nineteenth century with the advent of scientific forestry in India and the establishment of the Forest School in Dehradun in 1878. It was on 5th June 1906 subsequently that the Imperial Forest Research Institute was founded by Government of India for taking forward forestry research in the country. In 1986 the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education or ICFRE was formed as an umbrella organisation for taking care of forestry research, education and extension needs of the country. Finally on 1st June 1991, the ICFRE was declared an autonomous Council under the then Ministry of Environment and Forests and registered as a Society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

Presently, ICFRE with its Headquarters at Dehradun is an apex body in the national forestry research system that promotes and undertakes need based forestry research extension

The Council has a pan India presence with its 9 Regional Research Institutes and 5 Centers in different bio-geographical regions of the country. Each Institute has a history of its own and under the umbrella of ICFRE are directing and managing research, extension and education in forestry sector in the states under their jurisdiction. The regional research Institutes are located at Jodhpur, Dehradun, Shimla, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Ranchi, Bengaluru, Jorhat and Jabalpur, and the centres are at Agartala, Aizawl, Allahabad, Chhindwara and Visakhapatnam.