KFRI Milestone of Activities

Golden Years of Nurturing Nature and Knowledge : 1975-2025

  • The proposal of establishing KFRI by Sri. C Achutha Menon 1975

    The proposal of establishing KFRI by Sri. C Achutha Menon, Chief Minister of Kerala, was materialised through a team of committed officers including Sri KK Nair IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Development), Government of Kerala. In January 1975, the Government of Kerala, accorded sanction for establishment of the Institute. It has been registered as a Society under the Travancore-Cochin Literary, Scientific and Charitable Societies’ Registration Act, 1955. The institute started function from 3rd July 1975 at Thiruvananthapuram with departments like Forest pathology, Soil Science, Forest Genetics and Silviculture.

  • KFRI started functioning 1975

    The institute started function from 3rd July 1975 at Thiruvananthapuram with departments like Forest pathology, Soil Science, Forest Genetics and Silviculture.

  • Foundation stone laid at Peechi by Dr. K.G. Adiyodi 1975

    Foundation stone laid at Peechi by Dr. K.G. Adiyodi (Minister for finance and forest) in presence of Sri. K. Karunakaran, (Home Minister, Government of Kerala)

  • Director for KFRI 1975

    Dr. C. Chandrashekharan IFS is the founder and director of KFRI. Dr. Cherukat Chandrasekharan, an eminent scholar in tropical forestry and earlier Chief of the Non-Wood Products and Energy Branch, Forest Products Division of the Forestry Department of FAO and founder of the reputed newsletter the "Non-Wood News".

  • New Director to KFRI 1975

    Shri. K.K. Nair Chief Conservator of Forests (Development) took Additional Charge as Director of KFRI

  • KFRI started Research Projects 1976

    KFRI moved to a rented house in Patturaikkal, Thrissur and started research projects on insects and fungal pathogens og Albizzia and Eucalyptus plantations.

  • Report on Dipterocarps of South Asia was submitted to FAO - UN 1977

    The report on Dipterocarps of South Asia was submitted to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The reports cover distribution, botany, silviculture, ecology, wood, utilization pest and diseases.

  • First Research Report from KFRI 1977

    The study on wood and bark volumes of eucalyptus trees in Kerala was published as a first Research Report. The study was done by the K. Easwarankutty, M. Sivarajan and R. Balakrishnan Asan.

  • First newsletter of KFRI released 1977

    First newsletter of Kerala Forest Research Institute was released with a special focus on Termite control in Eucalyptus. Now, the newsletter is published as a bi-annual newsletter 'Evergreen'.

  • Foundation stone for Nilambur Sub Centre 1977

    Foundation stone for Nilambur Sub Centre by Forest Minister Sri. K.P. Viswanathan with laboratory facilities focusing on Entomology and modern experimental yard. The establishment of teak museum also discussed during this day. Later soil science and Silviculture departments become started experimental trails at Nilambur sub Centre. A research advisory committee under the chairmanship of Chief Conservator of Forests (Development) was started.

  • Exapnsion of KFRI 1977

    Different departments like Soil Science, Entomology, Wildlife, Forest Economics, Silviculture, Botany, Library started functioning

  • KFRI Peechi Campus inaugurated 1978

    Sri. A. K. Antony, Chief Minister inaugurated the KFRI Peechi Campus.

  • KFRI Xylarium established at Wood Science Department 1979

    KFRI Xylarium established at Wood Science Department to provide basic information on a variety of timbers, required by wood anatomists/technologists and others to whom wood is a research or study medium. Later xylarium was recognized by IAWA Index Xylarium 4.1

  • Dr. Salim Ali visited KFRI 1980

    Dr. Salim Ali, renowned Indian ornithologist and naturalist, visited KFRI, accompanied by Madhava Menon IAS (then the Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University), Dr. Kedarnath (then director, KFRI), KK Nair, Shanmughanathan and Sugathan.

  • The first seminar on medicinal plants 1981

    The first seminar on medicinal plants focusing on identification, availability of raw materials, adulteration, standardization of drugs, and modernization of manufacturing process was held at KFRI Peechi campus. Around 200 people participated and the major aim was to bring together leaned Ayurvedic physicians, scientists, farmers and foresters.

  • Dr. C.T.S Nair, Additional Charge as Director 1982

    Dr. C.T.S Nair, IFS took Additional Charge as Director of KFRI (July 1982- October 1982)

  • KFRI at expert group meeting tropical forests by FAO, UNESCO and UNEP. 1983

    KFRI represented in the expert group meeting tropical forests organized by FAO, UNESCO and UNEP. Various aspects on management of tropical forests was presented including research priorities. A document highlighting the tropical forest situation and specifying the areas for action was released.

  • Dr. S. Kedharnath FNA joined as Director, KFRI 1983

    The Institute, established at six years old, rapidly expanded its research in forestry, thanks to his connections with world-renowned scientists.

  • Campus tree planting programme started 1984

    Campus tree planting programme started at KFRI Peechi.

  • National seinar on Eucalyptus in Indian Forestry 1984

    National seminar on Eucalyptus in Indian Forestry – Past, present and Future organized at KFRI in collaboration with Kerala Forest Department.

  • Seminar on eco-development of Western Ghats 1986

    Seminar on eco-development of Western Ghats was conducted at KFRI. The key issues involved in adopting the concept of eco-development in the Western Ghats region was discussed in detail. Focus was given for the environmental problems arising in Western Ghats region, identification of methods for ecological restoration in degraded areas, and to assess the data requirements to identify areas for research and studies.

  • Released the proceedings of the National Seminar on Eco-development of Western Ghats 1986

    Released the proceedings of the National Seminar on Eco-development of Western Ghats. This proceedings contain articles contributed by specialists on aspects like flora, fauna, ecology, forestry, land-use, water conservation, energy flow, impacts of developmental processes and future strategies for the sustainable development and conservation of the biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

  • Prof. M.G.K. Menon visited KFRI 1986

    Prof. M.G.K. Menon, Scientific Advisor to Prime Minister visited KFRI. Prof. M. G. K. Menon, was a physicist and policy maker, had a prominent role in the development of science and technology in India over four decades.

  • Dr. CTS Nair IFS , new Director to KFRI 1986

    Dr. CTS Nair IFS took charge as Director, KFRI.

  • From forestry information retrieval to Indian Forestry Abstract. 1987

    Indian Forestry Abstracts (IFA), a comprehensive bibliography of current forestry literature was launched by KFRI by the Library Department along with an abstract for each citation. No such abstracting service exists for Indian forestry literature, although international ones like the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau Information System (CABI), AGRIS (FAO), and AGRICOLA (USDA) are widely consulted.

  • Computerised Library for KFRI 1987

    Computerization of KFRI Library completed.

  • First Weather Station at KFRI 1987

    A weather station established at KFRI

  • International Bamboo Workshop 1988

    The first International Workshop, ‘International Bamboo Workshop’ hosted by KFRI at Malabar Hotel in Cochin.

  • The first major Reforestation activities 1988

    The first major Reforestation activities were conducted at Pattikkad hills at Thrissur

  • 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.