Kerala State Biodiversity Board has proposed a Biodiversity Research centre (Approval by Kerala University under process), which will function as a centre for applied research for conservation of Kerala’s biological diversity. The centre is being established for collection, collation, management, analysis and dissemination of data on Kerala’s biological diversity. The research centre will provide scientific support to Kerala State Biodiversity Board in decision making on matters related to biodiversity, so as to enable the Board to advise the State Government on salient environmental and conservation issues. The centre will also enable the Board for translating the knowledge generated through PBR for sustainable development.
Ex situ Conservation
A seed germplasm conservation facility (i.e. a base collection and active collection) of diverse varieties, a vital facility for ex-situ biodiversity conservation programs has been initiated as part of the research centre. Landraces and traditional cultivars of agricultural crops hold a rich genetic diversity which harbours an important gene pool for crop improvement. Establishment of a seed bank for the long term and medium-term storage of seeds for conserving the wild relatives of priority crops, rare , endangered and threatened plants , landraces within species, wild crop relatives and farmers varieties has been recognized as a field of utmost importance by KSBB. Seed storage facility at sub zero temperatures up to -200 C and infrastructure for entomology studies were developed. Traditional varieties of paddy collected from Idukki Palakkad Alappuzha Kottayam Kozhikode Kozhikode, Kannur and Kollam districts are being stored. The varieties includes Rakthapokkali, Etchipporu, Peruvazha, Gundumani, Jeerakashala, Ponnaryan, Chitteni, Vellapokkali, Kannumkulamban, Paalthoni, Thavalakannan, Njavara, Virippu, Mundakan, Etchipporu, Chettivirippu, Vellaponmani, Pokkali, Kootumundakan, Thekkancheera etc. This facility is expected to complement the in situ conservation project of paddy land races at Wayanad.