New
Read MoreBlogs
Profile
Currently attached to the Kerala Forest Research Institute as Chief Scientist has 28 years of research experience in the field of Forest Entomology, landscape fragmentation, population dynamics of forest insects and invasion biology. Was the former Coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN) – a collaborative alliance of 33 countries in the Asia-Pacific region functioning under the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. I have been recently nominated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) as the national focal point for the Asia-Pacific Forest Invasive Species Network (APFISN) and an active member of a committee constituted by the Madras High Court to evolve strategies to manage invasive alien plants in the Nilgiris. Currently coordinates the Nodal Centre for Biological Invasions at the KFRI which deals with biological invasion issues in Kerala. I am actively engaging in developing management strategies against the invasion of the Giant African Snail and the Red-eared Slider Turtles, which came to India from Africa and Mexico respectively and caused both economic and ecological impacts. Recently, detected the Barnacle Wax Scale Insect, Ceroplastes cirripediformis, an invasive pest of horticultural crops, native to the southern United States and the Caribbean Islands, was established in Kerala recently. Of the total forty –seven research projects handled, twenty-four projects were funded by international and national organizations/ bodies covering different aspects of Forest Entomology, Control and management of invasive species, Soundscape ecology, basic research in zoology and forestry. My research repository includes 60 papers in National and International journals, books, Proceedings of workshops and research reports, wrote 6 books and one book chapter. More than 106 students have successfully completed their M.Sc. dissertations under various topics related with Entomology, forestry and Invasive Alien Species etc. Also been a part of editing and publishing of bimonthly newsletter(‘Invasives’) and production of fact sheets on major invasive species on behalf of APFISN in order to create awareness on the threats posed by invasive alien species in forest ecosystems. In addition to this, I got an opportunity to organize or co organize 18 training programs/workshops in India, China, Bhutan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Philippines, Nepal & Thailand on various aspects of Alien Invasive Species. I write and speak on matters related to earth.