Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department

Kerala Forest Department
image has rationale=yes Seal of Kerala Forest Department
Motto	सुरक्षित भाव्यर्थम् For Secure Future
Agency overview
Formed	1888; 137 years ago (1888)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	India
Legal jurisdiction	Kerala
Operational structure
Headquarters	Vazhuthacaud, Kerala
Elected officer responsible	A. K. Saseendran, Minister for Forests and Wildlife, Zoos & Animal Husbandry
Agency executive	Ganga Singh, IFS, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of The Forest Force
Website
forest.kerala.gov.in

Kerala Forests & Wildlife Department is a department of the Government of Kerala responsible for forestry and wildlife management in the state of Kerala, India. The department is involved with the protection and conservation of flora and fauna in their natural habitats and conserves 11,524.149 km² (4,449.499 sq mi) of forests forming 29.65% of the total geographic area of the state.^[1]

Headquartered in Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, the department is headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, serving as the Head of Forest Force.The headquarters also houses the Forest Central Library which is open for public access.

Organisational Structure

The Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department, under the leadership of Minister A. K. Saseendran for Forests and Wildlife, is governed by the Principal Secretary to Government (Forests and Wildlife).

Forest headquarters

The Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department is headed by a Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, who is assisted by several officers, including Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Conservator of Forests (CF), and Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF). The department has a staff strength of over 11,000 employees, including forest officers, rangers, guards, and other support staff. The department is organized into five circles, each headed by a Chief Conservator of Forests. The circles are further divided into divisions and ranges, each headed by a Divisional Forest Officer and Range Officer, respectively.

Hierarchy

• Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF)
• Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF)
• Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF)
• Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF)
• Conservator of Forests (CF)
• Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) / Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) / Wildlife warden
• Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF)
• Range Forest Officer (RFO)
• Deputy Range Forest Officer (DyRFO)
• Section Forest Officer (SFO)
• Beat Forest Officer (BFO)

Responsibilities

• Biodiversity conservation
• Forest protection
• Wildlife management and research
• Forest development
• Social forestry
• Forest vigilance and evaluation
• Eco-development and tribal welfare
• Planning and research
• Rehabilitation and special afforestation
• Human resource development

See also

• Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
• Van Vigyan Kendra - Forest Science Centers
• Operation Shikkar - Combat illegal ivory smuggling and poaching

References

1. "Kerala forest dept sensitizes staff on forest 'cover' and 'area'". The Times of India. 25 March 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 April 2024.

External links

• Official Website
• Government of Kerala
• Ministry of Environments and Forests, Government of India
• Minister for Kerala Forests and Wildlife
• Kerala Forest Research Institute