Kerala Forest Department (KFD) is one of the few oldest and important administrative organs of the State with its Headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram.
KFD like other state departments in India, has evolved over last one and half century in response to changes in Forest Policy, priorities in five year plans and demands on the forests.
The forests of Kerala will be managed with the following objectives;
To conserve and expand unique and complex natural forests of Kerala for posterity, in particular with regard to water; biodiversity; extent; productivity; soil, environmental, historical, cultural and aesthetic values, without affecting their ecological processes.
To increase the productivity of forest plantations through appropriate management interventions and use of modern technology to meet the needs of the present and future generations.
To increase the tree cover both inside and outside the forest to meet the timber & non-timber demands of the society.
To conserve, maintain and enhance the existing gene pool of the state for posterity. To reduce pressure on forest through appropriate interventions.
To meet the livelihood needs of tribes and other forest dependent communities.
To sustainably conserve and manage biodiversity-rich and sensitive ecosystems such as mangroves, sacred groves, coastal areas, wetlands, homesteads, private plantations etc. which are outside the control of the Forest Department.
To improve the standard of living of the forest dependent tribes and village communities.
Major subjects assigned to the department are Forest Protection, Biodiversity Conservation, Wildlife Management and Research, Forest Development, Social Forestry, Forest Vigilance and Evaluation, Eco-development and Tribal Welfare, Planning and Research, Tribal Rehabilitation and Special Afforestation, Infrastructure and Human Resource Development, FMIS, General Administration including Recruitment and Establishment matters, etc.
Percentage of forest area to the total area of the state
29.101 %
By Legal Status (Area as per records)
Reserved Forests
9107.2066 Sq.Km
Proposed Reserve
364.5009 Sq.Km
Vested Forests & Ecologically Fragile Lands
1837.7957 Sq.Km
TOTAL
11309.5032 Sq.Km
Improving and sustaining healthy living conditions through conservation of bio diversity, protection of environment, soil, water etc. and empowering forest tribes, women and other weaker sections of the society through scientific, transparent and responsible methods.
To increase the inflow of water to the reservoirs by improving the tree cover/ forest cover over catchment areas.
To manage forests by ensuring a holistic development of the welfare of forest tribes, women and other weaker sections residing on the fringes of forests and bringing their social and economic conditions on par with the rest of the general populations in the State.
To increase the productivity and resource potentials of forests in general and plantations in particular by raising their conditions to international standards.
Take Kerala to greater heights in the matter of biodiversity conservation and resource generation.
Managing forests in such a way that it protects and enriches the social and cultural values of the State.
Perpetuate and foster the inherent values and the cultural heritage of tribal communities.
Arrest the degradation of traditional forest tracts and to regain their past glory through suitable actions.
Ensure protection and expansion of mangroves, sacred groves and other highly sensitive ecosystems.
Carry out baseline activities for the conservation and management of wetlands as well as other water resources for improving the aquifer and water absorption capacity of soil.
Protect, conserve and improve wildlife habitats.
Plant as many trees as possible in all the non forest lands as well as in other suitable areas available outside the forests to mitigate the impacts of global warming.
Protect and conserve migratory birds and their habitats.
Create nature conservation awareness among public through eco-tourism activities and awareness programmes.
The Kerala Forest department is headed by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests is assisted by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Chief Conservator of Forests (Development), Chief Conservator of Forests (Protection), Chief Conservator of Forests (Vigilance), Chief Conservator of Forests (FMIS), Chief Conservator of Forests (IHRD), Chief Conservators of Forests (Social Forestry), Chief Conservator of Forests (Administration), Chief Conservator of Forests (Eco-Development & Tribal Welfare), Chief Conservator of Forests (Working Plan and Research) and two Regional Additional Principal Chief Conservators one at Kollam and one at Kozhikode.
For general administration there are forest circles headed by Chief Conservators of Forests, under their jurisdiction Forest Divisions are controlled by Divisional Forest Officers. Each Division is further sub divided into Forest Ranges manned by Forest Rangers reporting to the Divisional Forest Officers.
