Forest Research Institute

Just 7 km from the legendary Clock Tower in Dehradun on the Dehradun- Chakrata road, the Forest Research Institute ( FRI ) is a Premier institute in Dehradun, Uttarakhand and is one of the oldest institution in the world dedicated to research in forestry in India . India was one of the first country in the world to introduce scientific forest management. The Britishers in 1864, established the Imperial Forest Department headed by the German Forest Officer Dietrich Brandis who was appointed as the Inspector General of Forests with a view to conserve forest resources. Mr Brandis later in the year 1867 laid the foundation of British Imperial Forest School in Dehradun. The Imperial Forestry Service was organized subordinate to the Imperial Forest Department and the British government constituted provincial forest services under the British Imperial Forest Services. The first forest policy in India was created in 1894.
In the year 1906 Imperial Forest Department reestablished itself as the Imperial Forest Research Institute under the British Imperial Forest Service. Officers were trained at the the Imperial Forest Institute till 1932. In 1938, the Indian Forest College was established at Dehradun and officers recruited by the states to the superior forest service were trained there . Today Imperial Forest Research Institute is known as the Forest Research Institute Dehradun.
Spread over 450 hectares of lush green estate in the heart of the city, with the Himalayas forming its backdrop, the Forest Research Institute is an example par excellence. The main building is a National Heritage building with a plinth area of 2.5 hectares. The magnificent building was designed by the then great architect Mr. C.G. Blomfield in Greeko Roman and colonial style. The building was inaugurated in the year 1929 and since then has won acclaim the world over.
The Institute has developed a world class infrastructure for Arboreta, Herbarium,Library,Well equipped labs, Printing press and experimental field areas for conducting forestry research and today is the biggest forest based training institute in India. The objective of the institute is to cater, in particular, to the research needs of the Indo-Gangetic plains of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Western Uttar Pradesh, and the Uttarakhand Himalayas.The Botanical Museum in the majestic building is a major attraction for the tourists. There are six sections of the museum.
- Entology
- Non Woods Forest Products
- Pathology
- Silviculture
- Social Forestry
- Timber
The Institute remain open from 9.30 a.m till 5 p.m daily. There is a nominal entrance fees for visiting the institute and again for the museum. Free battery operated cab service is available to carry tourists to the heritage building. There are two souvenir shops near the entrance gate which keep handmade forest products like accessories, wall hangings and things of home decor apart from ladies apparel.
FRI functions under the Indian Council Of Forestry Research and Education ( ICFRE ). In the year 1991,FRI was declared a deemed university by the University Grants Commission ( UGC ).The FRI campus also hosts the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA ), which is a separate organisation under the Ministry of Environment and forests (MoEF) for training officers selected for Indian Forest Service (IFS) by UPSC. Officers get training on forest and wildlife management, surveying, soil conservation,scheduled tribes and handling weapons. More than 56 subjects on life sciences are taught in the two year course . After completion of their training the officers are awarded a master degree in Science (Forestry) of the Deemed University known as Forest Research Institute. The FRI Deemed University runs four MSc courses viz. Cellulose & Paper Technology, Environment Management, Forestry Management, Wood Science Technology and two P.G.Diploma courses in Natural Resource Management and Aroma Technology. A large number of research scholars enroll here every year for PhD. Another premier institute in Dehradun , the Wildlife Institute of India was once located at the FRI campus but later it was shifted to Chandrabani and now functions as an independent organisation under the MoEF. Another central government institute , the Central Academy for State Forest Services ( CASFOS ) is also hosted in the FRI campus.
The Indian Forest Service is one of the three All India Services ( civil services ) of the government of India namely Indian Administrative Service (IAS) , Indian Police Service ( IPS ) and Indian Forest Service ( IFS ). The members for these services are recruited by the government but serve under the state governments or the central government. Most of the forest officers are a product of this institute.
Not only tourists the Forest Research Institute is also one of the hot destination among the film makers. More than half a dozen movies were primarly shot here like Student Of The Year, Paan Singh Tomar, Krishna Cottage, Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein, Dilli Khabar, Nanban, Dulhan Ek Raat Ki, Kamra No.404. The latest Cadbury Bournvita television commercial is also shot here . A noted freedom fighter Rash Behari Bose also worked here as a head clerk before joining the freedom movement. You will be surprised to know that the legendary Doon School Building was once part of the Forest Research Institute in 1915.
If you need any assistance or have a query please contact at the address below.
Forest Research Institute, Dehradun
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
+91 135 2755277, 2752678
dfri@icfre.org, ppbhoj@icfre.org, registrar_fri@icfre.org
website : fri.icfre.gov.in