![[Logo]](images/icf_logo.gif){kind=logo}
![[BUILDING]](images/icf_bldg.gif)
The
mandate of the Council is to organize, direct and manage research and education
in forestry sector. 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 Governors 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 Secretary and small supporting staff.
OBJECTIVES
The major objectives of the Council are as follows:
ICFRE RESEARCH INSTITUTES AND CENTRES
There are eight research institutes and one advanced centre under the Council. Each institute/centre is headed by a Director, assisted by senior staff responsible for research programmes, facilities and administration. The Director has administrative autonomy. Research programmes are determined in consultation with a Regional Advisory Group(RAG) for each institute and National Advisory Group (NAG) for the Council.
FORESTRY RESEARCH
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 present situation calls for urgent and consistent action for conserving and sustaining forest resources. The following priority areas have been identified :
FORESTRY EDUCATION
Following the recommendations of National Commission on Agriculture, 14 State agricultural universities and 5 general universities started B.Sc. forestry courses. Later on 5 universities started M.Sc. forestry courses. These programmes have been only partly successful, whilst facilities and equipment are inadequate for provision of specialist training.
In 1991, Govt. of India granted Deemed University status to Forest Research Institute, Dehra Dun, to provide postgraduate and post-dotorate 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.
FORESTRY EXTENSION
In the past, extension programmes were almost exclusively based on building research extension linkages through silvicultural conferences, generally held once every five years. The emphasis of the new national forest policy on the involvement of communities in the management of forest resources has stimulated a growing awreness on the importance of forestry extension. Similarly, farm forestry programmes are dependent on providing advice and assistance to small farmers for cultivation of trees, in much the same way as the Indian Council of Agricultural Research have done for crops over many years. There is also an increasing appreciation of the need to undertake research that responds to the needs of user research results and to disseminate the results effectively, through developing strong research- extension linkages.
ICFRE has started the following programmes to eliminate constraints, affecting forestry extension:
PUBLICATION OF BROCHURES AND BOOKS
Brochures on Bamboo, Poplar, Casuarina, Albizia procera, Madhuca indica catechu, Moringa, Pinus roxburghii and jatropha curcas have been published by the ICFRE in the recent past to popularise growing of these economically important forest species. These brochures contain handy information on cultivating these species and have been widely circulated and well received by the state forest departments, NGO's and farmers.
In addition, the following books were also published by the ICFRE during 1991 to 93.
CAPSULE COURSES
To educate the growers on the latest advances in forestry techniques, short term training courses are conducted particularly in the subject of seed technology, application of biofertilisers, sawing, seasoning and treatment of refractory juvenlie plantation timbers etc.
FORESTRY PROGRAMME FOR RURAL POVERTY ALLEVIATION
Under the UNDP project 100 villages have been adopted by the ICFRE institutes for demonstrating role of forestry in poverty alleviation. Besides, packages for increase in biomass production, utilization of juvenile timber and appropriate marketing process are being promoted.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
To vitalise and provide new direction to Forestry Research Management, International and National Seminars are organised, which help in crystalliisng new ideas for activating Forestry Research. Similarly workshops are organised with forest based industries and ICFRE scientists to enable a better appreciation of the research needs of industries and joint collaborative research for solutions thereto.
The other modes of maintaining linkages with the user groups are holding Regional meeting of silviculturists and research workers in the various zones. Holding of seminars on other important fields of forestry e.g. education, non-wood forest products, afforestation methods for stress sites etc. are other ways of extending information to user groups.
Active extension support to State forest departments and NGO's is also provide by the ICFRE scientists by way of actual field assistance whenever sought.
FUTURE PROGRAMMES
The Council has solicited international assistance from the World Bank, the USAID,the UNDP and other forestry organisations for strengthening its research and administrative base. Some of these projects, viz, UNDP, FORSPA, Ford Foundation, IDRC have been sanctioned and are being implemented, whereas the World Bank and JICA are in an force by the end of the year. The assistance under the projects mentioned above caters for :
