Forest Protection Division

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Mandate

Development of economical and environmentally acceptable pest management strategies on seed, nursery, plantation and natural forest.

To evolve sound disease management strategies for enhancement of forest productivity.

Thrust Areas

Undertake research on insect pests and diseases of important tree species of the region and to develop protocol for their management.

To study the factors causing build up of insect pest and pathogen population on selected tree species and develop viable eco-friendly management practices.

To develop integrated insect pest and disease control models.

Develop collaborative research for evolving insect pest and pathogen resistant phenotypes of selected tree species with the active support of the state forest department.

Investigate the queries on insect pest and disease problems raised by the state forest department, NGOs and farmers and to suggest management techniques of their control.

Establishment of infrastructure for insect pathology, biological control laboratory, insectary, insectarium and other emerging frontiers of forest protection.

Major Equipments

Microscope Nikon E400

PCR(Bench top)

Electrophoresis(Bench top)

Gel-Doc (Protein Simple)

Microscope (LMI 3003276A) Leedz micra XZ-150wA-cold Light Illuminator

Insect Activity Recorder

pH Meter

Microscope Nikon SMZ1500

Cooling centrifuge

Insect Growth Chamber

Insect Growth Chamber

B.O.D. Incubator

Laminar Air Flow

Lyophilizer

CO2 Incubator

Autoclave

Deep-Freezer

Iceflaker

Multi Cooling Chamber

Tablet Making Machine

Research Station

The Field Research Station, Shillaru, located 50 km from Shimla towards Rampur at 2400 m elevation (77°27'30" E; 31°15'30" N), provides ideal site conditions for research on temperate Himalayan trees and medicinal plants. The area experiences moderate to heavy snowfall during December to March in winters. The total area of the station is approximately 0.5 ha having soil with clay loam texture and 15–20 % slope. Station has some basic facilities like Rest House having 2 rooms, Guard Hut -1, Office Room-2 and 1 Store Room. The experimental layout of different PLAN & EAP Projects includes preparation of nursery beds and polybags mainly used for raising plant species including temperate region medicinal plants like Betula Utilis, Angelica glauca, Aconitum heterophyllum, Valeriana jatamansi, Polygonatum vertiallatum, Picea smithiana, Abies pindrow and Cedrus deodara etc. The staff of the station has also been engaged in demonstration of ongoing R&D activities to the visiting IFS Officers, Other stakeholders and Local Panchayat, Mahila Mandal, Yuvak Mandal and to visiting School Students. Out planting activities has also been carried out in the nearby areas of the station involving local panchayat and school students. Besides these plants has also been distributed year on year to the local panchayat on their demand basis.

People

Sr. No. Name and Designation
Dr. Ashwani Tapwal, Scientist-F & Head
Dr. Pawan Kumar, Scientist-F
Sh. Akhil Kumar, Chief Technical Officer
Mrs. Neha Thakur, Technical Assistant
Mr. Manjeet Kumar, Senior Technician
Sh. Ramesh Chand Kainthla, Forest Range Officer
Sh. Ankush Kumar, Forest Guard

Contact

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Ashwani Tapwal

Scientist-F & Head of Forest Protection Division

ICFRE- Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla 171013

tapwala@icfre.org

94180-6596