First Woman Director General of ICFRE

December 2, 2023

In a significant milestone, Kanchan Devi, a 1991-batch Indian Forest Service Officer from the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has been appointed as the Director General (DG) of the Indian Council of Forestry Research Education (ICFRE). This marks a historic moment as Kanchan becomes the first woman officer to hold this prestigious position in the premier council under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

ICFRE’s Role

The ICFRE, headquartered in Dehradun, plays a crucial role in advising the Government of India, state governments, and various stakeholders, including farmers, industries, and academicians, on forestry research and technologies. It addresses emerging challenges in the field of forest conservation.

Accomplished Career

With over 30 years of experience in various facets of forestry, including forest management, administration, education, human resource development, research, and extension, Kanchan has demonstrated her expertise. She has served as a faculty member at the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Dehradun, contributing to forestry education.

Contributions of Kanchan Devi

Kanchan has actively worked on uplifting rural communities through the implementation, analysis, and recommendation of updates to existing forest policies. During her tenure at ICFRE, where she served as Deputy Director for the last four years, she played a pivotal role in promoting forestry education, accrediting courses, conducting research studies on forest policies, and advancing human resource development.

Key Initiatives and Impact

Her contributions extend to the establishment of the Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM) and the implementation of the World Bank-funded Ecosystem Services Improvement Project (ESIP) at ICFRE. She has been instrumental in recruiting and promoting scientists and technical officers within the council.

ICFRE’s Presence

ICFRE has a significant national presence with nine regional research institutes in cities such as Jodhpur, Shimla, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Ranchi, Bengaluru, Jorhat, and Jabalpur, along with five centres. At the international level, ICFRE holds observer organization status with UN bodies like UNFCCC and CBD. The council actively engages in international climate change deliberations, organizing side events at COP meetings of UNFCCC and CBD.

Conservation Impact

ICFRE has been pivotal in developing various technologies aimed at expanding tree cover on both forest and private land in India, contributing significantly to environmental conservation efforts. Kanchan Devi’s appointment adds a historic chapter to ICFRE’s legacy, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to the crucial role of Director General.

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