Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM) was incorporated on 16th February 1974 as a wholly owned subsidiary Company of the State Government of Maharashtra, under the Companies Act, 1956. A Forest Development Board with similar aims and objectives was in existence since 1969, which metamorphosed into FDCM.

With over five decades of experience in growing teak plantations and harvesting and marketing of timber and other forest produce, FDCM is a trailblazer in production forestry. It ranks among the best managed State Public Sector companies in the country with a track record of consistently making profits and paying dividends to government. FDCM’s plantations are managed strictly in accordance with the principles of sustainable management and are currently valued at over Rs. 4000 crores. The company’s contribution in generating rural employment is also quite substantial.

Area Of Operation

Government of Maharashtra has leased out 03.43 lakh hectares of forest to FDCM for its activities. It comes to about 06.00 percent of the total forest area of the State.The Forest Area leased out to F.D.C.M has been divided into 3 Regions (Territorial), which in turn are divided into 12 Forest Project Division (Territorial) and 1 Depot Division at Ballarshah.

The details of the leased forest area with the Company are as follows:-

Other Plantation Programmmes

FDCM has also been raising very successful plantations on behalf of external clients, on lands owned by the latter. Many such “Turnkey Plantations” have been carried out on behalf of organizations such as, Western Coalfields Limited, Indian Air Force, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Thane Municipal Corporation, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority and National Thermal Power Corporation. FDCM also takes up plantations on degraded forest lands under various government schemes and as part of corporate greening initiatives.

Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park

A few years ago, the task of designing, constructing and operating a world class zoo at Gorewada, Nagpur was entrusted by Government of Maharashtra to FDCM. This was the genesis of the Balasaheb Thackeray Gorewada International Zoological Park, which was inaugurated on 26th January 2021, by Shri Uddhav Thackeray, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Showcasing wild animals like tiger, panther, sloth bear and different species of herbivores in their near-natural habitats, the Park has already blossomed into a major tourist destination in Nagpur. Phase II of the project will add many more attractions like African Safari, Walk-in Aviary, Tribal Trail and Walking Trail.

Timber Trade

FDCM produces about 50,000 cubic meters of timber every year, which are sold through auctions. In order to ensure the supply of quality wood to end consumers at competitive prices, FDCM has recently decided to venture into the production and sale of sawn timber. A production unit has already been set up at Allapalli in Gadchiroli District by converting an existing government sawmill. With more such production units in the pipeline, FDCM is poised to make a big impact in the Indian timber market, as a reliable supplier of best quality sawn wood.

Other Activities

FDCM has also diversified into many other areas like ecotourism, cultivation of medicinal plants and value addition of wood and bamboo. Several other green initiatives are also in the offing. FDCM’s CSR funds have been effectively used for supporting a number of activities in the fields of education, health and environment.