Sri Vishwa Nath Shah

Sri Vishwa Nath Shah is an officer of the Indian Forest Service belonging to 1993 batch of Jharkhand cadre. He is currently posted as Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Forest Development Agency, Jharkhand and is holding additional charge of Director & CEO, Jharparks.
Sri Shah received his Post Graduate Diploma in Forest Management from the premier Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal where he secured the Director’s Gold Medal in the very first batch passing out from IIFM in 1990. He started his professional career as a Junior Research Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), New Delhi, formerly known as the Tata Energy Research Institute. Shri Shah’s career of three years in the prestigious Research Institute is marked by a brilliant record of having many research papers to his credit published in national and international journals. His research articles and work also find place in many books brought out by TERI which are used as reference materials for current researchers. Mr. Shah’s major contribution while at TERI was in the field of biomass assessment and biomass survey. He is a recipient of the "Brandis Prize" awarded by Indian Forester for his article on Sampling Design for Biomass Assessment in the Degraded Forest of Aravallis.
Sri Vishwa Nath Shah has served Jharkhand Forest in various capacities encompassing a vast array of disciplines in various sectors of protection, conservation, management and sustainable development of forests and wildlife, forest resource trade, research, publicity and awareness generation. His career journey involves a balance between field-level forest management and policy level administration reflecting a comprehensive understanding of both grassroots forest management and high-level strategy.
Shri Shah undertook various vital assignments throughout Jharkhand and the erstwhile state of Bihar, having served in various Divisions and Circles in Medininagar (Daltonganj), Gumla, Gaya, Bettiah (W. Champaran), Nawada, Chaibasa, Deoghar, Jamshedpur and Ranchi. At senior levels, he has been posted as Regional Chief Conservator of Forest, Jamshedpur and Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife, Jharkhand. Shri Shah is also actively involved in increasing awareness about forest and nature conservation amongst school children of various public and private schools across Jharkhand.
Outside the forestry sector, Shri Shah has served as Special Secretary in the (then) Department of Labour, Employment, and Training with additional charge of Director, Employees State Insurance Scheme, Director Employment and Training and Director, Social Security. He also did a stint in the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation as its Managing Director. As CEO of Jharparks, Shri Shah has brought about significant institutional changes for efficient and effective management of parks. From introducing eco-friendly landscaping practices and maintaining clean, safe pathways and children’s play area to organising, engaging community events, Shri Shah’s leadership has enhanced both ecological value and visitor experience. His dedication & proactive management has made the parks a cherished space where citizens reconnect with nature and one another.
Throughout his service Shri Shah has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills in formulating and implementing policies that strike a balance between ecological preservation, policy and administration and community welfare, specially of the tribal and rural populations of Jharkhand.