Silviculture and Productivity Improvement:
Most people believed that forests were the major source of wood for domestic life. However, a series of field surveys by KFRI revealed that over 75 per cent of the state's wood requirement is of non-forestry origin. Disproving this prevalent notion was of great significance in the context of planning and implementing forestry practices.
Three decades of studies on teak:
The most important tree crop brought rewards. KFRI identified more than 200 trees and subsequently succeeded in evolving technology for their clonal multiplication. Clones of 30 of the most promising trees have been produced, and plantation trials of a selected few are now underway. Early observations have shown the superiority of the clones. Elite clones for improving the productivity of eucalypts have also been developed at KFRI.
Forest Seed on Demand:
Any future crop is an expression of past productivity, and half of this can be ensured if the right seed is selected. Thus, KFRI joined hands with the Kerala Forest Department and established the Kerala Forest Seed Centre (KFSC), which procures, processes, and supplies quality seeds of teak and other plantation species.
Cost-effective bio-control of teak pest:
The teak defoliator, an aggressive insect pest, costs a cumulative loss of up to 40 per cent of wood production for teak. Remarkably, a team of scientists from KFRI developed an eco-friendly microbial bio-pesticide that does not pose any chemical hazards. We also take pride in being looked upon as a reliable agency where expert opinion in matters of forest crop health can be sought. The unique Tree Help Line, where our scientists help the public, is an entrepreneurial establishment for this.
Controlling soil erosion and site degradation in forest plantations:
Taungya, which caused considerable erosion of the fertile topsoil, was the conventional system of teak plantation development. The system was abandoned following a study by KFRI, which showed that the soil loss was considerable. Similarly, until 1982, selective/clear felling was the exploitative strategy for the natural forests in the State. Apparently, our study on the impact of selective logging and the ecological cost-benefit analysis led to the official cessation of the practice.
Promoting Bamboo Resources and the Livelihood of Traditional Communities:
Bamboo and rattan, having tremendous importance to the livelihood of traditional communities, were a neglected resource. By taking up an array of research projects exploring the biology, propagation, extraction, preservation, utilisation, economics and value addition of bamboo products, KFRI has been able to help the communities by improving their livelihood. KFRI is now at the forefront of research and training on bamboo, earning recognition from INBAR and the National Bamboo Mission. Our regular training programmes for forest officials, cultivators, and traditional bamboo-dependent communities are well-recognised nationally.
Eco-Restoration and Ecosystem Rehabilitation:
Starting from the establishment of a greenbelt around Cochin Refineries, through the establishment of a bio-shield along a 32 km long tsunami-affected coastline at Vatanappally, phytoremediation of pollution at Nitta Gelatin Factory (Kadikulam) using bamboo belts, afforestation of Ayyampilly Hills, and river bank stabilisation at Karassery Panchayath, KFRI exposed the immense potential of green solutions for habitat restoration.
Voicing for Conservation:
At a time when forests were seen largely as a source of water for irrigation and energy, the Save Silent Valley Movement was a turning point in environmental awareness. KFRI has played a key role in saving the pristine forests of Silent Valley from the onslaught of a hydroelectric dam. Thanks to the involvement, this chunk of forests later became a national park and one of the core areas of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve; today, it is also a nominee for a World Heritage Site. One of the earliest environmental impact assessment studies on the multi-purpose river valley projects was instrumental in this.
Biodiversity Documentation and Wilderness Conservation:
Situated right within the hill folds of the W Ghats, KFRI is now a valuable repository of information on the rich biodiversity of the region. In concerns of conservation and natural resource management of the region, the presence of KFRI is quite prominent. Monographs on individual ecosystems of the State, such as Sholas, Grasslands, Wetlands, Myristica swamps and Moist deciduous forests by the scientists of the Institute, are important baseline documents. With its robust scientific workforce supported with facilities for exploring even the most remote locations, KFRI has been instrumental in the study of the biodiversity of most of the protected areas of the State. Floras and wildlife manuals of the sanctuaries and national parks of the State were largely brought out by KFRI. Vegetation maps and analysis of the forest stands were also accomplished. This information is being utilised for the management of the protected areas by the Forest Department. KFRI also provides technical support for the analysis of the data from the State-wide Wildlife Census conducted periodically.
