The training institution was originally established in 1926 at Nizamabad with the primary objective of training Forest Guards. In 1928, it was relocated to Mahabubabad, and by 1930, it was upgraded to accommodate the training of Foresters as well. In 1949, the centre was shifted once again, to Yellandu, where dedicated infrastructure was developed. From this new location, it began to serve the training needs of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant step in the evolution of forestry training in the region.
However, during the year 1987, State Institute of Forestry Training (SIFT) was established at Dulapally with an objective to impart training to the field staff to enhance the skills, that commensurate with the changing technology and methods. The institute has been provided with more infrastructure facilities and expanded its capacity in terms of conducting trainings. It was renamed as A.P. Forest Academy during the year 2001 and the Foresters training was shifted from Forest School, Yellandu.
The AP Forest Academy has been catering to the training needs of both newly recruited personnel (Induction Training) and in service staff (Refresher Training) of the Forest Department. The Forest Guards (FG) training was also shifted to APFA during the year 2006, with a view to provide better training facilities and academic inputs through renowned resource persons. Following the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh and the formation of the State of Telangana in 2014, the Academy was renamed as the Telangana State Forest Academy (TGSFA), with effect from 2nd June 2014, marking a new chapter in its Institutional journey.
The Academy functions as a National Level Centre of Excellence, providing training to personnel from the Forest Department, sister departments, representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and members of Vana Samrakshana Samithis (VSS). The training covers a wide range of subjects related to Forestry and Allied disciplines, aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and promoting sustainable natural resource management.
The Academy also provides customized training services to personnel from other States such as Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Maharashtra etc., on Forestry and Geo-informatics related topics and Natural Resource Management.
The Telangana State Forest Academy (TGSFA) is entrusted with the responsibility of transferring and disseminating knowledge and solutions to address critical issues related to Forests and the Environment. Over the years, the Academy has built a robust foundation for capacity building in the State’s Forestry and Allied Sectors.
The Annual Report 2022–23 highlights the Academy’s key contributions and the range of training programmes organized at both the State and National levels in forestry and related domains.
The Academy places the highest priority on enhancing the quality of teaching, learning, and innovation in the forestry sector. It is committed to fostering the holistic development of trainees-encouraging not only academic excellence but also active participation in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, including sports, cultural programmes and the arts.
