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The division of Forest Ecology and Climate came into existence during May 2018 after restructuring of divisions in ICFRE
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Major Thrust Areas
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1. Biodiversity Assessment and Conservation
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- Comprehensive biodiversity assessment and documentation.
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- Population assessment and conservation of prioritized endangered plant species.
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- Establishment of long-term ecological monitoring plots to assess phenology, regeneration and climate change impacts.
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- Mangrove conservation and restoration.
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- Introduction of rare and endemic, botanical, economic, forestry, and medicinal plant species to enrich the IFGTB Botanical Garden.
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2. Invasive Alien Species Management
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- Mapping, monitoring, and management of Lantana camara for effective control in forest ecosystems.
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- Management of invasive alien plant species.
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3. Climate Change and Ecosystem Resilience
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- Assessment of climate change-driven effects on Indian forests, with emphasis on impacts, adaptation strategies, and mitigation measures.
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- Climate change mitigation and adaptation in forest ecosystems.
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4. Sustainable Resource Management
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- Resource assessment and sustainable management of economically and ecologically important plant species.
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- Criteria and indicators for sustainable land management to enhance productivity.
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- Vegetation-soil– interrelationships for improving ecosystem health, stability, and productivity.
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5. Ecotourism and Community-based Management
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- Assessment of visitor carrying capacity of selected ecotourism sites in Kerala.
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6. Eco-restoration and Rehabilitation
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- Eco-restoration and rehabilitation of mined-out areas and other degraded or stress-prone sites.
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7. Environmental Impact Studies
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- Environmental impact assessment (EIA) of forestry and developmental activities
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Resources
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I. Botanical garden
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- The institute maintains a Botanical Garden, established in 1973, covering an area of 3.7 ha, which serves as a research and centre for ex-situ conservation activities. The garden focuses on the introduction and maintenance of diverse plant groups, including rare and threatened plants, medicinal, botanical, economic, forestry, and other species.
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II. Herbarium
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- The institute maintains the Fischer Herbarium (acronym: FRC) at the institute, named in the honor of Cecil Ernest Claude Fischer, established during the year 1912. It has been recognized as a “National Repository” by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Govt. of India and houses a collection of more than 26,000 voucher specimens representing 3,898 species with 10 Isotypes, including flowering and non-flowering plants of higher groups, as well as rare and endangered species from different forest types of Southern India.
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III. Services
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- Plant authentication services for researchers, students, and external stakeholders to support academic, scientific, and conservation activities.
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IV. Scientists and officers of the Division have also contributed to various consultancy services rendered collectively by the Institute, namely:
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- Environmental Impact Assessment studies of ICFRE, Dehradun
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- CAMPA – Monitoring and evaluation activities of State Forest Department, Kerala
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- Tamil Nadu Biodiversity Conservation and Greening Project for Climate Change Response (TBGPCCR), State Forest Department, Tamil Nadu
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- Collaborative Research activities to the State Forest Department of Tamil Nadu and Kerala
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- Expansion of Botanical Garden network under the Assistance to Botanic Gardens Scheme (ABG) by the Botanical Survey of India
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