KFRI steps in to fight biological invasions

To set up Nodal Centre of Alien Invasive Species Research and Management

The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) is gearing up to set up a Nodal Centre of Alien Invasive Species Research and Management to fight biological invasions in the State.

“The nodal centre, first of its kind in the country, under the KFRI envisages to provide a single window for addressing biological invasions,” S. Pradeep Kumar, director in charge , KFRI told The Hindu, which had published an article on the gravity of the threat.

“ We are planning to set up the centre at a cost of ₹3 crore and it would be set up in three months,” Dr. Pradeep Kumar, who is also the member secretary, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment, said .

“The proposed centre would monitor and arrest the spread of the already established invasive species,” said T.V. Sajeev, Scientist, KFRI. “It would also keep track of the movements of invasive species across countries in the Asia-Pacific region,” Dr. Sajeev said.

The KFRI has successfully completed an international project supported by Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) on alien invasive species of India and Maldives. It has already prepared a checklist of alien invasive plants in Kerala and is also active in research on the invasive giant African Snail.

“The centre would coordinate the activities such as developing management protocols for the eradication of invasive flora and fauna; habitat restoration programmes after removing the existing invasive species in the forest areas of the State, including Wayanad, and early detection of the new species and rapid response against its spread,” T. K Hrideek, Scientist, Genetics and Tree Breeding, KFRI said.

‘The KFRI is developing a full-fledged mobile application for the identification of invasive species in the region and it will be updated periodically, Dr, Hrideek said. This will include the identification of the species, its management protocols and restoration programmes, he added.

It would also launch a campaign to sensitize various government department officials and public, Dr. Hrideek added.