Kerala Forests is a department of the Government of Kerala responsible for forestry and wildlife management in the state of Kerala, India. The department is involved with the protection and conservation of flora and fauna in their natural habitats and conserves of forests forming 29.65% of the total geographic area of the state.
Headquartered in Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, the department is headed by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, serving as the Head of Forest Force.The headquarters also houses the Forest Central Library which is open for public access.
The Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department, under the leadership of Minister A. K. Saseendran for Forests and Wildlife, is administered by the Principal Secretary to Government (Forests and Wildlife).
The Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department is headed by a Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, who is assisted by several officers, including Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF), Conservator of Forests (CF), and Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF). The department has a staff strength of over 11,000 employees, including forest officers, rangers, guards, and other support staff. The department is organized into five circles, each headed by a Chief Conservator of Forests. The circles are further divided into divisions and ranges, each headed by a Divisional Forest Officer and Range Officer, respectively.
The Kerala Forest Department has three categories of officers: Indian Forest Service (IFS), Kerala Forest Service (KFS), and Kerala Forest Subordinate Service.
The IFS cadre includes officers from Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF). These are Group A gazetted officers appointed through the Union Public Service Commission. The Kerala Forest Service (KFS) comprises Deputy Conservators of Forests (Non-IFS), Assistant Conservators of Forests (Non-IFS), and Range Forest Officers. The Kerala Forest Subordinate Service includes Deputy Range Forest Officers, Section Forest Officers, Beat Forest Officers, and Forest Drivers.
Uniform (Khaki) is mandatory only for field-level officers (Range Forest Officers and below); senior officers ACF and above do not have a prescribed uniform.