The Telangana government has approved the upgradation of the Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI) to a University – only third such institution in the world.
Staff Correspondent, September 15 2022
After Russia and China, India is setting up a University exclusively for forestry and allied subjects. The university, first of its kind in India, is coming up at Telangana in the southern part of India.
The Telangana government has decided to upgrade its Forest College and Research Institute (FCRI) to a university. The aim, officials say, is to develop it as a “world-class institute for forest education, research, and outreach”.
The setting up of a University of Forests was approved by the regional legislative body of Telenaga on September 12. The focus of the upcoming university would be to produce qualified forestry professionals for conservation and sustainable management of forests. The university would also focus on research and strive to develop agro-forestry models suitable for varied ecological conditions.
Officials say that once the FCRI is upgraded, it would add an additional 18 forestry-related programs like Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D), degree, diploma, and certificate courses in the disciplines of urban forestry, agroforestry, nursery management, climate-smart forestry, and forest parks management.
The student strength of the university is expected to go up twofold – from 366 to 712 while the faculty is likely to double. At present, the FCRI has 118 faculty members.
While this would be only the first University of forestry in India, it would be the third such institution in the world. The two other countries having exclusive forestry universities are Russia and China.
