Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 2 hrs ago
Kerala launches two-year assessment of ecosystem health
Environment Minister Sunny Joseph launched a two-year ecosystem assessment project in Kerala on Thursday.
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board is funding the work, which is being carried out by the Kerala Forest Research Institute and MES Asmabi College.
The project will assess ecosystems across all 14 districts, from high-altitude Shola-grassland areas to mangroves and freshwater river networks.
It will use the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems framework to assess ecosystem health and vulnerability.
The assessment focuses on whole ecosystems, rather than only individual species, to help protect biodiversity.
Its spatial data is intended to guide local planning and conservation, including decisions about sustainable infrastructure.
The project is expected to run for two years.
Kerala has launched a two-year project to assess the health and risk of collapse of critical ecosystems across all 14 districts.
The Kerala State Biodiversity Board sanctioned and funded the project.
The Kerala Forest Research Institute is carrying it out with MES Asmabi College.
The assessment will use the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems framework and cover habitats from high-altitude Shola-grassland mosaics to coastal mangroves and freshwater river networks.
The resulting spatial data is intended to support local government planning and targeted conservation.
- Who
- The Kerala Forest Research Institute and MES Asmabi College are carrying out the project, funded by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board.
- What
- A two-year assessment will map critical ecosystems and assess their risk of collapse.
- When
- The project was launched on a Thursday. The article states it was published on October 8, 2026.
- Where
- Across all 14 districts of Kerala.
- Why
- To assess ecosystem health and vulnerability and provide data for sustainable infrastructure planning and targeted conservation.
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This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Duration
- Two years
- Coverage
- All 14 districts of Kerala
- Assessment framework
- IUCN Red List of Ecosystems
- Funding body
- Kerala State Biodiversity Board
- Implementing institutions
- Kerala Forest Research Institute and MES Asmabi College
What people are saying
the project marks a paradigm shift in conservation strategy
By diagnosing the health of entire ecosystems rather than focusing solely on individual species, a stronger safety net is created for Keralam’s biodiversity.