KFRI Milestone of Activities

Golden Years of Nurturing Nature and Knowledge : 1975-2025

  • Field Research Station at Devikulam 1988

    Established a Field Research Station at Devikulam, Idukki for implementing research programmes on high ranges and field-based experiments. The seedlings produced from the station were used for various restoration programs of Shola forests in high ranges.


  • The first interaction seminar with the Kerala Forest Department 1989

    The first interaction seminar with the Kerala Forest Department was organized with the objective of undertaking various research and advanced studies in all disciplines related to Forestry, Wildlife, Management, and Utilization.


  • Bamboo Information Centre’ was established in KFRI 1989

    The ‘Bamboo Information Centre’ was established in KFRI with the collaboration of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada.


  • Field research station at Kottappar 1989

    Established a field research station at Kottappara to focus on the large-scale production of Eucalyptus clones. Presently, the field research station is maintaining germplasm of teak plus trees, Eucalyptus clones, and host plants of lac insects.


  • Published ‘Tropical Forest Ecosystem Conservation and Development in South and South-East Asia’. 1990

    Published ‘Tropical Forest Ecosystem Conservation and Development in South and South-East Asia’. This is the proceedings of the Man and Biosphere Regional Training Workshop organised by UNESCO, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Movement of India and International Development Research Centre, Canada. It contains chapters on different tropical forest ecosystems, biological conservation, biosphere reserves, ecosystem re- development, man-forest interaction and modern tools in ecosystem and biodiversity conservation.


  • Dr. S. Chand Basha, New Director to KFRI 1991

    Dr. S. Chand Basha, IFS joined as Director, KFRI (May 1991- December 1994)


  • Structure and Properties of South Indian Rattans 1992

    Published ‘Structure and Properties of South Indian Rattans’.


  • State committee on science, technology, and environment 1992

    Active support of KFRI to state committee on science, technology, and environment, Govt. of Kerala held at Thrissur


  • Dr. H. Hainly visited KFRI 1992

    British High Commissioner, Dr. H. Hainly visited KFRI


  • Rattan Management and Utilisation 1992

    Published proceedings of the Rattan (cane) seminar on “Rattan Management and Utilisation”. This includes status of rattan in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, its resources assessment and conservation, production and management, structure and properties, processing, socio-economics and trade.


  • 1993

    Published results on litter dynamics, microbial associations and soil studies in Acacia auriculiformis plantations in Kerala.


  • KFRI @ India International Trade Fair 1993

    KFRI participated in the India International Trade Fair


  • IUFRO Symposium on ‘Impact of diseases and Insect pests in Tropical Forests’ 1993

    IUFRO Symposium on ‘Impact of diseases and Insect pests in Tropical Forests’ was organised by KFRI.


  • Field research station Velupadam 1993

    Established a field research station Velupadam, Thrissur with an area of 47.3 ha. This field station maintains an Arboretum of IUCN red-listed species, Bambusetum, Bamboo Processing Centre, Bamboo Germplasm collections, and Agroforestry trails.


  • First PhD from KFRI 1993

    PhD awarded to the first student (V.K. Rahmathulla) from the University of Calicut in Zoology. Currently, there are 53 PhD students working on various disciplines at the universities of Calicut, CUSAT, Kochi and FRI Dehradun.


  • History of Forest Management in Kerala 1993

    Published ‘History of Forest Management in Kerala’. The main trends of development of forest management in Kerala are illustrated under three headings, the rise of forestry, period of turbulence and change, and the ascent of conservation.


  • Proceedings of the National Seminar on Socio-economic Research in Forestry. 1993

    Published proceedings of the National Seminar on Socio-economic Research in Forestry. This publication brings out the importance of forestry in the development of national wealth and its contribution to the social and economic growth of the people. Socio-economic research in forestry is directed towards evolving policies for developing forestry sector.


  • Technology for the preservative treatment of rubber wood 1994

    A book was published on the technology for the preservative treatment of rubber wood. The study has arrived at an economical treatment schedule for the industrial-scale vacuum-pressure impregnation treatment of rubber wood.


  • The Video Image Microscope Analyser 1994

    The Video Image Microscope Analyser facility started functioning in the Wood Science department.


  • ‘Rattans of Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ 1995

    Published a taxonomic manual on ‘Rattans of Andaman and Nicobar Islands’


  • The Teak Museum at Sub-Centre Nilambur was inaugurated 1995

    The Teak Museum at Sub-Centre Nilambur was inaugurated by Shri. Kadavoor Sivadasan, Hon’ble Minister for Forests and Rural Development presided over by Shri. Aryadan Mohammed, Hon’ble Minister for Labour and Tourism. The Museum is ideally located in Nilambur where the plantation activities on teak were initiated about 160 years ago. The Museum is the first of its kind in the world and aims to disseminate information on various aspects of teak, including history, cultivation, management, utilization, socio-economics, etc. The extensive root system of a 55-year-old teak exhibited in the portico is a symbolic sign welcoming the visitors to witness the past, the present and the future at the museum.


  • Dr. K.S.S Nair joined as Director, KFRI 1995

    Dr. K.S.S Nair joined as Director, KFRI (January 1995- July 1999)


  • Rattans of the Western Ghats 1995

    Published ‘Rattans of the Western Ghats: A taxonomic manual’


  • Teak (Information Bulletin) 1995

    Published the Teak (Information Bulletin) the booklet describing various aspects of teak cultivation in plantations and in home gardens. Various aspects also covered such as seed, nursery practices, weeding, thinning, pests and diseases, wood properties, yield, utilization, etc.,


  • Proceeding of the IUFRO symposium impact of diseases and insect pests in Tropical Forests 1996

    Published a proceeding of the IUFRO symposium impact of diseases and insect pests in Tropical Forests. The proceedings contain articles contributed by specialists on aspects of impact of diseases, disease management, disease epidemiology, symbiotic microbes in relation to diseases, impact of insect pests, pest management, biology, ecology and control and various cases of insect problems associated with tropical forests.


  • Proceedings of the International Teak Symposium 1997

    Published proceedings of the International Teak Symposium - highlighting the status of teak cultivation and research.


  • Published ‘Basic Readings in Forest Economics’ 1998

    Published ‘Basic Readings in Forest Economics’. This book provides an insight into the general principles and philosophy of economics, describes the analytical tools and explains their applicability for decision making in the specialized field of forest management.


  • The butterfly garden was established at KFRI 1998

    The butterfly garden was established at KFRI, which is an open garden with larval and adult host plants for the butterflies. The garden facilitates daily data collection on butterfly visits and the various life stages of several species of butterflies. KFRI has also facilitated the establishment of butterfly gardens in several institutions including schools, government offices and commercial establishments. We also offer awareness classes for students and the general public and also offer the technical advice to elevate home gardens to butterfly gardens.


  • 1999

    Developed compost for container seedlings production in forest nurseries.


  • Dr. Jyoti Kumar Sharma , Director KFRI. 1999

    Dr. Jyoti Kumar Sharma took over charge as Director of KFRI. (July 1999- January 2007). He was the founding Professor and Dean, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun. He served as an FAO/IPGRI Expert Member in Expert Committee to Frame Guidelines for safe movement of Eucalypt germplasm in Bangkok, Thailand (November, 1995) and Pine germplasm in Opocne, Prague, Czech Republic (October, 1996).