Scope for higher education in forestry

By Our Special Correspondent

Forests play a vital role in human life, not only as a source of diverse products for everyday use, but as a key element in ensuring sustainable development. Forestry has biophysical and social dimensions. Forests influence our economy as well as ecology.

The rate of deterioration of our forests is alarming. We cannot afford to ignore the critical need for effective conservation. In this background research in forestry assumes great significance.

Illicit felling, human settlements, farming efforts in forest areas, irrigation or hydroelectric or multipurpose projects, construction of roads, and rise in cattle population in forest regions are some of the reasons for the destruction of forest reserves.

If adequate preventive measures are not formulated and implemented, we may be forced to face an environmental disaster, with terrible consequences. We have a tradition of research work of immense magnitude on our forests. Despite progress in the use of different forms of energy, our forests meet nearly 40 per cent of our energy needs. A substantial segment of our tribal and rural population depends on many non-wood forest products as well.

In order to maintain our forests in good health, we have to pay attention to factors such as soil conservation and silvicultural management.

Certain elements such as rainfall are beyond our control.

Research on areas related to forestry such as forest botany, pathology, entomology, biotechnology, hydrology, geoinformatics, seed technology, plant physiologies are of importance to society.

Ph.D. programmes

The Forest Research Institute is a premier institution under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE). One can pursue research at FRI or at centres of FRI / ICFRE and qualify yourself for the award of a Ph.D. (contact: The Registrar, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun; Ph: 0135-2752678)

One should hold a Master’s degree or its equivalent with at least 55 per cent marks. You may have a co-guide from outside; but the guide has to be from FRI. Applications are usually accepted in March and September. The application form for doctoral programmes can be downloaded from the site fri.icfre.gov.in.

You will have to submit a synopsis for enrolment as a Ph.D. research scholar and hold a seminar before the concerned scientists. You may have to modify the synopsis suitably based on the suggestions at the seminar. An appropriate topic for research will be identified.

Sometimes, you will have to undergo a short-term basic course in silviculture / forestry / forest management / mensuration / forest ecology or similar area if you are undertaking research on topics relating to these areas which are not familiar to you.

The usual fields of study and the qualification for admission are listed below.

Silviculture: Postgraduate degree in forestry / agriculture / botany

Forest seed technology: Postgraduate degree in forestry / agriculture / botany

Forest genetics: Postgraduate degree in botany, agriculture or forestry with specialisation in genetics.

Forest botany: Postgraduate degree in botany with specialisation in botany / plant physiology / wood anatomy / biodiversity conservation / ethno botany or postgraduate degree in agriculture with specialisation in plant physiology or postgraduate degree in forestry.

Forest pathology: Postgraduate degree in botany, forestry, wood science and technology or agriculture with specialisation in plant pathology / microbiology.

Forest entomology: Post-graduate degree in forestry or PG degree in zoology with specialisation in entomology or PG degree in agriculture with specialisation in entomology.

Soil science: PG degree in chemistry, microbiology geology, soil science or forestry with specialisation in ecology or PG degree in marine biology or PG degree in zoology with specialisation in marine biology.

Forest management: PG degree in mathematics, statistics / computer application / forestry / agriculture forestry.

Wood science and technology: PG degree in physics / chemistry / engineering or botany with specialisation in wood anatomy or PG degree in wood science and technology.

Chemistry of forest products: PG degree in organic chemistry / bio chemistry / agriculture chemistry, MD in pharmacology or equivalent in Indian system of medicine, PG degree in pharmacology / industrial chemistry.

Pulp and paper technology: PG degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or paper technology.

Forestry extension: PG degree in agriculture extension / forestry / forestry.

Non-wood forest products: PG degree in botany / forestry, organic chemistry, agriculture with specialisation in cultivation of medicinal plants, MD in pharmacology or equivalent in Indian system of medicine.

Forest biotechnology: PG degree in biotechnology or PG degree in life sciences with specialisation in biotechnology or PG degree in biochemistry / molecular biology / microbiology.

Forest bioinformatics: PG degree in bioinformatics or in forestry / botany with a minimum one-year PG diploma in bioinformatics from a recognised institution or a PG degree in computer science or PG degree in information technology or PG degree in maths /physics/ statistics and PG diploma in computer science.

Environment managements: PG degree in environment management/ environmental science or M.Tech. Environmental engineering or PG degree in chemistry with specialisation in environmental chemistry.

Wildlife science: PG degree in forestry / wildlife science/ zoology/ botany/ environmental management or postgraduate degree in science subjects with recognised postgraduate diploma in wildlife management.