Institute of Forestry (IOF), TU

The Institute of Forestry (IOF) is the first and only institute in Nepal fully committed to education and training in Forestry and Natural Resource Management. It was established as Nepal Forestry Institute in 1947 under the Nepal Government, Department of Forests at Singh Durbar in Kathmandu. It was moved to Supping (Bhim Phedi) in 1957 and then to Hetauda in 1965 in better physical facilities constructed by the Indian Co-operation Mission (ICM). The Institute merged into Tribhuvan University in July 1972 under the name “Institute of Forestry” and developed the infrastructure for Dean’s Office and Pokhara Campus in Pokhara, Kaski, with technical and financial assistance from the World Bank, International Development Agency (IDA) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

IOF Dean Office, Pokhara

The Institute offered only a two-year Certificate Level course in Forestry at Hetauda until 1981. Thereafter, in order to meet the demand for trained natural resource managers in Nepal, it launched two academic programs at newly established Pokhara Campus in 1981: a two-year Technical Certificate in Forestry (TCF), which is now phased out, and a threeyear Bachelor of Science in Forestry (B.Sc. F.), which evolved into a four-year program in 1995. The IOF started offering Master of Science and Ph.D. programs in Forestry in 2004. Currently, it offers Master of Science in Forestry, Master of Science in Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, and Master of Science in Watershed Management. The Doctoral program of the IOF is research based and is open for all those interested in any field related to Forestry.

The IOF offers courses pertinent to various disciplines of NRM and modifies its curricula as time necessitates. The current curriculum entails basic science and forestry courses with emphasis on Forest Management, Community Forestry, Agroforestry, Eco-tourism, Park and Recreation Management, Environmental Science, Wildlife, Protected Area Management, Soil Conservation & Watershed Management, etc. Teaching and Research at the IOF preserve and enrich creative traditions through well designed educational programs. These programs address the current forestry related needs and interests of civil society in Nepal. The distinguished history of access and quality of the IOF continues today, providing graduate and undergraduate students with infinite opportunities to make a difference.

#Source: iof.edu.np

B.Sc Forestry Programme conducted under new syllabus 2071.
No. of Subject studies: (8 + 9) + (8 + 8) +
Total Credit Hours: (17+ 20) + (20 + 20) +