Maharashtra Forest Department
The Maharashtra Forest Department is a Government of Maharashtra state agency that protects forests and wildlife, manages five tiger reserves and multiple sanctuaries, runs digital platforms for forest-produce e-auction and safari booking, and serves traders, tourists, farmers, and tribal communities across Maharashtra.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersNagpur, India
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Maharashtra Forest Department does
The Maharashtra Forest Department is a state government agency under the Government of Maharashtra, headquartered in Nagpur, responsible for forest protection, wildlife conservation, wildlife habitat management, and eco-tourism across the state. Its mandate encompasses enforcement of the Indian Forest Act and Wildlife Protection Act, management of five tiger reserves (Tadoba, Pench, Melghat, Nawegaon-Nagzira, Bor), multiple wildlife sanctuaries and conservation reserves, oversight of forest produce trade, and disbursement of wildlife-conflict compensation to affected rural and tribal communities. The department serves a heterogeneous user base including licensed timber, tendu leaf and bamboo traders; domestic and international tourists booking safaris; rural farmers and tribal communities dependent on non-timber forest products; and NGOs partnering on conservation programs.
The department's technology stack is a suite of citizen- and trader-facing digital governance platforms developed and maintained in conjunction with national institutions such as C-DAC Pune (for the Accounts Management System) and NIC. Core systems include an E-Auction portal for forest produce (timber, tendu leaves, bamboo, firewood), an Online Safari Booking portal covering major tiger reserves and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, a Transit Pass Management System for forest-produce movement, a Wildlife Compensation tracking system, a GIS-based forest monitoring layer, the IFS Information Management System for Indian Forest Service personnel, and the 1926 Hello Forest helpline for citizen services and emergencies. WhatsApp integration has been added to the auction workflow. The department also operates a Bamboo e-commerce storefront (mahabamboo.mahaforest.gov.in) via the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board and supports Joint Forest Management committees for community-level forest governance.
The business model is primarily budget-funded by the Government of Maharashtra, with ancillary fee-based revenue streams published for eco-tourism and safari bookings under the Maharashtra Public Services Act. Forest produce (tendu leaves, timber, bamboo, lac, mahua) is monetized through electronic auctions to licensed traders and contractors. The department oversees wholly-owned operating entities including the Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation (FDCM), the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board, and the Maharashtra State Animal Rights Authority. It does not operate as a commercial enterprise — revenue is not disclosed, there are no external investors, and customer transactions (compensation, permits, bookings) are administered as statutory public services rather than market-priced contracts.
Maharashtra Forest Department firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maharashtra Forest Department
- Legal name
- Maharashtra Forest Department
- Website
- https://mahaforest.gov.in
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Maharashtra Forest Department is a Government of Maharashtra state agency that protects forests and wildlife, manages five tiger reserves and multiple sanctuaries, runs digital platforms for forest-produce e-auction and safari booking, and serves traders, tourists, farmers, and tribal communities across Maharashtra.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maharashtra Forest Department industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Government Forestry and Wildlife Conservation
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (115310), Timber Tract Operations (1131)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests) (BPAIAMAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Timberland Asset Management & Consulting (AFAMAAAI), Forest Health & Protection Services (Pest/Disease, Invasive Species) (IMAMAJAF), Timberland Asset Management (Institutional/Private) (AFAMAKAA), Timberland Leasing & Contract Administration (Hunting, Grazing, Recreation) (AFAMAKAD)
Keywords
Where Maharashtra Forest Department is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nagpur
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Markets served
Maharashtra Forest Department business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Maharashtra Forest Department product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Maharashtra Forest Department is the state government body that manages, protects, and conserves forests, wildlife habitats, protected areas, and natural resources across Maharashtra. It issues forest produce through an e-auction portal, runs tiger reserve safaris and eco-tourism through an online booking system, administers wildlife damage compensation schemes, and delivers these services to citizens, traders, farmers, and tribal communities via digital platforms and a statewide field office network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Hello Forest: Forest department helpline service with number 1926
- Safari Booking
- Maharashtra Safari
- Maharashtra Ecotourism
Products and services
- E-Auction Portal for Forest Produce Online platform for electronic auction of forest produce including timber, tendu leaves, bamboo, and firewood, supporting bidder registration, EMD payment, and post-auction processes (with WhatsApp notifications via +91-9823034006). Designed for licensed traders and contractors procuring forest produce from the state.
- Safari Booking Portal Centralized online booking system for safari tours and accommodation at Maharashtra's tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries including Tadoba, Pench, Melghat, Nawegaon-Nagzira, and Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). Supports regular safari booking, resort booking, and SGNP booking for domestic and international tourists.
- Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board Store E-commerce platform for purchasing handcrafted bamboo products online, supporting the bamboo development and livelihood initiatives of the Maharashtra Bamboo Development Board for tribal artisans and bamboo craft producers.
- Accounts Management System (AMS) Online accounts, voucher, and financial transaction management system for internal forest department operations, developed by C-DAC Pune to handle departmental accounting workflows.
