Forest Department celebrates 95th foundation day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 02 2026: The Manipur Forest Department, one of the oldest departments in the State, celebrated its 95th Foundation Day today at the Forest Headquarters, Imphal, with the participation of serving and retired officers in person and virtual mode, frontline forest staff and officials.

A presentation highlighting the historical evolution, growth and major achievements of the Department was made during the celebration.

The presentation also highlighted the department's progressive adoption of modern technologies, including GPS, GIS, remote sensing, drones, digital forest monitoring systems and AI-enabled tools like FRAMS for improving planning, surveillance and decision-making.

Retired IFS officers, Bala Prasad, K Thambou Singh, K Jagdishwor Singh and Th Mohendro Pratap Singh shared their experiences, recollections and insights from their years of service.

Anurag Bajpai, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest acknowledged the commitment and sacrifices of forest personnel working in diverse and often challenging field conditions.

He underscored the importance of combining the experience and wisdom of senior officers with the energy, innovation and technological capabilities of younger officers to address emerging challenges such as forest fires, forest degradation, illegal poppy cultivation, biodiversity loss and climate change.

Bajpai envisaged that technology must be used for better conservation, greater transparency and more effective governance.

"Our forests are deeply connected with the lives, livelihoods and customary institutions of our communities.

Conservation cannot succeed through enforcement alone.

It must be built on trust, participation and shared responsibility," he said.

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