Achievements

Division > Forest Ecology and Climate Change > Achievements

	Under the project on Plant diversity of Silent Valley Buffer zone, sponsored by Kerala Forest department, more than 1700 specimens have been collected and 560 species have been identified. Of which about 30 species can be classified as endemic to Western Ghats, 22 species with ornamental potential, 14 are wild edibles and 30 red listed ones.
	Survey and documentation of Phytodiversity in and around Singanallur Lake, Coimbatore was carried out and recorded 453 plants species.
	Plant biodiversity of Silent Valley Buffer zone was documented and about 1850 plant species were collected, identified and categorized based on their utility and threatened as per the IUCN Red List.
	Regeneration potential of native flora in Acacia auriculiformis plantations in 110 different Acacia auriculiformis plantations established in different years were conducted at Kerala and documented 88 native species
	Two plant species such as Dianella ensifolia (L.) Redoutè and Euonymus crenulatus Wall. ex Wight & Arn. recorded as new report to the flora of Palakkad district, Kerala.
	Spatial mapping of wattle invasion in shola grassland ecosystem has been mapped using satellite images in Palni, Nilgiri Hills and Idukki. The study revealed that the extent of wattle with shola forests increased while the extent of grasslands has reduced.
	Habitats which are vulnerable for Acacia mearnsii and Prosopis juliflora invasion has been mapped using MAXENT Species Distribution Model (SDM).
	Spatial extent of Casuarina and Eucalyptus plantations has been mapped in Ariyalur, Karur, Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu. The study revealed that among the various districts studied, Pudukkottai District had the largest area under eucalyptus plantations both during 2013-14 and 2016-17 (28418.86 and 38191.67 ha respectively) while Villupuram district had the largest area under Casuarina plantations (15076.21 and 20420.37 ha respectively).
	Phenological responses of Teak to changing climate in Parambikulam WLS has been assessed using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) satellite images of 19 years (2001 to 2020). The analysis showed that the number of growing days has changed in different years which need to be correlated with Temperature and Rainfall data
	Visitor Carrying Capacity of four ecotourism sites (Kuruva, Chembra peak, Banasuramala-Meenmutty and Soojippara) in South Wayanad Forest Division, Kerala was assessed.
	For the first time, Mites as one of the legitimate pollinator for Rhizophora mucronata has been observed during our studies on mangroves.
	Studies on Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata and the R. x annamalayana revealed that the hybrids are morphologically superior with high chlorophyll content and biomass.
	Selections of E.tereticornis x E.grandis and E.tereticornis x E.urophylla' derived from controlled cross full sib family were subjected to industrial evaluation for veneer preparation. Messrs. Ambiply Industries, Mettupalayam, Coimbatore District evaluated the selections and reported that the selections yielded over 80-85% of core veneer and face veneer which will be highly useful for commercial ply making industries.
	Phenotypically superior trees (92 Nos) of Dalbergia were selected from 11 forest divisions in Tamil Nadu and Kerala for clonal trial at Varavoor area of Thrissur Forest Division, Kerala. Various PCR protocols were analyzed, and standardized the PCR methods to get a high polymorphism. Among the 17 primers screened, 6 primers gave variation. Among the 6 RAPD primers, 2 have given 70% polymorphism. Significant variation in secondary metabolites like tannin, saponin, triterpenoids, phenols, and flavonoids were noticed in different plant parts as well as among different Dalbergia populations
	Candidate Plus Trees (50 nos) of A.nilotica from 30 districts of the state covering 5 agro climatic zones has been assembled and three trials were established.
	Candidate Plus Trees (50 nos) of A.nilotica from 30 districts of the state covering 5 agro climatic zones has been assembled and three trials were established.
	Phenotypically superior trees (40 Nos) of Swietenia. macrophylla were selected from 25 populations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. and progeny trials in Gudalur RF, Maraimalainagar, Chennai were established.

   

Extension Activities

	Training on “Biological Diversity Act, 2002“, for officials of various line departments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, sponsored by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), Chennai was conducted in the years 2017, 2018,2019, 2020.
	Training on “ABS Guidelines“ for Scientists of different ICFRE institutes was organized on 28th and 29th January, 2020..
	Celebration of Kedharnath Memorial Lecture (KML) is being organized regularly every year.
	International Mangrove Conservation Day (IMCD- 21) 26th July 2021 at Pitchavaram field station was celebrated to create awareness of the significance of the ecosystem and to promote solutions for their sustainable management, conservation and uses. About 150 participants attended the program from different parts of the country through virtual and offline mode.
	Conducted One day field Workshop on Mangroves for TNFD frontline field staff at Pichavaram mangrove field station, Cuddalore during August 2021.
	Training course on “Prevention, control and management of invasive alien species“ for Indian Forest Service Officers ranking from APCCF to DCF, a total of 32 IFS officers from different states participated in the training, sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India, New Delhi 05-06th August, 2021.
	Capacity Building Training on REDD+ Action Plan for Officers of Tamil Nadu State Forest Department for under CAMPA funded ICFRE Scheme on 6-7th January, 2022.
	Capacity Building Training on REDD+ mechanism for Officers of State Forest Department, Andaman under CAMPA funded ICFRE Scheme on 17-18 February 2021.
	Capacity Building Training on REDD+ Action Plan for Officers of Kerala State Forest Department for under CAMPA funded ICFRE Scheme on 15-16 March 2021.