What Drives US? 

Tropical forests are among the most biodiverse—and most threatened—ecosystems on Earth. Our work is grounded in the belief that understanding and conserving these ecosystems is urgent and essential.

We strive to:

1. Understand ecology and evolution of species and their roles in tropical ecosystems.

2. Understand how human activities affect biodiversity—from genes to communities.

3. Restore degraded forests and ecological functions.

4. Raise awareness about threatened species and ecosystems.

By focusing on neglected yet highly threatened species and habitats, we aim to fill critical knowledge gaps that can guide and prioritize conservation efforts. We work across four global Biodiversity Hotspots—the Himalaya, Western Ghats, Indo-Myanmar, and Sundaland—studying woody plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

What we do

Our ongoing projects integrate ecological research with conservation action. We focus on:

1. Understanding the organisation of plant–frugivore communities.

2. Investigating the influence of historical and contemporary factors on hornbill populations.

3. Exploring the ecology and conservation of evolutionarily distinct and endangered species (e.g., White-bellied Heron, Satara Gecko) in threatened ecosystems such as lateritic plateaus and river systems.

4. Identifying the drivers of evergreenness and deciduousness in tropical forests.

5. Investigating what shapes bird species richness in tropical regions.

6. Assessing the impacts of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.

7. Advancing ecological restoration using a maximum diversity approach in the northern Western Ghats.

Why CEROS? 

Our program’s name—CEROS—is inspired by the Latin name for hornbills (e.g., Buceros), reflecting our origins in research and conservation of hornbill species. While hornbills remain a key focus of our work across South and Southeast Asia, we have since expanded to include other threatened species and ecosystems. The name CEROS also loosely encapsulates the core of our work: Community Ecology and Restoration in the Sahyadris.