Ecology

Environment and Sustainable Development

The Department of Ecology aims to understand and assess biological diversity in both natural and human-transformed ecosystems as a contribution to improved practices of sustainable management and conservation. These areas of research are closely associated with other global concerns such as water conservation, carbon sequestration and climatic changes. Special interest has long been devoted to fragile and useful biodiversity-rich forest ecosystems, on which considerable expertise and information have been gained over several decades of laboratory and fieldwork.

This is particularly true regarding the Western Ghats of India, which are recognized as one of the world main tropical biodiversity "hot-spots", and on which a majority of ongoing IFP projects are focused.

Current emphasis is put on methodological aspects and, especially, on introducing innovative applications of information technologies in the field of biodiversity studies. This includes conception, development and use of spatialized databases (see also LIAG), computer-aided identification systems in taxonomy, spatial statistics and predictive models. This methodological investment is firmly grounded on data available in IFP, with the dual objectives of international publication and greater involvement in multidisciplinary projects aimed at promoting sustainable management of natural resources. Most of the research projects are carried out in close partnership with Indian Research Agencies, Forest Departments and Non-Governmental Organizations, and also with French and European Research Institutions.

Work of the department is in progress according to four axes of research:

Axis 1: The Paleo-environments of South India

This research orientation is centred on the use of both biological archives and geological markers to understand past environments and their evolution through time in relation to natural (climatic) and human-induced changes. This research is perfectly integrated into larger global programmes, such as PAGES (PAst Global changES), an IGBP (International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme) core project.

• Biological archives of climatic changes and vegetation

• Geological markers of paleo-ecological transformation (completed)

Axis 2: Application of information technology for disseminating biodiversity knowledge

Since last three and half decades the Ecology Department of IFP has been worked on several biodiversity related projects. From the extensive field inventories undertaken under these projects, a deep taxonomic expertise as well as important data sets, have been generated. This unique scientific heritage is now being valorised into open source softwares and web-based applications (biodiversity informatics).

• Computer-aided taxonomic identification

• Web-mapping and forest biodiversity portal

Axis 3: Biodiversity elements in the Western Ghats

With this research orientation, emphasis is put on the study of the spatial organization of biodiversity for spatial scales ranging from tree stand dynamics to regional ecological gradients via the intermediate scale of landscape ecology. Through the use of modern tools of quantitative ecology, we aim to provide a scientific platform for delineation of protected areas, and to sustainable management of forest resources.

• Dynamics of forest diversity

• Landscape Analysis for Biodiversity Conservation (completed)

• Soil Carbon Pool and Biodiversity Conservation (completed)

Axis 4: Usage of biodiversity and ecosystems modified by human actvity

The objectives are clearly situated at the interface between Ecology and Social Sciences, and projects are aimed at studying and providing indicators about the interactions between the usages of natural resources, such as medicinal plants, and the biodiversity and structure of both natural and human-made ecosystems, such as agroforestry systems. The research projects thereby are intended to explore the conditions for a sustainable management of biodiversity in mountain landscapes of Peninsular India.

• Managing biodiversity in mountain landscapes

• Medicinal plants in South-India

• Indicators for Managing the Environment (completed)

• Agroforestry Models in South-India (completed)

Publications of Ecology Department (1995-2007 - pdf)

Contact: Dr. Raphaël Pelissier