Forests & Environment Department
About the Department
The Forests and Environment Department has been established to ensure effective supervision of activities for protection, management, improvement of forests including scientific and sustainable harvesting and utilization of the forestry resources available in the State of Meghalaya, ensure clean and green environment, sustainable use of medicinal plants resources and all other connected matters .
Vision: To ensure environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance including atmospheric equilibrium which are vital for sustenance of all lifeforms, human, animal and plant.
Mission: The Forests & Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya is to endeavour to achieve the goals set by the National Forest Policy, 1988.
Other Details
The Forests and Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya has a chequered history. It was the constituent part of the Forest Department of the erstwhile undivided State of Assam, which was one of the pioneer States of the country that initiated scientific management of the forests and wildlife way back in the Nineteenth century. The Assam Forest Regulation, 1891 is one of the earliest enactments on the subject of Forestry and formed the basis for various similar enactments by various other States and the Central Government. On carving out of a separate State of Meghalaya comprising Khasi, Jaintia and Garo Hills located in the southern part of the erstwhile undivided State of Assam in 1971, the present day Forest & Environment Department headed by Minister for Environment and Forests came into existence. On the Secretariat side the Department is headed by an Officer of the rank of Principal Secretary to the State Government. The Secretariat of the Forests & Environment Department is located in the Secretariat Buildings, Shillong.
