Functional Responsibility:
The Department of Lands and Forests was created to administer acts relating to lands, forests and other natural resources as assigned. The Department had the responsibility of administrating and managing these lands, forests and natural resources. The Department inherited these responsibilities from the Department of Lands and Mines; the Department of Mines and Minerals was also created from the Department of Lands and Mines.

The Department of Lands and Forests was initially responsible for the administration of public lands, forests, and fish and wildlife. Land administration included such things as homesteads, grazing, and cultivation, and the leases and permits required for these. Forestry administration included the administration of forest-related acts, which involved forest management, forest protection, reforestation and development. This included the Alberta Forest Service, which was responsible for the management and protection of the forested areas of the province. Fish and Wildlife administration, for many years, focused on harvesting, more specifically fishing and hunting, of fish and wildlife, and enforcement of regulations governing the harvest. It was not until the early 1970s that the Division shifted to an emphasis on sustained harvest, habitat protection and habitat development of the fish and wildlife. On April 1, 1951, administration of Alberta's Provincial Parks was transferred to the Department of Lands and Forests from the Department of Public Works. The Provincial Parks Board was initially responsible for the management of the Parks, but in 1959, Provincial Parks was made an official branch of the Department, under the direction of a Provincial Parks Commissioner.

The Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Board was established June 19, 1947 under the Department of Lands and Mines. This was transferred to the Department of Lands and Forests when it was created in 1949. The Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Board, created through an agreement between the Province and the Dominion Government, had the responsibility to administer the Crowsnest, Bow River and Clearwater Forests, an area that contained the headwaters of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers. This eastern slope was of inter-provincial importance as these rivers flowed through the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as Alberta, and were therefore of vital importance to all the prairie provinces. The initial agreement was set for a twenty-five year period; after those initial twenty-five years, either government could terminate the agreement with one year's notice. In March 1972, the Alberta Government gave notice that they intended to terminate the agreement. The termination became effective March 31, 1973.

Predecessor and Successor Bodies:
The Department of Lands and Forests was created when the Department of Lands and Mines split, creating the Department of Lands and Forests and the Department of Mines and Minerals. In 1975, the two departments were brought together again as the Department of Energy and Natural Resources. However, administration of Provincial Parks and Fish and Wildlife became part of the newly established Department of Recreation, Parks and Wildlife.

Administrative Relationships:
The Minister of Lands and Forests was a member of the Executive Council of the Alberta Government. The Minister reported to the Legislative Assembly, and submitted the Annual Reports of the Department to the Lieutenant Governor.

Administrative Structure:
Administration of the Department of Lands and Forests was divided according to the different natural resources; these divisions included lands, forestry, fish and wildlife, and provincial parks, as well as technical and registration divisions. These divisions, divided into branches, remained fairly consistent throughout the existence of the Department.

Names of the Corporate bodies:
The Department of Lands and Forests was referred to as Alberta Lands and Forests in its Annual Reports.

Names of Chief Officers:
Ministers of Lands and Forests:
Nathan E. Tanner (1949-1952)
Ivan Casey (1952-1955)
Norman A. Willmore (1955-1965)
Henry A. Ruste (1965-1968)
Alfred J. Hooke (1968)
Henry A. Ruste (1968-1969)
J. Donovan Ross (1969-1971)
Allan A. Warrack (1971-1975)

The fonds includes the following series:

• Department of Lands and Mines records from ca. 1900 to 1949
• Eastern Rockies Forest Conservation Board records from 1948 to 1973

• Special Areas Board sous-fonds
• Provincial Parks Board sous-fonds
• Turner Valley Gas Conservation Board sous-fonds