ICI Vietnam and Nepal

Finnish Forest Research institute and its National Forest Inventory team

The Finnish Forest Research Institute (Metla) is a governmental sector research institute and subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The duties of Metla are to promote, through research, the economical, ecological, and socially sustainable management and use of forests. The mission of Metla is to build the future of the forest sector by producing and disseminating information and know-how for the well-being of societies.

The National Forest Inventory (NFI) team of Metla has a long and outstanding experience in forest inventory. The NFI has designed and conducted field inventories to produce large-area forest resource information for over 80 years. Optimal field inventory designs, forest modelling, GHG methodology and utilization of high-resolution remote sensing data in multi-source forest inventories are examples of the expertise that is available also for international projects. The NFI team collaborates closely with national and international researcher teams specialised on different aspects of forest inventory technology.

Finnish Forest Research Institute
Joensuu Research Unit
P.O. Box 68
FI-80101 JOENSUU, FINLAND
tel: +358102111
fax: +358102113113
website: www.metla.fi

Department of Forest Research and Survey

The Department of Forest Research and Survey (DFRS) is an official government body responsible for maintaining the national forest database and disseminating the information to other stakeholders. The aims of DFRS are:

• to maintain and strengthen natural resource base;
• to improve forest productivity and production; and
• to generate income and create employment.

Overall objective of DFRS is to contribute on conservation, management and sustainable utilization of forest resources through improved technologies and updated forest resource information base. The DFRS also provides statistics and information necessary to plan overall forestry development at national, regional and district levels. Its specific tasks are related to the soil and watershed management, plant resource expertise and management of protected areas.

DFRS is the only government designated forestry research and survey organization in Nepal and works in close collaboration with various national stakeholders and international agencies. The Department has two divisions: Forest Research Division (FRD) and Forest Survey Division (FSD). The FRD is engaged to develop and demonstrate appropriate technologies related to natural and manmade forest management, determining forest growth to maximize forest productivity, identify suitable tree species for different site conditions and develop their nursery and silvicultural technologies. Research is also conducted in the field of agroforestry and fodder production, tree improvement, socio-economic studies, utilization of forest products such as bamboo and rattan, and preparation of simple volume and biomass tables for different forest products. The FSD generates statistics and information the overall forestry development planning at national-, regional- and district-level.

Department of Forest Research and Survey
G.P.O. 3339
Kathmandu
tel: + 97714220482
fax: + 97714220159
e-mail: info@dfrs.gov.np
website: http://www.dfrs.gov.np/index.php

Tribhuvan University's institute of Forestry (IOF/TU)

The Institute of Forestry (IOF) of the Trivbhuvan University (TU) is a well-established national academic and training institute and the only institution in Nepal providing middle- and high-level professional education and training. IOF/TU has been training forestry graduates for the country over the past twenty years. The objective of IOF/TU is to facilitate and promote forestry research and development of forestry related technologies applicable to Nepalese conditions. Its mission is to develop technically and socially sound and competent human resources in the fields of forestry and natural resource management. IOF/TU operates at two separate campuses in Pokhara and in Hetauda and implements academic programmes such as Technical Certificate in Forestry, Bachelor of Science in Forestry, and Master of Forest Science.

Tribhuvan University
Institute of Forestry
Pokhara Campus
P.O. Box 203
Pokhara, Nepal
tel: +97761430469 or +97761431689
fax: +97761430387
e-mail: info@iof.edu.np
website: http://www.iof.edu.np/about_iof.htm

Kathmandu Forestry College

The Kathmandu Forestry College (KaFCoL) is a newly established forestry college and the only forestry college in Nepal financed from public funds. The college is affiliated with the Tribhuvan University (TU) and offers Bachelor-level education in Forestry. It is committed to providing education that meets international standards.

The KaFCoL collaborates with several nationally and internationally acknowledged organizations such as the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Bangkok, Thailand, and the University of Reading in UK. Its long-term collaboration with the Danish Forestry Extension to promote private forestry activities in the region of Terai, Nepal, started in 1999. These Organizations and Institutions have shown their interests in supporting Forestry College in the form of research and technical capacity building. It has linkages with community forest user groups (CFUGs) and many projects working in the field of community forestry within Nepal and abroad.

Kathmandu Forestry College
GPO Box 9594
Koteswor
Kathmandu
tel: +97714600343
fax: +97714602305
e-mail: kafcol@wlink.com.np
website: http://www.kafcol.edu.np/

The Forest Inventory and Planning Institute

The Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI) was established in 1961 under the general jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Main tasks of FIPI are:

• to apply remote sensing data and GIS technologies combined with field survey for assessing and monitoring natural resources at all levels on rotational or yearly basis;
• to prepare plans, technical and economic feasibility studies, investment projects for different levels for forestry and mountainous rural development;
• to conduct basic surveys and research studies on silviculture, site conditions, forest pests and diseases, forest plants and animals;
• to implement land surveys and topographic mapping;
• to compile forestry maps;
• to develop automatic data processing protocols and database establishment inside and outside the sector; and
• to train domestic and foreign staff on forest inventory and planning through workshops, short training courses and study tours organised for foreign and local forestry staffs and researchers.

FIPI has more than 30 years’ experience in cooperation with international organizations and foreign countries like FAO, UNDP, ESCAP, WWF, SIDA (Sweden), JICA (Japan), GTZ (Germany), AIDAB (Australia), Birdlife International (UK), EU, China, Canada and USA in the fields of forest inventory and planning, and GIS and Remote sensing technology.

The Forest Inventory and Planning Institute
Vinh Quynh
Thanh Tri
Hanoi, Vietnam
tel: +84 4 8613858 / 8612001
fax: + 84 4 8612881
e-mail: Fipivn@hn.vnn.vn
website: http://www.fipi.vn/index.aspx

The Vietnam Forestry University (VFU)

The Vietnam Forestry University (VFU) is the leading forestry education center in Vietnam and offers higher education and courses in forest resource management, agroforestry, hazard and risk management, community forestry, sustainable forest management, and in forest inventory and planning. A doctorate programme is also included into its educational programme portal. VFU is regarded as a science-technology centre for forestry, natural resources and environment as well as for natural disaster prevention and mitigation, which contributes to the sustainable socio economic and environmental development in Vietnam. The aim of the university is to become a multi-sector and multi-disciplinary university integrated into the regional and worldwide network of forestry universities.

The VFU has collaborated with many internationally acknowledged universities and research institutes, and its relationships with globally operating organizations, such as FAO and UNDP, are well established. VFU has participated in many international projects.

The Vietnam Forestry University
Xuân Mai town
Chương Mỹ district
Hanoi, Vietnam
tel: + 84 4 33840441/ 33840710
fax: + 84 4 33840540
e-mail: vfuhtqt@hn.vnn.vn
website: http://www.vfu.edu.vn/