Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) is a

research institute A research institute, research centre, research center or research organization, is an establishment founded for doing research. Research institutes may specialize in basic research or may be oriented to applied research. Although the term often i ...

situated in

Jodhpur Jodhpur (; ) is the second-largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan and officially the second metropolitan city of the state. It was formerly the seat of the princely state of Jodhpur State. Jodhpur was historically the capital of the ...

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area, the List of countries and dependencies by population, second-most populous ...

. The institute conducts scientific research in

forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. ...

in order to provide technologies to increase the vegetative cover and to conserve

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic ('' genetic variability''), species ('' species diversity''), and ecosystem ('' ecosystem diversity'') ...

in the hot

arid A region is arid when it severely lacks available water, to the extent of hindering or preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life. Regions with arid climates tend to lack vegetation and are called xeric or desertic. Most ...

and

semi-arid A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of semi- ...

regions of Rajasthan and

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth ...

. It operates under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,

Government of India The Government of India ( ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, ...

About

The Arid Forest Research Institute was established in 1988 to cater the forestry research needs of the arid and semi-arid region of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Daman-Diu. The institute is situated on Jodhpur Pali Road ( NH 65) in a campus spreading over 66 hectares, housing office buildings, laboratories, a library-cum-information center, community center, guest house, scientist hostel and residential quarters. The institute has an additional campus at Plot No. 729 adjoining CAZRI. The institute also has three experimental areas and a model nursery within the vicinity of the main campus. The institute is headed by the director supported by a group coordinator (research) and coordinator (facilities). The institute has six divisions with well-equipped laboratories and technical manpower, namely:

Divisions

Forest Ecology Forest ecology is the scientific study of the interrelated patterns, processes, flora, fauna and ecosystems in forests. The management of forests is known as forestry, silviculture, and forest management. A forest ecosystem is a natural wood ...

Division # Forest Genetics and

Tree Breeding Tree breeding is the application of genetic, reproductive biology and economics principles to the genetic improvement and management of forest trees. In contrast to the selective breeding of livestock, arable crops, and horticultural flowers over t ...

Division # Forest Protection Division # Silviculture Division #

Agroforestry Agroforestry is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland. Trees produce a wide range of useful and marketable products from fruits/nuts, medicines, wood products, etc. This intentional ...

& Extension Division These divisions are well supported with the

information technology Information technology (IT) is the use of computers to create, process, store, retrieve, and exchange all kinds of data . and information. IT forms part of information and communications technology (ICT). An information technology syste ...

cell, coordinator (facilities), accounts section, library-cum-information center and an extension wing. The institute has a working strength of 133, which includes two conservators of forests, one deputy conservator of forests, 19

scientist A scientist is a person who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of the natural sciences. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosop ...

s, a controller, an assistant administrative officer, a Hindi officer, a librarian, 6 research officers, a range officer, and ministerial and technical staff. Capacity building and research training * Nursery, seed and VAM technologies for arid zone tree species. * Forest mensuration and growth & yield modeling in plantations. * Planting stock improvement, biotechnology and plant tissue culture. * Afforestation of stress sites (

Sand dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, f ...

s, waterlogged areas, salt affected soils). * Rain water harvesting and soil-moisture conservation. * Site specific agroforestry models.

Facilities

Arid Forest Research Institute Jodhpur c

IT Cell,

Library A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vi ...

, Model Nursery, GIS Lab,

Community centre Community centres, community centers, or community halls are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole c ...

, Dispensary.

Mandate of the institute

Forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. ...

research for conservation of biodiversity and enhancement of bio-productivity in

, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, with special emphasis on

and

regions.

Thrust areas

* To develop techniques for

rainwater harvesting Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater is collected from a roof-like surface and redirected to a tank, cistern, deep pit (well, shaft, or borehole), aquifer, or a reservoir w ...

in arid areas. * To develop technology for

afforestation Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees ( forestation) in an area where there was no previous tree cover. Many government and non-governmental organizations directly engage in afforestation programs to create forests ...

on stress sites. * Eco-stabilisation of

desert A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...

areas with emphasis on sand dune fixation. * To develop techniques for production of high-quality planting material. * Provenance trial of important arid zone species. * Studies on biofertilizer and biopesticide. * Research on non-wood forest products of the arid zone. * Tree improvement through

tissue culture Tissue culture is the growth of tissues or cells in an artificial medium separate from the parent organism. This technique is also called micropropagation. This is typically facilitated via use of a liquid, semi-solid, or solid growth medium, su ...

genetic engineering Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the modification and manipulation of an organism's genes using technology. It is a set of technologies used to change the genetic makeup of cells, including ...

References

External links

Ministry of Environment and Forests
{{authority control Education in Rajasthan Indian forest research institutes Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education Organisations based in Jodhpur 1988 establishments in Rajasthan Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Organisations based in Rajasthan Research institutes in Rajasthan Universities and colleges in Rajasthan Thar Desert Research institutes established in 1988