Institute of Forestry in Nepal

                                       Institute of Forestry in Nepal

                       The Institute of Forestry (IOF), of the Trivbuvan University, is the only institution in Nepal providing professional level training and preparing manpower in the field of forestry and related natural resources management. Initially it started as Nepal Forestry Institute at Singh Durbar in Kathmandu in 2004 BS, (1947 AD). It was shifted to Suping (Bhimphedi), Makwanpur, in 1957-58. The Institute was moved to Hetauda in 1965 in better facilities developed under technical and financial assistance received form the Government of India through the Indian Cooperation Mission. The Institute was run by the Department of Forests, His Majesties Government of Nepal until July 1972. It then became a part of the Tribhuvan University, the first and the biggest university in the country. After its incorporation into the Tribhuvan University it became the Institute of Forestry (IOF). IOF is one of the four technical institutes of the Tribuvan University including those of medicine (IOM), engineering (IOE), and agriculture (IAAS). Until late 1970s the IOF trained only sub-professional or technical grade forestry manpower (Rangers etc). The IOF expanded its academic programme in 1981 to a two -year technical certificate in forestry level and Bachelor of Science in Forestry degree. The Bachelors degree programme was shifted to new campus premises at Pokhara, built with the financial assistance from the World Bank (WB) and International Development Agency (IDA), and technical assistance from the United States Agencies for International Development (USAID). The IOF has received further development assistance from the USAID, ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization), the Government of India and others.

                      Currently, IOF operates at two separate campuses, one at Pokhara and the other at Hetauda, implementing academic programmes, such as Technical Certificate in Forestry, Bachelor of Science in Forestry & Master is Forest Science. IOF has further grown and added Nine Master is different despairs degree programme, & with M.Phil & Ph.D. Community Forestry at Pokhara. IOF/TU is also collaborating currently with NORAGRIC of the Agricultural University of Norway (AUN) in implementing Master of Science in Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture (M.Sc. in MNRSA) programme partially at Pokhara. IOF's two Campuses are administered by separate Campus Chiefs under the leadership of the Dean of the Institute of Forestry. The Dean is supported by two assistance deans in steering the course of IOF into the 21st century.