Marking the culmination of its year-long golden jubilee celebrations, the Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) launched a five-day tropical forestry conclave, inaugurated by Minister for Forests and Wildlife Protection A.K. Saseendran, ushering in a series of research paper presentations and discussions from Monday to Friday.
A conference, featuring international researchers on the subject of tropical forest management, including paper presentations and discussions, is being organised on the institute’s main campus in Peechi as part of the conclave. Over a hundred researchers will present their findings during the conclave.
As a symbol of the KFRI’s commitment to forest research and conservation, the conclave, which bring the golden jubilee (1975-2025) to a close, will also include an exhibition of forest research-related equipment and technologies, a gathering of medicinal plant cultivators from South India, a meeting of representatives from forest conservation research institutions, and the inauguration of new facilities and release of publications, according to KFRI sources.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Saseendran said the research at the KFRI has played a crucial role in expanding the knowledge of tropical afforestation. He also observed that the KFRI’s activities have been critical in developing innovative strategies for forest conservation, ecological restoration, and the empowerment of local communities. “It is a great and commendable achievement that the KFRI’s major studies are published in international journals, which allows the global community to learn about our forests,” he said.
Kannan C.S. Warrier, Director of Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE)-KFRI, summarised the five decades of research at the institute in his presidential address. A special address was delivered by B. Mohan Kumar, Chairperson of the KSCSTE-KFRI Research Council.
The conclave is the culmination of a year-long series of events that brought together various stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities related to tropical forests. It included lectures, panel discussions, and interactive workshops to foster collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and environmental enthusiasts.
Published – December 17, 2025 08:41 pm IST
