The Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM) is a sectoral management school located in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India. It is an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, and specialises in education, research, training and consultancy in the areas of forestry, environment management, natural resources and allied sectors.
| Type | Autonomous management institute |
|---|---|
| Established | 1982 |
| Location | Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India |
| Parent body | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India |
| Focus areas | Forestry management, environment, natural resources, development sector |
| Flagship programme | Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management (PGDFM) |
IIFM was set up to develop trained managerial professionals for the forestry and natural resources sector in India. Its mandate combines management education in the tradition of the Indian Institutes of Management with technical content drawn from forestry, ecology, rural development and environmental sciences. The institute is funded by the central government and is governed by a board chaired by senior officials from the environment and forestry establishment.
The institute offers a two-year residential Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management (PGDFM), considered its flagship programme. Admission is based on the Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management, followed by a written ability test and personal interview.
Research at IIFM spans community forestry, joint forest management, climate change, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, livelihoods, environmental economics and corporate environmental management. The institute undertakes sponsored research and consultancy for ministries of the Government of India, state governments, multilateral agencies and civil society organisations. It also runs centres and cells working on areas such as climate change, ecosystem services and minor forest produce.
The campus is situated in Nehru Nagar, Bhopal, and includes academic blocks, a library specialising in forestry and management literature, hostels, and recreational facilities. Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is also home to other research and training institutions in the forestry and environment sectors, providing an ecosystem for collaboration.
IIFM is among the few institutions globally dedicated to professional management education for the forestry and natural resources sector. Its alumni are placed in development organisations, conservation agencies, corporate sustainability functions, consulting firms, public sector undertakings and government departments, and play a role in shaping policy and practice on forests, environment and rural livelihoods in India.