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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.
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Director's Message
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Sh. S.C. Joshi
Director, IWST, Bangalore
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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.
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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.
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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.