- Forest Department Intranet Portal Internal departmental portal providing access to multiple forest management subsystems including plantation monitoring, wildlife management, JFMC/VEDC management, human resource management, and administrative applications for departmental officers.
- IFS Information Management System Portal for Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers to manage personal information, training records, and departmental data within the Maharashtra Forest Department.
- Hello Forest Helpline (1926) Toll-free citizen helpline service (1926) for reporting forest-related issues, wildlife emergencies, forest crime complaints, and inquiries about departmental services. Available to all citizens across Maharashtra.
- Online Wildlife Compensation System Online application and tracking system allowing farmers and citizens to file and monitor wildlife damage compensation claims for crop loss, livestock kills, and human injuries/deaths caused by wild animals in forest-fringe areas.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100 leopards rescued and 112+ cubs reunited since 2018 at Manikdoh Leopard Rescue Centre
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Maharashtra Forest Department
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Maharashtra Forest Department technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature7 records
Maharashtra Forest Department partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Maharashtra Forest Department competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- WWF India: Largest conservation NGO partnering with Maharashtra's forest department on tiger reserves, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, and community engagement; relevant as an enabling/ecosystem peer rather than a direct operational competitor.
Direct peers
- Karnataka Forest Department: State-level government forest administration managing Karnataka's forests, wildlife sanctuaries, and tiger reserves under parallel statutory authority — the closest structural and functional equivalent to Maharashtra Forest Department and a natural comparator for digital governance, eco-tourism, and conservation benchmarking.
- Tamil Nadu Forest Department: State government forest administration managing Tamil Nadu's tiger reserves, elephant reserves, sanctuaries and NTFPs through Tamil Nadu Forest Plantation Corporation; comparable scope and citizen-service delivery model to Maharashtra's department.
- Madhya Pradesh Forest Department: Operates India's largest tiger reserve network (Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Pench, Panna, Satpura) and runs an established e-auction portal for forest produce; highly comparable to Maharashtra Forest Department in mandate, scale, and digital service offerings.
- Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department: Direct state-level peer managing Kerala's protected areas, tribal welfare, and forest produce commerce; operates comparable digital services and conservation partnerships relevant for cross-state benchmarking.
- Rajasthan Forest Department: Manages Ranthambore, Sariska and other tiger reserves under Wildlife Protection Act and Indian Forest Act with parallel e-governance services; functionally identical to Maharashtra Forest Department including safari bookings, e-auction and wildlife compensation mechanisms.
- Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation (FDCM): Wholly-owned subsidiary of the Government of Maharashtra handling timber harvesting, NTFP trade, and forest plantation commercialization; operates the commercial arm that the parent department supports via e-auction and regulatory authority.
Broad incumbents
- Wildlife Institute of India: Premier national training and research institution for wildlife and forest management; adjacent to the Maharashtra Forest Department's mandate, providing research, training, and conservation program support that overlaps with the department's own wildlife division functions.
- Forest Survey of India: Central government organization responsible for forest resource assessment and India's State of Forest Report; comparable data and GIS-driven mandate that supports — and competes with — state-level forest management agencies like Maharashtra's.
- National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): Statutory body under the Ministry of Environment overseeing tiger reserves across India including Maharashtra's five reserves; the apex authority framing the regulatory environment in which the Maharashtra Forest Department operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Maharashtra Forest Department social profiles
Digital presenceMaharashtra Forest Department financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maharashtra Forest Department leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Maharashtra Forest Department subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Maharashtra Forest Department funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maharashtra Forest Department M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Maharashtra Forest Department
What does Maharashtra Forest Department do?
The Maharashtra Forest Department is the state government body that manages, protects, and conserves forests, wildlife habitats, protected areas, and natural resources across Maharashtra. It issues forest produce through an e-auction portal, runs tiger reserve safaris and eco-tourism through an online booking system, administers wildlife damage compensation schemes, and delivers these services to citizens, traders, farmers, and tribal communities via digital platforms and a statewide field office network.
Is Maharashtra Forest Department a public or private company?
Maharashtra Forest Department is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Maharashtra Forest Department founded?
Maharashtra Forest Department was founded in -1. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Maharashtra Forest Department based?
Maharashtra Forest Department is headquartered in Nagpur, India, in the Asia region.
Who are Maharashtra Forest Department's main competitors?
WWF India is listed as an others. Direct peers are Karnataka Forest Department, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Madhya Pradesh Forest Department, Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department, Rajasthan Forest Department and Maharashtra Forest Development Corporation (FDCM). Broad incumbents are Wildlife Institute of India, Forest Survey of India and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
Does Maharashtra Forest Department have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maharashtra Forest Department.
What industry is Maharashtra Forest Department in?
Maharashtra Forest Department's product category is Government Forestry and Wildlife Conservation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAMAF, Forestry & Public Lands Administration (State/National Forests), with a secondary code of AFAMAAAI, Timberland Asset Management & Consulting. Its NAICS code is 1153 and its SIC code is 800.