3. Schemes for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes living within the forests. 4. Tribal Insurance Scheme 5. Eco-tourism 6. National Medicinal Plant Board Scheme 7. Participatory Forest Management 8. India Eco-development Project 9. Sanjeevini Vanam – A programme for awareness creation for promotion of cultivation of medicinal plants in Kerala 10. Project for development and propagation of non-traditional oil-seed tree species in Kerala State 11. Compensatory Afforestation Scheme 12. Major programmes of Social Forestry a) ‘Ente – Maram Paddhathi' b) ‘Nammude Maram Paddhathi' c) ‘Vazhiyora Thanal Paddhathi' d) ‘Haritha Theeram Paddhathi' e) ‘Haritha Keralam Paddhathi' f) ‘Schoolil Oru Oushadha Thottam' g) Suvarnodyanam – Bio-diversity park at Nedumbassery h) Kuttanad Package – Development of Kuttanad Wetland eco system i) Idukki Package j) Sanjeevanivanam Medicinal Garden at Kulathupuzha k) Conservator of Mangroves l) Kadalundy Community Reserve m) Development of Model plantations of teak for improving productivity in different agro-climatic zones of Kerala 13. Carbon Storage potential of different age teak plantations in Kerala 14. Field trial of tree infusion technique to manage, mistletoe infestation in Teak plantations 15. Selection of species for Coast afforestation Models 16. Forestry extension, education and awareness programme 17. Project Tiger 18. Project Elephant 19. Centrally Sponsored Schemes 20. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve 21. Agathyamala Biosphere Reserve 22. Western Ghats Development Programme 23. Wet land Conservation 24. Conservation of Fragile Ecosystem 25. Integrated Forest Protection 26. Research and Planning
1. All disciplinary cases against the staff governed by the kerala Forest Services Special Rules. 2. Disciplinary cases against ministerial staff, Watchers, maistries, Drivers, Work Establishment Mahout, Mazdoor, Watchers. 3. Administration Report relating to Forest Department. 4. Disciplinary cases against staff governed by the Kerala Forest Subordinate Service (including senior grade Rangers)
1. Kerala Preservation of Trees Act, 1986 and issue of passes for removal of tree growth under the Act. 2. Kerala Forest Produces Transit Rules and allied papers. 3. Co-ordination Committee Meeting for transmission of lines of Hydro Electric Projects. 4. Forest Policy and Forest Management, Kerala Forest Acts and Rules. 5. Committee for approval of Working Plans, Management Plans on tree felling in forest plantation/Wildlife sancturies and National Parks. 6. Forest Contracts. 7. Writ Petitions, Suits; Draft Paras, Audit Paras, Public Accounts Committee Report etc. on the above contracts. 8. Departmental cultivation of cardamom in Kani Elan Tract. 9. Kani Elan Rules. 10. All Plantations under the Forest Department. 11. Supply and sales of Timber from Forest Depots. 12. Opening of Forest Depots.
1. Eviction of encroachment in Forest. 2. Claim cases relating to occupancy right of encroachers pending in lower courts. 3. W. Ps. and C. M. Ps filed by encroachers. 4. Joint verification of encroachments on Forest land. 5. Request for forest land for quarrying purposes, collection of sand, rubber etc. from forest land. 6. Assignments of Forest land. 7. Lease of forest land to Government Department, Quasi Government Institutions and Government of India Institutions. 8. Arable Forest Land Scheme. 9. Collection of arrears of lease rent in respect of forest land leased to Individual/Institutions. 10. Forest Conservation Act, 1980—Administration and maintenance of forest land-Assignment/allotment for various purposes, private or religious under the Act. 11. Monthly statement of forest cases requiring approval of Government of India. 12. Survey and demarcation of forest, lease of cardamom lands in forest areas. 13. Illicit felling of trees, smuggling of timber and other forest produces including sandal. 14. Diversion of river water through forests. 15. Confiscation and disposal of vehicles and forest produces. 16. Forest cases in connection with seizure of smuggled forest produces in various courts. 17. Forest cases relating to erstwhile Travancore State now in Kanyakumari District. 18. Papers on Taungya Cultivation.
