The fauna of Kerala is linked with the diverse habitat conditions shaped by the unique vegetation types found here. Located in the tropical zone and blessed with a multitude of geographical features, Kerala hosts a mosaic of regional, climatic, and edaphic conditions, resulting in a wide array of habitats. These diverse habitats provide sanctuary to …
Forestry and wildlife research are crucial for sustainable management and conservation efforts worldwide. These fields encompass a wide range of topics, including biodiversity conservation, forest ecology, wildlife biology and forest management practices. Research in these areas helps in understanding the dynamics of forest ecosystems, the behaviour of wildlife species and the impact of human activities …
Forest Governance is undergoing drastic changes these days. From a purely utilitarian, timber-oriented management perspective, Forestry is now catering to multiple objectives such as provisioning and regulating ecosystem services, ameliorating climate change, conserving biological and ethno-cultural diversity, apart from providing ecosystem goods including Non-Timber Forest Produce. Organized management of the forests of Kerala started around …
Wildlife monitoring involves systematic data collection and analysis to assess the status, trends and distribution of wildlife populations. This process is crucial for understanding ecosystem health, planning conservation efforts and managing wildlife populations effectively. It typically includes setting objectives, selecting indicators, collecting data through various techniques like field surveys and camera traps, analyzing the data, …
Plantation forestry in Kerala has rich history dating back to the colonial period when large-scale plantations of cash crops like tea, coffee, rubber and spices were established, transforming the landscape and serving the economic interests of the colonial administration. After independence, the focus shifted to meeting the demand for timber and wood products, leading to …
Forestry Education under the Directorate of Forestry Education The Directorate of Forestry Education (DFE) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) oversees forestry education and training in India. The Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA) in Dehradun, Uttarakhand and the various Central for State Forest Service (CASFOS) are key institutions under DFE. …
Ecosystem-based approaches in forest management, particularly the ecosystem approach to forest management (EAFM), represent a paradigm shift from traditional forestry practices. Traditional forest management was primarily focused on two principles: sustained yield and normal forests. Sustained yield aimed to maintain a balance between consumption and regeneration, ensuring that the rate of harvest does not exceed …
The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the eight hottest hotspots of biological diversity in the world. The forests of Kerala, located in the Western Ghats, is known for its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems, including tropical forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Forest resource planning in these regions involves the systematic assessment, …
Forest health monitoring is a critical component of sustainable forest management, aimed at assessing and maintaining the vitality, productivity and resilience of forest ecosystems. It involves a systematic and regular assessment of various indicators that reflect the condition of forests including tree health, species composition, forest structure and environmental factors such as soil quality and …
Kerala, a state nestled in the southern reaches of the Western Ghats in India, proudly embodies extraordinary bio-geographic significance. Here, an astonishing 95% of the Western Ghats’ flowering plants and 90% of its vertebrate fauna find their sanctuary, characterised by remarkable levels of uniqueness. The varied topography and microclimates of Kerala play an important role …