Forest Ecology
Research at the Department of Forest Ecology focuses on developing strategies for in situ and ex-situ conservation of rare, endangered and threatened (RET) species besides monitoring the impacts of climate change and vegetation processes in natural forests and human-modified landscapes. The department also maintains a medicinal plant garden on the Peechi campus of KFRI.
The research on RET species includes:
- Developing a Database on Rare Endangered and Threatened (RET) Plants of Kerala. : The work involves a comprehensive account of the state's RET plants, including the nature of work on these unknown plants. As a result, many of the studies are found overlapping and duplicated. Some species are not even studied after their taxonomic identity. In this background Forest Ecology Department of the Forest Ecology and Biodiversity conservation Division of the Institute has prepared a Database for the Rare, Endangered and Threatened (RET) plants of the Kerala State with the available published and grey literature. Therefore, the study is facilitated to understand the RET plants so far recorded in the state, with literature available on each species. The primary data collected on each species were hyperlinked to appropriate research components for reference. The computer's Excel sheet (2007 Excel) database has been uploaded to the Institute's website and made available to all end-users for reference and concern.
- Conservation through restoration of endemic endangered trees of Western Ghats of Kerala. : Plant rarity and endangerment is a pressing issue in the Western Ghats. Some species are becoming rare due to their biological problems, such as pollination complexities, pest infestation, short viability of seeds, the inability of natural regeneration, etc., while others are due to habitat loss, over-exploitation of resources, etc. A systematic study is therefore urgently needed to rescue these species from untimely endangerment. In this backdrop, a multidisciplinary study has been initiated on two endemic endangered trees of the Western Ghats of Kerala viz., Drypetes malabarica (Bedd.) Airy Shaw (Euphorbiaceae) and Hydnocarpus macrocarpa (Bedd.) Warb. (Flacourtiaceae), The study aims to identify the causes of the rarity of the species in situ by exploring the species' ecology, biology, and climatic and edaphic analysis. Standardisation of propagation/multiplication methods through vegetative and seed, seedling production and restoration in the natural habitats as part of conservation and management of the species are also involved.
- Development of conventional propagation protocol for endemic endangered trees of Western Ghats of Kerala: Various studies reveal that at least 600 flowering species of the Western Ghats of Kerala are passing through multiple stages of rarity in their habitats. The reality is much worsened by the knowledge that these species are depleting even without keeping an alternate genetic stock, either in situ or ex-situ. With this background, a study on developing a propagation protocol for endemic endangered trees of the Western Ghats of Kerala was initiated. Species such as Drypetes confertiflora,Drypetes malabarica, Hydnocarpus macrocarpa, Ormosia travancorica etc are under the line of research.
- Ecological restoration of endemic endangered trees of Western Ghats. : After analysing the ecology, biology, climatic and edaphic factors in situ along with strategies for the conservation of the species, the seedlings of the species were reintroduced where the species had been pre-existing. The restocking of the species was also practised through enrichment planting in the degraded populations of the species. Successful restoration was performed in two endemic endangered trees, Dipterocarpus bourdillonii and Humboldtia bourdillonii.
- Medicinal Plant Garden in the Campus : There are around 500 live collections of medicinal plants consisting of herbs, shrubs, climbers, and trees in the garden, which is 1.5 acres in extent. The garden is open to college students, researchers and the public. The collection in the garden is enriched by bringing new plants collected from the wild or through exchange with other Botanic gardens. Multiplication and distribution of plants in demand to the public is also part of the garden's regular activity.
