Born on the fourth April, 1956 at Laheriasarai Bihar, Shri Vinod Kumar completed his school education in 1972, graduated with Honours in Botany from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in 1975, and obtained his Masters Degree in Botany from BHU in 1977. For his academic achievements with distinctions, he had been awarded with various prizes and scholarships by the Schools, Board and University. Prior to joining IFS in Government, he as JRF of UGC at the Botany Department of BHU had undertaken research activities on tissue culture.

After his selection in 1978 to the Indian Forest Service, he has undergone professional training in Forestry & Allied Subjects at the Indian Forest College ( now Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy), Dehradun; Advanced Wildlife Management at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun; and Trainers’ Training Course (Overseas’ Technical Trainers Award) at the Wolverhampton Polytechnic ( now Wolverhampton University), United Kingdom. Besides, he has also attended the training courses of one to four weeks for middle and senior level officers at various institutes in the field of Administration, Rural Development, Participatory Forest management, Behavioral Adjustment Skills, Sustainable Development etc.

In his cadre of Odisha state, he has served in capacity of Deputy Conservator of Forests and Conservator of Forests for Working Plans, Forests & Wildlife Management at Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Bhanjanagar & Angul and at Bolangir, Baripda, Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar respectively. One of the important assignment timely completed was the project formulation on “Capacity Building for Participatory and Sustainable Management of degraded Forests in Odisha, Stage II ( Sida assisted for 3 years) in 1999.

He joined as the Director, Nandankanan Zoological Park on 26th July, 2000 aftermath of large number of death of tigers in captivity in June-July, 2000. He could finalise the two decade long awaited Master Plan and Master Plan Layout Plan of Nandankanan Zoological Park in 2001. During 1984, a study had been undertaken for possible introduction of the Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) from its last paradise presently at Gir National Park and Sanctuary in Western India to a new location in Chandka Wildlife Sanctuary in Eastern India. Field assignments thereafter included management of protected areas (PAs) in Odisha with diverse habitats and endangered species in Satkosia, Badrama, Khalasuni, Debrigarh and Nandankanan Wildlife Sanctuaries. At Nandankanan Zoological Park, he had undertaken zoo planning and management of captive wildlife with introduction of numerous measures in conservation & breeding of endangered species specifically that of Tiger (Panthera tigris) and Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) as well as restoration of damaged/inadequate animal enclosures with master planning of Nandankanan Zoological Park. First Master Plan of Nandankanan Zoological Park was prepared in 2001.

He has also functioned as the Odisha State Convener for “State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan” preparations and authored the “ Odisha State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (OBSAP)” submitted to the state and MOEF, GOI in Feb, 02.

His services had been at the Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd in capacity of General Manager, Director (Operation) and Managing Director for production, marketing of traded forest produce. He also contributed in formulation and implementation of business policy in areas of operations namely the commercial activities like timber, bamboo, plantations and other minor forest produce as well as to ensure appropriate manpower planning and succession and maintenance of updated employee databases and the Restructuring Plan from 2007 to 2009.

During 2010, he has also served as the Managing Directors of Odisha ST & SC Development Finance Co-operative Corporation as well as of Odisha Backward Classes Finance Co-operative Corporation with specific responsibilities for skill development and financing persons/families of ST, SC, Minorities and Backward Classes belonging to BPL income group.

He has received two assignments at the State Government Secretariat as the Special Secretary to Government of Odisha in Forest & Environment Department as well as ex-officio Member- Secretary of the State Medicinal Plant Board from 2004 to 2006 and again in the ST & SC Development Department during 2010 for Supervision of  the functions of  the Forest & Environment Department with subjects of forest, wildlife, biodiversity and manpower both under Union and State list under rules of business of the Government of Odisha and with functions of the ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Department for welfare of ST, SC, Minorities and Backward Classes. During these assignment, he has been instrumental in development and launching of the Odisha Forest Sector Vision-2020, Odisha Forestry Sector Support Project (OFSSP) and Policy Analysis and Strategic Planning Unit (PASPU) with DFID support as well as the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) with JBIC (now JICA) support in 2005 & 2006. During 2010, he has contributed to development of processes in implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 and Rules thereon, OTELP Plus programmes and in intervention of new programmes in educational system of tribal schools. He also served as the convener of number of Empowered Committees, Steering Committees, Monitoring Committees, Coordination Committees, and Advisory Boards of the State Government.

He has also served the Central Government with the Faculty of the Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehradun (IGNFA) for over  five and half years as Associate Professor with additional charge of  Joint Director  ( Administration) over a year.

He is also member of Societies – The Society of Indian Foresters, Range Management Society of India, Odisha Environment Society. He has also served at the Board of Governors of the Indian Plywood Industry Research and Training Institute, Bangalore (IPIRTI), as well as the Member of Society of the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal (IIFM).

Sri Vinod Kumar is presently in the rank of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests w.e.f August 2011.

Joint Project Director ( HRD & R/ AF)

Sri Rajiv Kumar, IFS

Date of Birth: 15th January, 1964

Promoted to the post of OFS-I (Sr Grade) on 5th June 2010 worked as ACF, Paralakhemundi, ACF, Jeypore,

Specialist in Social Forestry Project and Finally as Asst Planning office in the O/O of PCCF(o)

Deputy_Project_Director_(Implementation,_Monitoring_&_Evaluation)_

Manas Ranjan Bhatta, IFS 1997 , B. Sc (Ag)

Experience-

•  DFO, Paralakhemundi

• ACCF (Administration) in PCCF (O) Office, Aranya Bhawan, Bhubaneswar

• In Financial Sector

• Managerial Post in Allahabad Bank.

• As Silviculturist, Silviculture Hill Division, Darjiling, West Bengal

• And also as DFO Teritorial Divisions in West Bengal

Deputy Project Director (Livelihood Improvement)

Amiya Ranjan Parida, B.Sc.(Physics), MSW (Utkal)

Experience-

• Sociologist NAWADA, Bhubaneswar (1991-1993)

• Team Leader, Indo-Danish Integrated livestock Development Project, 1993-2002. Dept. of AH & VS, Odisha

• Project Associate, RCDC, Bhubaneswar(2003-2004)

•  Development Initiative Fellow, Action Aid International India, New Delhi ( 2004-2007)

• OFSDP-Team Leader, Jeypore Forest Division (2007-2008).

Deputy Project Director (Training)

Post : Vacant

Deputy Project Director (Publicity & Awareness)

Devasis Biswal
Master of Mass Communication (Guru Jambheswar University, Haryana)
 LLB (Utkal University)
P.G Diploma in English Journalism, IIMC (Dhenkanal)

Experience-

• Edition-in- Charge The Samaja , Brahmapur & Cuttack

• Staff Correspondent, The Samaja, Bhubaneswar.

• District Correspondent The Sambad, Koraput.

• Special Reporter -Catholic Relief Service/ Caritas India , Bhubaneswar

• Corporate Communication Officer, Synochem India Pvt. Ltd., Bhubaneswar

He has long Experience in OFD in almost all branches like Territorial, Wildlife, Kenduleave, Social forestry, Forest training , Working plans. He has last worked as DFO, Karanjia Territorial Division