Scientists create largest tree inventory database for India

Bengaluru: Researchers have compiled INvenTree, the largest meta-dataset of tree inventory studies from India, covering 465 studies from 1991 to 2023 across 4,653 hectares of forests.

The dataset brings together plot-based surveys from all of India’s vegetated biomes, with most data from tropical moist and dry forests. Scientists say the compilation addresses a major gap in global forest research, where South Asian data is underrepresented. They also found that 73% of studies are not openly accessible and most are small-scale, with a median size of just 2 hectares.

The team hopes INvenTree will help identify conservation priority areas and guide future forest monitoring in India.