Research and extension activities related to wood structure, properties and utilization, consumption and bio-prospecting of non-wood forest products with reference to medicinal plants are the major activities of the Division. The Division has facilities like wood preservation plant, drying kiln, Xylarium and instruments like Universal Testing Machine (UTM), Image Analyzer, NIR Spectroscope, etc.

The Division has undertaken extensive studies on wood structure, properties and preservative treatments for various timber species like teak, eucalypt and rubber wood. Also, anatomical and utilization studies of bamboos, reeds and canes have been undertaken. The Division has developed implements helpful for bamboo extraction. The Xylarium contains samples of various indigenous tree species and foreign timbers.

Some of the ongoing programmes of the Division are:

1. Harvest and post-harvest technology for economic utilization of bamboos.

2. Upgradation of small timbers and bamboo residues.

3. Technology for community level production of charcoal and activated carbon from bamboos, coconut stem wood and shell.

4. Biotechnological improvement of pulpwood species like reed, bamboo and subabul.

5. Demonstration of best construction practices for bamboo housing.

6. Characterisation of physical and mechanical properties of bamboos of Kerala.

7. Quantitative inventory of NWFP.

8. Phytochemical characterization and evaluation of the medicinal plant Moovila for resource enhancement.

9. Production of quality planting material of commercial medicinal plants.

10. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of active principles Luteolin and Psoralen of Oroxylum indicum, Premna integrifolia and Aegle marmelos and their allied species.

Dr. TK Dhamodharan

Dr. N Sasidharan