Forest Information Management System aims to meet the information needs of the stakeholders of forestry sector using modern tools of statistics, GIS and remote sensing. Information on forest resources and related issues is of vital importance in the planning and management of the forest sector.
Creation of a database on biophysical and socio-economic aspects pertaining to forests, forest sector analysis and projections, mapping forest cover and biodiversity and modeling the growth dynamics of plantations and natural forests for effective forest management are some of the major works being carried out in the Division. The Division also involves in other statistical, GIS and remote sensing applications in forestry as and when required by user agencies.
The Division has prepared forest-type maps based on satellite imagery for all the 14 districts of Kerala. It has also developed a growth simulator for teak plantations in Kerala. Optimal stand density levels that maximize profit from teak stands were identified using the simulator. Ecological studies on the Shola forests of Kerala based on remote sensing data and simultaneous calibration of allometric relations in teak stands were achieved using multilevel models. The Division also caters to the statistical needs of forestry research and presently it is also augmented by GIS and remote sensed data inputs. In plantation forestry, designing of experiments, yield prediction, thinning schedule fixation, etc. are the major thrust areas. Stand modeling, biodiversity mapping, ecosystem analysis, GIS, forest resource mapping, population analysis and organization of a data bank of forestry in Kerala are also programmes in various stages of implementation.
Alternative thinning schedule for teak plantations.
Calibration of volume prediction equations for different clones of rubber wood.
Growth model of teak in relation to soil conditions.
Comparison of prediction models developed by statistical and neural techniques in applied forestry research.
Forestry sector analysis for the State of Kerala.
Mapping the biodiversity of the Myristica swamps in southern Kerala.
Mapping of plant and forest resources.
Development of biodiversity information system
Dr. K Jayaraman
Dr. P Rugmini
Dr. M Sivaram
Dr. P Vijayakumaran Nair
Dr. ARR Menon