The Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI) is a forestry research institute located in Jorhat, Assam, India. It functions under the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE), an autonomous body of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. The institute focuses on forestry research relevant to the rainforest ecosystems of the North East region of India.
| Name | Rain Forest Research Institute |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | RFRI |
| Type | Forestry research institute |
| Location | Jorhat, Assam, India |
| Parent body | Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) |
| Ministry | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change |
| Country | India |
The North East of India lies within one of the world's recognised biodiversity hotspots and contains extensive tropical and subtropical rainforests. RFRI was established to address the specific research needs of these forest ecosystems, with a regional mandate covering the north-eastern states. The institute conducts applied and basic research in areas such as silviculture, forest protection, non-timber forest produce, biodiversity conservation, agroforestry, and tree improvement.
RFRI carries out research and extension activities aimed at supporting state forest departments, farmers, and local communities in the region. Its work includes:
The institute maintains arboreta, nurseries, and demonstration plots, and disseminates research outputs through publications, technical bulletins, and training modules.
As a constituent institute of ICFRE, RFRI works alongside other regional ICFRE institutes such as the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. Its research divisions are organised around thematic forestry disciplines, and it collaborates with universities, state forest departments, and other research bodies on projects funded by central and state agencies.
RFRI is among the principal forestry research institutions serving the North Eastern region of India, providing scientific inputs for the management and conservation of rainforest resources, and supporting livelihoods linked to non-timber forest produce, bamboo, and agroforestry systems.