Realizing the pivotal role of the forests in the economic prosperity and ecological stability of a country, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University started a full-fledged Department of Forestry as a forerunner to the College of Forestry as early as in 1973.  Though mandated then to carry out research in Agroforestry and plantation forestry, the department also assumed the responsibility of offering a course on Agroforestry to final year students of B.Sc. (Agriculture) and B.Sc. (Horticulture) degree programmes and a course on Forest Ecology to students of the M.Sc. (Environmental Science) programme.  With March of time and concomitant multiplication of problems encountered by both tree-growing farmers and tree-based industries, the need for enlarging the research base was keenly felt.  To serve this need, a Forest Research Station was started in February 1976 as an adjunct to the Department in the sylvan surroundings of Odanthurai and Jacanari reserved forests at Mettupalayam, about 40 km away from the main campus.  The station has since been elevated to the status of a Forest College and Research Institute in 1990.  The College is situated over a sprawling area of 200 ha. of reserved forests.  The college is located at the foothills of the Nilgiris on the Kothagiri Road with an altitude of 300 m above MSL at 11°19 N longitude and 77°56 E longitude and enjoys an annual rainfall of 830 mm.  The mean maximum and minimum temperature are 32.2°C and 23.2°C respectively. 

1973   -    Establishment of a Department of Forestry at the Coimbatore campus
1976   -    Inception of a Forestry Research Station at Mettupalayam
1985   -    Introduction of four year B.Sc. (Forestry degree programme
1989   -    Starting College of Forestry at TNAU, Coimbatore
1989   -    Starting of two year M.Sc. degree programme in Forestry
1990   -    Elevation of Forestry Research Station to the status of Forest college and Research Institute
1991   -    Introduction of Ph.D. programme in Forestry
1998   -    Creation of five departments viz.,

• Department of Tree Breeding
• Department of Silviculture
• Department of Agroforestry
• Department of Forest Soils
• Department of Forest Biology

The mandate of this Institute is three fold i.e. Forestry Education, Research and Extension.

a) Forestry Education

• To impart state-of-the-art education in forestry to students and produce able forest administrators, Forestry Scientists and self-sustaining entrepreneurs.

b) Forestry Research

• To undertake research on basic and applied aspects of forestry and to evolve technologies for enhanced forest productivity.

c) Forestry Extension

• Imparting training and offering consultancy to the farmers, transfer of technology to the end users like wood based industries and departmental functionaries.

Academic Programmes

Programmes offered with duration

Administrative structure of college :  Please give a flow-chart of the organizational structure of the college / institute

Forest College and Research Institute

Location

Description The Forest College and Research Institute (FC&RI) is located at Mettupalayam in the sylvan surroundings of Jakanarai Reserved Forest, about 40 km north of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) main campus, Coimbatore. It is situated over a sprawling expanses of 200 ha of reserved forest. Located at the foothills of Nilgris on the Kotagiri road, the college is perched at an altitude of 200m with a longitude of 11o19'N , latitude of 77o56' E and enjoys an annual rainfall of 830 mm. The mean maximum and minimum temperature are 32.2oC and 23.2oC respectively.