About LEMoN India
A collaborative effort to establish a network of 1 ha forest monitoring plots along environmental gradients and across habitat types in the Indian sub-continent using standard protocols (RAINFOR-GEM protocols & CTFS protocols). Established in 2011, LEMoN India is coordinated by the Biodiversity and Ecosystems Ecology Research (BEER) Laboratory of the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) Bangalore, India.
To date our most in-depth knowledge of vegetation dynamics has resulted from various international networks established to monitor permanent forest plots within different ecosystems over long periods of time (>25 years). Through these endeavors we have gained critical insights into the structuring and functioning of forest communities in relation to various biotic and abiotic factors. These sites are also important repositories for understanding global carbon dynamics, and have contributed significantly to the development of effective strategies for long-term sustainable forest management. The need for an extensive network of long-term vegetation plots is being strongly felt in a country like India, which has a great variety of climates, soils, and vegetation types. However, apart from plots established at Mudumalai, Tamil Nadu, as part of the CTFS network, there is an absence of similar efforts in other parts of the country. Thus in an effort to bridge this gap the BEER Laboratory at NCBS, Bangalore initiated the establishment of a network of 1 ha permanent forest plots in 2011 to enable long-term monitoring of forest tree communities, biomass and dynamics.
Primary objectives:
1. Understand how the structure and function of plant communities changes across broad environmental gradients
2. Understand vegetation responses to changing environmental drivers
3. Develop effective strategies for long-term sustainable use and management of forests
Besides these primary research objectives, there is also potential for other investigations / experiments within the plots based on site specific characteristics and interests of local collaborators. We encourage interested researchers to contact us.
LEMoN-Aid
LEMoN India is supported by NCBS, a Government of India institution under the Department of Atomic Energy
Contact
LEMoN INDIA, Lab 22
National Centre for Biological Sciences
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India
Phone: 91 80 23666220 / 91 80 67176220
Fax: 91 80 23636662
Email: karthikt@ncbs.res.in
LEMoN INDIA, Lab 22
National Centre for Biological Sciences
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
GKVK, Bellary Road, Bangalore 560065, India
Phone: 91 80 23666220 / 91 80 67176220
Fax: 91 80 23636662
Email: karthikt@ncbs.res.in
