Working for the Forest Department presents you with the opportunity to interact closely with people, nature and wildlife. You need genuine love for all of them and also possess good physical fitness in order to shine in the profession.
Faculty at the College of Forestry, Thrissur, explains the courses which could lead to a profession with the Forest Department. They will also familiarise you with the history of the college and employment opportunities.
Aneesh K S, Academic Officer, College of Forestry, says that admissions to BSc Forestry at the institution are based on the Medical Ranklist published by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations, Kerala.
Students who have cleared Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths stream in Plus Two (Class 12) with high marks can opt for the course.
This year, 27 students from Kerala, one in the Lakshadweep quota and five from the ICAR quota would be given admissions. Physical requirements too should be met.
(ICAR is the Indian Council of Agricultural Research)
Huge opportunities
“The College of Forestry and the Forestry course were started under Kerala Agricultural University in 1986,” says Dr Gopakumar, Director of Education at the university.
In 2012, Forestry became one among the three faculties at the university, the other two being Agriculture and Agricultural Engineering and Technology.
“Over the last 35 years, the College of Forestry witnessed a big growth. Alongside, the profession of forestry also developed. As a result, the alumni of the college have joined the Indian Forest Service and state forest service. Among them is a woman Indian Forest Service officer who secured the first rank at the all-India level,” said Gopakumar.
The other alumni include officers occupying senior academic positions in the university, professors in universities abroad and senior forestry officers in the Food and Agricultural Organisation.
Top-notch facilities
The college has arranged top-class facilities such as an excellent campus and state-of-the-art laboratories. Since its inception, the college has carried out fruitful research activities by entering into tie-ups with other institutions and universities.
Admission process
Admission process to the Forestry course is as follows: 20 per cent of the seats are reserved for the all-India quota. From this year, these seats will be filled through the Common University Entrance Test. The remaining 80 per cent seats are in the state quota. Candidates can join the course based on their rank in NEET or KEAM.
Direct appointment as gazetted officer
Students clearing the BSc Forestry course can expect diverse opportunities in the government as well as in public and private institutions.
They can avail the 30-percent reservation allowed in jobs of range forest officer, which is a gazetted post. These candidates can also apply for the post of Wildlife Assistant Grade-2 with the Forest Department.
A quota exists also for the manager post under the Kerala State Forest Development Corporation. Public sector plantation firms such as Plantation Corporation of Kerala, State Farming Corporation and Rehabilitation Corporation appoint BSc Forestry graduates as Assistant Manager.
Major private plantation companies such as Tata Coffee and other Tata Group firms and Harrisons Malayalam also employ BSc Forestry graduates. Banking is another sector where these students can find employment.