The Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee while Chairing XXI meeting of the Indian Board of Wildlife on 21st January 2002 recommended that a Forest Commission be set up to look into restructuring, reform and strengthening of the entire forest setup and affiliated institutions in the country.

In the fulfillment of the said recommendation a National Forest Commission to review working of Forest and Wildlife sector was set up with following composition:

Sr. No.	Name	Designation
1	Justice B. N. Kirpal, Chief Justice of India (Retired)	Chairman ( Part-time)
2	Director General of Forests and Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests	Member-ex-officio
3	Prof. J. S. Singh, Banaras Hindu University	Member - Part-time
4	Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt	Member - Part-time
5	Dr. M. K. Ranjitsinh	Member - Part-time
6	Shri A. P. Muthuswami	Member - Part-time
7	Additional Director General Forests	Member-Secretary

The terms of reference of the Commission include:

1. Review and assess the existing policy and legal framework and their impact in a holistic manner from the ecological, economic, social and cultural viewpoint.
2. Examine the current status of forest administration and the forestry institutions both at all India and State level to meet the emerging needs of the civil society.
3. Make recommendations indicating specific policy options for achieving sustainable forest and wildlife management and ecological security.
4. Suggest ways and means to make forest administration more effective with a view to help to achieve the above policy options.
5. Establish meaningful partnership and interface between forestry management and local communities including tribal.