Forest range

A forest range is a term used to signify an area containing one or more (usually) demarcated and (usually) protected or resource-managed forests, for administrative purposes. The term was in use in British India, and hence India, Pakistan and Bangladesh use this term for administrative purposes.

In India

In India, the combined forests in a forest division are completely divided into non-overlapping forest ranges for the purpose of administration and coordination, in an analogous form of dividing the political area of a subdivision into "block"s. Alignment of the ranges to political boundaries are not necessary, as forests often overlap political boundaries - but one range cannot span more than one state.

A forest range may be broken up into one or more "beats" or "sections", under "Forest Beat Officer"s or "Forest Section Officer"s respectively.

Each range controls the protected areas and managed resources under its jurisdiction, and is presided over by a Forest Range Officer, appointed from the corresponding State Forest Service.