About College
		Academic Programmes
		Infrastructure
		Mandate
		Sections
		Faculty
		Co-curricular Activities
		Research Activities and Achievements(including projects)
		Extension Activities and Achievements
		Research Recommendations (Approved in AGRESCO)
		Publications
		Contact Information

About College

The College of Forestry has a fairly long history and has the distinction of being the first in starting B.Sc. Forestry degree programme in Maharashtra state. To cater the need of future research based forestry development and demand of specialized technical personnel of this region, four year forestry degree programme has been started in this University from 1985-86 with the assistance of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. The B.Sc. Forestry degree programme was started in 14 State Agricultural Universities in the country.
		The objective of the forestry degree programme is to cater need of future research based demands of especially technical personnel. The Executive Council of Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola vide its resolution No. EC/113/ 89, dated 12.10.1989 have taken decision to establish Faculty of Forestry and Environment in this University as it was recommended by Statutes (EC/97/90, dt. 3.10.90) for this University. It is an apt decision since more than 50 per cent of the forest area of the state falls in the Vidarbha region.

B.Sc (Forestry) degree programme was started in Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola by establishing the Department of Forestry under the faculty of Agriculture in the year 1985-86 with the assistance of Indian Council of Agriculture Research, New Delhi with an intake capacity of 20 students per year.

Under USAID programme five faculty members of Department of Forestry, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola from Agriculture discipline were trained to teach various courses in forestry. In addition to this, services of retired Conservator of Forest were utilized to teach the specialized forestry courses.

The year 1990 happened to be very significant in the history of the College because during this year first batch of students received the degree of forestry.

Independent College of Forestry came into existence as a products of foresight and vision of the then Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Dr.P.D.K.V, Akola on 26th January, 2001

The College is located at Head quarter of Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth at Akola. The College is one of the important institutes of the State imparting Education, conducting Research and Extension activities in the forestry and also plays an important role in human recourse development in forestry sector.

Original Mission Statement

The prime mission of the College is to develop human resource in the field of Forestry, to conduct research for development of new techniques for forestry and agro-forestry and to disseminate research findings to the farming community of the region.

Goals

• To create an ambient atmosphere and intellectual skill in the area of forestry and allied field.

• To impart technical base and to develop man powers for supporting the state and country in the field of forestry.

1. To cater the need of future research based forestry development and fulfill demand of the specialized technical personnel of this region.

2. To provide scientific manpower for afforestation of wasteland
3. To undertake the basic research in the field of forestry.

1. To establish the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Science
2. To start Doctoral programme in Forestry leading to Ph.D. (Forestry) degree
3. To undertake research and training programme in various discipline of Forestry

Academic Programmes

The prime mandate of this College is to educate and to create qualified human resource catering the needs of the Forestry development in the state with the vision to become a pace setting centre of excellence believe in three universal values viz. Synergy, Trust and Passion with zeal to serve the Nation in the global scenario.

Our mission is to dedicate ourselves to the highest standard of Education and Research in core and emerging forester and strive for overall personality development of students so as to nurture not only quiet essential technocrats but also responsible citizens.

The College has been Accredited by Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi in the year 2007-08.

The College offers bachelor as well as Master degree in Forestry. The College also holds training for farmers, publish articles in daily news papers and publish bulletins.

The Academic staff is acting as a Advisory Committee Chairman / members of various students in Post Graduate Degree Programme at College of Forestry.

The authority is actively involved in upgrading the B.Sc. Forestry curriculum at All India level.

Degree Offered

The College of Forestry is conducting four years B.Sc. Forestry degree programme since 1985-86. The students of VII semester are undergoing FOWE (Forestry Works Experience) programme. The FOWE programme is implemented jointly by the College and State Forest Department. In FOWE the students are also placed at different NGOs to get first hand experience in the field of Forestry.

