|
Institute
of Wood Science & Technology (IWST),
Bangalore, one of the institutes of
Indian Council of Forestry Research &
Education (ICFRE) was established in
1988. Earlier, the then Government of
Mysore had set up a Forest Research
Laboratory (FRL) at Bangalore in 1938.
In the initial years, work was carried
out mainly on properties and uses of
different timber species, essential
oils, other non-wood forest products and
protection of wood and trees from pests
and diseases. In 1956, this laboratory
was organized as a regional centre of
Forest Research Institute and Colleges,
Dehra Dun. In 1977, Sandal Research
Centre was set up to undertake research
on wide-ranging aspects of genetics,
silviculture and management of sandal.
In 1988, forestry research in India was
reorganized with the setting up of the
Indian Council of Forestry Research and
Education (ICFRE) and Forest Research
Laboratory was upgraded and named as
Institute of Wood Science and Technology
(IWST) merging with Sandal Research
Centre and Minor Forest Products Unit.
The mandate of the institute is to
conduct research on Wood Science at the
national level and at the regional
level, it focuses on studies related to
problems in forestry sector and varied
research needs of the states of
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa. The
Institute has now widened its research
activities to the field of tree
improvement and wood energy in addition
to conventional wood sciences. This
institute has also been widely
recognized as the center for advanced
studies in areas of 1) Improved
utilization of wood 2) Mangrove and
coastal ecology and 3) Research on
sandal. |
Director's Message
|
Sh. S.C. Joshi
Director, IWST, Bangalore |
The
Institute
of
wood
Science
and
Technology,
Bangalore
is
one
of
the
pioneer
institutes
under
the
auspices
of
the
Indian
Council
of
Forestry
Research
and
Education,
Dehradun.
It
caters
to
the
forestry
research
needs
of
forest
departments,
wood
based
industries,
academicians,
farmers
and
other
stakeholders.
|
|
The
main
research
areas
of
the
institute
are
wood
properties
and
uses,
wood
seasoning
and
preservation,
chemistry
of
forest
products,
wood
polymer
composites,
wood
biodegradation
in
terrestrial
and
marine
conditions,
tree
improvement
and
wood
energy.
It
was
earlier
well
known
as
Sandal
Research
Institute
due
to
its
extensive
work
on
sandal.
The
institute
serves
various
agencies
by
providing
services
related
to
testing,
seasoning,
treating
wood
samples
etc,.
Institute
is
also
working
on
tree
improvement
and
nursery
practices
of
different
species.
It
reaches
out
to
the
public
through
demonstration
programs
in
the
field
of
forestry
and
wood
science.
It
also
imparts
training
on
various
forestry
related
topics
to
different
end
users.
The
institute
continuously
strives
to
fulfill
its
mission
to
generate,
preserve,
disseminate
and
advance
knowledge,
technologies
and
solutions
for
addressing
issues
arising
out
of
interaction
between
people,
forests
and
environment
on a
sustained
basis
through
research,
education
and
extension.
The
vision
of
the
institute
is
well
focused
and
it
aims
to
attain
excellence
in
forestry
and
wood
science
research
for
generation
of
desired
resource
values,
uses,
products
and
services
in a
way
that
sustains
diversity
and
productivity
in
an
eco-friendly
regime. |
|
ICFRE
has been implementing programmes aimed at
holistic development of forestry research,
education and extension for sustainable
management and development of forestry
resources in the country.