Forestry and Wild Life

Forestry is one of the most sought after career options available for candidates who have the zeal to study about wildlife and natural resources. The study of Forestry involves protection of forests and farming of trees to ensure contributing timber supply.

The courses in forestry are generally offered at undergraduate and postgraduate level by several agricultural universities located at different parts of the country.

A person who has completed a professional qualification in forestry and is appointed in any such activities related to forests is known Forester. Foresters are responsible for the management of forest resources through the use of biological techniques.

Their main interest lies in the preservation and utilization of its resources. Forests are important natural resources as these are the dwelling places for wild animals and tribes. The forests also provide various valuable materials for livelihood. Forests have also the importance in controlling aridity of our planet.

There are enormous career opportunities in this field as the government is introducing various schemes and projects for the conservation of forests and natural resources. Researchers, educationists, extension workers and management officers work as a team of senior forestry officials to protect the forests in our country.

Forestry and Wild Life Eligibility Criteria

Courses in forestry are available at various levels of study - undergraduate, postgraduate diploma, certificate as well as Ph.D. level. The educational qualification required for undergraduate course (BSc Forestry) is generally 10+2 Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and/or Mathematics.

Further the master’s level course offers specialization in subjects like Forest Management, Commercial Forestry, Forest Economics, Wood Science & Technology, Wildlife Science, Veterinary Science etc.

Those candidates who have completed master program in Forestry or allied subject can go for PhD and research. The Indira Gandhi National Open University and few other open universities of the country are offering diploma and certificate programs in forest management and conservation of natural resources.

Forestry and Wild Life Pay Package

A fresh graduate in forestry can expect a monthly salary of Rs.10, 000 or more in hand only in any private NGO or related organization. However, as per the government pay scale the foresters, at present, receive salary scale of Rs. 4,575 i.e. Rs. 8,000 per month.

One who is in the research field or working as Enthologists, Entomologists, Silviculturistsis, Forest Range Officers, Zoo curators etc get relatively higher salary ranging from Rs.15,000 – Rs.20,000 per month.

The avenues that are open for you are numerous! Armed with a basic degree in Biology, one can opt for research. He/she can even become still life photographers like Belinda Wright, Bedi Brothers (Rajesh and Naresh) Joanna Van Gruisen etc.

There is wide scope in filmmaking (a la Mike Pandey and Alva Brothers) as also in wild life journalism. BBC wild life is a fabulous journal, worth mentioning in this connection. At the international forum opportunities exist in television channels like Discovery and Natural Geographic, which conduct in-depth research in wildlife, flora, ecology.

In case you area law graduate, you could choose to become a wildlife lawyer and help in preventing illegal activities like poaching, smuggling of animal products, torture and cruelty to animals and so forth. Or else you can be a wild life historian, and even consultants to the government or the private sector.

You could also choose to become an environmentalist-cum-primatologist like Dr.Iqbal Malik who is perpetually in the news in connection with the monkey menace in the Indian capital.

Another upcoming segment is that of wildlife consultants for premier organizations like World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India, Centre for Environment Education, located in Ahmedabad, Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI). Consultancy firms like Ernst and Young, KPMG hire wildlife consultants to do environment impact assessments prior to their projects.

A good number of NGO hire Indian biologists and veterinarians to undertake projects in South Africa, Kampuchea, and Vietnam among others.

The widest sector of employment is provided by the Indian Forest Service, with a national cadre and a forest department in each state and union territory running more than one environment assessment project at any given time. Last but not the least the individual can opt for teaching-a relatively sedate and secured profession!

hose with Bachelors degree in related subjects can appear for Indian Forest Service exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission and after qualifying the exam can get jobs under the department of forests, Govt. of India.

The various positions available for forestry and wildlife graduates are: Forester, Dendrologists, Enthologists, Entomologists, Silviculturistsis, Forest Range Officers, Zoo curators and many more.

Forestry and Wild Life Institutes

• Wildlife Institute of India

Post Bag # 18
Chandrabani
Dehradun-248001, Uttaranchal
EPABX: +91-135-2640111 to  2640115, 2641433, 2640990
FAX: +91-135-2640117
Email: wii@wii.gov.in
Website: http://www.wii.gov.in

• Forest Research Institute

P.O.: New Forest
Dehradun (Uttaranchal) - INDIA
PIN – 248 006
Phone (Director): 0135 – 2755277; E-mail: negiss@icfre.org
Fax: 0135 – 2756865
Website: http://www.icfre.org/

• Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development

Kosi-Katarmal
Almora 263 643 (Uttarakhand), INDIA
Gram: HIMVIKAS Tel: +91 5962 241041, 241014   
Fax: +91 5962 241150   
E-MAIL: psdir@gbpihed.nic.in
Website: http://gbpihed.gov.in/

• IGNOU, New Delhi

(Offering short-term courses in wildlife resource management and forestry)

• Acharya N. G. Ranga Agricultural University

 Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Assam Agricultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• CCS Haryana Agricultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Sardarkrushinagar Dantiwada Agricultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Marathwada Agricultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Narendra Deva University of Agriculture And Technology

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Punjab Agrcultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Rajendra Agricultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Rajasthan Agricultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Tamil Nadu Agricultural University 

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Allahabad Agricultural Institute

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• University of Calcutta

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Kerala Agricultural University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwar

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Annamalai University

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Allahabad Agricultural Institute, Allahabad

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry

• Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ananthapur

Course: B.Sc (Forestry)/MSc Forestry