The Department of Forestry conduct Post graduate degree programme leading to M.Sc Forestry degree in four disciplines with an intake capacity of 07 students per year since 2008-09. The disciplines in which M.Sc Forestry degree offered are as follows :

1. Silviculture and Agroforestry ( SAF )
2. Natural resource Management (NRM)
3. Forest Products Utilization ( FPU )
4. Forest Biology and Tree Improvement ( FBT )

Infrastructure

Specialized Laboratories/ Facilities

Mist chamber Mini computer center Nursery Wood working workshop

Sophisticated Equipments

In addition to the common equipments the laboratories are equipped with sophisticated equipments like

1. BOD incubator
2. Centrifuge
3. Global Positioning System (GPS)
4. LCD Projector
5. Wood working machines
6. Laminar Air flow
7. Hot Press
8. Boiler
9. Grinder/ Pulvinizer
10. Wood Strength Testing Machine
11. Field and tracking equipments
12. Trent and camping equipments
13. Kjeldal unit
14. Laptop
15. Colored printer
16. Digital camera
17. Charcoal unit
18. Bamboo treatment kit

Teaching Aids available at College of Forestry

The infrastructural facilities like building, classroom, mini bus etc

Farm Land

College is in possession of total area 40.0 ha of land. Out of which 2.6 ha land comprises College building and plantation around it and 2.00 ha of block plantation of timber species, 5.00 ha of Simaruba glauca plantation and 15.00 ha comprises research experiments field. The university area under agency trial on 15.00 ha. Further 300 ha of Jatropha curcas plantation has been under taken by the College of Forestry under agency trial.

To meet the irrigation facilities and drinking water at College campus, two bore wells with submersible pump are available. The tractor and other implements are made available by Central Research Station, Dr. P.D.K.V, Akola as and when required.

Hostel Building

Hostel facility for students is available with College of Forestry. The existing Forestry hostel building was constructed considering the intake capacity of 20 students. However, with the increase of intake capacity to 32 students the existing hostel building is insufficient. To accommodate the students the existing hostel is having 14 rooms and 01 dinning and kitchen hall. This accommodates maximum 42 students. Additional accommodation for 40 students is required and hence extension of hostel is needed. The girls’ students of College of Forestry are accommodated in the University girls’ student hostel. The basic facilities like water cooler, water heater, gymnasium, T.V, parking and mess are available at hostel.

Library Building

The university library building is available which is sufficient to cater the need of the College of Forestry students.

Sports and Gymnasium Facilities

The existing sports facilities are inadequate and needs improvement. However the tracts and playground is of good standard with stadium and pavilion. The facilities for indoor games viz. badminton, Table tennis are available at university level and are utilized.    A multi station well equipped hi-tech Gymnasium is available in the hostel of College of Forestry. The equipment under the Gymnasium is mostly funded by ICFRE Dehardun during 2005-06.

Sections

As per ICAR IVth Dean Committee, there are four section at College of Forestry

1. Silviculture and Agroforestry ( SAF )
2. Natural resource Management (NRM)
3. Forest Products Utilization ( FPU )
4. Forest Biology and Tree Improvement ( FBT )

Co-Curricular Activities

The students as well as staff regularly take in the activities like NSS camps, educational tours, visits to the institutes and forests to fulfill the requirements of the academic programme. In addition to this participation in cultural activities, youth festivals, blood donation camps, etc. are the regular features

Research Activities and Achievements (including projects)

The College of Forestry, Akola falls in the agro-ecological Western Vidharba zone (Semiarid Lava Platue and Central high lands). The activities of research and extension are based on the needs of the farmers, state forest department, forest based industries, funding agencies and other end users. The research and extension activities are carried out by the faculty members and students of this College.

The research programme undertaken by the staff members of the College of Forestry are discussed in the research planning meeting of Horticulture, Forestry and Medicinal & Aromatic Plants of Annual Research Review Committee headed by the Director of Research of the University. The research recommendations are finalized in Joint Agriculture Research Committee before recommendations are made available to the end users. The Ad-hoc research project funded by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Department of Biotechnology (DBT) , National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board (NOVOD) and State Forest Department, Government of Maharashtra are also taken-up for research and training programme. The detail RRC Report 2008-09 is available at RRC-April-2009-Forestry-Akola.doc

At present The College of Forestry have following adhoc externally funded research project.

Apart from the externnaly funded research project, the following project are funded by University

Research Recommendations (Approved in AGRESCO)

Contact Information

Dr. Shailesh S. Harne
Associate Dean
College of Forestry
Po.Krishi Nagar,
Dr.P.D.K.V, Akola -444 104
Maharshtra, India
Email : adfcakola@gmail.com OR adforestry@pdkv.ac.in
Phone No. +91 0724-2258889
Fax No. +91 0724-2258889