The Institute of Forestry (IOF) is Nepal's premier and only institution fully dedicated to education and training in Forestry and Natural Resource Management. It was founded as the Nepal Forestry Institute in 1947 under the Department of Forests, Government of Nepal, at Singh Durbar, Kathmandu. The Institute relocated to Supping (Bhim Phedi) in 1957, and then to Hetauda in 1965, where improved facilities were built with the support of the Indian Co-operation Mission (ICM). In 1972, the Institute became part of Tribhuvan University and was renamed the "Institute of Forestry." The Dean’s Office and Pokhara Campus were established in Hariyokharka, Pokhara, with technical and financial assistance from the World Bank, the International Development Agency (IDA), and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Initially, the Institute offered a two-year Certificate in Forestry in Hetauda until 1981. In response to the growing need for skilled natural resource managers in Nepal, the IOF launched two academic programs at the newly established Pokhara Campus in 1981: a two-year Technical Certificate in Forestry (now discontinued) and a three-year Bachelor of Science in Forestry, which was expanded into a four-year program in 1995. The IOF began offering a Master of Science in Forestry in 2001 and Ph.D. programs in Forestry in 2004. Today, the Institute offers a wide range of postgraduate programs, including Master of Science in Forestry, Master of Science in Natural Resource Management and Rural Development, Master of Science in Watershed Management, Master of Science in Wildlife Management and Biodiversity Conservation, Master of Science in Mountain Environment and Development Studies, and Master of Science in Community Forestry. The doctoral programs are research-based and open to students interested in any area of Forestry.
The IOF provides comprehensive coursework across various disciplines of Natural Resource Management, regularly updating its curriculum to stay aligned with emerging needs. The current academic programs include core courses in Forestry and basic sciences, with specialized focus areas such as Forest Management, Community Forestry, Agroforestry, Eco-tourism, Environmental Science, Wildlife Management, Protected Area Management, and Soil Conservation & Watershed Management, among others. Through its teaching and research activities, the IOF preserves and enhances creative traditions while offering well-structured educational programs that address contemporary forestry challenges. With its distinguished legacy and commitment to excellence, the IOF continues to provide graduate and undergraduate students with opportunities to make a meaningful impact in the field of Forestry and Natural Resource Management.
