THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS

Organizational setup

Activities

Future Strategy

        THE ORGANIZATIONAL SETUP :

The Department of Environment & Forests is the nodal department in the administrative structure of Andaman & Nicobar Administration for planning, formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for conservation, protection, and management of the forests and wildlife in the territory.

       The Environment and Forests Department is headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests who is ex-officio Secretary, Environment and Forests and also Secretary, Science and Technology.

             The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests is assisted by the Chief Conservator of Forests who is also ex-officio Special Secretary, Environment and Forests and the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Headquarters who is also Deputy Secretary, Environment and Forests.

The Conservator of Forests (Headquarters) looks after five functional divisions viz. Deputy Conservator of Forests (WP-I), Deputy                                                                                                                                              

Conservator of Forests (WP-II), Deputy Conservator of Forests (Silviculture), Assistant Conservator of Forests(Social Forestry) and Assistant Commissioner (Forest Settlement). He also acts as Member Secretary, Coastal Zone Management Authority and Nodal Officer, Sand Allotment Committee.

The Conservator of Forests (Southern Circle) oversees and controls the activities of three territorial divisions viz. Divisional Forest Officer (SA), Divisional Forest Officer (BT) and Divisional Forest Officer (Nicobar). He also functions as Nodal Officer, Forests (Conservation) Act, 1980.

The Conservator of Forests (Northern Circle) oversees and controls activities of three territorial divisions viz. Divisional Forest Officer (DP), Divisional Forest Officer (MB) and Divisional Forest Officer (MA) including Betapur Saw Mill.

The Conservator of Forests (D&U) oversees and controls the functioning of Deputy Conservator of Forests (MD), Deputy Conservator of Forests (Utilisation), Deputy Conservator of Forests, Depot Division (Calcutta) and Assistant Conservator of Forests, Depot Division (Chennai). He is also Member Secretary, Timber Pricing Committee and Timber Allotment Committee.

The Chief Wildlife Warden is a Conservator of Forests who is incharge of the Wildlife Wing of this territory which comprises Wildlife Division-I, Port Blair, Wildlife Division-II, Mayabunder and Wildlife Wing, Campbell Bay. He is also responsible for implementation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes covering management of wildlife habitat and other related activities. He also functions as Member Secretary, State Wildlife Advisory Board of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and State Level Environment Council.        

        Organizational set-up chart of the Department of Environment & Forests is given in Annexure-VII.  

  ACTIVITIES :

1.   Conservation of environment, forests and wildlife following National Forest Policy, 1988 and through protection, effective planning and scientific management.

2.   Meeting local requirement of forest produce through sustainable utilization of forest resources.

3.   Implementing provisions of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986 including the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991.

4.   Promoting research in forestry and wildlife.

5.   Human resource development through capacity building.

6.   Awareness generation by educating people and promoting eco-tourism and peoples participation.  

FUTURE STRATEGY :

           Strategy and Future Plans :

• Biodiversity conservation through sustainable management and rational utilisation of biological resources primarily to cater and local needs.       

•  In-situ conservation by improving the protection machinery (infrastructure and manpower) 

• Promoting research in Forestry and Wildlife to provide the much needed scientific information for better planning and management of biological resources.

• Raising non-timber forest produce outside forest area to reduce pressure on forests.
• Introduction of eco-development schemes, eco-tourism and promotion of people’s participation in conservation programmes.
• Elimination or minimization of activities such as pollution, habitat destruction and over exploitation, to prevent loss of biodiversity.