1. Civil works of the Forest Department. 2. Taking building on rent for accommodation of the forest offices. 3. Installation of Telephones in the Department. 4. All kind of purchase of stores and equipments including World Bank Projects. 5. Purchase, Maintenance and disposal of Departmental Vehicles including boats. 6. Purchase of arms and ammunitions connected with forest protection. 7. Inspection Reports Audit paras, draft paras, PAC recommendations connected with the above matters. 8. Fixation of seniorage rate, schedule rate of timber and all other forest produces under the Kerala Forest Produces (Fixation and Selling Price) Act, 1978. 9. Supply of timber raw materials to Industrial purposes to Gwalliar Rayons, HNL, Kera1a State Bamboo Corporation and similar institutions. 10. Kerala Forest Development Corporation and Kerala State Wood Industries, Nilambur and their Inspection report, draft paras, Audit paras, PVC recommendations. 11. Central Board of Forestry. 12. All budget papers of the Forest Department/Budget allocation including letters, credit papers. 13. All papers connected with plan schemes/working group discussions centrally sponsored schemes. 14. Review of monthly progress on plan schemes/CS schemes. 15. Papers connected with C & AG's report on appropriate accounts. 16. Release of advertisements etc. 17. Miscellaneous papers of the Department.
1. World food programme aided Kerala Forestry and tribal Development Projects. 2. Forest protection force and committees on Forest Protection. 3. Forest Development Agency and Vanasamrakshna Samithies (FDA & VSS) 4. Compensatory afforestation programme. Papers relating to forest Tribunals. 5. Kerala Private Forest (Vesting, and Assignment) Act, Administration and Maintenance. 6. Disputes of vesting and assignment of private forests pending before forest tribunals and High Court. 7. Complaints regarding vesting 8. Survey and demarcation of vested forests. 9. Forest Tribunals. 10. Miscellaneous papers relating to application of K. P. F. (V &A) Act 11. All papers relating to Social Forestry. 12. Waste Land Development Programmes 13. World Bank Aided Kerala Forestry Project. 14. National Afforestation Programme (C. S. Scheme). Decentralised peoples Nursery Scheme 15. Agro Forestry Programme. 16. Social Forestry under Jawahar Rozgar yojana. Rural Fuel wood Afforestation Programme. 17. Twenty Point Programme—point No. 16 Tree—Plantation 18. Inspection Report/PAC/Estimate Committee Reports relating to the above Schemes. 19. Miscellaneous Advance to the Officers of Forest and Wildlife Department. spill—over Works connected with Social Foresty under NREP/RLEGP.
1. Establishment of Ministerial Staff, Watcher, Driver, Maistries, Work establishment mahouts, mazdoor, watchers and Forest Guard of the State Forest Department. 2. Establishment papers relating to State Forest Services Staff. 3. The Departmental Promotion Committee (Higher and Lower). 4. Kerala State Forest Service Special Rules and the continuance of temporary posts in the Department. 5. Forest Schools. 6. Wild Life Act and Rules issued under the Wild Life Preservation Act, 1977. 7. Conservation of Wild Life Preservation Act, 1977. 8. Operation of Central Scheme such as Project Tiger and Crocodile conservation and the maintenance of National Parks and Wild Life Sanctuaries. 9. India Eco development Scheme. 10 .Establishment matters relating to the staff coming under the Kerala State Subordinate Service Special Rules. 11. Inspection reports, Audit paras, PAC, Subject Committee relating to establishment matter. 12. Delegation of powers to the Officers of Kerala Forest Department. 13. Miscellaneous papers connected with establishment matter. 14. SC/ST Recruitment Review Committee. 15. Compassionate Employment Scheme.
1. Monitoring of LA Inerpellations and its timely Submission, laison with legislature Secretariat. 2. Monitoring of Report of C&AG, Report of RAC/PUC, Subject Committee, Estimate Committee, petition Committee and all other legi. Committees. 3. Consolidation work of LA Interpellations. 4. Staff Conference of the Department. 5. Monitoring of the action on LA Assurance. 6. Consolidation of monthly Business Statement