Latest Context
• ICFRE has been tasked with preparing a district-wise scientific assessment to identify which hill systems qualify as part of the Aravalli Range
• The assessment is strictly for mining-related regulatory purposes
• The exercise reflects the growing role of scientific institutions in environmental governance
• Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) is the apex national body for forestry research and education in India
• Functions as an autonomous organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)
• Acts as the nodal institution for forestry-related research, training, and extension activities
Mandate and Mission
• Generate scientific knowledge for ecological security
• Promote sustainable management of forest resources
• Enhance forest productivity while balancing conservation needs
• Support livelihood improvement through forestry-based research
• Disseminate research outputs via education, training, and outreach
Headquarters
• Located at Dehradun, Uttarakhand
• Chosen due to its long-standing association with scientific forestry in India
Historical Evolution
• 1878
• Establishment of the Forest School at Dehradun, marking the beginning of scientific forestry in India
• 1906
• Formation of the Imperial Forest Research Institute by the colonial government
• 1986
• Creation of ICFRE as an umbrella organisation to coordinate forestry research, education, and extension
• 1991
• Declared an autonomous council under the Ministry of Environment and Forests (now MoEF&CC)
Institutional Network
• Pan-India institutional presence covering diverse biogeographical regions
Regional Research Institutes
• Jodhpur
• Dehradun
• Shimla
• Hyderabad
• Coimbatore
• Ranchi
• Bengaluru
• Jorhat
• Jabalpur
Research Centres
• Agartala
• Aizawl
• Allahabad (Prayagraj)
• Chhindwara
• Visakhapatnam
Significance
• Provides scientific backing to forest-related policy decisions
• Supports evidence-based environmental regulation, including mining and conservation
• Plays a critical role in climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and land restoration
• Acts as a bridge between research, administration, and field implementation
