Two forest mgmt courses in offing

The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) will launch two new post-graduate programmes from the next academic session in development management and environment management. The courses will be launched if there is adequate staff strength.

The institute offers post-graduate courses in forest management to officers of the Indian Forest Service, forest departments, the forest development corporation, and forest-related industries to equip them in forest management practices.

"There is a high demand in environment and development management markets. Initially we will launch 40 seats in any of the two courses, later they will be extended to 120 seats 30 each in Development Management, Environment Management and existing Forest Management degree courses," said Dilip K Bandyopadhyay, director of the institute. The admission will be open for any graduate through CAT examination. 

At present IIFM The fee will be Rs 1.5 lakh for each of the two courses that will include hostel facility.

"We will have to construct hostel for the students. We will launch the courses in phased manner depending upon availability of faculties since there is a shortage of faculty, we will initially start with an intake of 40 in any of the two courses. Later we will increase the number of seats to than increase it to 60 seats."

The number of seats will go further to 90 seats and later 120 seats that means we will have 40 seats in each course."

On syllabus and subject matter, Mr Bandyopadhyay said, "Some courses will be core course which will be compulsory for all courses and the other courses will be optional. Our team is working on subject matter and syllabus."

IIFM is an autonomous body working under Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and offers two-year Post Graduate Programme in Forestry Management (PFM).

The institute promotes and propagates education in forestry sector to balanced development, conservation and utilization of a forest based ecological system in India.

IIFM also undertakes consultancy work for a number of national and international organizations in area of forestry, environment and natural resource management.

The Institute also offers its consultancy services on agro-forestry, marketing, non-timber forest produce (NTFP), grassland management etc.