KSCSTE-Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (KSCSTE-JNTBGRI), established in 1979, has been functioning in the major thrust areas: (i) establishment of ex situ conservatories and garden development, (ii) integrated taxonomy and conservation biology, (iii) sustainable utilization of tropical plant resources, (iv) infrastructure development, capacity building through training.

KSCSTE-JNTBGRI, with over 50,000 accessions of 4,800 species in its conservatories, is the largest repository of live plants in India. The Institute so far reported over 800 new life forms (species) of angiosperms, mushrooms and fungi. The institute Herbarium holds 43,000 specimens of nearly 4,021 species. It also has a vast database of traditional and ethno-medical information of the State of Kerala. Institute conservatories, species-mushroom herbaria and seed bank are very useful repositories for students, academicians, foresters and policy makers on our plant wealth.

The lab-based sustainable utilization efforts resulted in peer reviewed publications, patents, Ph.Ds, new secondary metabolites, new essential oil sources, new gene sequences, bioactive molecules and herbal products. Institute on a regular basis organizes seminars, workshops and training programmes.

The Institute located at the foothills of Western Ghats at Palode, 40 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, is enroute to the tourist locations Thenmala, Palaruvi waterfalls and Ponmudi. Over 20,000 students and public are visiting its conservatories and labs every year.