Abstract

The Kerala Forest Research Institute has developed about 10 ha of land into a Bioresources Nature Park at its Sub Centre at Nilambur. The Bioresources Nature Park has conservation themes for the lower groups of plants such as algae, bryophytes and pteridophytes, plants found in specialized ecological niche such as xerophytes (cacti and succulents) and hydrophytes (aquatic plants), beneficial plants (eg. medicinal plants) and ornamental plants (eg. orchids), with special reference to endemic and rare, endangered and threatened (RET) species. Ministry of Environment and Forests, through its Botanical Garden Scheme financed a short-term project to the KFRI to improve the facilities in the Bioresources Nature Park; specifically for theme areas such as Fern House and Bryophyte House by collecting plant propagules of endangered and endemic ferns, bryophytes and angiosperms and to assemble them in appropriate theme area in the Bioresources Nature Trail, thereby help in increasing public awareness of the value of biodiversity conservation needs. Propagules of endangered and endemic ferns, bryophytes and angiosperms were collected and assembled in appropriate theme area in the Bioresources Nature Trail. As part of the scheme, twenty-one rare and endemic bryophyte species, forty-eight fern species (twenty-five rare and twenty-three common species) and seventeen angiosperm species belonging to different conservation status have been planted in the Bioresources Nature Trail. In addition significant measures were taken to increase the appearance and presentation of the collections.