GURU GHASIDAS VISHWAVIDYALAYA BILASPUR (CG)

DEPARTMENTAL PROFILE OF FORESTRY WILD LIFE & ENVIRONMENT SC.

Department at a Glance

The Department of Forestry, Wildlife & Environmental Sciences was established in the year 1989. It is dedicated for promoting excellence in education and research in Forestry and allied subjects, to cater the need for trained forestry man power in the country. The syllabi include study of all segments of forestry, wildlife and environmental sciences with a view to provide the students with innovative knowledge and skills. The Department organizes lectures by eminent persons besides workshops, seminars, symposium, and conferences in the field of forestry. Excursions to premier institutes of forestry, plantation areas, natural forest, forest nurseries and forest based industries are the regular features of the curriculum to understand the subject in a better way. The Department is actively engaged in research and extension programmes through a number of research/ developmental projects sanctioned by various Government funding agencies viz; ICFRE, MoEF, CCOST, DoLR. The Department has a good liaison with State Forest Department, forest based industries, research institutions and NGOs for the attachment of students to provide better exposure of the practical/ field operations in forestry and also to facilitate the new vistas for training and placement of students. The alumni of this Department have joined Indian Forest Services, State Forest Services, and Scientists in ICFRE institutions, Faculty in Universities and professionals in esteemed NGOs. The Department is running three academic programmes: [1] BSc Forestry (8 semesters/ 4years) [2] MSc Forestry, Wildlife & Environmental Sciences (4 semesters/ 2years) [3] PhD Forestry. The core objective of these programmes is to provide a bigger catchment and platform for natural/life sciences and agriculture sciences students to choose a professional degree in forestry.

Infrastructure: The Department has following facilities for teaching, research and extension activities: Laboratory Equipments viz; Phase Contrast and stereo zoom microscope with image analyser; Nitrogen analyser; Porometer, Spectrophotometer, Automatic soil moisture meter; Canopy analyser; Leaf area meter; Automatic weather monitoring station; Windias; and Photosynthesis analyser; State-of-art glasshouse; Forestry nursery; Computer lab with RS & GIS facilities; Plantation sites of more than 15 acres; Departmental library; Forestry hostel; Mini gym & sports goods and Camping equipments.

Research Areas: The Department is engaged in conducting research in following thrust areas: Forest tree improvement and mutagenesis; Forest Genetic Resources: Identification, propagation and cryopreservation; Watershed management through RS & GIS; Assessment of air pollutants and its impact on forests of Chhattisgarh; Bioremediation and restoration of degraded lands; Nutrient dynamics in tropical forest ecosystem; Mycorrhizal and Actinomycorrhizal symbiosis; Screening, characterization and bioprospecting of natural dyes; Wood improvement through novel technologies and Wildlife ecology.