The National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru, has released INvenTree‑meta, a consolidated meta‑dataset of Indian tree inventory studies. It compiles 465 published studies (1991–2023) and samples over 4,650 hectares across India’s major biomes.
Dataset scope and structure
- Studies and period: 465 published tree‑inventory studies conducted between 1991 and 2023.
- Area covered: More than 4,650 hectares of forest sampling across India.
- Biomes included: tropical, subtropical, montane and island ecosystems.
- Data type: plot‑level tree inventories and associated metadata standardised into a meta‑dataset.
Access, spatial gaps and utility
- Data availability: Over 80% of the underlying primary datasets are not publicly accessible.
- Under‑sampled regions: northern Western Ghats, north‑eastern India, Western Himalaya and Nicobar Islands.
- Research application: designed for regional synthesis, comparative ecology and inclusion in global forest/climate analyses.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- NCBS: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru.
- Meta‑dataset defined: an aggregated, standardised compilation of multiple primary datasets for comparative analysis.
- Data equity focus: aims to improve South Asia’s representation in international forest databases.
- Exam relevance: useful for questions on forest monitoring, biodiversity databases, data governance and ecological sampling bias.