Dr Rekha Warrier

Senior Principal Scientist, Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore

Dr Rekha R. Warrier holds several positions in the Bioprospecting Division at the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education-Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, including as a Senior Principal Scientist and Head of Chemistry. Dr Warrier has over 25 years of forestry expertise and her work spans stress physiology, forest genetic resources conservation and cutting-edge biotechnologies, significantly advancing sustainable forestry and restoration initiatives.

Leading tissue culture innovations, she has pioneered commercial propagation and secondary metabolite studies in medicinal plants, including the genetic improvement of species like teak, Melia and bamboo, establishing seed production systems for different tropical species.

She holds leadership roles in the Asia Pacific Forest Genetic Resources Programme and the International Society for Tropical Foresters. She is a member of the IUCN SSC Western Ghats Plant Specialist Group and Seed Conservation Specialist Group. With significant experience in tropical ecosystems, she has led many research projects, authored 70 research papers and contributed to 15 books and chapters.