Institute of Forest Productivity (IFP), Ranchi – UPSC Notes

Syllabus: Indian Institutions (UPSC Prelims)

The Institute of Forest Productivity (IFP), located in Ranchi¹, Jharkhand, is a regional forestry research institute under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC).

It plays an important role in scientific management of forests in the Eastern India region, especially Jharkhand, Bihar, West Bengal, and Odisha.

Mandate & Functions

1. Forest Productivity Research

• Focus on improving forest biomass productivity through silviculture and sustainable forest management.
• Research on fast-growing species, site-specific plantation models, and soil–plant relationships.

2. Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)

• Studies on medicinal plants, gums, resins, lac, bamboo, and tendu leaves, crucial for tribal livelihoods.
• Development of sustainable harvesting techniques.

3. Forest Protection

• Research on forest pests, diseases, and invasive species affecting Eastern forest ecosystems.
• Development of biocontrol measures and forest health monitoring.

4. Agroforestry

• Promotes farm forestry and agroforestry models suited for small and marginal farmers of Eastern India.
• Works on species like gamhar, eucalyptus, teak, bamboo.

5. Tribal & Community-Centric Programs

• Supports livelihood enhancement through NTFPs and value-added processing.
• Capacity-building programs for forest-dependent communities.

6. Climate & Soil Research

• Studies on soil fertility, carbon sequestration, and climate-resilient forestry systems.

Training & Extension

1. Training programs for State Forest Departments, NGOs, and community groups.
2. Dissemination of best practices in forest management and NTFP processing.
3. Collaboration with universities and research organisations.

1. Question Reference
   (HPAS PYQ 2025) ↩︎