T. NANDAKUMAR, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, November 25, 2013
Project to generate baseline data on ecology
Scientists of the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) will join hands with their counterparts in other research institutions for long- term monitoring of the Western Ghats ecology to understand the impact of climate change and develop strategies for conservation and restoration of tropical forests.
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| Photo courtesy: Wikipedia |
The multi-disciplinary initiative, involving the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI), the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM) and the Forest Department, is one of the long- term mission projects identified by the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology ad Environment (KSCSTE) to promote collaboration among scientists working in different sectors. It is estimated to cost Rs.10 crore.
Over the course of the 10-year project, researchers from the participating institutions will establish permanent sample plots in the species- rich tropical forests of the Western Ghats to study the ecological structure and function, wildlife status, species diversity, human impact on biodiversity, the influence of tropical forests on climate, carbon sequestration and ecosystem services.
LTER networking
The project will generate weather data through automated weather stations to analyse the impact of climate change on the forest sector. It will also study the soil nutrient dynamics and hydrological aspects of forest ecology.
According to E.A. Jayson, scientist, KFRI, long-term ecological research (LTER) networks like SI/MAB (Smithsonian Institution/ Man And Biodiversity program), RAINFOR (Amazon Forest Inventory network) and Gloria (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine environments) have generated useful data for different ecosystems in Europe, Africa and America and provided an understanding of the dynamics of global change.
“Despite being a country with diverse vegetation types, India still lacks long- term ecological studies. As one of the hotspots of biodiversity, the tropical evergreen forests in the Western Ghats offer scope for such a long- term monitoring programme,” he says. “It is also significant because, in spite of three decades of scientific enquiries, our understanding of the Western Ghats forests remains fragmentary and inadequate.”
Executive Vice-President, KSCSTE, V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai said efforts were on to rope in Central research institutions also into the programme.
The pilot project would be funded by the State. “We will approach the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Department of Science and Technology and Department of Biotechnology for financial assistance,” Prof. Pillai said.
Baseline data
The project will utilise technological tools like DNA bar-coding, remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) to generate benchmark information on the forest ecosystem of the Western Ghats.
It will create a database to understand the impact of climate change on the ecology. Another output is a Web portal for researchers to access all the data and publications generated by the participating institutions.
Dr. Jayson said the project had the potential to become part of the global network of LTER programmes.
The Hindu, 26/11/2013
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