SUMMARY The current forest planning system in India is mainly geared towards management of state-owned forests at the division level. A strategic dimension needs to be added to the forest planning at the national, state and district levels to harmonise forest-sector planning with changing national needs and priorities. As a prototype, the national forestry plan concept of the Food and Agriculture Organization is presented, followed by some ideas for its adaptation to the Indian context. The key role of problem formulation to set strategic planning in the right direction is stressed. Ways of linking strategic planning to working plans and five year plans at the institutional level are discussed. Finally, recommendations are made for the introduction of a national forest database management system to facilitate flow of information between the technical and administrative wings of the state forest departments and between the central and state forest departments of the country.