 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
| Kerala Forest Department കേരള വനം വന്യജീവി വകുപ്പ് | |
|---|---|
 image has ratiyesSeal of Kerala Forest Department | |
| Motto | सुरक्षित भाव्यर्थम् For Secure Future |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1888 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | India |
| Legal jurisdiction | Kerala |
| Governing body | Forests and Wildlife Department, Government of Kerala |
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Vazhuthacaud, Kerala |
| Executive officers | List
|
| Elected officer responsible |
|
| Agency executive | |
| 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
[edit]The Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department, under the leadership of Minister A. K. Saseendran for Forests and Wildlife, is administered by the Principal Secretary to Government (Forests and Wildlife).
Forest headquarters
[edit]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
[edit]- 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)
- Forest Driver (Dvr)
Ranks and Insignia
[edit]The Kerala Forest Department has three categories of officers: Indian Forest Service (IFS), Kerala Forest Service (KFS), and Kerala Forest Subordinate Service.
The IFS cadre includes officers from Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). These are Group A gazetted officers appointed through the Union Public Service Commission. The Kerala Forest Service (KFS) comprises Deputy Conservators of Forests (Non-IFS), Assistant Conservators of Forests (Non-IFS), and Range Forest Officers. The Kerala Forest Subordinate Service includes Deputy Range Forest Officers, Section Forest Officers, Beat Forest Officers, and Forest Drivers.[2]
Uniform (Khaki) is mandatory only for field-level officers (Range Forest Officers and below); senior officers ACF and above do not have a prescribed uniform.[2]
| No. | Rank | Shoulder insignia |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Range Forest Officer (RFO) | _rank_insignia_(Kerala).png){kind=icon}
|
| 2 | Deputy Range Forest Officer (Dy.RFO) | .png){kind=icon}
|
| 3 | Section Forest Officer (SFO) | .png){kind=icon}
|
| 4 | Beat Forest Officer | .png){kind=icon}
|
Responsibilities
[edit]- 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
[edit]- Department of Environment, Government of Kerala
- Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education
- Van Vigyan Kendra - Forest Science Centers
- Operation Shikkar - Combat illegal ivory smuggling and poaching
References
[edit]- ^ "Kerala forest dept sensitizes staff on forest 'cover' and 'area'". The Times of India. 25 March 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Wayback Machine" (PDF). forest.kerala.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2025. Retrieved 25 January 2026.