Expert systems for taxonomic identification of flora of Kerala:
KFRI is the first to bring out a comprehensive monograph of the Flora of Kerala. The Handbook to the Trees of Kerala, a computer-aided software for tree identification and its image bank, forms an unparalleled information source on floral wealth. Identifying the conservation of rare species as a top priority, KFRI undertook a series of species recovery programmes. The Institute’s efforts in survey, documentation and conservation of the rare, endangered and threatened plants of the State, particularly trees, have gained high appreciation. Since its establishment, KFRI has documented nearly 70 species new to science.
Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan:
KFRI functioned as the Technical Cell of the State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) initially. The Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (SBSAP) for Kerala also evolved there. It is a matter of pride that retired Scientists of KFRI have chaired the KSBB. As a part of the documentation of biodiversity, Checklists of Algae, Fungi, Lichens, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Flowering Plants, Insects, Freshwater Fishes, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals for the State have been brought out.
Environmental Education:
In a State like Kerala rich in biodiversity, the dense human population is an equal but opposing force. Nature conservation in such a ‘humanscape’ is possible only by a transformation in the mental plane of the people progressing sequentially through environmental awareness, the realisation of value and fostering commitment to conservation. The Bioresources Nature Trail established in its 40 ha area of the KFRI Subcentre was a mega initiative towards this. This live botanical museum provides round the year exposure to the public on native biodiversity and its ecological importance. It also offers the opportunity to see, acquaint and learn about the State’s native plants in one place. It is used by a large number of visitors every day.
Germplasm bank:
The main campus of the Institute at Peechi, the Subcentre at Nilambur, and the Field Research Station at Velupadam collectively form another large germplasm bank of several groups of useful plants, such as bamboos, reeds, canes, palms, medicinal plants, orchids, elite clones of teak, etc. A rich herbarium of Kerala plants, an insectarium, a culture bank of fungi, and a wildlife museum are satellite repositories attached to it.
Ecology of Invasives:
The fact that some exotics can turn out really problematic was a later realisation in the history of plant and animal introductions. KFRI was the first to organise national seminars on the Western Ghats and the problem of exotics and to communicate the implications to both forest managers and the public. Thanks to the initiative, eucalypts, which deplete the water table, are no longer a preferred species in Kerala.
Reaching the People through extension and training:
Conventional public R&D Centres are conservative in the sense that products and information of applied value alone find their way to the public. Potential end-users outside the government set-up usually fail to receive the products easily. Recognising this, KFRI initiated a Training and Extension Division in 2003 exclusively devoted to outreach. The Centre's performance has received praise throughout the country. Forest Department staff, mid-level managers, and the public benefit from the regular training programmes conducted.
Network hub:
KFRI hosts two transcontinental networks at the Peechi Campus. The first, TEAKNET, is a network of teak sector researchers, traders, and stakeholders. The second, the Asia Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN), monitors and reports alien invasive species movements that impact local biodiversity in the Asia Pacific region. Both networks are supported by the FAO.
At the Service of State:
KFRI's expertise is also being utilised by various courts of law in the country in the context of wildlife offences such as poaching and timber jugglery and, most importantly, by the Forest Department in evaluating potentially ecologically fragile land.
Contribution to Science:
The work of scientists of KFRI and a large number of research/ project fellows who assisted them served science and society as an institution dedicated to forestry. In this process the Institute organised itself into a congregation of expertise, knowledge, facilities, and establishments. Part of the information generated by them has appeared in the form of 620 Research Reports, 75 Doctoral Dissertations, 75 Books, 30 Information Bulletins, and 1900 Papers in scientific journals.
Influencing Policy:
Among the 700 research programmes completed by the Institute, a majority were informed by national and international policies on forestry and conservation. Another category of projects prospectively informed policies by influencing the policy-making process. One such instance is a study on the impacts of selection felling and assessment of regeneration status in logged forest areas. The findings of the study played a significant role in minimising felling in natural forests. Similarly, studies at KFRI on the taungya system of plantation raising and the consequent site quality degradation lead to policy decision for discontinuing taungya system. Apart from these, KFRI has carried out EIA of several development projects, including multipurpose river valley projects, rail and road communication projects, etc. Through these exercises, the Institute could actively intervene in policy intervention and environmental management.
