The KFRI has a modern computerized electronic forest library in the main campus at Peechi. The library has 15,500 books, subscription to 90 national and international journals, a good collection of back volumes and secondary journals like current contents, Indian science abstracts and other abstracting journals. Databases like Commonwealth Agriculture Bureau International (CABI), Forestry Compendium, Pests and Disease Database, Bamboo Bibliography, Teak Bibliography etc., add to the information resources. Database of documents in the library and bibliographic and other databases in the CD are placed in network CD server.

Bamboo Information Centre – India, which is functioning as part of the library, has a rich collection of bamboo literature from south and South-east Asia.

Services offered include assistance to visitors for reference work, electronic database search, and literature collection apart from photocopying.

Contact person:
Librarian
Phone: 91-487-2690210,2690211,2690216
E-mail: library@kfri.org

The teak museum, established in 1995 with the assistance of the Kerala Forest Department, is located at Nilambur in the campus of the Sub-centre Sub-centre of the Kerala Forest Research Institute. It is meant for disseminating information on various aspects of teak - history, cultivation, management, socio-economics and uses. The teak tree, (Tectona grandis) which yields internationally reputed high quality timber, is indigenous to the tropics of south and South-east Asia. Exhibits of historic, scientific and artistic value are displayed in the ground floor of the museum. The first floor is mostly devoted to exhibits and information of scientific nature. A library with world literature on teak and a mini auditorium for audio-visual presentation are the other facilities available within the museum. A large stump of 480-year-old teak tree brought from Neriamangalam Forest Range, the excavated root system of a large teak tree, a translite of one of the oldest naturally growing teak tree the Kannimara teak and logs of 116 year old teak tree are some of the magnificent exhibits in the museum.

Contact person:
The Curator,
Teak Museum,
KFRI Sub-centre,
Chandakkunnu 679 342,
Nilambur RS, Kerala.
Phone: 0493-222846, 220218;
Fax: 0493-220969;
E-Mail: forest@sancharnet.in

The Kerala Forest Seed Centre (KFSC) was established at Peechi during 2003 with the funding from the Kerala Forest Department (KFD) through the World-Bank aided Kerala Forestry Project. It is managed jointly by the KFRI and the KFD. The KFD collects seeds of various species from designated seed stands and forwards to KFRI, where the seeds are cleaned, graded, tested and stored. These are then supplied to various KFD nurseries and units for raising quality seedlings. The KFSC handles about 15 tonnes of seeds at present; of this 90 per cent is teak (Tectona grandis). Collection of seeds is based on demand. Supply of seeds is based on advance order placed with the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Research (South), PTP Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram. KFSC is also a useful destination for anyone interested in seed science and technology.

Contact persons:
For placing order for seeds:
The Deputy Conservator of Forests,
Research (South),
PTP Nagar,
Thiruvananthapuram.
Phone: 0471-2368909

For seed availability in stock and seed technology-related training programmes:
The Scientist-in-Charge,
Kerala Forest Seed Centre,
Peechi-680 653, Kerala, India.
Phone: 0487-2699037,
Fax: 0487-2699249,
E-mail: seedcentre@kfri.org

Xylarium is a collection of wood specimens of various tree species. KFRI Xylarium has specimens of 499 tree species including indigenous and exotic.

Contact person:
The Scientist-in-Charge (Facility),
Wood Science,
Kerala Forest Research Institute,
Peechi- 680 653.
Phone: 0487-2699037

The KFRI herbarium is internationally reconized with the acronym KFRI. It has a collection of 1851 species belonging to 894 genera and 194 families. In all, there are 8500 specimens of various species from the Western Ghats of Kerala.


Contact person:
The Scientist -in-Charge (Facility),
Forest Botany, KFRI.
Phone: 0487 - 2699037

The KFRI arboretum covering an area of 5 ha, which is in the establishment phase, has 75 tree species belonging to 29 families and 58 genera. The list of trees in the Arboretum is provided below.

The KFRI Bambusetum has 63 species of bamboos from all over India; a few exotic speies of bamboos are also available in the live collection. Of this, 55 species are in the Field Research Centre, (FRC) Velupadam and the remaining 8 species (3 of them yet to be identified) suitable for high elevation area are at Devikulam, Munnar.

Contact person:
Scientist-in-Charge (Facility),
Silviculture,
Kerala Forest Research Institute,
Peechi- 680 653.
Phone. 0487 - 2699037

The KFRI Palmetum (Collection of live specimens of indigenous and exotic palms) in Peechi campus has 70 species.

Contact person:
Programme Co-ordinator,
Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Division,
Kerala Foresst Research Institute,
Peechi- 680 653.
Phone. 0487 - 2699037

35 species are represented in the Rattan (cane) germplasm at Peechi, Achencoil, Nilambur,and Vazachal. The following is the list of rattan species available in the Canetum.

Contact person:
Programme Co-ordinator,
Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Conservation Division,
Kerala Foresst Research Institute,
Peechi. 680 653.
Phone. 0487 - 2699037

KFRI has forest nurseries at Peechi, Nilambur and Velupadam. In addition to providing research facilities to scientists, the nurseries cater to the need of the public by producing and supplying quality seedlings of several tree, bamboo and rattan species on cost. Nurseries also serve as destinations of study visits by forestry professionals, researchers, farmers and students.

Contact person:
Peechi: The Scientist-in-Charge (Facility),
Silviculture, SNPFM Division, KFRI, Peechi.
Phone 0487 - 2699037

Nilambur: The Scientist-in-Charge,
KFRI Sub-centre, Chandakunnu P.O, Nilambur.
Phone 0493 - 1222846

Velupadam: The Officer-in-Charge,
KFRI Field Research Centre, Velupadam P.O., Palappilly.
Phone 0480 - 2762205

KFRI has two butterfly gardens, one in its main campus at Peechi and another in the Subcentre campus at Nilambur. Some of the butterflies that can generally be seen in the garden include lemon butterfly (Papilio demoleus), southern birdwing (Troides minos), common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae), light blue tiger (Tirumala limniace), dark blue tiger (Tirumala septentrionis) and common crow (Euploea core).

Plants that are raised in the garden for forage by butterflies include Clerodendrum paniculatum, Crotalaria pallida, Crotalaria retusa, Cuphea hyssopifolia, Gardenia sp., Gloriosa superba, Heliotropium keralense, Hibiscus spp., Impatiens sp., Ixora spp., Jasminum spp., Jatropa spp., Lantana spp. Plants such as Aristolochia indica, Thottea siliquosa, Tylophora indica, Asclepias sp., Carissa carandus, Ruta graveolens, Aegle marmelos, Cassia spp., Albizzia spp., Kalanchoe spp., Musaenda luteosa, Citrus spp. and Murraya koenigii are introduced as larval host plants to sustain various butterflies in the garden. Establishment of small and big butterfly gardens can be undertaken by KFRI on consultancy basis.

Contact person:
The Scientist-in-Charge (Facility),
Forest Entomology,
Kerala Forest Research Institute,
Peechi- 680 653.
Phone: 0487- 2699037

The KFRI Medicinal Plant Garden at Peechi has 412 species comprising of herbs, shrubs and trees. The Garden serves as a reference collection for authentic identification, for research and extension purpose.


Contact person:
Scientist-in-Charge (Facility),
Non Wood Forest Products,
Kerala Forest Research Institute,
Peechi.-680 653.
Phone: 0487-2699037