FOREST SURVEY OF INDIA, DEHRADUN

INTRODUCTION

Forest Survey of India (FSI) was created in June, 1981 with the objective of monitoring periodically (10 years cycle) the changing situation of land and forest resources and present the data for national planning; conservation and management of environmental preservation and implementation of social forestry projects.

OBJECTIVES

After a critical review of its activities, FSI was re-organised w.e.f. 1.7.1986. The revised objectives of FSI are as follows:-

1. To prepare a comprehensive State of Forest Report (SFR) including National Forest Vegetation Map (NVM) once in every two years. It will also prepare thematic maps through use of remote sensing data with minimum essential ground truth verification on a 10 years cycle.

2. To collect, store and retrieve necessary forestry and forestry related data for national and state level planning and to create a computer based National basic Forest Inventory System (NBFIS)

3. To design methodologies relating to forest surveys and subsequent updating. This would include methodology for--

   1. Vegetation mapping including thematic maps through use of satellite imagery/aerial photographs.
   2. Ground with verification.
   3. Growing stock and volume assessment.

4. To undertake work in regard to preparation of forest inventory in selected States/UTs on agency basis until establishment of their own resources survey units.

5. To impart training in modern forest survey techniques to forests at various levels of responsibility in the States/UTs/GOI.

6. To advise the States/UTs on design and development of regional NBFIS.

7. To support and oversee technique/inventory work undertaken by State/UT Forest Departments.

ORGANISATION

The FSI is headed by Director. The Headquarter of the organisation is located at Dehradun. It has four zonal offices,each headed by a Joint Director at Shimla, Calcutta, Nagpur & Bangalore. Major functions of each zonal office are

1. Organising field work to collect inventory data and preparing inventory reports.

2. Interpretation of aerial photographs and

3. Wood consumption study.

The jurisdiction of each zone is as follows :

North Zone, Shimla

Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Cahndigarh.

Eastern Zone, Calcutta

Bihar, West Bengal, Mizoram, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Tripura, Manipur, Arunchal Pradesh, Nagaland & Assam.

Central Zone, Nagpur

Madhya Pradesh,Maharashtra,Goa,Gujarat, Orissa, Daman & Diu, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Pondicherry.

Southern Zone, Bangalore

Andhra pradesh, Karnataka, Keral & Tamilnadu, Lakshadweep.

Besides the above there are 3 units, each headed by a Joint Director at Headquarter office at Dehradun. The units are :

National Forest Data Management Centre

engaged in Digital Image Analysis and cartography and developing Geographical Information System & Forestry Database

Vegetation Mapping Unit

engaged in preparing vegetation maps by visual analysis of satellite imagery and supervising cartography og thematic maps based on aerial photographs and

Training Unit

for training FSI staff and Forest officers in Application of Remote Sensing Techniques and Inventory Technology.

There are 3 more technical units at the Headquarter each of which is headed by a Deputy Director. These are :

Machine Data Management Unit

for electronic processing of inventory data and data banking,

Agency Work Unit

for compilation and writing of State of Forest Report and coordinating inventory works among various zone,

Methodology Unit

for developing and improving methodology.

In addition a unit at Headquarter headed by a Dy. Director looks after administration of the organisation,cross checks the inventory reports submitted by the zonal offices and attend to the technical querries received.

ACTIVITIES

1. Thematic mapping

2. Vegetation Mapping

3. Electronic Data Processing

4. Training

5. Designing of Methodology, Consultancy and Special Studies

6. Digital Image Processing and National Forest Data Management Centre

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