Initially set up as one of the Regional Research Centres of the erstwhile FRI and Colleges, Dehradun, the IFGTB, Coimbatore was accorded the status of a full fledged institute, in April 1988 unde the ICFRE. Spread over 66 hectares area in the heart of Coimbatore town, it's main building, with a plinth area of 3705 sq. m. house up-to-date facilities of research, a well equipped library and the famous Fischer Herbarium. Other unique features developed over the years by the institute include, `Gass Forest Museum of Natural History' and a Botanical Garden cum Arboretum of 4 hectares housing nearly 300 species of rare and endangered plants. The Institute also owns a 80 hectare `Preservation plot cum Arboretum', situated approx. 25 kms away from Coimbatore at Walayur and a one hectare clonal teak seed orchard. The Institute is responsible for attending to the overall forestry research needs of Tamil Nadu,Kerala, Lakshdweep and Pondichery.
The primary objective of the Institute is to conduct research on all aspects of genetic improvement and the propagation of forest species. It also conducts research in eco-restoration of western ghats,mangrove forests of the west and east coasts and conservation of the genetic diversity of the tropical evergreen forests.
The Institute has the distinction of assembling a national germplasam of teak consisting of 100 superior clones. Clonal orchards of teak were developed at Coimbatore and Walayar. Associated with the international study group dealing with gerplasm collection, cultivation and provenance trial of Casuarina equisetifolia located at CSIRO Australia,41 clones of this species were assembled in the germplasm bank. Single parent progeny trials of local provenances were started. Cost effective protocol in liquid culture medium for multiplication of Bambusa arundinacea by tissue culture was developed. Hedge orchards of superior clones of Eucalyptus tereticornis and E. camaldulensis were developed and a similar orchard for Casuarina is in progress. More than 50 species of indigenous medicinal plants which are rare were collected and added in the ex situ conservatory of the Botanical Garden. 37 species of Bamboo collected from FRI Bambusetum and from local forest areas were assembled. To disseminate the technology developed to the field, 5 villages in the Coimbatore district were selected and they were supplied with improved propagules of Teak, Casuarina and Moringa. Studies on biofertilizers and biopesticides were taken up and preliminary studies undertaken in a few of the mandatory species are encouraging. Hands on training courses to foresters and forest farmers and other end users were conducted.
For further information, please contact :
Director
Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding (IFGTB)
(Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education)
Forest College Campus, P.B. No. 1031, R.S. Puram
H.P.O. COIMBATORE - 641 002 INDIA
E-Mail : ifgtb@envfor.delhi.nic.in