Institute of Environmental Studies & Wetland Management (IESWM) was established in March 1986 with the primary objective of carrying out studies related to wetland functions and its ecology. It was then set up as 'Institute of Wetland Management & Ecological Design (IWMED)'. Within a short span of time, the Institute has become well known in the country as "Wetland Institute" with dedicated manpower, proper understanding and assessment of the environmental backdrop. The present name, Institute of Environmental Studies and Wetland management (IESWM) with broader mandate was coined which came in vogue from April, 2005.

The Institute is housed in a 7 storied building at Saltlake, Kolkata, having two research wings namely Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (RS & GIS) division which looks into all matters related to CRZ & CZMP Mapping and Environmental Research and Analysis Division which deals with pollution abatement measures and analysis of various environmental parameters. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India has recognized this Institute as an authorized agency for demarcation of High Tide Line, Low Tide Line along the entire Indian Coast, thus upgrading it to a national stature.