Conservator of Forests

A Conservator of Forests is an officer belonging to the elite Indian Forest Service (IFS). He is responsible for managing the Forests, forest protection, Environment and Wild-Life related issues of a Forest Circle of a state or a union territory of India. He is responsible for the administration of forests in several districts. He is the highest authority at the circle level in the forest department, representing the forest departments of several districts. He is equivalent in rank with the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) or a Commissioner-cum-Secretary to the State Government, senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers . He is assisted by DCFs and Range officers under him. Officers of the rank of Conservator of Forests may also be posted as General Managers in various State Forest Development Corporations.An IFS officer of this rank may also be posted as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Forests at the Govt. of India.

See also