2006-07 - Kerala Forest Research Institute

Kerala Forest Research InstituteAnnual report 2006-07...................................................................................................................................................................................DIRECTOR’S REPORTThe global concern over deteriorating environmental quality and depletingforest resources and biodiversity, particularly in the tropics, has put greaterresponsibility on forestry-related institutions in identifying socially acceptableand environmentally viable means of conservation and sustainabledevelopment. KFRI, with over thirty years experience in this line, is gearedup to face the challenging situation and fulfil its obligations of support to thesociety that dreams of a safe and healthy environment. Over the years, ourthrust of research and related activities has widened to address the diverseaspects of environment. biodiversity and societal development.Thus, the research and extension projects undertaken by the Institutehave not only been of local relevance but also of global importance. During2006-07 there have been about 100 ongoing research/extension projectscovering different aspects mentioned above. More than half of these projectswere supported from plan grants and the rest were funded by various agencieslike Ministry of Environment and Forests, CSIR, Department ofBiotechnology, Department of Science and Technology, State Departmentof Planning and Economic Affairs, State Medicinal Plants Board, CoconutDevelopment Board, Hindustan Newsprint Ltd. and Kerala ForestDepartment. Overseas funding was also obtained from Department forInternational Development (DFID), UK.There have been a few projects at various stages of completion. Finalreports of 13 research projects and three extension projects were broughtout during the period. For the rest, final reports were under preparation orfinalisation. Most of the completed projects were related to biodiversitydocumentation and conservation including wetland and mangrove ecosystemsbesides ethnozoological studies, management of teak, bamboos andidentification of tree flora. There have also been ongoing studies on RETspecies, ex-situ conservation of various forest species and bamboos,conservation of specialized ecosystems such as mangroves, Myristica swampsand sacred groves.During the reporting year, the Institute received Rs. 850.00 lakhs as grantin-aidfrom the Council (Govt. of Kerala) of which Rs. 490 lakhs was underPlan Grant and the rest under Non-Plan. The funding obtained from externalagencies towards specific projects was to the tune of 194.07 lakhs. The fundsfrom Plan grants were utilized for research and extension projects and alsofor infrastructure development.Dr. K.V. SankaranDirector5