The forest department was established in 1870 during the British Raj era. Originally established to look after natural forests, the department started social forestation in the 1980s. The department is also responsible for National Botanical Garden of Bangladesh, Forestry Development and Training Centre, Kaptai, and to Bangladesh Forest College. The total amount of forest land under the management of the department is 3.617 million acres. In the 1950s and 1960s the department planted Sal Dhaka, Tangail, and Mymensingh of Dhaka division. The department also planted Tendu iin Dinajpur. In the 1980s the department planted trees in coastal areas for protection against cyclones and tides. The department planted trees along roads, canals, and railways tracks which totaled 94,000 km.