Kerala Forest Department


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 of forests forming 29.65% of the total geographic area of the state.
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.
WWW forest.kerala.gov.in

Organisational Structure

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.

Forest headquarters

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, Conservator of Forests, and Deputy Conservator of Forests. 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

  • Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force
  • Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
  • Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
  • Chief Conservator of Forests
  • Conservator of Forests
  • Divisional Forest Officer / Deputy Conservator of Forests / Wildlife warden
  • Assistant Conservator of Forests
  • Range Forest Officer
  • Deputy Range Forest Officer
  • Section Forest Officer
  • Beat Forest Officer
  • Forest Driver

Ranks and Insignia

The Kerala Forest Department has three categories of officers: Indian Forest Service, Kerala Forest Service, and Kerala Forest Subordinate Service.
The IFS cadre includes officers from Assistant Conservator of Forests to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. These are Group A gazetted officers appointed through the Union Public Service Commission. The Kerala Forest Service comprises Deputy Conservators of Forests, Assistant Conservators of Forests, and Range Forest Officers. The Kerala Forest Subordinate Service includes Deputy Range Forest Officers, Section Forest Officers, Beat Forest Officers, and Forest Drivers.
Uniform is mandatory only for field-level officers ; senior officers ACF and above do not have a prescribed uniform.
No.RankShoulder insignia
1Range Forest Officer
2Deputy Range Forest Officer
3Section Forest Officer
4Beat Forest Officer

Responsibilities